John Aaron Wellness

Monday sucked. I'd say that entire day just seemed to conspire against me for one reason or another and a ton of things I had planned on getting done didn't happen. Needless to say I was more than a little cranky by day’s end. If there is one thing I hate is the feeling you get when you think you aren’t making any progress. That feeling compounds when you feel overwhelmed. I wasn’t happy and with a full plate for the week, I wasn’t in the mood for it. Good thing for me that I have a great family and the loving, supportive network of close friends, and readers and fans like you. They say you gravitate toward those that share your views, interests and temperament. This is another reason I count myself blessed. Being a generally happy person, I have friends that freely share that trait. And, while negativity usually breeds negativity, I take solace that the same can be true about inspiration and happiness. If you’re happy, there’s a good chance that your positive feeling...

Sabotage: doesn’t it always seem to happen when you are trying to “be good” with your nutrition? “Just have one more bite,” they say. Well, when friends or family members are trying to tempt, tease or taunt you into doing things that you know are not in your best interest, awareness and assertiveness are your best coping tools. Suppose whenever you visit your mother, she continually urges you to have seconds... First, take a moment to evaluate what is going on between the two of you and how you feel about that. Next, decide for yourself whether you're actually still hungry enough to continue eating. If you're still hungry, then by all means, have more. However, if you're not hungry, you can still hold your ground in a polite and respectful way. Instead of saying “yes” just to please your mother, let her know that you thought the meal tasted great, and you're too full to eat any more – “Perhaps I can take some home, instead?” As always – Live Your ...

Let’s make one thing clear: family is first. Your family plays an important role in your lifestyle change process. Unfortunately, they may not want you to disrupt their status quo; they may prefer that their responsibilities, routines and "you" all remain the same. Or they may want to support you, but may be unsure exactly how to help. By anticipating specific comments and reactions before they happen, you can prepare your family for the changes you're making that may also affect them. Tell them what specific things they can do to show their support and use the following guidelines to create an environment that is conducive to change: Introducing low-fat foods: The internet is filled with menus and recipes that are so similar to the “regular” foods most families eat. As such, you can introduce low-fat foods that your family may never even suspect as “good for you.” However, if they insist on eating "the old way," you still have two choices: k...