Yes, you can tame those nasty habits

Between juggling work, soccer practice, ballet and household chores, taking the time to build healthier habits can be a seemingly daunting task for moms. But a new survey reveals a startling misconception. Despite the fact that it’s generally agreed upon that it takes just three to six weeks to form a new habit, the overwhelming majority of respondents think it takes six months or longer.

“I want to educate moms and their families about how easy it can be to form new, healthy habits,” says Bob Greene, founder of the Best Life program. “For example, the simple act of swapping a sugared beverage for water is an easy change that can shave calories and add up to big results over time. Replace one typical 12 ounce sugared beverage daily with water and cut 3,650 teaspoons of sugar a year from your diet — that’s 38 pounds of sugar a year.”

To help empower families to take it one step at a time, Bob Greene and Nestle Pure Life brand bottled water joined forces to launch the Pure Life / Best Life Challenge at www.purelifebestlife.com to help make families small changes in four key areas: eat right, drink right, get active and get green.

Following are a few simple steps that families can take to acquire new healthy habits.

Drink Right

•Put a water bottle in your kid’s bag before they head off to practice or a game.

•If your family drinks whole milk now, switch gradually, first to 2 percent and then to 1 percent.

• Before your workout, drink 8 ounces of water.

Eat Right

• Plan your meal menus in advance so you know what’s coming.

• Set a kitchen curfew and close your kitchen after dinner.

Get Green

•Keep your recycling bin in a prominent place to keep it top of mind throughout the week.

•Stop catalogs you don’t read and don’t want.

•Recycle or compost any yard waste and clippings.

Get Active

•Make your goals quantifiable (e.g., walk 1 mile three times this week).

•Schedule some off days or easy days into your regular workout routine.

•Exercise with a partner or a neighborhood group.

Now through Sept. 30, families can check out other tips and small steps to achieving a healthier lifestyle by taking the Pure Life / Best Life Challenge. By completing simple, everyday milestones, participants can track their progress and inspire others to join in on the interactive fun through social networks, e-mail and Facebook connections.

For more information on building a healthier lifestyle, visit www.purelifebestlife.com.