Reduce Stress to Live Healthier

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rliIL2o5MWM/VjEDWoNNjyI/AAAAAAAAEYo/N6SCTFFwWTg/s1600/woman-977020_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="woman listening to music to reduce stress" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rliIL2o5MWM/VjEDWoNNjyI/AAAAAAAAEYo/N6SCTFFwWTg/s1600/woman-977020_1920.jpg" title="Reduce Stress to Live Healthier" alt="Reduce Stress to Live Healthier" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Reduce stress in your everyday life to promote amazing results for your physical and mental health. Stress affects hormones, energy levels, hunger, and cravings. These effects all lead to poor choices that negatively affect healthy living. If you feel you may be plagued by stress, I have four helpful ways for you to reduce stress and manage it in a healthy way.</span></span></div><b id="docs-internal-guid-bbb09a68-af73-ac00-4285-0ad7d384afd9" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> </span></b> <br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What is causing your stress?</span></span></div><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The first step to reduce stress is understanding why you feel stressed. Where is this anxiety or frustration coming from? It can be from many different aspects of your life; it usually is!</span></span></div></li> <li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Think about all the outlets of your life. Stress isn’t your fault. It often is from an external source. Is your job causing you stress? Are you worried about your spouse or family member? Are there financial problems?</span></span></div></li> </ul><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> </span></b> <br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How can you manage stress?</span></span></div><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once you can pinpoint the source of your stress, brainstorm ideas on resolving the issues. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to come up with solutions to reduce stress once you have discovered isolated the source of the stress itself.</span></span></div></li> <li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Approach your stress rationally. It is easy to become bogged down with stress and resort to irrational tactics to resolve the problem. The goal is to reduce stress in a healthy way.</span></span></div></li> <li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To reduce stress in a healthy way, it is helpful to make lists of different approaches. How can you solve the problem? Consider all possible solutions and the outcomes of each. Which option will reduce stress without causing conflict in different areas of your life?</span></span></div></li> </ul><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> </span></b> <br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Implement the solution.</span></span></div><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now that you have decided a plan of action to reduce stress, implement it!</span></span></div></li> <li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You will notice instant relief once you have managed the stress directly. Over time, you will reap the benefits of better health and more energy.</span></span></div></li> </ul><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> </span></b> <br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Distract yourself.</span></span></div><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In some instances, you won’t be able to reduce stress directly. If you worry about another person, that person is in control. To reduce stress at this point, it is easiest to distract yourself is healthy ways.</span></span></div></li> <li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When you begin to feel stress, don’t give into those hunger cravings. Reduce stress by engaging yourself in an activity that you enjoy. Hunger pangs brought on by stress are usually temporary. Avoid giving into temptation and then cook yourself a healthy meal.</span></span></div></li> <li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Listening to music is a great way to reduce stress as well. Music naturally calms the mind and body. Play some of your favorite tunes.</span></span></div></li> <li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To reduce stress, try to get moving! Just thirty minutes of moderate activity a day can help relieve stress, lower cortisol levels, and release happy endorphins in the brain. Exercise makes is a helpful way to reduce stress. </span></span></div></li> </ul><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> </span> <br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stress from everyday activity, school, and jobs can play a major role in our happiness and overall health. Take steps each day to reduce stress, and you’ll notice a significant improvement in your quality of life. Now that you have some tips for stress reduction, living a healthier life will be much easier! For extra support on your journey toward healthy living, </span><a href="http://www.afitnurse.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">contact me</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">!</span></span></div>

general health, get healthy, health and happiness, health promotion, healthy and fitness, healthy brain, healthy living, healthy mind, reduce stress, stress

Reduce Stress to Live Healthier

Reduce stress in your everyday life to promote amazing results for your physical and mental health. Stress affects hormones, energy levels,...

