blog.agingfabulouslyclub.com

What's on Your To Do List - Podcast

2011-05-25T00:04:00Z

... This is an audio version of "What's on Your To Do List?"

What's on Your To Do List?

2011-05-05T20:42:00Z

As healthy living researchers for the Aging Fabulously Club®, we report on ways members cultivate the seemingly elusive concept of balanced, healthy living. It's easier than you think. Take your "to do" list as an example. Most of our club members are busy executives or equally busy parents with action-packed schedules. But, we haven't met a club member yet who truly doesn't have time to take control of their health. At this stage of life, it’s our most important asset. Our good health will help us reach our other goals…now and into the future.

Right now, look at your schedule for next week. Is exercise, relaxation, quality sleep, adequate time for meal planning, and building nourishing relationships on there? If not, you might need a slight adjustment in priorities. Take it from Aging Fabulously Club® members; it'll bring your whole life into greater focus. Here are a few reasons to consider bringing more work / healthy life balance to your life.

- Making time for regular exercise actually gives us more time and energy. Cardio strengthens our immune system which can translate into less downtime due to illness. Exercise also floods our bodies with healthful, mood enhancing endorphins which have been shown to boost our peacefulness for up to twelve hours. New research is showing exercising can be done in little 10 minute bursts of activity 3 times a day.

- If you experience any amount of stress in your day, it's important to balance it with relaxation. Extreme stress is associated with the age-advancing biochemical called cortisol. When we relax deeply, on the other hand, our bodies are flooded with chemicals that help offset the damage from the day's stresses.

- Stress is catabolic. It breaks down our body's tissues. Restful sleep is the opposite; it’s anabolic. Sleep is part of our body's natural process of rejuvenation. We need this balance.

- The amount of time you spend planning your meals for the week, say on Sunday, is a huge investment in your health. Answers to these questions will show you the importance of planning. How many times have you been caught hungry with only vending machine choices available? What does extreme hunger and poor choices do to your blood glucose level? BTW, extreme swings in blood glucose levels (hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia) are anti-Aging Fabulously!

- Lastly, part of being an adult means dealing with people. If our days are filled with frustrating contact with people who are so entirely difficult to deal with that we just want to holler, we need some balance. Who is on your schedule that you look forward to being with in healthful anticipation? Blend these peace-giving souls into your schedule. Make it a priority!

Some people may get a bit anxious when they hear the word "balance". Not Aging Fabulously Club® members! Look at your schedule for next week. Does it appear balanced? If not, just think of what you really, really want out of life long-term. With the long view, the balancing act becomes much easier.

Here's to more balanced, healthy living. You are so fabulous!

Ready to Show Some Skin?

2011-03-27T23:05:00Z

Okay. Springtime is here! And, you know what that means.

It means summer is right around the corner. Soon, we'll be outside much more and wearing much lighter clothing. Fear not however. Members of the Aging Fabulously Club^®are more than happy to share fabulous lifestyle tips for healthy living. You'll learn secrets to Aging Fabulously that will have you looking forward to not only summer, but the rest of your fabulous life.

Visit our website at www.agingfabulouslyclub.com and download a free copy of the top 10 Secrets to Aging Fabulously ^™ practiced by club members. You'll immediately see how members of the club manage to keep looking fit and fabulous at any age. They also look forward to sportin' summer wardrobes and spending more time outside in nature. You will too.

Remember to always check with your medical advisor before making any changes in your lifestyle. Be safe. Be healthy. Let's look forward to summertime together!

It's 2011! Is Healthy Living on Your Schedule?

2011-01-01T23:49:00Z

Healthy living is easier than you think. One fabulously easy way to start is by examining your "to do" list. Most people are busy everyday with action-packed schedules. But, none of us is too busy to take control of our health. It's our most important asset; one that will help us reach all other goals and can enjoy the fruits of our labor down the road.

Right now. Look ahead at your schedule for next week. Are exercise, relaxation, quality sleep, time for meal planning and building nourishing relationships on there? If not, you might need a slight adjustment in priorities. Reflection is time well spent. Building in health-supportive activities will bring your whole life into greater focus. Here are a few more reasons to consider bringing a healthier balance to your everyday life.

