Food For Thought! Want to help yourself with better memory! Here's a quick snack to help you do just that!

1 hard-boiled egg + 1/2 tsp. horseradish = Total Recall

Choline, an essential nutrient found in yolks, is key to maintaining memory because it encourages clear communication between brain cells.  Eggs also have vitamin D, a necessity for neural function.  For more zing and extra support for cell growth mix the yolk with horseradish.

Food For Thought! Want to help yourself to think clearer! Here's a quick snack to help you do just that!

1/2 avocado + 2 whole wheat crackers = Clear Cognition

High in good-for-you monounsaturated fat, avocados increase blood flow to the brain.  Whole grains make the perfect pair, since they supply an anti-inflammatory punch plus B vitamins, such as thiamin, which battle mental decline.

Food For Thought! Want to help yourself to concentrate better! Here's a quick snack to help you do just that!

1 can chick peas + 1 tbsp. turmeric + 1 tbsp. olive oil = Better Processing

Chickpeas are rich in B vitamins, which help reduce brain cell shrinkage and offer up a slow yet steady source of carbs to keep your mind focused.  The spice adds an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory kick to enhance brain performance and fight Alzheimer's.  Drain the chickpeas, toss them with turmeric and oil, spread out on a backing sheet and bake at 425 degrees for at least 15 minutes - long if you want more crunch. Yields (3)  1/2 cup servings.

Food For Thought! Want to help yourself to process information better! Here's a quick snack to help you do just that!

1 cup plain yogurt + 1/2 cup blueberries = Better Processing

Thanks to blueberries' potent flavonoids, eating at least one 1/2-cup serving a week of this superfood delays mental aging by up to TWO and a HALF years, according to research! The yogurt (look for one with less than 10 grams of sugar per serving) provides potassium, to improve blood flow, and probiotics, which promote health belly bacteria and protect the gut's lining.

Food For Thought! Want to help yourself to think fast on your feet! Here's a quick snack to help you do just that!

7 halved walnuts + 1 tbsp. sunflower seeds + 2 tbsp. dried cherries = Quick Thinking

The ingredients in this homemade trail mix burst with anti-inflammatory agents that improve brain function. Omega-3 fatty acids in walnuts have also been shown to boost learning and memory and their vitamin E shields cells from damage caused by free radials.

One of the best parts of WLG is the social aspect and accountability that comes with group training. We see many of the same people every week. If you’re not there, at least one person will undoubtedly ask, “Hey, where is she?!” We support each other, make each other laugh, and keep each other on track. The same sense of connection and responsibility that we feel with our WLG family also happens, perhaps even more so, when our partners (wives, husbands, girlfriends, boyfriends, etc.) share our commitment to living a healthy life.

            When a couple is genuinely committed to leading a life of health and wellness together, great things can happen. An article by Psychology Today (link below) reported that couples who worked out together enjoyed benefits including increased happiness within their relationship, improved efficiency of workouts, and more efficiently reaching fitness goals. The trust, honesty, and communication you strive for in your day to day lives can translate perfectly to the gym. Plus, you get the physical benefits of exercise along with the emotional benefits of spending some quality time together.

            Another article (link below) on a study out of England reported similar effects. Partners making healthy changes together saw improved outcomes. They were more likely to quit smoking, starting exercising, and lose weight. Success was more likely when they took on a challenge together.

Putting research aside, common sense tells us that having similar goals of staying or getting in shape, eating healthy, and generally living a healthy lifestyle can make things much easier. Think of meal times. If both people are excited to try clean, healthy recipes no one will be grumbling when you put out lettuce wraps instead of tortillas for your tacos (or you can grumble together). When your partner stays on track at a restaurant it makes it easier for you to as well. While, traveling or on vacation together you know someone will get up with you no matter what and squeeze in a workout. If both partners value health and taking care of themselves, money for gym memberships and good food can become a priority in how you budget your household income.

Even if you don’t workout together or only workout together occasionally, exercise can create common ground and an area where you can encourage and teach each other. Think of how exciting it is to bring your significant other to WLG for the first time just so they can try it. They’ve been hearing about how fabulous it is (or how sore you are) and you finally get to share something you’re incredibly proud of with the person you love the most.

All of this is not to say that you can’t or won’t make gains without your significant other on the same page. When it comes down to it, each individual needs to be driven and committed to health and wellness in order to make true change. It is an awesome bonus, however, when you and your partner can share a passion for working out, healthy eating, and overall wellness. 

Author, Molly Melvin 
WLG Athlete 

Sources
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/meet-catch-and-keep/201401/5-reasons-why-couples-who-sweat-together-stay-together

http://www.businessinsider.com/r-it-takes-two-getting-healthy-may-be-easier-with-a-partner-2015-1