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We all have good intentions when we make resolutions and a common resolution in the New Year is to live a healthier lifestyle. When making this kind of change it is important to do it at a pace that feels right for you and your family to better your chances of sucess. Making your goals obtainable will do wonders for keeping you focused. Each success you have will fuel you to move on to the next. A great way to keep motivated is to write your (obtainable) goals down. Keep a notebook where you can record daily, weekly, monthly and yearly goals. Making these goals clear can help to keep you on task.

SOME GOALS TO CONSIDER:

Be more active / get fit - be creative, make it fun! Learn a new style of dance, take up fencing, play hard with your kids, join an exercise boot camp, make a regular exercise date with a friend, park farther away so you will walk more, consider biking instead of driving, wear weights on your wrists while you're cleaning, walk the dog. There are opportunities all day long to be more active.

Lower your cholesterol or blood pressure - ask your Dr. to help you come up with a realistic number. Write down different ways to reach this goal - diet, exercise, stress reduction.

Eat more dinners at home with the family - pick a number of days, or certain days of the week, that you will make sure dinner is at home and healthy. Succeed at this by planing meals before you head off to the market. Make small related goals like getting to your local Farmers Market each week, serving only fresh, not processed foods or trying a new food once a week.

Bring a lunch to work or school - set a goal of at least 3 days a week or whatever will work for your family. Another goal may be to include at least one vegetable and one fruit. Be successful - prepare much of your lunch the night before, buy smaller reusable containers that are easy to pack and don't forget leftovers can make for great lunches so keep that in mind when you are planning dinner.

Eat more seasonal, locally grown foods - find out what's in season and who's growing it in your area - click HERE for a veggie calendar or HERE for a fruit calendar.

Remember to take time to enjoy your

loved ones and find beauty in each day!

TRUE NORTH FITNESS & HEALTH

One month trial for a special price - register by February 14th - CLICK HERE for more info

And CLICK HERE  to find out more about

VENTURA COUNTY ADVENTURE BOOT CAMP

Next camp starts February 22nd

Below is only a partial list of upcoming events and activities so be sure to click on our EVENT CALENDAR so you do not miss anything.

Use the PARENT PLANNER to click on events and resources you are interested in and click PRINT MY PLANNER to print or email your list.

A Valentines Day Gift For Your Relationship

It was an absolutely gorgeous November day in the Ojay Valley.  My husband and I were participating in the “Tools For Togetherness” two-day communication workshop at the Ojai Foundation ojaifoundation.org.  I can’t remember the last time we spent an entire day working on our relationship.

The day was magical with opportunities to bond as a couple, deepening our trust and intimacy.  It was a small group environment with four other couples.  Not only did we learn a non-defensive communication technique, there was plenty of time to practice as a couple and discuss our successes and challenges with the group.  The second full day of the workshop was two weekends later, allowing us time to practice our new way of communicating and bring back questions and comments about our experience.

Glori Zeltzer and Leon Berg were wonderful facilitators with Glori’s background as a licensed marriage and family therapist and Leon’s experience as a communication trainer.  They brought their invaluable insights as a couple and created a safe and comfortable environment for exploration and learning.

This workshop taught us to set aside a special place to communicate, letting us know that we’re NOT going to communicate in our ways of the past.  We use a talking piece which allows us to speak from our heart and feel completely heard.  And when things get too heated, we take a break and come back to it when we are calm and non-defensive. Yes, we still have disagreements and squabble in our day to day lives, but we know we can utilize our new communication tool when it is needed.

I would highly recommend this workshop to any couple open to a new way of communication.  The next workshop is February 14 & 28.  Contact Glori Zeltzer for more information at (805) 648-3535 or go to their website at tools-for-togetherness.com.