Weight loss is a biggie when it comes to New Year’s resolutions. I can safely bet that hundreds of thousands, if not more, set an intention at the start of this year to get fit and lose weight.

January, with its cold and snowy days, is a good month to spend in the gym, and many people will enthusiastically buy memberships, join classes, or hire personal trainers. If we can get through the chocolate and candy laden month of February, we’re in pretty good shape. By the time March hits, the warmer weather triggers thoughts of wearing shorts and sleeveless tops, and that keeps us motivated to stay on track.

However, when April rolls around we have either realized our weight loss goal, or we’ve hit a major plateau and just can’t seem to get past it. If you’re experiencing a lull in your weight loss efforts, now is a good time relax, regroup, and restore your choices and actions so you can get past the weigh loss slump and shed those last few pounds.

Rather than add another workout to your already full schedule, or cut back on the calories from your near starvation diet, try meditation to step up your weight loss progress. However counter-intuitive it may sound, using meditation to get over a weight loss hump can be very effective.
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Tax day is here, and if you are one of many who haven’t yet completed your forms, stress can attack your bowels with unwelcome enthusiasm. Whether you suffer from constipation, diarrhea, bloating, or cramps, having irritable bowels is not fun, especially as the most stressful deadline of the year draws near.

The following suggestions won’t help you with your taxes, but they will help you relax during this tough time of year so your digestive system doesn’t go haywire due to stress and anxiety.

Persevere

Winston Churchill said, “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” The time to procrastinate is over. Sit down, be diligent, and get the job done. You will start to feel better after each box and line you fill out, so get to it. However tedious and painful doing taxes feels, keep going. The confidence you will earn knowing that you are getting it done will relax your agitated digestive system.
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From wellness centers to workplace massages, employers are constantly searching for new and effective ways to keep their employees calm, relaxed and healthy. When sick days cut in to the annual budget, and production is low due to stressed out workers, businesses can be greatly affected. In this highly competitive world in which we live, that does not bode well for companies striving to be the best.

According to a recent study in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management, having a dog in the workplace might be a key ingredient to reducing stress on the job. Researchers found that having a dog (or dogs) at work instilled higher employee satisfaction, kept people calm and less tense, and made a generally positive difference to workers. In addition, the researchers discovered that having a dog at work allowed for more social interaction between employees, therefore increasing communication and collaboration on projects.

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Being under stress is not fun. Tension headaches, insomnia, and back pain are just a few symptoms of taking on too much. These symptoms are uncomfortable to say the least, but if not addressed, they can lead to more serious, health-threatening ailments.

According to the American Psychological Association, one half of Americans say that stress has a negative impact on their personal and professional lives, adding that stress is responsible for keeping them up at night. The American Institute of Stress claims that workplace stress costs more than $300 billion dollars each year in health care, and according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, stressed out workers incur an average of $600 more a year due to stress related needs compared with non-stressed out workers.

Whether you work, are retired, or are a stay-at-home mom, if you are under stress, please take note of the following five tips for releasing tension from your life. Not only will it help you, it may even relieve the stress from those around you.

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When we’re stressed out, the foods we typically think of reaching for are not the healthiest, from chips to ice cream. These foods made “feel good” as we eat them, but they’re probably not doing much for biological factors that make us feel stressed out. Instead, try these five foods from Today Show nutritionist Joy Bauer.

1. Grapefruit

We all know vitamin C is important for the immune system, but did you know it can help fight stress? Research has shown that this vitamin can help reduce the affects stress have on the body, such as raising blood pressure. Fresh grapefruit is one of the best ways to get a daily dose.

2. Steel Cut Oats

The carbohydrate in oatmeal stimulates the production of serotonin, which helps you relax and feel good. Steel-cut oats are best because they’re minimally processed, and cause a slow rise in blood sugar, not a spike.

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