Healthy Habits

Healthy habits are the basis of character. Habit is the persistent repetition of acts physical, mental, and moral. No matter how much thought and ability a young man may have, failure is sure to follow bad habits. While correct habits depend largely on self- discipline, and often on self-denial, bad habits, like pernicious weeds, spring up unaided and untrained to choke out the plants of virtue. It is easy to destroy the seed at the beginning, but its growth is so rapid, that its evil effects may not be perceptible till the roots have sapped every desirable plant about it.

No sane youth ever started out with the resolve to be a thief, a tramp, or a drunkard. Yet it is the slightest deviation from honesty that makes the first. It is the first neglect of a duty that makes the second. And it is the first intoxicating glass that makes the third. It is so easy not to begin, but the habit once formed and the man is a slave, bound with galling, cankering chains, and the strength of will having been destroyed, only God's mercy can cast them off.

Next to the moral habits that are the cornerstone of every worthy character, the habit of industry should be ranked. In "this day and generation," there is a wild desire on the part of young men to leap into fortune at a bound, to reach the top of the ladder of success without carefully climbing the rounds, but no permanent prosperity was ever gained in this way.

There have been men, who through chance, or that form of speculation, that is legalized gambling, have made sudden fortunes; but as a rule these fortunes have been lost in the effort to double them by the quick and speculative process.

Betters and gamblers usually die poor. But even where young men have made a lucky stroke, the result is too often a misfortune. They neglect the necessary, persistent effort. The habit of industry is ignored. Work becomes distasteful, and the life is wrecked, looking for chances that never come.

There have been exceptional cases, where men of immoral habits, but with mental force and unusual opportunities have won fortunes. Some of these will come to the reader's mind at once, but he will be forced to confess that he would not give up his manhood and comparative poverty, in exchange for such material success.

The best equipment a young man can have for the battle of life is a conscience void of offense, sound common sense, and good health. Too much importance cannot be attached to health. It is a blessing we do not prize till it is gone. Some are naturally delicate and some are naturally strong, but by habit the health of the vigorous may be ruined, and by opposite habits the delicate may be made healthful and strong.

Good health is quite as much dependent on mental as on physical habits. Worry, sensitiveness, and temper have hastened to the grave many an otherwise splendid character.

Enjoy life more - embrace healthy habits.

Think good thoughts.

Enjoy Eating Healthy Foods

Exercise daily!

Stressing Out? Try Yoga

Yoga is a great way to relieve stress. For centuries people have enjoyed the many benefits of yoga! Try it - you may just find it complements your current fitness efforts very nicely.

If you're like me - the month of December can seem even more hectic than other months. Finding time for fitness can challenge all of us. Don't let your fitness program suffer due to the hustle and bustle of the Holidays. Stick with it. Write a time down in your planner - and don't let anyone or anything interfere with your time for better health and fitness!

Sometimes you can fit in little bits of exercise at the most unexpected times. Sneak in a morning walk while you're waiting to meet with the boss. The benefits of quick, focused walk can help you keep calm while meeting with even the most difficult boss!

Bring a jump rope and a good pair of jogging or walking shoes to work and sneak in 15 or 20 minutes at lunch. Do the stairs for a healthy boost of energy.

Here are some easy yoga stretches you can do at your desk:



If you find yourself feeling stressed during this wonderful time of year - slow down and smell the mistletoe! Take a kid to lunch or Supper and feel their excitement! Try something new to spice up your fitness!

Try Yoga to help relieve some of the nearly inevitable Holiday stress!

Prevent Diabetes and Obesity - Start Getting in Shape

Medical experts are warning of a potentially dangerous trend here in the USA. Are other countries faced with similar threats of obesity and the resulting health problems. Just look around - they are everywhere. Sitting across the aisle in church - or speeding down the highway. People are getting fatter. What is happening to us?

If this trend is left unchecked we here in the good old USA may be faced with a potentially explosive health crisis - and the resulting price tag. Much press has been devoted to the President's Health care agenda lately. The numbers are staggering. Over 800 billion dollars to provide health care coverage for an additional 36 million Americans.

If these medical scientists are even close to accurate in their dire prediction of more obesity and diabetes as a result - we are in for even more expensive health care prices. Diabetes is bad trouble - just ask anyone who has it. Or knows someone who does.

What if you could avoid this potential nightmare - and the incredible costs of treatment? What if you could avoid becoming one of the countless millions who just might develop diabetes due to the ever growing waistline?

Would you invest as few as 30 minutes a day to keeping these health issues at bay? Would you devote yourself to getting up and getting active for as little as a half an hour a day? Would you be willing to cut the useless calories and make the choice to enjoy eating healthier foods at every opportunity?

