I’ve been reading a lot of magazines, newspapers, and message boards – there is so much cool information out there – about EVERYTHING!  Here is a list of the six most recent random health facts that I found and think you need to know too!

- Its been proven that physical activity can decrease your risk of cancer.  Sitting still and not moving increases  the levels of estrogen (increase the risk of breast cancer) and insulin cells (unhealthy and healthy cells) that circulate around your body to mulitply faster. Time to get moving!

- Carbs are not the answer to a satisfied stomach.  Studies have shown that people whose carb intake was 55% of their daily calories were less satisfied and full when compared to those whose carb intake was only 43% of their total daily caloric intake. Next time your hungry, instead of grabbing a bag of potato chips, grab some healthy whole grains or veggies, to help keep your tummy happy.

- A smile a day keeps the stress away. Smiling really is the best medicine. Not only will smiling help you reduce stress by helping to change your mood, but a recent study has found that when you have a smile and a positive attitude may help you live longer.  People who smile are better able to handle stress, and are better equiped to deal with the negative facts of life.

- Caffeine has become the most popular drug in the world.  People who consume more than 300 milligrams of caffeine per day are increasing their risk of high blood pressure, insomnia, and stomach irritation.  If you need to have caffeine to keep you going through the day, try to keep your intake minimal and in the morning.

- Eating smaller meals, 6-8 meals per day, controls your blood sugar levels by spreading your calorie intake throughout the day.  Eating smaller meals keeps your metabolism working continuously throughout the day, burning fat even as you sit at your desk. (Most importantly, it keeps you feeling full, which helps you avoid the mid-afternoon binges).

-The hip bone’s connected to the…well, we’re not talking about the hip bone here. But there are two systems in your body that are very connected – your digestive system and immune system.  What happens in your digestive system can affect whether or not you get sick. So in order to avoid getting sick this winter, make sure your diet is full of probiotics (found in low fat yogurt) and quercetin (found in broccoli and apples). 

I had a bad week. Well, not the worst week in the world because everything went wrong type of week.

I just didn’t eat well this week. I ate so poorly, I honestly feel like a cow.

I tried, but time got away from me and it was more convenient to grab a quick bite to eat (which usually wasn’t a healthy option) than to plan and pack my meals for the day.  So, instead of having a shake and peanut butter for snack, I skip snack time (missing my built in snack time at school!), get hungrier and hungrier, then when I have the time to eat lunch, I eat WAY too much.

After I eat WAY too much, I usually get angry at myself first for eating WAY too much, then I get comatose and grossly full.  The desire to do ANYTHING else for the day usually disappears and the couch just looks SO much more comfortable.

Now, don’t get me wrong – I did workout a few times this week, but it was a crazy week and the gym became the bottom of my list of priorities. I can’t believe I just wrote that because honestly, the gym is my MOST favorite place to go. When I don’t go – I honestly get cranky and sometimes I become impatient and more stressed – again not a good combo.

I know I’m not the only one who shares these feelings or experiences, which is part of the reason why I’m sharing them with you – to let you know that we are all human and we all make mistakes.  By no means is this the worst week of my life.  However, a week of bad eating and no gym can provide set backs in your road to success – not only have you possibly consumed more calories than you need but you haven’t burned them off either.  And in some cases, its REALLY hard to get back on the ‘healthy’ eating track and lifestyle, because it was so much easier to eat the junk food or skip a meal and so nice to sit on the couch after work instead of going to the gym.

But if we let ourselves give in to the ‘bad’ weeks then we will never reach our goals.  We will never fit into our ’skinny jeans’ or look good in that ‘little black dress’ that we have to wear to a wedding in 3 months.  We may never get the ‘flat stomach’ that we’ve always dreamed about or have ’sexy legs’ to wear shorts with before the summers over.

Ladies, I don’t like losing. Losing weight yes – but not accomplishing my goal NO!

I had a bad week, but instead of becoming frustrated and angry at myself for doing it, I’m going to reflect on it. I’m going to remember how gross I feel at this exact moment – how I don’t like it – and review the goals I have written down for myself (if you don’t have any – now’s the time to write some!) – and get back on the trail to make sure I achieve those goals.

I’m going to look at the path I was taking and figure out why I fell off the trail.  I’m going to see what I need to do to make sure that I don’t fall off the trail again – maybe rework a few things, make sure that I plan my meals in advance, buy everything I need, and remember how good I feel when I eat healthy and go to the gym.

I’m going to look at pictures of myself from 2 years ago…

…and see how I looked then, remember how I felt then, and look in the mirror at myself now (I don’t have an updated one yet! Need to take one!). To show myself how far I’ve come, that I am not a failure and remind myself that I CAN DO IT! I will do it…even though that DQ Blizzard was REALLY good…I WILL reach my next goal…

Because I/YOU decide when you wake up each morning if today is going to be a good day or a bad day…and honestly, the good days are A LOT more fun!

How was your week? Did you have any problems, setbacks, frustrations? What are you going to do to make sure that today is better than yesterday?

Plus…