Why I became a beachbody coach... and left hospital nursing

As I sit here and reflect on the last year it is crazy to me how in one year your life can completely change. I have been a nurse for 13 years and love nursing. I always new that I would be a nurse... even as a young girl I had an obsession with hospitals. In the 2012, I had an experience with the passing of my grandfather that would give me a completely different perspective with health care. <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F6ntjUhm0O8/UsibsJmJxaI/AAAAAAAACI4/PgJ50T88X3M/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="366" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F6ntjUhm0O8/UsibsJmJxaI/AAAAAAAACI4/PgJ50T88X3M/s640/photo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> In December of 2011 my grandfather suddenly became very ill. He spent two weeks in the CCU recovering from CHF. The CHF was resolved but, he still had an underlying lung disease that would require him to be on high amounts of oxygen. Throughout his hospital stay there were numerous times that his care was being mismanaged by the hospitalist and pulmnologist. To the point that my grandfather's cardiologist and other nurses on the unit told my family to have another doctor take his case. My grandfather was a fighter and boy was he feisty. He was able to get weaned from his high flow oxygen and was transferred to a step-down unit. This is where the nightmare begins....<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4VCVwaOk9Vw/UsiUOYZAnRI/AAAAAAAACIg/0FBPhmpNKM8/s1600/380814_2472639624628_269003431_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4VCVwaOk9Vw/UsiUOYZAnRI/AAAAAAAACIg/0FBPhmpNKM8/s640/380814_2472639624628_269003431_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> He was transferred to the step down unit for 2 hours and he fell out of bed. He was ordered a low bed, pulse oximeter, and a room near the nurses station with his admission orders. None of these orders were carried out. My family was with him the entire time and literally left for 1 hour to pick up new family at the airport when they came back they found my grandfather laying on the floor, bleeding, and cyanotic. Needless to say my grandfather ended up with aspiration pneumonia, lacerations on his arms and legs (which would later lead to an MRSA infection) and he was transferred back to the CCU. <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--6U0HnbAKDc/Usicin0ocMI/AAAAAAAACJA/STHkgpN_C9Q/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--6U0HnbAKDc/Usicin0ocMI/AAAAAAAACJA/STHkgpN_C9Q/s640/photo-2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> My grandfather body had taken a tremendous beating during the fall, his heart could not handle the stress from the event and he peacefully passed away with my family at this side on January 3rd, 2012. The events that occurred changed my outlook on nursing and where our healthcare system is headed forever. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UQQ3YpBIOe0/Usiht9xTVzI/AAAAAAAACJQ/k78V_qGvHGM/s1600/staffiing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UQQ3YpBIOe0/Usiht9xTVzI/AAAAAAAACJQ/k78V_qGvHGM/s320/staffiing.jpg" width="320" /></a>As many of you know the nurse/patient ratios are less then ideal. We have sicker and sicker patients with less staff to care and tend to their needs. After the death of my grandfather, nursing never felt the same to me. I did not want to be responsible for the death of an individual simply because I had too many patients and could not attend to them like I needed too. See as a nurse, your administration rarely tells you are doing a good job. The praise comes from your coworkers and that feeling at the end of the day that you know you did your best. After many shifts of being overworked, not feeling satisfied at the end of the day, experienced nurses leaving the unit, and being in charge of a unit with no manager or direction I decided my time had come to make a change.<br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zwfRxhOi7wo/UsiVFu6enQI/AAAAAAAACIo/gluUzA5Cob4/s1600/hshapple2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zwfRxhOi7wo/UsiVFu6enQI/AAAAAAAACIo/gluUzA5Cob4/s320/hshapple2.jpg" width="283" /></a><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> I continued to work casual hours 1-2 shifts a month in the hospital but, wanted to start focusing on health promotion and disease prevention. Helping people stay OUT of our weakened health care system and focus on improving their health now. So I decided to pursue my certification as a nursing health coach. I left my job in the hospital, the beloved nurse practice council that I developed, and my position on the DAISY committee. It was time to focus on the health of our population now. Before we are sick, stricken with disease, and improve symptoms before they turn into exacerbations.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BODY4RTXNk8/UsilMradz1I/AAAAAAAACJc/fblClNjYcSc/s1600/19885_10200397905295921_8764863_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BODY4RTXNk8/UsilMradz1I/AAAAAAAACJc/fblClNjYcSc/s400/19885_10200397905295921_8764863_n.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Exactly one year on the anniversary of my grandfather's death, I saw a post from my coach Melanie Mitro about a super Saturday event that was going to be happening in Pittsburgh. I was pulled in by the live combat workout with a celebrity trainer and instantly messaged her and told her that I was coming. I came to the event and was immediately welcomed with opened arms. I love the inspiration and motivation from everyone there and decided that I HAD to be a part of this. This started my journey as a beachbody coach... January 15th, 2013. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> I set out last year with a goal to help 100 people improve their health and fitness. In the process, I have had many individuals lower there blood pressure, decrease their cholesterol levels, controlled blood glucose levels, and success story after success story of people eliminating the need for prescribed medications. I not only helped over 100 people but, I have helped closer to 450 people working 1:1 with them with daily support and accountability.<br /> <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9pdg3aABZO0/UsilfNlDuII/AAAAAAAACJk/MY8lje7zBpk/s1600/1264130_621003921283104_170571026_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9pdg3aABZO0/UsilfNlDuII/AAAAAAAACJk/MY8lje7zBpk/s640/1264130_621003921283104_170571026_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> They say that everything happens in your life for a reason. I miss my grandpa everyday but, I know that the lessons I learned from his demise are being used to pay it forward to help others. He lives within my heart and together we will combat disease and promote the health in others. Saving lives one person at a time.<br /> <br /> <br /> (This post is dedicated to my grandfather on the 2 year anniversary of his death... You will forever be missed but, I know you are never far. I love you! You are my inspiration and will not fail in this mission.)<br /> <br />

A fit nurse, beachbody coach, disease prevention, health coaching, health promotion, nurse, why I left the hospital

Why I became a beachbody coach... and left hospital nursing

As I sit here and reflect on the last year it is crazy to me how in one year your life can completely change. I have been a nurse for 13 yea...