I thought this article went hand in hand with living simply.

11 Ways To Improve Your Health
Hints For A Healthy Lifestyle

1. Our bodies are attuned to the wisdom of many millions of years of evolution and communicate with us through each moment of our lives. Listening to your body by acknowledging and acting on feelings of comfort and discomfort, illness and health, or happiness and despair can lead you to a better understanding of the body's needs.

2. To fuel the fire which is your being, it is vital to consume only that which will benefit the body. Processed and artificial foods should be replaced with fresh produce and whole grains. Exploring macrobiotics, vegetarianism, and other unique diets can become a culinary adventure.

3. There is no medication so formidable as rest. When you sleep uninterrupted for a period of eight hours, your body's natural healing and rejuvenating abilities are free to work unencumbered by physical and mental stresses.

4. Our breath is always with us. Breathing deeply and deliberately provides nourishment in the form of oxygen to the body but also acts to relax the brain and nervous system.

5. The human form has adapted for activity and something is lost when we deny ourselves movement in all forms. Exercise and stretching not only improve the body, increasing the effectiveness of the lungs and circulatory system while expelling toxins and boosting immunity, but also lifts the spirits by stimulating the body's flow of pleasurable endorphins.

6. Yoga unites the mind and the body, promoting health in both. Regular practice of the discipline's complex movements tone and stimulate the physical form while increasing concentration, decreasing stress, and inspiring well-being.

7. The human body possesses the ability to cleanse itself. When you fast, you trigger this ability, prompting beneficial enzymes to enter the bloodstream, where they eliminate accumulated wastes such as pollutants and metabolic wastes, to rebuild immunity and restore health.

8. Balance must prevail for health to exist. Meditation can help you achieve a healthful balance in body and soul. Concentration, meditative breathing, or visualizations focus the mind and allow negativity to drain away, leaving you with a sense of control and self-awareness. Find your bliss.

9. Home is the heart of health and a change in your environment can inspire positive changes within your body. Explore Feng Shui, color therapy, or new methods of organization. Clearing the clutter in your home's pathways may clear clutter in your body and soul.

10. Challenges can be exhilarating at first but, when prolonged, cause stress. Sustained stress can lead to weakened immune function, sickness, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Take time out to care for yourself and focus on relaxing solitary pursuits.

11. Look on the bright side of life. Laughter lowers levels of stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol and increases the levels of pleasurable endorphins within the body, leaving you with a happy afterglow and tension-free muscles. A positive outlook improves immunity and promotes faster healing after surgeries or illness.

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this is very good

Thanx

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Thanx Elva...a green star is on its way to you!

The advice about Yoga and healthy eating (vegetarian) is particularly welcome.

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Another green star coming your way,

Sugar

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I need to re-read that list.  I've been eating too much and all the wrong stuff this past week.  I feel my jeans fittin' just a little tighter.  I want to blame it on "Aunt Flo" but ultimately it's all on me.  I'm the one who makes the choice to open my mouth and eat that ice cream.....  But, I love ice cream. 

  I love birthday cake too and tomorrow we're going to have some of that good stuff to celebrate my baby's (17th) birthday. 

There's always an excuse year round (not just the Winter Holiday's) to eat and be merry.  There's a baby shower for my oldest daughter right around the corner, plus Easter at the end of the month then vacation the first week in April.

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Number one you have to congratulate yourself for knowing what is wrong. This will only make you stronger to commit to this changes. Eating habits are something that is gradual. Now you know what is coming, the only thing you have to do now is "prepare" yourself for the big temptations. I am also a fan of cake.

The overall key is to never limit yourselfs of your likings, that makes up who you are as a person. And, if you limit your likings youll only want to gorge on them at some time. Yesterday my skinny friend pulled out a frosted glazed muffin, and it was 1/2 of it. She said she gave 1/2 of it away and then started eating it with another friend. So to make a long story short, she really ate 1/4 of that cupcake after seeming to know all about portion sizes.

Dont worry about it, move on!!

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