1. Start an Exercise Routine
If you don’t already make a habit of exercising, now is definitely the time to start. The reason it’s important to create an exercise routine is because it sets a habit that your body won’t want to break. Experts recommend a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise at least three times a week. That’s pretty easy to do, even for the busiest people.
You can break up the 30 minutes if that makes it more workable for you. A brisk 10 minutes around the block with your dog in the morning, a 10 minute walk after lunch in the office park and a 10 minute walk with your loved one after dinner takes care of your 30-minute commitment!
2. Drink More Water
You’ve certainly heard this before, but it can’t be stated enough – drinking enough water is imperative to your good health. Most people don’t get enough water on a daily basis. If you have symptoms like dry skin or hair, fatigue, or foggy brain syndrome, the culprit could be mild dehydration. To make this healthy new year change automatic, keep a large bottle of filtered water with you at all times. Filtered water than you make at home is far superior to any bottled water you can buy.
Now, water isn’t the most exciting drink. That’s why people reach for those sugary soft drinks that are so bad for you. Instead, enhance the flavor of your own filtered water with a home soda maker. You can use these to make your own flavored seltzer waters infused with the taste of fresh fruit like lemon, lime, orange, watermelon, cucumber or something else. Once you add homemade seltzer water into your life with a home soda maker, you’ll never be tempted to drink those sugary soda drinks again!
3. Get Ample Sleep
Most people need about eight hours of sleep every night, but many people miss out on that. Make a commitment to go to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time every morning. This will help ensure that when you do go to bed, you fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly. If insomnia is an issue for you, make bedtime more relaxing by spritzing lavender essential oil on your pillow. Turn off electronics or, better yet, don’t even allow them into the bedroom.
4. Avoid Negative People
Distance yourself from the negative or toxic people in your life. Negative people are always talking about the latest bad news they read about. They may like to point out the bad side of any plans or goals you share with them.
Toxic people may appear to be your friends, but in reality they just bring bitterness into your life. You don’t need these kinds of people in your life. In fact, they can bring you down and eventually make you think their way, too. If you can, divert conversations about negative topics by telling them you don’t want to talk about that topic. If they don’t heed your request, you may have to slowly weed them out of your life. If that happens, you’ll have more time and energy to spend with positive people who enrich your life, which is a healthy change to make the new year!
5. Take Time for Yourself Each Week
Is there something you’ve always wanted to do but never had the time for? Maybe it’s learning how to play piano, or learning a new language. It could be anything. You deserve to spend time doing things that are enjoyable for you. They don’t have to be productive, and they don’t have to be in pursuit of some higher purpose.
You don’t have to study to be a concert pianist or move to Europe for a year. It can just be a simple pursuit that makes you happy. Strive to take time for yourself in this way each week. Even busy people can carve out time for personal endeavors, either before or after work or during the weekend.
These five healthy changes for the new year will help to keep you healthy and happy all throughout 2019. Remember, no matter what your goals are for the new year, they all must begin with the healthiest possible version of yourself.
This is a collaborative post. The views and ideas expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Mommy Ramblings.
Just a few decades ago, someone who was elderly, prone to ill-health or infirm would not have dreamt of traveling far. This was understandable, after all, most airports did not cater to their needs. Getting on a plane was an exhausting nightmare that most people could not cope with.
Beyond air travel, many people worried about what would happen if they got sick while they were away. Up until fairly recently getting comprehensive travel insurance if you were not in good health was all but impossible.
Fortunately, things have changed. Several insurance firms now offer a good level of coverage for the sick, elderly and infirm. An example is the united healthcare pre-existing conditions policy. Provided your condition has been stable for 6 months, you can get a quote from them. In many parts of the world, for example in Europe, the law states that assistance must be provided at the airport and on the plane for disabled or infirm passengers.
As you can see, two of the major hurdles that faced travelers with pre-existing conditions have now been removed. As a consequence, people are taking advantage of this fact, and traveling more. With a little extra preparation, you can do so too, even if you are not in the best of health. There are just a few extra things you need to take into account.
Travel insurance
When it comes to travel insurance, there are a wider range of policies available now. However, it is very important that you do your research before buying a policy. You need to understand exactly what is covered and what is not.
