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We’re Back!!!

And…. We’re back! Sorry that it’s been so long. This business is MOVING to North Dakota, the land of the rolling fields and wonderfully cool temperatures! I’ve been in Minot North Dakota for about a year for school at Minot State, and it has been a truly wonderful and inspiring adventure. North Dakota has reborn my faith in humanity and in the decency of people in general.
Aside from that though, I intend to transfer my massage license to North Dakota and begin building my business there as soon as possible. I’ll be located somewhere in Minot at first, but after I graduate, I may move to a smaller community. I’d like to know all my clients one on one like a family. Time will tell. God willing, my business will be up and running within the year! Come check us out. I’ll be posting the who, what, when, where, why, and hows as they come to pass! Thank you for your continued support of my business and dream to help others!

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22 Things Happy People Do Differently

There are two types of people in the world: those who choose to be happy, and those who choose to be unhappy. Contrary to popular belief, happiness doesn’t come from fame, fortune, other people, or material possessions. Rather, it comes from within. The richest person in the world could be miserable while a homeless person could be right outside, smiling and content with their life. Happy people are happy because they make themselves happy. They maintain a positive outlook on life and remain at peace with themselves.

The question is: how do they do that?

It’s quite simple. Happy people have good habits that enhance their lives. They do things differently. Ask any happy person, and they will tell you that they …

1. Don’t hold grudges.

Happy people understand that it’s better to forgive and forget than to let their negative feelings crowd out their positive feelings. Holding a grudge has a lot of detrimental effects on your wellbeing, including increased depression, anxiety, and stress. Why let anyone who has wronged you have power over you? If you let go of all your grudges, you’ll gain a clear conscience and enough energy to enjoy the good things in life.

2. Treat everyone with kindness.

Did you know that it has been scientifically proven that being kind makes you happier? Every time you perform a selfless act, your brain produces serotonin, a hormone that eases tension and lifts your spirits. Not only that, but treating people with love, dignity, and respect also allows you to build stronger relationships.

3. See problems as challenges.

The word “problem” is never part of a happy person’s vocabulary. A problem is viewed as a drawback, a struggle, or an unstable situation while a challenge is viewed as something positive like an opportunity, a task, or a dare. Whenever you face an obstacle, try looking at it as a challenge.

4. Express gratitude for what they already have.

There’s a popular saying that goes something like this: “The happiest people don’t have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.” You will have a deeper sense of contentment if you count your blessings instead of yearning for what you don’t have.

5. Dream big.

People who get into the habit of dreaming big are more likely to accomplish their goals than those who don’t. If you dare to dream big, your mind will put itself in a focused and positive state.

6. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Happy people ask themselves, “Will this problem matter a year from now?” They understand that life’s too short to get worked up over trivial situations. Letting things roll off your back will definitely put you at ease to enjoy the more important things in life.

7. Speak well of others.

Being nice feels better than being mean. As fun as gossiping is, it usually leaves you feeling guilty and resentful. Saying nice things about other people encourages you to think positive, non-judgmental thoughts.

8. Never make excuses.

Benjamin Franklin once said, “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” Happy people don’t make excuses or blame others for their own failures in life. Instead, they own up to their mistakes and, by doing so, they proactively try to change for the better.

9. Get absorbed into the present.

Happy people don’t dwell on the past or worry about the future. They savor the present. They let themselves get immersed in whatever they’re doing at the moment. Stop and smell the roses.

10. Wake up at the same time every morning.

Have you noticed that a lot of successful people tend to be early risers? Waking up at the same time every morning stabilizes your circadian rhythm, increases productivity, and puts you in a calm and centered state.

11. Avoid social comparison.

Everyone works at his own pace, so why compare yourself to others? If you think you’re better than someone else, you gain an unhealthy sense of superiority. If you think someone else is better than you, you end up feeling bad about yourself. You’ll be happier if you focus on your own progress and praise others on theirs.

