The older I get, the faster time goes. As each year passes with the blink of an eye, I try to learn from my mistakes and am constantly striving to be a better version of myself. Let's be honest, sometimes that works, and sometimes it doesn't. Either way, I still keep trying. When I think back to my health and fitness habits 10, 15 or 20 years ago, a lot has changed. I've become much more aware of the food I put into my body. Gone are the days of "diet" cookies or fat-free chips, foods that used to be part of the healthy food section of my grocery list. I've become a conscious label reader, and while my diet is far from perfect, I try not to eat too many foods with ingredients I can't pronounce. My exercise routine has changed considerably, as well. I used to feel like any workout under 60 minutes was a waste of time, and 90 percent of my exercise routine involved running. These days, I focus more on quality over quantity and try to add more variety—including challenging strength exercises and new forms of cardio—into the mix. As a result, I've uncovered muscles I never knew I had and have even discovered new exercises that I love just as much as running. Hello, Muay Thai kickboxing!. There are so many things I wish I could tell my younger self on the topic of being healthy. Of course, hindsight is 20/20, right? Which is not to say that this sense of "infinite wisdom" means I do everything right. I make mistakes every day, just like anyone else. But now I recognize a better way to think about my health and my body. Given the chance, I would tell 25-year-old Jen: 1. Healthy and fit doesn't have mean a size four. 2. Constantly comparing yourself to others won't make you happy. 3. It's important to embrace your differences instead of constantly fighting them. 4. Don't underestimate the power that lack of sleep and stress have on your body. 5. Realize that your body changes naturally with age and with each child you have. You can still be fit and strong, even with that baby "pooch." I tend to have high expectations of myself, but through experience, I’ve learned to push myself while still being realistic. I also asked members to share their best advice to their younger selves and here were some of the great responses: Use every resource available to get your emotional eating under control. Stop starting over and pushing healthy habits off until tomorrow, next week, next month. You don't have forever like you think. You feel like you're invincible now, but you will have health problems from the excess weight. And not when you're old - it will sneak up on you quickly. Do exercise that you love, not what you think you should do. ALLTHECUPCAKES Do your research. You know yourself best. Just because it's on the Internet doesn't mean it's true. Don't be afraid to question things—you may turn out to be right! 1CRAZYDOG Learn to love yourself. Learn to accept who you are and be glad. The biggest thing I wish I could tell myself is "This, like all things, will pass. You will survive and grow. Don't worry about the things you can't control—accept it and move on.FRANNIEDID I would definitely have wanted my kids to be part of the exercise and activities at home. They played sports every season, but quality family time is a blessing. It could have been the factor that I was missing with my kids, since I had to work 24/7 when they were in junior high and high school. Having activity time just for the family would have been a great way to bond further with my kids and to help know where their heads were at. DEBTEVELDAHL When you hit a roadblock or obstacles in your way, or things get hard, don't accept defeat. Commit to making your health and your life better—you are the only one who can make that choice for you—and learn what you need to do to accomplish that. Respect yourself, be good to yourself and treat yourself the same way you would someone that you love. WARRIORGIRL121 Don't have an "all or nothing" frame of mind. Some healthy decisions are better than none. You can always add more later. STLOUISWOMAN A mistake does not give me license to berate myself. Mistakes are an opportunity for learning and growth. Embrace them. Although you are unique, others have likely had similar experiences. Dare to reach out to others. You are not alone in your struggles. Seek support and fellow travelers. Establishing and maintaining a healthy weight is possible. Don't let anyone tell you that efforts to lose weight are pointless because no one loses weight and keeps it off. Believing such lies will deprive you of the deep and abiding joy that comes from being at home in your right-sized body. JEANKNEE When you are walking in public, no one is noticing you. You don't have to feel embarrassed, instead feel virtuous because you are doing something good for yourself. One cookie is okay, two cookies is too many. There are no brownie points for working 70 hour weeks. Make sure you get adequate sleep and eat a sensible diet. Listen to your body, it knows better what it needs than your mind does. Habits are easier to make than to break. Sugar doesn't solve problems. TOWHEE So much of my self-esteem issues and weight were because I was afraid of the people around me and how they were judging me (whether they were actually judging me or not). If I'd learned to love myself and care about my own opinions, I don't think I would have waited until I was almost 40 to start getting healthy. MINATHERED What advice would you give your younger self? What do you know now that you wish you would have known then?  You will earn 5 SparkPoints
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- have more fun...
- be the best person you can be...
- don't try to change yourself into what someone else wants...
- remember to help others Report
2) Listen more than you talk, sometimes others have some really good advice...
3) Don't follow blindly, think for yourself...
