Tara Martindale asked:


In this day and age more people are looking for the magic solution for improving their health and life. Hoping there will be a magic potion to make everything better. If it was that easy, everybody would be in tip top shape and their life would be as blissful as they wanted it to be.

Unfortunately, life does not work that way. There are potions and pills people can take to help improve health over all, but we still have to do other things to help things along.  We do have to put in some effort though and sometimes that can be a little daunting.

Exercise is among the most important things we can do for our health. Moving our bodies for at least 30 minutes a day will help to keep our heart strong, keep our weight stable, fight against certain diseases and help us to live a long prosperous life. Adding weight training to our routine will help build and maintain muscle tone, therefore, keeping our metabolism at an optimal level.

Having good muscle tone helps us to burn calories at a higher rate and keep excess weight at bay. Carrying extra weight can add to the risk of some disease and make us feel tired and weak.  We may not be able to perform the daily tasks as easily as we would if we were fit. Exercise improves energy and self esteem so we can be productive in our lives and our families lives.

Eating a healthy diet of fruit, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains is also a very important part of a healthy life. Eating several small meals a day will help keep the energy levels on an even keel throughout the day. Avoid the mid afternoon crash by eating every few hours and keeping it light and healthy. If it is hard to eat that often you may want to consider adding a protein shake to your daily food regimen.

Some people find it helpful to add dietary supplements into their diet. Taking vitamin and mineral supplements can help to fill the gap when our diets are not giving us one hundred percent of the recommended daily allowance. They can help us to feel more energetic and alert, and may help reduce the risk of certain diseases.

Another important factor to consider and which seems to get overlooked the most is to keep stress at bay. Take time for yourself to relax and refocus and just enjoy your life. Try to improve areas in your life that are causing the stress. This can include lightening your work load or getting someone to help out. Maybe just getting out with your significant other for time alone will give you a much needed break from the day to day stresses at home. Meditation can also be a good way to distress.

In order to improve your health and your life we have to take steps into our own hands and make decisions that are healthy and safe for us and our family. Keep a daily food, exercise and stress journal to track your progress and to see where improvement can be made.