12. Choose friends wisely.

Misery loves company. That’s why it’s important to surround yourself with optimistic people who will encourage you to achieve your goals. The more positive energy you have around you, the better you will feel about yourself.

13. Never seek approval from others.

Happy people don’t care what others think of them. They follow their own hearts without letting naysayers discourage them. They understand that it’s impossible to please everyone. Listen to what people have to say, but never seek anyone’s approval but your own.

14. Take the time to listen.

Talk less; listen more. Listening keeps your mind open to others’ wisdoms and outlooks on the world. The more intensely you listen, the quieter your mind gets, and the more content you feel.

15. Nurture social relationships.

A lonely person is a miserable person. Happy people understand how important it is to have strong, healthy relationships. Always take the time to see and talk to your family, friends, or significant other.

16. Meditate.

Meditating silences your mind and helps you find inner peace. You don’t have to be a zen master to pull it off. Happy people know how to silence their minds anywhere and anytime they need to calm their nerves.

17. Eat well.

Junk food makes you sluggish, and it’s difficult to be happy when you’re in that kind of state. Everything you eat directly affects your body’s ability to produce hormones, which will dictate your moods, energy, and mental focus. Be sure to eat foods that will keep your mind and body in good shape.

18. Exercise.

Studies have shown that exercise raises happiness levels just as much as Zoloft does. Exercising also boosts your self-esteem and gives you a higher sense of self-accomplishment.

19. Live minimally.

Happy people rarely keep clutter around the house because they know that extra belongings weigh them down and make them feel overwhelmed and stressed out. Some studies have concluded that Europeans are a lot happier than Americans are, which is interesting because they live in smaller homes, drive simpler cars, and own fewer items.

20. Tell the truth.

Lying stresses you out, corrodes your self-esteem, and makes you unlikeable. The truth will set you free. Being honest improves your mental health and builds others’ trust in you. Always be truthful, and never apologize for it.

21. Establish personal control.

Happy people have the ability to choose their own destinies. They don’t let others tell them how they should live their lives. Being in complete control of one’s own life brings positive feelings and a great sense of self-worth.

22. Accept what cannot be changed.

Once you accept the fact that life is not fair, you’ll be more at peace with yourself. Instead of obsessing over how unfair life is, just focus on what you can control and change it for the better.

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Simple Strategies for Losing Weight

 The best diet is not a diet at all but a way of life that includes food you enjoy, exercise, and healthy habits. Eat a variety of foods — lean protein; complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables; and “good” fats, like omega-3 fats from fish and monounsaturated fats from avocados, nuts, and olives or olive oil. …  Say NO to bad fats: minimize how much saturated fat you get from animal sources, and eliminate trans fats from the fried foods, snacks, and fast food products you eat.   Eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Choose different colors of fruits and vegetables to ensure optimal nutrition.   Be careful about portion sizes. If you must have seconds, serve yourself vegetables.   Exercise at least 150 minutes each week with a moderately intense activity like brisk walking. This can be divided into smaller blocks of time. For example, you could do a brisk walk for 10 minutes three times a day for five days to reach 150 minutes. Clean out the kitchen and eliminate all junk food. Toss out high-calorie, high-fat, sugary foods that will tempt you to overeat — chips, cookies, crackers, ice cream, candy bars, and the like.   Fill your kitchen with lean protein, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, good fats, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products.   Eat smaller meals more frequently. Five to six per day may be best. Space your meals every three to four hours throughout your day. Try taking low fat cheese and whole grain crackers to school or work for a snack, or eat a tablespoon of peanut butter with one slice of whole grain bread. Find foods that are healthy and that keep you full.   If you like lots of food on your plate, fill up with a large salad and a super serving of green beans, broccoli, cabbage, kale, or other low calorie vegetable.   Snack on berries. Dark berries (blueberries, blackberries, cherries, and raspberries) are rich in healthy antioxidants. They are also low in calories and fat and high in fiber.   Avoid “empty calories” including sugar-containing sodas and fruit drinks.
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Foods High in Fiber and Low in Fats

