It’s know wonder we can’t clear our thoughts with the consistent challenges and stresses we deal with continuously. This is the million dollar question I hear all the time. It is always easier said then done, but by no means impossible. I like to tell people to take themselves out of the freeway, and watch from the road. Our thoughts feel very similar to a moving freeway. There are many thoughts, and not enough time to deal with them all. When you watch from the side you can easily let your thoughts pass by without giving them much thought at all. Of course this approach takes practice and training just like everything else.

4 Top Ways to Practice a Peaceful Mind

1. Make a conscious effort to put some time away each day to sit or lay down. Write a note to your self, keep an alert on your phone, or leave a message on your phone to remind you that you need time. This is really the first step until you’ve had enough practice to do it with out reminding. Start with 5 minutes each and everyday to sit in a quiet stop to just relax. Close your eyes and just focus your attention on breathing. You can even do this on your lunch break in your car if that is all the time you have.

2. Start writing. Writing is a very expressive part of you. It allows your mind to focus on your thoughts, and helps transfer them to paper. It is a great way to stay communicative with yourself. This also takes some practicing, especially if you feel you aren’t much of a writer. Remember you aren’t writing a novel for others to read- no perfection necessary. Leave a notebook next to your bed or desk so that it reminds you.

3. Meditate or listen to music. Meditation is very similar to finding 5 minutes a day to sit down. However, meditation can help you stay more focused on your goals and to show you that the stress you’re carrying is not as important as you imagined. If you have a hard time getting to a meditative state try finding a meditation CD for your needs. They make meditations CDs for everyone. You can find them in categories such as happiness, money, success, love and health.

4. Take up a new hobby or class in relaxation. If you have a hard time really staying focused find a coach or take a class in such things as yoga, life coaching, cooking, tai chi, or even a book club. When we work with others we often feel more inclined to keep it up, have better support and gain tools. Many local colleges and community centers offer these classes for their community. If you live further from the city you can join a club online.

I highly recommend this program and Take Shape for anyone. It has one of the best support systems and best health coaches in weight loss. I believe the biggest key to the success of the clients of Take Shape is the support that the program offers. They offer a range of support classes, coaching, and support for everyone who chooses to be on it.

If you have more questions about Take Shape email: info@lilyoflight.com

Dangers of Belly Fat
Our bodies contain different types of fat. Belly fat may be more dangerous than other types, although any excess fat is not good in general for your overall health. Abdominal fat, particularly visceral fat, or the fat that surrounds the organs inside of your body in your abdomen, can lead to higher risks of developing type 2 diabetes, hardening of the arteries, strokes, heart attacks and sleep apnea. If you don’t come down with any of these health problems, you are more likely to live longer.

Statistics of obesity

• Approximately 300,000 adult deaths in the United States each year are attributable to unhealthy dietary habits and physical inactivity or sedentary behavior.
• Nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight (BMI > 25, which includes those who are obese).
• Nearly one-third of U.S. adults are obese (BMI > 30).
• The prevalence of overweight and obesity has steadily increased over the years among genders, all ages, all racial/ethnic groups, and all educational levels.
• Approximately 19% of children (ages 6–11) and 17% of adolescents (ages 12–19) were overweight in 2000. An additional 15% of children and adolescents were at risk for overweight (based on BMI / body mass index measures).
• Americans spend $33 billion annually on weight-loss products and services.
• The Cost of obesity to individuals families: It will cost approximately $549,907 for an obese 18 year old to remain obese throughout adulthood.
• About 25 percent of young people (ages 12–21 years) participate in light to moderate activity (e.g., walking, bicycling) nearly every day. About 50 percent regularly engage in vigorous physical activity. Approximately 25 percent report no vigorous physical activity, and 14 percent report no recent vigorous or light to moderate physical activity.
• The percentage of children and adolescents who are defined as overweight has more than doubled since the early 1970s.
• In 1999-2000, over 10 percent of younger preschool children between ages 2 and 5 are overweight, up from 7 percent in 1994
• An estimated 70 percent of diabetes risk in the U.S. can be attributed to excess weight.

