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16 Health Benefits of Cinnamon

Cinnamon is viewed as one of the most established flavors and superb fixing in the kitchen. It has an exceptionally wonderful smell and taste and is utilized as an expansion to natural product servings of mixed greens, pies, and different sweets. Many individuals like the espresso that sprinkled with a little cinnamon, since it gets a unique flavor. It might likewise be added to tea and different beverages.

Truth be told, one needs to recognize two sorts of cinnamon. One is Ceylon cinnamon, which is better and prescribed for utilization. The second is the Chinese cinnamon, which is of lower quality, and in that capacity is appropriate for mechanical creation fresheners, scented candles and so forth. Chinese cinnamon is not suggested in the eating regimen since it contains more coumarin than permitted. Fixing coumarin in bigger measurements can cause liver and kidney harm.

See why cinnamon is good for your health.

1. It controls glucose levels -Several investigations have demonstrated that cinnamon positively affects glucose levels. Cinnamon is a prominent normal cure utilized by individuals experiencing sort 2 diabetes.

2. Treating contagious Infections -Studies have demonstrated that cinnamon oil is successful in the treatment of diseases caused by Candida, for example, Candida Tropicalis and Candida Albicans.

3. It assuages the side effects caused by harming Cinnamon has a solid antibacterial impact and is great in the treatment of stomach issues caused by salmonella and E. coli. Ground cinnamon, oil or tea of cinnamon, are powerful in killing stomach issues.

4. Aides in the treatment of side effects of bothering gut syndrome -Cinnamon definitely decreases the unpalatable indications of aggravation inside disorder, particularly assists with fart. This plant fortifies processing and aides in the treatment of bacterial contaminations. What's more, cinnamon is an astounding solution for stomach spasms.

5. Assists with osteoporosis and arthritis -Cinnamon is rich in manganese, which helps manufacture bones, blood and connective tissues in the body. Individuals who have less of manganese in the body as often as possible experience the ill effects of osteoporosis and joint inflammation. In torment because of joint inflammation can enable back rub to oil of cinnamon or tasting tea cinnamon.

6. Cinnamon influences intellectual advancement and memory -Regular utilization of cinnamon ensure the strength of the cerebrum and enhance focus.

7. It is capable antioxidant -Cinnamon is one of the best sustenances rich in cell reinforcements. They help recover cells and mitigate the assortment of hurtful free radicals.

8. Assists with weight loss -Cinnamon enhances flow and can accelerate digestion. In this way, you will be fruitful in the battle with overweight.

9. Eases muscle pain -If you feel torment in your muscles it will enable you to knead cinnamon oil.

10. Brings down cholesterol and triglycerides -This zesty plant works Prevents coronary illness, because of lower the level of triglycerides, cholesterol, and overabundance fat.

11. Cinnamon enhances the soundness of teeth and gums -Cinnamon oil is regularly utilized as a part of the creation of biting gum, sweet rousing breath, mouthwashes, and toothpaste. This is principally because of the solid antimicrobial impact of cinnamon.

12. Calms colds, sore throat, and cough -Tea produced using cinnamon or tea with cinnamon constructive outcome on issues caused by a frosty or a sore throat, and can mitigate a hack.

13. Assuages side effects of PMS -Since it is rich in manganese, cinnamon is an awesome approach to decrease the unpalatable manifestations of PMS. This zest alleviates fits and diminishes pressure.

14. Against the side effects of nourishment poisoning -Cinnamon quiets infirmities caused by sustenance harming, can kill microscopic organisms, parasites, and different microorganisms.

15. Manages menstrual cycle -Cinnamon enables ladies who to have polycystic ovaries so they can direct the menstrual cycle.

16. Soothes a headache -If you are experiencing a headache or customary migraines, medical aid can be tea of cinnamon.

There are quite a lot more cinnamon benefits, however we should utilize it precisely on the grounds that on the off chance that we utilize it a lot of it could cause harm. Utilize Ceylon cinnamon to take out coumarin related reactions.