It is very important to fill in the application form accurately. Failure to do so, can easily invalidate your policy. You also need to understand what you have to do should your condition change between the date you book your vacation and when you actually travel. Normally, you will still be covered, but not following the notification rules, could leave you without proper coverage.
Save The Contact Numbers
Remember to add your travel insurance contact numbers to your phone. Calling them is a good way to make sure they get put into your mobile correctly. Once you know you have got through to the right place, you can quickly and politely end the conversation. Double-check that you have included the area code and that the numbers are the ones that have been set up so they can be dialed from abroad. It is also worth making a photocopy of these numbers and keeping that in a wallet or purse.
Pack Your Medications
Make sure that you have enough medication to take you through your entire holiday. It is wise to take at least an extra week supply with you. That way if you get delayed, you will not have to worry for a few days.
Double-check that you can legally take your medications into all of the countries you are planning to visit on your trip. You usually can, but how much you can take may be limited. You may also need to carry your prescriptions or other documents with you.
It is also wise to find out what your medications are called in your destination country. Should you lose anything, replacing it should be a lot easier. If you take expensive medications double-check to see if your travel insurance covers replacing any that you lose.
This is a collaborative post. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Mommy Ramblings.
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Seeing or smelling your favorite food can create cravings that tempt you to eat them. Some of these cravings are for foods that are high in calories, especially junk food. Take an inventory of the food on your shelves and in your fridge. Get rid of the junk food and replace it with a healthy alternative like nuts, fresh fruit and yogurt. Over time, your body will condition itself, and you will have more willpower to resist those cravings for unhealthy or high calorie foods.
Watch What You Drink
Most sweetened drinks are very high in calories and sugar. It is easy to survive without such drinks, because they are not adding any nutritional value to your diet. Instead, substitute such drinks with water. Make it a habit to drink water whenever you feel the urge to drink something. This will help you lose weight without much effort.
Swap Out Your Grains
Refined grains such as cakes, bread and cookies among others contribute to weight gain due to their high calorie content. Instead, opt for healthier whole grain versions such as, brown rice, popcorn, pastas, whole-wheat breads, whole-rye crackers and bran flakes. You will still get to enjoy your favorites in a healthier way that will help you cut calories.
Downsize Your Plates
Portion size is hard to judge when some of our plates have become the size of platters. Larger plates can cause us to put more food on our dishes than we should be eating. Using a smaller plate will help your mind and body feel that you are not depriving yourself.
Do not multitask when eating
Talking on the phone or watching TV while eating can actually make you consume more food. Be mindful and stick to a dedicated mealtime to avoid overeating. Concentrating on your eating will ensure that you are conscious of what you eat.
In just 30 days you can achieve significant weight loss if you follow these tips. You can attain the kind of body you want by adhering to these simple rules.
This is a sponsored guest post. The views and ideals are not necessarily those of Mommy Ramblings.
There is a lot of buzz lately about the benefits of cannabidiol or hemp oil. Have you found yourself wondering if this oil is as good as it seems? Are you thinking about buying some to see for yourself, but are not sure which one you should buy?
There are tons of articles out there that talk about the benefits – from curing sicknesses, to helping you sleep better, to improving your skin and making it glow. Seems like a great supplement, right?
While it may be, that doesn’t mean that all oils and companies are created equal. Here are 3 things to consider before buying a CBD oil online.
Miracle Oil Claims
While CBD oil is hugely beneficial and does have many health benefits, you have to be careful. Some companies and suppliers will claim that it cures any and everything, thus enticing you to buy and try. Get yourself informed on the real properties of CBD oil, learn as much as you can about CBD oil and it’s benefits and then start looking. It is different from medical marijuana.
CBD oil is a fantastic antioxidant and full of fatty acids essential for the body.
Can it help with many things? Yes it can, but if it sounds too good to be true, as they say, it probably is. Whenever a company starts to play with people who are desperate to find cures, they are not being honest and are actually just playing dirty.
There is still quite a bit of research to be done on the exact effects and properties of cannabis and its extracts, so the best bet is to play it safe and not believe everything you find on the internet or hear from your friends or read on ‘real’ review sites.
