The beginning of a new year is a beautiful time for many of us — the chance to do something new, to start fresh and have a clean slate. But this time of year can also be overwhelming in many ways, especially for women juggling competing priorities and responsibilities. It can be tempting to forge ahead with what is currently working for us and let the resolutions and lifestyle changes be made by others who have more time to reinvent the wheel — or at least themselves. But what if the changes could be small shifts made in your home? The following are five ways — working out, eating locally and implementing clean living — to be healthier at home this new year.
HEALTHY & STRONG
Charleston Fitness Equipment
When thinking about being healthy at home, workouts are at the forefront for most of us.
Thankfully, Charleston Fitness Equipment has us covered. In business for over 20 years, this Mount Pleasant-based company services the entire Lowcountry and takes pride in working with each client to match their needs and fitness goals with their products. They have over 50 brands available, including Precor, Life Fitness, FitnessBlock and Schwinn, offering options for cardio as well as strength training.
The current minimum exercise guidelines for adults from the CDC and the American College of Sports Medicine indicates at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week, as well as at least two days of strength training. Make sure that whatever home exercise program and equipment you choose takes these guidelines into consideration to maximize your benefits and results. If you need more structure or guidance, there are many online or app-based programs available: YouTube workouts, Peloton, Xponential+ and Apple Fitness+, to name a few.
Lift Box & Mission Ready Nutrition
The Lift Box is America’s number one fitness subscription box, boasting over 10,000 subscribers, and is veteran owned and operated right here in the Charleston area. Started in 2017, Lift Box has shipped over 250,000 boxes across the United States.
The subscription is designed so that you can try supplements, healthy snacks, a drink, a fitness accessory and t-shirt every month to find the products that work for you. The box is shipped to your home from their North Charleston warehouse.
Also be sure to check out the company’s sister brick-and-mortar location in Summerville, Mission Ready Nutrition, where you can take advantage of their free InBody 570 scans and browse a high-quality selection of supplements and products to help you live, sleep and work out smarter and more effectively. The founders want everyone to be mission ready and they believe in a community-first business model. There is no pressure to purchase when you come in for a body scan or to chat about your supplement needs.
HEALTHY & WELL-NOURISHED
Whippoorwill Farms Lowcounty Farm Box
If you want to take a field trip to Ridgeland, this local farm has so much to offer, including camping, farm experiences, tours, on-site classes and consultations.
This is a great place to begin if you are interested in feeding your family local, seasonal proteins and veggies this coming year. Their subscription plan, the Farm Box, is an easy place to start while supporting South Carolina farmers. The boxes can be picked up each month from the farm, at a farmer’s market or are delivered to your door, based on their schedule and availability.
The protein selections can be customized based off availability and according to your needs and preferences. The vegetable offerings are based on what’s currently in-season and offer “hyper local, nutrient dense food, that is far beyond ‘all natural,’ on your family’s table.” All the while, you’re supporting a local business.
According to Marissa Paykos, farm owner and operator, “The farm box is not just a way for you to guarantee that what you’re putting on your table is the highest quality, but it’s also a way to support those locally, doing truly meaningful work, feeding the community and caring for the environment along the way. By being a Lowcountry Farm Box subscriber, you directly impact the viability of our business and our ability to pay living wages, provide full-time, year-round work to our team and continue to leave an impact on the Lowcountry and its people for years to come.”
Order your farm box today, and consider scheduling a farm tour in the new year to get to know your farmer. Check out the website for more information on all they have to offer: WhippoorwillFarmsSC.com.
HEALTHY & SUSTAINABLE
Wildcraft
Located near Folly Beach in the Windermere Shopping Center, Wildcraft is Charleston’s source for organic, non-toxic, environmentally-friendly and sustainable beauty, wellness and cleaning products. Their mantra, “Do what you say, while being kind to yourself and the planet,” guides their offerings and selections. Their makeup products are fan-favorites and an easy way to make your daily routine a little healthier for you and the world. The Olio E Osso lip and cheek balms, available in a variety of colors, are a multi-tasking must-try for busy women.
Visit Wildcraft in person or check out their website for product information as well as the clean beauty and wellness information available on their blog. It’s the perfect time of year to read and consider last year’s “All-Natural Reset and Recovery” post.
Residential Composting Food Scrap Drop-off Program
Did you know that the City of Charleston, Charleston County, Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, Mount Pleasant and Sullivan’s Island have partnered to offer a free composting program for residents in our area? Composting food scraps instead of tossing them in the garbage is a simple and free way to support the environment by reducing landfill waste and harmful gas emissions.
Visit Charleston-SC.gov/1557/Composting for more information on the benefits of composting, drop-off locations and how to participate in the program. The website also includes webinars and instructions for composting at home, something we can all do starting right now to support the environment of our homes, communities and planet.
By Emily Moody