- Making time for regular exercise actually gives us more energy. Cardio strengthens our immune system which can translate into less downtime due to illness. Exercise also floods our bodies with healthful, mood enhancing endorphins which have been shown to boost our peacefulness for up to twelve hours. New research is showing it can be done in as little as 10 minute bursts of activity three times per day.

- If you experience any amount of stress in your day, it's important to balance it with relaxation. Extreme stress is associated with the age-advancing biochemicals namely cortisol. When we relax deeply on the other hand, our bodies are flooded with health-enhancing chemicals that help offset damage from the day's stresses.

- Stress is catabolic. It breaks down our body's tissues. Sleep is anabolic. It is part of our body's natural process of rejuvenation. Life is much more fabulous with a balance.

- The amount of time you spend planning your meals for the week, say on a Sunday, is a huge investment in your health. Answers to these questions will show you how. How many times have you been caught hungry with only vending machine sugary or salty choices available? What does extreme hunger and poor choices do to your blood glucose level? Extreme swings in our blood glucose level (hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia) is anti-Aging Fabulously! Planning to have your own healthy snacks on hand will keep your blood sugar level low and stable. Light, healthy snacking will also keep you energized throughout the day.

- Lastly, part of being an adult means dealing with people. If our days are filled with frustrating people who are so difficult to deal with that we just want to holler, we definitely need to balance this with some serious fun. Who or what is on your schedule that you look forward to boundless, healthful anticipation? If nothing fun is there, start planning today to blend in some fun. Make it a priority!

We know a lot people freak out when they hear the word "balance". Some think it's over used. Not! Think about your schedule this year. Can you make it more balanced? Ask yourself, what you really, really want. Chances are, being healthy enough to enjoy your hard work will be at the top of your wish list. This makes the balancing act much easier.

Here's to more balanced, healthy living in 2011!

Enjoy the Holiday Season with Mindful Eating

2010-11-11T23:08:00Z

Well, this is it! Now is the most wonderful time of the year. For many people, this is the time of year we enjoy best. We love the crisp air, the friends and family, the joyful atmosphere, and…oh yeah, the food.

The additional culinary delights we indulge in this time of year don’t have to add extra pounds. Here is a great suggestion from Aging Fabulously Club members: Eat Mindfully.

When you eat mindfully (as opposed to mindlessly), you become more aware of the fullness of the eating experience. Mindful eating begins with the shopping and the chopping and it continues through washing the dishes afterward. This time of year, it can also include savoring the company and environment in which the food is enjoyed. Mindful eating will help you become more in tune with the bigger picture about food including the gorgeous colors, flavors, and textures. The only downside to the experience of mindful eating is you may never be satisfied with rushing through meals again.

The science behind mindful eating is that our body releases hormones that signal the brain when we're full and satisfied. It takes approximately 20 minutes for the brain to receive the "I'm full" message from the stomach. When we rush through our meals, we take in considerably more calories than our bodies actually need to be satisfied. The fix is easy. Slow down and enjoy every bite. Yep! This means you won’t be standing in front of the fridge the day after eating cold leftovers directly from the containers.

The change is mostly mental (so is good health by the way!). Start with a change in vocabulary. Don't eat. Dine! Don’t gobble. Savor! Consider every dining occasion an opportunity four healthful nourishment of your fabulous body. That's dining fabulously! It'll serve you well on your path to healthy aging.

So there you have it! Enjoy the richness of the holiday season including the delightful foods. By eating more mindfully, you’ll have a chance at finishing the holiday season without adding weight concerns to your busy “To Do” list. That’s Aging Fabulously!

Timelessness

2010-10-30T21:15:00Z

I drive some people crazy with my clocks. None of them, not even one, is set for the exact time of day. Not even the one in my car. Any clock in my house that I cannot change, I cover. And I never wear a watch. This is crazy-makin' behavior for some folks.

I dwell in what the Greeks called kairos: timeless awareness. The early Greeks defined time in two distinct categories. Chronos is fixed, limited and quantifiable time. You need a watch when you operate in chronos time because you want to make sure things meetings begin and end on time and tights schedules are met. There definitely is a place for strict timekeeping.

Kairos, on the other hand, is unbounded and qualitative time. You've been in kairos before. Remember when you were so engaged in a task that you lost track of time? When this happens, we know the task we're performing is soul-nourishing. We can't get enough. While our mind is absorbed in these soul-nourishing kinds of tasks, our bodies are flooded with healthful hormones helping us stay vibrant and youthful.

