It’s the start of a new year! There are tons of possibilities for the next 364 days – it’s almost overwhelming. I am a huge proponent of making REALISTIC changes. This is part of the reason I do mini-goals on Monday or write down messages on my white board.
So, when I was recently sent the new book 52 Small Changes – One Year to a Happier Healthier You by Brett Blumenthal, I figured it was right up my alley.
The book suggests one healthy change a week with some suggestions and ideas for how to incorporate it. 
I really appreciate that it’s not just all about the usual health messages – like eat green and exercise. This book includes suggestions for stress relief and organization too.
Added bonus: This chapter sounds like they’re suggesting an Intuitive Eating concept. 
If you want to make 52 small changes leave a comment below to win your own copy!
But, some things never change. Like how I had eggs for breakfast…
And how Ben’s mom is trying to kill me with Cinnamon Rolls…
And how my cat spits up more than a newborn…
Vegas is staying with my mom and dad while we’re out of town. This is the text I received when I texted to check on him…
To Enter to win the 52 Small Changes Book: Leave a comment with 1 small change you would suggest to a friend who wants to get healthier.
Contest ends 1/2/2012 at 6pm PST. Open to US residents only.
You should take part in a contest for one of the best blogs on the web. I will recommend this site!
That book looks awesome!
I would totally love this book. My suggestion would be to eat lean protein for breakfast to stave off hunger later in the day!
That sounds like a great book. Little things that can make a big difference.
Drink water.
I would love the book!! One change I would suggest is preparing a lot of your meals on Sunday or the night before your work week begins. That way, you are already planning on eating healthy and you have them right there to grab and go!
I reeallllly want to win. The biggest thing I would suggest is drink water and MOVE. Anything you can find that you love that gets thebody in motion.
Great book! I also like the idea of small, tangible goals a opposed to big, sometimes un realistic goals people seem to set on new years.
Yum! Those cinnamon rolls look amaaaazing! This book looks like something I would totally read! Happy New Year!
This is definitely a book i need to read! As an overachiever and perfectionist, i would want to change the way i look at things in life and start to enjoy it more.
this looks like a great book! one change i would suggest is to make meals more of an experience– something that involves time, care, love, and attention. to be healthy, i think it’s important to take time to really appreciate each moment 🙂
I have learned over the last year that I had always tried to set overly ambitious goals and that is probably where I failed before, so setting smaller goals is such an important concept.
The number one thing I would suggest oooh, so hard so I am going to make it 2.
1. MOVE your body
2. Drink more water!!
The small suggestion would be to add at least one fruit and/or vegetable to every meal. That way you know you’re at least having something healthy.
I would suggest finding a friend to work out with. That makes it so much easier for me. I want to be like you and SR and like running alone, but I don’t yet, that’s one of my goals for 2012.
if you’re feeling snack-y, chew some gum. sometimes that cuts down on the cravings!
I would suggest my friend complete the 5k101 program. It changed my life and signed up for my first half marathon in 2012. Woo! Also…my cat cries and throws up a lot, too. There’s nothing like stepping on cat barf in your bare feet first thing in the morning 🙂
My one small change I would recommend to someone is to eat better and in moderation.
That book looks pretty good!
Move your body! That is the one of the easiest things you can do to jumpstart weight loss and get healthy.
I would suggest to eat as natural as possible–less processed, more raw or unaltered. It always seems to taste better to me, anyway!
For example: Larabars>>>>>all other protein bars. Just saying. haha
Happy New Year!
I would say to added exercise before changing your diet.
Get up and out the door. Take in the sounds of the wind and the birds; it does so much to calm the mind.
The book sounds very interesting!
Simple way to cut down the cut down the calories of a cinnamon roll….just east the very middle and leave the rest….really I think it breaks down to about 10 cal per middle 🙂
Switch white starchy carbs with whole wheat.
Get more sleep by going to bed just half an hour earlier. It will make such a difference in the energy you have the next day, and anything you think you’re missing out on will be there the next day!
I would suggest trading soda for water!
I would suggest setting mini goals and then having rewards (non food related) …..goals like 5k and then running doesn’t seem like working out but training for your goal! Also don’t change everything at once.
