Lynds in Real Life

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Health

Family Matters – Oldest to Youngest

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No one likes to think about something terrible happening to their family, and often, that is why millions of us are unprepared. We all want to take care of our families, to provide for them in the long and short-term. With each new addition that joins your family, a lot of love follows them – but so do financial responsibilities. 

Those responsibilities aren’t just yours; they belong to everyone. However, it is essential that you do everything you can to make sure it all goes as smoothly as possible. 

Photo by Jake Thacker on Unsplash

Smallest

The beautiful thing about children is that you have a clean slate. You can start saving for them; you can start growing a nest egg. A simple savings account with a few dollars a month can help your children pay towards college, books, meals, travel, and more when they reach an age that they really need it. 

The most important thing and the one money can’t buy is, of course, time. We all have free time that we don’t always use to the best of our ability. Moreover, is there anything better than spending it on the smallest members of your family? Maybe they are your kids, and perhaps they aren’t – but spend the time, and you will feel those rewards for years to come. 

Middles

There are probably more family members in the 18-58 age bracket. Usually, this age group has the most modern pressures. The young end of that spectrum have exams, job stress, trying to afford a home, and sometimes they can feel like others are too busy being successful, or living their own lives to check-in. So take the time to say hi, grab a coffee, and just listen. 

It is nice to ask ‘Are you okay?’ it’s more helpful to ask ‘hey, do you need help with anything, what can I do?’. 

Emotional and mental support is a big deal, and all it takes is to make sure that you are there. Also, the kind offer of helping with week of grocery shopping, or even a monetary offer, usually won’t go amiss. 

Elders

The elder members of your family need just as much love and support as the younger ones – but it might need to be in a different form. The 58+ bracket sadly comes with more ailments and illnesses. If you can, start talking about their will, and if they don’t have one, it might be time to get one written up. Talk about what might happen if they can no longer care for themselves, and check out in home health care professionals so that they can stay in a place they are happy. 

It isn’t a surprise really, but the best way to take care of people is to be there for them, through the good and the bad.

•How do you and your family take care of each other? Please share below in the comments section!

Thank you for reading!

Fitness

Finding The Perfect Gym For You: 4 Helpful Tips

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While it is possible to work on your fitness at home, a gym membership undeniably has its advantages. A gym is a dedicated workout space, so your home can be reserved for relaxation; the equipment is more likely to be high-end. There’s a range of different classes available for when you feel you need to shake things up, and help will be on hand if you run into any difficulties.

However, it’s fair to say that the experience of visiting a gym can vary. Some gyms are excellent, offering a wealth of benefits to their members that more than justifies their fees. Others… aren’t so excellent, and in the worst cases, could actually harm your ability to meet your fitness goals.

If you’re on the lookout for a new gym, here are four tips that can help to make sure you find the perfect gym for your needs.

#1 – Time Your Visit Carefully

Touring a gym before joining is highly recommended. Make sure you plan your visit around the same time as you would usually be working out. Doing so allows you to get a rough idea of how busy the gym is, and allows you to assess the atmosphere and conditions based on what you are most likely to experience if you sign-up.

#2 – Check the Machines Thoroughly

During your visit to a gym you are considering, take the time to check the machines in detail. First and foremost, look at safety aspects; do the machines look modern and well-maintained, or are they in the kind of disrepair that suggests using them may result in needing to call a personal injury attorney in future? In addition, assess the cleanliness; good gyms tend to ensure that their equipment is thoroughly cleaned regularly, so any sign of accumulated dirt will make that gym a no-go.

#3 – Examine the Existing List of Classes and Ask How Popular They Are

If you are considering a gym because they offer a range of classes you are particularly excited to try, it’s important to ask a member of staff how popular each class actually is. Gyms often cancel classes that have relatively few attendees, so you’ll need to make sure that the class you want to try will actually be available. On the flip side, if the classes you are interested in are bordering on too popular, you may find yourself having to join a waiting list before each class – so it may be worth trying a different gym to see if they have better availability.

#4 – Read the Fine Print

It would be impossible to discuss finding a great gym without a discussion of the contract you will be asked to sign, especially given that gym membership contracts have a tendency for being difficult to break.

*Just ask my boyfriend: Planet Fitness will only allow him to cancel his membership by GOING TO THE GYM HE SIGNED UP AT, which mind you, is in California! We live in Nevada now. Ugh, it is so frustrating. Don’t fall into that trap.

Always ask for time to read through your contract in full before signing, paying particular attention to the clauses related to canceling the contract. Hopefully you won’t need to cancel anytime soon, but it’s always important to make sure you know exactly where you stand before you sign on the dotted line.

The four tips above should help you to find the best gym for your needs. Once you find one, come back here and share which gym you chose! I’d love to hear more about it.

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Health

In Our Right Mind: Getting Free From Addiction Using The Right Tools

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Suffering from any addiction is crippling in the mind and body. When we suffer a problem that we can’t appear to overcome, is it about mind over matter? Our mindset has a lot to do with overcoming any obstacle in life, but can we use this to break free from addiction? When we have numerous bad habits in life, from biting our nails to smoking cigarettes, it’s mostly about the power our brain has. So does this mean we’ve got to put our brain into gear to get over some sort of addiction? It appears so, right? How can we use our mindset, or acquire one to ensure that we put a stop to an addiction that is harming us?

Assessing Our Current Mindset

The big problem that we have in terms of addiction is that we stand in our own way. Maybe we don’t have the ability to admit that we’ve got a problem. As is the usual procedure, when we need help, it has to be us that instigates the fact that we need some sort of support. By assessing our current mindset, it could very well be done independently. When it comes to quitting something, we have to look at which mindset we currently have. Tolerance is one of those mindsets that are connected with addiction. It’s a physical and psychological process. But what happens is, when a behavior is repeated, you become less sensitive to something. You develop a physical or mental tolerance. And on the flip side, we experience withdrawal, either in physical or mental symptoms. And it’s these two things that can get in the way of truly addressing our addiction.

Looking At Our Fixed Mindset

If we have a fixed mindset, this provides a major obstacle to overcoming any addiction. It’s about being immovable on a subject. We may embody a fixed mindset in a very black and white way. For example, if we fall off the wagon, we consider ourselves to be a failure. We may feel our abilities right now determine that they cannot be moved. This is something that provides a major barrier to overcoming any form of problem in our minds, not just addiction. Once we start to establish that we have a fixed mindset and that these things can be moved, this is when we can start to make progress.

