It’s not a new year, but with kids going back to school and Summer winding down, the first week of September is a good week to reset and think about your goals. Making new habits stick is hard, but not impossible, and there are a few steps to take to make achieving your goals easier.

First, set specific goals – not just general statements like “I want to work out” – but more specifically, like I want to work out 3 days per week.

And plan – if you’ve got the goal, also plan out exactly when you’re going to accomplish it.

Also, don’t have goals, even though they may be good for you, be something you hate – if you hate running, try to find a different exercise that you do enjoy in its place.

You also will find that life may get in the way – and if it interrupts your schedule for the new habit, don’t be too hard on yourself. Just make sure you do get back to it!

And, finally, if you let your friends and family know about your goals, have them keep on you to encourage you to continue with it – you won’t want to disappoint them!

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Some of us are early birds, and some of us are night owls – but when it comes to burning more fat through exercise, one time is better than the other to do it.

Scientists have found that morning exercise can boost fat metabolism.

Now the study was done on mice – but they found that exercise at different times of day affects the bodies in different ways because of the rhythms our cells get into.

The mice working in the morning on an empty stomach had a higher metabolic rate than those who worked out in the evening.

So, if you’ve been dreading that early morning class you signed up for, stick with it! But no matter what time of day you exercise, as long as you keep moving, you’ll get a ton of benefits like improved brain health, reducing the risk of disease, strengthening bones and muscles, and managing a healthy weight.

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You know the adage – breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But it’s not just a saying – a new study has revealed just how true it really is!

Adults who skip breakfast don’t simply miss out on a lot, but it’ll affect their choices for the rest of the day.

No matter what your breakfast may be – skipping it will make you miss out on necessary nutrients – like calcium from milk, vitamin C from fruit, and vitamin D and iron from various cereals.

The habit of regularly skipping breakfast could increase the risk of weight gain and other illness like diabetes or cardiovascular disease. And those who skipped the meal ended up eating bigger lunches or dinners, but still didn’t get all of the nutrients they needed that they missed out on.

And those who did eat breakfast generally chose healthier lunches and dinners too.

So the best dietary decision you can make for your entire day is to start it off right!

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