The 6 Dimensions of Health

                                                 

There are several dimensions of health that make up our well being here on Earth. They consist of: mental health, emotional health, physical health, spiritual health, environmental health, and social health. Our minds, bodies, and souls are all in sync with everything that goes on around us. It is extremely important to keep all these in check to ensure we have good overall health and wellness. Let's take a deeper look into these.

Spiritual Health:

Being spiritual is when you seek meaning and purpose in your life. It's getting in touch with the intangible things and realizing the supernatural. Our personal beliefs about our existence and what is keeping us here and together is connecting with your spirituality. There isn't a proven thing you can do to become spiritual, but a matter of looking deep within.

Physical Health:

Your physical health pertains to your body's maintenance, functions, and development. To ensure that you keep your body in good physical health. do the following: eat nutritiously, drink plenty of water, exercise daily, get routine checkups from the doctor, and make sure to sleep 7-8 hours every night.

Emotional Health:

Understanding and dealing with our feelings as well as others has an effect on our lives and actions. Keeping stress free gives you a sense of positivity and keeps you from feeling depressed, lonely, and unattached. Keep close communication with friends and family and try your best to stay happy. Realizing that you shouldn't stress over things that you cannot control plays a big factor in staying emotionally healthy.

Social Health:

Interacting and communicating with people builds relationships and friendships. Be confident and remain positive. Being socially aware allows you to be receptive to different kinds of people and their ideas.

Mental Health: 

This is having the cognitive ability to develop skills and knowledge. It allows you to make better life decisions and enhances creativity. Set goals and never be afraid to explore, for our mind is never ending. Always try your best to deal with conflicts and undesired situations. Your mind is one thing you don't want to lose. 

Environmental Health:

Along with keeping your body, mind, and soul healthy, when you respect the Earth (it does provide the air we breathe and much more), it is able to supply the natural resources that we need. Being in touch with nature also gives a sense of appreciation and keeps you in touch with your inner self. 

-Stay Healthy, Stay Happy

Sleep The Pounds Away

                              


Did you know that getting an adequate amount of sleep every night is related to weight loss? Sleep is an extremely important essential part of being healthy, (http://totalfitclub.blogspot.com/2013/07/making-shut-eye-priority.html) and it also helps keep your weight maintained. Here's how it can contribute to weight loss.

When you are well rested, your body has time to heal from the busy day before. A good night's rest enables your performance level to increase and grow stronger.

Cortisol is a chemical in the body that regulates blood pressure and your body's ability to convert sugar to energy. When you are stressed out or lacking in sleep, your body releases excess cortisol. Over time, when a lot of cortisol is released, it can lead to increased appetite, cravings, and high blood sugar. When your appetite is overstimulated, it leads to fat retention. 

When your brain is well rested, you are able to make better lifestyle choices. When you are sleep deprived, sometimes you feel groggy and not all the way ready to handle the day's tasks.

Your body appreciates when you give it between 7 and 8 hours to recover and prepare for the next day. Even though long work days, stress, your personal life, or busy with children can make it a little more difficult to sleep enough, getting enough sleep every night will not only make you feel better the next day, but it will contribute to weight loss.

-Stay Healthy, Stay Happy

When Is The Best Time Of The Day To Workout?

                                               

Is there a perfect time to exercise in your day? Some people feel that when they workout as soon as they wake up, they feel energized to take on the day's task. However, some people feel that they get their best night's sleep when they workout at night. So when does your body think is the best time to workout? It actually depends on the individual. Read the advantages of working out at different times of the day.

Working out in the morning:

1) Despite your metabolism being lower in the morning, doing cardio exercises, the stored fats get burned first.

2) If you work out first thing in the morning, you burn stored fats in order to gain energy, therefore losing excess weight.

3) People usually find more time to exercise in the morning before work by running, jogging, or running the treadmill.

Working out in the afternoon:

1) In the middle of the day, our bodies are warmer and more supple, which leads to less injury and cramping.

2) Some feel that the sun feeds energy into their bodies, therefore making them happier and more challenged to work out.

Working out in the evening:

1) Most people feel that there are in their deepest sleep when they workout before bed.

2) For those who eat before 7 p.m., not too much food is sitting on their stomach and the digestion process is faster. 

3) Also, for people who work odd hours, working out at night is sets a tone to make sure they get it done.

So whatever time you feel is the best time to fit a workout in your schedule, just make sure that you do get your workout in! You will feel much better physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Remember, your body runs well when you take care of it!

-Stay Healthy, Stay Happy

Battle of the Sexes

                                               

I am sure that some women think that men easily shed pounds without much effort and some men think that it is harder to lose the beer gut. It is certainly not easy to lose the fat around your waistline. But read a few facts on why it is deemed true that men really do lose weight easier than women.

