Sign of a Healthy Lifestyle--reusable water bottle

#MondayMotivation
#SignOfAHealthyLifestyle
#Hydration
#Intention
#HidrateBottle
#SelfCare
#ActiveLife 
#Livliga
#LiveVibrant

0

Sign of a Healthy Lifestyle--An Annual Park Pass

#MondayMotivation
#SignOfAHealthyLifestyle
#ActiveLifestyle
#Intention
#ParkPass
#SelfCare
#OutdoorActivity
#Livliga
#LiveVibrant

0

Fathers As Cornerstones To Their Child’s Healthy Life

We know parents are key role models in their children’s lives. There are many studies that show us the power of the parent in influencing a child’s life, both positively and negatively. When it comes to a child growing up healthy, eating healthy and living a healthy lifestyle the behavior a parent exhibits is profound.

Some might think that when it comes to food and eating, it is the mom who is the source and guide. Physical activity from sports to summer fun is often on the mom to organize. Not any more. Roles have shifted and responsibilities are shared between parents. Being a father today is much different than it was just a couple of decades ago. Fathers are often equally engaged in their children’s lives from making meals to hauling kids to and from their extracurricular activities. There are no set rules any more.

My husband and I have shared responsibilities, pretty much equally, our entire marriage. In fact, our youngest when she was little had a name for us “momdad” or “dadmom” that she used indiscriminately. We were equal in her eyes and either of us could be looked to in order to help her with whatever need she had.

I remember when the first movies came out about stay-at-home dads like Mr Mom with Michael Keaton. It was such a big deal. My amazing husband took on that role himself for a few years. The kids learned a lot about how a role isn’t defined by your gender. Instead they see the importance of the responsibilities that need to be met in a family and how we all take on roles that are needed to support the health of the family and make it thrive. 

 

Living a healthy life is not just about the food served at the table. It is about how you live life every day. Especially in the volatile world we live in today, it is about how you meet personal challenges and face crisis. It is also about how you celebrate life and acknowledge the big moments. The choices we make are how our children learn to react to similar situations themselves. They are learning from us and watching how we behave.

Being present in your child’s life can only be possible if we choose to be present in our own life. In the stress-filled lives we all live it is really hard to do. We often would rather escape into our phones, the TV or mindless eating. The good news is life is a journey. None of us is perfect and we all have plenty to improve on to live the best and healthiest life we can. By being willing to change and including our kids in the process we are doing the best role modeling possible. 

My kids are very lucky. They have seen their dad face multiple personal challenges and as a result of them embrace change, however difficult, to make life better for him and his family. Two big changes their dad has made is first to stop smoking and then to stop drinking alcohol. They have also seen him wholly embrace living a healthy lifestyle from working out every morning at the YMCA to bike riding and kayaking to changing the amounts and types of foods he eats. What an incredible gift he has given his children. He hasn’t told his children how to live a healthy life, he has shown them, one change at a time. He is healthier and happier for it and so is our family.

Dads are so important as role models for their children. In this era of global volatility and escalating obesity, especially in our children, dads are cornerstones to their child’s healthy life. Real dads facing real challenges as part of life’s journey with the willingness to change will help their kids live healthier lives.

May we celebrate dads on Father’s Day and everyday. To their health! Live vibrant!

Download Our Free Kids’ Activity eBook!
Sammie & Sax: Fun, Food, & Fantastic Ideas

#LiveVibrant
#Livliga
#HealthyLifestyle
#HealthyLiving
#Fathers
#Parenting
#SammieandSax

0

Sign of a Healthy Lifestyle--workout clothes in closet

#MondayMotivation
#SignOfAHealthyLifestyle
#WorkoutClothes
#Intention
#Activewear
#SelfCare
#Wardrobe 
#Livliga
#LiveVibrant

0

Sign of a Healthy Lifestyle-- sunscreen and bug spray in the cabinet

#MondayMotivation
#SignOfAHealthyLifestyle
#sunscreen
#bugspray

#summertime
#SelfCare 

#Intention 

#Livliga
#LiveVibrant

0

12 Tips for Losing 50 lbs or more

About five years ago I went on a journey that ultimately caused me to create what is now known as Livliga, a healthy lifestyle company, focused on mindful eating through right-sized tableware and subtle portion control. It was my way of figuring out how to live a healthier lifestyle. In the process I lost 50 pounds and have been successful in keeping it off.

