Many African-Americans are avoiding dairy, particularly milk, because they think they are lactose intolerant. Usually, the notion of lactose intolerance and avoiding dairy comes from dietary habits learned early in life. As a result, African-Americans are missing out on the many health benefits milk products offer. For example, there is a growing body of evidence that suggests dairy may play a role in reducing the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and colon cancer. The National Medical Association, the nation’s oldest and largest organization of African-American physicians, recommends that African Americans consume 3-4 servings of low-fat dairy per day.

The good news is that lactose intolerance is not an all-or-nothing condition. It’s a matter of degree. What you self diagnose as lactose intolerance is more closely related to lactose maldigestion  —a condition that about 75 percent of all African-Americans have. But, by following a few simple strategies, you can take dairy foods daily and get all the health benefits without all the suffering.

Try these “Eight Great Tips For Tolerance” to help get your 3–4 recommended servings daily (for health purposes, select low fat or fat free dairy products).

Eight Great Tips for Tolerance

1. Start small. Don’t try to drink a glass of milk at one time. Begin with a small portion and slowly increase the serving size. For example, add a small amount of low fat milk to your coffee or hot chocolate.

2. Spread it out. Have small portions of dairy spread throughout the day. Add low-fat milk to your scrambled eggs or make grits with low-fat milk instead of water. Wrap beans and low-fat cheese in a tortilla for lunch; add a little shredded cheese to your salad.

3. Pair the dairy. Drink milk with meals instead of on an empty stomach. Solid foods slow digestion and allow your body more time to digest the lactose, which helps prevent symptoms.

4. Say cheese. When milk is made into cheese, most of the lactose is removed. Aged hard cheeses, such as cheddar, colby, Swiss and Parmesan, are particularly low in lactose. Add low-fat cheddar to your favorite cornbread recipe or serve rice and beans with colby.

5. Get a little culture. Cultured dairy products, such as yogurt with live active cultures, contain “friendly” bacteria that help digest lactose. Incorporate non-fat yogurt into a refreshing mango-and banana smoothie for a great-tasting way to start the day.

6. Reduce it. Look for lactose-free or lactose-reduced milk in the dairy case. It tastes the same as regular milk. Or “spike” your milk with a few lactase enzyme drops that are available in most drug stores. That will reduce the lactose in the milk.

7. Make it easy. Buy dairy digestive supplements (lactase caplets) at your drug store. If you take the caplets before you eat dairy foods, they can help you digest lactose easily.

8. Go to the pros. See your doctor for a diagnosis of your symptoms. Then, talk to your doctor or consult with a registered dietitian to learn how you can incorporate dairy foods into your diet.

Source: The African American Guide To Living Well With Diabetes. New Page Books; July 2010

There are too many people suffering because they are unaware of strategies for living a healthy life so I have made it my goal to educate all those who I encounter and have an open mind towards lifestyle changes that could benefits them for the rest of their life. I’m doing all I can to help people because I know that health is your greatest wealth and without it, life can become difficult.

Since I have a passion for healthy living and I’m promoting a disease-free lifestyle.  My motivation for doing this is because I see so many people suffering from obesity, diabetes, fibroid tumors, high blood pressure, depression, and arthritis. Many of these conditions can be treated with a balanced diet, rest, exercise, and plenty of water. I’m a witness that this change in lifestyle works and I have shared my knowledge and expertise with many others who have changed their lives for the better.

When I get up, I drink 16 oz. of distilled water with 1 organic lemon squeezed into it. I wait an hour and have organic oatmeal. Two hours later I have a blueberry, strawberry, banana smoothies with 1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil in it. Two hours later, I have 5 oz. of green beans with 2 pieces of baked tilapia (no salt added—->I season my fish with tumeric rosemary & basil). I have 6 oz. organic brown rice or 6 oz. organic quinoa after each workout (which is 2 hours long, 6 days per week).  I eat something every two hours to keep my energy up. I take ginkgo biloba,  selenium, B6, B12, Folic Acid, and lecithin with my oatmeal in the morning. I drink at least 200 0z. of water each day with lemon squeezed into it sometimes. The exercises I do consist of 30 minutes cardio, 30 minutes weights, 30 minutes of leg exercises, 30 minutes sit-ups.

The same way I changed my life and made health a  priority, you can too. The decision not to is a costly one.