• Men have a higher percentage of muscle in the body. Muscles have a higher metabolic rate than fats. Women have more subcutaneous fat as men have more visceral fat.
• Men's bodies respond more quickly to exercise than woman's bodies do.
• When the level of estrogen decreases as women age, the enzyme gets active and leads to abdominal fat storage.
• Even in childhood, boys tend to be more active than girls, especially in sports and in nature-activities.
• When women go through mood swings, it triggers emotional eating and food cravings.

Even though there are facts and statistics that support the fact that in most cases, men lose weight more quickly than women, that shouldn't discourage women to not press to live a healthy lifestyle and exercise daily. 

-Stay Healthy, Stay Happy

Keep Calm and Avoid Stress

                                                      

Hustle and bustle. Always on the move. Every time you turn around, something comes up. When will this ever end?.... These are things that live around our lives day in and day out. We all have ways of coping with the things that stress us out, but if we can prevent it, it would do us much more justice and help us stay at ease. Take a look at some of the effects that stress can have on your health:

• Weight gain
• Weight loss
• Lack of interest
• Anger 
• Depression
• Feeling tired and detached
• Decrease in libido
• Increase in smoking and drinking
• Not being able to concentrate
• Anxiety
• Heart problems

Now that you see the numerous side effects, here are a few tips on how to avoid stress.

1) Keeping a positive attitude and realizing that there is no need to worry about things that you have no control over.

2) Exercising not only plays a role in our physical health, but in our mental health as well. 

3) Taking a break or getting away on a vacation is always a good way to get away from the demands of your daily life.

4) Time management (I am a huge procrastinator, but I'm working on it) enables you to get your work done without worrying about racing to meet the deadline. It helps you become productive and efficient. 

5) If plan A doesn't work, work plan B and C.

6) Laughter is the best medicine. Engage in activities with friends and family and stay connected with the world.

Don't worry, Be happy!

-Stay Healthy, Stay Happy

Is Obesity a Disease?

                                                      
Is obesity a disease? That is a question that lingers on a lot of people's mind. Some people also have different answers on what they think is the definition of obese. First, obesity is when an individual is beyond the normal body mass index that isn't normal for their height. Some people say that obesity is a disease because it is a worldly epidemic that is as hard to deal with as other diseases. What is true, is that lifestyle habits do govern the obesity trend. That is an argument that has many different sides, but the only way to fix it is to improve your health. A few causes of obesity are: lifestyle, genetics, illnesses, and eating disorders. To end the trend of obesity, major changes need to take place. People are going to have to face the issue and PRESS to make a change. Start by drinking more water and changing eating habits. Incorporate thirty minutes to an hour of exercise into your daily life. Find motivation and maintain a happy state of mind. Don't quit no matter how hard it seems and guaranteed results will make for a successful health journey! End the trend of obesity!!


-Stay Healthy, Stay Happy 

Healthy Heart = Healthy Life

                                                      

The heart is what keeps us all alive, so it is the MOST important thing you should take care of. Of course we know most of the obvious things we can do to keep our hearts pumping, but did you know that there are unforeseen things you could be doing that take a toll on your heart? The heart is the strongest, but also the weakest organ in your body. It performs the most vital function to keep us going, but with excessive pressure, health problems and diseases arise quickly. Read some of habits to avoid to help keep that doctor bill to minimum! 

1) Assuming you're not at risk! 

2) Overeating and eating empty calories

3) Isolation from the world

4) Not eating your fruits and vegetables

5) Not getting enough daily exercise

6) Stopping or skipping recommended medications

7) Excessive anger

8) Over consumption of alcohol

9) Over consumption of salt

10) And not using it to help other people :) (that's my personal reason)

With simple habits to incorporate daily or avoid, you can keep your heart healthier longer, which means longevity, and I think we all would love to live to see 100! 

-Stay Healthy, Stay Happy

Belly Fat Burning Food

                                                

The stomach can be the hardest place to lose inches and pounds. However, with proper nutrition, it can be achieved. Listed below are the foods that should be included in your diet to help you get results.

Belly Fat Burning Vegetables:

-Broccoli -Kale -Turnips -Asparagus -Artichokes -Spinach -Salad greens -Brussels sprouts -Okra -Parsley -Onions -Parsley -Carrots -Radish -Mushrooms -Green Beans -Zucchini -Pumpkin -Cabbage -Celery -Chives -Peppers -Cucumbers -Squash 


Belly Fat Burning Fruits:

-Apples -Apricots -Blueberries -Strawberries -Limes -Cantaloupe -Mangoes -Tomatoes -Cherries -Cranberries - Oranges -Papaya -Peaches -Grapefruit -Pineapple -Pears -Honeydew -Lemons -Raspberries - Blackberries -Strawberries -Grapes 


Now of course, adding exercise to a healthy diet is the absolute best thing you can do. Having a balanced, nutrition diet is vital. You have to remember to burn more calories than you consume and to eat in moderation also. 

-Stay Healthy, Stay Happy

Brain Exercising Tips

                                                                                             

Did you know that you can exercise more than just your body? You can also reap many benefits by exercising your brain. It can help keep it fit and functioning right. Also, brain exercising can keep your risks down for diseases like Alzheimer's and Dementia, and prove to be a great help to stem the aging process. Try these simple exercises to keep your brain fit. 

