 Hi guys! I found out about Health Movement in one of my introductory public health classes at BYU. I used to think I wanted to be a doctor, but about the time I heard about Health Movement
I began to think there was a better way to help people live happy and healthy lives. Prevention. I had seen a few Health Movement t-shirts around that said "Lifestyle is the best medicine" and I was hooked as soon as I connected the dots from the t-shirts to Health Movement. I love being active and that has always been a huge part of my life. I grew up playing soccer, baseball, and basketball, wakeboarding in the summers, and later on playing hockey and lacrosse. When I move, I feel better physically, mentally, and even spiritually. I am currently a senior at BYU studying Public Health with an emphasis in Environmental Health. I play ice hockey at BYU and love to explore in and around Provo with my new wife. We were married two weeks ago in Los Angeles. I truly believe that lifestyle is the best medicine. Whether the change you're looking to make is in your weight, your energy, your looks, or your life situation, lifestyle is the best medicine. A change in lifestyle can do great things for anyone and everyone. Join the movement!
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 April and May always seem to be the busiest months for everyone. With school ending, and summer beginning, schedules tend to be packed to the max. During this busy time of the year it can be really hard to eat healthy. I was struggling just the other week, trying to find the time to make a healthy dinner for my family. Between work and school, most of our meals were free for all. But I wanted to be better. So I started laying out all of my fruits and veggies for the week. I washed, cut and bagged them so they were ready for grabbing and going. I’ve done this for the past couple weeks and it’s made such a difference! Having healthy snacks prepared on Sunday nights makes the rest of the week go so much smoother and healthier!
Before I started doing this I would be starving in between meals or making trips to the vending machine. And I definitely wasn’t getting my full servings of fruit and vegetables. This all resulted in a slow, sluggish, and unhappy family! But since planning and preparing my snacks at the beginning of the week I’m full and happy between each meal! And because I feel so great from eating clean snacks I end up eating clean and healthy meals. It really is a domino effect. I also started making homemade hummus to dip our veggies in. As much as I love broccoli and carrots, it can get old. So finding a healthy dip once in a while helps jazz up the flavor. Once I started making my own hummus, I've never been tempted to go back the store bought. It’s so much cheaper, healthier, and tastier! Try out the recipe below! So if these next few weeks are looking pretty crazy for you, think about spending one hour cutting up some fruit and veggies for your family to snack on throughout the week. It also helps prevent hangry* family members and the end of the day. Red Pepper Hummus 2 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice 1 clove garlic, quartered 1 (15 oz) can garbanzo beans, drained and 3-4 tbsp liquid reserved 1 cup red peppers 1⁄2 tsp kosher salt 1⁄2 tsp ground cumin 1⁄8 tsp cayenne pepper Throw in a blender and you've got yourself some delicious vegetable dip! *Hangry: When you are so hungry that your lack of food causes you to become angry, frustrated or both.  I hate cooking, I would much rather do any other chore; dishes, laundry, bathroom, you name it! I hate the planning, preparing, measuring, chopping, etc. it just takes so much time! I would much rather use my handy dandy microwave and just heat something up or even better eat out (no dishes!)
Fortunately for my family, I really care about eating healthy so I suffer through my hatred of cooking and plan healthy meals. While it is a process, I feel so much better when I know we are eating healthy. That being said, once I got married I quickly discovered the beautiful invention called the crockpot. The crockpot is my sidekick, I use it for almost every meal (I try to anyway!). It seriously is the greatest thing for all of us non-cookers, especially for those who are constantly fighting for more time in the day. I highly recommend getting one. This is starting to sound like a testimonial for crockpots, I’ll get on with the point. I have been pretty disappointed with the lack of healthy crockpot recipes out there. I’m always weeding through pinterest trying to find some recipe that doesn’t include “cream of chicken” or other processed junk. This used to limit what I could cook and my poor husband was getting sick of the same recipes each week, until I discovered how to substitute food! This seems like a no-brainer, I really don’t know why it took me so long to figure out that I can sub out the yucky processed junk for healthier options! And the best part is it doesn’t compromise the flavor or taste of the recipe. It has made finding crockpot recipes so much easier for me and a much happier husband! Check out these substitutions for your next meal!