The Price Tag
The lowest price is not the one you want to buy. You also don’t want to break the bank. But the thing is that you get what you pay for.
You should look for oils that have a high concentration of cannabidiol in them, and not worry just about the price. You may end up with a very watered-down version of what you were wanting, and that is almost guaranteed to not work or have any benefits whatsoever.
Some pages have lab analysis attached to their pages, which is smart. That is a good thing because it means that you can see the actual results and content of the product.
THC vs. CBD
It’s important to know that the oil you are buying does not contain THC. THC is the substance in the marijuana plant that is psychoactive. It will give you a high and has other known side effects.
CBD, however, is not psychoactive and will not get you high. It has all the same benefits, but without the dangers.
READ THE LABEL well or you may end up with a product you regret!
Cheaper products may not have been properly treated. It takes a lot of expensive technology to remove the THC, and if it’s cheap, chances are that it didn’t undergo that process.
The skin is the largest organ in our body, so it makes sense that ramping up your skin care regime can make significant improvements in your health. When you think about skin care, you probably think about facial cleansers, skin creams and lotions. Have you ever heard of dry brushing? If you haven’t, let me tell you more about it.
Dry brushing is when you brush your skin in a certain way with a dry brush that looks very much like a long-handled bath brush. People usually dry brush their skin prior to taking a shower.
There are certain brushing patterns to be aware of when dry brushing. Most people begin with their feet and brush toward their chest or heart. Then they do the same starting at their hands and brushing again toward their chest.
I have a dry brush and it feels amazing! It does not just feel great, there are some fabulous health benefits to doing this.
What Kind of Brush Should You Buy?
There are many dry brushes available to choose from. You should select one that has a firm brush made of natural bristles. They usually have a long handle similar to a bath brush so that you have the ability to brush your back as well as the back side of your legs and feet. I got my brush on Amazon but you can find them at many other stores.
Dry Brushing Technique
As I stated above, it is best to dry brush your skin before you shower.
You can research different techniques online but the basic method is to start at your feet and use long, continuous strokes brushing upward to the tops of your legs. You can repeat this action for 5 or 10 times and then do the other leg.
After you have finished your feet and legs, start with your hands and brush the back of your hands and arms and then the palm of your hands and inner arm up toward your chest area. Again you can do this 5 to 10 times on each side.
Next, you can do your back and trunk area. If the brush is too hard for your mid section, you can get a softer brush for that area and the softer brush can be used on your face as well.
Remember when starting to take it easy, perhaps start with 5 times working up to 10 times over a week or so. Do not use so much pressure that the process is painful or makes your skin red or raw. Naturally your skin will be somewhat pink tinged but never red.
So what about you? Have you tried dry brushing? Are you anxious to try?
I know many people who struggle with depression. It can be very difficult for them to even complete the smallest tasks and in the worst stages to even get out of bed. It is very hard to watch someone you care about go through this because you know that they have so much good to contribute to the world.Thankfully we are now very aware of depression and understand that there is help available.
Millions in the United States suffer from depression and 1 in 15 adults have reported experiencing one major depressive episode in any given year. People can feel overwhelmed, alone and hopeless when dealing with their depression. Treatment for depression often includes a number of approaches such as talk therapy, medication, peer support, and a personal wellness plan.
However, even with all that, it can be hard for some patients to stick with their treatment plan. The results of a recent survey found that 70% of patients being treated for depression or another mental health disorder would appreciate some type of mobile tracker to monitor their moods, treatment,progress and more. The good news is that with all the advances in technology there are tools that can help patients as they manage their depression.
Recently, I was selected to test an app developed by Pfizer called the Moodivator. Pfizer consulted with psychiatrists to create this helpful tool that goes along with a patient’s treatment to provide motivation in a simple, effective and mobile way. The Moodivator lets patients track their mood,set goals, establish routines and more that may assist them and complement their treatment. The app is easy to navigate and use, you can see a video about it HERE.