That sounds like a cool book! One thing I would recommend to a person who wants to get healthier is to meal plan and do a weekly grocery shopping trip to be prepared to cook more of their own meals/pack lunch for work/school
The change I would recommend that I recently did was cut out Diet Coke!! Very hard to do, but I did it 🙂
52 Small Changes sounds like a book I would love to read! I would recommend a friend to just START a workout! That is the hardest part. Then if they feel like stopping after 5 minutes they can… but they would probably continue realizing it did feel great!
My suggestion for a friend is to walk outside for at least 20 minutes a day…it is refreshing and rejuvenating, a great way to get in some exercise and of course a great way to get some fresh air– especially if you are stuck at a desk job all day!
My suggestion would be to get a pedometer and try to increase the daily steps they were taking. Small changes add up to big results.
Don’t eat after 7 (or a reasonable cut off pre-bed) and if you are going to have a treat, enjoy it. Constant denial can lead to binges and then shame. Might as well enjoy a reasonable treat reasonably frequently. 🙂
I would suggest packing your own lunch to take to work!
Oh I’d just love to make 52 small changes… beginning with eating less processed food!
The suggestion I’d make is to drink more water! Flavor it with lemon, lime, orange, etc.
How inspiring to make 52 healthy changes this year.
I would suggest to a friend to try to make a new healthy habit part of his/her routine for one week. Just one week can cause the habit to stick and you can start to see changes – even if they’re small….any progress in terms of change is an accomplishment.
Happy New Year
Drink more water! It’s a change I need to follow myself. 2012 is a year where I REALLY need to make water my default beverage, not diet coke, coffee, or alcohol. Those are slightly less healthy.
Great book idea. I want one!
I would say drink lots of water everyday!!
one small change i would suggest is swapping water for a diet soda, reg soda, etc. basically try to ween yourself off of liquid calories and drink water instead!
I would love that book! My biggest suggestion to a friend is to start small – don’t try to make 100 changes towards your goal in one day. I’ve tried it before and it doesn’t last very long. Happy new year Monica!
I would suggest to a friend that they should eat more veggies. Even if it’s only one extra serving per day, that can help to start other healthier habits.
To only eat foods that you really, really love.
Don’t try to do a complete overhaul overnight. Start small and eventually it will become totally natural.
be active 🙂
My suggestion would be to drink more water. It makes a huge difference!
My suggestion would be to use food as medicine/fuel. It will only temporarily make you feel better if you use it for other things.
One suggestion: cut down on eating out and cook at home more often! Cooking for yourself, you know what’s going into your food and what’s going into your mouth 😀
Use the old Nike slogan. Just Do It! Whether it be Drink water, exercise each day, or eat fruit/veggies each day!
I would say to quit drinking soda…. or at least drink more water than soda everyday.
I would suggest people write down their food intake- that helps me a lot!
I would suggest to quit belittling their failed attempts at goals. You put forth the effort to try, that’s more than a lot of people do!
I would suggest to eliminate soda and/or high fructose corn syrup.
If I knew the person real well I would suggest incoorporating more religion into their life: prayer, meditaition, attending church,reading the Bible.
Or if I didnt know them well I would suggest they eat more whole natural foods and less preservatives!
I love inspirational books like this – how fun to look back a year from now and see what you stuck with through the year-
I would suggest cutting out full sugar soda!
keep cut up veggies and fruit in the fridge-that way you can easily reach for a snack that’s healthy!
My suggestion would be to add in healthy habits, instead of taking things away. For example, instead of trying to cut out the less healthy foods in my diet, I’m trying to add more fruits/veggies so that the less healthy things will disappear.
Sounds like my cat! ha. Poor kitty.
I would love to make 52 small changes!
I would suggest always carry an apple and some mixed nuts in your purse. Great snacks!
I would suggest surrounding yourself with people that support you and your goals!
I would say, “Turn the TV off”. There are so many better things to do with and for yourself than sit on the couch with the TV on.
One small change I would suggest is just to get outside and do something active everyday! Whether it’s a walk around the block or a full workout… it’s better than sitting on the couch!
I would say drink water- I know that’s a popular one, but it’s so good for you!