 Our Health Movement is about bringing people together in the fight for better health. No matter our current health status, we all have the same underlying goal; we want to be healthier. We may be at different levels or go about it in different ways, but we’re all on the same team and same journey, just at different stages.
Share your story, inspiration, passion, goals, failures and successes with the rest of us. Because ultimately this problem is too big for any of us to tackle alone; we have to work together, improve together, succeed, stumble and keep going together. Because good health is one thing we all want and one thing we can all agree on regardless of our unique preferences. This is about healthy living, your way - whatever your way or reason is. Whatever your passion, bring it and share it with others. Join our campaign this month by sharing your reason to be healthy, post on facebook or instagram and include #MyHealthReason. Everyone has a reason to be healthy, what’s yours? 
February has come and gone which means another group has finished the 30-Day Lifestyle Program. These past 30 days we've had the opportunity to focus and improve on several aspects of our health. From exercising and diet to sleeping and serving, we've all been able to grow both psychically and mentally. Here are some thoughts from those who participated. Enjoy!
"Before starting I thought I was pretty healthy and didn't have a lot of desire to improve, but this program gave me the motivation and the determination to be better. I encourage everyone to use this program, whether you're a gym junkie or a couch potato-this will improve your life, the real way." "Normally when I finish a diet or exercise program I breathe a huge sigh of relief that it's over. At the conclusion of the 30-Day Lifestyle program, however, I feel excitement, motivation and optimism!" "At at the end of the 30-Day Lifestyle Program, all of the positive changes I've made aren't going to end. They're changes that I'm going to make part of my life for many years to come. Everyone should do this!!" "I've learned through the 30-Day Lifestyle program that healthy living doesn't have to cause stress, anxiety, or guilt! I feel great!" "At the end of the 30 days, I have more energy, I think more clearly, I can run for longer, and I just feel better overall!" "What I loved most about the 30-Day Lifestyle Program was that it was simple, nothing extreme, there was no extreme exercising or dieting that was involved. Everything involved were things that I want to be doing anyway! And the days when I wasn't as pumped to complete each goal there were so many resources available, I always felt fully capable to persevere." "As I look back on this experience and review my progress, I see how my health has improved and realize I have much more to improve upon. I had a lot of fun tracking my progress and challenging co-workers. Lifestyle 30 has a lot to offer, whether you are focusing on mental, physical, emotional or social health. What I found most valuable from this experience was the exchange between my co-workers; everyone had a unique insight to their health. I appreciated hearing what was working for them, what they found to be challenging and what was helping them succeed. It gave new insight and ideas for me to try and see what worked for me. It made the process fun, relatable and more enjoyable." "Over the past 30 days I have loved doing the 30-Day Lifestyle Program! Each day I was focusing on making healthier choices that will help me reach my health goals long-term...not just for the next 30 days. I loved that it's not anything extreme, but it gives great direction in how to learn and balance moderation, so I can occasionally have the ice cream or dessert and not feel guilty about it. This program is definitely needed at a time with so many fad programs and products out there. If you're looking to improve your health and want some sound guidance, I would highly recommend using the 30-Day Lifestyle Program, it holds true to its promise." You can try the 30-Day Lifestyle Program for yourself and find out how to improve your health long-term: https://www.healthmovement.com/lifestyle30day.  Hey Guys! We are celebrating 500 likes on our Facebook page with a GIVEAWAY! So the first 50 people to follow the steps below will get our awesome "30-Day Lifestyle Program" (normally $20) absolutely free...for life!
Here's what you need to do: 1. Like our Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/HealthMovement) 2. Like this post on Facebook 3. Tag 3 of your friends on the post in a comment on Facebook We'll email the first 50 people to complete the three steps above and get you setup! You can learn more details about our 30-Day Lifestyle Program here: https://www.healthmovement.com/lifestyle30day #Lifestyle30 #JoinTheMovement #HealthMovement #Giveaway  Hey! My name’s Gregg Karren. I’m a husband, father, student, and sports enthusiast who loves to eat and travel. I joined the Health Movement in January and have loved trying to discover new ways to help people reach their health & fitness goals.
