8 Tips for "Good Health"

 Originally, I wanted to write "52 tips for your health" or something to that effect, and now we're in the 3rd week already of 2024!

So, I thought I'd write a little about my life, what's been going on (briefly), and start with 8 tips.  8 tips seems more doable, more achievable than 52 tips.

Well, right now I am watching this documentary on social media (You Tube) about the sugar in our diets.  And, watching it spurred me on to at least get writing this blog today.  ("How Sugar is Making Us Sick" by Endevr channel, citing source).  Of course, this ties in to Plate by Zumba also, as we have a learning module dedicated to the addictive properties of foods, including sugar.

I was getting ready to join a Revelation Wellness Plus Sugar Fast in January for 21 days, but around the time it was starting I developed cold and allergy symptoms, a little bit stronger and more unusual for me so i decided to opt out of doing the sugar fast this time around.  But, I am still interested in how and why sugar is not meant for our bodies' consumption.

So, whether you are new to my blog or an avid new follower, here are my 12 tips for good health.  I'm sure you could add a few of your own.  As we engage in 2024, let's be mindful of better health, for ourselves and for the ones we love.

1. Drink more water/stay hydrated.  I exercise a lot, at least 4 times a week.  Therefore, it would be wise for me to drink enough water throughout my workouts and days.
2. Eat more green vegetables.  Even adding a salad a day or a green cup of broccoli per meal will do wonders for your body with the added fiber and nutrients.
3. Eat less sugar.  Swap out a cup of juice and replace it with the natural whole fruit instead.  For example, instead of drinking orange juice with breakfast in the morning, eat an orange whole fruit instead.  That gives you fiber, nutrients, vitamin C, and more bang for your buck.
4. Read food labels.  This sounds as boring as counting the grass blades, but there is some truth to this one.  I need it for myself!  Beware of white flour, wheat flour, sugar, and all the hidden sugar names, and the non-gmo food ingredients, and so on.  Dang, there's so much to "watch out for".
5. Learn all you can about nutrition, what to eat and what not to eat, from as many trusted people as you can.  Read blogs from others.  Don't believe that everything you've been taught from childhood is correct (it may be, but still learn).
6. Mental health counts.  Get help from a professional when needed.  Learn various self-care techniques.  Take a walk, drink a cup of herbal tea hot, read a favorite book, exercise with others at the gym, and so on.  These are some of my self-care tips, and there are more. Talk to a friend, take a warm bath or dip in the jacuzzi, hot dry sauna, hot shower, extra sleep, listening to good music, listening to affirmations and so on.
7. Do not beat yourself up if you fall off the wagon; just get back up, dust yourself off, and start over and start fresh with your clean eating goals.  Stay the course and you will get there.
8. Develop friendships with like-minded friends, people who also value eating clean, staying sober, and/or exercising regularly.

I am sure there are more tips, but these are a few to get you started.  I sincerely wish you all the best as you seek to eat clean, move your body, and endeavor to embrace a more healthy lifestyle.  Thank you for reading my blog today.

Stay tuned, as I have been wanting to re-tell my story how I lost the weight recently.  I kid you not, the past two months, people from the gym have come up to me every day asking did you lose weight, how much did you lose, and how did you lose the weight?  So, I have been wanting to make a video especially for them, going into more detail and story telling form, as if we were sharing over a cup of coffee and not in passing through the hallways.  But, as you know, I've been not feeling well and did extra resting.  But, I'm feeling well enough now to do the video.  So, be on the lookout for that one!  Let's say, by the end of January this month, it should be posted; that will be my SMART goal.