One of my favorite affirmations is, "I always have plenty of time." And with most of the clocks around me set approximately 38 minutes fast, I usually do! I also like to say to myself when I'm stuck, "Everything I need to know will be revealed at the right time." Any time pressures quickly evaporate with this mindset. Ironically, I am punctual (even early!) and I always deliver projects on time. I just don't feel the pressure that a chronos-thinking person does.

As a healthy aging lifestyle counselor, I believe it's important to help others cultivate a similar sense of timelessness. Often as we age, we get negative messages from society and well-meaning friends about our limitations that are usually tied to time. Can you go for that doctorate degree if you're already 50? You bet! Don't let others talk you out of your dreams because they dwell in chronos time. If you feel your dream is realistic and attainable, there's always time. Thinking any other way is an injustice to a life well-lived.

What time is it for you?

It's 2010! Is Healthy Living on Your Schedule?

2010-01-04T20:51:00Z

As Lifestyle Counselors, we help clients cultivate the seemingly elusive concept of balanced living. It's easier than you think. Take your "to do" list as an example. Most of our clients are busy executives with action-packed schedules. But, we haven't met an executive yet who truly doesn't have time to take control of their health. It's your most important asset; one that will help ensure you reach all your other goals and can enjoy the fruits of your labor down the road.

Right now, look at your schedule for next week. Are exercise, relaxation, quality sleep, time for meal planning and building nourishing relationships on there? If not, you might need a slight adjustment in priorities. Believe us, it'll bring your whole life into greater focus. Here are a few reasons to consider bringing more balance to your life.

- Making time for regular exercise actually gives us more energy. Cardio strengthens our immune system which can translate into less downtime due to illness. Exercise also floods our bodies with healthful, mood enhancing endorphins which have been shown to boost our peacefulness for up to twelve hours. New research is showing it can be done in little 10 minute bursts of activity.

- If you experience any amount of stress in your day, it's important to balance it with relaxation. Extreme stress is associated with the age-advancing biochemical called cortisol. When we relax deeply on the other hand, our bodies are flooded with chemicals that help offset the damage from the day's stresses.

- Stress is catabolic. It breaks down our body's tissues. Sleep is anabolic. It is part of our body's natural process of rejuvenation. We need a balance.

- The amount of time you spend planning your meals for the week, say on a Sunday, is a huge investment in your health. Answers to these questions will show you how. How many times have you been caught hungry with only vending machine choices available? What does extreme hunger and poor choices do to your blood glucose level? Extreme swings in our blood glucose level (hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia) is anti-Aging Fabulously!

- Lastly, part of being an adult means dealing with people. If our days are filled with frustrating contact with people who are so entirely difficult to deal with that we just want to holler, we need some balance. Who is on your schedule that you look forward to being with in healthful anticipation? Write it in. Make it a priority!

We know a lot people freak out when they hear the word "balance". Some think it's over used. Not us! Just look at your schedule for next week. Does it appear balanced? If not, just think of what you really, really want. When you do, the balancing act becomes much easier.

Here's to more balanced, healthy living in 2010!

Get Out of Your Own Way in 2009!

2009-01-16T22:35:00Z

Get Out Of Your Own Way in 2009!

Posted by Sherry McGee, Certified Lifestyle Counselor. Filed under Intellectual Health

As Lifestyle Counselors, we help clients customize plans for healthier living. Our lifestyle plans are balanced. As a result they include goals for exercise, nutrition and stress management. When it comes to making healthy living changes, we have pretty much heard every excuse in the book. Some clients get really creative when it comes to reasons for not making health improvements.

One prospective client even used the -- “We only get about a billion heart beats per lifetime. Exercise will use them up more quickly!” -- reasoning not to change. This is a great example (although rare, thankfully) of how we can stand in our own way of accomplishing goals. We sometimes sabotage our personal efforts for positive health changes. A major culprit is our limiting beliefs. These effort-thwarting cannibals can stem from any number of causes and lines of thinking. Some are rooted in childhood memories. Others are a result of past pain and experiences. They can also arise out of conflicting goals and limited resources, like time. However they come about, they’re tough to shake loose. There is new research showing we can be biochemically addicted to our current thoughts. Oye!

