Why Not . . . Live a Life of Quality?

In a recent article in the Times Magazine, the topic of life expectancy was placed in the spotlight. While the average life expectancy at birth currently in the United States is 79, the number is deceiving, and the statistic itself for the past few centuries is misunderstood as well. Why? It’s an average. An average that must take into account child mortality rates and every social economical situation into account that can drastically change or skew the number.

For example, as the article points out in Sweden during 1800, the average life expectancy was 32. Clearly this seems drastically low, but in reality, so long as one survived childbirth and early childhood, one could expect to live well beyond this number. However, it was the high child death rate that brought the number down.

Now, I don’t write this to frighten you – quite the contrary. What the article revealed was that the length of one’s life is acutely determined by the quality of one’s life. In other words, good and necessary healthcare, the reduction of stress, and other factors that create a life of peace, security and physical good health, ultimately determine the years in our life expectancy.

As I poured over this article yesterday morning, I couldn’t help but ask the question, so what exactly does a quality life look like? This is what I came up with:

 

 

1. Good Health

While we can’t change our genetic coding, we can control what we eat, how much we move, our thoughts and the environment we live in. We can also be preventative by scheduling regular well-patient visits with our primary physician to catch any abnormality that may show up in screenings.

 

2. Security – Financial and Physical

When we know we have money in the bank and a sound roof over our heads, our minds are able to relax. And by reducing our stress, we assist our bodies in being at optimum health. Unnecessary and excessive stress reduces our body’s ability to take care of itself, and when our body can’t take care of itself, it is less able to fight off viruses and diseases that it would normally be shielded from.

 

3. Ability to Regularly Use Innate Talents

Knowing you are contributing positively to society as well as tapping into your passion and natural talents is one of the most rewarding and enriching things you can do to create a life of quality and fulfillment. If you have found the profession, hobby or life’s work that melds these two worlds of talent and societal need, you know the extreme joy that can be felt. If you haven’t yet found your passion or an avenue in which it fits, keep searching. Eventually, you will find your niche and it will be worth the time spend seeking out the right path.

 

4. Ability to Live Authentically

When you are able to be yourself, to not hide who you are and what you wish to contribute, a burden is lifted that reduces the unnecessary stress you were carrying. Seek out people who accept you for who you are and do your best to steer clear of those who laugh, berate or tease you for being someone different from what they understand or accept. They don’t deserve your gift.

 

5. Involved in Loving and Respectful Relationships

It’s not the number of friends and loved ones in your life but rather the quality relationships you have with those who you invite into your inner circle that create a fulfilling life. Knowing you have people who you can trust, lean on in times of trial and enjoy the beauty that life presents each and every day is something that must be created consciously. There will be many people who will want to be your friend, lover, confidante. Take the time to see if they indeed are worthy of what they seek. Your patience and diligence will save you much unnecessary heartbreak and pain.

 

6. Equal Rights, Freedoms and Protections

Living in a country, community and family that affords you a voice might seem unnecessary initially to creating a quality life. But when you know that you can speak up when you’ve been wronged and justice can be served, when you know that the life you’ve created can’t be demolished for unjust reasons, and when you know that qualities that you have no control over can’t limit your rights, then less sleep is lost and less stress on the body is felt.

 

7. Adequate Rest and Rejuvenation

Even if you have all of the other items on this list, if you are not able to slow down every once in awhile and rest, your health and your ability to appreciate and enjoy the life you’re working so hard to create will be diminished. Saying no, going on regular vacations, not leaving town each weekend, are just a few pleasurable must-dos for a life of quality.

 

8. Time to be Still and Savor the Present Moment

In finding time to rest and recharge, being able to regularly be still and simply bask in the beauty that is the life you’ve created is a wonderful way to remind yourself that you have an amazing life. When you can savor the moment, you can be clear about what you truly need and what is only a craving that will soon pass. But if you are never able to slow down, bad decisions are more likely to occur, causing unnecessary stress that could have easily been avoided.

 

9. Opportunities to Learn and Grow

A life of quality is one that involves continual growth. For when we choose to perpetually be learning, we can never be truly “old”. Because as we learn, we shed our selves from yesterday, the ignorance of the past and move forward toward a life that is more in tune with our values and lived with more appreciation.

As you see, it is not that we live, it is how we live that creates a life of quality and not only improves the life in our years, but the years in our life.

how to be SKINNY!!

Act like you're a size smaller, and you will be! Find out how thin women thrive in a super-sized world.

