Health Watch

Amy,

We like the way you think and your dedication to exercise! The right mind set is just as important as eating well and exercising regularly. Healthy Lifestyle Tip: Make Your Own Mantra Sometimes the noise from inside our own head is the biggest stressor of all. People average 60,000 thoughts a day and 80 percent of those thoughts are negative. Ouch. Negative thoughts are bad news for the body as stress causes wear and tear on many physical health systems. Positive affirmations may be the key to stress-free health, according to Dr. Maoshing Ni, author of Second Spring. Ni recommends offsetting that stress by repeating calming, soothing positive affirmations to ourselves because the thoughts that bubble up from our consciousness affect our health, just as our diets and exercise habits do. Positive thoughts feed the body nourishing mental energy. The next time you have negative thoughts, imagine a big stop sign in your head, and tell yourself, "Stop!" Then, replace it with a positive, soothing message. Here are some examples: When you exercise and feel tired, think, "I am strong." When you set to work on a hard task, think, "I can accomplish anything." When you feel overwhelmed, think, "I trust in the process of life." Think of what it is you wish were true, and then state it over and over. Affirmative self-talk suppresses the release of cortisol from the adrenal glands which can help you feel calm and peaceful. Source: realage.com