What Category Do You Fit In???

There are many different lifestyles and making the best choices for our own health and body are not always easy. Hopefully you will find yourself in the following categories and try to make changes to help you live the best life ever!!!

The innocent indulger tends to always put their families first and never think of sitting down and taking a few minutes for themselves. These are the people that don't like to waste food ,so when the lunches or the meals are not completely eaten, instead of wasting, they will eat the left-overs. Thinking that they are doing a good thing.... all of these extra bread crusts add up on the hips and belly area right???

A few tips to help you get started;
-Sneak in a 30 minutes power walk somewhere in the evening or while your kids are at a sport practice.
-Always have a healthy snack available with you, this way you will feel full and not feel the urge to save the world by eating those extra calories.
-Always have a nutritious breakfast.
-Try to find time for yourself as well...relax with a good book, take a nice long bath etc...try to put yourself first once in a while...its ok...you deserve it!!

The dieting diva is the person that has done all of the fad diets. She is a yo-yo dieter, loses a couple of pounds and then once she's reached her goal...here comes those pounds again.

Here are a few tips to get you started;
-Berries are great health-boosting food, be sure to add them to your diet.
-Make sure that you eat three well balanced meals a day and include 3 healthy snacks as well.
-Don't think that skipping meals are doing you a favor. You are only leading your body to believe that it never knows when the next morsel of food is coming, so it will go in starvation mode. Instead of burning your next bite it will store it as fat not knowing when you will eat again.
-You need to realize that by eating just proteins or just carbs or counting points is not a realistic way of losing weight in a healthy fashion.
-Get a regular exercise routine going, keep your mind busy. It always works best for you if you have a friend joining you on your health journey. This way you have someone living the same daily challenges as you.

The obsessive calorie-counter is always concerned with the amount of calories going in. They usually will not exceed the daily recommendation. They will always make sure and sometimes abuse their bodies by going to the gym 7 days a week , working out 1 hour every time.

Here are a few tips to get you started;
-First of all don't let yourself get so caught up on your daily calorie intake.
-Some people that count calories may choose to eat all processed, fast food, sugar covered desserts never realizing that this is not healthy.
-You need to try to live the Mediterranean diet, lots of legumes, nuts, seeds, healthy proteins, healthy fats....
-If you start with small healthy changes, like adding to your plate 1/4 protein, 1/4 carbs and 1/2 raw veggies, you will feel great and never have to count and be pre-occupied by calories again.
-You don't have to over do it with the exercises, if you do a 45minute work out 3 days a week, drink lots of water and keep active you will be fine.
-Find ways to relax when you eat instead of worrying about every bite.Put some nice music on, have a nice positive conversation at the table.

The on-the-go-grabber lives in the fast pace lifestyle...workaholic, meetings, sport practices, ballet lessons, errands, banking etc......this person usually grabs whatever is quick to eat never thinking of what she is choosing. These people often eat standing, never taking the time to sit down and really enjoy a nice meal that they've prepared. These are the people that have a freezer full of processed frozen dinners, pogos, pizza pockets etc...often you will hear them say " Oh well, its food right??".

Here are a few tips to get you started;
-Start by taking care of your personal health instead of everyone else . Delegate the daily tasks and responsabilities with your spouse and you will quickly ask yourself why you thought you had to do it all alone in the first place?
-You need to realize that you are not a super hero and you will not win any award at the end of this exhausting, stressful day.
-You need to start cooking in the kitchen, preparing good wholesome homemade meals that you can freeze.
-Using a visual calendar will help you plan your week. This way, when you see that a couple of days during the week will be busy, you can just take out your prepared meal in the morning, warm it up and enjoy it for dinner.....
-Prepare great healthy energy snacks that you can grab anytime when you are feeling more rushed and don't have time to re-fuel right away with a great meal.
-Make sure you get a good night's sleep, this will give you the necessary energy to keep going all day.
-Try to avoid caffeine and energy drinks...

Hopefully these hints can give you a good start to a new healthier lifestyle...good luck on your journey!!

The Health Nut!!!

What Was Wrong With Me???