The app is free and can be downloaded for iPhones at the Apple App Store. I downloaded it recently and was amazed at how easy it was to begin using. I liked that you could easily enter your mood and then add details of why you feel that way. You can also set goals for yourself. They can be things that you need to achieve that day or long-term goals.
You are able to enter and keep track of important work, personal or family tasks as well. There is also a reason that you enter for your goal so that you can remember why it is so important to achieve. Having an app like this on my smartphone makes it easy to see how this can really help someone who is taking baby steps to make positive changes and get more out of life.
If patients use the app consistently it can provide great insight to them about why they feel certain ways and perhaps notice a pattern that can even be shared with their care givers if they choose. The mood tracker is a simple sliding scale so it is easy to adjust and record mood changes throughout the day. They may notice that they experience sadness at a certain time every day and may find it is triggered by the same thing every time. That knowledge can help them identify and eliminate triggers that will help them break that cycle
“The Moodivator app is not a treatment for depression and does not take the place of your doctor’scare or advice. This app also includes information about a prescription treatment option for depression.”
Compression arm sleeves work as an added layer of protection over your skin. If you are playing contact sports, they can help protect you from bumps, scrapes and cuts that could occur as you go up against other athletes. They also protect your arms from the damaging UV rays of the sun. Many people use them on one arm when they are driving. If you are the kind of person that likes to drive with the window down and your arm out, you need an arm sleeve!
When you have a sports injury, it can cause you to have poor blood circulation in the injured area. In turn, that can cause swelling and inflammation. Compression arm sleeves can help improve the blood circulation which can prevent swelling and inflammation while promoting healing.
Do you play outdoor sports? If you do, wearing compression sleeves help regulate your body temperature. No matter if it is hot or cold outside, they help keep your body temperature regular.
Compression sleeves serve to loosen up your muscles so they won’ t hinder your performance. They will also work after to prevent soreness and tightness.
The increased blood flow caused from wearing compression sleeves helps your body heal quicker and your recovery time from injury can be significantly shorter.
My daughter is a runner and cyclist, she loves compression arm sleeves! She likes the way they feel and the way they regulate her body temperature when competing. She is running in the upcoming New York City Marathon and the weather has suddenly turned quite chilly. Having Arm Sleeves is a great way to deal with those fluctuating temperature changes.
A great site for arm sleeves is SLEEFS. About a week ago I placed an order for a couple of pairs. They have sizes for kids right through to adults. There are lots of styles and colors to choose from and you can even design your own! My daughter selected the Gorilla style in honor of Harambe.
I ordered a purple lightning style that looked really cool. You can order one sleeve or two depending on your needs, we ordered pairs.
So have you ever tried arm sleeves? If you have, I would love to hear how you use them. If you have never tried them, check out SLEEFS and try some today! If you are in New York City for the marathon, cheer my daughter on, she will be the one with the Gorilla arm SLEEFS on!
This post was sponsored by SLEEFS as always my words and opinions are 100% my own.
Let’s talk about health, after all, what is more important than good? Did you know that bacteria can hold the key to good health? You may think of bacteria as bad, germy or something to clean out of our body but there are good bacteria that help us. Probiotics are good bacteria and they are normally found in our gastrointestinal tract. They work to overpower the bad bacteria in our intestines and reduce infection and other disease. They also keep our immune system functioning at its best and help reduce inflammation. Probiotics help our intestinal lining to function at its optimal level to enhance our health and protect us from the effects of harmful bacteria.
When our balance of good and bad bacteria in our intestinal track gets out of wack all kinds of unpleasant conditions and symptoms can arise. Inflammatory bowel syndrome, cancer, heart disease and metabolic syndrome are just some of the diseases associated with intestinal imbalance. You might be surprised to know that there may also be a link to asthma, obesity and even certain allergic conditions.
More than 100 million Americans are suffering from digestive issues. Several factors can affect the balance of good and bad bacteria in our gut. Overuse of antibiotics, eating processed foods, lack of sleep, aging, stress and even environmental factors like pollution can have negative effects and be detrimental to the good bacteria our bodies need. The good news is that we can help to restore balance with probiotics. When we have a healthy balance we can see big changes in our overall health. A balanced gut can help with issues like lactose intolerance, gas, bloating, constipation, bad breath, body odor, colitis, IBS and more!