-Try to learn a new word everyday

-Always eat breakfast, for its the most important meal of the day and enhances the functioning of the brain

-Try taking different routes to work and school

-Interestingly enough, humor uses multiple parts of the brain

-Play brain games, such as memory games, puzzles, crosswords, or draw or paint

-Read different types of books

-If you aren't ambidextrous, use your opposite hand to write 

- Meditate



-Stay Healthy, Stay Happy

Don't Ignore The Signs!

                                                

When you have a pain, it is your body's way of telling you that something is wrong and you need to see what the problem is. Sometimes pains can come randomly and frequently, and they should never be ignored. When something in our body needs attention, it tries to tell us by sending signals of pain to the brain. The pains can be very mild and at other times extremely intense, but our body is saying "Please see about me!" As serious as it sounds, pains in our body can be the cause of underlying condition or something that a doctor needs to see. Here are a few pains that shouldn't be taken lightly or ignored. 

Abdominal Pain
When you are hit with a sudden acute pain in your stomach, that could mean anywhere from intestinal blockage, a swollen liver, inflammation, complications with other organs and even pregnancy. 

Headache 
We all experience this type of pain and they can come frequently. The most common remedy is to take over the counter medications. However, if your headaches are too frequent, you may suffer from migraines or sinusitis. If you suffer from migraines, a doctor's look would definitely be in your favor.

Lower Back Pain
Most people suffer from lower back pain a lot. There aren't really specific reasons why we suffer from it. It could be a sprain, inflammation, stress, or even arthritis. There are tons of home remedies to help heal the pain, but if it is consistent, a doctor should be seen. 

Pain in the arms, shoulders, and chest
Pain in between your shoulder blades and shoulders could be a sign of stress, but it could also be an indication of something more serious. Sudden pains in the chest, jaw, throat, and arms, could be a sign of a heart attack. Arteries in the lungs could be getting clogged up by blood clots. If you have sudden shortness of breath or cough of blood, a doctor should be seen immediately. 

Pains may be bothersome, but there come up for a reason. So if your body sends you a pain signal, you should see about it immediately and try to fix whatever is bothering you.

-Stay Healthy, Stay Happy

Does Being Skinny Mean You Are Healthy?

                                           
People come in all shapes and sizes. Skinny, obese, round, plump, slender, thick, pudgy, chubby, and fit. Usually, skinny people are envied, for most people think that skinny people are in shape. Well that is a huge misconception. It is a MAJOR difference between looking healthy and being healthy. Did you know that skinny people are just as much at risk of diseases as obese people? That's something to think about! Just because you "look" the part, doesn't mean you are at your healthiest stage. Your weight doesn't determine if you are overweight, but your BMI (body mass index) does. A healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. My BMI is 24.1, so I fit right in the healthy bracket. What's yours? Here's a link on how to calculate your BMI, http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/BMI/bmicalc.htm. You can also check your body fat percentage. A high body fat (between 25%-35% is healthy for women and 8%-25% for men) is also linked to certain diseases like diabetes and heart disease. 

So you ask, how can you truly be healthy? Follow these easy tips:

* Cut out processed foods and eat fresh
* Exercise (cardio, weight lifting, running, etc) at least 30 minutes a day
* Eat more natural fats and proteins 
* Drink water, water, water

-Stay Healthy, Stay Happy

Foods You Should Avoid Before Going to Bed

                                                      

Do you indulge in your favorite foods right before you go to sleep? Well, consuming certain foods before hitting the sack can interfere with your sleep pattern and keep you up all night. Over 40 million Americans already sleep for six hours or less, which greatly affects your health and well being, so it is important to realize that even the foods you eat can influence your sleep patterns. 

Before drifting off into another world, leave these foods out of your stomach:

Alcohol. Sure, you may think that since if you consume enough, you will feel that super drowsy feeling and be knocked out in no time, but I bet you didn't realize that in your second half of sleep, the sleep disruptions increase. It can also have you feeling restless in the morning.

Ice cream. I am guilty of this one tremendously. However, I am lowering my intake before bed. That cold melody is filled with fats, and your body can't burn much before going to bed. Also, it's filled with sugar, which spikes your energy level and you should be resting. 

Pizza/Pasta. All those ingredients can cause your digestive system to put in some overtime. The high acidic levels in the tomato sauce can trigger acid reflux and heartburn. So that means you would have to interrupt your sleep and pop a TUMS. 

Celery. A healthy food is on here? Yes indeed. Of course it's filled with nutrients, but it is a natural diuretic. You will make quite a few trips to the restroom due to the increase in the rate of urination.  

Fried Foods. Consuming fried foods before going to bed can cause acid reflux and abdominal cramps. So, pain interruptions and dealing with your stomach talking to you will surely leave you awake all night.

Pay attention to what goes in your stomach before bed and be sure to get 7-8 hours of sleep!!

-Stay Healthy. Stay Happy