I was really starting to wonder if there was something truly wrong with my nervous or immune system this past year? For some reason,  my face all of a sudden would flare up with acne...especially my cheeks and nose area. I know that I basically always eat the same food, I try to always purchase organic, natural and healthy food. I make all of my meals, exercise, drink lots of filtered water and I try to stay on a good sleep schedule.
I was starting to think that maybe I was starting pre-menopausal stages (I will be 46 yrs old at the end of August)? Maybe something environmental was affecting me without knowing?

I just took this picture today...its been one month since I've been off for the summer holidays and my skin has completely cleared up?? I'm relaxing, I'm in my garden daily, I swim in the pool daily, I get lots of sleep, I exercise, I take in lots of natural vitamin D (sunlight..at least 20 minutes a day....)...go figure I must have been stressed???
Come to think of it , it was a pretty tough year emotionally. My son had a few physical ailments that needed immediate medical attention (pretty serious stuff)...he also had to deal with daily bullying at school. All of this definitely took its toll on my nerves and stress levels. Once all of that got settled, I immediately noticed that I was calmer and felt better in my skin.
This past year I even seeked the help of a naturopath thinking that maybe I was developing allergies or intolerances to food or certain things that were surrounding me daily? But the acne kept coming back...still no answers...
So, I am now a true believer that increased stress can cause adult acne. I felt embarrassed and often decided to eat alone with the fear of being asked what was going on? I didn't know what to answer and I felt very uncomfortable. It was suggested to me by many to go and seek the help of a dermatologist. He would probably recommend a cream with steroids or cortisone in it. That was something that I was not willing to take a chance on.
Well, I strongly believe that stress was the root of the problem. Maybe I thought that I was sleeping well, but I always seemed tired when I woke up and lacked my usual energy and good humour. Just goes to show you that your face is a canvas to what is going on inside your body, your skin doesn't lie. If ever I go through this again, I will just have to take a deep breath, listen to relaxing music, meditate and go to a good place....
The following video is a great way to do this...very good and helps you inside/out for sure.

In health....

The health nut!!!

Life's Simple Pleasures

Have you ever really taken the time to just stop and look around you. If you think about it, it is absolutely free of charge and the rewards are priceless. I feel so fortunate to live on the outskirts of town. This really allows me to hear so many things that cannot be heard in town with all the traffic and everyday noises.
In the morning, at this time of year, I can usually hear the birds chirping, the gentle wind blowing in the leaves on the trees, the relaxing sound of our hammock being softly pushed by the breeze, smelling the sweet smell of flowers and almost hearing the vegetables grow if I stop long enough and take it all in.
We often have friends drop in that live in the city and the first thing they usually tell us is how peaceful it is here. We tend to get caught up in life and all of its demands, routines without ever stopping once to look around us. To really see and feel the amazing beauty that surrounds us every day.
My favorite part of all, is when we are driving along the St-Lawrence River and there is a sunrise or a sunset along the horizon, there are really no words to describe the beauty of it all.
So, the next time that you are rushing in your everyday activities, try to stop a couple of minutes and just see, hear and feel what is going on around you. Life goes by too fast, take a deep breath and take it all in, you won't regret it, this I promise you.

In health....

The Health Nut!!!

Today Is Your Day.

                                     

Shania Twain has been through a very hard marital break-up. So emotionally draining that she actually lost her ability to sing and her confidence to sing in front of crowds....finding out that her best friend was having an affair with her husband was too much for her to handle on her own.
I followed her amazing journey to healing from the inside out on the OWN Network. I just admire her so for opening up her personal life to all of us and going about all of it in such a positive manner. She is just so down to earth and humble. Through all of this she has actually found love again with the former husband of the woman that betrayed her in the first place. She never thought that she could love again and now she has found happiness and peace again in her life.
She will actually be replacing Celine Dion at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas in 2014. She is nervous to follow such an amazing international act but is up for the challenge. After intense medical testing and self-healing her voice is back stronger than ever and she is ready to go for it.
The following video is her latest release "Today is your day" ...I love it!

I would definitely love to see Shania live in Las Vegas one day. She is just so sweet and honest and there is just something about her that makes you feel like she is willing and ready to talk to you as a friend anytime. 

Enjoy!!!

The Health Nut!!!

The Meaning of Family...