Establishing A Growth Mindset

A growth mindset is all about progression. In a simple way, it’s about positivity, but having a growth mindset allows you to progress forward. In a biochemical sense, it can help to create extra neural pathways. It’s all about this idea of habit. We’ve learned new habits throughout our life, but it’s about breaking the ones that don’t help us. Sometimes it’s by assimilation; we could go to a group therapy practice, or involve ourselves in a sober living community so we are influenced by others that are going through the same issues. Because we stand in our own way of success, when we see others undergoing the same problems, or are just far along in the recovery process as us, it’s humbling, but it’s also a perfect way to provide stimulation and motivation. A growth mindset is vital for recovery, and it’s something that can be harnessed. Counseling is one approach; especially with counselors who provide cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Developing New Thoughts

Because we have specific thought patterns that we may think are fixed, this is what will lead to a more negative mindset. Issues like a self-fulfilling prophecy, negative opinions of oneself will begin to cloud our judgment. A growth mindset is not just about training yourself in terms of new thought processes; it’s about undertaking the right practices that will help you on the road to recovery. This could very well be about getting rid of certain pressures in life. It could be through social situations, or friends that are a bad influence on you. Once we start to liberate ourselves of our old thought patterns, we can begin new thoughts, and grow to become a completely different person.

Making It Work Together

Naturally, all of these things are fantastic in theory, but can be difficult in practice. The most important piece of information that we can all learn in life is that it takes as long as it takes. When we are learning a new skill, or overcoming a dependency on something, we’ve got to break free of the antiquated notion that we are “limited.” That there’s only so much we can accomplish. Time and time again, it’s been shown that the mind and body are more than able to overcome obstacles, either by highlighting the effect that neuroplasticity has on our brains, or the fact that our body is a machine, and was built for physically demanding situations. When it comes to making all of this work together, it is mind and body, but also spirit. Whether you are religious or not is beside the point; once we equip ourselves with the tools, it’s about making it all work together according to what we want.

Like they say in rehab facilities, “we provide the tools, but it’s down to you to make sense of them.” Nobody can hold our hand through a unique problem like addiction, because we are suffering from it in our own heads. We can ask for help and guidance, and we can be given the tools, but it’s down to us to make it all work. Learning as much information as possible about overcoming something, disregarding the irrelevant tools, and making the most of the relevant ones can be a lengthy practice; but it’s all about ensuring that you are going in the right direction.

Is It Mind Over Matter?

It’s such an antiquated expression, but it is mind over matter when we have the tools at our disposal. Getting “over” an addiction isn’t about taking a magic pill. Addiction is something that can stay with us long after the physical symptoms have gone. This means that we have to develop a sense of inner strength, but also equip ourselves with all the necessary information and tactics. In this respect, it is mind over matter.

•Have you struggled with an addiction? How were you able to overcome it?

•If you’re still struggling with addiction, what are some tools that would help you be successful in breaking that addiction?

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Health

Is It Time For A Full Body Detox?

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Our bodies are designed to naturally get rid of all the bad stuff. However, we can often end up shoving so much of this bad stuff into our bodies that they cannot cope with the demand. Undertaking a full body detox can help to flush out the backlog of toxins in our body, allowing us to feel fresh again. Here are just several ways in which you can go about giving yourself a full body detox.

Cut Out the Bad Stuff

In order to stop all the bad stuff from piling up, you need to temporarily stop putting this stuff into your body. Some of the biggest culprits include alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, refined sugar, and trans fats. Try going a week without consuming these ingredients or try significantly lowering your intake – while the cravings may make you feel worse at first, you’ll feel so much better a few days in when these unhealthy ingredients are no longer in your system.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep

It’s when we’re asleep that our body does most of its natural detoxification. If you’re not getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night, you’re likely not letting your body complete this process. By upping your sleep for a week, you could help to rejuvenate your body. You’ll also recharge your energy reserves, making your brain feel much more alert and your body feel much more limber.

Drink More Water

Drinking lots of water will help to flush out all the toxins in your body. Focus on trying to drink 8 glasses of water per day. You can also try other drastic rehydration methods. To get all the toxins out of your bloodstream, you could consider IV hydration. Meanwhile, if you’re constipated and bloated, you could give colonic hydrotherapy a go.

Consume More Probiotics

Probiotics are your body’s source of healthy bacteria. These are needed to balance out the unhealthy bacteria in your gut. Too much unhealthy bacteria could be affecting your ability to digest food, your ability to absorb nutrients, and your ability to fight bugs and infections. Probiotics can be found in various foods such as yogurt, kefir, miso, and sauerkraut. They can also be taken as supplements.

Stay Active

Exercise is also important for detoxing your body. When we are active, our blood flows faster around the body, allowing antibodies and nutrients to get to the right places more quickly. Exercise helps us to get oxygen into our bodies faster and also helps to speed up our digestive system. All in all, it’s essential for a full body detox.

How do you detox your body? How often? Share below!

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Health

Surprising Causes of Headaches and How to Stop Them

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Did you know that it isn’t just stress and colds that can cause headaches? Sometimes little things, like cleaning your home or even sleeping in, can cause them too. If you want to help yourself then here are the top surprising causes of headaches.

Relaxing

Do you find that headaches strike you more on the weekend? Especially on a Saturday morning? If this is the case, then there is a very good reason. As you relax, the tension from the week subsides, and your stress hormones start to drop. This can cause a release of neurotransmitters, which sends out impulses to the blood vessels in the brain. When this happens, the vessels constrict and dilate. This can cause serious headaches, and it may cause you to suffer all weekend as a result. If you want to stop this, then try to avoid the temptation of sleeping in on the weekend. Instead, go for a yoga class or a walk.

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Pent up Anger

When you are angry, all the muscles that are in the back of your scalp and your neck really tense up. Of course, this will cause you to experience a constricting sensation around your head, known as a tension headache. If you want to try and stop this from happening, then try to breathe in deep and slowly. Also, focus on breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. This will relax your back and your neck.

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Poor Posture

Poor posture can create a lot of tension in your upper back. This can cause you to experience a headache, and you may find that you get a throbbing pain in the back of your skull. If this is the case, then avoid sitting in one position for a long period of time. If you get pain behind the eyes, this could be because of an eye problem. If this sounds like you, then check out Biotrue ONEday for astigmatism. I have astigmatisms in BOTH eyes, so I know the pain and frustration associated with it.

Perfume

If you think that housework gives you a headache, there is a high chance that you could be right. Cleaners, fragranced air fresheners, and strong perfumes can all contain chemicals which are notorious for bringing on headaches. If you want to fix this, then try and avoid heavy perfumes, and also make sure that you keep your windows and doors open as much as possible. The same applies to your workplace as well. When someone is spraying perfume, open the window and always make sure that you turn on your air conditioner where possible.

Bad Weather

If you are prone to getting headaches, you may find that they are brought on by high humidity, increasing temperatures, and even grey skies. Pressure changes can trigger electrical and chemical changes in the brain and this can irritate your nerves. This can then lead you to developing headaches and other side effects. If you want to stop this, try and take some pain relief for when bad weather does strike. I get terrible migraines, and they’re almost always due to the barometric pressure (or a change in air pressure). High humidity causes mine, as well. When in Ohio, where it’s always over 50% humidity, I get severe migraines. Here in Las Vegas, the humidity is almost always under 10%, and I get fewer migraines!

