Everything I Needed to Know About Health, I Learned From My Dog.

It's not a surprise, really.  We're mammals.  Dogs are mammals. Happy Dogs do these things.  So do happy people.

So how does a person act like a dog?

Get Regular Exercise:

Easy enough.  Most Doctor's say 30 minutes of "active movement" a day.  That could be anything from a brisk walk to jogging, to playing a sport.  You don't need to do the same thing everyday.  Just do something.

Purchasing a fitness tracker like a FitBit is a great idea.  Put it on, sync it to your phone and it'll start tracking your steps and activity.  No, they're not perfectly accurate.  But who cares? They are, however, good indicators of how much your moving. And starting at $50, couldn't be more affordable.

Eat Healthy Meals:

What should I eat?  Simple, start with the USDA guidelines.  Limit your fat and junk calorie intake and you are on your way.  You can sync your FitBit data with programs like LoseIt!  They'll let you track what you eat and see reports about your nutritional intake.  Don't just try to cut calories.  Try to hit the right balance of nutrition.  Programs like this make it easy.

A lot of people have said, "I've tried losing weight, but nothing works."  First, stop trying to lose weight - and start trying to be healthy.  When you're healthy, whatever weight you're at, you look great.

Now that you're focused on the right thing, get the feedback you need (using FitBit and LoseIt! or whatever tool you choose.) Getting the data about what you eat and how active you are is important to helping you easily get healthy. Most people spend more time thinking about the type of gas they put in their car compared to the type of food they put in their bodies.

Drink Plenty of Fresh Water:

Well that's easy.  Stay away from sugary drinks.  Here's a quick tip, if you find yourself overeating at meals, drink a glass of water before you pick up a fork.  It'll fill you up and help to keep your calories in check.

See the Doctor once a year:

Don't forget, annual physicals are now free under every health plan in America.  So schedule one right away.

Get your mind off of your weight and onto your happiness.  The happiness to run and play with your kids or grandkids, regardless of your age.  The happiness to not feel tired and worn out at the end of the day.  And the happiness that comes from general fitness.

So get happy and get healthy! (And let us know how you're doing in the comments below.)