Start off on the right foot with Banner Health

New Year's resolutions are made up of a variety of goals that individuals want to achieve in the new year. One of the top New Year's resolutions is people wanting to adopt a healthier lifestyle. To some, that means dieting and portion control while to others it might mean exercising more so that they can indulge in high-calorie foods. Regardless of what focus a person has on achieving their healthier lifestyle, it is important to know how to approach his or her goals to have lasting results.

Do Your Research

Dr. Mark Bridenstine Banner Health

There are few people that are able to completely switch up their habits all at once and see successful results. Most times, when people make dramatic changes in their lifestyle without any preparation, they will lose interest because they are not seeing results fast enough and they will fall back into their old habits. It is highly encouraged to do research before making a lifestyle change to prepare your mind and body for the change. Every person is unique and reacts differently to diets and exercise. There are a plethora of apps and resources available to the public to figure out what kind of diet and exercise routine will be best for an individual.

It is also highly recommended to talk with your doctor about a new diet or exercise routine, especially if you have an existing condition, to make sure it will cooperate with your body.

Find a Diet and Exercise Routine That Works for You

Diet and exercise can be extremely challenging, especially if you haven't focused on those areas in the past. A well-balanced diet combined with daily physical activity is key to living a healthier life. There are many diets and exercise routines that you can do, which is why it is important to do your research and figure out what will work best for you.

One thing to keep in mind is the use of supplements. While they may have positive short-term effects, they can have negative long-term effects on your body. If you are unsure about what diet or exercise routine you should begin, talk to your doctor. They can help determine a plan for you that is customized for your needs.

Make a Plan and Stick to It

In order to achieve any goal, you must first establish your starting point and build a plan that will get you to your end goal. This stems from your initial research of finding a diet and exercise plan that will work best for you and your body, and taking baby steps to achieve lasting results. Once you have figured out your plan of action, it is time to implement.

One of the hardest parts of a New Year's resolution is sticking to it. Only 8 percent of people that start a New Year's Resolution will follow through and complete their goal. If results do not appear quick enough, oftentimes people will give up and return to their old habits.

Accountability is crucial when trying to live a healthier life. Friends, family, spouses and fitness groups are great resources to use to ensure you are held accountable for your goals. There are also plenty of apps and programs that people can use to track their eating or exercise habits to make sure that they are sticking to their plan.

Keep in mind, even if you don't see results right away, you are forming healthier habits that will correlate with long-lasting results. When implementing a new routine, be sure to pay attention to your body. If you notice any irregular symptoms or discomfort, talk to your doctor before continuing. Health conditions can arise with increased physical activity. While this is rare and most people only benefit from increased physical activity, it is still encouraged to use your best judgement and address any concerns as soon as you notice them.

Dr. Bridenstine is an endocrinologist at Banner Health Clinic in Loveland. To schedule an appointment, call (970) 810-4676. To learn more about Dr. Bridenstine, visit his online bio. For more information about endocrinology services, visit www.bannerhealth.com.

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DeMarcus Cousins will start when he returns with Warriors

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) â€" DeMarcus Cousins will start immediately for coach Steve Kerr when the All-Star center makes his long-awaited Warriors debut in about a week following a lengthy recovery from surgery on a torn left Achilles tendon.

Cousins has targeted Golden State's game Jan. 18 at the Clippers as his return date and first game of the season, though Kerr said it could even be sooner if all continues going well â€" perhaps even against his former New Orleans team at home next Wednesday.

"The idea is we have to give ourselves a little leeway," Kerr said Thursday. "That Clipper game is sort of the one we've targeted but we should give ourselves some leeway on either side, because we have to see how the next week goes. I suppose it's a possibility that it could be New Orleans, maybe there's a possibility it's whoever's after the Clippers ... Lakers. That's the range that we're looking at."

The coaching staff has spent the past couple of weeks more intensely planning for Cousins' return and how he will be incorporated into different rotations throughout games, while also holding regular discussions with Cousins about the plan.

"It's a relief. It's been a long year for me, a lot of ups and downs," Cousins said after practice Thursday. "But the finish line is ahead and I'm extremely excited to be back on the floor.

