Getting Healthy through Reading

#MommaRita and son, #GarrettCobbs during tutoring time...

We had also just worked out lol...

Reading is something I was not interested in growing up through high school. Then in college an English teaching opened the world of reading for me. I haven't been able to get enough since. Throughout the week, Garrett and I practice reading, but on Fridays we spend quality time, reading, writing, doing spelling words, counting money and practicing computer skills. He loves to read Archie comics and if he does well on all the areas we work on, then we read a comic book. 

For the past two-weeks, we have read two comic books that have had Archie running around the subject of fitness. This week there was a guy on the beach that was a body builder obviously and the girls told Archie he was just jealous when he made some "pillow" comments about the guys body. When Garrett read it, I had to record it...watch it, then we will talk about reading and fitness...it's too funny! I may play it when I am feeling this way lol...

#GarrettCobbs: about jealousy!

Laughing is the a great way to relieve stress so is reading. When you can't sleep, reading something that is encouraging, praise worthy or uplifting will bring your mind to a place of peace so that you can fall asleep. I have never understood why someone watches something or read a frightening book before bed and then try to go to sleep. Read the Bible, the book of Psalm or Proverbs. Pick up a book of poems that encourage. Poetry can give you great directions that you never thought possible. Quotes that are funny but carry a point that you will remember later. Short stories from books that hold inspirational themes of people that have come from areas of life to be successful and happy.

Then there is reading to seek a better way to eat and workout. Thinking about eating in a way that the first ingredient is managing food rather than taking pills or requiring surgery is a great book to read. Then cookbooks that really emphasize clean eating and healthier choices; realizing these may make you hungry, watch the warning signs and skip cookbooks. Workout books energize and encourage you to move. This is what you want. Inside these books are excellent tips for workout not only on the street, in your home or in the gym but also in everyday sittings like in your office chair. My favorite tip once from a fitness book I was reading was simply drinking water. 

Another excellent thing about reading is, like with Garrett, use bedtime reading to your children to include a devotional, Bible reading and include fitness inspiration in this as well. There are plenty of stories and things written to equip you and your family to live a healthy life-style. We are living a life with no limits, no boundaries, plenty of resources to make it easy to live healthy, strong and fit for our bodies, minds, souls and lives as a whole. 

We have changed our home so much in the past three-years, not just since 2011. No sodas, no gluten, adding a water cooler, focusing on protein and fresh vegetables, fitness twice daily, daily Bible reading/devotionals and at least eight hours of sleep. Those are just a few things we have done. I challenge you to live with no excuses to move toward a healthier life-style. Reading. Find the things that inspire you today to live better tomorrow. 

Hugs, Rita