Healthy Goals for 2017 on the Emerald Coast
It’s day 3 of 2017. Do you have your plan for the year of how you are going to meet your resolutions? It seems many people share the same goals of self-improvement each year. Here in Destin, everywhere you look people are taking advantage of the beautiful outdoors and doing what they can to improve their health. We are going to give you some ways you can reach your goals this year on the Emerald Coast.
Get outside! There are so many benefits to being outside. Even if it’s just a short walk, spending some time outside ups your Vitamin D intake, strengthens your mental health, and helps reduce stress. Old 98 has a sidewalk along the beach near Destin condos that we guarantee will boost your mood. Along with the soothing sounds of waves, warm sunshine, and fresh air, you’ll likely see a number of pooches getting walked which might just make your day. If you want to be adventurous, try paddleboarding or surfing. Taking a ride out in the Gulf has led to many manatee and sea turtle sightings! You can also grab your bike and take a ride down 30-A or on a trail at one of the parks in our area. There’s also beach yoga and other fitness classes right out on the sand you can try this year. Start enjoying burning calories for a change!
Eat fresh! Destin may be a small town and not have EVERYTHING you could want in a place to live but we are fortunate to have some great locations for buying fresh, organic produce. Whole Foods opened last year and is your one-stop-shop for all things healthy. Your only excuse is if you literally have no money. Eating organic is pricey but how can you put a price on your health? Each Saturday there is a Farmer’s Market in Grand Boulevard where you can shop for the freshest local products and enjoy produce at its truest flavors. If you want someone else to cook for you, eat out! We love First Watch and Everkrisp. Fresh Market has an amazing salad bar which is perfect for a quick lunch.
Kick those bad habits! We all have at least one bad habit we would love to see disappear in 2017. Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States. Eating too much fast food? 20% of all American meals are eaten in the car while McDonald’s sells an average of 75 hamburgers every second. How you fuel your body has an enormous impact on your overall health and wellness. Is your goal to drink more water? American consumers on average drink more than 54 gallons of carbonated soft drinks each year. Do you fall into any of the categories? Make a real effort to cut out some bad habits for good. Start by cutting back a little each month, week, day, and before you know it, it’ll be gone forever.
Let’s make 2017 our healthiest year yet!
Published on Tuesday, January 3, 2017