The big man has made significant strides with his condition in recent scrimmages, showing Kerr and the Warriors medical staff he is nearly ready to play in games again.

Cousins tore his Achilles late last January and it prematurely ended his season with the Pelicans. Before the injury, Cousins averaged 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 48 games.

The 28-year-old Cousins doesn't expect to dominate from Day 1, especially playing in a lineup that will feature four other All-Stars â€" Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson. Kerr said he hasn't thought about the star-studded lineup yet, knowing there's still half the season to go for Cousins to get comfortable and acclimated.

Not that the fiery Cousins, known for drawing technical fouls, will change. He loves that Kerr and Green and the others love to show their emotions during games.

"Same person. I play with a chip on my shoulder," Cousins said. "I use different things as fuel to keep me moving forward. I'm going to use the same things. I'm looking forward to proving myself on the floor."

Cousins is appreciative of the support he received from family to get through the tough days of rehab. In turn, the young Warriors centers were grateful for the guidance from Cousins as he dealt with watching night in and night out from the bench.

"A lot of things switch up for you when you kind of are out of the picture. Reality hits," Cousins said. "It's kind of an out-of-sight, out-of-mind type of thing. A lot of people that were all about you kind of disappear. Reality hits you and you realize the people that really are in your corner, so this was a good year for me on top of all the negatives because you really realize who's in your corner. Family."

Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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How to Start Investing in Stocks

So you want to begin investing in stocks but don't know how to start? Forget about questions of finding the best stocks to invest in, or trying to limit risk -- let's say you literally don't know even the first step to take to begin investing.

That's actually not uncommon.

I find that following a checklist makes any project easier. So let me lay out the first five steps for you right here -- and then we'll address the details in a moment.

Set up an online brokerage account.

Fund your brokerage account.

Pick a stock.

Identify the stock ticker.

Buy that stock!

Now, let's address the details of these five steps, beginning with...

It only takes a few simple steps to start investing in stocks. Image source: Getty Images.

Set up an online brokerage account

Their marketing departments may disagree with me on this one, but I don't believe there's much difference  among the major discount brokers at this point. Schwab, Fidelity, E*Trade, Ameritrade -- they all charge commissions of roughly $5 to $7 on every stock trade.

Each broker's website is pretty easy to navigate, too. And as far as ease of setting up an account goes, they're all pretty eager to take your money. As they used to say on the commercials, "operators are standing by," ready and willing to talk you through any issues with setting up your first online brokerage account.

Not that it's a terribly complicated process. Basically, setting up an online brokerage account consists of Googling the name of any of the brokerages I mentioned, visiting the website, and clicking a prominently displayed button labeled "open an account." A series of pages will then open for you, requesting your name and contact information, your Social Security number, your annual income, and your net worth. They'll also ask precisely what kind of account you want to open -- individual or joint? Brokerage or retirement? With fries or without?

If you've ever opened up an online banking account with your bank, this process won't be very much different from that one.

Fund your brokerage account

Also similar to a bank account, once your online brokerage account is open, the brokerage will ask you to "fund" it. You can do this in any of several ways -- for example, by mailing a check or making an electronic deposit directly from your bank. If you happen to sign up with a brokerage that has a physical office nearby, you could even walk in and hand someone a duffel bag full of cash.

Caution: Some brokerages will require a minimum initial deposit. Schwab, for example, requires $1,000 to start with. Others, such as Ameritrade, have no minimum at all. If you have only a little money to start out with, you will want to check on this requirement before going through all the virtual paperwork of setting up an account. But once you've met the minimum for your particular broker, you're ready to start trading.

Pick a stock

Actually, scratch that. Here's a better question: What company do you love? Are you a devoted buyer of Chevrolet trucks? If so, then maybe General Motors (NYSE: GM) is the stock for you. Were you first in line when Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Rogue One, or Beauty and the Beast opened at the cineplex? Then maybe you should take a look at Disney (NYSE: DIS) stock. Disney owns the Marvel, the Star Wars, and, of course, the Disney movie franchises.