Do you get headaches? How do you combat them? Comment below!

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Fitness Health Uncategorized

Why Helping Yourself On Your Fitness Journey Isn’t A Bad Thing

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Like anything people can become passionate about, the fitness community can sometimes have those who take everything they do with utmost seriousness, and can become quite draconian when imparting advice. Of course, when this comes to matters of health and safety, or when it comes to actually promoting what works, this is completely fine. However, sometimes you may be intimidated, thinking that unless you are following ‘the perfect way,’ you’re not following a way at all.

Fitness is a metaphor for our life, in that if we want something, we have to stay committed and work for it. However, over time this can prevent you from making the progress you want despite putting work in. Fitness, like anything you do to better your life, should be enjoyable and something you look forward to when it’s at its best. If you hate every gym session, every healthy meal, and feel as though you simply have to suffer through it – you’re not going to last very long at all.

This is why, especially in the beginning, helping yourself out on your fitness journey isn’t a bad thing at all. After all, if you want to climb a mountain, it’s a good idea to bring climbing gear.

Consider:

A Shoulder To Lean On

A gym can be an intimidating place to be your first time there. You likely do not know what most of the equipment is outside of the obvious fixtures, and trying to navigate a busy gym during peak times can be a nightmare. This is why it can be important start with a gym induction, and to simply walk around the place to see what you can and can’t do. Asking questions such as what the weightlifting chalk policy can help illuminate what actions you should be taking.

Sometimes, it can be hard to simply get in a routine schedule. If you haven’t gone to the gym for some time, what makes your current need so different? Also, how might you ingratiate yourself into the fitness lifestyle well? We’d recommend that finding a shoulder to lean on could be a great idea. Perhaps you could look online at a forum dedicated to your local area, and try to find a gym buddy that way. Perhaps you might ask one of your friends to start this new lifestyle with you, if they have also suggested that they wish to become fitter.

When you have someone waiting on you as you’re waiting on them, both of you will find it much harder to let the other person down. This can help you both enjoy one another’s company and also gain a stronger and more dependable approach when helping each other overcome their lifts.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with doing this. In fact, it can be a much safer method of attending the gym. For example, having someone ‘spot you’ on the bench press can help you avoid being punished by gravity if placing too much weight on the bar. You can also both help each other with scheduling, your diets, observing the other’s form, and giving one another safety pointers. In fact, the more specialized an athlete becomes, the more they will have to rely on the opinions and help of other people. So as a novice, there’s absolutely zero shame in finding this for yourself, and the same goes for the use of excellent personal trainers.

Getting Active & Alert

While many of us love attending the gym, getting up at an early hour in the morning, walking to the gym in the pouring rain, and having to wake yourself up on the treadmill or by lifting weights can be enjoyable, yet a little rough to experience. Sometimes, we might wake up feeling full of energy and well rested. Other times, we might feel the complete opposite.

Does that mean we should cancel our gym session the moment we feel just a little tired? Of course not, that would be rather ridiculous. But it might also be that we need just a little help in getting active and alert each morning. For example, it might be that you decide to homebrew beautiful filter coffee to keep you alert and active each morning. You might also decide to use pre-workout to help you get in the zone. You might decide to run to the gym in order to wake up, or perhaps join a certain specialized class you must attend in order to get the blood moving. On top of that, ZMA supplements can help you feel more alert after a great night of rest.

Getting active and alert is the key to success with your fitness lifestyle. We would recommend you consider the powerful benefits of doing this. You never know just how much it could help.

Supplementation

Added supplementation can be a wonderful thing. From using Vitamin C and D supplements to help your immune system (preventing you from catching something such as a seasonal flu from gym equipment,) purchasing T5 fat burners to help you drop weight naturally, and also fulvic acid can help you gain minerals you might have lost out on before.

Protein supplements can help you repair your muscles after an intense gym session, and help you meet your daily macro requirement. On top of that, weight shakes can help you bulk up and put weight on, allowing you to exceed your daily need for certain calories if hoping to build muscle. BCAA’s can help your muscles repair even more appropriately, as they are literally providing the amino acids necessary to help you heal in the most fundamental manner possible.

If you have a fitness issue, either hard work, readjusting your schedule, sleeping, eating better, or supplementation can help it. But supplementation is often a dirty word, because of all the questionable products that can be sold, especially overseas. But enjoying the use of these, if properly vetted, can help you get to the next level of your fitness life. To that extent, this can be a net positive.

With these tips, you’re certain to help yourself on your fitness journey!

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Health

The Relationship Between Work & Health

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You have heard plenty in the past about the work/life balance – but what about the work/health balance? While it is not necessarily clear cut to say that working more means having less health, there is something of a link there which is worth looking into if you want to try and make the most of your life. Your health is obviously the most important thing to you in the world, and as long as you are living in a way which pays respect to that, you should find that you are moving in the right direction. But there are many ways in which your work can get in the way of that, and it is a good idea to try and look into what you can do to stop that from happening too much. In this post, we will look at some of the ways in which your work and your health are related, and what you can do to make sure you find the right balance.

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Choosing A Job

Let’s be honest: most of the time, people choose jobs based on circumstance and chance rather than a top-down kind of objective approach. That is the nature of working in the world today, and that is the reality for most people. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t choose to try and put a little more effort into finding a job that you will hopefully love, and one which is not going to cause you too much strain or trouble with your health. If you are thinking of switching jobs or getting a job, you will want to keep your health at the forefront of your mind. As long as you do that, you should find that you are much more likely to get hold of a job that will be fairly good for you, or at least not do you too much harm. Again, this is not always possible to do, but insofar as it is, you should make sure that you are happy to make the right choice and always put your health first ahead of any job.

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Working Safely

An important way to make sure that your work is not going to negatively affect your health is by focusing on what you need to do to work safely. The more that you are able to work in safety, the more likely it is that you will keep your health where it needs to be, and that’s obviously what we all need and want. There are many things to consider here to make sure that you are working as safely as necessary. For a start, there are likely to be a number of health and safety rules which you need to adhere to in your workplace, so make sure that you are aware of these and that you appreciate what they mean and really entail. You should also make sure that you approach your work with common sense and don’t do anything unsafe on purpose, and that you don’t do anything physical which you know you probably can’t do. Remember that your employer has their side to keep up here too, and if they don’t then you should seriously consider contacting a personal injury lawyer to get their legal assistance. As long as you do that, and you work safely, you can at least be sure that your work won’t cause you any actual injuries, which is a hugely important thing to be aware of on the whole.