For a friend who wanted to get into a workout routine I would recommend trying to do something active every day. It doesn’t have to be a structured workout – but making small decisions like taking the stairs instead of an elevator or parking in a spot a distance from a store to get in more walking can really make a difference and help them feel successful each day. This seems like a great book!
i would suggest scheduling a time to exercise in their planner/blackberry/whatever, so that they are less likely to skip a workout sesh.
I would suggest working out in some form at least 3 times a week. That is what helped me the most. Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
Eliminate sugar! Ok, that would be a huge change for most people, but it is a change that would make a serious difference in the health of most people.
Sweat once a day!
I would suggest 15 minutes of exercise a day…..it adds up!
I would suggest to really make an effort to drink enough water. It really helps with bloat and just makes you feel refreshed.
I would recommend making an exercise plan for the day/week/month. Just something to follow and check off as you go along.
Move every day, even if it’s just a walk around the block.
Drink more water!!!
This book looks fantastic! I love the idea of making small changes over the year…much greater chance for success. Fingers crossed that I win! 🙂
Drink more water!
This older guy has a blog all about making small changes for healthy living and you can print out a little card of each change he writes about to stick somewhere as a reminder for yourself. It sounds like something you’d love! It’s called http://www.wordofwisdomliving.com/ It’s kinda science-y at times, not a girly, fun blog by any means, but very interesting nonetheless.
To smile more!
I would say move more! Take baby steps – park farther away, take the steps instead of the elevator, get up and move at work, etc. Eventually those little steps become a more active person. 🙂
I would say to always take time for yourself to workout. People used to make me feel bad for making that a priority but now i don care because i know its important for me!
I am going to start my day with a hot lemon water with a pinch of cayenne each morning!
Drink more water! Buy a nice reusable water bottle and aim to refill it 2-3 times a day!
Drink more water!
Don’t forget about Feb 29th! This year has 366 days.
I would say “Hey, lets make a date to work out together at least x times a week, then we can get healthy together and still have fun”
I would suggest eating breakfast. Everyone I know doesn’t eat breakfast and sure enough after being at work for about an hour, they grab a donut or a big muffin. It’s best to start the day off right.
I always say to cut pop and artificial sugar. Happy New Year
Remove the word CAN’T from your vocabulary!
This book looks so good! I would tell my friends to eat breakfast and to take more time to laugh!
hug more. walk more. smile more. 🙂
One small change I would suggest would be to switch all beverages to water and cut out the soda/soft drinks!
I would suggest listening to your body, and eat a salad a day 😀
I would suggest to them to stop snacking after suppertime! That seems to me to be one of my worst habits, but easiest to follow when I actually “lay down the law” for myself!
I would suggest for them to simply move their body – take the stairs not the elevator, park farther away from the store, dance while cooking :), etc.
Great giveaway! 🙂
I would tell my friend, if they were trying to be healthier with working out, is to make a commitment to yourself to work out, and then treat yourself every time you make it to the gym. You could do this my putting $1 in a jar every time you make it, or $2 each week you make your goal.
Sounds like a great book! I’d tell a friend to commit to just 10 minutes of exercise per day…make it an appointment on your calendar. Half the battle is just getting out there and getting started. You’ll often find you want to keep going after those 10 minutes!
I’d love to win!
Although giving up Diet Coke is high on my list and replacing it with H2O…I have watched the documentary “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead” once again and want to make the change to a more plant based diet. If you haven’t seen the movie, go to NetFlix…is it wonderfully done.
I think I’ve seen this book before – wish I would have bought it’
I would say try to do something active everyday, even if it’s just a walk around the block and drink lots of water!
definitely to drink more water! it really did everything everyone says it will do. they’re not lying!
Learn to eat intuitively.
This is my main goal, too, by the way. (I need to do some serious reading up on it, though!)
Just go ahead and exercise, even if you don’t want to it will make you feel so good you did 🙂
Add veggies to every meal (consequently, that’s one of my goals this year).
To always try to see the positive in situations.
I’d say give up elevators and escaltors and always take the stairs unless you have luggage, lots of groceries, or a broken leg.
Adopt a pet – cat, dog, fish, frog… whatever floats your boat. I find having a pet in the house can be so refreshing and healing!
I’d suggest swapping 1 sugary drink with water!