Identify the stock ticker

"But wait!" you say. Your brokerage account doesn't have a place for you to enter an order for "General Motors" or "Disney." There's just this one little box on the screen for entering trades, and it's only big enough for four or five letters -- max. (And Disney has six letters!)

Never fear. Company names, as you may have noticed from watching CNBC, are usually abbreviated as stock "tickers" consisting of anywhere from one to five letters -- and it's those ticker symbols you enter when buying or selling a stock. But figuring out which ticker represents a little difficulty. Simply type into Google "[company name] ticker" -- that is to say, for example, "general motors ticker" -- and you'll be presented with the correct ticker for the stock you want to buy.

In the case of GM, such a search would inform you that General Motors is tickered "NYSE: GM," which means it's listed on the New York Stock Exchange as ticker "GM"; whereas Disney is tickered "NYSE: DIS," also on the NYSE, as "DIS." A stock on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange would be a little different, with a ticker in the format "Nasdaq: XXXX" with anywhere from one to five letters.

Buy that stock!

With this information in hand, you're ready to place your trade. Enter the stock symbol for the company you want to buy (or sell). Pick an action (buy or sell). Enter the number of shares you want to buy or sell, and confirm whether you're willing to pay whatever the current price is for that stock (that's a market order), or whether you're willing to wait and hope the stock reaches a specified price (a limit order).

Your broker will then probably give you a chance to "preview" your order to make sure all the details are as you want them, and then you'll be asked to confirm these details and execute the order.

At which point -- congratulations! You've begun investing in stocks. 

10 stocks we like better than Wal-Mart

When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, the Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* 

David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the ten best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Wal-Mart wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.

*Stock Advisor returns as of May 1, 2017

The author(s) may have a position in any stocks mentioned.

Rich Smith has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Walt Disney. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Lucy Hale Reveals Her Secret to a Healthy Lifestyle: Journaling!

Lucy Hale steps out of her hotel in a sharp suit in New York City on Wednesday morning (January 8).

The 29-year-old actress is about to start filming on her new movie, Fantasy Island.

During a fun Q&A on Instagram Stories last night, Lucy opened up about how she balances a healthy lifestyle.

"No matter where I am or how busy, I always invest in self care and exercise. it is the one thing that keeps me feeling my best and focused," Lucy wrote. "It's not always easy working out at odd hours, but it's worth it."

Another thing she does is journal.

"I wake up 10 minutes early to journal and make sure my day starts out on a positive note. Also, lots and lots of sleep. No alcohol. I believe in indulging when it comes food and shopping."

Like Just Jared Jr. on FB Photos: BackgridUSA, SplashNewsOnline Posted to: Lucy Hale

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Harris, Clippers overcome slow start to beat Magic

[unable to retrieve full-text content]The start of the Clippers' decisive run included a five-point trip, when Montrezl Harrel was fouled on a dunk, missed the free throw, and Williams made a 3-pointer. "I thought defensively we were play...

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The Best Journals For Procrastinators Who Want To Get Things Done, But Don't Know How To Start

I could lie to you and say that my nighttime routine includes a luxurious soak in the bath, a solid hour of intellectually stimulating reading, and plenty of time to meditate on my day. Honestly, though, more often than not, there's more time spent browsing YouTube and snacking on popcorn than checking off things on my to-do list. In other words, I am a huge procrastinator. If you can relate, I rounded up the best journals for procrastinators help take some of the stress out of reaching your goals, now that the new year has officially arrived.

For me, Jan. 1 means a renewed determination to actually fill a new journal. But that passion usually peters after about two weeks, when I start pushing off my journaling time later and later in the day, and then eventually just give it up altogether. If you're also someone who tends to procrastinate, but you really want to benefit from some of the amazing mental health benefits of journaling, starting off with one of these guided journals might be a great way to get into the routine.

Choose one filled with beautiful art to inspire your creativity, or even one that's packed with plenty of sassy quotes to keep you laughing. Who knows — you might find yourself looking forward to your journaling time every day.

