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No. 1: Surround yourself with positive supportive people. Your environment rubs off on you, influences you, and shapes you - they key to your environment is the people who are in your life. Search out and find people that are optimistic in life and who will support you 100%. There is no need to stay or keep relationships that burden or stress you, find people that are healthy and happy and view the world with optimism - they will help keep you, your mind and your body from falling into stress pits.
Although we may complain, nothing changes until we are so uncomfortable that we reach a breaking point. That breaking point may occur when our doctor advises us that our weight is a contributing factor to an illness. It may be that the stress that we feel on the job is affecting our health. It may be that the lack of living a balanced life is affecting every sphere of who we are leading to feelings of anxiety and depression.
When you don't believe, you simply "do." It is a frustrating concept, especially for analytical people, because they want to have a simple set of rules. It is easy as an analytical person to get into your comfort zone. Find an equation that spits out a number of calories. Get a ratio of Healthy living advice foods protein carbs fat right? Then you have that exact formula and you are ready to go. Unfortunately, if it were that simple, more people would be sharing their success story (and their formulas) with everyone else.
3) No calorie drinks! - this is a big one. Humans are mostly made up of water and that is what we should drink. I recommend a maximum of only 4-6 ounces of 100% fruit juice a day. Preferably not apple or grape juice which is really only glorified sugar water with artificially added vitamin C. Also 2-3 cups (8ounces per cup) of low fat milk (skim or 1%) is recommended. Green tea or one cup of coffee a day for adults is ok. Then water. No soda, no fruit punch, no sports drinks and no energy drinks! You don't need them and they are full of sugar and chemicals.
5) Exercise everyday - start with 30minutes. Fun healthy habits It can be anything that gets you moving - walking the dog, playing outside with your kids, turning on some music and dancing in your living room. Whatever it takes. I can't stress enough the importance of moving for a healthy mind and body.
Plan for the worst: When you are pregnant you may experience nausea, pain, and all sorts of other things. Your baby could have problems, or you could. So, plan for the worst so that you are not overwhelmed if something happens, and are grateful if it doesn't. By this I mean, have nausea medication on hand, pick up some sleep aids that are good for pregnancy. Know what medications and foods you can and can't eat. Have help planned for after you return home. Have a birth plan that includes emergency birthing, etc. The better prepared you are for any situation, the better things will go.
These 5 guidelines are just a start. In the following weeks, I will look at each topic in depth and give more specific advice. Until then, work on following the above rules and you will soon feel healthier.