A common cause of low energy is a deficiency in Vitamin B12.  This can be found in fish, red meat, poultry, and milk.  If you have low energy, ask your doctor to check your levels at your next bloodwork.  You can also add a multivitamin - it will include this energetic vitamin.

Set training goals.  Maybe you want to be able to run a mile without being out of breath or lift a certain amount of weight.  The journey to reaching these goals will make working out more exciting and engaging if you set and keep track of them regularly.

Cooking is a great hobby and it can be fun and get your creative juices flowing.  It also allows you to control what goes into your food. Instead of going out for an expensive or unhealthy dinner, take a cooking class for the basics and/or having fun experimenting on your own.  Don't forget the veggies!

Exercise has many physical benefits and psychological ones, too.  Releasing endorphins while exercising is great for preventing or even improving anxiety and depression and can give you a sense of accomplishment.  It can be hard to start exercising, but more often than not, you will be in a good mood after a workout.  Having one of those dragging days?  Give exercise a chance to turn it around and you will be glad you did.

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Multivitamins - are they necessary?  Yes, I recommend taking one daily, assuming no medical contraindications - always check with your doctor if you are not sure or have medical conditions.  It is a difficult task to know if you are getting enough of every type of nutrient to optimize your body function.  Some days, you may get all of your vitamins but other days, your diet may lag in diversity of food groups.  Take 3 seconds out of your day to take a multivitamin you will have all your vitamin and mineral requirements covered.  And yes, it is better to get your nutrients from food, but  since it may be difficult to eat perfectly every day, a vitamin will do just fine to supplement your diet - hence its name!

The best way to exercise is without realizing that you are exercising.  Make exercise social.  Go to the gym with a friend or schedule a weekly tennis match.  Go hiking and explore the outdoors.  You can then focus on the enjoyable activity and maybe for a second think about how great of a workout it is, also.

Want to get more fruits and veggies into your diet?  Try juicing.  And don't make it a super complicated project.  Just throw some vitamin-rich spinach or kale into a blender with ice and a couple fruits of your choice (plus some low calorie liquid drink to hold it together).  The sweet fruit will overpower the  moredull bitter tasting vegetable and you get the nutrients of both.  You may even have more energy throughout the day from all the vitamins!

Do you like soda?  Unfortunately, it doesn't like you.  Soda is like drinking sugar water with carbonation.  Save the calories for a more nutritious meal and go with water.  If you are a regular soda drinker, this small change can make a world of difference.  And yes, you can do so gradually.  Either switch from all soda to water, or initially exchange half of your sodas for waters.

Make one small change today.  If you are eating 3 full meals per day, make one a small meal.  Consider breakfast.  Instead of bacon, eggs, and toast or pancakes, have a Greek yogurt.  Then be done.  Do that 5 out of 7 days and you will be amazed at the difference it makes.

Become a social exerciser.  Enjoy softball, kickball, dodgeball, flag football?  Join a league.  Make new friends.  It is a way to exercise that you can look forward to instead of it being something on your daily "to do" list. Just be careful not to have too many beers or nachos with your team after the game!

Like eating out?  If you are anything like me, you do.  Save up for it.  If you know that you are going to a great restaurant in a few days, eat well leading up to it.  Then you can really enjoy the restaurant food without restrictions.  And then go back to eating the healthy way until your next reservation out.

Superfood.  What a trendy word.  It represents a food that is chock full of vitamins.  Broccoli, kale, and spinach are examples.  Eat them regularly.  Flavor them with herbs and balsamic.  Even kale, a tough, bitter leaf, can taste good with some olive oil and garlic. Just try not to cancel out these healthy foods with caloric dressings and rich/heavy sauces too often.

Vegetables are among the healthiest foods.  Find a way to enjoy eating them.  Make them a regular part of your kitchen.  And no, not the potatoes, but the colorful vegetables (red and purple potatoes are still considered a starch).  For example, peppers, broccoli, eggplant, and even cauliflower (though, yes, it is lacking in color!) A great way to do this is to sauté them - with olive oil, garlic, balsamic vinegar, teriyaki sauce, and many more.   Maybe not all together, but you can experiment...

Like eating a late night snack?  No problem!  Eating a little something before bed can be okay - but it depends what it is.  How about a banana or clementine?  Replacing sweets with these healthier options is a little change that can go a long way.

Happy New Year!  New Year's resolutions often come with an abundance of goals.  Here is some advice to get your 2017 off on the right foot!

What exercises do you enjoy doing?  You have to ask yourself this question.  Making exercise a chore is not a way to get yourself to keep doing it.  There are two general categories of exercise - cardio and strength.  Do you like one over the other?  Are you an avid runner or biker but do not enjoy weights?  Some exercise is better than none so stick to what makes you tick.  Who knows?  You may decide to add different elements in to your workouts once those endorphins start flowing.