Empowerment

Jan17

We’re half way through the first month of a new year…2012. By this time we all should have set or defined new goals for ourselves. If you’re having a little trouble with doing this, perhaps this will help.

New Year’s Resolutions

 What’s A New Year’s Resolution Anyway?

 A New Year’s Resolution is a declaration, decision, promise, pledge, oath or vow 

  1. It is a Resolve: i.e. a determination or steadfastness
  2. It can also be a solution (to come to an end of something in your life that is not positive.
  3. Or, to find the answer to an issue in your life.
  4. Or perhaps find an answer or outcome of something pressing to make it better or fix the problem. These can include your health, fitness, finances or relationships. 

The key words in my opinion are: resolve, promise or vow (which is a more intense word for promise). When I think of resolve, I think of “the conclusion to the whole matter” of something that is a problem. The initiative is taken on my part, I take action because it is a promise that I make to myself. A vow that I make to myself for peace, better health, wealth and overall happiness is just as important as a vow I would make to God. I wouldn’t make a vow to God and not keep, it so I won’t make a vow to myself and break it. I may have to dig deep inside myself for more determination but that’s okay because my happiness is worth it.

The most common New Year’s Resolutions are: 

  1. exercising and losing weight
  2. paying down credit cards
  3. putting more money away for a rainy day
  4. trying to release stress and relax more
  5. improving job skills or learning something new 
  6. working on a long desired goal 
  7. take a nice vacation

Inspiration

Jan17

I developed this habit years ago when there was a fear that I had cancer and that is to wake-up every morning making this personal pledge “This is a day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24) Not knowing what the day would actually bring, I said it then and continue to say it now as if I knew.

Some of my days (just like yours) are filled with stress, some with enough sadness to make me cry and other days can give me reason to be angry or screaming mad. But the pledge I made repeats itself over and over again in my mind until I realize some level of peace.  At the end of everyday I realize that I’ve lived a day that reminded me of my strength and determination. I lived a day that proved my character and increased my faith. I lived a day that had me depend on God and His ability to help and keep me. And, of course I lived a day that assured me of His love. I lived a day that mattered.

There’s something to be said about a personal declaration. It helps us stay focused on what’s positive rather than negative; give us strength, increased endurance, helps to develop stronger character and bring the faith that we aren’t so sure we have to the forefront. 

Today’s Spiritual Life Tip: Celebrate the “not so good” days as you would any other day.

Fitness

Jan17

Everyone should be concerned about the risks associated with being overweight and/or not exercising on a regular basis.

Health Risks associated with lack of exercise include:

  • type 2 diabetes
  • high blood pressure
  • heart disease
  • high cholesterol
  • osteoporosis
  • arthritis
  • certain types of cancer

You should start some type of exercise to become physically active! Here are a few tips to help you get started:

  • Always pick a physical activity you’ll enjoy and one that fits your schedule
  • Try walking, light jogging until you’re up to a faster jog 
  • Start slow especially if your just starting out or have been inactive for a while
  • 30 minutes a day 4-5 times a week for the first two – three weeks will keep you committed and eager to do more.
  • If 30 minutes seems hard for you at first, break the time up into 2 sessions a day with the same vitality. This will count towards the calories you burn during the day. So, 15 minutes of serious exercise twice a day is just as good as doing it all in 30 minutes.
  • Don’t forget weight training to build strong muscles, strengthen bones, aide joints and improve flexibility.

Did you know …

  1. that exercising fights depression and can improve your mood? Yes, it does because it sparks endorphins the chemical in your body that makes you feel good :)
  2. you can get great workouts right from your cable tv FREE? That’s right you can stay home and exercise with a personal trainer, take a dance class, burn off the calories with doing a cardio routine, box or lay down a mat for yoga without paying a penny more than what you already pay for cable :)

Dieting

Jan17

Stop … don’t try it! You can resist the temptation to go on a “fad diet!” You’re not the only one who made a resolution to eat better this year or go on a diet. I think that’s great. I made the same vow only I refuse to suffer through a diet that will only give me temporary results. And, could actually cause my body some harm because it will lack important nutrients it needs. Besides that, what ever weight I might loose, it’ll all come right back.

Did you know …

  1. that the “yo yo” effect of dieting can cause kidney, skin, digestive problems and more serious health problems? :(
  2. these diets can interfere with medications you’re taking? :(
  3. most doctors won’t approve of fast results diets or weight loss stimulents they won’t perscribe?

Nothing improves your health and wellness better than healty nutrition, good eating habits and regular exercise

Simple Ideas for Eating Well

  • Start every day with breakfast. Try oatmeal, a whole-grain cereal like raisin bran with fat-free or low-fat milk, whole-wheat toast spread with jam, or fat-free or low-fat yogurt. Enjoy some fruit with your breakfast too.
  • Try kidney or butter beans in hot dishes, on salads, or plain. Protein is important to your health as you age. Beans are loaded with protein and cost less than meat.
  • Choose fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese instead of full-fat dairy products.
  • Choose whole-grain foods like whole-wheat bread, oatmeal, brown rice, and whole-wheat pasta more often than refined-grain foods like white bread, white rice, and white pasta. Whole-grain foods offer dietary fiber, which helps keep you regular.
  • Do not let sweets like cookies, candy, or soda crowd out healthy foods.

TIP: If you cannot digest lactose (the sugar found in milk) try fat-free or low-fat lactose-reduced milk. Or try fat-free or low-fat yogurt or hard cheeses like cheddar, which may be easier to digest than milk. You can also get calcium from calcium-fortified juices, soy-based beverages, and cereals. Eating dark leafy vegetables like collard greens and kale, and canned fish with soft bones like salmon, can also help you meet your body’s calcium needs.