Health Boosting Habits: 9 Top Tips

Your health is important. The dog days of summer are here, and we’re halfway through the year! It’s time to take a moment to reflect on the New Year’s resolutions we made in January. If you have gotten off track, don’t worry, you’re not the only one who found it challenging to stick it out.

According to research, 50% of resolutions are health-related, and only 8% of people making resolutions stick to their goals. It’s tough; we get it. But it’s not too late! Remember to focus on what you can control, the motivating reasons why you want to live healthier and make small steps at a time. We want to share our ultimate top 9 tips to help enhance your overall health. Start with one and incorporated it into your weekly routine. Then focus on another. In a few months’ time, your body will thank you with days that have you feeling tip-top!

#1: Boost Your Brain Health & Health IQ

Barnes and Noble have books and other products that boost your health IQ and motivation. B&N offers a wide variety in each category:

• Books about motivation and mindset
• Health: general health, natural healing, exercise & fitness, diet & nutrition, disease-specific, and mental health
• Cookbooks: beginner’s cookbooks, 30 minutes or less, Mediterranean, plant-based, and more
• How-to books: unlock your brain’s potential and learn a new hobby
• Brain workout activity books like sudoku & crossword puzzles
• Puzzles and strategy games
• Music: grab a CD to boost your mood and energize your workout

#2: Eat Healthy, Live Happy!

The key factors to a healthy, doable diet are moderation, variety, and patterns. It is about balance and your overall eating habits. Randalls carries an array of grocery items for all your healthy eating needs. They also have organic produce and Non-GMO products.

Here’s a list of grocery items for a balanced diet. Except for eggs, we recommend having 2-3 things from each group at all times. Focus on fiber, protein, healthy omega-3 fats, and whole grains. These foods are nutrient-dense and contain antioxidants to fight inflammation:

• Fruits and vegetables: fresh is best. Frozen or canned as needed. Try convenient salad packs and bowls with a protein
• Protein: lean cuts of meat, poultry, fresh or canned fish
• Legumes: beans, chickpeas, peas, lentils, & peanuts
• Nuts, seeds, and nut or seed butter
• Eggs
• Dairy & fortified non-dairy alternatives to get your calcium
• Grains: Include whole grains like oatmeal, whole grain or brown rice, farro, quinoa, & plain popcorn kernels

#3: Eating Out – The Best Health-Boosting Choices

Eating out is part of life and making memories with dining companions. The other reality is that we sometimes get too busy to prepare meals. Having a game plan when you eat out is vital. You can find everyday light and delicious meal options at our restaurants and eateries. Here are some of our top picks.

• Cava is now open! This growing Mediterranean culinary brand offers delicious & ultra-healthy fast-casual dining featuring customizable salads, grain bowls, and chef-crafted dips.
• Cafe Express: shrimp and avocado salad with made-from-scratch dressing
• Caliente: quesadilla or soup & salad combo
• Einstein Brothers: cheddar cheese & egg sandwich, garden avocado & egg sandwich
• Escalante’s: pescado fresco
• Flemings: the petite filet mignon, double breast of chicken, and chickpea & eggplant croquette entrees are all 600 calories or less
• La Madeleine: kale & quinoa seasonal salad featuring cranberries, pecans, and feta with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing
• McCormick & Schmick’s: cedar roasted Atlantic salmon with roasted vegetables
• Postino: Hannah’s field salad with kale, heritage grains, apple, apricot, toasted almond, pecorino stagionato, pickled red onion, and apple cider-mustard vinaigrette
• Snooze AM Eatery: bountiful Buddha bowl
• Starbucks: rolled & steel-cut oatmeal with blueberries
• Subway & Quiznos offers a variety of salads, soups, and sandwiches at 600 calories or less

Whatever you decide to enjoy at our restaurants, here are some healthy eating tips for dining out:

• Ask for nutritional information
• Take part of your meal home for leftovers
• Eat lighter at the next meal
• Consider water for a calorie-free drink
• Practice mindful eating
• Don’t stress. Enjoy your meal & company. Remember that your health is not determined by one meal, but by your overall habits, with diet being just one factor.