I would suggest drinking more water. It makes me feel so much better!
i also have a kitty-lemic cat. every once in a while she just vomits for no reason all over the place. lovely to come home to…
I would definitely suggest at least 15 minutes of meditation before starting the
day to collect our thoughts and visualize how we
want our day to go.
I’d suggest doing walking meetings instead of sit-down ones for friends with a desk job. getting outside and away from the computer does wonders!
Dance with the kids. Take advantage of that Wii!
Sounds like a book I need to get–winning it would be the best, though! I think the one change I’d suggest to a friend is start tracking what you eat; just knowing what is going in your mouth is often enough to help you get started eating better.
For someone who loves soda– add extra ice to the cup and alternate soda with watee
One change I’d suggest would be committing to 30 minutes of purposeful physical activity each day.
I love the idea of 52 small changes. Such a simple and easy way to be a little healthier. A change that I would suggest someone make is to get up and move every day, even if it’s just for 20 minutes. Something as easy as a walk around the neighborhood can make a difference.
I would love to win this book. 🙂 My suggestion would be to give out more compliments.
P.S. Vegas is just preparing you for your future baby. They cry and spit up too 😉 <3
I would suggest to not overcomepensate eating with exercise. Some people think they burn so much more than they really do and just eat back the same (and sometimes more) number of calories than they burned. I have problems with nightime/boredom eating..so I’m trying to work on that. sorta 🙂
Drink lots of water!
Hi Monica,
I’ve never commented before but I’ve been following your blog for a while. I love the idea of 52 small changes because all the changes I’ve ever made in my life have all started with a tiny little step. Happy New Year,
Girl Eat
a change I would say to make is add fifty crunches/type of ab work out every night.
I would say enjoy everything in moderation! One cookie never killed anyone 🙂 Life is too short to be restrictive with food- it is meant to be enjoyed!
I would suggest taking things one day at a time. It’s easy to focus on the week ahead but it’s important to have success each day first.
I would suggest taking it one day at a time and not beating yourself up if you take a small detour along the way.
That book looks really fitting for trying to adopt some healthy changes in a more reasonable time frame.
I would suggest to a friend to simply start with moving more. Two 10-15 minute walking breaks at work will do wonders for stress relief. Then, you figure if this makes you feel good then maybe making other small changes will too!
I would suggest going for a walk to get their steps in and gradually increasing until they were comfortable going to the gym.
Thank you for the opportunity!
One suggestion I would make is to make sure to always have breakfast — preferably fresh fruit.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com
I would suggest replacing pop (or soda) with water and avoid fast food as much as possible!
i know it’s an easy one and so many ppl have probably suggested it, but i would suggest walking just a bit more every day – even if it means skipping the elevator or a close parking spot. and drinking more water.
I never enter giveaways but this book looks to good to pass up – see I’m changing already! My advice would be to find one physical activity they enjoy and do it more.
One small change that anyone can make is to drink more water…it makes a world of difference and you don’t have to limit yourself to what foods can be eaten For someone wanting to make bigger changes I would suggest setting small, attainable goals to start out with then adding more once some momentum has been built.
I think the two biggest issues people have are just getting started and sticking with it. People just need reminders that your body can perform amazing things but your mind has to guide it. Don’t give up and just keep trucking. Make exercise and healthy eating a routine and it will become easier.
I would suggest to start reading food labels and what they mean. I would also suggest that they start slowly with small changes that can be incorporated every day!
I would just suggest drinking more water!
I would suggest, quit talking about it and do it!! and more water.
drink half your weight in water each day (minimum)!
I plan to incorporate more veggies into my meals this year
52 small changes book sounds wonderful…my suggestion would be “Remember to breathe”.
Great giveaway for the new year!
I would tell them to try green monster smoothies!
Oh this book sounds awesome — just what I need to jump start my 2012 fitness goals. I’d tell my friend to switch to water — no more soda!
One small change I’d like to work on this year is drinking enough water. Training for my first half I know I’ll need to up to fluid intake. Love the idea of this book! Thanks for sharing.
I love the idea of one small change a week…I’ve been toying with the idea of a weekly challenge on my blog, but that would involved me thinking of 52 ideas on my own…a book would be so much easier 🙂
I’d tell a friend to quit thinking and just do it…whether that be cutting out sodas, increasing fruits/veggies, or exercising.
