empowerme

Dance! Turn up your favorite music and get your groove on! Don't be shy, shut your door and boogie down.

Dance Your Heart Out! Pick any music you like, crank it up and then dance away! March, box step, bounce, spin, shake it. Dancing is a great way to burn calories and have fun at the same time!

At home? Set up Dance Dance Revolution and play by yourself or with friends or simply dance around the house to music.

Can It. Go to the kitchen and get two of the heaviest cans that you can hold. Stand with your feet flat on the floor, with cans in your hands and your arms at your side. Pull the cans up to your chest - bending at the elbows.  Hold for 2 seconds and let your arms down slowly.  Repeat 10 times.

A great way to strengthen your calves and ankle muscles is by rising up and down on your toes 10 times and then repeating two to three more times.

When watching TV, try and do as many jumping jacks, sit-ups, or push-ups as you can during commercial breaks.

An apple a day, keeps the doctor away. Try fresh, frozen, and canned vegetables and fruits at every meal but watch out for those with fatty sauces or extra sugar.

Use your TV to watch an exercise video--it could be dancing, tae kwon do, or yoga. You could even get the whole family to do a video together!

Size it up. Check the portion size on the side of the box to determine the right amount to eat.

You don't have to make all the healthy changes right away - for instance, gradually substitute ice cream for low-fat frozen yogurt or replace sugary cereal with plain.

Need a quick, easy, healthy snack? Try carrots, apples or celery with a smudge of peanut butter, or sugar snap peas or pepper slices with low-fat ranch dip.

Want low cal cranberry sauce that is full of antioxidants? Try making your own! Mash fresh cranberries with a splash of balsamic vinegar or apple juice.

Crab Crawl. Sit on the floor with your feet flat on the floor. Lean back and place hands flat on the floor. Lift your bottom off the floor and put your weight on your hands and feet - like a crab.  Then crab crawl around your room from wall to wall.

Stuff your stuffing! With veggies that is - onions, celery, vegetables, or fruits like dried cranberries and less bread. Toss in whole wheat bread for an even healthier dish!

Spend Valentine's Day with your family and friends, bonding, having fun and playing. This can reduce stress and is great for the heart.

For a delicious after dinner treat, bake apples or pears.

Climb it. Turn your stairs into a stair master! Take 3 trips up the stairs in your house or do step-ups on one step to turn a normal activity into exercise.

Bagel Classics. Try a whole-wheat or sunflower seed bagel with low-fat cream cheese or peanut butter.

Sugar...not so sweet. Reduce extra sugars, including sodas and juices.

Try eating sweet potato instead of plain white potato. You can also add cinnamon to sweet potato to spice it up and make it yummy.