Crystal Petrello, Author at Be Well Solutions

Exercise your HEART

Exercise Your HEART Read Time: 2 minutes 46 seconds You may be familiar with the benefits that consistent exercise has on managing weight, blood pressure, stress, strength, and endurance. But did you know that consistent exercise can also help keep your heart healthy and lower your risk of heart disease? Just like the muscles of the body need regular exercise, so does our heart muscle. Exercise can keep our heart pumping efficiently, so it does not have to work too hard. Consistent physical activity can also help our arteries and blood vessels stay more flexible, which promotes proper circulation and more managed blood pressure. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise along with 2 or more days of strength training per week. While aerobic exercise is great for cardiovascular health, it is also important [...]

Tags: blood pressure, corporate welllness, endurance, exercise, heart health, strength, stress, weight|

Gratitude: Random Acts of Kindness

Random Acts of Kindness Read Time: 1 min 35 seconds According to research, perpetually kind people have 23% less cortisol (the stress hormone), and age slower than the average population. Performing acts of kindness not only enhances others’ lives but is rewarding to our bodies and minds through feel-good hormones that are released. However, the effects of kindness aren't long-lasting, which means cultivating a daily practice of kindness for ourselves and others, is key. Each year, Random Acts of Kindness week is recognized from February 14th to February 20th. There is no better time to cultivate kindness than now! Benefits of Kindness Have you ever felt that warm feeling when you’ve done something kind? When we perform acts of kindness, hormones like oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin are released in the brain. These hormones can give you feelings of satisfaction, [...]

Tags: corporate welllness, forgiveness, gratitude, health prevention, kindness, random acts of kindness week|

Goal Setting: New Year, New Habits, January 2021

New Year, New Habits Read Time: 2 min 30 secs The start of a new year signifies a new beginning and new habits! It is a time for setting goals like improving our health, connecting with others, and exercising more. However, according to the U.S. News and World Report, about 80 percent of people fail to stick with their New Year's resolutions, and most give up completely by mid-February. So why are most of us unsuccessful at keeping our New Year's Resolutions? For a lot of us, as we approach the new year, we tend to put a lot of pressure on ourselves to do better than we did last year. This can lead us to set very high, unrealistic goals, which is why we tend to make the same resolutions year after year. How do we break that cycle? [...]

Tags: corporate welllness, goals, healthy habits, new years resolutions, resolutions|

Emotional Health: Bust Your Winter Blues

Bust Your Winter Blues Read Time: 2 min 00 sec Winter is well underway, which means warmer, sunny days of Spring can seem so far out of reach. Motivation and energy can feel just as elusive as the sunlight this season. If you are starting to feel the winter blues, try these tips below to put a little extra pep in your step. Stay Active Feeling sluggish is common this time of year, but you can combat it by adding more movement into your day. Even a little exercise can produce those feel-good endorphins and help raise energy levels. Bundle up and take a walk outside or try a quick indoor workout. Avoid that afternoon slump by taking the stairs instead of the elevator or incorporating a quick stretch break into your day. Keeping active this time of year [...]

Tags: corporate welllness, healthy lifestyle, lifestyle habits, s.a.d., SAD, seasonal affective disorder|

Exercise: Stay Motivated this Winter

Stay Motivated This Winter Read Time: 1 min 20 sec The temperatures are starting to plummet, which means motivation for exercise can go down as well. If you’re feeling bored or unmotivated, this can be the perfect time to change things up and find a spark. Keep in mind, the goal of being active is for at least 30 minutes nearly every day, but the 30 minutes should never feel boring. If it does, add some variety to keep things fresh. Try Something New Schedules change as fast as the weather this time of year, but that can provide you the opportunity to change your workout routine. Variety is important when it comes to exercise. Diverse exercise routines target different muscle groups and reduce the risk of overuse injuries. Altering your training can help you get over those pesky [...]

