​Picture this for a second....
 
You’re at a holiday party. You’re surrounded by your family, friends, or coworkers and are having a great time. 
 
Drinks are flowing and food is everywhere. And it’s delicious. In fact, you’ve already indulged in some of your favorites, in moderation of course ;-) 

But then your friend asks you to have another drink, and then someone else asks you to try that amazing casserole they made. Or maybe a plate of cookies has caught your eye.
 
Even though you’re full, you can feel yourself about to give in to those temptations – 
and break the commitment you made with yourself not to over do it.
 
Ever been there before?  
 
I know I have. ​

​This is one of my favorite times of the year, because it’s all about reflecting on what we are grateful for in our lives.

Although, for the last four weeks I've been writing out five things I'm grateful for every single morning as part of my journaling routine.  It definitely gets more press on this one day of the year!
 
Taking the time to really FEEL gratitude is actually good for your health.

We're headed into. a busy time of year with new schedules, etc... and I know that as women, we often try to toughen up and push through.

Spoiler alert:  you can't do it.  That’s because stress isn’t all “in your mind.” It’s also in your body.

Your stress response system is a primal reaction... it’s hardwired into your system to keep you safe and alive.

Today, I'm going to outline some important things you need to know about stress and how it affects you – info that also will help you:

1. Use stress to your best advantage, and
2. Learn how to conquer it so it doesn’t run (and ruin) your life.

​When your ancestors were under threat – whether it was fighting off a predator or dealing with everyday problems like feeding a growing family – their bodies responded with energy to keep them out of harm’s way.
 
Our culture has changed a lot since then, but our body’s wiring hasn’t. We react to stress the same way, except our stressors don’t require us to outrun a bear or worry about where our next meal is coming from.
 
And that can have a major impact on your health!
 
I want to walk you through what happens to your body during a typical stressful situation. Hang in there with me, because it’s pretty eye-opening.

Did you know that almost 1 billion people across the world have a vitamin D deficiency?

That's a big deal, because vitamin D does so much to keep us feeling healthy.

Do you know how your vitamin D doing?

One big symptom of being low in vitamin D is feeling rundown and tired, along with catching every cold/bug that comes around.  Feeling depressed and losing hair are also two common signs that you might be low in the "sunshine" vitamin.

Did you know that there's a nutrient in your food that can keep you feeling full, doesn't have any calories, and also helps you live longer?

​Most of us don't get enough of it!

It's fiber, and it's definitely worth taking a look at your intake...including all those healthy snacks I've included in my free ebook this month!

Spoiler alert:  I've got a delicious fiber-rich recipe below that you'll definitely want to try.

Before we get to that, though, let me tell you how much fiber you need to get each day.

Do you get enough sleep every night?

Some surveys are showing that people are sleeping less than ever, with some only getting five to six hours of sleep per night.

"Powering through" on too little sleep is not a good idea for the long-term health of your body.

There are two major hormone "pathways" that take a big hit when you don't get enough sleep -- including hormones that handle things like your sex drive, stress, hunger, and blood sugar ... and (ironically enough) your ability to fall asleep.

​And...it only takes a night or two for them to get out of balance.

One pathway is governed by your pituitary gland and the other is your autonomic nervous system.  But they are intertwined, and they have a hand in virtually every function of your body.  Keeping your hormones in balance is a huge part of feeling strong, focused, and vital.

​Yes, it seems everywhere you turn health and wellness experts are telling you to eat more fruits and vegetables.
 
You totally get it.
 
Yes, they’re full, and I mean FULL, of nutrition (vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber, etc.). 
 
Yes, people who eat more fruits and vegetables live longer, healthier lives. Not to mention protecting their bodies and minds from just about every chronic disease out there.  

Did you see the headlines a few years ago stating that "sitting is the new smoking?"

Researchers looked at the health risks of sitting for hours at a time, and concluded that if you sit all day, your risk of dying was the same as that of a smoker.

While those headlines might have a grain of truth, according to researchers who published a new study in the American Journal of Public Health have shown that while sitting isn't great for you, it's definitely not as bad as smoking!  Reference

Sitting more than eight hours a day does increase your risk of premature death and developing some chronic diseases by as much as 10 to 20 percent, but it's nowhere near the same as smoking, which boosts the risk of early death by 180%.

Here's the even better news:  if you must sit a lot, there are some things you can do to offset the risk of developing diseases related to being sedentary.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Scientists are uncovering links between your mood and your posture, and it turns out the two are tied together in powerful ways.

For most of us, that stress-posture question probably works in both directions.  But there's a surprising amount of research that shows that how you sit and stand has a pretty big impact on your stress level, self-confidence, and your mood!

Not only does your posture impact how others see you (happy and confident vs. depressed and guarded), it can play a role in how YOU see the world!