tips – Page 7 – Personal Growth Cafe

February 16, 2019February 28, 2018

Getting Started with Yoga

Getting started with Yoga can be fun, and it’s not as hard as you might expect!

You can start with the basics and progress to different types of Yoga to discover which style fits your needs the best.

How do you get started with Yoga?

What are the various forms of Yoga?

In this article, you’ll learn the answers to these questions so that you can start enjoying the benefits of Yoga in your life.

Here are five things to consider before jumping in:

1. Buy a good Yoga mat.

If you’re unsure which mat is a good one, ask your local sports equipment store for help.

You may also need some other supplies, like Yoga straps or blocks, as your routine grows more intense.

2. Do you prefer to exercise alone or do you enjoy group interaction?

Think about whether you prefer a group environment or if you feel more comfortable buying a DVD to work out at home.

3. Check what’s available in your area.

If you decide to seek out a Yoga class, call your local fitness and community centers.

Many such places include Yoga classes that are perfect for beginners.

4. Wear the proper clothing.

Wear comfortable and loose fitting clothes, but steer clear of overly baggy ones.

Leggings and a T-shirt are good for women.

Men can wear sporty, jogging-type pants.

5. Be open-minded about Yoga.

Yoga is not only about exercising your body but also helping your mind become in tune with your body.

It also focuses on using every muscle and joint to improve flexibility and awareness.

Types of Yoga

There are several types of Yoga.

Let’s take a look at just a few of them and what they entail.

You can learn more about the different types by doing some research on the ones you feel you’d most enjoy.

1. Hatha classes will teach you the basics of Yoga.

2. Vinyasa includes the basics, but follows a more vigorous routine.

3. Ashtanga and Power Yoga are faster paced variants.

4. Iyengar is more focused on body alignment and specific areas of the body.

5. Kundalini – While all Yoga includes good breathing techniques, Kundalini focuses a lot on breathing with movement.

6. Bikram (Hot) Yoga is practiced in a 95-100 degree room so you can sweat and loosen tight muscles.

Keys to Starting Yoga Successfully

1. Don’t push yourself too hard. Your instructor should tell you this, so pay attention to their message.

You shouldn’t feel pain when doing Yoga. Take caution to avoid overdoing it.

2. Focus, focus, focus! Breathing is an integral part of any Yoga workout.

Although it might be hard at first, focus your efforts on the breathing techniques.

Eventually these will become a habit and you won’t need to think about how to breathe correctly, but until you get to that point, make a concerted effort to breathe properly.

3. Intimidation isn’t a factor. Don’t feel intimidated if you can’t do all the poses correctly.

In time, you’ll begin to strengthen the muscles you need. Just like anything else, it takes practice to master Yoga.

4. Keep a regular routine. Yoga works best when performed at regular intervals.

Keep up with your workouts to reap the benefits.

Consistency is the key when it comes to Yoga or any workout.

5. Use a buddy system. If you find it hard to stick to a good Yoga plan, enlist the help of a friend who may be looking at Yoga as well.

Having a buddy join you at your Yoga classes can be much more fun.

When you decide it’s time to get started with Yoga, stick to the basics, start slowly and don’t fret if you can’t do everything correctly from the get-go.

Yoga is a rewarding and helpful way to turn your body, mind, and spirit into one healthy and happy unit.

How easy is it for you to start working on something you like?

How can this help bring you peace of mind?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

February 15, 2019February 28, 2018

Get More Out of Life: Five Tips to Focus on You

Do you feel like something is missing in your life?

Learning to focus on you, instead of others, may be the key you’ve been seeking!

If you find that you’re comparing yourself to others and coming up short, it’s time to stop that destructive habit.

Comparisons get you nowhere.

Rather than leading to positive improvements, they only cause you pain and discontent.

A better choice is to focus on your own personal needs and wants.

You’re a unique individual who requires a personal approach!

This helps you boost your self-image because you’re focused on improving yourself and not trying to beat someone else in some uncharted race.

Learning to focus on you rather than everyone else around you can be a difficult task.

Too often, we’re so used to focusing on our families and friends that we don’t even know how to begin the process of focusing on our own choices and decisions that determine our lives.

