Catch your health in new year

You can get your heart thumpin' by jumpin' into the lake at noon tomorrow.

For a slightly more measured approach to ramping up your metabolism, you can run in the Hangover Handicap tomorrow morning. The race for a good cause - Tesh, Inc. - will start at 9:30, but if you haven't registered, you should show up earlier behind Michael D's restaurant, 203 E. Coeur d'Alene Lake Drive.

Those activities can get your 2015 started in the right direction toward a healthier lifestyle, but the bigger question is, "then what?" One great day does not a healthy year make.

We've talked to some of the area's most knowledgeable trainers, who tend to agree that focusing on your nutrition is at least half the battle. It's not broccoli science to determine that you need to eat less of the stuff that's bad for you, more stuff like fruit and vegetables that are good for you, and aim for moderation as a dinner table habit. Binge? Bad. Palm-sized portions? Good.

Where eating properly leaves off, exercise can help you take off - pounds, inches, and maybe most importantly, stress. Good habits as simple as taking a 20-minute walk every day can make a big difference in both the way you look and your outlook. When the weather outside is too frightful, many residents walk in the mall or they head to a local gym, health club or workout facility. Kootenai County is endowed with an array of fitness facility options, from the most family friendly to those serving serious athletes. We're lucky, too, because most offer competitive prices.

Sadly, most of us need to have our health challenged before we can fully appreciate it again. As we age, good health can be increasingly elusive. But the rewards are unparalleled. Even founding father Ben Franklin, a bit on the rotund side himself, alluded to the benefits of movement.

"The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness," he said. "You have to catch it yourself."