Although we are well underway into the new year, it’s not too late to make a commitment, or a resolution, aimed at becoming a better you. And with March being designated National Nutrition Month, you have extra motivation.

The goal of the nutrition month is to increase awareness about the importance of good nutrition, and put attempts at healthy eating plans on the radar. How can you tap into this pivotal information and transform it into making a difference for you?

You can be aware of your caloric intake. What is a healthy number of calories for you to eat each day? Are you eating and drinking empty calories? Do you need to beef up more substantial calories?

Get the appropriate doses of fruits and vegetables. Eating five doses of fruits and veggies daily is associated with a lower risk of a number of maladies, such as heart disease and strokes.

Make informed food choices. While the potato chips, cookies and candies may taste good, excessive amounts of sugar and salt definitely don’t amount to healthy choices.

If you’re not taking good care of your body, there’s no time to start like the present. Kick off better dietary choices with National Nutrition Month.

“In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.”

- Thurgood Marshall, first African-American U.S. Supreme Court member

This month we are celebrating the incredible contributions, giftings and talents of African Americans, during Black History Month. It’s a time to recognize that in honoring these accomplishments, we honor all Americans who have benefitted from them. For instance, scientist George Washington Carver derived over 300 – yes 300 – products from peanuts! Among them – cosmetics, soap, plastics, cheese, coffee and milk! The inventions of physicist Dr. Shirley Jackson led to extensive telecommunications developments, including caller ID, the portable fax, the touch tone telephone, and call waiting.

Do your kids revel in water gun fights? They will want to thank Lonnie Johnson for this brand of fun. The Aerospace Engineer for NASA created the Super Soaker – the most famous water gun of all. Do you enjoy watching the movement of GIFs online? Well Lisa Gelobter was integrally involved in the creation of the Shockwave technology, which spurred the beginning of web animation. And that has led to GIFs galore!

Learn about, share and celebrate the varied accomplishments of African Americans during this month, and all year long.

Twelve-year-old Rebecca Drayton has achieved at least 11 belt levels in her Tae Kwon Do career. A member of the Demo team, she loves the great exercise workout she gets during her classes at the Fayetteville location. She and her family love Master Shim’s World Class Tae Kwon Do. “They do an amazing job of teaching respect for others and self.  Character is very important and modeled well by all masters and instructors,” says her mother, Lesley.

Rebecca is a GA (Girl in Action) at New Hope Baptist Church, and indeed stays active and on the move.  Here’s more on one of February’s profile students, Rebecca Drayton.

Why did you start taking Tae Kwon Do?

I have been doing it for a little over a year. I started because I wanted to try something new and had wanted to try martial arts for years.

Did you have any problems/issues that Tae Kwon Do helped you overcome? 

I gained more strength and confidence. I also have better focus.

What has Tae Kwon Do done for your confidence? Self-esteem? 

Tae Kwon Do has helped me with my confidence and self-esteem because I am able to do things I never even thought was possible. So now I think pretty highly of myself.

Why do you like Tae Kwon Do?

I like being able to surprise myself with new techniques.

Why would you tell another kid that they should do Tae Kwon Do?

I would tell someone that they should join Tae Kwon Do because it helps with focus and it improves your level of strength.

February is American Heart Month. The purpose of the designation is to promote heart health, and raise awareness about heart disease. We all know it’s vital to take care of your heart. But what does that look like? How do you do it? Regular medical checkups are a given. However, you want to ensure you are doing your part to keep your heart healthy and happy.

• Eat healthy. That’s a given. Lots of grease, fat and sugar is not good for your heart – or any other part of your body, for that matter. Fresh fruits and vegetables provide you with necessary nutrients. Also, be sure to drink plenty of water.
• Get active. There are numerous benefits to exercise. Helping that blood to flow and getting the heart to start pumping are just a couple of good reasons to get moving. Power walking, stationery bike, and yoga are all great starts. Tae Kwon Do is an incredible way to have fun, build self-esteem, get in shape and be active all in one.
• Manage stress. We all have stress. It’s a part of life. The key is controlling it and learning smart ways to counter its effects.

