the health

One the most beautiful things to see is a healthy person who is comfortable with who he/she is. So I think health is one of the biggest keys to outward beauty.

The first piece of health is the food you put into your body. Now, I am no champ on this point. I think I said in a recent post that I've had very little appetite for anything other than a giant piece of chocolate cake. This is the time when I need to make sure I'm eating smallish meals throughout the day of nutritious things.

Some of my favorite good things to eat are:

• apple slices w/ peanut butter
• mandarin oranges
• toasted bread w/ tomatoes and basil
• tomato soup
• lettuce with a little ranch dressing
• fro yo
• regular yo

Eat the calories your body needs for energy and try not to eat any more than that. If I over eat one day, I watch my intake the next and cut back. I really want and need that flexibility. Because not everyday is Thanksgiving and not everyday is a regular ol' day.

And then of course, drink LOTS of water. This is so good for every part of your body (Best beauty product ever!)

Now. Exercise. 

This is one thing I've always struggled with. There's lots of ways to do it.

In my life, I've found what works best for me isn't to have a designated "exercise" period. Instead I pay attention to how much I've moved or exerted different parts. I've learned that exercise is just another way of saying how much and how you move your body.

Instead of putting on a whole uniform to "work out"  in, I do things like park far away and walk (I walk a lot), I always take the stairs, stretch in the morning when I wake up then again before I sleep, and I'll do little insignificant things. For instance, if I'm baking I mix everything by hand instead of using the electric mixer. I love to hike (even when it snows. The woods are a whole new world after a good snow). It may sound kind of lame compared to the American ideal of working out in a gym for hours a day in Under Armor, but it works for me. My life is consistent so it makes my "exercise" consistent.

Proverbs 31: 17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.

Sleep

This is SO important. I think probably more important than I realize. 

If you don't get enough sleep:

• thinking clearly is a challenge
• headaches
• weakened immune system
• your skin suffers (dark circles, graying, heavy lidded eyes, dry, wrinkling, etc...)
• you may overeat more easily
• you get grouchy. That's deffinetly not beautiful.

An adult needs 7-9 hours per night

Cover these three basics and you won't have to rely on makeup, products, clothing, medicines, coffee, _____ to wake you up and make you feel alive and beautiful.

Right this minute! stand up, stretch then go get a big tall glass of water! ahhh don't you feel gorgeous? ;)