Taking Regular Breaks

One of the ways in which work can affect your health is if you work too much, an affliction which many people find that they adhere to from time to time. If you do work too much, then it will only mean that you are going to cause your body and mind to experience much more stress, and that will inhibit the function of your immune system to the point where you are considerably more likely to develop an illness at some point in the future. This is clearly no good for you at all, and absolutely not worth the extra working hours. Instead, you should aim to take regular breaks wherever you can, so that you can be sure you are going to keep that stress as low as necessary, and not allow it to become too much. There will be a legal requirement for break time which you should follow, and hopefully your employer will let you take a little more too, so make sure that you are happy to do that if you want to really look after yourself. Taking breaks is essential for your health.

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Eating Well

Many people fail to eat properly when they are at work. This might be because they are rushed off their feet and they don’t find it easy to get hold of good food, or it might be that the stress of the day means that they crave fast food. Whatever the underlying reason, you need to try and make sure that you don’t go too far down that hole. Instead, try to make a point of eating as well as you possibly can when you are on lunch break and other breaks. You can do this by preparing a healthy meal at home which you bring in, or simply by making sure that you make a point of making better decisions when you buy your lunch. The healthier you eat during the working day, the better off your health will be on the whole – and you will also find that it makes it much easier to carry on working without getting too overwhelmed or stressed too. Food is one of the most important parts of this whole process, and you should make sure that you treat it as such. Your diet is the central pinnacle of your health, especially when you are already stressed from work.

Understanding the relationship between work and health and taking the steps above will help you to lead a much healthier and happier life!

•How do you balance your work and health life?

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Health Nutrition Reviews

Food Intolerance Testing with York Test Labs Pt 2: Results

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A couple weeks ago, I shared about Part One of my food intolerance testing with York Test Labs. Quick summary: I was given the opportunity to take an at-home food and drink intolerance test. I sent two little cotton swabs of blood to be tested for over 200 common intolerances. Note: this blood test checks for intolerances (some are possible intolerances), not allergies.

Disclosure: Lipton Publicity provided a sample, and the opinion I express is 100% my own.

I’m back to share my results with you! Via email, I received these results:

The top red ones (in the first photo) with the black dots are what my blood reacted to. The only one I’m sad and surprised by is the cocoa bean! I’ll definitely have to get more info on the specifics of that. If I can’t have chocolate ever, what kind of life would that be?! 😉

I’m not surprised by the milk and eggs (including yolk). I’m bummed about beef, because I love a good cheeseburger. With the eggs, it’s funny: exactly 5 years ago, I started eating food that only felt good in my body, even though some of the foods I couldn’t eat were considered healthy. Here’s the post:

That post was specifically talking about eggs! Eggs have always made me feel bloated, despite never feeling full. It felt good reading these results and knowing it wasn’t all in my head.

The yellow food/drinks with the black dots are things my blood sort of reacted to. Those are possible intolerances, but not a “for sure.” Everything else, I didn’t have a reaction to! Pretty awesome.

Had I taken this test a year ago, I’d be so sad about the intolerances to wine. But, luckily, I no longer drink, so it’s not a big deal to me.

•••

After receiving the results, you’re given a phone number to call and schedule TWO 30-minute nutritional therapy sessions! You’ll talk with a professional to better understand your results and ask any questions. You’ll also receive a food diary and guidebook.

I feel extremely satisfied with the testing process with York Test Labs, and the results I received. I highly recommend checking out their website to learn more, & to purchase your own kit! There’s nothing more important than your health.

PS: There’s currently a SALE happening! Use code MAY20 to receive 20% off!

Thank you for reading!

Keep in touch on Instagram 🙂

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Are You Really Ready To Be A Homeowner?

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It doesn’t matter if you’re not yet in the right financial position to think seriously about buying a home or not, because becoming a homeowner is a long-term goal that requires, and should only be done with, a lot of preparation. After all, not only is it the most significant financial hurdle you’re likely to cross in your life, but it’s also a responsibility that you’re going to need to make sure you’re equipped to handle. Here are a few ways to check whether or not you’re ready to be a homeowner!

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You have a reasonable idea of where you’re going to be in ten years

Buying a home is a big decision. It’s a financially momentous decision and we’re going to explore that in great depth further down the post, but it’s also a decision that is going to impact your lifestyle for a lot of time. You shouldn’t be thinking about buying and living in a home if, for instance, you’re expecting that you might need to move within the next two years. That wouldn’t be worth the costs of it. You should primarily be thinking about buying a home when you’re reasonably assured that you’re able to settle down where you buy it for some years for now.

You’ve found the area where you want to live

It’s not always the case, but it’s always a good idea to have an idea of where you want to live before you start house-hunting, not when you start house-hunting. It can be surprisingly difficult to find an area that ticks all of your boxes, offering the amenities you need, as well as the transport options to get where you need to go, not to mention a place that is as safe as you want for your family. This doesn’t mean you should have only one neighborhood in mind and settle for nothing less, but you should have a good idea of locations you would be happy to move into, after having done some research.

Know your house priorities

Of course, aside from where you want to live, you should be thinking hard about the kind of home you want in the first place, too. It’s always a good idea to think about the kind of dream home you want to live in, then to break down the different elements that make the house that you want. Come up with a list and separate them into wants vs needs. You need to make sure that you’re able to prioritize so not only can you find a home that meets all of your needs, but you know what you’re able to sacrifice in order to get the best deal possible. If you’re too picky and you treat all your “wants” as “needs” it can very time-consuming and costly to find the home that matches them.

You have a stable worklife

You might be making decent money and you might have even got a recent promotion or been hired to a position that has opened up the possibility of buying a home when it wasn’t previously available. However, that doesn’t mean that you’re ready to buy a home just yet. In fact, many lenders won’t even consider offering a home loan unless you’ve been working in your current job for at least two years. They want to make sure that not only is your money good, but you’re able to keep paying years from now. You should have the same concern in mind. Let your job settle for a while and make sure you have a stable position before you start looking to capitalize on it.

Do you have good financial habits?

The money it takes to buy a home is not the only thing you should be thinking of, but it is definitely one of the most important factors when it comes to buying a home. Aside from the question of getting a loan, it’s first important to make sure that you are in the right position to be buying a house when it comes to your financial habits. Simply put, if you’re not able to make room in your budget to pay for all of the aspects of homeownership, you should try to learn some more financially responsible practices. This includes planning a budget, limiting your discretionary spending, and putting money aside by delaying gratification, too.

Is your credit in good condition?

The vast majority of people aren’t going to be able to pay for their first home with cash. If you are, then you can skip this point. However, when it comes to why you should improve your credit score, buying a house is one of the biggest reasons. Aside from the price of the property itself, what kind of home loans you can apply for is going to determine how much you’re paying for the home, in total. Be sure to take a look at your existing credit score and your credit report. Aside from contesting any false black marks on your record, you should also look closely at using things like small loans and credit cards to build a positive credit history.