Vegetables & Fruits Vegetables and fruits have rich water content, and they are also very high on the fiber content. Having an adequate amount of fruits and raw vegetables, would surely add to your fiber intake and also help in weight. Take a look at the list of fruits and vegetables, below. Avocado
Broccoli
Cabbage
Lettuce
Carrot
Spinach …
Green Peas
Black peas
Mushrooms
Brussels sprouts
Artichokes
Sweet potato
Apples
Kiwi
Banana
Guava
Oranges
Raspberries
Logan berries
Currants (white and red)
Blueberries
Grape fruit
Pomegranates
Beans & Lentils
Beans and lentils are also rich sources of dietary fiber, and you should, these beans and lentils should be included in your everyday low fat high fiber recipes. Kidney Beans Prunes Lima Beans Pinto Beans Lentils of all kinds Other Foods Lots of other foods like, products made from oat bran, or whole grain cereals are also rich sources of fiber.
Also, owing to the fiber in the diet, there are lots of other products available in stores which are rich sources of fiber.
Oat bran
Whole grain bread
Seeds like sesame seeds and pumpkin seeds.
Soy products
Whole wheat
spaghetti
Brown rice
Popcorn
Low calorie muffins
Celery with tuna salad
Try including these ‘wonder’ foods in your diet to experience a trouble free life and prevent future illness and health hazards. Fiber also helps you lose weight, by keeping you fuller for a long time and suppressing your hunger. Always kick start your day, with these rich fiber sources, and enjoy the benefits of a safe and sound life.
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Whole Grains

Diets high in fiber help normalize bowel movements, lower blood cholesterol, aid in blood sugar control and help control hunger, according to the Mayo Clinic. Whole grains are also naturally low in fat and high in fiber. Grains like oats and barley contain high amounts of soluble fiber. Soluble fiber prevents the absorption of cholesterol helping to lower blood cholesterol levels. Other grains high in fiber include whole-wheat spaghetti, bran flakes, popcorn, brown rice and whole-wheat bread.

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Fruits and Vegetables

As part of a heart-healthy diet, the American Heart Association recommends you eat 4 1/2 cups of fruits and vegetables everyday. Most fruits and vegetables are fat free and high in fiber. High-fiber fruits include raspberries, pears with skin, apples with skin, bananas, oranges, figs and raisins. High-fiber vegetables include artichokes, peas, broccoli, turnip greens, corn, potatoes with skin, tomatoes, raw carrots and Brussels sprouts. The Mayo Clinic says women need 21 to 25 g of fiber a day and men need 30 to 38 g of fiber a day.

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Exercise Tips to Speed Up Your Metabolism

Exercise! It doesn’t matter whether you cycle, swim, walk or jog, but do something to get yourself moving. A regular exercise routine is best, but remember to make slight changes to it once in awhile so your body doesn’t reach a plateau and stop improving. Ten minutes out of your busy day may not seem like a lot when you’re first starting out, but if yo…u exercise for 10 minutes, six days this week, that’s an hour more workout that you did last week! As you and your family get used to your routine it will become easier and easier to increase 10 minutes to 12, 15 and 20 minutes per day. I recommend re-bounding. It is easy safe and very effective. Bulk up and Tone up! If you work on building up some lean muscle mass with weight training then you are guaranteed to burn more calories than just by doing cardio alone. Why? Because muscle burns calories for you even when you’re at rest-it raises your BMR to help you burn fat! Do Intervals. When you do interval training, for example if you jog for 12 minutes total, but every 2 minutes you increase your speed to a hard run for 1 minute, your body is working a lot harder, so you get a more intense workout. Get Up! Stand up from your desk and walk around the office, go up and down the stairs a few times, park farther away or play with the dog. If you use these little bursts of energy throughout the day then your metabolism will stay revved up and you’ll keep burning more calories.