Douglas was one who ate pretty healthy and stayed active, but he did not get enough sleep and was always on the go. Here’s his story:

Enliven Magazine: Take us through the heart attack ordeal. What happened?

Douglas: I was rushing into town to make my daughter’s graduation and I got there right before she started to walk to receive her diploma. I began to perspire profusely and I was having discomfort in my chest. I got up to exit and get some fresh air outside. Every time I would take a step my chest would get tighter and tighter. At that time, I was startled and didn’t know what was going on. I prayed and then I begin to experience a pain I had never experienced in my life before. Then I fell unconscious. My son who was also attending his graduation was running late for the graduation and he discovered me laying unconscious outside. At that time my son and another person took me to the emergency room that was down the street. He didn’t wait on the paramedics but decided to get me in the car due to the severity of my condition. When I got to the hospital and became conscious, due to my surprise, I was told by the doctor that I had a had heart attack.

Enliven Magazine: How has your lifestyle changed since the heart attack?  (Eating, exercise, etc).

Douglas: My lifestyle has changed drastically. I have changed my vigorous traveling schedule. I have changed my diet. [I have also incorporated] more exercise, meditation and prayer to reduce stress levels.

Enliven Magazine: What is your message to others regarding heart health?

Douglas: For them to get early screenings for heart disease and go see a cardiologist to get tested, whether be male or female.  Know the warning signs. Also, change their diets totally and exercise more and stress less.

Enliven Magazine: Tell us about your collaboration with Aspirin. What is the goal of this campaign?

Douglas: Well, I take an aspirin regimen everyday to make sure that I don’t have any artery complication. The aspirin aids in reducing my stress levels and preventing stroke. Recently, I was selected to be a spokesman for Bayer’s aspirin which resulted in me getting a national commercial with my son who had discovered me during my heart attack.

Enliven Magazine: Is there a scripture or biblical principle that helps you to stay focused on living healthy?

Douglas: 3 John 1:2 Above all, I wish that you would be in good health and prosper even as your soul shall prosper.

According to the American Heart Association, nearly 4 in every 10 non-Hispanic Black adults have cardiovascular disease, claiming the lives of 37 percent of the nearly 288,000 Blacks who die each year. Risk factors for the heart disease include diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, stress and lack of exercise. There are some uncontrollable risk factors that include family history (which may not be hereditary but may in fact be by generations of bad eating) and age.

To prevent heart failure and other heart disease, it’s crucial to treat risk factors successfully, says Anne L. Taylor, MD, a professor of medicine at New York Presbyterian Hospital and vice dean of academic affairs at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. It’s also important to live active lifestyles and be conscious of nutrition. Get checked today!

Here’s Douglas on TBN’s Praise the Lord

Keith’s first debut book, The Power to Get Wealth: No Money Required can be purchased online at www.keithdouglas.org, www.amazon.com and www.smashwords.com.

Do you eat for emotional reasons or because of your cultural belief system? Growing up, I ate because I was angry or anxious, and I ate all the time. That was normal in my Italian-American culture and it’s why I weighed 207 pounds when I was 17 years old.

Thankfully, God rescued me and realigned my thoughts with His healthier ways. To make a long story short, I lost 75 pounds, went on to study nutrition and obesity psychology at Cornell, and eventually became a medical doctor that helps other people overcome pain, illness, addictions, and obesity.

Now that you know my background, let me summarize what I’ve learned about weight control: it’s better to eat for physical rather than emotional or cultural reasons. Here are ten steps that can help you do that:

TEN STEPS THAT HELP YOU OVERCOME EMOTIONAL EATING:

1. Find a nice, quiet place, where you can have private time with God without interruption.

2. Identify the overriding emotion that is bothering you. I.e., take it “captive” in your mind. Literally, name it. Is it “fear,” “anger,” “anxiety,” “sadness,” “emptiness,” “boredom,” “guilt,” “shame,” “worthlessness,” etc?

3. Out loud, proclaim that you accept yourself in spite of your feeling that emotion, “Even though I feel [name the emotion], I totally accept myself, just as God accepts me fully.” The spoken word is a powerful thing, especially when it lines up with the Word of God.

4. While focusing on God in prayer, directly experience the negative emotion in His presence. Even if it feels uncomfortable to do this, remember that the emotion itself won’t actually kill you. Your emotion may not even be based on truth about you, but rather your perception of the truth! (E.g. just because you feel fear doesn’t actually mean that you’re in danger!).

