We're doing the Mediterranean

My close friend (and an amazing personal chef/caterer) and I are going on a trip to the Mediterranean - diet that is. Long touted by health gurus like Dr. Andrew Weil, it's simple to follow - for weight loss and maintenance, nutritional health and anti-inflammatory properties.

It's relatively low in meat products - except for healthy fish, free range chicken (and a bit of hormone free beef thrown in). Eat lots of fruits and vegetables from the rainbow (all colors), healthy fats (extra virgin olive oil, nuts, avocados) and whole grain, high fiber, non-refined carbohydrates.

What I'm discovering is that there's no contradiction between food that tastes good and food that's good for you. And what I used to think was willpower (how does she ignore that cheeseburger and fries on the menu in favor of a sesame salmon salad?) really isn't.

The better I feel from eating healthy and exercising in a variety of fun ways, the more I'm unwilling to give up that feeling for a junk food fest! By George I think I've got it.

And if this dyed in the wool junkaholic can do it - ANYONE can!

Want to Be More Confident? Get Active!

Living a healthy lifestyle takes a lot of self discipline. The good news is, the greater the challenge, the more reward you get!

The premise is, if you can be successful in one area of your life, then you feel confident taking on other challenges. By living a healthy life you get a real sense that you can accomplish anything. Success breeds success in other words. You're more likely to set and reach your goals, and to rebound from failure.

Living healthy also lowers your risk of depression according to a 2007 study published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. Exercise is an active behavior, and active behaviors (versus sedentary ones) lead to a feeling of accomplishment. Studies also show that from a physical standpoint, exercise can greatly reduce anxiety. in fact, the study authors argued that workouts and clean eating (specifically a diet high in omega 3 fatty acids) can be a prescription to treat depression and anxiety.

When we're stressed, our body releases both adrenaline and cortisol. We need some cortisol to build muscle tissue, but too much can lead to a number of problems including lower immune system, weight gain (particularly increased belly fat) and general malaise.

Clean eating and working out is important to balance cortisol levels and keep them in check. You feel less stressed mentally and your body actually is less stressed - win win for you!