health and wellness
Many people believe they have to overhaul their entire lifestyle in order to see results. The truth is that lasting change doesn’t come from perfection; it comes from consistency. Small, intentional choices made every day have a much greater impact than extreme diets that are impossible to maintain.
When you’re looking to lose weight fast, the term “sustainable lifestyle” doesn’t sound like the solution to your problem. Your best friend did a keto diet for two months recently and she looks great. Your social media has become flooded with people posting their “fad diet” results, and they also look great. Your mother-in-law has been into detox juices lately. Meanwhile you’re staring at your pantry wondering where to begin. Maybe the people online are right: fad diets are the way to go.
Each year, I review the Environmental Working Group’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce, because it helps me make wiser choices at the grocery store. While fruits and vegetables are essential for good health, not all produce carries the same level of pesticide exposure, and this is vital for us to understand.
Healthy lifestyle living hacks abound. Lower carbs, lower cholesterol. More exercise, more energy. Less sugar, less risk of cancer. Healthy eating, a longer life. All of these methods hold true. However, one health hack might shock you, and it’s surprisingly simple: supportive friends. Friendship has been called preventive medicine; it is one of the essential keys to living a healthier, happier life.
You’re still dragging, even though technically you slept. Your stomach won’t settle, although you ate. Your chest feels tight, though you can breathe just fine. Your mind is foggy, except for the flood of memories—little flashes of hospital rooms, unanswered calls, holidays that don’t look the same. You’re not exactly sad—but something’s definitely wrong. You’re not “being dramatic.” This is grief in the body.