5. Choose another activity besides eating if you feel the urge to “do” something with the emotion. Perhaps you can exercise or take care of something you’ve been procrastinating about. Willfully do this “in spite of your feeling this emotion.”

6. Thank God for the revelation that it’s okay to feel negative emotions. It doesn’t make you a bad person. Thank God profusely for this. Thank Him out loud.

7. Forgive yourself if you believe you’ve done something wrong (to create those emotions) and forgive others whose actions might have led to those emotions. State your forgiveness out loud. “In spite of my feeling [name the emotion], I fully release and forgive [name names!].”

8. Prayerfully come to the point where you’re willing to separate yourself from those thoughts and emotions. “Thank You, God, for allowing me to separate from this problem so I can move on with my life.” Say it like you mean it and say it over and over again if need be.

9. Find something better to think about than the thoughts that led to those emotions. Focus on positive thoughts. Then, you can more easily feel the fruit of the Spirit.

10.Breathe. As you deal with these emotions, take deep breaths, occasionally, exhaling out your stress. Let your physical body relax as your mind relaxes. You may choose to journal about your experience.

For more help, download my condensed Christian weight loss e-booklet on Kindle, anytime between May 7th-11th, 2012, TOTALLY FREE, as my gift to Enliven! readers and their friends and families. The link is shown below. There is no limit to the number of e-booklets that will be given away during these five days, so feel free to share the news with anyone and everyone!

http://www.amazon.com/The-Eden-Diet-Condensed-ebook/dp/B007RH1S78/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1335444960&sr=1-1

About the Author: Dr. Rita is an author and writes about how the mind-body-Spirit connection affects a person’s physical health. Look for her new book on that subject to be published by Strang/Charisma House in January, 2013. Dr. Rita is also passionate about the beneficial effects of osteopathic manipulation on your physical well-being.

A new spring season is here – you made the resolve earlier this year to get off the diet rollercoaster, stop weighing yourself and stay steady on your new journey towards wellness in 2012…..NOW WHAT?

Here are a few simple nutrition strategies will help you keep going to maintain a healthy lifestyle all year long.

• Start out by eating a healthy breakfast every day. By eating a hearty whole-grain and fruity breakfast, you can actually meet about 2/3 of your fiber requirements for the day. Stay away from a typical  high-refined breakfast that leaves you hungry an hour later. Instead choose a whole-wheat bagel (or toast), fresh fruit or a ruggedly fiber cereal. Add  a good source of  high protein such as a fruit smoothie or vegetable omelet to the mix.

• For the remainder of the day, choose fruits, vegetables, and whole grains as the base of your diet. When was the last time you tried a new fruit or vegetable? A serving size of fruits or vegetables is smaller than you think. Your goal should be to eat a minimum of five to ten servings a  day.

• Eat  only when you are hungry. Start improving your listening  skills by nourishing your body before you are ravenous and stop eating      when you feel full. When your body is fueled properly, your hunger will be satisfied. Two large meals stretched out into three-to-five smaller meals will help promote healthy weight loss.

• Drink liquids before you feel thirsty. Keep your body hydrated with at least eight to ten glasses of water each day. Water keeps your body      systems in peak condition, and is particularly important when your physical activity level is increased from moderate or vigorous.

Effective weight management is not an obstacle, but an opportunity to take care of your body during all stages of life. So, get up for the wellness challenge with positive energy and creativity!

Vegetable Alfredo Sauce
Yield: 3-4 cups sauce

1 cup broccoli florets
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp butter or margarine
1 cup evaporated milk
1 cup 2% cottage cheese, pureed until smooth
1/8 tsp pepper
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

1. Steam broccoli and carrots until tender but still crisp.

2. Sauté mushrooms and garlic in 1 tbsp butter until tender in a heavy saucepan. Set vegetables aside.

3. Using the same saucepan, melt 1 tbsp butter; add milk, and heat until very hot but not boiling.

4. Add salt, pepper, parsley, Parmesan cheese, mushrooms, garlic, broccoli, and carrots to the cream mixture.

5. Heat on medium high heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce is heated through and is the desired consistency.

6. Serve over your favorite pasta.

Source: Tailoring Your Taste, by Linda Omichinski and Heather Wiebe Hildebrand

About the Author: Kindy Peaslee is a Registered Dietitian from Saratoga Springs, NY. Sign up to receive free healthy recipes at www.healthy-kid-recipes.com and learn more about natural eating and living products at www.kindycreek.com.