How are you handling your existing debt?

As mentioned, you’re likely to be using a loan to pay for the home, which means you should be thinking seriously about how loans and debt factor into your current lifestyle. If you are in a significant amount of credit card debt, personal loan debt, or student loan debt, then think about how well you are currently paying them off. Not only are you unlikely to get a good deal if you’re struggling to pay these, but you’re definitely not ready for the added strain of a home loan debt, as well. Look at ways to reduce and eliminate your debt, making sure that you have the room to take on the addition of home debt.

Have you saved up enough?

Once you have an idea of the kind of property that you want to buy and how much it is likely to cost, then you also need to think about how you’re going to pay it. Depending on what types of loans are available to you, then you might be able to take advantage of those that don’t require much of a down payment for you. However much of a down payment you need, however, you must be able to set savings goals to reach it. Determine how much of a down payment you should be saving and use the “Pay Yourself First” system to make sure that you’re always setting money aside to put towards it.

A little DIY goes a long way

Every home is going to need a little TLC and a little physical rejuvenation, whether you decide to start by buying something of a fixer-upper, or you have to deal with the wear and tear that every home is likely to experience. You can always hire someone to help you make the improvements that your home needs. However, it should go without saying that this is the more budget-heavy option. Learning to do a little DIY, from simple fixes to implementing some of the smaller renovations and upgrades yourself, can help you reduce the running costs of the home considerably over time. It never hurts to be a more capable individual, in general, either.

You have realistic investment expectations

Property can be a decent investment, but that’s not really the best reason to get into the housing market. The average price increase of homes across the country is in the single-digit percents once you get into the costs of improvements and inflation. If you’re looking primarily for an investment, then you should look at building an investment portfolio outside of the real estate market. There are ways to improve the value of the property you live in, of course, so that you can get a decent return should you ever want to sell it. However, buying a home as an investment, first and foremost, might not be the soundest strategy out there. Be realistic about how much you’re really likely to make when buying property.

You have real reasons to buy a home

If your reasons for buying a home aren’t much better than “it’s what I should do” or “I want to stop paying rent,” then you really need to reconsider why you want a house. It’s a long-term commitment to lock yourself into, so you should have good reasons for doing just that. Not paying rent is a good decision, but homeownership is often more expensive than you might think. Wanting to start a family, having real assets to your name, and settling down where you are planning to spend your career are all good reasons, for instance.

Of course, the only person who can judge whether or not you’re ready to start looking for a home is you. The above tips are just there to help you question yourself and see how you think about taking that step above all else.

Thank you for reading!

Health

How To Lower Your Stress Levels And Boost Your Overall Health

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We all know that stress is a big part of life. For some reason, it’s always going to be present – not one human being will go through their entire existence without dealing with a little worry or anxiety due to one thing or another. The idea of an ideal life without problems will forever remain an idea. In theory, we need to have struggles and negative moments in life in order to really enjoy and appreciate the good times. We should all be happy with life regardless of the stresses that hit us. 

Stress can do a real number of things like our skin and our overall well-being, so we need to make sure we channel it a little. We shouldn’t ever have to go through the entirety of life with bad thoughts, bad skin, and many other negative aspects due to our own thoughts. If you want to lower stress levels a little in order to boost your health, then here are some ideas for you: 

Talk About The Issues You Might Have

When it comes to stresses and strains in life, they’re always compounded by the idea of bottling them up. We initially feel as though we can deal with them ourselves and that telling someone would make us feel even more worried or ashamed. The opposite effect occurs, though, as people helping us out with serious conversations often softens any issue. The problem that is shared suddenly becomes halved and we then don’t have to panic as much. You just have to ensure you’re telling someone you can trust. 

Fix Up Your Diet 

What you consume can have a direct effect on your stress levels. If you’re consistently eating junk food, then you’ll be relieved in the short term, but you’ll still feel sluggish and useless in the long-term. Stress eating is very popular and something that can be quite difficult to cut out. If you do manage to cut it out, however, then you’ll be in a much better place going forward. Also, be sure to drink lots of water. It flushes out bad toxins and makes you feel a lot more mentally awake. 

Keep Your Body Active  

If you sit around all day and do very little with your life, then you’re going to be relaxed for a few minutes. While that’s okay, it’s very easy to fall into the habit of sitting around. A few minutes can turn into an hour (especially if you’re scrolling on your phone for a long time). You’ll then realize that you haven’t done much with your time and that you’ve wasted a portion of the day. Don’t sit around – get up and do something. If you want to sit around, then do something to earn it and head to a Massage Spa Salon (or something equally as relaxing) as a reward. If you exercise and keep yourself active, then you’re going to be a healthier, happier person with fewer mental stresses and burdens. 

Actively Seek Out Things In Life That You Love 

Life isn’t just about doing what we’re told we should be doing. If you actively go out and do things you love, then life will be a lot less stressful. Many people are prisoners in this world without even realizing it. 

Thank you for reading!

Health

How to Stay Healthy in the Days Leading Up to Your Wedding Day

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The day you have dreamt about since you were a little girl is looming nearer. So ideally you want everything to go as smoothly as possible. You do not want any unnecessary dramas such as not being able to fit into your dress after all the meticulous planning, so if you have a healthy plan you can adopt, this can prevent such occurrences. 

Keep Fit and Active

It doesn’t need to be a huge milestone like going from doing no exercise to suddenly running a marathon. Just small manageable weekly goals will be adequate. You could do things such as 10 minutes of active yoga once a day to get the body moving, or taking your dog for a walk is an excellent way to keep active. It enables you to get out into the fresh air, clear your head, get some exercise and spend even more time running around with your fluffy companion. 

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You Are What You Eat

Ideally you want to be eating healthy all the time, but when you are busy with work most days, you sometimes just want something really quick and easy to throw together in the evenings, such as meal plans from No Evil Foods. A plant based diet can be beneficial for both your skin and immune system, which will be ideal for keeping nice and healthy before the big day. 

A plant based diet provides an abundance of fruit and vegetables, which is certainly healthy. You would also be including foods rich in protein like tofu, beans and a variety of grains. Another encouraging benefit is that it promotes healthy looking skin and nourishes hair which is certainly a positive, when you want to look your best on your wedding day. 

The Power of Foods 

It might be worth while eating less sugary, carbohydrate foods and instead replacing these with foods that can help alleviate bloating such as bananas, kiwis, avocados, oranges and pistachios. This will be particularly beneficial if you do not want to obtain that ‘pregnant look’ as you try to squeeze into your dress. These foods control the level of sodium in your body which affects water retention which is what causes that bloating feeling.  