Tags: corporate welllness, exercise, exercise classes, home workout, indoor exercise|

Spotlight: Be Well’s New Lifestyle App

Weigh of Life | Be Well’s New Lifestyle App Read Time: 1 min 23 sec Do you find it difficult to transform bad habits into healthy ones? Are you tired of fad diets and complicated exercise apps? The experts at Be Well Solutions have designed a program to help overcome these obstacles. Weigh of Life is a 12-week educational program based on up-to-date research and best practices. The folks who have tried it have reported great results – three-quarters of participants lost weight and reported making healthy changes on account of the program. Participants receive weekly messages and challenges focusing on nutrition, exercise, and stress management. They have access to short and understandable videos, handouts, resource guides, and interactive worksheets Our easy-to-use app makes tracking new behaviors simple. In addition, ongoing support from our team of Registered Dietitians and Certified [...]

Tags: corporate welllness, diet, lifestyle change, weight, weight loss, weight of life, weightloss|

Spotlight: Wellness Gift Guide, December 2020

Wellness Gift Guide Read Time: 1 min 24 sec For many, this year has brought an unprecedented wave of stress and anxiety, which can wreak havoc on our health. This holiday season, consider giving gifts of wellness to your family and loved ones. These gifts help remind people about the importance of self-care and emotional balance. Our team at Be Well Solutions has put together this list of thoughtful wellness gifts. Fitness People’s motivation for exercise tends to decline in the winter months for a variety of reasons, including cooler temperatures, worsening weather conditions, and shorter days. The gifts below are ideal for both well-established fitness enthusiasts and those just looking for a little extra motivation to stay active all season long. - Foam roller - Wireless earbuds - Home workout equipment such as resistance bands or a jump [...]

Tags: christmas, corporate welllness, gift of health, holiday gifts, wellness gifts|

Exercise: Winter Workout Safety

Winter Workout Safety Read Time: 1 min 38 sec Winter is just around the corner, which means colder temperatures. Workout motivation can take quite a hit with colder temperatures and less daylight, but it’s important to keep exercise routines going all year long. From weight management to immune health, year-round consistency is the key when it comes to experiencing the benefits that exercise has to offer. Thoughtful planning and taking the right precautions can help you continue a safe and effective exercise routine throughout the winter. Practice Good Safety Habits The options for outdoor exercise are numerous. It is important to keep good safety habits in mind when exercising in the winter. Frigid temperatures and winter elements can lead to frostbite or hypothermia if you are not properly prepared. Before heading outside, always check the air temperature and the windchill. [...]

Tags: corporate wellness, frostbite, hypothermia, outside exercise, outside workout, winter workout|

Nutrition: White Whole-Wheat Flour

White Whole-Wheat Flour Read Time: 2 min 12 sec Cookies, pastries, and baked goods are synonymous with the holiday season. This year try giving your holiday baking a nutrient boost without compromising taste by substituting white whole-wheat flour for traditional all-purpose flour (“white” or “refined” flour). White whole wheat flour comes from a different type of plant that gives it a lighter color and milder taste compared to its traditional counterpart. WHOLE grain flour made from WHITE wheat! Not all “white” foods need to be avoided. Similar to regular whole-wheat flour, white whole-wheat flour is made using all three layers of the grain – bran, germ, and endosperm. In the baking aisle, you will generally find three types of wheat flour: regular whole wheat, white whole-wheat, and enriched (refined) all-purpose flour. Only whole-wheat and white whole-wheat are classified as whole [...]

Tags: corporate wellness, flour, gluten, whole wheat|

Try a New Food: Fruit Salad with In-Season Citrus

Fruit Salad with In-Season Citrus Read Time: 1 min 29 sec We may have only been chasing winter’s fleeting daylight for about a month, but if you’re anything like us, you could use a dose of in-season sunshine. For those who aren’t getting any, the Cara Cara orange offers a little taste of summer in the winter, when it conveniently comes to harvest December through May. From the outside, Cara Caras may look like a run of the mill citrus, but don’t judge a book by its cover. Beneath its easy-to-peel skin, you’ll find deep, pink-grapefruit colored flesh that’s super juicy, low in acid, and seedless. Flavor-wise, imagine a cross between a naval orange and tangerine but throw in a hint of berries. Not to mention, Cara Cara oranges are nutrient-dense, just like other citrus fruits. One medium Cara Cara [...]

Tags: citrus, corporate wellness, fruit, fruit recipe, fruit salad, recipe, winter fruit|

About Crystal Petrello