“Ain’t nothing wrong with me.” Most of us have heard this from one of the men in our lives. They just don’t want to go to the doctor despite the pain they feel. Maybe in the area of love women should think like a man, but in this area men need to think more like women.

It’s so important for our men to take care of themselves. As the head of households and the back bone to our communities, women depend on men a great deal. Though our society has sometimes made men feel invalid, the fact is God created men and women for relationships with one another. Too often black women are left living lives as widows because their husbands are dying years before them from health related issues.

According to Dr. Derek Griffith, assistant professor at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health, African-American men die an average of seven years earlier than men of other ethnic groups, and are more likely to suffer from undiagnosed chronic illnesses.

So why don’t black men go to the doctor? Some blame the Tuskegee experiment and other instances where black men were used as guinea pigs. Supposedly this has created a stigma of distrust for doctors amongst black men.

A study done by Griffith discovered that it’s not so much that black men don’t want to go to the doctor just because they don’t want to go, rather it is the fact that they have bad experiences when they do go to the doctor. The men that participated in the study said that they were often made to feel less than and were talked down to by doctors.

Other studies show that black men do in fact have an issue with trust as it relates to physicians. In a study done by the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, “men who reported being highly mistrustful of the medical system were more than twice as likely to delay routine check-ups and cholesterol screenings and three times more likely to delay having their blood pressure checked by a physician or health-care professional than men who were less mistrustful.”

Regardless of the reason as to why black men are not going, we have to find ways to encourage and motivate them to go. Here are some suggestions:

• Have a family doctor day, this way the man has the support of his family.
• Ask his best friend to go to the doctor with him.
• Find local health fairs that offer free screenings. This way the man in your life won’t feel threatened by the thought of going to a doctor’s office.
• Schedule the appointment for him. Sometimes they want to see about themselves but the fear of the unknown keeps them from even taking the first step.
• Tell him how much his health means to you and schedule a day out that includes a doctor’s visit, lunch and something he will enjoy (maybe a sporting event).

Our men are dying and this is really a topic that we can no longer ignore. It’s not funny and it’s not cute. Let’s reclaim our health and help our men do the same!
Sources:

Bailey, L. Study: African American men say doctor visits are often a bad experience. University of Michigan, 26 Jan 2011.

Lane, P. Mistrust keeps black men from doctor. Futurity.org. 12 Jan 2011.

Circumstances and situations can be so misleading. Just one bad day has the potential to throw me completely off my game. I could be weeks into a new fitness routine; one with new workouts and leafy green vegetables…but let me have one bad argument, one rough work day or one “bloated” moment..and I want cookies. I have come to realize that there is nothing wrong with wanting cookies, or fries, or ice cream or any other self-indulgence, what’s wrong is not having the ability to talk yourself out of it by the time you get to the store or kitchen.

I have been guilty of allowing a less than desirable number on the scale, a disagreement with my spouse or a highly stressful workday convince me that I’m never going to lose weight, I need to get a divorce and that I need to get a new job. It is truly amazing how my brain has the ability to forget about the other 29 days of the month. The days when I jump for joy when I get off the scale. The days when I thank God for the love and support of my husband. The days when I finish a project at work and feel a remarkable sense of accomplishment. I am really good at forgetting about those days.

Just imagine the amount of personal success we would achieve if we weren’t thrown off so easily. I know that in order for me to start making consistent changes in my life I had to learn how to talk to myself. I learned how to have full conversations with myself about my choices and what I needed to do differently. I’m going to let you eavesdrop:

Me: “Ugggh, I look ridiculous in this dress. I’m never going to lose all of this weight. Why am I waking up early and watching every calorie I put in my mouth when it is obvious that nothing is happening?”
The Other Me: “Just yesterday you were excited about how toned your body was getting. The hubby and a co-worker also commented on your weight loss.”
Me: “Maybe they were just being nice. This is for the birds and I’m really hungry.”
The Other Me: “Don’t throw all of your hard work away because you don’t like what’s going on right now. You are going to be real upset tomorrow when you feel better and realize that you let yourself give up again.”
Me: “You’re right…time to do my 4 miles…where are my shoes?”

No matter what we struggle with; it is important that we understand that giving up is not an option. Giving up has never found a cure for a disease, worked out a family’s financial woes, or provided someone with a golden opportunity. Giving up is one of the devil’s favorite weapons and he uses it to attack us on a regular basis. What would happen in your life if giving up didn’t exist? Now where are your shoes?