Purchasing a Wedding Dress A Size Bigger 

When you purchase your dress it might be worthwhile going for a slightly bigger size. If you were to fluctuate weight wise before the big day, you will not have a complete meltdown if you find you cannot get into the dress as it can always just be taken in a bit by the seamstress. 

Organization Will Reduce Stress Levels

Being as organized as possible will ensure you keep on top of everything and are less likely to get stressed. This could prevent you stress eating where you are more likely to eat junk food, which is certainly not going to help you feel better in the long run. 

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I hope you have an amazing wedding day! Ours is scheduled for October 16, 2021. It’s so exciting!

Thank you for reading!

Health

5 Things to Know Before Choosing a Healthcare Plan

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Our health is the most important thing in our lives, and we should all make it a priority to focus on our health. Putting our health first looks different around the world: in Australia, patients with Medicare can schedule visits with bulk billing doctors who accept Medicare benefits as full payment for medical procedures. Patients in Britain feed their taxes into a state funded system called the NHS, or National Health Service which guarantees healthcare for everyone.

In the U.S., citizens have to buy (expensive) insurance. They pay a premium each month and the insurance company then pays part of the medical bill. Citizens are still left with bills, though. Honestly, in my opinion, it’s a terrible healthcare system that oppresses people with low socioeconomic status and often people of color.

Because Americans have to pay for insurance (and not all insurance is the same), it is essential to choose the right healthcare plan to ensure the best medical assistance. Below are five important things to know before you choose a healthcare plan, whether it’s for you, or your family. There’s a lot of things you want to keep an eye out for when comparing insurance plans.

Premiums

Most people in America with health insurance have insurance provided by work, their spouse, or their parents. However, there are healthcare insurance plans you can pay for as a third-party for more or less (price, coverage, & hassle), if you don’t like the plan offered to you.

It’s important to know what you’re getting into if you go this route. Insurance policies can be incredibly dense and convoluted. If you’ve ever talked to anyone about insurance plans, you’ve probably heard the term “premium.”

A premium is the price you pay each month for your insurance plan. When you have insurance through your employer, they pay for most, if not your entire, premium. Some people might say to look for a lower premium – but this can cost you in the long run if you aren’t careful. You want to take all facets below into consideration when determining if the premium of your chosen insurance plan fits into your budget.

Coverage

Good healthcare insurance coverage is typically more expensive than average provider plans. However, they are worth the added benefits and wellness programs. You might not actually need a plan with a ton of coverage if you aren’t a frequent patient – but it is worth considering for emergencies.

UnitedHealthcare Insurance, for example, offers a variety of health insurance plans with a high deductible (a specific amount of money you have to pay toward your medical bills before insurance starts paying; more on this below) up front, but a lot of coverage down the road. There’s a difference between a healthcare plan that will 100% cover a fully loaded surgery versus a healthcare plan that will cover only half or 25%.

A healthcare plan with good coverage might cost you a lot up front, but it can save you from debt in the long run.

Deductibles & Copays

Even with health insurance, there will be certain out of pocket costs.

Before your insurance coverage kicks in – you are responsible for paying a deductible. Your deductible is a certain amount of money you pay out of pocket before your insurance plan starts to pay for services. A $2,000 deductible will initially pay for $2,000 worth of covered services, and after that you will have a copayment for your services.

If you visit the doctor, the dentist, a therapist, etc. you might be expected to pay a $10-$50 (sometimes more) copayment for the service. After that, depending on your healthcare coverage, whatever services you have done will be covered by your insurance plan.

PPO vs. HMO

There’s a variety of healthcare plans to choose from when making the decision.

EPO– An Exclusive Provider Organization plan offers a local network of doctors and hospitals under their coverage. Out of pocket costs are typically moderate compared to the other plans, and the premiums can be lower. However, you can’t stray outside of your plan’s network.

HMO– A Health Maintenance Organization plan offers a local selection of doctors and hospitals to choose from. With lower premiums, an HMO might work for you if you aren’t interested in a flexible plan.

PPO– A Preferred Provider Organization plan offers a large network of doctors and hospitals to choose from. With higher premiums and deductibles, this might be a good option for you if you want total flexibility over your healthcare options. When purchasing health insurance, I always go with a PPO. It’s more expensive, but it’s a great benefit to be able to see (almost) any doctor you want.

Enrollment

Now that you have an idea of what insurance plan you want, what’s covered, and how much you have budgeted for – it’s time to enroll. This process is going to look different based on where you are located.

First, visit HealthCare.gov to determine when open enrollment begins at the Health Insurance Marketplace. There are dates, deadlines, and paperwork that you need to pay special attention to. Again, it varies depending on your state, so make sure you have the correct info!

If you’re in the U.S., good luck finding your health insurance plan – I hope it goes well!

Thank you for reading!

Beauty Health

6 Things You Should Know About Healthy Skin

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If you want healthy skin, there are a few things you should know first. Healthy skin might seem elusive to those who have struggled to obtain it, but you might be surprised at what you learn below. Take a look and see for yourself what you should know about healthy skin:

Healthy Skin Doesn’t Mean Perfect Skin

Shock, horror: healthy skin doesn’t mean perfect skin! Skin that looks perfect and glassy might not be as healthy as you think, and skin that is healthy will likely still have some imperfections. Health should be the main goal of those who want to take care of their skin, not perfection. 

Healthy Skin Should Be Protected From The Sun Daily

If you want healthy skin, you need to protect it from the sun each day. Sun damage can happen when it’s cold, raining, and even snowing. It can happen when the sun is nowhere in sight. Sun damage can even happen through windows, so if you’re in the house all day or driving a car, you still need to protect your skin! Apply SPF without fail each day. The earlier you get into the habit of doing this, the better. 

Healthy Skin Needs Health From The Inside Out 

Don’t just focus on slathering products onto your skin. Healthy skin needs to be healthy from the inside out. This means eating a balanced diet full of fruit and vegetables, staying hydrated, and taking the right supplements. Working on your health from the inside out will give results that really show on your skin. 

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Healthy Skin Doesn’t Need Expensive Products 

Healthy skin doesn’t need expensive, complicated products. There are many products out there now that will improve your skin for an amazing price. The Ordinary is a trustworthy brand, providing simple products that really work for all skin types. You can get amazing results with medical grade skincare, but if you know your skin type and you’re vigilant in learning what works for you, you can still improve your skin. Of course, if you’re quite mature and only just getting into skincare, you may want to visit a pro to see what they recommend for you. Some people find that their whole face shape changes with a facelift, but others prefer non-invasive facial treatments. There’s something out there for everyone! 

Stress Can Play A Part In How Healthy Your Skin Is

If you find yourself continuously stressed, you could find yourself with deep brownlines, spots, and other clues on your skin. Keeping stress at bay will help not only your skin, but your body and mind. 