I gained a love for being active at a young age, growing up in a tiny farm town in Alberta, Canada called Magrath where I grew up playing baseball, soccer, football, volleyball, track & field, and basketball. Don’t be deceived; I wasn’t on all of these teams because I was some sort of athletic protege, we just didn’t have enough kids to fill all the teams, so we all pretty much had to play everything. There were days that I remember having practices for 3 different teams right after the other. I probably love sports a little too much. After high school I no longer played many sports, but found different ways to be active. I started lifting weights in an attempt to stop looking like a stick figure, but since then my motivation has shifted from simply wanting to look good, to wanting to feel and live good. My father had his first heart attack when he was only 46 and has been in and out of the hospital for the last 10 years. And recently heart disease has taken the lives of 3 of my grandparents. As my wife and I just had our first baby, an adorable, feisty little lady named Eve, I’ve become very motivated to make sure I’ll be around for a long time to see all of the incredible things she’s going to do. I want to be able to run and play with her for a long, long time. So today I’m doing what’s necessary to make that happen. I’m exercising regularly, drinking lots of water, eating healthy, getting enough sleep, and trying to keep my stress to a minimum. And I feel GREAT. Any reason for being healthy is a great one. Whether you want to lose weight, run a marathon, improve your diet, or whatever- check out HealthMovement.com to get all the resources you’ll need to reach your goals!  Hey Everyone! Guess being the new-be, it’s my turn to introduce why I became a part of Health Movement. My name is Jenessa Werner and I’m originally from Orange County, California. I attended BYU-Idaho for 3 semesters before transferring to BYU and I am now expecting to graduate this April, 2015 in Public Health, with an emphasis in Health Promotion.
For me living a healthy lifestyle consists of being healthy in all areas including physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. I have a passion for health because I know that so many of the health issues out there are due to imbalances in our overall health. Growing up my mother was always very good about trying to cook healthy, balanced meals for her five sports enthusiastic kids. During high school I played sports but then realized that I didn’t have to play sports in order to stay fit year round. I quit sports my junior year, starting working out more in the gym and tailoring my diet to fit my desired goals. I never went on a specific diet that left out dairy, carbs, or anything else. I just cut out my unhealthy sugar/fats and focused on eating ‘clean’ 80% of the time. I also focused on bettering who I was as a person, doing service daily for others, complimenting people more or whatever it was that made me feel happier. I was amazed to see that I dropped weight (though I wasn’t trying) even though I wasn’t spending countless hours playing sports or working out in the gym. Having grown up in OC, CA I know what it's like to have fad diets, pills, surgery, etc. so prominent among women and even men. Because of that I am passionate about Health Movement and our Manifesto which reads: “No excuses. It’s time to take control of our health. Lasting energy doesn’t come from a bottle; it comes from healthy living. Lifestyle is the best medicine. Change the norm to healthy and get back to basics. Sleep better. Move more. Eat the right amount and type of food. Learn balance, healthy can still include your favorite dessert. Don’t try to be someone you’re not, be the healthiest YOU. Believe, then act! Start small; build with time. Ups and downs are normal. Consistency really is king. Healthy living is not a pit stop; it’s a way of life. Your preferences, challenges and goals; this is healthy living YOUR way. Respect everyone for where they are. We’re all in this journey together, just at different stages. Everyone has a reason to be healthy, what’s yours? Find it. Get inspired. Take action. Share your story. Inspire others. Join the HEALTH MOVEMENT!” I am excited to be part of Health Movement and look forward to sharing this life time journey with all of you!  We are now ending day 2 of the 30-Day Lifestyle Program and I’m feeling great! It’s always interesting when you start tracking behavior, for me there are some things that come so easy to achieve daily, while others require a lot more effort.
