Take heart — You’re not alone.

You’ve joined the “feeling unpleasantly plump” club that, according to a joint report from the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, includes a startling 30 percent of Hoosiers.

Now that the New Year is here, put “LIVE A LITTLE HEALTHIER” on your 2013 “to-do” list. Make this the year you will purpose to pitch the diets, the “all or nothing” thinking and the “no-pain, no-gain” fitness goals. Make this the year you will resolve to use common sense to move more,  eat less junk food  — and have fun doing it.

Remember what it was like when you were a kid and you thought nothing of playing tag for hours on end? That spirit still lives. You just need to wake it up. Check out these 52 Ways to Leave Your Blubber – practical, down-to-earth tips to live a little healthier in 2013!

Happy New Year from HealthNet!

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Tell us about your New Year’s resolutions to live healthier this year!

Here’s a new tool to help guide what goes on your plate.

Today, the Obama administration is tossing out the old food pyramid, that symbol for healthy eating for the last two decades. In its place, officials are dishing up a simple new icon meant to give consumers like you and me a fast, easily grasped reminder of the basics of a healthy diet. Watch the announcement live!

Photo by leoncillo sabino

The new symbol is meant to help educate consumers about the government’s latest dietary guidelines, which were released in January. These guidelines come at a time when two-thirds of adults and one in three children are overweight or obese.

It’s also a time when nearly 15 percent of American households are unable to acquire adequate food to meet their needs. And with today’s economy, that rate keeps climbing.

It might seem like a paradox, but not having enough money for food actually promotes obesity — by limiting choices and discouraging healthy decisions.

For many low-income families, putting food on the table comes down to tough choices. Do I pay extra for pricey yet healthy foods, but skip other essentials for my family? Or do I buy the cheapest, most filling junk food I can find so that I can pay my rent on time? I can’t do both.

Obesity IS an economic issue.  Eating well is beyond the reach of many Hoosiers. Thankfully, many folks are working to change that picture in Indy.

Two-thirds of adults and one in three children are overweight or obese.

Take Garden on the Go – bringing a truck full of affordable, fresh produce into inner city neighborhoods every day.

Or HealthNet – providing free, one-on-one nutrition counseling in seven low-income neighborhoods around the city. Last year, we helped over 1,000 people take control of their diet and begin making healthy choices on a budget.

These are just two of many initiatives that are under way to make Indy a healthier place to live. Sign up our e-newsletter for regular updates!

Learn more about how YOU can stay healthy on a budget, and how you can help others in Indy do the same!

You’re not alone.

Join the “feeling unpleasantly plump” club that, according to a joint report from the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, includes a startling 29 percent of Indiana adults. Indiana’s adult obesity rate was at 28.1 percent in 2010, ranking it 17th in the nation. That’s down from 16th in 2009, but the state’s obesity rate climbed from 27.4 percent.

Now that spring is here, put “staying active” on your “to-do” list. Learn how much exercise you need to control your weight, and try these 20 tips for fitting more activity into your day from the Harvard School of Public Health.

You can also help others in Indy do the same.

According to Trust for America’s Health, “individuals must be given the tools they need to engage in more physical activity, since even the smallest amounts of activity can lead to major improvements.”

The communities we live in should allow greater opportunities for activity, including places for safe and affordable public recreation and increased availability of sidewalks.

HealthNet and the University of Indianapolis are partnering to bring a free and fun walking program to the Fountain Square community this spring. Fountain Square, while home to some trendy restaurants and shops, is also located in one of the poorest zip codes in the city. Students worked with HealthNet’s Health Promotions staff  to design safe, accessible walking trails. The program is set to kick off in April, and will include incentives for residents to stick with their health goals.

If you’d like to help HealthNet’s Health Promotions in their efforts to bring similar programs to other Indy neighborhoods, small donations can help a lot. Let’s make Indy a healthier place to live!