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WebMD: a great resource for anybody who wants to live healthier, happier lives. Last week they had an article worth sharing…so many of our members are overworked, and distracted – for a wealth of reasons. Let’s make a commitment to one another to be happier, healthier, and more fit. Here are just some of their ‘ways’…to read more, click here to read the full article.

I’ve been having trouble sleeping lately. I’ve been doing my best to get ample exercise, quiet my mind, eat well…but my body just isn’t getting more than 5 hours of sleep (and not solid sleep, either) a night. Here’s what they recommend:

4 Sleep Helpers

In 1896, Good Housekeeping magazine advised insomniacs, “Upon retiring … take a bowl of hot broth, like oatmeal gruel or clam soup.” Our contemporary advice:

1. Chill, baby, chill. A cool bedroom lowers core body temperature, which initiates sleepiness. How cool? The ideal temp varies from person to person (and from husband to wife!), but try 65 degrees to start.

2. Hire a specialist — online. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps even longtime insomniacs sleep better. Try the online course developed by a Harvard researcher at cbtforinsomnia.com($25); also on CD.

3. Turn off appliances. Artificial light (from lamps, TVs, maybe even a glowing clock) can keep you up. But if it’s still not dark enough, try a sleep mask. The favorite in GHRI testing: Bucky’s 40 Blinks Mask ($13).

4. Practice tai chi. When researchers compared this Eastern meditative martial art with standard health education programs, tai chi won — heads down — in improving both sleep quality and duration.

Add the #1 Veggie to Your Diet

It’s kale — based on its contribution to daily nutrient recommendations, including beta-carotene, lutein, vitamins C and K, and folate, plus potassium, magnesium, and iron. Spinach and collard greens are also stars.

And, for me, menopause has meant weight gain…couple that with a relatively sedentary work life, and wow! I’ve added at least 25 (more like 30) pounds to my frame. Here’s what WebMD has to say about that…

Little Changes, Big Weight Loss

Cook pasta al dente. When you boil spaghetti for five minutes, its glycemic index is 38; after 20 minutes, it shoots up to 61. The higher the glycemic index, the sooner you’ll be hungry again.

Munch around the clock. A healthy snack mid-morning and mid-afternoon will keep you from overdoing itat lunch and dinner, for a net reduction in calories.

Keep a food diary. Recording meals and snacks ups your chances of weight-loss success. In fact, among a group of almost 1,700 dieters, diarists doubled their weight loss compared with non-writing folks. (Note: I’ve been using the SparkPeople nutrition tracker tool – it’s free! They also have a fitness tracker to keep a log of your exercise.)

Eat s…l…o…w…l…y. In one study, women who took half an hour to eat a pasta lunch consumed almost 70 fewer calories than those who scarfed it down in nine minutes.

Stop the music! People spend longer at the dining table when there’s background music — any tempo or volume.

Watch out for sneak eating. “I just want a taste” (of pie, ice cream, pizza…) can add about 25 calories per mouthful.

Here’s to life! I wish nothing but the best for each and every one of you…there’s important work in your lives, and much play to look forward to!