Seven Simple Ways To Save Your Health
Shape, June 2001

Stressed? Skipping exercise? Not eating as well as you should? Act now to "save your health".

1.
Get just one more hour of sleep. Avoid sleeping in on weekends to keep to your schedule, avoid alcohol at least two hours before bedtime, take a nap between 1:00 and 4:00 if you can, and don't work out within four to six hours before bedtime.
2.
Drink three more glasses of water a day. Switch to a larger glass, add an ounce of fruit juice or a bit of vanilla extract to make it tastier, drink 8 oz. more water for every caffeinated beverage you drink.
3.
Eat a few extra vegetables. Add one new vegetable to your diet each week, eat brighter vegetables (they're richer in nutrients).
4.
Add resistance exercise to your regular routine. Work more than one muscle group at a time (instead of isolation movements), stick to your workout schedule, do crunches between each set of weights to burn more calories.
5.
Let go of one stressful thing each week. Organize your personal life, give yourself five minutes of "me" time every hour, let go of anger.
6.
Lose weight. Eat six or seven smaller meals instead of three large ones, eat less-expensive meals when dining out (they're usually lower in fat), count fiber instead of calories, have a low-fat dish before every meal to cut down on calories you consume.
7.
Get an annual medical exam. Inform your doctor of your sexual history, get a complete blood count to test for anemia, request a urinalysis to detect possible abnormal kidney function.