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New York/New Jersey VA Health Care Network

 

VISN 2: Veterans' Wellness, Summer 2014

     Summer 2014
Build a Better You
Want to look better and feel your best? Try these tips!

Veterans Wellness Magazine Summer 2014
When you feel confident, it shows. Developing a routine of good habits can be the basis for building confidence and continuously improving yourself.

You Are What You Eat
Feeling good about the way you look boosts your confidence levels. Part of looking good is making sure you eat the right foods and get the right nutrients. Here is nutritional advice you may not have heard before:
• Sweet potatoes, red bell peppers and leafy greens, rich in vitamin A, will help give you healthy hair, skin and nails.
• B vitamins have a host of benefits for your appearance. B-6 prevents dandruff. B-5 strengthens your hair and wards off premature grays. B-12 prevents hair loss. Eggs and fortified cereals are good sources of B vitamins.
• Dark chocolate is high in flavonols, which are believed to improve blood flow and protect skin from damage.

Let Your Smile Shine
A healthy smile is one of the best ways to seem approachable to others. To keep your smile healthy:
• Brush twice a day and floss daily.
• See your dentist once or twice a year.
Some people visit the dentist only when they have a cavity. But regular checkups can save you money down the line. For example, a professional cleaning removes plaque that can cause cavities and other oral health problems. For help making dental care more affordable, take advantage of VA’s new comprehensive VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP). Visit www.va.gov/healthbenefits/vadip for

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Keep Your Weight in Check
When you are comfortable with your weight, you feel more confident. To prevent putting on extra pounds, exercise on a daily basis. If something comes up, reschedule your workout. It can help to keep a pair of sneakers and some clean workout clothes in your car so that you’re always ready to exercise.

If you need help shedding pounds, TeleMOVE!, VA’s personalized weight-management program, can guide you. Complete the entry questionnaire at your VA primary care clinic or online at www.move.va.gov/Move11. If you do it online, make sure to write down the retrieval code. Then call 1-877-619-0106 and select Option 1. A care coordinator will guide you through the next steps.

Advancing Your Career
When you look your best, you do your best. Looking good and being prepared are the best first steps to take when applying for a new job or advancing within your current one. Looking for a new job? VA can help you bridge your military skills into civilian skills. For resources, visit www.ebenefits. va.gov/ebenefits/jobs and click on Employment Center.

Overhaul Your Outlook
Your attitude is everything. Adopt these positive habits to be the best that you can be:
Clean up a negative perspective. Pessimistic thinking saps your enjoyment of life. Replace self-defeating thoughts with more positive ones. For example, let’s say you find yourself thinking, “This is a hopeless situation.” Think instead of all the positive options available.

Manage your stress. Stressful situations happen to everyone. Be ready with a list of quick, easy strategies you can use for immediate stress relief. For example, you could count slowly to 10, take six deep breaths or meditate.

Boost your confidence. Setting goals and achieving them can boost your confidence and give you a sense of accomplishment. Get focused — close your eyes and picture yourself achieving your goals. Involve all your senses and your emotions. For example, training for a 5K, you imagine crossing the finish line.
  See the positive in a negative. If you’re going through a rough patch, consider what you have gained from the experience. Perhaps it has made you stronger, brought you closer to loved ones or deepened your appreciation for life.

Build your support team. Family and friends are a good source of emotional support. Nurture your relationships to improve your well-being. Look through your phone contacts and call someone you haven’t talked with lately. Expand your social circle by taking a class, joining a club or volunteering in your community.


The Importance of Body Language

Want to meet new people, find a soulmate or get a job? Being aware of and mastering your body language can help make you more approachable to others. Here are some body language tips:

quote- life isn't about finding yourself, Life is about creating yourself - geroge ernard Shaw
  1. MAKE THE BEST FIRST IMPRESSION
Greet a new person with a strong handshake. People are twice as likely to remember you if you shake hands with them. When meeting new people, look your best and smile. Remember who they are by associating their names with something they are wearing or how they look.

2. SHOW THAT YOU’RE LISTENING:
Tilt your head slightly, lean forward and make eye contact when you are speaking with someone.

3. SEEM APPROACHABLE:
Smile when speaking with someone new. A smile conveys that you are cooperative and puts others at ease. Also, keep your body position neutral and relaxed — your hands at your sides, shoulders down.

4. ENCOURAGE
your arms but keep them waist level. Remember to gesture politely with your hands — don't point your finger while speaking.

5. CONVEY CONFIDENCE AND BE MORE LIKEABLE:
At a job interview, stand or sit up straight, with your shoulders back. Turn your body toward the other person and lean in slightly.

6. DEVELOP A RAPPORT:
In either a professional or a social situation, nod your head while the other person talks. Nodding shows you understand the other person and conveys warmth and trust.

Veterans Wellness Home
Summer 2014

Veterans Wellness Summer 2014 PDF
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