Listen to Your Body When it Comes to Fitness and Illness

Have you ever had a severe sinus infection? I have experienced a couple and they can really put me down for a few days. I couldn't believe how horrible the symptoms were and I sympathize with anyone who has suffered through it. Bad sinus infections can take a while to recover from similar to any severe illness. For those of us who rarely get sick, this is quite a humbling experience.

Symptoms can include a severe headache and I would say more like entire face pain. Also, the inability to breathe and high fever are typical signs of a sinus infection. Sleeping can feel impossible and eating is often limited as our appetite decreases. Sinus mucus coming out yellow, green or even brown are obvious infection markers. Fitness is pretty much out the window when an illness of this magnitude comes calling. This is the time to focus our energy on getting better.

Illness can happen and does furthermore, it's alright to unwind with your work out schedule. Actually, your body will recuperate quicker in the event that you require some serious energy off to rest enabling your antibodies to construct and work to your advantage.

There will be things we don't need or get a kick out of the chance to do however are important to recuperate from ailment. I needed to take anti-infection agents for my sinus disease for instance on the off chance that I would show signs of improvement.

Put exercises on hold. Our body is endeavoring to recuperate and saddling it with an instructional meeting is truly not the best thought. I'm not discussing the sneezes here, but rather a serious sickness requiring a couple of days of bed rest. In case you're excessively debilitated, making it impossible to get up, you have no business in the rec center.

Tune in to your body. In the event that you have a fever, regurgitating, unfit to inhale, and discover it an extraordinary push to get up, at that point remain there. Likewise, tuning in to your body implies knowing when to see the specialist. Not all sickness will leave without some help. Attempting to intense it out for a really long time can really conflict with you.

It's smarter to beneficiary in favor of alert and let a specialist analyze a disease or infection. An infection normally runs its course without pharmaceutical yet a disease as a rule requires anti-infection agents. On the off chance that you simply don't feel right, are hot, and not performing at what feels like you, at that point you might need to get it looked at.

It's alright to relax and miss days at the exercise center. Diehard exercise center rats will battle with this. Missing my normal wellness routine is troublesome for me too, however recuperating from an ailment the correct way is a piece of being fit and solid.

You're not going to lose your wellness since you became ill and missed a couple of exercises. Not enabling time to recuperate from ailment or notwithstanding coming back to exercises too early can make our body backslide. Backslide of an ailment can happen by overlooking your need to rest and get well. Backslide is said to be ten times more awful than the first bug. It's smarter to be down for a couple of days than a little while, correct?

Drinking a lot of water, and recharging electrolytes are basic while recuperating from sickness. Expending chicken soup and juices are old cures examines demonstrate feed our body and supplant sodium lost through liquids.

The primary concern is to think reasonably with regards to wellness and sickness. Setting aside opportunity to recoup will in reality better set up your body to come back to the exercise center speedier. Disease is something out of our control however we do have control over how we treat our body when it happens.

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Why Boundaries are an Important Part of Being Healthy

It took me many years to learn how to set boundaries and even what the heck that meant. Think of a boundary as a shield of protection around you providing health and happiness. Go deeper with the meaning and understand boundaries are an important part of self-love and not allowing others to treat you in an unhealthy way.

When boundary setting is not demonstrated for us as children, it's usually a struggle to grasp as an adult. The sacrifice of self to the point of mistreatment by others can be the result if boundary setting is not put into place. Boundaries make a clear statement of what is not acceptable or allowed in our life. When those lines are crossed, it's a painful process for the one that has been wronged. Sometimes clear communication of the broken boundary can resolve the conflict. Other instances will require radical choices of removing ourselves from the situation altogether. The most uncomfortable part of a broken boundary is the trust once there before now replaced with doubt or fear.

I am all for doing whatever it takes to learn how to set boundaries: counseling, support groups, church guidance, etc. Once the art of boundary setting has been learned, it provides a self-confidence, strength, and overall feeling of worthiness never experienced before. It will seem as if life has begun in a truly healthy way for the first time.