Follow these five tips to help you focus on fully enjoying your life:

1. Devote one hour a day to “me time.”

During this time, focus completely on yourself and the things you need or desire to feel strong, lovable and important.

Reflect on what’s important to you. Dream big dreams and figure out small steps you can take to achieve them.

Your “me-time” can be anything you like it to be: take a relaxing bubble bath, go for a walk, take a nap, get a manicure, read a novel, or do something else.

Anything that brings you pleasure simply for the sake of pleasure qualifies as me-time.

2. Take care of your own physical, spiritual and health needs.

Relying on someone else to meet your needs only leads to dependence and resentment.

Don’t wait for someone else to do these things for you.

You have the power within you to meet your own needs and the only way you can be truly whole is to do just that.

3. Feed you mind and body good healthy fuels.

You cannot expect your mind and body to function at their best if you don’t provide them with the fuels they need to work at full capacity.

Feed your body good foods: fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.

Drink plenty of water to keep your body fully hydrated.

Feed your mind by reading informative, well-written books, newspapers, and magazines.

Choose recreational reading that builds your mind and spirit.

Limit your TV watching and spend your time pursuing things that stimulate your thinking instead.

Play board games rather than video games. Listen to music designed to stimulate your brain waves with binary beats.

4. Spend time each day doing something you love. No matter what your hobby is, it’s healthy to indulge in a creative pastime.

Gardening, painting, woodcarving and pottery are all hobbies that encourage your creativity while you use your hands to create something beautiful.

5. Start a gratitude journal. Begin and end each day by listing five unique things you’re grateful for in your life.

Before long, you’ll find that you spend more of your time dwelling on all the good things you have in the world rather than negative obstacles you might face.

Focusing on you helps you take the best possible care of yourself.

It allows you to replenish your batteries and regain your strength so you can be fully present and engaged in the rest of your day.

Use these tips to start changing your focus today, and have many happy tomorrows!

What distractions do you have in life?

How can you move away from them and keep your focus on what’s important?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

February 14, 2019February 28, 2018

Five Ways to Make More Money Now

No matter what you do for a living, there’s always an incentive to make more money.

Maybe you’re trying to pay off credit card bills, save up for something special, or have a little cushion should something unexpected happen in your life.

It used to be that if you needed to make a bit of extra cash, you needed to pick up a second job, like bussing tables a few weekends a month or showing up early at the bakery to help with the ovens.

Now, thanks to the doors opened by the internet, and the ease of starting your own business, it’s gotten easier than ever to bring in some extra money without working yourself to death in the process.

Here are five ways you can make some extra cash in a pinch:

1. Sell your unused items. Do you have books you’ll never read again collecting dust on your bookshelf?

Is your closet full of outgrown or embarrassing clothes?

Are your old computers taking up too much space? Sell them!

Have a yard sale.

Sell your things to specialty shops like second hand clothing shops, used bookstores, used furniture stores, or even repair shops that need parts from what you have.

Use eBay. Lots of things without local markets have a national or global market, and there are people who’ll buy the oddest things on eBay.

In particular, if you’ve got some sort of fairly obscure electronic hardware, try selling it on eBay first.

Chances are someone wants it and is willing to pay a premium for it.

2. Ask for a raise at your current job.

There’s no doubt that asking for more money is difficult, especially during a recession, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

Most people are too scared to ask for a raise, so you can use this to your advantage.

Assemble a list of the things you’ve accomplished at your work in the last nine months and make your case.

Another way you may be able to make more cash at your job is to ask your boss if there’s extra work you can do to gain more hours or get paid more for increased responsibilities.

3. Trade skills for cash.

Are you a skilled seamstress, writer, or graphic designer?

There are countless websites where you can use your expertise to earn extra money.

If you’re not sure how to get started, take a few minutes to do an Internet search.

Resources abound on the ‘net that can help you find buyers for your skills.

4. Get a work from home job.

There are lots of telephone based customer service jobs that you can do with just a computer and an Internet connection.

Some of them pay remarkably well and all of them have relaxed dress codes to boot!

5. Start your own part-time business.

Transform one of your hobbies or skills into a second business.

There’s nothing quite as exhilarating as turning your love for something into a business and making it profitable.

Many of these money-making ideas will work fairly quickly with little effort.