Of course, there are numerous other ways to take care of your heart. But starting with even these simple ideas can make all the difference.

Valentine’s Day also falls in the month of February. Take heart-healthy action as an act of love for yourself … and those you care about.

Nine-year-old Elvin Davis started taking Tae Kwon Do classes at Master Shim's Fayetteville location last April. Though it has only been a short window of time, his mother, Sonya, says she made the right decision. “I am very pleased with Master Shim's Tae Kwon Do program. The staff is great and it is affordable compared to other places that do not give the same opportunities such as learning new things, building confidence, (and) providing structure.” That structure is already making a positive difference in Elvin.

Here’s more on our student, Elvin Davis.

Why did you start taking classes at Master Shim’s?

I started Tae Kwon Do because Master Shim's Tae Kwon Do offers an afterschool program that picks me up from school, it teaches disciplines and allows me to learn something new.

Did you have any problems/issues that Tae Kwon Do helped you overcome?

Tae Kwon Do has helped me to speak louder in front of people, because I was always shy and would speak quietly in front of people.

What has Tae Kwon Do done for your confidence? Self-esteem? 

It has strengthened my confidence and caused me to be more of a leader.

Is it good exercise? 

It makes me sweat every time I do it.

Why would you tell another kid that Tae Kwon Do is fun to do?

I would tell another kid they should do Tae Kwon Do because it would help them learn self-defense and it would be good exercise.

Just last month, we saw an end come to the longest United States government shutdown in history. While we’re thankful that it’s over, it definitely highlighted the need to learn how to live frugally and make smart financial decisions. Whether saving for your next vacation, a new house, a new car or your child’s education, it’s important to know how to make money-wise decisions.

• Always have an emergency fund. Ideally, you want to have 3-6 months of living expenses saved. But don’t let that figure deter you. Start where you can. Some savings is better than none at all.
• Cut down on unnecessary expenses. We all like to splurge every once in a while. But daily lattes may be a habit you can curb, for the greater good of your wallet.
• Find avenues of passive income. Get your money working for you. Whether it’s a side job that doesn’t require a great deal of your focus and energy, or an investment that pays healthy dividends, this additional money stream can come in very handy in a pinch.
• Clear clutter. Sell items in good condition. If you haven’t touched it in months, do you really still need it? Or is it unnecessarily occupying space? If you aren’t able to sell it, perhaps making a donation and receiving a tax write off is the way to go.

Preparation time is never wasted time. Prepare now for what could come later.

As a follow up to last week’s blog about resolutions, this week we’ll take a look at creating new habits in your life. Often, that’s what resolutions really are – new habits you want to develop. This can be difficult to do if you don’t understand the best way to achieve your desired results. Here’s a look at some methods you can employ to replace old habits with new ones.

Figure out how the habit works before you try to change it. Sounds simple, right? After all, if you eat a ton of junk food, eating fruits and vegetables would seem to be the logical new choice for you to make. However, if there is a reason you eat junk food – you are binge eating when you get upset, or eating is a coping mechanism – then you want to examine the reason for the bad habit first. The eating is a symptom of a larger problem. Work on that problem, and it’s easier to understand and work on changing the bad habit.

Give yourself 66 days to make the habit become a lifestyle change. Some sources say 21 days is enough to implement permanent change. That number, however, is more of a myth. A study titled “How Are Habits Formed” by University College London notes that it can take two months or more to solidify a new habit. Take the time necessary to make the change, and set yourself up for success moving forward.

Miss a day? It’s okay. Now, that’s not an invitation to skip out on your regimen. It is a realistic understanding that things happen and you may miss a day. Just get right back on it. If you are determined to see the 66 days through, it is not likely that one day of an accidental miss will derail you.