You can save a yourself a bundle. And help the good old USA avoid some rather expensive health care costs. Do it for yourself. Do it for your country! Do you have a family? Do it for them! Just Do It!!!

You can avoid adult onset diabetes. You can ward off and prevent obesity from entering into your world! Start getting in shape - fast!!!

Nurture Your Health

From an old Greek Poem:
Health, thou most frangible of heaven's dower,
With thee may what remains of life be spent;
Cease not upon me, thus, thy gifts to shower,
And in my soul to find a tenement.

For what is there of beauty, wealth or power,
Of gentle offspring, or the wiles of love,
But owes its solace, sweet, in every hour,
To thee, thou regent of the powers above.

The spring of pleasure blooms if thou but bless,
And every step upon the Autumn way
Is lit by thee, parent of happiness!
Without thee sadly sounds life's roundelay.

Health is one of those intangible inestimably precious possessions, like life and liberty, to which all are entitled by natural Law. Yet are there but few who are careful to conserve this priceless heritage. It is a boon all too often unappreciated until lost, and once lost, it may not always be regained, though intense be our regrets and our endeavours exhaust the field of human resource.

Hold on to your health.

Save Money - Live Healthy

You don't need to go to the gym 5 times a week to be healthy. For instance, did you know that a 45 minute walk at a brisk pace - 3 to 4 miles an hour - can burn up to 300 calories? Even a few small changes in your daily routine - like parking further away, taking the stairs, and playing active games with your kids - can start you on the path to an active, healthy life!

Start today! Try to work activity into your daily routine by setting realistic goals. Activity doesn't have to take up a lot of time in your day. Many people find that they can significantly increase their activity just by taking a few small steps.

Be realistic about what you can do. Everyone is busy - find a way to devote some quality time to yourself and your health! Maybe you haven't been active in quite a while. Start slow and gradually build your endurance. If you set your sights too high you might give up too soon. Any step - even small ones - in the direction of your goal for better health and fitness is a good step!

Write down your goal and give yourself a target date - like one month - to accomplish that goal. The timeframe is very important - without it, you may lose momentum, and you won't know whether you've been successful. Build yourself up to 10 or 15 minute sessions several times a day! You're on your way to achieving your goal. By setting goals, meeting them, and then setting slightly higher goals, you will eventually exceed your own expectations about what you can do!

Try a variety of healthy pursuits - whether it's walking, playing with the kids, swimming, or another activity that you enjoy! If you have a choice between walking or driving, choose walking - going up the stairs instead of the elevator, or parking further away from the store. Or walk the kids home from school or day care.

Strength training is an excellent way for you to get the recommended minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity each day. Strength training will help you burn extra calories, build strong muscles, bones, and joints, and improve your level of physical fitness!

You don't need to spend a fortune at the health club. Keep it simple - Buy some simple home fitness equipment and save your money every month!

Healthy Living

Good Health is not an accident. In our youth many of us are ( or were ) blessed with mostly good health. Maintaining the body we are blessed with is not always easy. The Human body was not really designed to sit behind a desk for 9 hours a day. Or to spend countless hours watching a TV while in a sedentary position. Our bodies are designed to be active.

It is up to us to take action and do all we can to keep slender or at least maintain a healthy weight. Eating right and exercise are critical to our level of health. Where we are today - in terms of our overall health - is frequently the result of the choices we've made up to this point in our lives.

I've made some pretty unhealthy choices. Smoking has to top the list of my poor decisions. Letting my exercise habits slide has been bad choice number two. I love donuts. And candy and sugar laden breakfast cereal. If it has sugar in it - I probably like it. That is OK when you're ten and you are outside running around the schoolyard or your front yard every evening after school.

Coming home from my nice comfy cubicle to my nice comfy recliner and an evening of TV is just not enabling me to burn the calories and maintain a healthy weight. The older we get the harder it is to keep up healthy levels of activity. The human body can naturally see a decline in the metabolism rate over the years. If we don't exercise regularly after age thirty or so we can see a gradual growth of the old waist size. I really admire those guys my age who don't have 40 inch waists.

If they can keep their waistline in a reasonable range, so can we! Small, simple changes can, in time, lead to a much healthier you. This time of year is an excellent time to get outside and enjoy the beauty of autumn while walking off the pounds. Or running if you're so inclined. If you smoke - quit today. Don't wait. Your body will thank you. Your loved ones will thank you. And you'll soon be glad you did.

Hopefully you will find the information in these pages useful in your quest to live a healthy (and long) life.