New Healthy You Week 5: Nourish Your Relationships

1. Add a partner.
It could be a spouse, a friend, co-worker or neighbor. Invite someone to join you on your walk or bike ride. 

Take a like-minded pal with you to Weight Watchers—or make a pal while you’re there. Convince your spouse or sibling to "get with the program" with you.

Studies show that buddying up helps us lose more weight than if we go it alone and keeps us on track with our new eating and exercise habits.

Extra Help
See what a difference that made to Tammie Temple.

Ariane de Bonvoisin shares those “three little words” that you need to share with others that will help keep you positive while you’re making big changes. And it’s not what you think!

2. Start hugging.
Millions of people worldwide have watched the YouTube video of “Juan Mann” clutching a “Free Hugs” sign and hugging strangers on a Sydney Australia street. This one poignant video has spawned the “Free Hugs” movement from the Sydney streets to New York City to Beijing, China.

You don’t have to throw your arms around strangers, but making a point to hug the people you love every day will bring you closer and—studies say—dramatically lower your blood pressure and raise your levels of the relaxation and bonding hormone, oxytocin.

3. Say Grace.
Before you eat take time to thank the provider of all nourishment. Being thankful for the food you eat can reinforce your healthy eating plan. And if you do it each time you eat—even if it’s only a snack—you’ll make a habit of an act that will strengthen your relationship with God.

Watch our Healthy Cook, Rebecca Katz, talk about why saying grace at every meal is important by clicking here or the Video tab above.