ARE YOU UP FOR THE CHALLENGE?

One of my new year’s resolutions for 2016 was to put my health first, so it’s come to crunch time after too many alcoholic beverages, too many delicious sugar-filled goodies and too many heaped plates at dinner time.

So February has become “health month” – to break some old habits and make some new ones!

With organisations pushing for social change such as FebFast and Dry July asking for supporters to raise money to help a portion of the community while taking a UP FOR THE CHALLENGE?

time out from alcohol or sugar, there’s a social acceptance to abstain for a good cause.

FebFast and Dry July states benefits like saving money, losing weight, improving energy levels, sleeping better and feeling happier. Since the beginning of these initiatives, $27 million has been raised by people taking up the challenge to support a good cause and put their health first at the same time.

And we’ve got our own local campaign to support! Bridge 2 Bridge is an initiative of the Barwon Heads Cycling Club who will be riding over 1000 kilometres from the Sydney Harbour Bridge to Barwon Heads Bridge between April 2 and 9. They are hoping to raise $20,000 for Geelong-based charity, Give Where You Live.

So the team I work with at The Health Creation Centre decided February was a good month to put our health first by having our resident nutritionist write a six-week meal plan that contains real food, our exercise scientist/massage therapist constructed an exercise program for those of us who haven’t exercised for a while and a more vigorous program for those who have, and our osteopath’s have devised Pilates programs and are ensuring structural alignment during this process.

These are also the services that we have donated to the Barwon Heads Cycling Club to help them achieve their goal!

The month has only just started but I’m excited to undertake the challenges it may bring, to see a healthier person in the mirror and to feel energised at the end of it all.

Are you up for a challenge to put your health first while feeling good at the same time by supporting a good cause?

Maybe a “Quick March” or an “Abstinence April” could be on your calendar?

If you’d like to get involved with Bridge 2 Bridge, check them out on Facebook or send them an email at [email protected].

Dr Erin Coffey is an osteopath at the Health Creation Centre in Ocean Grove.