1. They choose satisfied over stuffed

On a fullness scale of 1 to 10, skinny women stop eating at a level of 6 or 7,The rest of us may keep going to an 8 or 10. Why? It may be because you mistakenly equate the sensation of fullness with satisfaction and feel deprived if you stop short, says Fleming. Or you may just be used to finishing what's in front of you, regardless of whether you really need it.

Copy Them: To eat like skinny women, about halfway through your next meal, put your fork down and, using the 1 to 10 scale, rate your level of fullness. Do it again when you have about five bites left. The goal is to increase your awareness of how satisfied you feel during a meal. (Bonus: It also slows down your eating, which allows the sensation of fullness to settle in.)

2. They realize hunger isn't an emergency

Most of us who struggle with extra kilos tend to view hunger as a condition that needs to be cured—and fast, "If you fear hunger, you might routinely overeat to avoid it," she says. Thin people tolerate it because they know hunger pangs always come and go, buying them some time.

Copy Them: Pick a busy day to purposely delay lunch by an hour or two. Or try skipping an afternoon snack one day. You'll see that you can still function just fine. Then next time you feel those grumbles, you'll hold off before making a beeline for the fridge

 

 

3. They don't cure sadness with food

It's not that skinny women are immune to emotional eating, But they tend to recognize when they're doing it and stop.

Copy Them: Add the word 'Halt' to your vocabulary. More than just a command (as in stop eating that entire sleeve of cookies), it's an acronym that stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired—the four most common triggers for emotional eating.

If you're truly hungry, eat a balanced snack, such as a handful of nuts, to tide you over until your next meal. But if you're angry, lonely, or tired, seek an alternative calorie-free solution to your emotional need. Blow off steam by going for a run or just jumping around—the heartbeat boost will help dissipate your anger. Lonely? Call a friend, e-mail a family member, or walk to the park or mall. Being around others will make you feel more connected to your community (even if you don't bump into anyone you know). If you're tired, for heaven's sake, sleep!

4. They eat more fruit

Skinny women, on average, have one more serving of fruit and eat more fiber and less fat per day than overweight people.

Copy Them: Start tinkering. To eat like skinny women, examine your diet for ways to add whole fruits (not juices) to your meals and snacks. Aim for two or three servings per day. Sprinkle berries in your cereal or on your yogurt. Add sliced pears to your turkey sandwich, or bake an apple for dessert. Keep a bowl of fruit on your kitchen table or desk to motivate you to think fruit first, vending machine never.

 

5. They're creatures of habit

Any dietitian will tell you that a varied diet is good--but too much variety can backfire, "Thin people have what I call a food groove—the majority of their meals consist of well-planned staples," says Beck. "There are a few surprises thrown in, but for the most part, their diets are fairly predictable."

Copy Them: Try to eat as consistently as possible with your major meals—have cereal for breakfast, a salad at lunch, and so forth. It's okay to add grilled chicken to the salad one day and tuna the next, but by sticking to a loosely prescribed meal schedule, you limit the opportunities to overindulge.

 

 

6. They have a self-control gene

Women with low disinhibition (in other words, a finely tuned sense of restraint) had the lowest body mass index. High disinhibition (i.e., low restraint) was linked to an adult weight gain of as much as 15 Kilos.

Copy Them: Prepare for moments when your disinhibition is likely to be higher—such as when you're in a festive atmosphere with a large group of friends. If you're at a party, tell yourself you'll take one of every fourth passed hors d'oeuvre. If you're out at dinner, order an appetizer portion and share dessert. Or if you're stressed—another low-restraint moment—make sure you have a source of crunchy snacks (like fruit or carrot sticks) at the ready.

7. They're movers and shakers

On average, skinny women are on their feet an extra 2 1/2 hours per day—which can help burn off 15 kilos a year, according to a study from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.

Copy Them: Try a reality check. Studies have shown that people often overestimate how active they really are, says Gallagher. Most people actually spend 16 to 20 hours a day just sitting. Wear a pedometer on an average day, and see how close you get to the recommended 10,000 steps. Your day should combine 30 minutes of structured exercise with a variety of healthy habits, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator or mopping the floor with extra vigor.

 

8. They sleep well

Skinny women snooze 2 more hours per week, compared with overweight people. Researchers theorize that a lack of shut-eye is linked to lower levels of appetite-suppressing hormones like leptin and higher levels of the appetite-boosting hormone ghrelin.

Copy Them: Break it down: Two extra hours of sleep a week is only 17 more minutes a day—a lot more manageable, even for the most packed of schedules. Start there and slowly work toward 8 hours of snooze time a night—the right amount for most adults.

why you should eat healthier!

