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Health Nutrition

Why Diets Don’t Work & 4 Ways To Actually Eat Healthy

February 23, 2021 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

The diet industry would like you to believe that the way to control your weight is to simply eat the foods/products that they recommend. 

Black woman with red lips, wearing a yellow top with white and fuchsia flowers.

Pexels – CC0 License

But if that were the case, diets would work – and the data suggests that they don’t. 

As far back as the 1950s, researchers knew that “reducing diets” – diets designed to foster weight loss – were ineffective in around 95 percent of patients. People simply couldn’t stick to calorie restriction for longer than about 12 months. After awhile, their old cravings came back, and they wanted to eat all their old foods again. 


Why this happened remained a mystery. And in the intervening years, many nutrition scientists have tried to explain it. It turns out that there are a number of reasons it doesn’t work. 

The first is that humans don’t do well under calorie restriction. Initially, they lose weight. But over time, it becomes mentally tougher and tougher to keep calorie intake low. You feel hungry all the time, and the cravings ramp up massively. All you want to do is gorge yourself on chocolate, especially if you have a lot of stress in your life. 

In many cases, a single trigger – such as a bad day at work – can be all people need to break their diet regimen and reach for the proverbial Cheetos (or if you’re me, actual Cheetos). And because stress is just a part of life, people fall off the bandwagon quickly. 

Plus, once they start eating all the wrong things, a dangerous internal narrative begins development. They tell themselves that they’re a failure and that they couldn’t have stuck to the diet in the first place. They’re just not that “type of person.” They don’t have the willpower. And these kinds of thoughts then lead them to eat more foods that don’t serve their bodies or their health. 

The problem here, therefore, isn’t that the person is eating food “not allowed” by the diet (one piece of cake is unlikely to make any difference). The problem is the narrative that they aren’t “good enough” for the diet and that any mistake is a failure. 

White plate of toast with an egg and spinach leaves.

Pexels – CC0 License

Diets also struggle for a second reason – they’re restrictive. Our bodies evolved to consume as many different kinds of foods in our environment as possible. Unlike most species, we thrive on eating a vast array of foods containing complementary compounds. We don’t have “staple” foods in the traditional sense. We can live off just about anything – milk, bugs, herbs, berries, whale blubber – you name it!

Diets, though, tend to reduce what you can eat and make it feel like you’re caged in. And, psychologically, that’s not a good place to be. You feel trapped inside the diet, and you spend all your time thinking about how you might escape it. 

Again, eventually, the diet fails because you eat something that’s not allowed according to the list. And that makes you feel bad about yourself. 

So what can you do when the diets don’t work? 

Here are some ideas: 

Start Preloading With Veggies

Instead of concentrating on what you can’t eat, focus on what you can. Research shows that preloading with veggies improves your overall nutrition and decreases overall appetite. The load of nutrients and fiber sends signals to the brain that you don’t actually need to eat as much as you think to get all the nutrition you need. 

The way to do this is simple. Don’t change your diet at all. Instead, just eat a big salad bowl before every meal and then move onto the main event. The salad will protect you from the negative elements in the food you eat while promoting fullness to prevent overeating. 

Talk To Your Surgeon

Diets are all about controlling your food intake. But nature has an annoying habit of overriding the wishes of your conscious mind. You’d love to say no to the cake being passed around the office. But when you’re in that situation and feeling hungry, you can’t always help yourself. 

In some cases, therefore, it’s worth talking to a surgeon about gastric sleeve cost. This operation actually changes the shape of your stomach, altering the fullness signals it sends to the brain. The result is usually profound weight loss that feels less punishing than a regular diet. 

Sort Out Your Mental Health

Be honest with yourself about why you’re eating the foods that you do. Many people use food as comfort if their mental health is in a bad place. If you know that you do this, then find out why. Think about the patterns of thinking that lead to overeating and how you might address them. 

There are multiple ways you can solve and reduce mental health issues. One approach is meditation. Here, you attempt to simply observe your thoughts and then allow them to pass without judgment. The idea is that you are separate from your thoughts and that they do not control you. Instead, they are just entities that pop up from time to time, cause temporary distress, and then leave. Simply observing them can help to put you in a better state of mind. 

