Do you have a goal of improving your health? On May 29th, 1953 a 34 year old man by the name of Sir Edmund P. Hillary achieved the seeming impossible – he conquered the world’s tallest mountain, Mount Everest. But what I found most interesting was how he climbed this mountain. Historians record that he achieved his goal by climbing up the final three hundred yards from their last Camp at less than three steps per minute.

How many times since the beginning of this year have you said that you need to do something about your health? At last, the day has come for you to get the strength you need to do something about it.

In John Trent’s book The 2 Degree Difference he discusses how Rudy Giuliani applied this technique in New York City when he was mayor and how it helped reduce the murder rate by 67%. The two degree difference Mr. Giuliani applied was to make it mandatory to have all the buildings with broken windows repaired, especially those in vacant buildings. This one small act led to other positive acts that eventually decreased the crime rate from 2,245 murders in 1990 to 642 murders in 1996.

What small difference can you make today that will improve your health? I believe in you and much like Sir Edmund, you have the strength to take a few small steps starting today until you reach your goal.

Here are some small suggestions

1. Take a fifteen minute walk two or three days a week. That’s only 30 to 45 minutes out of 10,080 minutes. This is a small goal that you can attain.

2. Or how about a change in water intake? Did you know that the human body is made of 60-70% of water? It has often been said that we should take in 6 to 8, eight-ounce glasses of water daily. But suppose you start with a smaller amount such as substituting one flavored beverage a day for a glass of water.

3. Ride a bike - stationary or mobile - for 15 minutes, 2-3 days a week

4. Do a mini work out - jog up and down your street, do twenty crunches

5. Decrease cigarette smoking by 2 cigarettes a day

6. Decrease your alcohol intake by one drink per day

7. Substitute one high fat dish with a low fat dish once a week

8. Take 15 minutes a week to sit and unwind (meditate, pray, take in nature’s sights and sounds) with no outside distractions (e.g. TV, music, talking, phones). You can even do it for 5 minutes a day, 3 days a week.

9. Begin taking one vitamin that will improve your daily health (i.e. calcium, B6, B12)

10. Eat one fruit instead of a high sugar treat twice in one week

11. Schedule one check up you haven’t in years (i.e. dental, eyes, gynecologist, urologist, etc.)

12. Get to bed one half-hour earlier than usual

Remember the saying, "How do you eat an elephant? Answer: One bite at a time."

The same goes in improving your general health. By making one of the small changes mentioned above you will be led into more positive and greater changes that will improve your health overall. My mom used to tell me, "You only have one body, so take care of it". The end result will be that it will take care of you.

NOTE: Please check with your doctor before making these changes.