For instance I was super worried about eating healthy and trying to stick to all of the “encouraged” foods while staying clear of the “not encouraged” but I’m happy to see that I’m actually already following most of the nutrition and cooking guidelines! The step that has me putting forth a lot more effort is drinking enough water, who knew? I always take a water bottle with me wherever I go so I just assumed that I was fine in that area. But now that I’m tracking I’ve learned that I’m really under drinking the amount that I need to be. And getting your body to the point where it’s getting enough water is definitely annoying (I can’t go more than 40 minutes without needing to pee!). But I know my body is loving me finally hydrating it enough! Have you started the 30-Day Lifestyle Program? What are you struggling with? If you haven’t started it’s not too late! Right now you can purchase the program for 50% off at just $10. I promise it will be the best $10 you’ve ever spent. The information you get as well as the tools to help you accomplish a healthy lifestyle is worth far more than $10 so jump on this chance! If you’d like to learn more about the 30-Day Lifestyle Program go here or visit our website healthmovement.com. And follow our team as we document our 30-Day Lifestyle challenge!  We’re so pumped about the 30-Day Lifestyle Program that we’re posting twice in one week! It’s very exciting, please try to contain your enthusiasm. But seriously this program is awesome and you won’t regret spending 30 days solely focused on improving your body!
On Monday we mentioned that the Health Movement team is starting up the 30-Day Lifestyle Program and that we want you to join us! I want to spend a little more time explaining what this challenge is all about and I’m even including a sneak peek of what you can expect! There’s a lot of information out there about what you need to be doing to get that hot bod and be healthy. It’s an overwhelming process! We wanted to help you out, so we created a 30-Day Lifestyle Program that breaks it down for you. It includes a simple list of daily steps to make you healthier and happier. Exercise Guide In addition to these steps are complementary materials to help you achieve your Good, Better, or Best goals. The first being an exercise guide, this will help you make the most out of whatever workout you’re doing. A workout program is also included if you need to change up your routine or if you need help getting started. Nutrition Guide Another tool included in the 30-Lifestyle Program is a nutrition guide to help you make your favorite recipes healthier. A meal plan is also provided with a list of over 65 recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and desserts! The words healthy food usually has a negative connotation with people, they think they are limited to eating salads and left feeling unsatisfied and still hungry. But guess what, eating healthy can be delicious and super filling! To validate my claim we’re letting you try out one of the recipes included in the program. This savory recipe is healthy, satisfying AND a slow cooker meal for all you busy and/or lazy people out there! Happiness Guide Not only is it important to take care of your body physically, it’s just as important to take care of your body mentally. To help you accomplish this step we’ve provided a happiness guide. If you are struggling with self-esteem or having a hard time staying positive, this great tool can help. Step-By-Step Guide To Overcoming Barriers Barriers will get in the way of your goals if you let it, and this can be the most challenging part for some people. So we’ve also included a step-by-step guide to overcoming barriers. We know this lifestyle change is extremely hard, if it wasn’t you’d be doing it already. It’s going to be hard and you’ll want to quit but remember it’s only 30 days and we’ve thought of everything you’ll need to help you along the way. We’re hooking you up with everything you need to jumpstart your life, kick that booty into gear and finally start living the life you want, the healthy way! Besides all the cool kids are doing it, aka the Health Movement team, so you should do it too! So grab a friend and get ready for the 30-Day Lifestyle Program, we start February 1st! BREAKFAST BURRITOS (SLOW COOKER) INGREDIENTS 12 eggs 1 can black beans, drained 2 bell peppers, chopped 1 10oz can diced tomatoes with green chilies 1/4 cup green onions, chopped 1 TBSP lime juice 1 tsp cumin, ground 1 tsp chili powder 1/2 tsp red pepper, ground 3 garlic cloves, chopped DIRECTIONS Cook for 4-5 hours in slow cooker on low heat. Then assemble on whole grain tortilla (wheat or corn). SERVE WITH Fresh cilantro Salsa Lettuce Guacamole |
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