Taryn’s Story:

November 7, 2011 was the day that I decided that enough was enough and it was finally time for me to walk in my purpose. I have been certified in group exercise and personal fitness training since 2006 and I have always taught aerobics at churches and other fitness facilities around the DMV, but until now, I was never fully committed to my calling.

After enduring 2 miscarriages and 1 ectopic pregnancy in 2009 I had no idea what I was supposed to do in the world of fitness.  Especially with all of the weight and a completely broken spirit.  God eventually blessed us with our son and while he is truly a miracle baby, I gained a lot of weight during my pregnancy.  I turned 30 in September of 2011 and as a wife and now mother of 2 I knew that it was time to walk out on faith.

So with at least 40 extra pounds on me…I started running….I ran I ran I ran and since then I have never looked back – I just look up.  Extra grace and mercy carried me through my runs and His love continues to do so. In the middle of my weight loss journey, I took another step out on faith and started my own company.

I am now the humble owner of Heavenly Body Fitness, LLC and look forward to helping others take care of themselves.  As my son readily approaches the terrible 2s and my daughter continues to navigate her way through tween land there are times when the thought of going on my morning run seems overwhelming and it is in those times that I meditate on this verse: But they that wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.  Isaiah 40:31.

While some may argue that winter never truly arrived, there is no doubt that for most of us, spring has sprung. With a new season comes new trends, and the world of hair is no exception. From recent red carpet events to runway shows, celebrities and style trendsetters alike are blazing the trail of the most sought-after looks for the warmer months. The question becomes how to make them work for everyday wear. Here are fool-proof versions of hot spring and summer looks from celebrity hairstylist, makeup artist and owner of Gocha Salon, Gocha Hawkins, with emphasis on low-maintenance styling, also known as a woman’s best friend.

Tight Top Knot

The updo is back this spring, and arguably the most popular style of the moment is the upswept top knot. “More than ever, we see people taking more chances with hair. The top knot has been a favorite of celebrities for a long time, and now more women are looking to capitalize on this easy, yet impactful, trend. One thing to remember when doing the top knot is that your hair should be shoulder length or longer; anything shorter, and your style will be much more difficult to achieve. When you add too much product, it can be sticky and unflattering,” says Gocha.

• Gather hair as if putting up in a high, slicked-back ponytail. If hair is thin and does not have a lot of natural volume, tease gently and pull back, securing with hair elastic.
•  Divide hair into two sections, winding them around one another from the base of the ponytail.
• Using hairpins, secure hair by pinning the base and then any additional loose hair. The key is to keep most of it contained so the look emphasizes the knot, like Jennifer Lopez’s look at this year’s Academy Awards.
• Spray with hair spray to keep in place throughout the day or night. 

High Volume

With humid months around the corner, it’s helpful to have a few styles in the repertoire that lend themselves well to high volume. As  Gocha puts it, “Why fight it when it’s humid outside? It’s a losing battle, unless you want to spend your day doing countless touch-ups, and who has time for that? I usually suggest going for trends that are low-maintenance and work well for women with thicker hair that changes texture in heat. Achieving a bigger look is simple, and contrary to popular belief, does not require a trip to the salon for a professional blowout!”

• If hair is thin, use a shampoo that specializes in producing volume. 
•  Use volumizing spray, and then flip hair until upside down. Blow-drying this way produces natural heft and allows closer access to roots that may need teasing. Like Beyonce, don’t straighten bangs, but blow dry them so that they keep the same texture.
• If needed, use a three inch curling iron (make sure all hair is dry first!) to add more control to waves.
• Not big enough? Tease hair at the crown. Then, using a large flat brush, comb out and seal with hairspray.

Short and Chic

There is no time more popular for short hair styles than spring and summer. And with more and more stars embracing the pixie cut, the moment to go short is now. “Not only are short hair styles the most low-maintenance and easiest to style, but they’re also increasing in popularity as more and more celebrities embrace them. It’s important with a short haircut to trust your stylist to give you the right look; this isn’t something that I would suggest trying at home. It takes a certain personality to pull off this trend, but it’s worth it to be on the cutting edge of what is chic,” explains Gocha.