Weight loss is not just about seeing a smaller number on the scale or wearing clothes in a smaller size — it’s all about learning how to take better care of your body and improve your health. There are so many healthy eating advantages even beyond weight loss.

 

 

 

#1 – More energy.

Being undernourished makes you feel exhausted, weak, and sluggish. Having tons of energy and feeling strong is just one of many healthy eating advantages. Imagine waking up each morning and eagerly getting out of bed to start your day. Imagine having plenty of energy to carry you through the day, no matter how busy it is. Imagine going to bed each night feeling proud of all you accomplished during the day, and feeling like you still have energy to spare. By the way, your quality of sleep is better when you eat healthy too, so you wake up feeling refreshed instead of foggy-headed and still tired.

 

#2 – Clearer thoughts.

Have you ever struggled to concentrate? It’s not fun feeling like you can’t quite get your thoughts together, especially if you really need to concentrate on something important. Low-quality foods don’t provide the nutrients your brain needs to function properly, leaving you feeling like your head is stuffed full of cotton. A great advantage to healthy eating is that your focus improves – a lot! Your mental energy increases just like your physical energy does.

 

 

#3 – Better moods.

You benefit emotionally from healthy eating too. Rather than struggling with mood swings and irritability, you’ll find that you just feel good almost all of the time. Healthy eating advantages include feeling confident, happy, inspired, alert, resilient – nothing can hold you down for long. This is partially due to proper nourishment, but may also be affected by eliminating mood-altering substances like sugar and chemicals that are found in most processed foods.

 

 

 

#4 – Easier weight loss.

Oh sure, you know that eating healthy helps you lose weight, but did you know that it can help you lose weight more easily? That’s because your poor body won’t be fighting to stay in balance like it does when you keep feeding it junk that throws everything out of whack. Eating whole, nutritious foods in their natural form provides the fuel your organs, muscles and glands need to keep all of your body’s processes working efficiently, including your metabolism.

 

There are truly endless healthy eating advantages, but just these few should make you feel determined to stick with your healthy lifestyle for good.

the worst drinks...

 

 

10.) Lemonade: If you're going for lemonade over soda in an attempt to be healthy, you might as well just get the soda. Lemonade has no nutrients and contains about 6 teaspoons of sugar per cup!

 

9.) flavoured water: Sure, there may be a few extra vitamins, but flavored water is made up of too much sugar! If you're looking for flavored water, throw some fresh fruit in a glass of water!

8.) Juice Drinks: They may say fruit juice on the label, but don't be fooled! Make sure it's 100% fruit juice!

 

7.) Frozen Mixed Drinks: such as mocktails and cocktails! these add up to about 880 calories.

 

6.) "healthy" fruit smoothies: smoothie can contain over 700 calories!

 

5.) whipped coffee drinks: When made with 2% milk, these babies can contain 800 calories and way too much sugar

 

4.) diet soda: No calories, but also no nutrition! You should not be drinking more than 1 can a day!

 

3.) soda: A can of soda gives you empty calories and sugars. It's equivalent to a candy bar!

 

2.) Liquor : for those of you that drink, it's the worst possible tool to degrade your body!

 

1.) energy drinks: Energy drinks contain too much caffeine and sugar. Because of this, you will get a short kick and ultimately end up crashing. Choose green tea or some walnuts instead!

my contact details

Hi everyone. alot of people have been asking for my contact details...

 

please feel free to like our page on facebook : fabulous fit and fun

 

follow us on twitter: @fabbfitfun

 

or my email: mishkaosman@gmail.com

 

just do it.

If you give it a try, it could be a hit, or it could be a miss. If you don’t, it’ll always be a miss and you’ll always wonder what could’ve been. Would you really want to spend the rest of your life doing that? If not, here’s something to consider:

 

Planning for the future is important because it allows us to achieve our goals so that we can reach our full potential and be the best person that we can be. However, we sometimes focus on the future so much, that we forget to appreciate what we have in our lives in the present. Remember that what you have now, is once what you only dreamed of, so cherish it and… capture the moment!!

 

 

 

hello march :D ... I've been waiting for you!

Thank you so much for stopping by on FabFitFun this week. It's been a great week for me and I enjoyed so much getting back to my regular blogging habits, visiting your pages and reading your kind comments. May your weekend be filled with love, tulle and macaroons and don't forget that weekends don't count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless...

 

Have a lovely weekend!! SEE you monday!