Going Cold Turkey

Thanksgiving is a time we get together with loved ones to give thanks and celebrate what we have been given. For some it is having a steady job and financial security, for others it is the blessing of family and friends. One thing I am particularly thankful for is having a healthy functioning body. We often take our bodies for granted and sadly sometimes even abuse or neglect it, but the good news is that many of us recognize this and are actively striving for positive change.

Have you recently stopped a bad habit as a way of thanking and caring for your body?  Perhaps you quit smoking for good, or managed to reduce the number of pitchers of beer a week. Perhaps you put a stop to ‘couch potato’ ways and signed up to a gym membership which ACTUALLY gets used. If this is you, I congratulate you on your efforts!

Have you stopped to reflect on the amount of support you received when you decided to pull the brakes on those bad habits? Having people to hold you accountable often make the difference between success and failure.  Lifelong habits can be hard to change - studies show it takes over 65 days to break a habit and over 21 days to form a new one. I encourage you to persist through and surround yourself with a good support system for plenty of encouragement and occasional ‘tough love’.

At work, we have started a ‘Gratitude Challenge’ as part of our Wellness Program (more about this in following blog posts). It is a much needed reminder that having a grateful and thankful attitude can transform our thinking, our actions and our health.

If you are reading this and would like to give it a try, I have a mini challenge for you!

Looking forward to the coming months, what can YOU do to thank your body? Perhaps bring this topic up at the dinner table or when you are out with a friend for coffee. If you have any suggestions or comments from these discussions, please post them in the comments box below. I would love to hear your stories and feedback!

After all, our bodies can take such good care of us - and with Thanksgiving coming up, let’s also remember to be thankful of our bodies and give them the appropriate support and care that they deserve.

In good health,

Madelynn Loo