You can take it one step further and significantly boost your income by creating a business you can run from the comfort of home.

Take action and you can make more money!

What skills do you have that can be used to make some money?

What resources do you need to start that today?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

February 11, 2019February 28, 2018

Building Self-Awareness

Would you like to see some changes in your life?

You can begin making these changes by building self-awareness.

Self-awareness is a self-conscious state where you’re focused on yourself and your well being.

It’s often said, “We cannot change what we will not see.”

Self-awareness is the process of acknowledging not only our strengths, but our weaknesses as well.

Becoming self-aware entails listening to your body and feelings and taking action based on what you hear.

If you’re in tune with your body, you’ll know when to say no to that extra piece of cake or say no to staying up late.

You’ll become more in tune with your body the more often you respect it.

Self-awareness is a process. The more we do it, the better we become at it.

How do you become self-aware?

These tips will help you in your journey to self-awareness:

1. Reflect on who you are and who you’d like to become.

While it’s important to notice your faults and weaknesses, it’s equally important to acknowledge your strengths.

The better you understand yourself, the better you’re able to accept yourself as you are or change the things you’d like to be different.

Self-awareness requires you to be honest with yourself and have the courage to change the things you can.

A full recognition of yourself gives you the opportunity to become the self-fulfilled person you’re destined to be.

Looking deep within your soul, you’ll find the many character traits that make you unique. Begin by acknowledging the positive things.

This will strengthen and encourage you to face the less favorable character traits without abandoning your new venture.

On the other hand, when evaluating your strengths, don’t let your ego get the best of you.

If you magnify either your strengths or your weaknesses, you can’t possibly get a realistic picture of yourself.

Until you examine the truth of who you are, you cannot move into the person you can become.

2. Pay attention to your likes and dislikes.

Far too often, people make life-changing choices without acknowledging deeply rooted personal preferences.

Before you embark on goals for your future, have a full awareness of the things you especially enjoy and those you prefer not to have in your life.

3. Face your inner self.

During your self-awareness process, think about your motivations, dreams, fears and stressors.

Think about why you feel the way you do, then begin to work toward overcoming these inner battles.

4. Ask your loved ones’ opinions.

Talk to people who know you best and really listen to what they see as your dominant character traits and motivations.

Ask them to be completely honest with you and be prepared to hear their opinions.

You may not be your own best judge of character.

Accept the way your loved ones see you as part of this process.

Consider their opinions along with your own analysis in order to see the full picture of who you are.

Self-awareness is a necessary part of self-esteem and change.

If you want to grow as an individual, begin with a complete and honest picture of who you are now.

This total awareness will start your journey to becoming the best you can be.

How aware are you of your talents and abilities?

How are you using those to your advantage and to better your life?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

February 9, 2019February 28, 2018

Five Ways to Nurture a Positive Relationship

A positive relationship can be one of the most wonderful things in the world, while a negative one can turn your life into a disaster!

Do you yearn to cultivate a positive relationship with your partner and help it grow stronger?

Having a positive relationship takes effort from both of you, but you can get it started.

Your partner will surely enjoy the benefits and follow your lead.

Here are five important techniques you can use to nurture your relationship:

1. Give 100%. First and foremost, if you want to build a relationship that’s positive, passionate, and withstanding, you need to give 100% of yourself.

This is one of the most important things for success, not only in your relationships, but life in general.

There’s no “50/50” when it comes to giving in a relationship.

You’ve got to give freely of yourself if it’s going to work. It’s almost impossible to receive from your partner if you don’t give in return.

Remember the golden rule.

When you fully give of yourself, the other person will see the effort you’re making and soon begin to reciprocate with the same type of behavior.

2. Focus on loving your partner. In nurturing a positive relationship, your main focus should be on simply loving your partner.

Show your love in both your words and actions, in all you say and do.

The expression “actions speak louder than words,” is definitely true when it comes to a relationship.

However, your partner still wants to hear you say, “I love you.”

Be generous with compliments and mean what you say.

3. Use charitable acts. The things you do for your partner make a difference in your relationship.

When you love someone, acts of kindness toward him or her come naturally.

No action should be done just because you feel obligated to do it. The things you do for your partner should be done because you want to do them.

