Top Wellness Articles

20 Health Benefits of Fasting

author Dan Riefstahl date 04/18/2018

Fasting has been recognized for its many health benefits dating back to Hippocrates. These benefits extend to everything from better weight management, improved cardiovascular health, healthier blood composition, and better cell recycling, among many others.

Although there is not an abundance of research on fasting in humans, a growing number of health experts believe that the results of fasting from animal studies hold great promise for human health and future research efforts.

There are many different types of fasts you can choose from, and they differ in their results and difficulty. Much of the research included here comes from studies on caloric restriction and intermittent fasting. One conclusion is steadfast, fasting remains one of the most effective means of detoxifying your body and resetting your system for better overall health.

20 Health Benefits of Fasting

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The path to emotional wellness

author Dan Riefstahl date 04/07/2017

Being emotionally well is more than just handling stress. It also involves being attentive to your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, whether positive or negative.  Emotional Wellness implies the ability to be aware of and accept our feelings, rather than deny them, have an optimistic approach to life, and enjoy life despite its occasional disappointments and frustrations.

If you are a person engaged in the process of emotional wellness, you are willing and able to:

  • Arrive at personal choices and decisions based upon the synthesis of feelings, thoughts, philosophies, and behavior.
  • Live and work independently while realizing the importance of seeking and appreciating the support and assistance of others.
  • Form interdependent relationships with others based upon a foundation of mutual commitment, trust and respect.
  • Take on challenges, take risks, and recognize conflict as being potentially healthy.
  • Manage your life in personally rewarding ways, and taking responsibility for your actions.
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15 fitness tips

author Dan Riefstahl date 03/31/2016
  1. Small steps
  2. Find short-term rewards
  3. Track your progress
  4. Enjoy yourself
  5. Never ever give up
  6. Get a workout partner
  7. Vary your workouts
  8. Focus
  9. Rest is important
  10. Focus on long term
  11. Focus on your diet first
  12. Find the exercise that works for you
  13. Learn to be present
  14. Don’t let your body adapt too much
  15. Get inspired

source

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April 02, 2017

Round 2 Begins on Monday!

Round 2 Begins on Monday!

So I am back at it again. The journey to find physical balance continues. I have not reached my ideal weight yet. More than that I am not as comfortable with my shirt off as I wish I was but I am about to change it. From the other posts on the site, you know its been a process. I have been at it for months losing, gaining, losing, gaining, but I am about the take it to the next level. In my pursuit of fitness I stated by using my cousin Jonathan as an inspiration. He died almost 2 years ago and I still miss him often. He was as cool as they get. One of the best human spirits I have ever witnessed. As many will tell you.

I started my journey at about 240 lbs. After my "pre-diet", I started my 31 Day physical reboot (Reboots can be whatever YOU want. Physical, emotional, spiritual) on August 1, 2016 at 237 lbs. This was perfect as Jonathan died on Aug 31st. My reboot would end on the one year anniversary. I had a great month. I ate really well and trained my body to not crave things like sugar and beer. I went to yoga 5 days a week for the entire month and when the final day came I was down 17 lbs!  I was feeling great and looking great. With my ideal weight of 205 lbs looking probable, I kept moving forward. In the next month I was down to 212 lbs. My lowest point in 3 years. Things were looking good! But the next few months, life happened, as it always does. Holidays..Thanksgiving....oh boy.....Christmas cookies? I'm in trouble. Down 5 lbs this week! Yes! Next week, I gained 4?? WTF! Hey, I am at least down 1 lb still right? The cycle continued.

I played this game for while. But it slowed to a snails pace. It was more of a battle. Physically and mentally. I was slipping a back to old habits and I was up and down again, BUT this time I was up and down at a lower range. The initial weight I lost seemed to stick. I would fluctuate between 216 and 225. I weighed my self about a week ago and I was at 219. I am anticipating a weigh in on Monday of around 220 - 223. By the end of the 31 day reboot, I WILL reach my goal. I will be 205 lbs and ready for the summer!

me

I decided to incorporate a particular fitness and diet plan into my reboot this time. A few close friends are doing the 21 Day fix. I have seen the infomercial for that at one time and liked the idea. Portion control is one of my biggest issues for sure. Being single, if I make a pizza aor a dish that serves 2 or 3, sometime I will eat it all. If someone was there to share it with me, I would literally not be able to eat it all, but since its there "MEH", I might as well finish it right? Wrong. That's not a good way of thinking. So my plan is to start my 2nd physical reboot on Monday, April 3, 2017. I will get back into my good eating and yoga routines and on April 13, 2016 I will start my 21 day fix routine as well. I will follow the eating plan, do the daily 30 minute workout as well as aim for hot yoga 3 times per week. I'm excited to see the results. I am back at the blogging now to keep myself motivated. This blog is really for me to stay motivated. The reason I started the 31 Day Reboot Instagram feed was so I could feed myself inspiration via this website.

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