Last month I conducted a confidential survey using?Survey Monkey and?asked three questions:

1) What problems do you have facing your health?
2) What are your top three goals for your health?
3) What’s getting in the way of you reaching your goals?

Here’s the top answers to what people had to say:

Question 1 – What problems do you have facing your health?
22%?said weight as their number one problem
16% don’t have enough time?and need work/life balance
12% listed stress, anxiety and/or?depression as a major health problem
7% said overeating, poor diet and cravings were their biggest challenge

Question 2 – What are your top three goals for health?
28% said exercise, toning, endurance and increased stamina
19% want to lose weight
17% want to eat better and/or learn to cook
10% want to incorporate meditation, prayer, yoga and stress reduction into their lives

Question 3 – What’s getting in the way of reaching your goals?
31% are too busy, working and just don’t have enough time to do what they want to do
22% said they know they’re getting in their own way, are too lazy, lack ambition or self-sabotage
8% said they lacked the knowledge to help themselves
7% lacked support from family members or their spouse

Believe it or not, you hold the key to finding the answers to these questions.? Pick one area you want to work on and write it down.? Look for opportunities to make small, measurable changes.? Here’s a few tips to get you started

Weight?- dehydration is often masked by feelings of hunger.? Instead of snacking between meals, drink water, herbal tea (hot or iced) or anything that’s not carbonated, caffeinated or artificially sweetened.? Keep a log of how much you drink to help inspire you.? The general rule of thumb is half your weight in ounces.

Stress?- Taking just 10 minutes to clear your head every day helps manage stress.? Think about how much time you spend?thinking.? Do you have arguments in your head with your husband or your boss and they don’t even know about it?? Then they wonder why you’re in a bad mood.? Sound familiar.? Clear the air and the cobwebs.? Try using Dr. Herbert Benson’s relaxation response at his website:
http://www.relaxationresponse.org/steps/

Overeating?- Start with protein.? When you look at your plate, 2/3 to 3/4?of the plate should be filled with vegetables and a whole grain (brown rice, quinoa, etc.).? If you have potatoes, make the portion 1/4 or less.? Generally, meat protein should be no bigger than your palm and no thicker.

Pick one thing and stick with it.? There’s plenty of time to incorporate other goals. Master them one at a time for lasting results.