Remember, your actions are more important than your words, so use them to help build up a relationship that’s naturally positive.

4. Respect your partner. Always respect your partner in every way to build a lasting and positive relationship with them.

Respect is an important building block of any relationship.

Respect your partner not only in a physical sense, but also mentally, emotionally, and spiritually as well.

5. Build a strong friendship. Your romantic relationship needs to have the stability and deep roots that come from a strong friendship.

With a meaningful friendship as its basis, your relationship becomes stronger and more lasting.

When you work hard to construct a strong friendship, you can be assured that your relationship is ready to weather whatever life may throw at you in the future.

If your goal is to create a stronger bond with your partner, take the time to think about what it is you’d like from your partner.

Give those things to your partner, and you’ll almost always find the answers you seek about how to create a nurturing relationship.

Following these five steps can have a positive impact on any relationship.

Once you begin taking care of your relationship and making a conscious effort to improve it, you’ll see a stronger, more positive bond flourishing before your eyes.

How important is your relationship with your husband/wife, girlfriend/boyfriend?

What makes you fall in love with this person over and over again?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

February 8, 2019February 28, 2018

Five Ways to Be Assertive and Say “No”

Do you find it difficult to be assertive and say “no” to people’s requests?

Since there just aren’t enough hours in the day to appease everyone, the art of saying “no” without hurting the feelings of others is an important skill to acquire.

Saying “no” doesn’t mean you have to be rude about it.

There are plenty of polite, yet assertive, ways you can tell people “no” when you need to.

Here are some ways you can say “no” without being rude or impolite:

1. “No” to now, but “yes” to later. “I’m very busy at the moment.Perhaps someone else can help you. If not, I’ll have time later in the week to help you out.”

This is a great way to say “no.” It’s assertive, but also positive and kind.

You let the person know there’s no way you can do what they’re asking at the moment.

However, you give them the option to ask someone else or wait until you have the time to help out.

2. “No” unless something changes. “I’m very flattered that you’ve asked me. However, I’m not currently in a position where I can take on this responsibility. Could we talk about this at another time if there’s a change in my circumstances?”

This statement says “no” while still being very polite.

You let them know how thrilled you are that they’ve asked you, but then you’re honest about how little time you have to commit to their request.

3. A definitive “No.” “I hate to disappoint you, but I’m not able to do this. I’m afraid I’ll overextend myself.”

With this statement, you express regret for disappointing the person, yet you still let them know that this is a solid “no.”

No doubt they’ll understand you don’t want to overextend yourself, which makes them sympathetic to the plight you’re in as well.

This answer is very kind and polite. Plus, it allows them to understand where you’re coming from.

4. “No” to attend an event. “I had a great time before, but I won’t be able to make it this time since I’m already overscheduled.”

Sometimes you may get asked to an event you don’t want to attend or that you just don’t have the time for.

You don’t have to feel obligated to go.

This statement lets the person know you’ve had a great time in the past, yet you’re over scheduled or busy this time around.

5. “No” to loaning money. “I really wish I could but I make it my practice not to loan money to friends and family.”

Money is one thing that many people ask for from their friends and family.

It’s a difficult situation since you don’t want to insult them or hurt their feelings.

This statement is a nice way to be assertive and say “no” while still being kind.

You let them know that you wish you could loan them the money, yet you go on to explain why you won’t.

You make it clear that this is the practice you have for everyone, and you’re not just saying “no” to him or her personally.

For some reason, parents often feel the need to always say “yes.”

Whether it’s working at a PTA function, helping in your child’s classroom, or going to yet another classmate’s birthday party, you may feel like these are things you must fit into your already busy schedule.

However, you can take control of your family’s calendar – and your sanity – by saying “no” to some offers that come your way.

Saying “no” in a pleasant tone of voice won’t lose any friends; but it will allow you to set boundaries so you can enjoy life rather than racing through it.

How easy is it for you to decline something or someone?

What considerations do you look at before saying “no”?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

February 7, 2019February 28, 2018

Five Things You Need to Know About Debt

These days everyone is looking for ways to reduce debt and save money.

It is possible to wipe out your existing debt and learn how to live your life within your means.

