Never forget this Important Habit!

Working out on a regular basis is more than a way to lose or maintain weight. It’s a way of life.

Regular Exercise

Working out on a regular basis helps with many things. I will briefly discuss some of the many health benefits of working out on a regular basis:

•Drops  Insulin levels -High Insulin levels are dangerous since it is the root cause of Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, etc. Cardiovascular Exercise is a natural way to lower your Insulin levels.

•Treats Type 2 Diabetes - A couple of the possible side-effects of Diabetes is Heart Disease and Kidney Disease. Both are very serious conditions, and exercising on a regular basis (including a healthy diet) can greatly reduce the chances of having Diabetes.

•Lowers Blood Pressure – If you have High Blood Pressure, you are at risk for Heart Attacks, Strokes and even Kidney failure. High Blood Pressure can be caused by poor eating habits, lack of exercise, and abundant amounts of stress. To help lower your Blood Pressure, it is important to eat healthy (every day, not temporary!) and Exercise on a regular basis. I have personally found that when I am stressed, I need to have a good work out or else it will negatively effect my health.

•Lowers Cholesterol – High Cholesterol is dangerous because it is something that is seen after many years of poor eating and the effects can be quite serious. High Cholesterol causes a plaque buildup in your arteries which can lead to Heart Disease, Heart Attack, and Stroke. It was once believed that only those who were overweight suffered from High Cholesterol levels, but you can be “skinny” and still have high cholesterol. Like I have said many times before…the whole point of eating healthy and exercising is to be Healthy, not necessarily “Skinny”, because “Skinny” doesn’t always mean “Healthy”. Focus on what’s important here!

•Prevents Obesity – Being overweight and obese causes some serious health concerns. Many people suffer from Impaired Immune Systems, Liver Disease, Arthritis, Heart Disease, Back or Shoulder Pain, Stroke, Sleep Apnea, High Cholesterol, Cancer, Type 2 Diabetes, and the list goes on. These are all very serious issues that are all very preventable. Eat well and Exercise on a Regular basis!

•Treats Depression – You would be amazed how much exercising can help prevent and treat Depression! When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which are a natural feel-good hormone. Ever heard of a “Runner’s High”? Go out for a run (or walk!) and notice how much better you feel! Bottom line: If you want to be Happy, go Exercise!

“I don’t necessarily believe that you need to take expensive medications to solve many health issues.  The root of the problems are usually because your body is lacking proper nutrition and exercise. Your body needs regular exercise, and most people don’t make the time to exercise as often as their body needs it. ”

~Twinkie

Where to Start?

You may not be able to run, but what about walking? If you can’t walk,  what about clapping your hands or moving your feet? You have got to start somewhere.  Stay consistent, and you will notice the results!

The best way to maximize your exercise regime is to have healthy, well-balanced meals. Your body doesn’t want or need processed sugars, fattening or fried foods- no matter how much you are craving them!

Now it’s time to go out and exercise!

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Tags: Anti-Depressant, arthritis, cancer, cholesterol, Depression, exercise, Fitness, Healthy, heart attack, high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, Medication, natural, obesity, running, Skinny, Stroke, Type 2 Diabetes, walking, Weight Loss

Do you really need Health Insurance?

Many people look at Health Insurance and wonder if it is really necessary for them and their family. Unfortunately, most people put it at the bottom of their priority list. In reality, it shouldn’t even be a question whether they should have it or not.

Don’t let money hurt your health

I know too many people that need to go the Doctor to take care of some serious health concerns, but they don’t because they think they can’t afford the trip to the Doctor’s office. I believe there are some things in life that are priceless. Your health is one of them, and a lack of money should never be a reason why you don’t take care of yourself or your family. The cost of Health Insurance is more than worth it for your family’s health.

Buy it before you need it. Yes, Health Insurance costs money. A trip to the Emergency Room without coverage cost even more. In a state of emergency and panic, you don’t want to worry about money.  Make sure you are getting the treatment you really need.

You can avoid the worry in emergency situations by choosing a health plan that you understand, and a deductible that makes sense for you.

Healthy or not- You need it!

Are you already in good health? Whether you are healthy right now or not, you should always strive to maintain a balanced diet and exercise regularly. This will not only help with the cost of your Insurance premiums, but may also reduce the risk of needing to go to the Doctors for  a serious health concern. Prevention is key!