Nothing warms my heart more than the love of my family..I am so fortunate to have so many amazing people that I can count on anytime. I am the youngest of 10 children and I have always been very pampered with all of their love and attention.
Sure we have had the normal disagreements and hardships along the way but we have always found it within ourselves to forgive and forget. Life is definitely too short to hold grudges and dwell on negative situations.
I have also been so blessed to have so many nephews and nieces, that were almost like little brothers and sisters to me. They have moved on in their lives and have married and have had children of their own. They are all wonderful adults now and are amazing parents!!
Recently we have had quite a few family gatherings for weddings and birthdays. These special occasions just makes me realize more and more how lucky and fortunate that we are to all still be so close, healthy and happy. When we get together, nothing else matters, we are just satisfied to talk, reminisce and sing ,that is enough to make us happy.
We didn't grow up in a rich environment, but my mom always made sure that we had clean clothing to wear and good food on the table. We wore hand me downs but they were always repaired and made to look like new. She would paint whatever home that we were renting at the time like it was our own and would make it look so clean and presentable.
We always grew up with a sense of dignity and pride. Thanks to her we have become the individuals that we are and I'm sure that these values are being instilled in our future generations as well...
We were always taught that its not the material things that matter in life but our values and the image that we project to others. Being a good person and always willing to lend a hand and share with one in need. You can always replace a car, a home and expensive clothing but you can never replace the love and life of family.
As I get older I realize this more and more and I just feel so special to have all of these amazing individuals filling my heart with love.
Call or send a note to someone special in your life today...surprise them, make up with them, let them know how much they matter to you and how much you love them and wish them all the best in life!!! You never know this could make their day and mend broken hearts.

In health...

The Health Nut!!

When You Wish Upon A Star....

This is one of many pictures taken on our Disney World, Orlando, Florida trip last week. It has to be the biggest highlight of our lives...what an amazing family vacation....give yourself a treat of a lifetime and go for it!
When you are there , you become a child again yourself...you live all of it through the eyes of your child and there are really no words to describe the feeling and experience....
It was very hot and humid but while you are waiting in line to embark on a great ride, an hour often goes by very fast...everyone is so friendly and so relaxed.
There is really something for all ages to enjoy and discover together.....our 13 year old son really enjoyed taking in all of the roller coasters and thrill rides....
The cast members (staff) at Disney only have one objective...to make your trip and stay there the best time ever!!!
We stayed at a Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort on site...gorgeous and breath taking....

the best way to go for sure. You only need your "Key to the World" card , that is given to you when you check in. It has all of the necessary information for you to enjoy your stay. It serves as your room key, it has all of your meal plans and park entrances on it as well.
You don't even need a car ...just use the air-conditioned Disney bus system at your door. Don't worry about transportation from the airport to your resort...the Disney Magic Express coach takes care of all of that for you...
You have to live the Magic of Disney at least once in your life....we did and we will never forget it!!! Walt Disney was one special man and to think that this all happened because of his dream...
When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are....
Check it out for yourself...it is an incredible, easy, stress-free and worry free vacation...I highly recommend it....

In health....
The Health Nut!!

Today Is A Gift!!!

Why wait for the week-end to do special things??Today is the best gift ever!! Who knows what tomorrow will bring?? We have to start living like this day is our last and we are going to make memories to last a lifetime...

Why wait until Friday night for that special night out with our better half or friends...why not surprise everyone and do it on a Wednesday??? Wouldn't that just give it a wonderful twist??

Where is the rule that says that you can't use your good Sunday dishes on Monday or Thursday night for dinner??

It would be wonderful for your better half to come home and you have a wonderful candlelit dinner going.
Nice relaxing music, his favorite homemade meal, the kids are being kept at grammas and you are wearing his favorite dress....all this in the middle of the week...talk about making it a special evening...

Why is it that we set limits for ourselves? Whoever said that you can't have these special moments in the middle of the week? Why not always live your days like if it was Friday? Why not just pick up the phone and make someone's day in the middle of the week? A friend or family member that lives out of town, an elderly person that you know is lonely and has no family in town...

Will this cost you more or make your day worse??? No, it will just make you feel better inside for making someone live a special moment thanks to you....make it a habit , you might just like it.

This next video is meant to motivate you to have the best frame of mind to start making your life the best that it can be. Try living life to the fullest and see the magic start appearing around you...it will be amazing!

In health....

The Health Nut!!!