Another approach is to figure out whether there are any dysfunctional situations in your life causing you distress. Bad relationships at work, for instance, could be a major reason why you’re using food in the evenings. It could be what you think you need to recover.

Don’t Restrict

The human mind naturally rebels against restrictions. We don’t like them. In general, we prefer freedom. 

When it comes to diets, talking about what we can’t consume often derails the entire process. A better approach is to allow everything but to be continually mindful. 

Let’s say that you want to eat more whole plant foods, like whole grains and beans. Sometimes, you’ll fall off the bandwagon by eating ice cream. But that doesn’t matter when all foods are permitted. You simply accept that you “failed” and then move on, getting back on the plan. You’re not a weak person. You’re not deficient! You’re simply not perfect 100 percent of the time – and that’s okay, because you’re not supposed to be.

I hope these tips help! Good luck. 🙂

Thank you for reading!

Filed Under: Health, Nutrition Tagged With: diet, healthy living, nutrition

Health Nutrition

Feeling Sluggish? This Is Why You Need To Eat More Whole Foods

February 19, 2021 By lyndsinreallife 1 Comment

The term “whole foods” is one that has gained some traction on social media these days. People are turning more to food they deem to be “whole” or “clean”, and while most of us are aware that health and wellness relies on us being smart with our food, it’s also important to know what it means to eat whole foods and how it impacts our diets.

Whole foods incorporate all food products that are in their natural form: no additives, preservatives or other manmade ingredients added into the mix. This can be anything from nuts and seeds to fruit and vegetables, and we all know the raw honey benefits that will help our immune systems. The thing is, most of the food today is processed and we tend to stick to the easy, convenient food options. We don’t cook from scratch as much as we used to and with the obesity rates going up, it’s important that we are smart about our food intake. Processed foods have a tendency to make us feel sluggish, but with whole foods, this is less of an issue. You need fuel, and if you’re feeling sluggish right now, here are a few reasons you should think about adding more whole foods to your diet.

Photo Of Female Hand Holding A Bowl Of Green Vegetables

Image Source: Pexels

  • Nutrients: All foods have an element of “something” you need in your diet. Even processed foods have that emotional component, even if they arent entirely nutritionally great for you. However, overly processed foods are stripped of their nutrients where whole foods are still packed with goodness. In their purest form, whole foods can offer your body more vitamins and minerals than you could ever have had otherwise. You won’t have to rely on supplements when you choose to eat whoel foods: you’re naturally consuming all that you need, anyway!
  • Less Sugar: Now, despite the Instagram “doctors”, sugar is not addictive unless you’re snorting it from the packet. It does, however, have negatives on your teeth and it doesnt satidfy your hunger for long. Swapping to natural sugars in fruit and veggies with whole foods is a good way to ensure that your diet has less sugar and less “false energy”. A chocolate bar is delicious, but it isn’t going to perk your energy levels up for long. Sluggishness should be fed with oranges, apples, bananas and other whole foods that will keep you energetic for longer.
  • High Fiber Options: When your body is lacking in energy, feeding it with more fiber is important. When you stick to whole foods, you naturally eat less becase your brain and your body knows that your system is well fed! With more fiber, you can improve your digestion, too, which is never a bad thing!
  • Healthy For Longer: Food is not medicine, but it sure does go a long way to keeping you feeling good. Added natural vitamins and minerals are never a bad thing and you can spend more time in your grocery store than at the doctors office. An apple a day, right?

Thank you for reading!

Filed Under: Health, Nutrition Tagged With: healthy living, whole foods

Health

4 Ways To Potentially Help Reduce Your Daily Stress

February 14, 2021 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Feeling stressed is a natural part of life. Unfortunately, stress is not something humans can completely eliminate. However, there are many ways to manage it and reduce the stress we feel on a daily basis. 

It can be easy to let life take the lead and allow stressful commitments take the reign instead of focusing on our mental health and wellbeing. As much as work and lifestyle commitments are crucial for a happy life, you need to make sure you dedicate time to your mental wellbeing and focus on reducing daily stress. Reducing stress levels can help to control weight, sleep better, and be in a happier mood. If you are looking for ways to reduce daily stress, keep reading. 

