Wake Up!

Mornings can be mayhem or magical, depending on your outlook and A.M. activities. The way you start the morning can affect your whole day. It’s time to rethink the moments between your feet touching the floor and heading out the door. Give your morning a boost.

Wake up your senses. Fill your bedroom with soothing light, your favorite colors, fragrances, flowers and music.

Make a promise to yourself. As soon as you wake up, think of one nice thing you will do for yourself that day.

Indulge in a water massage. Mentally focus on positive thoughts while you use the pressure of the warm water to stimulate your muscles.

Break the fast. Fuel yourself with a high-fiber breakfast that includes whole grains, fruit and low-fat protein.

Move it in the morning. Put your health first by exercising in the morning. Wake up your metabolism and energize your body and feel good about yourself all day.

Fight that foggy-head. Multi-tasking can be a recipe for a rough start. Focus on one task at a time and give yourself enough time to get ready. Create a morning blast-off checklist.

Stretching is a wonderful way to loosen joints and increase flexibility. Mimic the way a cat moves by elongating your spine and stretching out your arms and legs. Inhale as you stretch, and exhale as you contract.

• • 1 banana “you should peel it”

• • 2 cups of milk “or as much as you want… either a lot or a little”

• • 1 or 2 scoops of E7 “I use chocolate”

• • “If you want it really good then put in 2 pieces of ice cubes!”

Directions: “First put the banana in the blender, then E7, then milk, then the ice, then start the blender. If you want it to be really good then you blend it a couple of minutes!”

In addition to boosting the immune system, exercise also builds our self-esteem and confidence, by providing a sense of accomplishment. Exercise causes the pituitary gland to release endorphins, which remain in the body for hours and have a number of effects. They improve mood, relieve pain, increase red blood cell production, and reduce the amount of cortisol in the blood. Increased red blood cell production provides better oxygenation to the body tissues. Better oxygenation helps us feel more energetic and leads to better brain function.

Research shows that sedentary people do not have as vigorous an immune system as those who exercise. Moderate exercise, like a walking program, has been shown to improve immune function. We know that aerobic exercise is good for the heart, and weight-bearing exercise builds bone and muscle. The idea that moderate exercise may enhance your immune system should have you jumping off the couch to begin (or continue) your exercise program. The health benefits of exercise are clear!