Do you have a family history of Heart Disease, Cancer, Obesity, High Blood Pressure, etc? If you do, even more reason to maintain a healthy lifestyle and all the more reason to make sure you have Health Insurance – just in case. I know we don’t like thinking about it, but who does? By having Insurance, it can give you and your family some piece of mind.

Cost of not having Insurance

Not having Health Insurance is not worth the risk for yourself or your family. Here are a couple of common procedures, and the cost associated with each – if you don’t have insurance.

•Back Surgery – Do you have a herniated disc like I did? If I had to have surgery, according to surgery-guide.com, it would cost about $8,000. If you need a more complex back surgery, it could cost upwards of $17,000.

•Heart Surgery – The cost can be $20,000 or more.

•Cancer – There are so many different types of cancers. Based on the type of cancer and it’s location in your body, will be a determining factor to the total cost. So what are some people paying for cancer treatments? The cost can be upwards of $200,000 or more without insurance – this would be for the surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, X-Rays, etc.

•Medications – A single pill can be several hundred dollars. Depending on your needs, it can cost $2,500 or more each month to keep taking the pills your Doctor prescribes to you.

•In hospital stay- Need to stay overnight at the hospital? Plan on it costing anywhere from $750 to $2,500 a night.

Help

I am a huge believer of natural healing and preventative care. Sometimes you have to do more (I don’t like to admit it either), but just in case you need the hospital’s help to get you back on your feet, be sure you get the help you need without breaking the bank.

If you are in need of Health Insurance, check out www.explorehealthinsurance.com to see what options are available to you, and find the plan that is best for you and your family.

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Tags: Back Surgery, cancer, Cost, exercise, Healh insurance, Health, Healthy Diet, heart disease, high blood pressure, Hospital, Insurance, Nevada Insured, obesity, Preventative

Twinkie’s Challenge: Say “No Way!” to Fried foods

If you can do one thing for your health..stop eating fried foods.

What is considered  ”Fried foods”?

Anything cooked in a lot of grease or oil, at very high temperatures. Fried foods are things like french fries, most potato chips, onion rings, doughnuts, and in most cases, anything with the word “fried” in the title (though many products can be sneaky with their names!).

Why try to give up Fried foods?

Fried foods have little to no nutritional value, and if you have learned anything from my posts, your body needs good-for-you-fuel to survive and function properly. Those fried onion rings? Not helping you in any way. Fried foods are drenched in unhealthy oils-most commonly used are Canola, Vegetable, or Peanut oil-that are not good for your body. These oils become even more harmful for you when they are heated at such high temperatures to cook your food. Adding your food-whatever you may decide to fry- just decreases the nutritional value, and actually making things worse for your body. How bad can it be? Ever heard of the obesity epidemic? I guess fried foods fuel one thing-obesity. Fried foods not only cause obesity, but it also has been found to cause heart disease, clogged arteries, cholesterol, high blood pressure, and the list unfortunately goes on. Nothing good can come from frying your foods- nothing!

What are my alternatives to Fried foods?

Steaming, Baking, or Toasing your food! Trust me, not only will you be preparing better-for-you foods (you know, the ones where your body can actually benefit from what you are eating), but you will enjoy a variety of benefits from not frying your foods.

I believe your food will taste better. You will consume much less calories! Your body won’t feel so sluggish, and you should experience more energy (more noticable for those who eat fried foods on a regular basis and then suddenly stop). You can feel better- an excess of fried/greasy foods always made me feel really sick- literally. It was my body’s way of telling me “No more Fried foods”, and that it just wasn’t benefiting my body in any way. I finally wisened up, and avoid Fried foods.

Twinkie’s Challenge

My challenge for you: No more Fried foods! Take it one day at a time. If you are used to eating Fried foods on a regular basis, it may take a little bit of time to get out of the habit.  When you go grocery shopping, don’t buy fried potato chips or doughnuts. When you go out to eat, don’t get fried chinese food or don’t get the french fries at the Burger joint. Your body will thank you.

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Tags: avoid any fried foods, bake, clogged arteries, doughnuts, fats, french fries, fried foods, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, less sluggish, less tired, monthly challenge, obesity, onion rings, potato chips, steam, unhealthy oils