Via: Pixabay

Ensure You Get Your Daily Vitamins

Ensuring you attain the daily requirements of vitamins, nutrients, and minerals is key in maintaining a healthy physical and mental self. Vitamins help your body perform optimally and multivitamin supplements can help ensure you are also getting the dosages of each mineral that you need.

We cannot always attain a high level of nutrients and vitamins from food. So, supplements can help. For example, vitamin B, Hormones for Men, or Niacin are effective supplements that will help you get a sufficient amount of the daily vitamins your body requires to restore balance and reduce stress. 

Meditate

There is a lot to know about meditation if you want to integrate it into your life for several reasons. Meditation can help with other health issues, not just stress. But its number one benefit is to reduce stress and create a mindful balance. 

Meditating for just five minutes a day can help you focus on your inner-self and create balance in your mind and body. Meditation can produce a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind. During meditation, you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. 

Reduce Your Caffeine Intake

Caffeine is a key influence for fatigue, energy depletion, and stress. High amounts of caffeine can lead to the negative health effects associated with prolonged elevated levels of cortisol. 

Swapping caffeine for caffeine-free tea or vitamin-enriched juices is a great option to nurture your body, reduce stress, and maximize your health. 

Increase Physical Activity

Exercise is a beneficial factor for reducing stress and creating mental balance. It is as good for the mind as it is for the body. Exercising for 20 to 30 minutes every day is enough to attain mental benefits from it. 

Whether you like vigorous exercise or gentle movements, there are many exercises you can do to reduce stress, such as:

  • High-intensity interval training
  • Yoga
  • Weight-lifting
  • Swimming
  • Cycling

Exercise can be as simple as taking a walk in fresh air. If your body is feeling fatigued, there will be no benefit of overworking it. So if you are feeling tired, try walking instead.

I hope these suggestions help to decrease your daily stress!

Thank you for reading!

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: mindfulness, stress

Health

Why Winter Is The Right Time For These 4 Health Tests

February 12, 2021 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

It’s quite common for health issues to exacerbate over the colder months. It’s not that surprising to see that many common health concerns are more visible these days as the blizzard season is upon us. Usually, we wouldn’t really care too much about being tested for things like the flu, or infections in our lungs or our gut health. However, as we have seen, life is precious and we should do everything we can to protect it. The pandemic has made it abundantly clear that no matter how strong and or young you are, you’re not invincible. This is why we believe you should take some tests in the season we’re in.

pixabay

Eye Test

During the winter, your eyes dry up and it can be really irritating. It’s good to carry a few drops with you to use while on the go. However, during the cold, our eye conditions become worse. There is less blood flowing to our eyeballs, so our vision becomes far more blurry. Your eyes will strain and this can bring on levels of stress and fatigue that would otherwise play no role at all in your normal life. So we recommend that you go to get your eyes tested during the winter, if you are struggling to see. It’s not uncommon to be given a pair of glasses for the winter. We have reading glasses not just for fine print reading, but because our eyes are tired at the end of the day and the reading glasses provide us with a clear vision but with less of the sharp focus of light in our eyes. A winter pair of glasses is designed for colder months in mind and achieves much the same results.

Bowel Health

Digestive discomfort from time to time is normal. Our bodies are not merely robotic machines but they are living things that from time to time, go wrong. Haven’t you ever felt a sharp pain in your gut out of nowhere? Sometimes it’s just gas, other times it’s a bad chemical reaction. During the winter our bowels are particularly sensitive as more and more harmful germs tend to want to enter our system. This includes things like the flu, winter stomach bugs and others. It’s quite common to feel ill and be sick during the winter because our immune systems are weakened. We believe that if you feel like you can’t keep food down, find it hard to maintain a good gut balance, then you should go for gut health check-up. It’s pretty simple, as the doctor will have you monitor your gut for about 1-2 weeks and also do urine tests to find any anomalies. They may give you antibiotics or they could ask you to change your eating habits.