What’s tricky about limiting beliefs is they are buried deep in our subconscious which makes them appear to not exist. Oh, but they do exist. Our beliefs manifest in the myriad ways our lives either evolve or remain stuck in an endless rut. The beliefs we hold about ourselves and our abilities are like a ship’s rudder. They steer our attitudes and behavior in one direction or another.

You’ll come closer to meeting more of your goals by following a few easy guidelines. First, be mindful of your thoughts. Are you generally optimistic and hopeful or pessimistic and cynical? Notice ways your thoughts may be limiting your own progress. Second, notice what you say to your self. We ask clients to look for self-limiting statements which typically come in the form of “Yeah, but…!” sentences. If you follow a suggestion for personal growth with a “Yeah, but…!” you are probably blocking growth in some way. A third way is to monitor your progress. Have you been losing the same six pounds for the last three years? Look deep within to see if there is something in your belief system that is creating the behavior that causes you to stagnate in this way. A reasonably successful and sustainable amount of weight loss is 1-2 lbs. per week. How much is that in three years?

Change is hard. And, the older we get, the harder it is to make changes. But when comes to our good health, no effort is wasted. Look no further than within your self as a starting point. Get help in setting realistic and attainable goals. Then get out of your own way.

In Don Miguel Ruiz’s new book, The Voice of Knowledge: A Practical Guide to Inner Peace, he makes an interesting point. He suggests, “Don’t believe what you think!” He says its all lies anyway. Think about that. Find the ways, places, people and practices to help you move successfully out of health risk ranges and into a healthier, happier lifestyle. That’s Aging Fabulously!

Sometimes It Helps to Write Down What We Eat!

2008-05-03T12:34:00Z

If you're like most of us, your days are flying past. Often we're not even aware of the present moment. Even more often, we're unaware of what we eat and why.

Many of us haven't a clue as to how many calories we take in on a daily basis. We nibble here. Finish off our kid's plate there. Why waste food right?

Well. Whether or not we are ready to admit it, these calories count too. And so do your drinks throughout the day.

If you want a better idea of the number of calories you take in on a daily basis, write it down. Start a food journal. Record every morsel (Yes! Every single one.). Don't forget your drinks especially if you tend to go for the more sugery refreshments over pure water.

Be brave. No one really has to know besides you. Keep your journal for about a week. It would be helpful too for you note how you feel before and after your meals.

Then when you feel ready review your journal carefully. Ask yourself, "What do I almost know about my diet?"

What to Eat

2008-02-16T21:23:00Z

What should we eat? There’s plenty of science today about healthy eating. We usually recommend two terrific and reputable Web sites for beginner nutrition information. Try www.mypyramid.gov and www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource. Both provide similar, although not identical, advice on healthy eating based on scientific evidence of what’s good for us.

The United States Department of Agriculture hosts the pyramid Web site. Every five years, a panel of nutrition researchers, food scientists, and medical doctors considers the new science on health. Afterward, they insert the updated information in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. In theory the pyramid represents what to eat based on those guidelines. The reality is, there’s a bit of food politics in there too. Politics aside, the pyramid is a stroke of genius in terms of outlining a comprehensive food plan. And, you can enter your specific information – age, sex, weight, etc. – and receive a personalized food plan. The plan gives you recommended quantities of the various food groups that will lead to your best health. Exercise comments are included in the advice.

Experts at the Harvard School of Public Health (Yes! THE Harvard School of Public Health) have openly criticized the USDA Food Pyramid and replaced it with their version. It has a few very significant differences. Harvard’s Healthy Eating Pyramid places exercise and weight management at the foundation of good health. They have also de-emphasized red meats and dairy. In their place, the Harvard researchers suggest more fish and lean poultry for protein and calcium supplements as an option for diary. Whereas the USDA Pyramid recommends making half our daily consumption of grains whole versus refined, the Harvard team suggests 100% whole grains and little if any refined. The pyramids differ also in the recommendation for healthy fats. The Harvard team places plant oils smack at the foundation of a healthy diet.

Both pyramids offer up solid eating advice. Harvard's faculty asserts the Healthy Eating Pyramid is based on more recent scientific evidence of the relationship between diet and health sans any politics or influence from the powerful food industry. You get to decide for yourself. One really good thing about America is…the choice is yours.

When it comes to eating well, knowing what to eat can be as simple as sticking with the principles. Here are a few for you to consider.

