Your Shape Magazine New Years Makeover

Tips From Shape Magazine Senior Associate Health Editor For Effective Resolutions You Can Stick To

If you’re one of the millions of Americans vowing to be healthy this year, you know how challenging it can be to commit to your resolutions and stay on track with your health and wellness goals. Bahar Takhtehchian, Senior Associate Lifestyle Editor at Shape magazine says that to be effective, resolutions should be relatively easy to stick to so you feel like a success. They need to actually work too, so you can see results and stay motivated so you can finally get healthy and lose weight for good. 

“If you set unrealistic goals that actually set yourself up for failure so at Shape Magazine, we always recommend you break down you resolution into mini goals to help you stay motivated and so you can see results. This will help you stay committed to your health and wellness goals in 2012.”

Shape Magazine and Bahar have partnered with a few brands to help make your resolutions effective so you can finally shed those holiday pounds and make healthy changes that will last:

Nutritious No-Brainer Meals:
Trying to eat healthy when you have a hectic schedule can be a challenge – the trick is planning ahead and preparing meals that are good for you, easy to make and most importantly, leave you feeling great – and full! When it comes to preparing nutritious meals – we like Perdue® Simply Smart® a line of grilled, lightly breaded and roasted chicken products that you can find in your freezer aisle. They are delicious and made with 100% real, all natural and recognizable ingredients – this means less of the ingredients you don't want, like fat and salt and more of what you do, like protein and light breading. You can toss them into your favorite pasta, serve them on a sandwich, or add them to your favorite recipes to make a protein-packed snack or meal. You can learn more at www.Perdue.com

Fill the Nutrient Gaps:
With our busy schedules, we don’t always have time to prepare a well-rounded meal, and “grab and go” eating habits may not provide the best nutrition. Adding a multivitamin to your daily routine can help ensure you’re getting the nutrients you need to be your best. Vitamins C and E are powerful antioxidants that are particularly important this time of year to help support a healthy immune system. In addition, vitamin C helps your body recycle vitamin E, extending the life and function of vitamin E. I like Nature Made, the #1 pharmacist recommended brand of letter vitamins like C and E, which is why I’ve partnered with them today. You can learn more at www.NatureMade.com

Get Healthy While You Sleep:
Health is an equilateral triangle-balanced diet, regular exercise, 7 - 8 hours of quality sleep a night. Sleeping better and longer leads to improved mood and higher energy levels, and quality sleep is critical for appetite regulation since the hormones that manage our hunger rely on lots of sleep to work correctly. Getting 7-8 hours of sleep each night actually helps you manage your weight and studies show well-rested people are more active and more likely to stick to a workout program. Nestle into your coziest sleep ever with the memory foam bed that’s been redefined by Sleep Number. The Sleep Number m7 bed has naturally contouring CoolFit™ Foam that offers cool, soothing comfort. Your SLEEP NUMBER® setting lets you personalize each side of the bed to your ideal level of firmness – which makes it great for couples. It’s everything you’ve wanted memory foam to feel like, so you and your sleep partner wake up refreshed and rejuvenated, ready to face whatever the day may bring. Sleep Number beds and bedding are available exclusively at your local Sleep Number store. Visit www.SleepNumber.com to find a store near you.

To learn more tips for sticking to your resolutions for a healthier new year, you can pick up the current issue of Shape Magazine on stands now or go to www.Shape.com

About the talent:
Bahar Takhtehchian is Shape’s Senior Associate Health Editor. With a circulation of more than 1.65 million, Shape is the #1 active lifestyle magazine for women and the 4th largest young women’s magazine. Prior to joining Shape, Bahar served as a writer and television reporter covering entertainment, health, and beauty for Chicago’s WGN-TV and CLTV, as well as several magazines and news websites. Bahar earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in magazine and broadcast journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School.