Sexual Health

As mentioned, during the winter, our immune systems are very weak. It’s because our body temperature is lower, we need more calories for energy, and we tend to not drink enough water. All of this just makes our sexual health concerns a lot more prominent. We believe that during the winter, issues like HIV should be taken even more seriously. If you do feel that you would like to know if you are safe because you have been feeling slightly down and your immune system isn’t fighting back as well as you’d hoped, then go to http://www.tarrantcounty.com/en/public-health/clinical-services0/adult-health-services/hiv-aids/hiv-testing.html and book yourself an HIV test. This is how the condition harms you. It will weaken your immune system until you can’t even fight off the common cold. Get tested, be safe and listen to your body.

Aches and Pains

You might think that during the winter, aches and pains are just normal. Granted, your body isn’t pumping its hot blood everywhere it should, as circulation during colder months tends to shoot downward. Yet, you should not really be feeling joint pain or muscle aches. Poor posture, slipping and falling or twisting your ankle on the ice, all play a factor in your aches and pains. If you feel like you can’t shake off a certain pain, speak with your doctor. It could be that you need to do exercises during the winter to help your body stay fit. This is especially true if you are older. 

The winter is a harsh and unforgiving season. It’s cold, blustery, and it makes normal health issues become bigger concerns. Go and get tested for things like the common cold, HIV, or bowel health, and you might have just prevented further harm to yourself. 

Thank you for reading!

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: health, health checks, Winter

Health

What You Need To Know About Meditation

February 2, 2021 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

When you are centered, believe you can conquer anything. Doing is believing and transforming your state of mind will transform you, your body, and your being. After all, health is wealth so why not create a sense of happiness within – in your mind – as well as outside – your body. 

The effect of mindfulness is holistic. Mindful practices evoke a feeling of intention. They raise your vibration and help you live fully in the present moment. This post will help guide you into a life that is open-minded and practical. It will teach you there is an interrelationship between the body and the mind. By practicing mindful activities, you will construct a beautiful life with positive influence and change. 

Starting small and increasing your practices will guide your body into a natural rhythm of mindfulness. Practicing yoga, adding walks to your daily routine, wearing spiritual bracelets, and mindful eating will also help us stay energized and balanced.

Via: Pixabay

Practicing meditation and mindfulness can and should become an essential part of your day. Meditation is a mindfulness practice and just 10-15 minutes per day will nurture your body and yourself within. To achieve a sense of mindfulness, you need to dig deep within yourself and stop your emotions from getting in the way. Expand your worldview and master mental resilience to curate a sense of calm for your body, your mind, and your wellbeing. 

Mindfulness can also be heightened through external bodily practices. Being outdoors and in nature is grounding and enhances that mind-body connection. Nature has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body. Mindful practices, like gardening, give a sense of community and offer physical activity. All whilst getting some vitamin D, which can improve cognitive function. Gardening is an incredibly therapeutic activity and can reduce depression and anxiety symptoms by easing stress and improving your mood.

There are many other ways to be outside and practice meditation all at the same time. Daily walks in nature, watching sunrise and sunset, picking flowers, sunbathing, swimming, cycling, and watching the world go by are all therapeutic mindful practices. Being in nature has a cathartic effect. Whatever activity is uplifting and soothing for your mind and body should be what you continue to practice every day. Finding what works for you is the key to personal happiness. 

While most people feel they need to go to a class to meditate, that is not true at all. The beautiful thing about meditation is that you can practice it almost anywhere. Anywhere that is calm, comfortable, and collective is a place where you can meditate. Find yourself space where you can effectively clear your thoughts and use that as a place to practice daily. 

Also do not believe that meditation has to be done in silence. If taking a walk or listening to music helps you be mindful and calm, then do that. As long as it can clear your mind and let you reap the benefits of the practice, so be it. 