I love the idea of this book! I’d like to continue working on the practice of gratitude and thankfulness in my life. I believe it’s healthy and good to engage in this practice, and I just barely scratched the surface last year.
Get up and move every single day!
Drink water!!
So basic, but even if I feel like I’m having an “off-plan” day, I can always reel it in by chugging some agua.
I just got done reading “The Happiness Project” by Gretchen Rubin, and she focused on making small changes each month. I really like that approach, so I’d encourage a friend to try to incorporate one new change each week or two, and keep adding on healthy changes as the weeks go by!
I would love to have a copy of this book! Sista needs some motivation!
Be realistic! Don’t set out to conquer the world or you set yourself up for failure. Water, water, water-drink more than you probably are!
I’d say to get at least a half hour of activity in every day, and if you don’t feel like it then at least give it a ten minute try before giving up. I’ve never regretted a workout after the fact!
I would encourage them to take things slow – baby steps. Drink more water. Eat more fruits and veggies. Walk more every day. Soon it will add up!
I love the idea of making small changes – I’d love to check out the book!:)
I’d tell a friend to do everything in moderation….that goes for eating, excercise, healthiness, and splurging. Don’t go too far on either end of the spectrum!
Eat smaller meals more frequently rather than a few large meals.
This book sounds right up my alley. I’m all about small, manageable changes in my life. One small change: drink tea. I have black or green tea in the morning and herbal in the evening, and the whole ritual is somehow calming.
I would suggest to any of my friends to do a little bit of something active everyday. No matter how busy you are, squeeze in at least 10-15 minutes of an activity that you love everyday, and gradually build up from there. It becomes addictive! It takes at least 21 days to make a habit; so give it at least 21 days! Becoming an active person in 2011 was the best thing I have ever done for myself!
One small change I would suggest is to drink more water. It may sound simple, but water is so nourishing to the body and many of us do not get enough of our daily H2O!!!
My advice would be to cut out junk and processed food and include protein rich and natural products in her diet.
The book sounds great! I would tell a friend to work on being in the moment and not stressing about the past or future. I worked on this a lot last year and I was not as stressed out as much as I the past. I appreciate every moment for what it is and try to find the good in everything!
Sounds simple but I’d tell a friend to get 4-5 servings of fresh fruit and veggies each day, a serving being about the size of a baseball! The book looks awesome!
Get more sleep. Something so simple can make such a big difference!
I would LOVE a copy of that book. I get overwhelmed when trying to set goals and make changes. That book looks helpful! My suggestion is to find a supportive friend and check in with them regularly. A friend of mine did that – and chose ME to help her lose 40 pounds. I don’t feel I did much, but she says I did… (She’s so inspirational to me!) I hope kitty feels better soon. I know how it is and hate leaving mine. 🙁
Buy healthy, eat healthy. You can’t snack on what you don’t have!
haha yea, they say cats are independent, but they get pissy when we leave them! One small change I would suggest would be to eat a salad everyday!
My suggestion to my friend would be to eat without distractions!
This book seems awesome!! I just started setting monthly goals…they seem more manageable than goals for the whole year.
Get some form of activity every day! Walking totally counts!
I want to find time to relax, like read, during the week.
Portion out snacks to take on the go, and always have an emergency healthy snack on hand.
My advice…move. Anyway you can.
That and pay attention to your portions. Makes a huge difference without being insanely stressful!
At least 10 minutes of moving a day, whether it is Pilates, yoga, a run, something! never underestimate 10 minutes! That’s like the amount of time it takes me to decide which trashy show to watch at night so everyone has 10 minutes!
I’d tell my friend a scale measures weight, not worth….and recommend she stay in & eat lunch w/me in lieu of going out.
Make small weekly goals and post them on your bathroom mirror where you’ll see them every morning
I would tell my friend that she is “worth it!”
I recommend cutting out fast food and preparing all your meals at home. It saves you money too 🙂
I would suggest trying a mix of different exercise to see which they like more and are more likely to stick with.
I would tell a friend to try and incorporate more fruits and veggies in their meals!
This book looks like a great read. The concept of making one change a week is very creative. I would recommend to my friend to always eat a protein-filled breakfast. It’s the most important meal of the day!
Replace on non water beverage (soda, coffee, sweet tea, beer, whatever) with water everyday. This book sounds fab!