Choose nutrient-dense, calorie-poor foods.
Eat more fruits and vegetables.
Reduce the amount of sugary, salty, processed foods in your diet.
Don’t forget what you drink counts too.
Choose healthier snacks.
Balance your energy (calories in as food versus calories out as activity) in order to manage your weight.
Have a stress management practice. Most of our poor choices occur under duress.

See? It’s not so hard. Basically, we all know the nutritional difference between an apple and a slice of cheesecake. The question is…which one will we choose as a regular part of our healthy eating plan?

When it comes to what to eat, the choice is always yours.

Weigh Less by Eating Mindfully

2008-02-03T16:41:00Z

Early on in our counseling sessions with clients, we encourage them to complete a mindfulness journal which includes a food diary. I know! It's sounds like torture right? But there's research that demonstrates two important theories. One: Most of us have no idea how many calories we consume in a day's time. Two: Mindless eating accounts for most of the damage we do in our efforts to manage our weight.

See for yourself. It's a good --although frightening -- idea to keep a food record. About a week is a fair length of time to get a good idea of your eating patterns. Write everything down. Every single morsel. Then review it closely. After you pick yourself up off of the floor, it's time to take action. Many people are truly surprised how much they have actually eaten. It can easily total more than 1,000 extra calories every day.

Here's how you can reign it in. Eat mindfully.

When you eat mindfully, you become more aware of the fullness of the eating experience from shopping to chopping to washing the dishes afterward. Mindful eating will help you become more in tune with the gorgeous colors, flavors and textures of your food. The only downside to the experience of mindful eating is you may never be satisfied with rushing through meals again.

The science behind mindful eating is that our body releases hormones that signal the brain when we're full and satisfied. It takes approximately 20 minutes for the brain to receive the "I'm full" message from the stomach. When we rush through our meals, we take in considerably more calories than our bodies actually need to be satisfied. The fix is easy. Slow down and savor every meal. Yep! This means no more meals standing in front of the fridge eating cold food directly from cartons.

The change is mostly mental (so is good health by the way!). Start with a change in vocabulary. Don't eat. Dine! Consider every dining occasion an opportunity to nourish your fabulous body. That's dining fabulously! It'll serve you well on your path to healthy aging.

Are you Aging Fabulously or Aging Otherwise?

2008-01-21T14:03:00Z

It’s no secret we’re in a wellness revolution. The massive baby boomer population, skyrocketing health care costs, and trends in our overall health status are demanding a change in lifestyles. According to the American Hospital Association (www.aha.org), by the year 2030 six of ten baby boomers will manage more than one chronic disease such as obesity, diabetes or arthritis. Other predictions are we’ll live longer, but at a questionable quality of life.

If you want both a long lifeline and a high quality of life, consider Aging Fabulously from the inside out. It’s well within your control. Healthy aging medical guru Dr. Mehmet Oz says once we pass age 50, more than 80% of how well we age is within our control. What do we control? Our lifestyle choices: Nutrition, Exercise, and Daily Stress.

Here’s what you can do starting right now. Take control of your moment-to-moment choices in these three areas. Learn about healthy nutrition. Start with the venerable Food Guide Pyramid (www.mypyramid.gov) and tailor it to your needs and preferences. The same website can guide you toward being more physically active. Pay attention to how you feel and manage your daily stress levels. If you’re not sure where to start or you prefer a coach, a good counselor can shorten your path to good health by guiding you in all three areas.

The best way to age well is to take charge. With today’s advances in medical science, we have key biomarkers of good health and known health risk factors. Get knowledgeable about your health status. Download our free Healthy Aging Checklist and find the ways, places, people, and practices to move out of known health risk areas and into Aging Fabulously range.

You’re either Aging Fabulously or aging otherwise. Make good choices starting today.

Get Out Of Your Own Way in 2008!

2008-01-05T14:08:00Z

What's on Your To Do List?

2007-12-02T14:20:00Z

Try Yoga!

2007-11-25T18:19:00Z

Often when we talk of fitness, we speak of indicators in the area of cardiovascular health, strength and BMI. But there's a growing awareness that as we age, another important way to measure our overall fitness is by healthy balance and flexibility.

Consequently, there's a whole new and en vogue tier of fitness. Try Yoga.