You may be wondering how exactly to meditate. It’s a very simple practice and all you need is yourself and a quiet place to be able to do so. Meditation will allow you to get a fresh unexpected perspective whether you’re a beginner or experienced. The best mind-body techniques to insert into living your beautiful life blueprint include:

  1. Set achievable goals – Start small. 1 to 2 minutes a day is enough to practice and get a feel for meditation. The best advice for meditation is to set achievable goals. Whether you are a meditation newbie or truly someone who’s tried meditation and given up (like me), start small and realistic. Do it for 1 minute. Starting small is the answer to success. It reinforces the idea that you can do it. Just showing up for yourself is already a success! As you feel more comfortable and mindful, your practice will naturally get longer. Around 15 minutes per day is a good goal to aim for once you’ve mastered your meditation technique. Create a vibe. Whether it be music, scent, or space. Then, make it something you look forward to.
  1. Meditate first thing each morning – Allow yourself a fresh unexpected perspective. A daily practice of quiet allows us to become more present, more creative, and more open. Setting this intention will allow you to go about your day with a sense of gratitude, happiness, and mindfulness. 
  1. Check-in with how you are feeling – listen to your body and your mind to see what perspective you want to focus on and work on. Each new practice will bring new emotions and working on the day by day is a great way to grow.
  1. Count your breaths – when you can, count your breaths and see how your stomach rises and falls throughout each breath. You may not be able to keep this up throughout the entire practice as you may have things you want to think about, focus on, and channel and that’s okay. But, when you get the chance, focus on your breathwork. 
  1. Come back when you wander – try and stay with whatever arises in your mind and stay on track throughout your practice so you feel satisfied after. When and if you find your mind trailing off onto other thoughts, come back to your original focus so that you can wrap up on a positive path. The mind is our most precious resource through which we experience every single moment of life. Don’t beat yourself up if your mind wanders. Taking the time to sit and be still is looking after your mind and there is no downside to that.
  1. Develop a loving attitude – practicing meditation every day will soon become a part of your life you will not want to live without. Learn to love it, to learn yourself, and most importantly, smile when you’re done. It will make you feel incredibly composed and grateful.

To achieve your highest sense of mindfulness, you must be present. Focusing on your present self and your surroundings instead of the past and the future will allow you to be aware of your thoughts and actions in a non-judgmental manner. Being present and mindful is the core benefit of meditation and will allow you to communicate how you are thinking and feeling to both yourself and others.

How do you meditate?

Thank you for reading!

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: anxiety, meditate, meditation

Health

Can CBD Be Psychoactive? Here’s 3 Reasons Why It Isn’t

January 27, 2021 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon from Pexels

CBD, the famous cannabinoid extracted from the hemp plant, has been legalized nationally since 2018. According to CBDJAY, it’s been known (and researched) for its magic at healing chronic pain, anxiety, stress, and sleep. 

This magical herb is especially popular amongst its users and the government, because it is not psychoactive, like THC, its counterpart found in high quantities in cannabis plants. THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) binds to a receptor in our endocannabinoid system–found in all mammals–and produces intoxication. 

The intoxicating aspect of THC is what makes it illegal in most states, and regulated in others. The concern is most attributed to people driving while high and the inability to detect when was the last time they ingested THC. 

Now, a more recent, yet undiscussed, discovery is coming out from the shadows: Delta-8. 

What is the Legality of Delta-8? 

Delta-8 is the manipulated form of CBD, in which the compound is isolated in the extraction process. Although it’s an organic element of CBD, by isolating it we increase the potency. Great, so what’s the big deal? 

Delta-8, like Delta-9, has psychoactive effects. Not only are the effects slightly different than that of THC, it is completely undetectable. In simpler terms, people who get drug tested for THC can use Delta-8 to get the same “high” and not be punished for it! 

Incredible, right? 

As the word gets out about Delta-8 and the popularity increases, it comes as no surprise that the legality of this substance is coming into question. If it can’t be regulated (that is, detected), it’s likely that it will fall into the same category as THC in many states. 

Delta-8 Availability

As its legality is challenged, it still remains on the shelves! Companies like baysmokes.com sell Delta-8 in its natural herb form, in vape carts, as distillate (pure extraction) and as gummies. 

If you live in Colorado or another state where THC is legalized, you might be wondering why you would ever want or need to make the switch to Delta-8, even if it does become legal.

How Delta-8 Differs from THC

Similarly to different strains of THC, Delta-8 offers some major differences in preference. Some people don’t like to be high because they get the munchies and eat their whole pantry, become groggy and fall asleep, get paranoid and potentially call the cops on themselves, or wake up with a “weed hangover” the next day. 