Beauty Sleep is Real 

Beauty sleep does make a difference! Aiming for 8 hours of sleep a night (high quality, that is) will ensure you wake up feeling and looking fresh. Less than 6 hours is just as bad as no sleep at all, so don’t try to burn the candle at both ends. Just because you can function on a ton of coffee and less than 6 hours doesn’t mean you should. 

How do you attain healthy skin?

Thank you for reading!

Health Lifestyle

The Perspective Of Positivity: How To Feel Great

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It’s pretty easy for someone to feel down about themselves. Especially after this last year. A year where many people were made redundant or lost jobs. A year where many lost loved ones. When you’re coming into this year off the back of that, it can be hard to feel positive. Some people might have problems with it, while for others, the change in perspective might come about a little easier. Either way, your feelings are completely valid.

Here are some top tips to help you push into the realms of positivity!

Make The Lifestyle Change You’ve Been Meaning To

It happens to everyone. People make promises or decide to make a change and they just don’t follow through. First, don’t be so hard on yourself! You just need to take the first step. For example if you’re going vegan, consider starting with vegan cleaning products before moving down the food route. If you want to change your exercise regimen, start simple with easy walking. Just because you’ve promised yourself something, it doesn’t mean you have to do it all right away. Small steps are the key to success. You just have to take them. It might be a new skincare regime, or a promise to drink less sugary drinks. There’s a myriad of options out there, some easier than others. The first will help change your perspective and see you on the right track to success.

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Make Those Work Life Gains

They’ll only happen when you decide to take the right step. It could be getting a new job, or applying for something different. It might be having a chat with your boss about a promotion or it might be setting up your own OnlyFans. Whatever you want from your work life, take a step towards it. It doesn’t mean you have to achieve it, but simply taking the right step towards it might make all the difference. That first bit of research, or chatting to someone about what you’re doing. Your goal might seem like a long way off, but making those key decisions you’ll be on the right track and feel right for doing it. When your perspective is changed, it might be the boost you need to really make that all important key change.

Take The Break You Deserve

Try to relax a bit. Everything doesn’t have to be done right away. Take a break and recharge your energy. There are many ways you can do this. For a start, you might just want to dial it back on the daily grind. Stop working so many hours. It may be you need a total break abroad, somewhere culture driven like Rome, or maybe somewhere you can just lay on a beach. Just be sure to follow COVID-19 safety protocols and only travel if it’s safe!

It might be you just take a week off work to relax in your own home. Whatever you do, if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed, a break might be the perfect step you take to a more positive you. Just make sure it’s a break worth having and that you can properly switch off. It might do more harm than good if you take a break and spend the time worrying about what’s going to happen when you come back.

Basically, do what you need to do to create a more positive atmosphere. It might be the smallest, simplest thing. Whatever helps you is perfect!

Thank you for reading!

Health

Are You Experiencing Hearing Loss? Here’s 8 Ways to Find Out

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Are you having issues with your hearing? Do you find yourself watching the TV on full volume and asking your friends to repeat themselves? You may think it’s nothing to worry about, but it’s possible you could be experiencing hearing loss.

Impaired hearing affects 38.2 million Americans, and it’s a vastly more common problem than most people realize. Problems with your heari

ng are generally irreversible, so you can’t expect your symptoms to get better with time. If you are concerned that your ability to hear might be at risk, you should act right away. The sooner a problem is picked up, the more likely you will be to save your hearing and prevent it from worsening. 

But how can you tell if you have hearing loss? If you frequently experience any of the following symptoms, it would be a good idea to book yourself in for a hearing test. 

You Say “What?” A Lot

Some people speak poorly, whether they are mumbling, slurring their words, or just getting the pronunciation wrong. So just because you can never understand what your coworker Greg is saying to you, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have hearing loss. However, if you regularly find yourself asking different people to repeat themselves, this might suggest the issue lies with you, not with them. 

People Complain Your TV/Music is Too Loud

Too many people listen to their music at full blast or watch TV at theater volumes, which can have incredibly damaging effects on the ears over time. Our ears aren’t designed for this kind of strain, so a sensible volume should be maintained. But if you are struggling to tell when your television or music is playing too loudly, there might be something preventing the full range of sound signals from entering. If strangers on the bus are tutting at you when you have your headphones in, or your family members grabbing the remote in frustration, it may be time for a test.

You Struggle to Hear on the Telephone

In conversation, we get a large proportion of our understanding from visual cues such as facial expressions and gestures. This is why many people with hearing loss don’t realize it early on, because they have all this other information to fill in the gaps left by their hearing. However, when speaking on the phone you have nothing to rely on but sound. So if you find yourself struggling to understand phone conversations with distant relatives, there might be cause for concern.

You Struggle to Follow a Conversation with Background Noise

For people with hearing loss, background noise can make it incredibly difficult to maintain a conversation. You might find that you have difficulty chatting in busy restaurants or the car, for example. 

You Feel Exhausted After Talking

When you have even the slightest degree of hearing loss, you will always be straining to understand what people are saying, probably without even realizing it. This can use up a lot of your mental energy, so you might find yourself finishing conversations feeling drained. 

You Misunderstand What People Say

Having hearing loss can lead to all kinds of embarrassing scenarios. Perhaps your coworker asks you if you had a good night, and you mistakenly think they’re challenging you to a fight. Everyone has these awkward moments occasionally, but if it’s happening every day, you might want to get your ears looked at.

You Struggle to Hear Children and Women

People with hearing loss generally tend to have more trouble with sound in the higher frequencies. For this reason, you might have more difficulty understanding people with higher voices, such as women and children. If you can converse fluently with your male friends yet struggle to hear your wife and kids, this is a clear sign of the beginnings of hearing loss. 

Conversations Are Frustrating

When you have hearing loss, conversations can be frustrating and often anger-inducing. Being unable to take in information on the first try is often irritating. And not just for you. The people you are continually asking to repeat themselves might be getting flustered too. If your conversations end up with everyone feeling annoyed, do yourself and your loved one a favor by consulting a doctor.

Conclusion

So what should you do if you are experiencing any of these symptoms? The first step is to book a hearing test with an audiologist. They will take a look at your ears and test your hearing to determine whether there is any cause for concern. If you do have signs of hearing loss, the next step may be to look into further treatment, such as hearing aids. You should also take care to monitor your behaviors, such as how you listen to music and how often you spend time in noisy environments. Learn more about the steps you can take to protect your hearing. 

Thank you for reading!

Health

How To Make Alcohol A Part Of A Healthy Lifestyle

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As long as you are able to drink in moderation, there is no particular reason why you have to give it up entirely in order to live healthily. In fact, alcohol can be a normal part of a healthy lifestyle, and in this article we are going to look at how it might be done. No matter whether you are hoping to cut down a little or a lot, or you just want to keep your alcohol intake moderate while taking on board other health benefits, you can be sure it is always possible – and the potential benefits are huge.