Once boundaries have been set, it's important to honor yourself by remaining true to those decisions. This means not allowing anyone or anything rob you of your shield of self-love. Even the best of boundary setter can backslide and be tempted into old patterns. This could mean trusting someone to the point of letting down a boundary. The old familiar result of anger, resentment, and hurt re-enters the picture. Along with being wronged is the personal shame felt for allowing it to happen in the first place. The feeling of failing ourselves can be overwhelming.

Boundaries teach us how to respect ourselves enough to know how we want to be treated. It also dictates what is acceptable in our lives. Boundaries remove our doormat mentality and replace it with a security door of emotional ability to conquer any circumstance placed in its way.

Emotional health is a large part of our physical health. Being able to set boundaries is an important part of being a healthy person. It's about setting limitations and expectations for your life. The journey of learning can be a tough one, but the positive result will be the ability to love yourself.

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There are No Free Rides to Fitness

Nothing happens without putting in some effort. Sorry, no free rides to fitness. The choice is ours to make and we must accept the consequences of that decision. We can either choose to be miserable and unhealthy or healthy and happy. Our body will represent our choices. The answer seems so simple but many of us resist being healthy tooth and nail. People somehow feel fitness is a burden that removes all the fun in life. I find this perplexing.

How is feeling sick, tired, and in pain all the time a fun daily existence? Does this make any logical sense? Why is offering up some time, sweat and eating healthy food looked upon as the worst thing ever? Let's wake up America and embrace loving our body with what needs to be done to turn this around.

Fitness happens when we make it a priority, feed our body the right stuff, and exercise a few times per week. It's not rocket science nor does it cost lots of money. There's also room for indulgence, rest, and play. The vicious rumors of fitness not being fun are myths. The quick fix marketing schemes blasted everywhere want you to believe these myths to get their hands on your hard-earned cash. Sadly, many consumers fall for the unregulated snake oil companies are serving up with a smile. Fitness isn't about quick anything but a lifestyle of consistent healthy habits.

Ready for the fitness secret that's not a secret? Get your backside to the gym and workout, eat some greens, grains, lean meat, and drink lots of water. This is the payment for health and fitness. It's not hard and actually enjoyable once you get your mind right. Also, if you want a cookie, eat a darn cookie. Health and fitness mean living a balanced life. Being fit is not a brutal life of diets and exercise punishment. On the contrary, it's working out and eating right because it makes us feel good and healthy.

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I Don't Use Supplements or Believe in Fitness Gimmicks

What I mean by supplements are those products promising a fit and healthy body simply by using whatever is in the bottle. I surely don't believe wrapping my mid-section with herbs will reduce my waist size either. I guess you could call me highly skeptical when it comes to fitness gimmicks. I really have to believe in a product to endorse or promote it and this is a rare occasion.

Products guaranteeing increased fat burning, muscle size and super powers receive a raised eyebrow from me. I say let's see the research to back up your claims. Supplements and pseudo-fitness products are unregulated so companies market with the lure to sell. Sadly, they lack adequate clinical studies so we are left in the dark regarding safety, purity, and effectiveness. Also, they can come with harmful side effects.

The next time you pick up a bottle of fitness magic, take a close look at the label. You will find in fine print the following: "results obtained when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise program." BAM! What is the point of wasting money? Once a healthy diet and exercise program are implemented results will follow. This will happen without taking whatever is in that bottle.

Of course any supplementation is a personal choice. I'm not a downer on all

things that could improve our health and wellness. In some instances, and if prescribed by a physician, supplements may be necessary for some people. I do indulge in the occasional protein shake, take vitamins fairly regularly, and use glucosamine for reduced joint pain. This is more for my general health and not something to enhance my appearance. I have also completed extensive research on all the products I take. I don't believe drinking a protein shake is going to create muscle without work for example. If I feel cold symptoms coming on, I will take additional vitamin C to boost my immunity system.

The primary source of my nutrient intake comes from what I eat daily and not by using dietary supplements. Because I consume a wide variety of nutrient dense foods, I feel confident my required daily allowances are being met. I fuel my workouts with healthy carbs, recover my body with lean proteins, and protect my cellular function with healthy fats.