So you might think it’s as simple as going to the store and grabbing a bottle of probiotics off the shelf but it’s not that simple. Not all probiotics are the same! Most probiotics available use strains that are not clinically studied, not patented, not stable, not formulated in doses that are clinically proven to be effective, and not even delivered alive. Most probiotics are nothing but a bottle of hype.
AlternaScript wanted to change this, so, they teamed up with 3 of the industry’s powerhouses and developed NuCulture. NuCulture has 5 clinically studied live probiotic strains for digestive and gut health in 1 capsule. NuCulture contains 15 Billion CFU high-potency probiotics and helps promote good bacteria with PreforPro® Prebiotic.
I have some awesome news to share with all of you today! Vigoroom is a free membership site that has everything you need to help you be happy, healthy & Fit! There are free programs to lose weight, reduce and manage stress, help you sleep better, improve your finances and so much more!
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Now, as a writer, I know that the headline is the magnet and this writer wanted to draw the reader in. The headline made me angry. I knew what the article was going to say and I was right. I wrote a comment from my heart under the Facebook post since I could not leave a comment on the article. In seconds I started to get likes and comments with people agreeing with me and sharing similar stories.
So you might wonder why I was so upset by the article. I am going to tell you. There are a few reasons. First, just because a woman is in her 40’s when she gives birth does not mean she is going to die when her child is young. There is no reason she should be living her life preparing her daughter for a life without her. Why do that? That is not living with a positive outlook on life nor is it a realistic outlook either. Do you know how long women have been having babies in their 40’s? It is nothing new.
So many women in my own neighborhood growing up had one or more babies in their 40’s. While it was usually not their first child as it was for this woman, they were still having a new baby in their 40’s. No one treated them as if they were at death’s door either. In fact, I was born to a mother who was 2 weeks shy of her 44th birthday.
When my mother found out she was pregnant with her 5th child at 43, her doctor told her it meant she was young and healthy. Never once did I feel my mother was doing anything to prepare me for life without her. My mother had great genetics, her father, my grandfather was 82 when I was born and he lived to be almost 102. He was healthy and happy right to the end of his life.
My mother had her first child at 21 and her last at 44. Having babies later in life kept my parents young. Various studies have shown that women who have babies later in life, live longer than those who don’t. This is due to the fact that being able to conceive and carry a child to term at that age shows their bodies are young and healthy.
Having a baby young does not guarantee that child will not lose their parent at a young age. I don’t think any parent should spend their time preparing a child for how to live without them based on an age. What kind of life is that? It is morbid and depressing. They may spend energy doing that only to find they are still going strong at age 100 while their child is nearing the age of 60. All that wasted energy could have been used for better things. Often the things we worry about and lose energy over never happen.
We all know that age is a number. There is no guarantee that a younger mother will outlive an older one. My best friend growing up was born to a younger mother. She lost her mom at a young age from cancer. Another friend lost her mom at a very young age in a car accident. A mother having a child at 23 may find out she has cancer and die at age 24. On the other hand, a 40-year-old mother may live to 103.
We don’t know, life has no guarantees. Why should we waste a moment of it trying to prepare a child for a life without us if we have no terminal diagnosis? We need to embrace our children and life at any age. Children are a blessing and it does not matter if we are 20, 30, 40 or beyond.
Life happens and we have children on God’s timing. Many woman are trying desperately to have a child and would not waste one moment thinking about such things as preparing their child for a life without them. Instead they would lavish every moment of life with their child.
Life is not predictable. Anything can happen at any time. Age does not hold iron clad guarantees of any kind. In the blink of an eye, a young mother or a more mature mother can be gone. We just don’t know. Our thoughts are so powerful. Shouldn’t we enjoy life and think positively? Why go through life preparing your child for something you think might happen?
Why not harness the power of positive thinking and believe you are going to live to a ripe old age? Visualize yourself living a full life, leaving a great legacy and a child who qualifies for the senior citizen discount at Target. As a mother in 3 different decades of my life, I can say, be thankful for the experience of Motherhood at any age, it truly is a blessing.