Here are five tips that will help you on your way to debt free living:

1. Stop using credit cards. One of the leading factors in the current economic crisis is people buying things on credit they cannot afford.

The next thing they know, they find themselves unable to do anything more than make minimum monthly payments.

Minimum payments will keep you in debt because every month interest continues to accrue on your original balance.

A $1,000 balance on a typical credit card can take 22 years to pay off if you make only the minimum monthly payments!

Don’t fall into the trap of credit card debt. Instead, avoid the hassle and expense by paying cash for the things you buy.

If you want a big-ticket item, save the cash before you make the purchase. Only buy when you can afford to pay for the item in full before you bring it home.

2. Buy luxury items with cash. We all have extras and luxuries we want, but using credit to get them is a dangerous path to take.

You’ll get much greater enjoyment from the extras in your life when you pay cash, rather than ongoing monthly payments.

Nothing takes the excitement out of a new toy or nice vacation more than the large payments that strain your budget month after month.

3. Create a realistic budget that includes debt repayment. The first step in gaining control over your debt is creating a workable budget.

Rather than stifling you, a budget can bring you freedom!

You’ll know where your money goes and you’ll set a spending plan so you can continue buying the most important things in your life.

Your budget should take into consideration all facets of your lifestyle, including housing, food and household items, utilities, savings, recreation and debt repayment.

If your budget doesn’t include room for debt repayment, there will never be enough money to pay off your debt.

Take control of your financial reality by working with a realistic budget every month.

Before long, you’ll see your debt diminishing while your savings grow.

4. Seek the help of a professional credit counselor, accountant or financial planner.

The best way to be sure you’re making sound financial decisions is to seek out the help of a financial professional.

Credit counselors, financial planners and accountants are experts in the areas of savings, debt repayment, investments and tax deductions.

Implement each of these areas into your finances to eliminate financial strain and secure a stable financial future.

5. Negotiate better rates with the banks or credit card companies.

Many people assume they have no choice but to accept the interest and finance rates offered by their banks and credit card companies, but that isn’t always the case!

Talk to the people at your financial institutions. You may be surprised at how willing they are to budge.

If your credit is in good shape or you’ve made steady, progressive strides to improve it, you may be able to get lower interest rates on your debts.

You might also receive higher interest rates on your savings, giving you a double shot at eliminating your debt entirely and moving forward with your finances in a positive direction.

You can repair your debt problems and learn to avoid creating them in the future.

These five steps will point you in the right direction and get you started on a new path to financial freedom and prosperity!

How can being debt-free bring more joy in your life?

How do you keep yourself debt-free?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

February 5, 2019February 28, 2018

Making Healthy Food Choices In Our Busy Lives

You already know how important it is to make healthy food choices for you and your family.

But how can you fit the best choices into your busy life?

You’ll be pleased to discover that a hectic life doesn’t mean that every meal has to be fast food on the run!

Sometimes it’s difficult to make healthy changes, but with a little planning and know-how, it can be done.

Here are some strategies to help you and your family make healthy choices:

1. Avoid temptation.

It’s so easy to walk into the store with good intent, but walk out with bags full of unhealthy foods.

Unfortunately, our wills are weak, especially if we’ve trained ourselves over the years to buy junk foods.

2. Never shop when you’re hungry.

This way you won’t pick out unhealthy choices because they look good at the moment.

3. Get rid of the unhealthy foods in your home.

If they aren’t around, you won’t be tempted to eat them.

4. Think of healthier alternatives to your family’s favorite unhealthy foods.

Rather than high calorie chips, try trail mixes or rice cakes.

Low calorie puddings or frozen yogurts are better alternatives to higher fat ice creams.

5. Eat fast and healthy meals at home.

When you’re tired at the end of the day and you realize you still have to feed the family, it’s easy to go to a fast food chain and throw fast food on the table.

It may save some time, but it won’t save your health – or your pocket book!

The great thing is that there are many easy, fast, and healthy foods you can make at home.

This takes some planning, but you’ll be more satisfied, save money, and be healthier as well.

6. Look online for quick and easy recipes made with all natural ingredients.

Many recipes can be made in 30 minutes or less and only have 5 ingredients.

Taking the time to do some recipe research will save your sanity in the long run.

