The Health/Happiness Connection

I've been working on becoming more mindful about my mental health - what to accept, what to let go, etc. 

This is another part of my holistically driven health goal - better mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health. 

This week I was in the inter mountain west for a whole week. 

Physically, I was outside in my favorite part of the country, breathing clean air, hiking, walking, climbing, fishing. And sleeping like I haven't slept in years. 

Emotionally, I was reconnecting with family - and making my peace. I was journaling, and I was laughing and spontaneous. 

Spiritually I connected to the "old me". I came out of my doldrums and entered peace. Joy. Happiness!

From a health standpoint, my blood sugars were better than they have been in months. I effortlessly lost 5 pounds.  My sleep was better. 

I felt - and feel - great!

I'm a mountain girl, and I was home. That week change my outlook. 

I was healthier by the numbers - and could it be because I was so much happier?

Everyone knows that stress is correlated negatively to health - increased stress leads to a myriad of health complications. 

So my aha moment - purpose to be happy. Choose joy! I have done so before off and on in the past, but never with my health specifically in mind. 

After a week of joy and fun and laughs and excitement, I feel better than I have in a long time.

And I have the numbers to prove it. 

Mindfulness is a trendy term, but I am choosing to be happy. To unabashedly take care of myself, to cheer myself and others on, to let the haters hate. 

I choose joy.

How about you? 

Your quality of life depends upon it.

e b e r 

Skinny/Fat

I decided this morning I don't like either word. 

Skinny and fat are both loaded words. Derogatory. Or, in the case of skinny, it is a description people mistakenly aspire to. 

The word that I want people to aspire to is healthy. Because being healthy is the goal. Wouldn't it be great to see yourself as healthy? Aspiring to health instead of a body type? 

Healthy is going to look different on each person - and that's appropriate because it is a one person at a time journey.  

It means getting real. Ever day. Looking at the choices you are making. Understanding your health risks - and paying attention to what you are doing to mitigate those risks. 

When I was younger, I was skinny. I had a physique that was enviable to many - but I was the furthest thing from healthy. While I looked culturally acceptable, I was guzzling soda. I was eating tons of highly processed foods. I existed on carbs. I was sedentary. The 14 years of ballet, tap, and jazz I was raised on had turn into couch potato. With a healthy serving of French fries on the side. 

Five years ago the diabetes on both sides of my family caught up to me. The carb diet had to change, or I was going to to have long term health complications. 

It's a journey. 

Every day.

 What are you eating? What are you drinking? Are you exercising? 

Of course the first thing you need to do is get real - and that means going to the doctor. Stepping on a scale. Telling them what you eat, what you do.  Getting a physical. Finding out your risk factors. 

Then you start the journey. 

It will last the rest of your life. 

Make the goal health.  If you are overweight, eventually health will bring you to a BMI that is healthy. 

If you are slender but sedentary, it will benefit you from head to toe. 

The focus needs to come off loving yourself "just as you are" to loving yourself enough to daily strive to be as healthy as you can. 

It's mindfully eating. It's choosing to get up and move around. It's deciding to drink water throughout the day. It's fueling yourself, not feeding your emotions. 

It's reality. 

Get on board. You won't regret it. 

e b e r

Vay Kay Eating

We are going to Disney World soon. 

How do you maintain your healthy lifestyle at an amusement park?

It can be done...but it takes intention, and planning!

First of all, don't get caught in the "it's a free weekend...I'll make up for it next week" trap. The damage you do to your health is not worth it. You could have a huge setback, causing you to fall off the wagon. 

That being said, plan for treats. There is a WIDE spectrum of treats, so evaluate your choices. Don't go off the deep end. Look at nutritional info about your favorite treats. I've had one Cronut in my life - and it will be my first and last. That was amazing - but I shudder to think of the carb and calories!

Start with breakfast. There are healthy high protein options. Look away from the waffles and pancakes. 

Bring a water bottle in to the park - keep refilling, and drink water all day. 

There are a lot of great healthy choices at the myriad of restaurants. Keep your head on. 

Be accountable - my glucose meter will be with me at all times. 

I plan to continue my run training around the lake while I am there. Again, don't fall off the wagon with your workout!

Do the things you know to do and you won't come home with regrets. And pounds! 

e b e r