Did you know that stress can cause thyroid problems? It has been well documented. Stressful situations, chronic stress and even the stress from being overweight can be a major catalyst in disrupting the normal performance of the thyroid. Your weight doesn’t need to be held captive by your thyroid.

Losing weight and getting healthier is the number one resolution for the New Year. A new year brings a fresh start and new hope when you have been stuck in a rut. My advice for starting off your healthy habits is to just get started. Here are ten suggestions for you to start getting healthier in 2011.

Everyone has been talking about a new kind of dieting called thermal dieting. The idea is that when your body is cold, it burns more calories. By going out in the cold, taking a cold bath or swimming in a frigid lake, you force your body to rev up metabolism. Aside from the obvious dangers of hypothermia, the basic idea makes sense.

The middle of December is one of the best times to lose weight. Why? While everyone else is gaining weight, you can get a head start on the New Year’s weight loss bandwagon. You can lose weight now while the world continues to gain. Losing weight in December is like having a double weight loss.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, we are in an epidemic of sitting. Our parents and grandparents spent much less time sitting down we do now. We are not just sitting more…we are moving less.