Then once you find a “hit” with the family, store the recipe in a book or on your computer.

7. When you cook, make large batches and freeze the leftovers.

This way, you’ll already have meals in the freezer that you can just thaw, heat, and serve.

No muss, no fuss! This is the opportune way to enjoy “fast” food at home.

8. Eat Slower.

Since the brain takes about 20 minutes to get the signal that the stomach is full, if you eat too fast you’ll pack in a lot more food than you need.

When you’re still thinking you’re hungry, it’s easy to make the wrong choices about food.

If you slow down while you’re eating, you’ll eat less and you’ll still feel full.

9. Set a calming mood before sitting down for a meal.

Avoid having the television on or eating as you’re rushing the kids out the door to another activity.

Sitting calmly at the table will allow everyone to relax and enjoy their meal.

10. Make dinner time a social experience.

Dinner should be about enjoying your company and taking pleasure in the foods you’re eating.

When you begin to look at mealtime as a social experience, it becomes easier to make the right choices about healthy foods.

Suddenly you aren’t so worried about rushing through and making it quick.

Dinner becomes a great experience when you’re able to enjoy healthy foods together.

Take time to eat as a family and enjoy a real conversation with each other.

Talking will naturally slow down your eating pace, while also reconnecting you with your family members.

Using these techniques will bring all kinds of healthy benefits to your family and teach your children a healthy lifestyle.

Healthy food choices are a possibility in your busy life if you take the time to plan ahead and make dinner time a priority in your home.

What are your favorite recipes that can be prepared quickly?

How healthy is your meal menu this week?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

February 4, 2019February 28, 2018

Losing Weight Can Be Fun – Five Simple Activities to Get Healthy and Have Fun

Do you groan when you think of trying to lose weight and exercise?

Most of us do! Unfortunately, for so many, the very idea of losing weight breeds negative thoughts and feelings.

You may even feel as if it’s an impossible challenge.

After all, who wants to think of climbing on those machines in the gym for 30 minutes to take off the pounds?

Or even worse, doing sit-ups at home. Yuck!

If losing weight has become a drag, you need to rethink your strategy.

You’ll be glad to discover that you don’t need to go to the gym to lose weight and get the body you want!

Here are five simple activities that will help you get healthy while having a blast:

1. Play group sports.

One great idea for losing weight the fun way is to play group sports.

Next time, instead of dragging yourself to the gym and those dreaded machines, check out the recreation center in your area.

Start playing soccer, softball, volleyball, or basketball.

With these activities, you’ll be burning off the calories while enjoying yourself at the same time!

2. Go for a walk with your friends.

Another great way to get active and improve your health is to start walking with friends.

Meet during the week to take a brisk walk together, either in the morning before your day begins, during lunch, or in the evening after work.

Schedule your walk into your day as social time.

While you’re walking, take time to catch up and chat with each other.

This way it feels more like a social experience instead of exercise.

3. Dance.

Dancing is another great way to burn off mega calories while you have a great time.

You’ll get your heart pumping, and you’ll enjoy an awesome total workout!

Take a dance class.
Go out to a nightclub where you can dance the night away.
Get some dance videos so you can dance at home.

4. Beautify your yard or cultivate a garden.

Gardening and yard work are both activities that burn calories so you can lose some weight.

Planting flowers or vegetables, pulling weeds, raking, hauling dirt, and doing other gardening chores can really help you get in shape.

When you’re squatting, bending, and yanking out those weeds, you’ll be working muscles you didn’t even know you had!

5. Play with your family.

Even something as simple as playtime outdoors with the family can help you lose some pounds and stay healthy.

Whether it’s running, Frisbee, or playing tag together, just having fun with the family can give you some much needed activity.

Visit a park and go hiking on the trails.
Climb a tree in your backyard.
Go swimming or skiing.

The possibilities are endless!

You’ll have fun spending quality time with your family, and teaching your children a healthy lifestyle as well.

Although these activities are fun, regular activity and eating a healthy diet go hand in hand when you want to lose weight.

You can’t count one weekend of gardening as your exercise for the week.

Vary your activities for more fun, and do something to get moving every day.

Consistency is the key to reaching your weight loss goal.

