Health & Wellbeing

The Art of Working Out Alone

working out alone

After a nine year break, I began lifting weights again about four years ago. This absence had not done me any favors; and I was slow, weak and a little on the heavy side. Having eventually made the decision to begin doing something (and believe me – after 9 years, this didn’t exactly come easily), I was faced with an all-too-common dilemma. Where?

Gyms can be intimidating places at the best of times. As an outsider, it seemed as though all the members were in pretty good shape to start with. I’d stick out like a sore thumb. Instead, I decided to set up a home gym. Get myself into a reasonable condition before I went anywhere near the commercial options. And then I discovered it – the art of working out alone.

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5 Signs of a Stress Ridden Mind

stress

“No man is free who is not master of himself”- Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

There is a plethora of stress in our lives these days. Divorce, layoffs, threats of terrorism – these are just a few of the many things that can leave our mind, body and soul feeling anxious.

Stress is not necessarily a bad thing. It can be essential form of our emotional state for balanced growth in our life. A conscious form of stress motivates us, prepares us for things we have to face, and sometimes give us energy to take action when we need to. However, excessive stress can hinder our ability to set goals, focus on what we want to achieve and to live in harmony with our family.

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7 Benefits of Losing Weight

benefits losing weight

Are you overweight? If your life never quite satisfies you – if you don’t feel you’re as confident, productive, motivated or enthused as you could be, try kick-starting the changes you want to make by beginning with your body.

Seven years ago, I was shy, chubby, lacking in confidence, and struggling to think beyond my immediate future: going to Cambridge University. I’d been fatter than my classmates since the age of nine or ten. Finally losing that extra thirty or so pounds I’d been carrying around has had a tremendous impact on my life over the past seven years.

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7 Keys to Reducing Stress in Your Life

reducing stress

Deadlines. Speaking in public. Buying Christmas presents. Peak hour traffic. An unsatisfying job. Financial problems. Relationship woes. These are just a few examples of things that cause stress in our lives.

Before I go any further, it should be pointed out that stress can be a positive. Often, as in the example of a student sitting an exam, it will increase our performance. Also stressful events – a wedding, a new baby, or a new house – can change our lives for the better. Despite these potential positives, stress can harm your health, emotional well-being, and relationships with others.

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Exercise Every Day

exercise every day

One of the keys to success, if not the key, is the development of good habits. I could go on about the importance of habits all day, but today I want to write about habits in relation to exercise. In particular, what I believe is one of the best habits to develop for good health: exercise every day.

Firstly, everyone exercises for different reasons. Some people wish to lose weigh. Some people wish to increase their strength. Some people enjoy the social aspect of it. Some enjoy the competition. You get the idea. Despite these different reasons, everyone would agree that you feel great after exercise. The post-exercise surge in endorphins makes you feel on top of the world.

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