Although it's been practiced in the Western culture for a couple of decades, it's now fairly mainstream. And for good reason. Yoga poses free energy to move through your body releasing tension and making you healthier and more energetic. Recent studies on the ancient practice are showing that it may even help make your arteries more elastic thus improving blood flow. Regular practice helps keep the entire body supple. The actual postures of Yoga are but one of eight separate limbs in the practice. If you choose, you can also explore Yoga's spiritual realm.

The name, Yoga, means to unite (or yoke together) body and mind. This is why many say the practice has a calming effect. As you practice coordinating your body, mind and breathing, you take your mind off any external concerns or worries.

Don’t like Yoga? Try Qigong, Tai Chi, Pilates or any other form of coordinated movements and stretching that will help you maintain full range of motion. This way, you'll be able to tie your own shoes forever. And that's a good thing!

Age Well by Dwelling in Timeless Awareness

2007-11-09T12:33:00Z

What time is it for you?

Visualize -- Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

2007-10-27T20:48:00Z

How do you keep a health-oriented mind set in a fast-paced seemingly out of control world?

You hear a lot these days about depression. Some of the statistics are staggering. The World Health Organization predicts that by the year 2020, depression will be the number two cause of death. Doesn't that just blow you away? Life is challenging. No doubt.

As lifestyle counselors, we know from direct experience that when bad things happen we often have a choice; one of the many proverbial crossroads of life. We can choose to sink into a funk about it or we can choose to fight our way out which takes inner resilience. Granted there are cases where we may need outside help. But for those times when the choice is clearly our own...let's chose to fight.

Here are some examples of how to fight your way back to happiness -- and away from the fridge or worse, harmful substances -- following a major challenge.

Visualize -- Keep Your Eyes on the Prize
Clearly see yourself successfully landing on the other side. Keep that vision alive by focusing your attention on others who have successfully navigated a similar challenge. Make them your muse.

Commit to Winning
Summon all your energy around beating the challenge. Avoid energy saps like negative emotions and toxic people who frustrate you further.

Get Support
Find the people, places, ways and practices that will feed you positive energy to keep moving toward your goal of winning. Surround yourself with only positive images including magazines, television programs, news reports, etc.

Keep Starting Over
One our favorite Thoreau quotes is, "Renew thyself everyday. Do it again and again and all over again." Don't let one slip or one bad day cause you to quit or make matters worse. Don't ruminate over missteps. Keep starting over.

Try. Really, try to make yourself feel better. Amazingly and miraculously you will soon be able to talk yourself out of a slump. The positive self-talk will become second nature. It may even extend to other areas of your life. And that's a good thing.

Think good thoughts. Be well.

The Pursuit of Happiness

2007-10-11T12:35:00Z

We recently watched an absolutely delightful and thought-provoking movie. It starred the lovable and wholesome Will Smith and his adorable, real-life son, Jaden. The Pursuit of Happyness is based on the true story of Christopher Gardner's ascent from poverty to multi-millionaire status. Way to go Christopher!

In the movie, Smith (playing Gardner's character) at the height of his frustration dealing with the imminent threat of homelessness wonders why Thomas Jefferson thought to put pursuit of happiness in our country's founding documents along with other constitutional rights such as life, liberty and justice for all. Why pursuit? Is it due to the elusive nature of happiness? Are we destined to always be in pursuit of it, striving for it and never really actually having it?

Some psychologists and happiness researchers (yes, there is such an occupation!) believe that the moment you start pursuing certain qualities, you lose the ability to have them. Happiness is a good example. What exactly is happiness and what do we truly need to be happy?

Certainly it's not money. Plenty of wealthy people are unhappy. We live in arguably the richest country in the world yet we rank remarkably low on the happiness scale. Our ranking is about 23rd in the world according to British researchers quoted in a 2006 Businessweek Magazine article. Countries like Switzerland, Austria and Iceland topped the list 10 in the article's World Map of Happiness. Number one on the list: Denmark. Where exactly is Denmark?

Some say among the most happy and at peace here in the U.S., the minimalistic and imperturbable Amish top the list. What do they know that we don't.

Apparently, what we don't know about happiness is a lot. But we may be closing in on a definition because we're learning more and more about what it's not.

It's not fame. We can all easily cite dozens of famous people who are unhappy. We know this either through their own admission or as evidenced by their destructive lifestyle. Wasn't kazillionaire David Hasselhoff captured in a drunken episode broadcast on YouTube.com (so unfortunate for him!) saying he has so many problems with his life? Yet for a time he executive produced the number one television show in the entire world, Baywatch.