As you can see, exercising and getting in shape don’t have to be boring or unpleasant.

There are plenty of easy activities you can do to lose weight, improve your health, and have fun!

How do you feel about your current weight?

What activities are you doing to keep yourself fit?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

February 2, 2019February 28, 2018

How to Maintain Healthy Eating Habits

Are you struggling to keep your resolution to eat healthy, nutritious foods?

Once you’ve set a goal to maintain healthy eating habits, how do you go about actually achieving that goal?

The good news is that once you do something consistently for only a few weeks, it becomes a habit.

Here are some simple techniques to help you avoid those tempting junk foods so you can make wise and healthy decisions in your daily routine.

Strategies to Avoid Temptation:

1. Am I hungry?

Ask yourself if you’re really hungry or if you’re eating out of convenience or emotion.

Many times you probably aren’t as hungry as you think, so try to get involved in a different activity instead of snacking.

2. Water, water, and more water.

Drink a lot of water each day.

Not only is this good for your whole body (both inside and out), it can actually make you feel full.

Also, oftentimes when you think you’re hungry, your body is actually thirsty, so keep yourself well hydrated.

3. Try chewing gum.

Putting something in your mouth like gum or hard, sugar-free candy can help convince your brain that you’re eating!

4. Divert your energy.

Instead of putting all your energy into making two grilled cheese sandwiches with bacon, try taking a walk or doing something that requires you to use your hands, like knitting or woodworking.

It’s pretty hard to do these and eat at the same time.

5. Allow yourself snack time.

Choose healthy snacks instead of chips and salsa or chocolate bars.

For snack time, try eating celery, popcorn without butter, fruits, or a make-your-own trail mix with raisins, nuts, and dried fruits.

A good hint for snacking is to have healthy snacks readily available in your home, and unhealthy snacks completely out of the house; that way, the healthy stuff is easy to grab.

How to Choose Healthy Foods:

The next time you’re off to the grocery store, use these tips to help you choose the right foods and avoid the unhealthy stuff.

1. Stay away from preservatives.

You don’t need that Twinkie that can outlast any environmental disaster!

When you learn to read nutrition labels and ingredient lists, you’ll find that there are many snacks that are full of preservatives.

You probably shouldn’t buy the food when the ingredient list contains more than a handful of items.

Plus, if the expiry date isn’t until two years from now, it’s being heavily preserved.

2. Use the food pyramid.

The recommended food pyramid from the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gears you toward whole foods and minimal sweets.

Get a copy from the FDA and make your grocery list by following their guidelines.

3. Buy lots of fresh vegetables that you can use to make up a quick and healthy stir-fry with chicken, brown rice, or even soy products.

Buy easy to make salads where the lettuce and other veggies are already washed.

These are easy, quick, healthy, and they taste good.

The key is to choose vegetables that are dark green or orange in color.

3. Buy fresh fruits and do some research on how to tell when fruits are at their freshest and when they’re in season.

Try some of those exotic fruits you’ve always looked at but never purchased.

Make your own fruit drinks and smoothies for a healthy, delicious treat.

More Great Grocery Store Tips:

1. Shop in a circle.

Many nutritionists will tell you to shop the perimeter of the store.

Grocery stores are usually set up with their fresh foods, fruits, vegetables, fish, and breads all around the perimeter.

Preservative-laced foods are in the center and at the ends of each aisle.

2. Go alone.

Leave your children in good hands and go alone to the grocery store.

This way you can concentrate on getting only the healthy foods you desire without being pressured into buying junk.

Alternatively, if you do bring your children, be prepared to spend extra time teaching them how to spot healthy foods.

3. Make a list!

This technique is a tried and true method to avoid buying foods that aren’t healthy.

Stick to your list and, for fun, seek out healthy foods you haven’t tried before to tempt your taste buds

With some determination and strategies in place, you can achieve your goal to eat healthy!

By incorporating healthy changes into your diet one by one, you’re slowly creating a new habit.

Before long, you’ll be choosing healthy foods without a second thought, and those unhealthy foods you used to eat will no longer tempt you.

Once you discover the benefits and better taste of fresh and healthy foods, you’ll never want to go back!

How often do you have nutritious food in your diet?

What are you favorite healthy foods?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!