Life gets complicated as we age. Our time becomes more limited as the responsibilities pile up, we have kids, we focus on building our careers, you name it.

The more complicated it becomes, the more challenging it can be to fit in exercise and focus on taking care of our physical health. You may have prioritized fitness, working out at least four or five days a week in your younger years, only to have it fall by the wayside as you age. You know that science says fitness can prevent cancer and other diseases, but it feels nearly impossible to do it consistently.

If that rings true to you, there may be some good news.

When you start out on a journey to lose weight, it can feel daunting. You have to change your eating and drinking habits, get educated, set a timeline, and measure your success along the way. You may even incorporate fitness into the mix, which brings a whole new level of complication. But no matter how difficult the journey seems, it’s always worth it in the end.

Getting there is challenging, but one very effective way to keep going when the going gets tough is through positive affirmations.

Need a mantra to keep your mind motivated? Don't worry, we have some ideas for you! 

If you are living with Type 2 diabetes, there's a good chance you know how critical a healthy lifestyle is to manage the condition.

We'd like to talk about two highly effective methods of managing your Type 2 diabetes, and to share information on our award winning Balance Diabetes meal plan.

We're here to help!

If you've ever felt lonely, you know how challenging navigating it can be. Many things cause loneliness, including some that you may not even realize are to blame. Reasons could include anything from life events to social media, your personality type to mental health challenges. And it's important to note that it's possible to feel lonely not only when you're along, but when you're surrounded by family and friends.

Loneliness is a very powerful emotion that can have detrimental effects on your mental and physical health, including your weight loss journey.

So what exactly can you do to combat loneliness?

Remember when you were a small child, and you ate when you were hungry and stopped when you were full? Even if you faced challenges surrounding eating, such as temptations from sweets or rules about finishing everything on your plate, there truly was a time when your body told you what it wanted to eat and how much — and you listened.

That’s the core message of intuitive eating, a method that dates back to 1995 but has recently gained momentum in mainstream healthy living culture.

Confidence is a powerful, sometimes obscure, sense of self-assurance that leads to believing in yourself, your judgments, your abilities, and your identity.

The more confident you are, the more quickly you’ll be able to tackle life’s challenges, achieve your goals and find positivity in your day-to-day life.

Thankfully, there are practical ways to boost your self-esteem and improve your overall confidence, which can go a heck of a long way toward improving your personal and professional life.

Imagine waking up feeling energized and fresh in a clean, luxurious hotel room before heading to a short yoga session with a stunning backdrop of distant mountains or a beautiful blue ocean and sandy beach. Then, consider how great it would feel to enjoy a nutritious, balanced meal and spend the rest of your day getting a massage or spa treatment, exercising with a trained fitness instructor, or working with therapists to learn how to incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine.

Those are just a few of the extraordinary things you can expect when you take a wellness vacation, which are getaways designed to help you focus on your overall well-being.

One of the most accessible and perhaps enjoyable fitness activities to make a part of your daily routine is walking. That’s especially true during the late spring and summer months when the fresh air, sunshine, and beautiful scenery can elevate it to the next level.

And while those things may improve your fitness and well-being in and of themselves, what if there were a way to make them even more beneficial?

Enter...meditation.

Many of us structure our lives around habits, such as getting up at 7 a.m., drinking a cup of morning coffee, or eating dinner at 6 p.m. These regular practices may be a critical part of ensuring your everyday life is consistent and manageable, and that's a good thing.

But some habits—such as smoking, overeating, drinking, consuming too much caffeine, or scanning social media right before bed—can negatively impact your overall health and well-being.

There's a good chance you can quickly identify your own bad habit (or habits). There's an even better chance you are well aware of their harmful effects. So how do you go about breaking those bad habits? 

Prediabetes means your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. It could be considered a blessing in disguise. Knowing that you have it allows you to make new, healthier choices to reverse the condition and hopefully help you avoid developing Type 2 Diabetes.

February is American Heart Month, an annual observance of the importance of cardiovascular health. The American Heart Association and all health providers use the month to remind us to engage in healthy habits that reduce our heart disease risk.

That’s why the American Heart Association (AHA) identifies these eight essential elements to better heart health. Read on to learn more!

If the potential of adding years to your life by making small changes appeals to you, listen up.

Improving the quality of foods you eat daily — even just a little — can extend your life, no matter how old you are.  Making some simple swaps to your overall diet can improve your nutritional intake — and maybe even add years to your life!

The new year is often when we think about hitting the reset button on some (or several!) aspects of our lives. We consider our intentions, set goals, and start doing what we can to achieve them.

This year, consider the following: How often do you set a goal to do something extraordinary that will give you a sense of true exhilaration?

Maybe it's time to step outside your comfort zone and live life to the fullest!

Anyone who’s ever struggled with weight knows how challenging it can be to find a diet that works, especially with so many options.  

Well, here’s the thing. While selecting a healthy, well-rounded diet that works for you is essential, changing your mindset to focus on changing your overall lifestyle is even more critical. By approaching your weight loss plan to improve your health and overall wellness, you’re much more likely to find success.

But how do you do that?

Many of us pursue healthy eating in an effort to lose weight. While that is essential, consistently eating meals that are balanced for nutrition can also help with many common ailments we face throughout our lifetimes.

Read on for a list of expert and science-backed health issues that eating right can help reduce, tame, and support, so you can live life to the fullest!

You know eating a healthier diet is vital to losing weight. You know that it means you’ll have to make some real changes, and you’re ready.

So you research online, you check out the article about the best new diets, you talk with your friend about the plan she's been trying...

But here’s the thing: Losing weight isn’t about trying the latest and greatest thing. It’s finding what works for you and setting yourself up for success by ensuring your weight loss journey won’t be a wash. We've come up with a few ways for you to do exactly that.

There’s nothing quite like a day outside enjoying the trees, grass and flowers while soaking in the sunshine and smelling the clean, fresh air.

We found a whole host of reasons why you should incorporate time outdoors into your weekly activities, particularly during the warm summer days. If you're at a loss for some new unique ideas for a summer outing, the kinds of things that will make the experience memorable and enjoyable for you and your loved ones... we've come up with some fun things to try!

If you’re living with Type 2 diabetes, you know how challenging it can be to simultaneously manage your blood sugar while striving to meet your everyday demands. It’s easy to feel frustrated, overwhelmed, defeated, tired and stressed as you try to remember to do things like take medication, make your regular check-ups and deal with the everyday ups and downs.

We have a few lifestyle tips that may help make managing your health and your diabetes just a little easier.

Think about what you do on the weekends. If you’re like most, there’s probably at least one or two outings that involve people in your social circles. And what do those outings involve? Food? Alcohol? When you’re trying to lead to a healthy lifestyle, maintaining friendships while sticking with your goals can be one heck of a problem. Or, your could try a few things to turn those friends into a resource!

Exercise is often top-of-mind when you set out to boost the quality of your cardiac health.. While it’s true that burning calories by engaging in something like walking or cycling can help with weight-loss, the real cornerstone of any successful "heart-healthy" plan is rooted in a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.

So before you put all of your focus on physical exercises, let's see what other steps you can take to keep your heart pumping, and possibly add years to your life!