#4: Dress To Move & Groove – Fitness Health – Walk, Take A Class

Health & fitness experts may recommend one activity over another, but in the end, it’s about finding out what works for you, your groove. Here are some ideas you can do here at TCV to get you moving more:

• First, dress the part for your activity.
  • Check out Athleta for the ultimate performance apparel and gear for every woman. Athleta provides road, court, and water-tested separates for every active woman, from the weekend warrior to the committed yogini to the fiercely driven competitive athlete.
  • Gap offers activewear for men and women. Gap’s moisture-wicking, breathable separates include t-shirts, tanks, shorts, joggers, leggings, skorts, sports bras, and socks.
• Walkabout TCV and enjoy the lush garden-scaped patios, fountains, and Grand Plaza Park. Schedule time for your walk, perhaps before a grocery or errand run. Consider a walking & dining date with a friend.
• Bar Method offers safe and challenging workouts that deliver sculpted muscles and a feeling of personal strength and poise—designed to work for everybody with individual modifications.
• Orange Theory Fitness is a total-body group workout that combines science, coaching, and technology to guarantee maximum results from the inside out. It’s designed to charge your metabolism for more caloric afterburn, results, and confidence. The first class is free.

#5: Take Time To Stretch – Body Health Basics

Regular stretching is essential for our health, regardless of our workout activities. The benefits of stretching include:

• Increased flexibility & range of motion
• Improved performance in physical activities
• Increased blood flow to muscles
• Improved posture
• Stress relief
• Reduced risk for muscle pain

Stretch Zone is now open and offers practitioner-assisted stretches to help you feel lighter, less stiff, and move more effortlessly. Unlike stretching at home, Stretch Zone uses personalized routines performed by trained practitioners using patented equipment.

#6: Relax Your Back

Back pain is one of the most common types of pain among adults. Lack of exercise & stretching, strained muscles & ligaments and poor body mechanics are common causes. Make a habit of paying attention to your back. Don’t forget to bend at the knees when lifting something heavy.

Relax the Back offers best-in-class ergonomic & wellness products that help relieve back & neck pain. Products include ergonomic office solutions, lumbar pillows, sleep support, mattresses, recliners, and massagers. Store consultants are trained in common spinal health disorders and strategies to support a healthy lifestyle.

#7: Sleep Well – Boost Your Brain Health & Immune System

Good sleep hygiene is also essential to mental and physical health. Poor sleep habits can lead to poor concentration, moodiness, weakened immunity, and weight gain.

Practice good sleep hygiene with these tips:

• Set a bedtime routine
• Exercise regularly
• Eat healthily
• Keep your room comfortable
• Choose the right mattress
• Adjust lighting as needed
• Avoid electronics at night
• Avoid caffeine at night

Find top-quality sleep products and mattresses from Relax The Back. For bedding essentials, visit Pottery Barn. PB’s bedding collection includes cool percale, ultra-soft organic cotton, and timeless Belgian flax linen sheets. These breathable fabrics are perfect for a good night’s sleep in these hot summer months.

#8: Keep An Eye On Your Vision Health

The eyes are part of our bodies and the windows to the world. As with the rest of the body, the eyes need proper care. Take these steps to keep your eyes healthy:

• Eat a balanced diet & exercise
• Protect your eyes when you’re doing work or activity where something may get in your eyes
• Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from UVA & UVB rays
• Wash your hands before touching your eyes to keep germs at bay
• Take screen breaks to rest your eyes

Even if your eyes are healthy, you may have problems without knowing, especially as you get older. Schedule regular eye exams at TCV’s Eyesite Texas, the leader in comprehensive eye care and quality optical products for over 25 years.

#9: Mind Your Mouth – Oral Health

Often, your mouth mirrors what may be brewing in your body. Lack of good oral care can lead to gum disease and tooth decay and contribute to other conditions in the body.

It’s not enough to eat healthily and floss and brush your teeth.  Preventative care includes regular dental visits, and TCV has several excellent dentistry services to choose from:

• Town & Country Dental offers comprehensive dental care.
• Memorial Pediatric Dentistry provides dental care to children over age 3.
• The Dentists at Town & Country Village provide family and cosmetic dental care.
• Town & Country Endodontics are dentists who specialize in maintaining teeth through endodontic therapy – procedures involving the soft inner tissue of the teeth.
• Town & Country Orthodontics offers traditional braces, clear braces, self-ligating braces & Invisalign.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Prevention is a two-prong approach: one-part habits and one-part preventative care visits. Our merchants and lifestyle providers are committed to delivering products and services that you can fit into your life, no matter where you are on your health journey. We hope we’ve given you the motivation to move forward and live your best life with happiness and health in mind.

We Always Appreciate Your Support & Patronage.

Please stay up to date on merchant hours by visiting our Directory. Check with merchants for sale happenings, in-store appointments, curbside services, and hours before visiting.

 We have easy storefront parking. Plus, a parking garage is free to Town & Country Village patrons. The garage is located on the Southside of Queensbury Lane between Beltway 8 & Town & Country Blvd.

 When you patronize CityCentre, you must park on the Northside of Queensbury Lane in CityCentre parking spaces. Be sure to park in one of their garages. Please note that you will be charged for parking if you park in the Town & Country Village garage and patronize CityCentre merchants.