Healthy Weight Week is a time to stop dieting for good and get on with living our lives in healthy ways, feeling good about ourselves and others. Find this information and more at www.healthyweight.net

# Live actively. Each day, strive to be a little more physically active than usual. Focus on the pleasure of movement and the benefits in renewed energy, fun, social interaction, stress relief and health (not calories burned). Don't overdo it, and keep it up all year.

# Eat nutritiously. Choose balance, variety, moderation. Balanced eating and variety from all 5 food groups ensures getting the many nutrients you need (breads and grains, fruits, vegetables, meat and alternates, milk and dairy). Eat moderately to avoid extremes. With sound nutrition you'll have a new zest for living, more creativity, brain power, energy, better health, and a strengthened immune system. Free yourself from diets, make good nutrition a lifestyle change. Resolve to stop diet- and weight-obsessed thinking. Eat 3 meals each day, with 1 or 2 snacks to satisfy hunger. Respond to your body's internal signals, and notice how much better you feel!




# Feel good about yourself and others. Respect and accept people as they are. Appreciate diversity and each person's special qualities. Avoid comparing yourself. Work on body image issues -- you're okay just as you are. Get comfortable with the real you.

# Relieve stress. Take 10 minutes each day for a relaxation technique. Or just empty your mind and let your body go limp. Get in the habit of taking a 30-second relaxation break occasionally. Be sure to have some fun in your day -- get playful, laugh out loud. If you don't have a friend handy, how about a pet?

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