Do you want to feel better, but aren't sure where to start or whether you can succeed? This book will help you with a realistic, practical, gentle, and very effective way to begin. Starting with the smallest steps you are ready to actually do, and building on this success every day, you will achieve your wellness goals. So whether you need to get moving, change your diet, change the way you treat your body - or just as importantly change your attitude about how you feel - this book will guide you through your journey.

Laurie Rein has been a health and fitness coach working with private clients for over thirty years. Her methods have helped hundreds of women meet their health and wellness goals, including how to eat in a way they can sustain for life. No fads or promises of quick fixes, just practical approaches that prove themselves over the life-long haul.

Stories from Laurie's clients show that you are not alone in this process of leaving behind self-defeating habits and moving toward a healthy lifestyle - one step at a time.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Why Do You Want to Get Healthy?

How Do You Want to Feel?

Pick One Small Thing You Are Ready to Change

Part one: GETTING STARTED

Chapter 1—Get Moving, Keep Moving, Enjoy Moving

No Movement - No Vitality

Know Thy Exercise Self

Your Way is Right for You

Don’t Go Two Days Without Moving

Just Do Ten

Moving is a Laughing Matter

Planning for Success

Chapter 2—Create New Good Habits

What Motivates You? What is Your Why?

Are You Tired of Feeling Tired?

Motivation

What’s Ahead?

The Big Exercise Myth

Exercise: A Woman's Best Friend

The Benefits of Variety in Exercise

The Turtle Principle of Change

Listen to Your Body

Re-setting Your Goals

Know Your Triggers

Chapter 3—Emotional Hunger

Willpower and Won’t Power

Don’t Feed Your Feelings—with Food

Take Ten

What Are You Hungry For?

Sugar High—Sugar Crash

Steps to Mindful Eating and Not Mis-Eating

Nighttime Eating Trauma

Breaking Bad—TV Habits

Keep it Clean, Baby!

There is No Magic Bullet Diet

Chapter 4—Exercise—The Magic of Movement

Benefits of Good Posture

Enjoy It!

Slow Metabolism

The Four Horsewomen of Exercise

Cardiovascular and Walking For Life

Strength Training

Flexibility and Stretching

Balance

Breathing

How to Choose a Personal Trainer

Chapter 5—Loving an Animal Keeps Us Healthy

Sharon and Matilda

Part Two:

GETTING TO YOUR HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

Introduction: “It’s not my fault I’m fat!”

It’s Time to Call a Truce in the Blame Game

Chapter 6—Nutrition—Every Day

Eat Better to Feel Better

Mysterious Ingredients

Just the Fat Facts

All About Oil

Butter Me Up, Baby

Vitamins and Minerals as We Age

Brain and Heart Healthy Diets

The Salty Truth

Pass the Pasta

This is Nuts!

To Eat or Not to Eat ... Meat ...That is the Question

Shopping for Success

Eat the Rainbow

Should I be Gluten Free?

The Big O!

That Gut Feeling

Whole Grain Benefits

High on Hydration

Death by Soda

The Lie of Diet Soda

Alcohol and You

Restaurants and What to Order

Chapter 7—Getting Real About Your Numbers

Blood Pressure

Cholesterol

Triglycerides

Blood Glucose Levels

Low Blood Sugar

The Battle of the Scale

Chapter 8—Sleep, Glorious Sleep

Pre-Sleep Routines

Your Bedroom—Your Sanctuary

Meditation

Emotional Self-Care

Gratitude and Me

Chapter 9—Getting To Sex After…(sigh)…awhile

Kegelcize

Menopause and Having Fun

Chapter 10—Getting to the Best You

Part Three: RESOURCES

Recipes

Additional Resources

Lab Value Charts

Citations

About the Author