My Before and After Photos when my husband and I both lost over 50 pounds

To lose 50 pounds or more requires a little different approach than if you only have 10 pounds to lose. Below are my 12 tips for losing 50 pounds or more:

1. Have the long game in mind but break it down into small steps. You need to have the ultimate goal in mind but look at it through a daily lens. Planning is key from what you eat to your exercise to your nightly sleep. Creating healthy lifestyle routines will help you keep to the plan to reach your goal.
2. Weekly menu planning and grocery lists help you stay organized and focused, and avoid bad decisions after a long day when you’re tired and yet still have dinner to prepare. The easiest way to stay in control of what you eat is to start cooking more at home. Include the others in the household in planning and fixing meals. Cooking can be fun, especially when the responsibility and time spent is shared with others…this includes children.
3. Right-size your dinnerware. Our dinnerware in the US has grown over 51% in the past thirty plus years. The bigger the plate the more you want to put on it to make the plate look plentiful to your eyes. Don’t eat off a plate that is bigger than 10.5 inches and make sure your plates have rims. Better yet, invest in dinnerware that has been designed to make right-sized amounts of food look plentiful and also helps you measure the food you want to eat—Livliga!
4. Set up a healthy food environment. Make sure the first things you see on your kitchen counter top or in your refrigerator and food pantry are healthy and support your diet. Avoid buying any prepackaged snacks. Instead have fruits in a bowl on your counter; place cut vegetables, lowfat yogurt and hard-boiled eggs at eye level in your refrigerator. In your pantry stock water-packed sardines and tuna next to your protein powder and PB2. Visually hide crackers, prepackaged cookies and snacks so you don’t see them automatically.
5. Keep track of your food, exercise and sleep with photos and an app like Fitbit or Apple Health. Accountability is key. We have to keep our mind honest by taking the time to log our food, exercise and sleep. With out keeping track it is way to easy to forget and slip up.
   
   
   
   
   
6. Work on Mindfulness which will help you get more in touch with your body and mind—YOU are the priority and SO worth it! Consider Tai Chi, yoga and meditation to help you become more present. It was shocking to me to discover how unmindful I was. So much of life we spend in an automatic mode and do by rote…especially when it comes to overeating. The best way to combat it is to be present in our own lives.
7. Build in ongoing exercise and physical activity. Invest in an exercise tracker like a Fitbit—⅔ of your work out should be cardio and ⅓ resistance training. Make a goal for how much exercise and “steps” you want to achieve each week and schedule it in. It won’t happen if you don’t plan for it.
8. Document your progress in photos, blogs and Facebook. Taking photos is a great way to share your success and take a moment to see how far you have come and how much you have changed.
9. Find a buddy to join you on your journey. You are more likely to succeed if you don’t do it alone. Make friends at the gym, join a support group, or create your own. Having friends in your life that share in the desire to live a healthy lifestyle can make all the difference in your long-term success.
   
   
   
10. Forgive yourself for slip-ups and remember tomorrow is a new day. None of us are doomed to fail but we are human and should not expect to be perfect. There are days we will fall back into our old, bad habits. You have to own it and forgive yourself to move on.
11. Reward yourself for your successes. Create new rewards that are not food related and have a list that includes things you enjoy that don’t cost money as well as treats that do. Among my favorites—watching my favorite movie curdled up in my cozy clothes and then I love getting a massage. Both are delicious and give me the lift I need to keep on track. One doesn’t cost money, the other does.
12. Acquire an Attitude of Gratitude. Bad moods and feelings drag us down and make it seem impossible for us to achieve our dreams and our goals. Gratitude actually makes it easier for all of us to do what we need and want to do, especially when it comes to weight loss. Keep a Gratitude Journal or use an app like fiveminutejournal.com to document your gratitude and be able to access it when you most need it.

When you have 50 pounds or more to lose and have struggled with losing weight for a long time, you may want to consider medical weight loss programs and/or weight loss surgery. These are important options to consider depending on your health issues, age and the place you are in your life. Discussing your options with your primary care doctor and a weight loss specialist, like an endocrinologist, can help you make the best decision for you.

To Your Success! Live Vibrant!

Download Our Free eBook:
Healthy Lifestyle & Weight Loss

0