Our 21 Favorite Wellness Tips From Christina Haack

From any angle, Flip or Flop and Christina on the Coast star Christina Haack seems like a winner: beautiful, design-savvy, smart and talented enough to be featured on not one, but two successful HGTV shows. But what’s the point of success when you don’t feel well? With guidance from friend and nutritionist Cara Clark, Haack reset her system by paying attention to her body and ended up feeling better. Read her wealth of achievable and good-for-your mind and body goals featured in her book The Wellness Remodel written with Cara Clark.

The Wellness Remodel is geared toward time-strapped parents and career-focused overachievers who want the recipes, tips and guidance to make sure they maintain balance and good health despite a busy, demanding schedule. The first order of business in this straightforward book? Eat a balanced, nourishing diet.

“That means no fads, no all-or-nothing dieting, no off-limits food groups — just real food that makes your body look and feel like the best version of itself — and no rules other than learning how to tune in to your own hunger and craving cues," says Christina.

Too intense exercise can do more harm than good says Cara. “You don’t need to work out for hours at a time every day to see great results; your body knows best when it comes to choosing what type of exercise to do; and exercise isn’t just about physical transformation.” Consider walking or yoga or pilates as an alternative to high-intensity workouts.

“Since I started scaling back, I have felt way better. I still get the benefits of exercise — mental and physical — and even though I’m working out way less often and with less intensity, I still wear the same size clothes," says Christina.

Every night set one goal for the next day: 10 minutes of meditation, make a smoothie, get in 10,000 steps. Small, achievable goals build confidence, says Christina, and make wellness a daily occurrence.

Eat five colors a day as a rule of thumb to make sure you are eating from a range of food groups.

After a two-week social media detox, Christina says, “in addition to clearing up space in my brain and giving me back energy that I’d been spending on creating posts, it also made me realize how much time I was spending aimlessly scrolling through my phone when I could be doing so many other, more productive things.”

Pay attention to when you are hungry, and eat enough to feel full but avoid foods that make you feel bad.

Dairy, lean meats, eggs, avocados, nuts and seeds and plant-derived oils (olive, grapeseed, sunflower, safflower, avocado) are all great sources of the kind of heart-healthy fats you need to maintain a well-balanced diet. In addition to being delicious sources of fat, avocados are high in fiber and protein.

Don’t beat yourself up for a slip in healthy eating. Say instead “Today is a new day and a new beginning, a chance to be whomever I want to be,” says Cara.

Nutritionist Cara Clark suggests 80 ounces a day. "For me, the key is to make it easily accessible all day long," says Christina. "I keep a giant bottle of water with me at all times so I can chug some before I leave for work, while I'm on set, and again on my way home. I also make sure it's the only thing I'm drinking during the day."

Protein is vital for building muscle, nails, hair and organs. Whether you are a vegetarian or an omnivore, protein is essential. Get it from lean meat, wild-caught fish and seafood, eggs, beans/legumes, nuts, seeds, quinoa, some whole grains and small amounts in veggies like dark, leafy greens.

Making sure you get enough fiber and probiotics is critical for maintaining a healthy gut: the key to your immune health and well-being.

“If you’re going out for drinks, avoid the carb-y snacks and order some protein — it’ll help with the hangovers,” says Cara Clark.

There are lots of things you can do to get your body and mind ready for sleep like staying away from screens, but Christina has found that journaling helps. “Whether I’m making to-do lists or just reflecting on my day, the simple process of writing it down means there’s less work for my brain to do when it’s time to shut off and relax.”

Keep healthy food on hand to use for quick meal assembly. Chop and prep veggies to eat fresh and add to meals.

Rather than perpetually comparing yourself to others, or setting some unrealistic weight goal, strive to be healthy and feed good, says Christina. “The body you have is ultimately the one you’ve got.”

Sudden weight gain, skin problems, digestive issues, mood disorders can be related to a host of things, but stress is a big thing to consider when problems flare. “One of the most important things you can do for your health is to manage your stress, and that starts with recognizing the symptoms,” says Christina.

For quieting stress and anxiety, there are many meditative practices and apps to choose from including Headspace and Buddhify. “After a few months of regular practice, I found my mind had quieted,” says Christina.

Keeping blood sugar stable is essential say Christina and Cara. Eat within an hour of waking up and eat every three to four hours to maintain blood sugar which can help with fatigue, mental fogginess, light-headedness and food cravings.

"As important as it is to have positive people in your life who bring you happiness, it's just as important to let go of the people who cause you distress. Sometimes we give too much energy to people who are toxic for our well-being," says Christina. So disconnect from negative people who spike your anxiety. Be in the moment, reduce stressful triggers in your life and see how those changes affect your health and well-being, says Christina.

“Taking inventory of what you want for yourself in life and allowing yourself to dream big not only helps you set practical goals but also has a spiritual dimension — it’s a way of aligning yourself with your true spirit,” says Christina who puts her five, 10 and 15-year goals on her vision board.