There’s a lot of conflicting information out there about health and healthy habits.

One thing almost everyone agrees on is that daily exercise is necessary for a long and healthy life. Our recommendation is to break a sweat every day, and then continue your workout for at least 10 more minutes. It’s an easy guideline – break a sweat, and sweat for 10.

Start now – stand up, click on the green arrow, and get moving. Chase your health.

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Look for beauty today, wherever you are, whatever you’re doing.

So often we focus on what’s wrong instead of what’s right. That’s not just true when we think about the world, but also about ourselves. As you look for beauty in the world, also look for your own beauty. What about you – inside and out – is beautiful? (Yes. You are.)

See, notice, celebrate the beauty.

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The song says “let’s pretend that we rule the world.”

Well, *newsflash!* We do rule the world. We rule OUR world – we’re responsible for OUR choices.

So stop waiting for something to happen to you, stop living the passive life. Make something happen for yourself! Take a risk, make the effort, step out of your comfort zone, take action, rule.your.world.

Celebrate your leadership with a bit of a song and dance. Yes, because taking charge of your life is taking charge of your body, which can use some movement and oxygen right now.

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You know the answer to this question.

You’re the only one who can make your dreams come true. It’s easy – and sometimes even fun – to put that responsibility on someone (or something) else, but you know in your heart that it’s up to you.

So whatever your dreams, take action to make them happen.

Do something today to make your dream a reality. If your dream is a hot bod, then get up from your computer and commit to some exercise. If your dream is a long life, then make choices to improve your health, no matter your age. If your dream is a smaller dress size, then check your portion sizes and take the stairs. We know it’s not always that simple, but you have to start somewhere.

While you think about your plan for today, get up and dance. It might help you make your dreams come true.

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As you start to make different choices for the way you eat and the way you live, you may run into objections from people who love you (or just work with you… lol).

It’s okay to make your own choices based on your own research and experimentation – don’t give in to the pressure if you know you’ll feel better (and look better, and work better) sticking to your own choices.

Marilu says that each day is like a lab experiment – when you eat this, how does it make you feel? What’s your energy level like? Does it make you break out, or snore more, or sneeze a lot, or gain weight? As you gather this information about yourself, you’ll find what works for you. Then you can stick with it.

Make your own choices, and choose the consequences that help you feel your best.

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Marilu’s rainbow theory is one way to keep yourself eating properly. Recipes categorized as purple, blue, and green can help you maintain or even lose weight. This is how we eat during BOOTY Camp – without feeling deprived or like we’re on some restrictive diet.

Read more about the rainbow theory, Green, and Blue.
Check the Recipe Collection for recipes.

Of course, the Total Health Makeover® isn’t only about food. So click on the green arrow below, and get moving! Get your blood pumping and your muscles moving.

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We heard Serena Ryder in concert recently and we loved her energy! She performed without her band, so all her percussion was in the way she played the guitar and stomped her feet. And wow, did she make some noise.

Get up and dance. Stomp your feet, twirl around, shake your head, and really get into it.

We tend to keep our feelings buried in our bodies, repressing them in hunched shoulders, downcast eyes, smaller steps, and poor posture. Play this song and let it all go. Loosen up all your muscles. Shake it out. Vent your feelings in movement. Give your body a fresh start while you burn some calories.

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You gotta stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.

As you shift to your weekend routine, make sure you are standing strong in your commitment to your health, your goals, your plan.

Sometimes it’s easier to just let everything slide until Monday. But if you do that, you’re just doing the two-steps-forward-one-step-back dance every week. Why not give yourself a head start on next Monday – by sticking to your weekday plan on the weekend?

• Do your exercise (look! music for you to walk to, squat to, do pushups to, dance to).
• Eat your fruits and veggies.
• Make sure all your grains are whole grains.
• Skip anything that makes you eat more, or think less about what you’re eating.
• Look for ways to be active and have fun.
• Take a personal timeout for some pampering.

Take a stand this weekend. For yourself.

Don’t put yourself back in the fire again.
You gotta stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.

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This is a familiar “get up off the couch and move your body” song. So…

GET UP OFF THE COUCH AND MOVE YOUR BODY!

You don’t have to join a gym or spend a lot of money to get in shape. You just have to keep moving. Don’t get caught in the rut of sitting around or looking for the smallest amount of actual work possible. As Marilu has pointed out, animals in the wild don’t get fat because they can’t be lazy. They’re always moving. You can be lean and lithe, too – as long as you’re willing to move for it.

You’ve heard this all before *

• Park as far away as possible and enjoy the walk to your destination.
• Park once and walk your errands.
• Use the stairs instead of the elevator.
• Treat every escalator like stairs, and climb it instead of standing there.
• Treat every people-mover/moving sidewalk like a regular sidewalk, and keep walking (it’s kinda fun!).
• Get up during every commercial break and do something – fold laundry, load the dishwasher, take out the garbage, let the dog out, make tomorrow’s lunches, dust a room, iron a blouse.
• Rethink rewards – a walk around the block is a great reward when you’ve had a busy day, or a bad one.
• Finally – don’t take yourself too seriously. Get up and dance like the crazy, fun person you are!

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In our fast-paced world, we don’t always take time to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us.

Find ways to bring beauty into your daily life. Put a vase of flowers by your kitchen sink or in the bathroom (you know, where you’ll spend time… what good do they do in the formal dining room?). Frame and hang a photo or print you love. Use your favorite fragrance; don’t save it for “good.” Garnish your plates at mealtime – a slice of citrus fruit, a sprig of herb, a sprinkle of sliced almonds or sunflower seeds. Light candles for dinner (even pizza). Smile.

*pssst – Share the song with your mom and other special women in your life. They bring beauty to the world, too!

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