•  With short styles, keep in mind that they look best on women with square, oval or heart-shaped faces and hair with a certain degree of texture. Not curly, but wavy, is the best for short hair, though thin can also work if layered well. Not ready to go for the full pixie?
• While many women think that a pixie cut is a “one-trick pony,” there are certain cuts that can be very versatile. For example, a short pixie cut can be styled into choppy bangs, a deep side part, spiked up for volume, or tousled.
• One of the best go-to products for any type of styling for a pixie cut is a wax-based product, which adds volume and also separation for sectioning hair. Use this as an alternative to hairsprays for keeping the style in place.

“Spring and summer are the prime seasons for women to be more confident in changing hair. I always suggest going for whatever look you’re considering, because it is hair, and it grows back! These easy styles are great for women-on-the-go who seek low-maintenance, yet trendy, looks. And isn’t that all of us, after all?” Gocha says.

For more information about Gocha Hawkins and Gocha Salon, please follow @GochaSalon on Twitter, “Like” Gocha Salon on Facebook, and visit www.GochaSalon.com. 

Images courtesy of PageDaily.com, HairstyleIdeas.net, WomensBeautyLife.com, and BestHairstyle.us.

 So what is the meaning of blood-bought?  Being blood-bought = Bought or obtained at the expense of life or by the shedding of blood, as in the crucifixion of Christ. What did Jesus’ death do for our health?  It offers us wholeness for our mind, body and soul.  Sickness and disease may come to our body but we do not have to allow it to stay, for by His stripes we were healed (Isaiah 53:5).  Fear, depression, affliction and worry may try to confuse and distress our mind, but how can they when God has given us a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).  Emotions such as anger, envy, jealousy and strife may try to lead us to act in the flesh, but as new creatures, we are to demonstrate the Fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and faithfulness (Galatians 5:22).

 The slogan “Membership has its privileges” is a popular American Express slogan.  I believe the American Express slogan should be adopted by the Body of Christ to become the battle cry for what Jesus’ death affords for Believers.  Jesus’ death provided more than the forgiveness of sin and the assurance of eternal life.  His death provided membership to the best health and fitness program that this world has to offer.  This health and fitness program does not carry the name Gold’s Gym or LA Fitness.  The name of this health and fitness program is ABUNDANT LIFE. 

 So, the next time you have sickness or disease in your body, or if stress or mental illness are trying to attack your mind and/or heart ache or heart break attempt to send your emotions into a tail spin, remember you have membership in the greatest health and fitness program.  Remember, you have membership in Kingdom Living.  Therefore, do not hesitate to pull out your membership manual.  You may call it the Bible or you may call it the Word of God.  It does not matter what you call it as long as you seek to learn about and apply the blood-bought privileges Jesus’ death provides for your health and wellness so you can be made whole!

1. Convert your family room, garage, or car porch into a gym.  If you don’t have free weights or other exercise equipment such as an elliptical machine, make your own weights by using milk cartons filled with water or soup cans. Make use of your stairs, chairs as an elliptical incline. A clear area on the floor is a great space to do jumping jacks, jump rope, and pushups and create a mini indoor boot camp. Use your imagination to come up with creative concepts to exercise in ways that may be new to you or that you would not normally do.

2. Just dance; it’s free, simple fun. All you have to do is turn up the music or the iPod and show off your best and silliest dance moves. Dancing is a great aerobic workout and is fun fitness for everybody.

3. Invite friends over or gather the family for a family reunion fitness day. Be sure to include games like Twister, XBOX or the Wii fitness and get active. Make use of fitness DVDs, CDs or TV fitness networks that are easy to follow and fun for all ages and body types.

  
4. Speed clean your home. By speed cleaning you get in an aerobic exercise and reap the benefits of having a clean living space. Get everyone involved, set the timer and see how fast you can dust, mop, load, sort, clean, and organize your home. Fast paced music helps to keep up your momentum. 
5. During some rain storms you may not feel comfortable doing activities that involve lots of movement because of the rolling thunder and flashes of lighting. It is wise to do as our elders would suggest ” be still and let the Lord do his work.” This is a great time to stretch your body or do yoga exercise, which is calming to the mind, body and spirit.

6. Go ahead walk or run in the sprinkling rain with the ones you love! Play a game of catch football or softball in the rain with the neighborhood kids.  Create wonderful memories with others as you stay fit, stay safe and have fun with rainy day fitness. 

Do not let the rain damper your spirits and get you off track. Fitness can be done anywhere at any time. Just keep your body in motion no matter the weather!