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Fitness For Everyone, Inside And Out

I hope to get all of you excited about living a healthy life

Hello, and welcome to Mind, Body & Spirit.  It's here where I hope to get all of you excited about living a healthy life...

This is the beginning, so let's start simply. And, of course, getting started will involve us really being aware of what we are putting into our bodies.

So many of us who live busy lives seem to eat without realizing what we are eating. We'll start the morning off with lots of coffee (that would include me) and then sometimes forget breakfast.

Other times, some of us will hit a crummy drive-thru for a horrifically unhealthy, but super-fast breakfast.  We must be realistic with the coffee--no stopping that (ha ha). But we have to include something with that so we don't end up starving by 10 a.m.

What we have to teach ourselves is that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Even if you are not a breakfast person, grab something simple like a hard-boiled egg on a piece of whole grain toast.

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It is the protein that will keep us from getting hungry. So proteins like eggs, peanut butter (reduced-fat or organic, preferably) are most important to have on hand to grab in the morning.

What I like to do is boil up a whole bunch of eggs the night before so they are already done - and even peeled. That way, there is not much prep work to worry about in those busy mornings we all have!

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Sometimes, I have my youngest daughter grate the eggs. We make a nice, healthy version of egg salad by omitting most of of the yolks and using mostly the whites. We then use only a little light-calorie mayonnaise, or maybe a splash of nice, light salad dressing - like honey mustard - to change up the taste.

Make sure to put your healthy egg salad on whole grain bread too. (That is yet another whole subject we will get into in the future --make sure the first ingredient is whole grain flour, not enriched).

Of course, a nice whole grain bagel would be great too, but choose ones that are not gargantuan in size! Some of them are large enough for two serving sizes.

Also, throw an apple or banana in your carry bag for a mid-morning snack to have with you at work or on the road. That way, when you start getting those mid-morning hunger pangs, you don't reach for some sugary garbage, or yet another cup of coffee.

Most importantly, I want you all to love and look forward to exercise.

I know that so many people who are out of shape think they can't do it or they don't have time for exercise. What I like to emphasize is that all movement burns calories. So whatever you can get done, and whatever you can accomplish, is a place to start.

We have to think of healthy living as a lifestyle change. So what I always say to my friends and family, jokingly, is that I need to brainwash them.

Especially over the last few years, I learned that exercise produces endorphins that will give you so many wonderful feelings. You will reach a good level of peace and calmness after you go for a nice long walk with your iPod, or with a friend.

If you are alone during your workout, it gives you the time to think about everything. And I assure you, somehow you'll end that workout with a clear and calm mind.

Those endorphins that you are producing will also give you the willpower you need to eat the healthy foods, as opposed to the processed junk. You'll finish that bike ride, strength training session or killer walk with a sense of empowerment.  You'll then want to reward yourself with "power food" I call it, not garbage.

So that is it for now, people. I am hoping I can convince any one who doesn't feel good about themselves that they can do it!

And they will be so happy they did, because they will have a completely different view on life itself.

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