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Set Your Limit

The main thing you need to be aware ol of is what kind of limit you want to set on your alcohol intake. You can really choose any limit you want, whether it’s a high one or a low one, but the important thing is that you have one and that you stick to it. In a sense, the very act of keeping to a limit already has huge psychological benefits to it. But you will also be able to keep a handle on your drinking without having to give it up entirely, and many people find that this is a healthy balance to strike.

Manage The Beer Belly

If you want to be able to drink, but you are concerned with the beer belly effect of doing so, you should remember that there are many things you can do to keep that to a minimum. First of all, there’s nothing wrong with a little bit of a belly, and you shouldn’t feel as though you have to do away with it completely. But if you do want to manage it a little better, you could always find some peptides for sale and bulk out a little, do some sit-ups and generally keep the cardiovascular exercise going strong too.

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Hydrate

Because alcohol dehydrates you, you do need to make sure that you are rehydrating yourself thoroughly. Of course, we all know what happens if you fail to do that – a hangover – so there is a very good reason to make sure you are drinking plenty of water. If you can aim for a couple of pints of water to a pint of beer, you are going to be helping things along nicely. But the important point is that you are making some kind of effort to hydrate your body as well as you can. As long as you do, you will limit the negative effects considerably.

Eat Well

Finally, remember that the most important health concern in the world is eating well. You need to make an effort to eat plenty of fruit and veg, and avoid processed foods whenever possible. If you can do that, you are going to have a much better level of health on the whole, and you will be able to incorporate your chosen limit of alcohol into that much more easily. It really is possible to have a drink or two and still be healthy.

How do you stay healthy while still consuming alcohol?

Thank you for reading!

Health

Stress Busting Tips For The New Year

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2021 was going to be a year that left COVID and the stress of 2020 well behind us – however in the first few weeks of this year we have seen little to no change in the state of the world. 

It is no wonder so many of us are becoming stressed and our health is being compromised – and now is the right time for us to act and help bust that stress to ensure we stay healthy and happy through the rest of the year. 

Today we are looking at some different ways to help you tackle stress at home and ensure that you feel more relaxed and productive this year. 

Drink Mint Tea 

Mint is a natural relaxant and if you have been having a stressful day it is a good idea to drink a refreshing mint tea not long before you go to bed. This natural and tasty drink is the perfect remedy for a busy mind and it will allow the mind and body to relax ready for a healthy night’s sleep. It will help you to get rid of tension in your muscles and will make a massive difference to your mental and physical well-being. 

Eat Some Comfort Food 

Sometimes what you need to help combat the anxiety impact on body is a good meal. It is the middle of winter, and there is nothing better on a cold day than a warming and comforting meal to get you through the week. Comfort food not only fills us up but it triggers happy hormones in the body to alleviate stress. A great recipe you can try is this roasted vegetable pasta: 

Ingredients: 

  • 200g roasted vegetables (squash, zucchini, sweet potato, eggplant)
  • 400g tortellini (spinach and ricotta filled works great)
  • 100g diced halloumi 
  • 200ml tomato sauce 
  • 100g Parmesan 
  • 3-4 leaves basil, chopped 
  1. In a large pan, add your tortellini and cook according to instructions. 
  2. In a frying pan – add your diced halloumi and fry until browned on all sides. Set aside. 
  3. Add all of your ingredients into a large pan and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Serve with extra Parmesan cheese. 

Get Some Sleep 

Sleep is more important than you think and any disruption to your sleeping pattern can have a huge impact on your health. It is important for you to get enough sleep every night to keep your body healthy and to also help you with your stress levels. 

Cuddle Up

One of the best stress busters of all has to be holding someone you love. If you have been feeling a lot of stress recently, it is a great idea for you to cuddle up to someone you love and allow them to help you feel happier and safe. Human contact is such an important part of life and a hug can really go a long way to helping you feel better when you are struggling. 

Take on some of these tips this week to help you beat stress and see if they relax you and help you to cope with the state of the world!

Happy New Year!

Health

How to Care For Your Senses As You Get Older

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It’s important to make sure you are paying attention to your body as you age if you want to remain in the best possible physical condition. If you are wondering what kinds of things you might need to focus on, some of the most important are your senses, as these are often the kind of things that tend to get worse with old age. In this post, we are going to look at what you can do to ensure that you are properly caring for your senses, no matter your age or what else might be going on in your life!

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Eyesight

Most people are going to experience some level of eyesight failure or change as they get older; that is really just a part of the way nature goes for most of us. But if you want to limit and reduce how quickly this happens, there are many steps you can take now – as soon as possible – to do so. Probably the most important thing is that you are ensuring you regularly go to the optometrist, so that you can make sure you are keeping on top of any changes that your sight might have.

The optometrist will be able to inform you of whether you need glasses or any other care, and ultimately this will stop it from getting worse without you having to do anything else. Beyond going to the optometrist, you might want to avoid doing anything that will strain your eyes too much, as that will also affect your eyesight. You should avoid overusing screens, for example, if you want to have good eyesight.

As long as you do these things, you should be able to keep hold of your eyesight. You may find that this makes for a much more joyous and interesting life as you are getting older.

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Hearing

The other main function that starts to fail on people as they age is hearing. There is often little you can do to stop this from occurring. However, you can always look after the hearing that you do have, to minimize how much you lose. Some of the best steps you can take are also the simplest, and ones that we each know about in some way or another. For instance, make sure that you are not spending too much time near loud noises. If you have to do so for your work or some other reason, make sure that you are protecting your ears in some way, like with ear plugs. You can learn more about which of these are generally best; but as long as you are doing something, that’s what’s important!

Beyond that, you should get your hearing checked on a regular basis, just to make sure that it is still operating as well as it could. Visiting your doctor or an audiologist will help you to keep on top of things. You might need to get a hearing aid at some point, though. If so, you should do so, and remember to keep on top of cleaning your hearing aid and taking care of it properly, in order to keep it functioning at all times.

You should also consider trying to keep your ears clean and avoiding damaging them in any way. You should never stick anything into your ears, as it can damage them, and the ears are a self-cleaning machine so you don’t need to do anything for that. However, you need to wipe the outside of the ears from time to time. As long as you are doing that, you don’t have to worry about your ears not being clean, and you will be able to keep them in good repair for much longer.

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Hearing can definitely worsen over time, but as long as you take these precautionary measures, you should be able to lengthen the amount of time that you have with good hearing!

As long as you focus on these important things, you are going to have a much better quality of life in general, and your eyesight and hearing should be considerably more likely to maintain for longer. That is absolutely something that we should all be focusing on as we get a little older.

Thank you for reading!