I think that book would be great for me. I would suggest eating out less to a friend.
That book looks pretty cool. I would suggest to any of my non-running friends to start the C25k program and run with me!
Looks like a great book!
That book sounds awesome! I would tell a friend to drink more water!
The tip would be to plan your day one meal at a time. Make sure the meal you’re eating is something that will help you reach your goal (whether to lose weight, eat cleaner, etc.). Don’t worry so much about the ENTIRE whole day, just take it one meal at a time.
The very first thing I would suggest to a friend is to start drinking more water, its amazing how much better you can feel chugging a water bottle instead of a fizzy pop. Once you realize the difference its amazing and i feel like they would feel better and want to start taking more steps to lead a healthier lifestyle.
Happy New Year! I would suggest not to let one small slip up ruin a whole day. Just because you eat a pack of cookies for breakfast doesn’t mean it’s a reason to eat bad for the rest of the day.
That book sounds really neat. I would tell a friend that is trying to get healthy to take it one day at a time and they do not have to be perfect.
i would say making time to workout. my friend complains about how she doesn’t have time all the time!
Id love to read this! Small changes are what makes a big impact, I would reccomend setting weekly mini goals for for what most would consider minor accomplishments, it does so much for you to be successful in any capacity!
What a great book for the new year!! I’d love to learn more!! One tip I would give a friend is GET ACTIVE! It’s amazing how much just a little exercise can make a big difference in one’s attitude, stress level, metabolism, well-being…etc.
Stop drinking your calories! And take a quick walk every day, even if it’s only 10 minutes.
The small change that I would make to a friend who wants to get healthier is to commit to eating one cup of fresh vegetables a day. For those on the S.A.D. (standard American diet), this can make a world of difference. It did for me!
This book sounds great! One great tip i would have to help someone get healthier is to replace one meal a day with a green smoothie
I’d tell a friend to start looking in the mirror and mentioning the positives instead of the negatives.
Oh that book sounds great! I will say when I saw the list of fish to avoid, I felt a lot of satisfaction, because I avoid all fish. We get our omega-3 in the form of eggs and vitamins.
When I leave my cat behind, I leave it at home with a lot of water and food, and a clean litter box. My cat only eats dry food, so this isnt’ too hard. Then I have someone check in on him every couple of days and give him some fresh water and love. He is not happy when we come home. The funniest thing is if I come home without V, he meows at me to tell me I forgot something. Or maybe he is asking if he is ever coming home. 😉
i’m super intrigued by this book. I sometimes feel overwhelmed with all the changes that need to be made to get to where i want to be, but having help in breaking them down into smaller goals will be helpful.
I can’t win the book as I’m one of your neighbours to the great white north but it sounds like a great idea. I’m adding to my wish list.
I would love that book, it sounds great. One small change I would suggest is try to eat at least one fruit or veggie at every meal, even if it’s a random apple or something on the side, to start eating cleaner.
That book looks so good! I have been talking about how I need a new book to read a lot lately and that looks perfect!
I’d love to win the book!
if i was able to make half of those changes, i’d feel like a great success! i would suggest getting enough sleep; it helps!
Poor kitty!! And poor mama!
That book sounds great! One suggestion I would have for a friend is to start with small steps. There’s no way you can tackle every “healthy living issue” at one time!
Happy new year! 🙂
That book sounds great. For those who think they hate exercise, go for a walk each day. Forcing yourself to do it makes you feel better and you won’t regret it…it’ll grow from there.
This book looks awesome! I would tell a friend trying to get healthy to start out slow by walking, then jogging, and who knows soon enough you may run a 5K. That’s what happened to me! 🙂
I wanna win- take your goals seriously and lay down the determination!!!
I would tell them to only make one change at a time. If not it can get overwhelming.
Add a handful of spinach to smoothies!
That book sounds awesome! A healthy suggestion would be to drink water every day, as much as half your weight in ounces:)
I’d love to try that book… I always get overwhelmed with resolutions and I don’t do them (plus I feel that if you’re going to change, do it NOW instead of waiting for a new week/month/year/etc)
This book looks PERFECT! I’m so not goal setting person. I usually write them and find them months later. Setting weekly goals sounds more achievable.