The world we live in requires you to be your own health advocate. Fight for your health and well being. You’re worth it, and if you aren’t at a place where you think you are, don’t you think that your family, friends, and children are? ~trvw

We’re all human and when the urge strikes to over eat on a treat, try finding an even healthier, less processed alternative. After hitting my cookie limit and still having a need for a sweet bite, I found an apple. Knowing the apple alone would not fix my cookie craving, I sliced a sliver of the apple. Then I dipped it in a mix of peanut butter, chopped dates, and chocolate chips. A few slivers satisfied me and I felt like one smart cookie for eating that apple! ~trvw

Doubt will take any chance it can to cause you to question what you’re trying to do. At the end of a busy week an attempt at a long run might make you wonder how you can ever complete twice the distance in a race. That’s why it’s called training. We are dealing with the doubt that tries to keep us from reaching our dreams. Do deal with it. Let it train you to know that the journey to the goal isn’t going to be easy, but once you know this and keep pushing to the finish you can appreciate your ability to make things happen…even when you are not 100% sure of the outcome. ~trvw

Allow yourself time to experiment with exercises, time of day, gyms vs. home, try all the things that you need to do so you can find out what works for you. Research on the Internet, in the library, wherever you to can to gain motivation and information to help you gain ground. Keep notes and track your progress.

Beginning now will give you a jump start on forming good habits. Keep moving forward. Small is better than not at all! ~trvw

Nourishing yourself has benefits beyond your initial consideration. When you eat well and exercise, your mental focus improves. Your mood improves and the people around you get inspired by your desire to live the best life you can. Your kids will practice the lifestyle that you are living out daily; don’t you want them to mirror healthy habits? Nourish you and yours with rich health and wellness and the benefits will flourish. ~trvw

I say it often, but I’ll say it again. Don’t wait for the New Year to get active. Now is a perfect time to start moving your body. It alleviates stress and when you’re making an effort to be healthier, you will want to eat better. Plus, when you are scorching extra calories with exercise you are helping your body manage those extra calories when you do indulge a little bit.

Exercise has so many benefits that you might as well start taking advantage of them now instead of putting it off for later. When you get moving, you help increase blood circulation and that means your heart doesn’t have to work so hard to pump blood through the body. Just a few simple movements can make you look and feel better now. Key word searches on the internet can offer lots of options. Try “exercise at home” to get you started and happy, healthy holidays! -trvw

Last Saturday at the SOS class, it was said several times that, “we are not meant to do life alone.” While I nodded in agreement and cheered out words of support, there was a mini little brick layer in my head that said, “unless you need the help.” Hmmm, maybe this wall builder has kinfolk that lives in us all?? If so, we must be persistent in dealing with the little devils! Hopefully those cheers of support will drown out the negativity and doubt because we are all social by nature and deserve to live life together happy and secure.  Vulnerability isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of sharing how you’ve became strong. ~trvw