I lift weights as part of my exercise program and don't feel I need an over abundance of protein to increase my lean muscle mass. I eat my share of chicken breast but stick to a regular portion size per meal. I don't drink several protein shakes each day thinking this is going to improve my body. That is just crazy and would do nothing but tax my organs and create a constipation issue.

The demands I place on my body through exercise do require more calories obtained from all macronutrients. I simply focus on eating healthy several times per day to satisfy those needs. There is nothing magic about that and in fact maintaining a healthy body is pretty simple. It just requires eating right and consistent exercise.

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Doing What I Can with what I Got is Good Enough

It's Good Enough

When it comes to fitness and especially my workouts, I make them my own. If you have read my About Me section, you're aware of my medical issues requiring modification to certain exercises.

I do what I can with what I got and it's good enough. I can recall feeling defeated after my injuries and especially during neuro-rehab when I couldn't even lift my head off an exercise ball.

Tears of pain and frustration would flood over those appointments, and almost to the point of giving up. I would pray every night for things to be different and wake up the same. What an ugly place to be, but there I was years ago. I became so determined to fight, and I did.

Fast forward to now and I'm in a much better place physically, mentally and spiritually. Going through tough times builds a tough inner and outer shell.

The point of life is not to understand everything that happens to us, but handling it the best we can when hard knocks on the door. Giving up and being angry would be easy but what good does that serve ... nothing.

Acceptance of me and what I can do became the focus. Maintaining all my hard earned muscle took some creative program planning. I saw it as a positive challenge and not an obstacle. I had to discover through trial and error what worked best for me.

I am in tune and listen to what my body is telling me. There is a difference between exercise that feels good and not right. If anything twinges in the not right direction, I put on the brakes and immediately modify and do something else.

I don't believe in pushing past something that will hurt my body and land me flat on my back or worse. I appreciate the gift of what I can do and will not fudge this up.

Do I miss certain things ... yes. I get so excited watching others perform what I used to do. I want to jump in and do it with them. That is just my inner athlete still alive and well, but my outer athlete will dictate what I can do now.

Exercise is about being smart and creating a quality life. So many don't realize how good they're supposed to feel and accommodate chronic pain. My goal is to increase lean mass while decreasing or eliminating pain. I know what it feels like to be in severe pain and how hard I have worked to achieve being pain-free.

My fitness journey is not about doing what others can do, but doing the best at what I can do. It's about acceptance of my body and the thoughts surrounding it that belong to me. I believe in adopting a healthy lifestyle to create a quality life. I walk and teach this motto daily. It's about doing what I can with what I got and that's good enough.

Read more of my articles on the Verywell health network under Sports Nutrition.

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Mad at Menopause

Just thinking about the title is bringing on a hot flash. Well, I must admit to being mad at menopause. Turning 50 was an exciting time and I still enjoy being in the club. The hormonal changes my body is experiencing right now not so much.

Brace yourself, I will be talking very candidly about my experience with hormone changes and my body. This is not meant to offend anyone. Going through the change is a subject many are afraid to discuss out of embarrassment, fear, or the belief it should be hush-hush. We have come too far to continue this way of thinking. Health involves discussing all things relating to the human body and aging. I for one am all about sharing, learning, and getting feedback from others on the subject.

LIFE SAVER

I have been frantically researching hormone imbalance for a few years now. I have tried supplementation, herbals, transdermal creams, and natural moisturizers attempting to restore balance in my body.

I am very aware of foods that help with hormone balance and eat my share of raw pumpkin seeds and watermelon. I also exercise consistently which is another way to help with the stresses of hormone imbalance. Some women may sail right through without a hitch in the get along, but not this girl. Through research, I have discovered I'm not alone and there are plenty of women suffering from menopause symptoms.

I began experiencing night sweats years ago, which I easily managed with a transdermal OTC progesterone cream. That seemed to be the biggest drag during my premenopausal time. However and for a few years, my periods took on a life of their own. Everything became unpredictable. I didn't know from one month to the next if I was in full menopause.