4) If you start something... FINISH IT! (unless it is bad for you, then don't start)
5) Procrastination is not your friend, get things done early whenever possible...
6) Life will through you curve balls it is how you react to them that matters...
7) A positive attitude makes all the difference Report
Love yourself enough to say no and mean it.
Make time for what’s important, family, friends and what you enjoy doing.
Live your passion.
Take more risks.
My parents taught me about eating healthy although, at the time, I really didn’t know what that meant and I discovered a passion for fitness. Report
1) Study harder/complete ALL homework assignments in HS/college
2) Major in Environmental Science rather than liberal arts
3) Join the college's equestrian team
4) Keep my first mare; DON'T sell her (lease her out, maybe)
5) Not to get romantically involved with a particular someone; it ruined a perfectly good friendship
6) Be less self-absorbed and more compassionate & patient
7) Be more diligent about caring for my skin to avoid wrinkles
Funny; NOTHING about diet/weight loss. But then, I maintained a fairly consistent weight back then. Report
Thankfully when my GD started to mouth off quite a bit,,,,, I responded differently and wisely,,, she learned she was ONLY smarter with electronics ,,, not in life and for her LOL not even with schooling, but did so in a way that respected her so she didn't get eye rolling (Didn't WE invent the eye roll? ) Report
Overlook a persons shortcomings and love them because you can;
Travel!
Take more pictures;
Listen to your friends and family;
Think about your choices and where they will lead you;
Don't marry him!
Live your life for YOU! Report
Never believe anything a recruiter says. You don't have to live in a coastal State to join the Coast Guard.
You don't have to marry her just because you saw her bloomers.
Check with your family to make sure she's not your cousin BEFORE you say, "I do". Afterwards it's too late.
'Beer & Girls" isn't a college major. Getting kicked out by the Board of Regents for 'Moral Turpitude" is bad for your résumé.
Cut the GREEN wire.
Keep your booger-flicker off the bang-switch.
Buy GOOG IPO at 85. Ride it to 600 and dump it.
Don't live North of the Mason-Dixon.
Never play Five Finger Fillet with a guy called Stubs. Report
t much better . My younger self would have loved to know that if i changed my diet that my hair wouldn't have fell out and all the years of rude , hurtful people making fun of me could have been avoided. But all that being said it is our adversity that makes us grow and get wiser . So as bad as i would have loved some insite into my future all the struggle and growth has made me stronger and smarter. Report
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Focus on health, not on your weight! Weight is just a number on the scale and not the total indicator of health; size is just a number too. Do you feel strong? What fuel do you give your body? Do you get enough sleep? Do you laugh every day? That's what healthy feels like.
Your body is amazing! Even though it's larger than many, it keeps going and going even when you push it hard. It can carry the groceries & the baby in at the same time. It stays awake late and gets up early. It lifts, bends, twists, and walks with ease (many bodies don't) and rarely gets sick. It knows how to keep your husband happy :) Don't discount how amazing your body is just because it's a different size than others!
Eat REAL food! If you eat healthy sized portions of real food, it doesn't really cost more than nutrition-free processed foods & fast foods. And by the way, you aren't starving, and you won't starve... you might feel uncomfortable for a few minutes but if you distract yourself, it will go away. You probably are thirsty and should drink some water.
Enjoy now because tomorrow isn't promised to us! Be kind and go out of your way for others sometimes, especially your loved ones, because you don't when it might be the last time you get to see them.
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2. Eat more of the fresh healthy foods, eat single portions of food, reduce your intake of processed foods, take home half of your restaurant entrees (have them for lunch the next day), and if someone in your family has diabetes, do not wait until you're diagnosed with it to change your eating habits for the better.
3.Find a healthy way to handle stress! Meditate, walk in the park, play with your pet, practice yoga or tai chi, exercise, lift some weights.
4.Don't listen to anything at the highest volume! Sure your speakers are awesome, but your hearing will get worse as you age and good hearing aids are expensive.
5.Practice "prevention"! I know you think it won't happen to you, but seriously, every negative action on your part claims a part of your body. Wear sunscreen, don't smoke (anything!), always wear your seatbelt, don't drink and drive, don't text and drive, don't drink to get drunk, be careful what you tattoo onto your body, all piercings are NOT attractive (and those great big holes in your earlobes will not close up), moisturize your skin (yeah, even you guys need to moisturize and all lotions do not smell "girly").
6.You get only one body per lifetime so treat yours with respect and love.
7. READ! Read to learn, read for fun. Just. Read.
8. Take some part of each day for "me time". You are important, so take at least 15 minutes each day that are just yours.
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