Being drop-dead gorgeous doesn't necessarily make us happy. Nor does it guarantee a long and blissful marriage. Beauty, even to the ultra-extreme level, doesn't even guarantee us a ticket to the marriage party.

So just what is happiness? Since researchers are identifying good health as a key trait of citizens of content nations, maybe we could start there. Beyond this maybe we could train our grasping minds to accept and live well with the ephemeral nature of everything else.

Could happiness be that simple? Maybe we are already happy and just don't realize it. Is too much of our time and energy being spent in "pursuit" of happiness as opposed to simply "being" happy? Is happiness as simple as choosing it, right here -- right now, regardless of our circumstances especially if we have or can attain good health? It's food for thought!

Today, experiment with choosing to just be healthy and happy. Think Denmarkian.

Laughter is Aging Fabulously!™

2007-09-30T17:18:00Z

How often do you laugh? When we were kids, we laughed about 400 times a day. As adults the number of times each day that we laugh plummets to around 20. What's up with that?  Are we just too serious about everything?

Sure. Life gets more serious as we mature. But, can't we stop from time-to-time throughout the day and find more humor in it all; find more ways to laugh? There's a good reason to think about laughing more. Here's a few idea starters from recent health studies on laughter.

-   Laughter stimulates the release of healthful hormones into our bloodstream
-   Hard laughter -- the side splitting kind -- gives our abs a good workout
-   Laughter may boost our immune system
-   It reduces stress. The human mind cannot hold two completely opposing thoughts at the same time. Go ahead, try it!

If its been a really long time since you've had a good laugh, you may need a little help remembering to lighten up and enjoy your journey through life. For starters, get some REEL therapy as in movies. Check out these funny flicks.

-   What About Bob?
-   The Birdcage
-   State and Main
-   Are We There Yet?
-   Along Came Polly
-   Anger Management
-   Patch Adams
-   The 40 Year Old Virgin

Mary Tyler Moore sitcom fans can still remember that scene at Chuckles the Clown's funeral when Mary couldn't stifle her laughter. Now that was funny!

Know any happy people? Ask them for ideas on keeping life sunny side up. Or, just spend time with them. Muse over ways to let their ability to let life roll off their shoulders rub off onto you.

Read uplifting passages and books. Try to avoid things and people that drain you of lighter energy. Train yourself to find at least one good thing in everything that happens. You'll soon find yourself seeing the silver lining automatically. After all, the brain can learn new ways of thinking.

However you choose to go about it, learn to lighten up. We're in this world to love, grow and have fun. So go ahead. For no apparent reason, just start laughing your *#@ off! Who knows, since laughter is so mysteriously contagious others may join in.  It's all good and it's Aging Fabulously!™

Confused over Nutrition? It's Easier Than You Think!

2007-09-15T13:40:00Z

Excellent nutrition is one category of personal growth where you can run smack into a stark realization: The more you learn, the more confusing it becomes. You find yourself asking, "Just how far down this rabbit hole do I really want to go?"

As lifestyle counselors, we can help make good nutrition a bit easier for you. Here's our guiding philosophy: Stick with the basics. At least 80% of the time.

Fad diets come and go. But the basic principles of healthy nutrition really don't change much at all. Here's a few of our basics. See if you can live by them too.

- Get your natural antioxidant protection by eating lots of fruits and vegetables.
- Eat foods as close as possible to their natural state.
- Balance your meals with reasonable amounts of the macronutrients:
Lean Protein, Healthy Fat, and Low Glycemic Carbohydrates
- Control portion size.
- Watch your intake of sodium, sugar, chemicals, animal fats and other less healthy fats.
- Depending on how active your lifestyle is, drink approximately one half your body weight in
pure water every day.
- Replace most of your sugary and carbonated beverages with water or healthful teas.
- Get a nutritional wingman; a daily multi vitamin/mineral to help with any deficiencies.
- Manage your daily energy balance (calories in as food versus calories out as physical
activity) to maintain a healthy weight for your frame.
- Save the savory stuff you love like chocolate and truffles for occasional indulgences!

See? Easy! If you go way, way back into the annals of good nutrition, the basic advice hasn't really changed all that much in more than 50 years.

Eat well. Live well. When you start traveling down that rabbit hole, you realize it's really pretty basic.