According to my doctor, not having a cycle for one year would be the indicator of being in true menopause. I enjoy my gynecologist and have to say she is easy to talk to. I respect her opinion and am able to share my desire to go through this process as natural as possible. The thing about most western medicine doctors is non-support of bio-identical hormones. Also, they're generally not covered by insurance. So be prepared for such roadblocks. Don't be afraid to be yourself and cover every concern with your doctor.

Menopause has been a thief of my womanhood. It has plagued me with sleepless nights, hot flashes, frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs), and the worst part � a broken ya-ya. My frustration has become motivation to work very hard at making the best decisions for me and my body.

I'm sure many women can relate to what I am sharing. Hopefully, this Blog will stimulate comments so we can all support and share what has worked or not worked. This can no longer be a hide behind the door subject. As women, it's important to be brave, embrace who we are, what we're going through, and create a voice for answers. I will get off my soap box now and dive right into my journey of being mad at menopause.

The dreaded hot flash comes at all hours of the day and night. For some reason, I'm bothered most at night. It's so frustrating not being able to get a full night sleep. This alone can really put me on edge. I have discovered the best remedy is sleeping under a light sheet with one leg covered and one leg exposed. I also keep the ceiling fan going which seems to help.

Enjoying a glass of wine in the evening will trigger a hot flash. It will continue to haunt me during sleep time with a dreaded night sweat. I have found it's important to stay away from the triggers.

What has seemed to help my menopause symptoms is Maca Root, recommended by my gynecologist. Maca is an herbal I mix in a green shake each day. Before using maca root, I put in the necessary research of pros and cons, and decided to give it a go.

What I'm sharing has worked and not worked for me. It's important for each of us to be our own health care advocates. We should not try any supplement without reviewing clinical research and solid evidence to support health claims. Don't take my word as gospel. My body is different than yours and may respond differently to herbs like maca root. My share is to inform and motivate you to start your own journey of research.

Moving on to other mad at menopause symptoms: decreased sexual sensitivity, increased bladder discomfort and UTIs, and the dreaded dry vagina or what I like to call the broken ya-ya. Talk about the worst of the worst and are you kidding me?! This has got to be the most unfair situation ever as sex is a very important part of a healthy marital relationship.

As women, it's important to feel confident about our bodies and our abilities. We shouldn't feel guarded about sex because our minds get so focused on things like: will I orgasm? am I too dry? will it hurt too much? what's he thinking? The list is really endless. How can we be in the moment when all that mental noise is going on?

Personally, I refuse to be a woman on the edge with the inability to get over the fence and I'm referring to orgasm here. I enjoy this part of my married life and research focused in this area has been very thorough. I have discovered a new vaginal suppository containing coconut oil and vitamin E. This magic stuff works better than most of the OTC products out there. I use � suppository daily which keeps me naturally moisturized for the day and into the evening.

My goal is to prevent vaginal atrophy and yes this is what occurs during menopause. In laymen terms, we women start drying up like a prune and develop a dry sandpaper interior. The do not disturb sign has clearly landed. I refuse to allow any such nonsense to happen, and am fighting for my sexual right as a woman and wife.

Decreased sensitivity during sex can also occur as the body no longer carries adequate blood supply to the vaginal tissue and clitoris. Research sent me to L-arginine supplementation which is an amino acid naturally occurring in our body. Studies have shown L-arginine to help with blood supply and flow to the sex organs. Well, this turned out to be a huge waist of my time. I can be prone to cold sores and updated research lead me to discover L-arginine stimulates the virus causing cold sores. I tossed the bottle in the trash and never looked back. Thank goodness I also keep a supply of Lysine, an immunity boosting amino acid which works to prevent cold sores. I increased the dose to counter act the negative side effects of the L-arginine.

Another unfortunate menopause related problem that occurs with me has been severe bouts of urinary tract infection (UTI) symptoms. The discomfort can wake me in the middle of the night and cause me to curl up in a fetal position. I have a low-dose antibiotic on standby when these events occur, OTC Cystex, and cranberry supplements. I found a heating pad also helps along with OTC pain reliever like Aleve. I also begin a protocol of increased water and additional 100% cranberry juice to flush out my system.

