About Me

The name's Courtney. I tell stories & i love to laugh. sometimes i smile so much that my cheeks get sore...i have many interests and will talk about anything. Here you'll find journal entries & my perspective on Art, Music, Makeup, Fashion, Food, Film, Photography, Traveling, and everything inbetween. i've only lived for so long but i feel like i've experienced a lot. +there is deffinately nothing wrong with living to eat.
~see introdiction - 1st post~
contact me @ hsucourtney@aol.com
(all images are mine unless noted)

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Live Better Longer.

Living in America can give you opportunities and experience but believe me America's lifestyle? one word: unhealthy. We are dealing with so many health issues from diabeties, heart disease, and obesity at more higher rates than others around the world. That alone says something. it's quite sad. Oprah had an interesting topic for one of her shows dedicated to Hot Spots around the world. Where the oldest healthiest people live the longest from areas in japan and italy. Here are some highlights:Naps. give yourself atleast 40 minutes a day to just rest. daily naps was proved to lowers chances of a heart attack and i think it's overall better for your health. you wake up calm and more energized.

Vitamin D i'm not telling you to bake in the sun, but now a days Americans are staying indoors so much, they don't get enough vitamin D so take a walk. all you need is 15 minutes in the sun a day but still shield your face and neck with uva/uvb protection aka sun screen.

Chores! tired of working out? you can burn a lot of calories just sweeping the floor! Clearing the air and the clutter, i believe, can also help clear up your mind. just one less thing to think about. the key thing is start anywhere. & the interesting thing about this is that the people featured on the oprah show live simple lives with little or no technology, so they do everything themselves and by hand. They don't even have to think about exorcising since it's already apart of thier everyday life. Most Americans on the other hand have to set time aside to workout. how inefficiant is that?

Water. you may be feeling hungry...or is it thirst? try drinking a whole glass of water before knowing for sure. as you all know water is good for you. & i'm sorry to say but it doesn't improve your skin in any way. but do it for your body's sake. it'll help cleanse your insides. Antioxidents like blueberries and acai berries can also detox your body but from the inside out.

Diet. Japan is known to have the most long-living people. their secret to staying healthy? take your time to eat and only until your 80% full and no more. they have this saying that they say all the time to remind themselves but anyway it is so simple, i feel stupid. why didn't i think of that! for the past year i've been eating so fast that before i knew it i was bloated. ...haha

here are some other simple changes you can make for your diet:
insted of Soda (diet or regular cause they're both bad) opt for Water.

Supstitute Mayonaies for Avacado -no oils, no fat, just amazing creamy taste
ice cream-->Yogurt -now they come in yummy flavors & contains good-for-you bacteria
Fruit Bars-->REAL Fruit -cut out the high fructose corn syup and chilled fruit is just as refreshing
White Bread-->Wheat -white is all sugars, wheat has the good stuff
processed foods(e.g. hotdogs)& meat --> Vegetables -cut down on meat, not only is it better for the environment but vegetables provide more nutrients and they can still provide protein like soy (i don't know about you but i love tofu)
other good for you ingrediants:
Iron
Fiber
try mixing Benefiber into your water. fiber is not only good for you but helps curb hunger. so you feel fuller longer.
Calcium
i honestly hate milk with a passion but recently my brother introduced the brand Over the Moon. fat free and contains more calcium. let me tell you. BEST STUFF EVER!!! it's creamy and the taste is so rich. it's a little more expensive but so worth it.
finally something to dunk my cookies in x]. you could also choose goat milk? but i've never tried it.
Mindset. view life like you have a purpose. not just to pursue your dreams but to help others like volunteering with the community. Surround yourself with fun loving people. & be youthful and positive.

Give Some Time to Yourself. to relax the mind and body (i'm suprised they didn't mention this) & no this does not include sleeping or watching your favourite tv show, as relaxing as that sounds. But try putting in mediation or yoga into your everyday routine. And you can set it anyway you want. i mean don't exactly do yoga... i light candles, i listen to indie, close my eyes and do my own form of yoga which includes stretching and ab workouts then i go straight to bed. that's my nightly routine in a nutshell.

4 comments:

  1. I love all ur ideas!! I started doing Yoga to get to sleep and now I can't fall asleep without it! ...it's only been a problem the time I went camping with my aunt--THEN it was a problem :)

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  2. I want to take naps!! Fun!!
    One of my dreams is to some day have my own Psychology practice--I want to have a siesta time like they do in Mexico, and I want to have large window so the sun can come in all day. I've hated working in un-happy offices where people are inside all day and under pressure to not take a moment to break for fear of being let go...especially in these economic times.
    It's not conducive to my sanity! :)

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  3. I am loving these ideas!! I'm incredably unhealthy. Naps sound great!

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