Thank You For Visiting Our Blog, FEEL BETTER AND LIVE LONGER!

The purpose of our blog is to share what we have learned about nutrition, weight loss, fitness, and health, in order to help you find ways to feel better and live longer. It is amazing how much our diet and lifestyle affect our health and well-being.

Did you know that you can reduce your risk and even prevent many diseases and health conditions simply by making some changes to your diet? Check back often for valuable tips and information.

HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT & KEEP IT OFF:

For the first time in my life I have found weight loss success. During my adult life I have tried dozens and dozens of so-called "diets" and none of them worked over the long-haul. Oh, I was able to lose weight with some of them, but once I went off of the "diet" I quickly gained back all of my weight (plus some).

I have finally learned that losing weight has to be a lifestyle change, not a temporary fix. Crash diets and all the other crazy diets will not only cause you to fail, they are harmful to your health. To lose weight and keep it off you must NOT go on a "diet." What? Why? Because we all consider a "diet" a temporary thing. For example, how many times have you said, "Oh, I will go on this low-fat diet until I lose 20 pounds." Okay, what happens after you lose the 20 pounds? Or you simply give up? You go back to your old habits and gain that 20 pounds back.

The only way you will ever be successful at losing weight, with the added benefit of improving your health, is to make healthy changes that you can live with for the rest of your life. Period. Not for a week, a month or 3 months, but for life. For me, my initial goal was to lower my cholesterol level. I had to have a blood test for my insurance coverage and my cholesterol level had to be lower than the previous year's levels or I would have to pay a much higher premium. Well, that was a pretty good incentive for me make some positive changes.

I sat down and figured out what I needed to do. I knew I had to change the way I ate and I knew I had to exercise in some form or other every day. So, I made a list and I stuck to it. It was difficult at first. To make matters worse, I am a compulsive eater. However, as the days went by, it became much easier because my body stopped craving sweets and processed foods. For the first time in my life, I was never tempted to binge because I never felt deprived.

Use the list below and make whatever changes you need to make in order for it to work for you. FYI, my cholesterol level dropped 65 points after 7 weeks, and my triglycerides dropped 70 points! Another benefit that I hadn't planned on was that after being an insomniac since my teen-age years, I now sleep like a baby every night!

MY LIST FOR WEIGHT LOSS SUCESS:

1. Avoid "white" Foods & Processed Foods. These foods have no nutritional value and are "empty" calories. Sweets, anything made with white flour,and anything that comes in a package with a long list of ingredients. Always read the food labels. Stay away from those long lists of ingredients. The longer the list, the more chemicals and additives are present. These are extremely toxic to your body.

2. Drink Lots of Water. Water keeps your body's organs hydrated and flushes out unhealthy toxins. It helps to fill you up and reduces your urge to over-eat.

3. Eat a Healthy Breakfast. Instead of coffee and donuts, try fruit, yogurt, grains like oatmeal or whole grain toast, and lean protein. NEVER skip breakfast. By eating a large, healthy meal when you get up in the morning, your metabolism will "rev up" and you will not be hungry by mid-morning. If you skip breakfast, your body will go into starvation mode and store calories in your body as FAT, yes FAT! So do yourself a big favor and eat breakfast.

4. Reduce Your Stress Level. So many of us live with too much stress. Stress lowers your immune system, making it easier to get sick. It also makes us lethargic, tired, and depressed. There are a lot of simple things you can do and a lot of ways to feel better about yourself and your life. Take a long, hot bath, read a book, listen to music, get a massage. Do something nice for yourself. Giving yourself something to look forward to is a tremendous mental incentive.

5. Move! Oh my gosh! There are so many ways to incorporate movement into your day, even at work. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Get up every hour and walk around your floor, your hallway or your desk. Park your car in the farthest space from where you need to be. Walk or bike to work. Skate, dance, golf, jump rope, clean house, play tag. The best exercise you can do is to walk. Try to take a walk every day! The more you move, the more your metabolism will be your friend. (I walk 3 miles every day whether it is raining, snowing or freezing.)

Have a Good Day

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Do you hate to get up in the morning? Are you having financial difficulties? Do you dislike your job? Is your family making you crazy? Is your life a constant set of challenges? When someone tells you to have a good day, do you just want to tell them to shut up?

If any of the above frustrations and disappointments describe you and your life, take heart. You are in good company. There are many of us are trying to survive in a stressed out world of too many expectations, too little time, and too much stretching of ourselves in order to do it all. Stop!

*EAT BREAKFAST. Start out your day right with a good healthy breakfast. This will jump start your metabolism and give you a boost to get you through the morning. You will think more clearly, have more energy, and be far less inclined to be down in the dumps.

*GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP. Getting enough sleep can make the difference between having a good day and a bad day. With enough sleep, your body will be ready to face the alarm clock with a smile, or at least almost a smile.

*TAKE A DEEP BREATH. Literally. Then take another. Fill your lungs with as much air as you can suck in! Breathe it out slowly. Now close your eyes and smile. Will your coworkers think you have lost your mind? Maybe. Who cares as long as you feel better?

*LAUGH. It isn't as difficult as it sounds. Think of something funny that has happened to you. Think of your favorite comedian or your favorite joke. If you can't think of anything funny, laugh just for the heck of it. Laughter really is the best medicine.

*SHOW KINDNESS. Help out a friend who is in need. Show them that you care. When you show kindness, you are sending out a positive feeling that affects everyone in its path. Kindness is contagious.

*TAKE A WALK. Getting outside in the fresh air and moving your body are two great ways to feel better. Breathe deeply and smell the air, the trees, and the flowers. You don't have to walk quickly, you just have to move.




*PLAY. Play with your kids, your friends, or your dog. Play tag. Run around the yard. Rake the leaves. Work in your garden. Get your hands dirty. Feel the earth.

*SHOW GRATITUDE. What are you grateful for? Make a list. Once you get started, you will be amazed at how much there is in your life to be grateful for. Number one on your list should be you!

*SIT IN THE SUN. If you can, sit in the sun for 10 minutes. It can have a wonderful, invigorating effect on your outlook. It is also very good for your health. That's how our body soaks up life-enhancing vitamin D.

*NEVER CONCENTRATE ON THE NEGATIVE. Concentrate only on the good things that are happening in your life. Never compare yourself to others. This can lead to disappointment and envy, two very negative qualities.

Do we all have bad days? Of course, we do. The trick is to know how to pull yourself out of those gloomy feelings and find the joy that really is living within you.

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