I'm very in tune with my body and can feel a UTI early onset. So, typically I do catch it early and am able to not lose too much time or days off work. The night may suck getting the symptoms calmed down, but once manageable, I can function pretty well at work and in general.

I have also looked into HRT (hormone replacement therapy), and currently researching bio-identical hormones. Bio-identicals are hormone closely related to our own body production and administered transdermally.

I have decided not to take any systemic estrogen by mouth in order to minimize cancer risk. I don't want the hormone to metabolize directly through my liver and into my bloodstream. The incidence of cancer is greater with such therapy so this door is forever closed for me.

I am trying a vaginal insert pill of very low dose estrogen. This is localized to the vaginal tissues and helps plump up and restore natural vaginal lubrication and reduction of UTI issues. I even had doubts and fears regarding cancer with the vaginal insert. After discussion with both western medicine and natural path doctors, they were in agreement with initial treatment of vaginal cream, pill, or ring. I went with the most convenient and less messy pill insert.

Online research also reduced my fears, and I am willing to give it a try for a few months. I'm hoping for a positive outcome. I will need to report back with my personal findings. I do welcome feedback from women, or husbands whose wives are currently using vaginal insert low estrogen and how it has been helpful or not.

I have had many discussions with women going through menopause which is helpful and supportive. It can feel like such a desperate and frustrating time not knowing the best course of action to take. It feels scary to possibly subject ourselves to cancer or other disease in the process of discovery.

It can seem unfair very little clinical studies on menopause and women�s dysfunction have been conducted. Further research would provide more options, and allow us to feel more confident in decision making. If anything, I hope my personal share on the subject has been helpful. We are not alone in our struggle and frustration. Keep up the research and find what works best for you and your body. We are all on this journey of life and the transitions along the way. We can only do our best on finding what works best.

I dedicate this Blog to my fabulous husband who is always supportive and understanding. I thank you for encouraging my writing, especially on such personal topics.

You're amazing!

Enjoy my new recipe index page . Recipes are now by category, have their own link, are printable, and comment receivable.

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A Quick Fix is Like Using Duct Tape for Fitness

Duct tape is awesome, but it's not meant to last. In a pinch, the strong stuff can fix things temporarily but doesn't quite do the trick long term. If you want something repaired right, it takes the right tools and materials, agreed?

Quick fixes are the same as placing duct tape all over your fitness. Speaking personally, I don't want a short-cut but a permanent solution to staying fit.

Unfortunately, duct tape fitness is the most popular route for most people and as the sticky starts wearing off, it reveals what still remains ... an unhealthy body. The tape removal is painful and frustrating, but somehow the roll gets pulled back out and the ducting process begins again. Temporary happiness but what a yo-yo ride.

It's time to toss out the tape and get real with what it takes to fix things right. Our healthy lifestyle tool box should contain things like dumbbells and jump ropes along with lean proteins, good carbs, and healthy fats. Other great add-ins are motivational sayings, music, and awesome fitness clothes. Probably one of the best tools pulled out of the box is a fitness accountability journal.

There are no short-cuts to where we want and need to go. Duct tape has no business in our fitness and lifetime journey of being healthy. We should not be covered in a sticky mess revealing yuck on the inside when the tape is pulled back. Our society needs to stop embracing the quick fix as any type of healthy remedy because that is crap. What needs to happen is building a strong toolbox we can carry and use for a lifetime.

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PUSH THROUGH THE PAIN

I am not talking about pain that does not feel right when performing an exercise but what I am referring to is the emotional and mental pain that will enter each of our lives through differing circumstances. Whether we are suffering crisis from a family member being ill, a death, divorce, or financial strain due to a job loss, these types of stressful situations can cause us to not take care of ourselves as we place health and fitness on the back burner. We get so wrapped up in the pain of the event with our minds consumed, our emotional banks drained, and the energy to even put one foot in front of the other feeling like an impossible task. The burden feels heavy and the world can seem bigger than we are. It will be in these moments where taking care of ourselves through exercise and eating right is even more important, and often times pushing through the pain even when we do not want to will be what keeps us healthy emotionally and physically.