Source: Obesity Statistics

The American Heart Association has identified seven “simple” steps you can take for a healthy heart. But the road to better cardiovascular health will take some work.

“Life’s Simple 7” categorizes cardiovascular health as Poor, Intermediate, or Ideal in each of seven areas.

1.  Never smoked or quit more than a year ago.

2. A healthy body mass index (BMI), an estimate of body fat determined by a formula using weight and height.

3. Physical activity, and the more the better. The new measure says at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise is necessary for ideal health, or 75 minutes weekly of vigorous physical activity.

4. Blood pressure below 120/80.

5. Fasting blood glucose less than 100 milligrams/deciliter, a fasting measure of blood sugar level.

6. Total cholesterol of less than 200 milligrams/deciliter.

7. Eating a healthy diet. Four to five of the key components of a healthy diet are followed. For a 2,000-calorie diet, these include:

* At least 4.5 cups of fruits and vegetables per day

* At least two 3.5 oz. servings of fish per week, preferably oily fish

* At least three 1-ounce servings of fiber-rich whole grains per day

* Limiting sodium to less than 1,500 milligrams a day

* Drinking no more than 36 ounces weekly of sugar-sweetened beverages

Source: WedMD 7 Steps To A Healthy Heart

Hate is an extremely powerful emotion, and holding onto it can certainly cause you to feel ill and depressed. When you allow your energy to be suppressed you give no way for new energy to enter. This can deteriorate ones whole life. When healing with hatred its best to mediate and shift conscious to the opposite effect; love! Why? Because love is what frees all chains of hate and let’s us evolve further thru life in a positive form.

“Hate is an invisible chain.”

When you don’t let go of hate, you let the thing or person you hate maintain control over you. You allow the hatred to keep the channels of negative energy open, sucking out positive emotions and holding you back from true happiness.

Cut off the hate and move on! When you cleanse your mind and soul of grudges and negative thoughts, you make new room for positive emotions and joy. Take a moment today to consciously let go of all hatred. Savor the new energy that you’ll feel bursting through to take its place! Mediation For Woman

This town’s principle surrounds such things as transdental meditation, housing that all faces east, and organic vedic diet. This is in part to promote health, happiness, and prosperity. Designs and other aspects of Maharishi Vedic Science, Vedic City has more than 40 buildings, including The Raj, a popular health spa and clinic, three resort hotels, business centers, condominiums, chalets, villas, and homes.

Maharishi Vedic City the features two huge domes, one for men and one for women, with residents streaming in to meditate together twice a day.

Vedic City is located two miles north of Fairfield in southeast Iowa, not far from the Cedar Rapids airport, in the central US state.

Vedic City, Iowa Dome

Vedic Houses Facing East

Vedic Health Spa

A new study comparing self-described pleasant feelings with objective measures of good living found that people in such states generally have reason to be happy.

The places where people are most likely to report happiness also tend to rate high on studies comparing factors such as climate, crime rates, air quality and schools.

The happiness ratings were based on a survey of 1.3 million people across the country by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It used data collected over four years that included a question asking people how satisfied they are with their lives.

HAPPIEST RANKINGS

The state-by-state list (including Washington, D.C.), from happiest to least cheery:

1. Louisiana
2. Hawaii
3. Florida
4. Tennessee
5. Arizona
6. South Carolina
7. Mississippi
8. Montana
9. Alabama
10. Maine
11. Wyoming
12. Alaska
13. North Carolina
14. South Dakota
15. Texas
16. Idaho
17. Vermont
18. Arkansas
19. Georgia
20. Utah
21. Oklahoma
22. Delaware
23. Colorado
24. New Mexico
25. North Dakota
26. Minnesota
27. Virginia
28. New Hampshire
29. Wisconsin
30. Oregon
31. Iowa
32. Kansas
33. Nebraska
34. West Virginia
35. Kentucky
36. Washington
37. District of Columbia
38. Missouri
39. Nevada
40. Maryland
41. Pennsylvania
42. Rhode Island
43. Ohio
44. Massachusetts
45. Illinois
46. California
47. New Jersey
48. Indiana
49. Michigan
50. Connecticut
51. New York

Source: USA Today