While Delta-8 still offers some munchy sensations, it really acts as THC’s opposition. Many users report feeling active, productive, creative, and easily occupied. The high is not so intense as it can be with THC, allowing for a more gentle up and down, rather than a rollercoaster. Because it does not hit so strong, it is less likely to put you into a coma or result in a hangover. 

It is known as the middle ground between CBD and THC and is great for newbie users looking for that high, as well as people who are THC sensitive. 

Delta-8 is currently widely available online; however, that is likely to change within 2021.

Thank you for reading!

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: cannabinoid oil, cannabis, cbd

Health

How To Stop Your Emotions Getting The Better of You in Any Situation

January 27, 2021 By lyndsinreallife 1 Comment

Being emotional is not a bad thing. Having emotions often means we are fully experiencing life, and that we aren’t emotionally stunted. However, just because we have strong emotions doesn’t mean we need to have outbursts, alienate those close to us, or create problems in other ways. Emotions are there for us to learn, and understand what triggers us. In fact, the things that trigger us often do so because they remind us of a time we felt similarly when we were younger. If you’re struggling with your emotions and you believe they are getting the better of you, let’s take a look at how you can stop this from happening:

Figure Out If There’s A Problem You Need To Address

Having strong emotions is not the issue – it’s an issue when they are causing you trouble in your life. For example, your emotions may be:

  • Causing trouble with your friends
  • Making it difficult to relate to other people
  • Causing trouble at work 
  • Giving you an urge to use substances to dull down your emotions
  • Causing outbursts that you struggle to control 

Remember, This is About Regulation

You’re not trying to repress your emotions, you’re simply trying to regulate them. If you try to prevent yourself from feeling your emotions because they are too difficult to deal with, you may experience anxiety, sleep issues, muscle tension, depression, and more. You need to find a healthy balance when it comes to feeling and expressing your emotions – not feeling any emotion at all is a cause for concern and could mean you’re just sweeping them under the rug and hoping they will disappear. 

credit

Label What You’re Feeling

  • What are you feeling? – are you feeling confused, anxious, or irritated? Try to get specific. 
  • What has made you feel this way? – a friend made a comment that triggered you and made you feel stupid, for example. 
  • Does the situation have a different explanation that could make sense? – your friend may not have realized that a certain subject was sensitive for you, and may have genuinely meant no harm. ]
  • What do you initially want to do to cope with these feelings? – perhaps you want to snap at your friend, or say something hurtful to them. 
  • Is there a healthier way you can cope with these feelings? – if you don’t feel calm enough or ready to address right away that what your friend said upset you, try going for a walk or stepping away until you can explain why you’d prefer they don’t do it again. 

Accept Your Emotions 

There’s nothing worse than getting into the habit of feeling guilty for having feelings and beating yourself up over and over again. Accepting your emotions is key. Oftentimes, kids are made to feel silly for having emotions. We need to realize that emotions are healthy. 

Test Various Coping Mechanisms

Some people find it helpful to go for a run when they feel stressed. Some people like to roll up a newspaper and hit a pillow. Others meditate. Some take supplements and try water bongs. You might like to try a few of these things. What works for you will always vary to what works for another. 

Give Yourself A Little Space

Remember, it’s ok to leave a situation that you find upsetting until you are ready to deal with it. Try distracting yourself until you don’t feel as intensely – just make sure you do come back to your feelings. Don’t sweep them under the rug!

Thank you for reading!

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: emotions, mental health

Health

How To Lower Your Stress Levels And Boost Your Overall Health

January 22, 2021 By lyndsinreallife 1 Comment

https://unsplash.com/photos/Of8C-QHqagM

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!

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: health, stress

Health

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

January 20, 2021 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

 

Pexels Image

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. 

Pexels Image 

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. 

Pexels Image 

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

Thank you for reading!

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: health, healthy living, wedding

Health

5 Things to Know Before Choosing a Healthcare Plan

January 15, 2021 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Image from Pexels

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!

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: health, health insurance

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