It will not be easy and I share this personally as I am currently struggling with my father being gravely ill and rapid decline in health. During sleepless days and nights of course I focus more on my nutrition and get in my exercise when I can, but do seek out exercise as being therapeutic and stress relieving. Studies have shown that exercise is directly linked to decreased depression and stress, which is why it is so important not to neglect this very important part of our life. Our bodies are made to move and doing that helps prevent a spiral down into dark mental places. All of us will experience pain in our life and that is unfortunately a part of this journey, and it will always be how we respond to the circumstances that will keep us healthy. Journaling is another great way to feel comfort through painful situations, and if necessary a great counselor, and I am all for talking to God and prayer. The Blog is an outlet of expression for me and sharing my feelings with you also provides healing and hopefully a comfort for others going through a painful life episode.

Life will not play fair that is a fact and we need to prepare ourselves by being healthy and happy to begin with. Being fit helps us to cope better during emotional stress. Today is always the day to take the steps necessary to become your best YOU in all aspects. Life is short, a gift, and taking it for granted is not only a shame, but will lead to a life of illness and unhappiness. When the painful things in this life come knocking on your door, will you be ready physically, emotionally and spiritually? Will you have the strength to push through the pain?

I dedicate this Blog to my wonderful father who is a fighter, and my beautiful mother who stands strongly by his side and for 55 years. Thank you for blessing me with life, faith and love.

My Beautiful Parents

Me and My Fabulous Father

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FITNESS IS MORE THAN THE PHYSICAL

Fitness involves more than how much weight is lost or reps in a set that can be accomplished. Being a fit person involves discipline for each day, creates awareness, and instills conscious living. Fitness is a lifestyle and goes way beyond the physical. Having the desire to obtain a quality life and following through on that goal really defines being healthy and fit, and when the focus remains in that direction, we set ourselves up for feeling and looking our best for life.

We put so much pressure on ourselves to squeeze into the tiniest jeans or boast the largest biceps, that we tend to forget how being fit is supposed to feel. A fit and healthy body should be free or minimized of pain and many people do not realize just how good we are supposed to feel, and instead accept and accommodate pain on a daily basis. A fit lifestyle includes physical exercise but not of the nature that will injure our bodies and create chronic setbacks, and eating healthy nutrient dense foods that provide our bodies with healing qualities. Rest is also on the menu for a fit body and a very important part of the program. Without proper rest and sleep, our bodies will not recover from the demands placed on it through workouts, stress, and the overall daily grind. Balance of work and play is also a part of a healthy lifestyle and forgetting how to reach our inner child is sadly lost through the busyness of life. Taking an active rest day enjoying the outdoors, or a shutdown day complete with pajamas and movies may be the trick to recharge the mental batteries.

We all can enjoy our life and live a healthy lifestyle at the same time. This is the absolute truth and is accomplished by simply being consistent with our choices and follow-through. Being fit does not take working out seven days a week for several hours a day and eating boiled fish and broccoli. This is far from what living a healthy lifestyle looks like. When our thoughts are on taking the best care of ourselves, the enjoyment of living this life flows naturally like breathing. The desire to purchase fresh healthy foods and try new recipes is more of an exciting thing to look forward to and not a curl your lip up downer for a Friday night. Also, when that is combined with finding an exercise program that is enjoyed and works for your body, nothing feels better and provides a positive mental outlook. The balance of life through play and rest can�t be emphasized enough because life is about quality and feeling our best.

When the focus is on health and improving the quality of our life, the �fit� part of that equation happens along the way. Letting go of the stress of wanting to look a certain way tomorrow and concentrating on how good being healthy feels will eliminate the frustration and pressure that we too often place upon ourselves. Living a healthy lifestyle encompasses everything that we do on the daily and the fact that we are physical beings does not mean that the emphasis on fitness is all about the physical. Our awareness of the importance of being a healthy person, what we are consuming, how we move our bodies, how we think and act, and the balance we create for ourselves are all included within the definition of fitness. What do you think about that and hopefully this has opened your eyes to a new attitude when it comes to being a fit person?