Fitness and Health

As a mother I try to teach my kids healthy living practices such as eating balanced diets, exercising regularly and drinking lots of liquids. I believe such practices will dramatically improve their lives, allowing them to experience better physical and mental health and preventing the development of harmful diseases. My parents never taught me about healthy foods or about anything related to healthy living, they were both sedentary people who ate whatever they pleased without thinking of the consequences their food choices had on their health. They both suffered heart attacks at the early ages of fifty and fifty three, and didn’t live past their sixties. I want to do anything possible to ensure that my kids and I won’t have to suffer the same faith as my parents which are why I teach them healthy living practices.

I am very attentive to the nutritious content and value of the foods that we eat at my house. I buy the groceries at a health foods store which is higher in cost than the regular grocery store but I believe that the extra expense is definitely worth it. As a matter of fact I don’t even see it as an expense I see it as an investment in our health. I try to vary the foods I serve so that my family won’t get bored of eating the same meal repeatedly; I also try to get them involved in the preparation of the meal as much as I can so that they start learning how to cook.

Along with eating nutritious foods, exercise is another key component of healthy living. It doesn’t matter if you prefer to exercise outdoors or at the gym, the important thing is that you perform daily physical activity to release stress and to maintain strong, flexible muscles. Personally I enjoy to play tennis and to swim, my kids on the other hand love to mountain bike and to play soccer.

Six months ago, at age forty four, I suffered a heat attack while at a friend’s anniversary party. I was taken to the hospital in an ambulance and I was operated, luckily I survived. After this near death experience I chose to completely modify my life style, I started to eat healthy food and to practice regular physical activity.

Up to the day when I had a heart attack I smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, I drank alcohol regularly and ate fatty foods. I refused to exercise because I always felt tired from work or from partying at night, my energy levels were low. My wife is a healthy person, she watches what she eats, she exercises and she doesn’t party regularly. She always insisted that I changed my habits, start eating healthy food and working out, but I never listened. I knew she was right but I just didn’t want to make the effort to change.

After suffering a heart attack I feel like I don’t longer have the choice not to change my habits, because if I don’t I will probably have another heart attack and the chances of surviving become smaller. I have started to eat healthy food and I exercise at the gym four days a week. I discovered that healthy food can be tasty and I am even learning how to cook some recipes. I have quit smoking cigarettes, and have reduced my alcohol consumption to a glass of wine per day, which according to my doctor is actually good for my health

A month ago a friend of mine recommended I try cabbage soup diet as a quick and effective way to loose weight. I was desperate to loose ten pounds because my prom was coming up and I wanted to look slim and beautiful wearing the strapless dress I had bought. It has never been easy for me to loose weight so I am always willing to try any diet that promises to deliver results.

After my friend gave me the ingredient list and the instructions to prepare the soup I went to the supermarket, bought the ingredients and went home to prepare it. I was nervous because I am not a good cook, I have very little experience in the kitchen and I always order take out for supper. I surprised myself because not only did I manage to cook the soup but it tasted well.

During two weeks I ate nothing but fruit for breakfast, cabbage soup for lunch, and white meat and vegetables for dinner. It wasn’t easy at all; sometimes I would grab the phone and dial Mc Donald’s express number; however I always forced myself to hang up before I finished the call. My biggest motivation was looking gorgeous in my prom dress.

I lost twelve pounds on the cabbage soup diet, I would recommend it to anyone who wants to loose weight quickly and who cannot afford to pay for expensive treatments and pills. I felt like a princess on prom night, my dress fit perfectly and I had a wonderful time dancing with my date. I am proud of myself because I followed the cabbage soup diet with discipline and I accomplished my goal.