Start training yourself now to make new habits, and lifestyle changes, for the better!

According to U.S. News, 80% of our New Year’s resolutions fail by the second week of February. Eighty percent! That means your determination, grit and resolve to make changes at the beginning of the year, goes by the wayside just a few weeks later. While it can be difficult to make lasting lifestyle changes, it’s not impossible! There are ways to continue to stay encouraged and motivated in walking out your resolutions, to bring about the change you desire to see.

Don’t bite off more than you can chew

Start small with your resolution. Though losing 50 pounds to fit into that summer bikini may be the ultimate goal, losing 3-5 pounds per month sounds much more manageable. Similarly, finishing your Master’s degree is a great achievement to shoot for, but that only happens one class at a time. So, find a class that works for your schedule. Start with the small stuff.

Hone in on a particular area

Losing weight, beefing up your IRA, letting the kids try new activities and adding on a sunroom at the house are exciting endeavors. Doing them all at once, not so exciting. In fact, it can be overwhelming. Focus on an arena where you desire the most change, and zero in on that. Once you achieve that goal, it will encourage you to move forward with others.

Reward Yourself

Did you resist ordering fries and order a salad instead? Maybe give yourself some extra relaxation time at home. Did you manage to avoid a shopping spree at your favorite store, and put that money into savings? Allow yourself additional time to do something else that you enjoy. Small rewards incentivize your experience and make you more excited to see what else you can do.

Making a resolution is one thing. Seeing it to successful completion is another. You can do it! Start small, work hard, and make it happen!

Happy New Year! January is the perfect time to start new things, take advantage of new opportunities, and explore new options. One of the most important options you can explore is getting on track with your health. With holiday eating now set aside, it’s time to once again get focused on eating, and living, right. Although at some point we’ve all received information on healthy lifestyle choices, reminders are always helpful.

Eat Right

Nutrition is paramount. Choosemyplate.gov is just one of many websites that can help you determine what you should eat, and how much of it, for your size and weight. You can also visit a nutritionist to get more customized results. A proper diet helps you stay trim, fit and full of energy.

Rest

In today’s overscheduled society, rest is usually last on the list. In actuality, it deserves a lot more attention. Webmd.com notes that among other negative effects, impaired concentration, symptoms of depression and even sallow skin can all be caused by not getting enough sleep.

Decrease Stress

Delegate some tasks. Say no to yet another event. When you get home from work, don’t answer work emails. These are just a few ways to decrease stress. Operating at a high level of stress can ultimately have detrimental consequences.

Exercise

Activity and movement are essential to maintaining good health. There is no limit to the ways you can implement exercise into your routine. From running to team sports, cycling to working out at the gym, there’s a method for everyone. Tae Kwon Do can also be added to the list.  Punching, kicking, core-strengthening exercises and stretches can be a part of a typical Tae Kwon Do class, helping you build stamina and strength.

You can start your journey to a healthier you right away. Sign up for trial classes at Master Shim’s World Class Tae Kwon Do, and enjoy all the benefits the sport has to offer. Visit https://atlantatkd.com/beginners-martial-arts-classes-program/ for more details.

People can often confuse Tae Kwon Do and Karate. Both are respected martial arts’ forms, and both have their unique benefits and differences. Here are a few considerations when trying to determine which type of martial arts is best for you.

• Tae Kwon Do emphasizes more kicking techniques.
• Karate focuses more on hand strikes.
• Tae Kwon Do originated in Korea.
• Karate comes from Japan.
• Tae Kwon Do is an official Olympic sport.

When making the decision to study Tae Kwon Do or Karate, look at the following:

• What is the quality of the instruction?
• What does the facility look like?
• What is the atmosphere like?
• How does the class schedule work?
• Where are they located?

Hope you’ll consider taking a look at all that Master Shim’s World Class Tae Kwon Do has to offer in the New Year!