For the time-strapped

Although I think the "five second" claim isn't meant to be taken literally, this journal definitely keeps things short and sweet, which is perfect for anyone who has a habit of delaying journaling time until the very end of the night. Guided sections cut down on even more time, and you can even gauge your emotional state using a graph reminiscent of a gas meter instead of having to write out exactly what you're feeling on a given day.

If you don't know where to start

If you're having a hard time knowing where to start, take a cue from this journal's title and simply "start where you are."

Personally, when it comes to journaling, if I'm not sure what to write about, or even what to write about first, it can be easy to get distracted and move on to another activity instead. But direct, written cues in this journal, like "close your eyes" or "take 10 deep breaths," can help you stay committed.

For the visual learner

I tend to procrastinate the most when I'm overwhelmed with things to do, and one thing I've discovered that really helps me is to make a list of everything I need to accomplish. Just seeing each task on a piece of paper usually makes things more tangible and, somehow, more doable. This guided journal prompts you to make 52 lists, all of which are meant to inspire positivity, balance, and joy.

If you're a habitual doodler

If you're always scribbling little drawings on the edges of boring papers, this guided bullet journal provides plenty of space to express your creativity — in an organized fashion. Join together your procrastination habit with a little healthy self-evaluation, and you'll be sure to get more done, plus have some fun in the process.

For anyone who wants to get to know themselves more

In order to stop procrastinating in your day-to-day life, you have to first realize that you are, in fact, a procrastinator. This isn't a bad thing, BTW! It's just who you are, girl. And thankfully, Made Out of Stars includes writing prompts and inspirational quotations to help you understand yourself better, so you can use your strengths to enrich your life.

For the occasional journaler

This journal allows you to actually use those few minutes of morning procrastination that you might normally dedicate to your Twitter feed (hey, me too). It's perfect for anyone who wants the flexibility of not having to journal every single day, because you get to write in each date instead of having it already assigned for you.

If you're totally stressed

Picture this: You have approximately 1,000 things to finish by the end of the week, but you only have time to accomplish, like, 20 of them. The sheer length of your to-do list is so long that you get increasingly anxious and, as a result, increasingly unable to start.

This guided journal can help you turn down your stress and tackle tasks more calmly. After all, mindfulness techniques and hilariously snarky instructions are perfect for keeping things chill.

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Learn How to Start Your Own Apple Orchard Friday At Audobon

Those who have thought thought about starting a home orchard can participate in Audubon Community Nature Center's "Apples All Year Long: Choosing Varieties." The deadline to make reservations for the Friday afternoon, Jan. 5, workshop is Tuesday, Jan. 2.

Area residents can take the first step to starting an own apple orchard at "Apples All Year Long: Choosing Varieties," a workshop offered by Audubon Community Nature Center.

On Friday, Jan. 5, from 2 to 4 p.m., orchardist Al Yelvington will use sight, taste, smell and a lesson to help those attending decide which apple varieties they may want in a home orchard. Selecting the apple varieties one wants to grow takes time, but the class will help people come up with a methodology as well as letting them taste some different types of apples. Yelvington and others will share personal knowledge as well as the common traits of apple varieties. There is much to consider when choosing which apples one wants, such as flavor, the apples' intended use and disease resistance. The best way to decide is to learn about the characteristics of apples and taste as many as possible. The class will provide written and spoken information, resource guides, sources and some tastes of different varieties.

Yelvington is a fairly recent transplant to the area after retiring from 33 years in the Coast Guard. He started his cider orchard, Happy Dog Farm, outside Russell, Pa., to provide juice specifically for hard cider makers. Yelvington is in his second year in the Virginia Tech Online Masters in Agriculture and Life Sciences, focusing on pest and weed management. Happy Dog Farm includes a community cider mill that is registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

The fee for the program is $16 or $12 for Nature Center members. Paid reservations are required by Tuesday, Jan. 2, and can be made by calling 569-2345 during business hours or online through the Programs page at auduboncnc.org.

Audubon Community Nature Center is located at 1600 Riverside Road, one-quarter mile east of Route 62 between Jamestown and Warren.

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