Every day, every minute, every moment is an opportunity to choose and recreate.  It all begins with a single thought. To be conscious of your thoughts is to deliberately create the experiences you will have.  Positive thoughts create positive experiences.  Negative thoughts create negative experiences.  Healthy thoughts create a healthy body. Healthy thoughts are the foundation to a life long commitment of exercising and eating healthy foods.  Being in the fitness industry for twenty-two years, I’ve seen first hand that a mindset of healthy thinking is the most important factor to a healthy regimen. I’ve also seen how negative thoughts can sabotage the best of intentions.   Sadly negative thoughts are the norm for most people.  Research has shown that we have between 3,000- 4,000 thoughts a minute.  We are only able to communicate between 300 – 400 thoughts a minute.  But we actually have between 3,000 – 4,000 thoughts a minute.  Sixty to seventy percent of those have proven to be negative!   Negative thoughts rob you of your energy & come in many different forms such as: Criticism or Judgments: “Oh, he is a total loser” or “That is so bad”, or “What an idiot I am.” How frequently are you judging yourself and others throughout your day?  Pay attention, you’ll be surprised how often it occurs.  Criticism or judgments lower your energy. Another form would be Comparisons:  “I’m not as pretty or handsome,” “I don’t have the talent they do,” or “I’m not as educated.”  Nothing will stop you dead in your tracks or stifle your energy more than comparing yourself to others.  Do you often compare yourself to other’s who appear more talented, educated, better looking, funnier, thinner, etc.? One more example would be Limitations: “Yes, but…” “Yes, but I can’t do that,” “Yes, but I don’t have the time”, or “Yes, but I don’t have enough money.”   Thoughts of limitation will certainly lower your energy.  When you find yourself desiring a new experience whether it is a new career, relationship or place to live, whatever, notice the “Yes, but…!”   Your physical body is an amazing vessel.  But after years of negative talk, improper nutrients and lack of physical exercise it will show signs of abuse.  Diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, depression and other emotional disorders can begin to appear. Give yourself the "Gift of Health" with the following five suggestions: 1.    Let go of criticism or judgment of others and yourself.  The truth is, unless you’ve walked in the other persons shoes you simply cannot judge.  Replace negative self-talk with kind words.  If you were to give me a ride home in your car, would you allow me to talk to you as you do yourself?    Talk to yourself as you would talk to your best friend. 2.   Release the “Yes but…” and replace with “I will…!”  Feel the difference in these two thoughts.  Which thought gives you a feeling of disempowerment vs. empowerment?  Choose the thoughts that empower and energize! 3.   Focus on your strengths and gifts and know they are enough.  Everyone is created with their own special gifts and talents to be expressed.  It does not matter what gifts others have.  Focus on yours! Remind yourself that you are enough and feel your energy grow. 4.  Find the physical exercise that you enjoy to keep your body strong, flexible, energized and healthy.  Whether it be aerobic dance, hiking, tennis, power walking, yoga, do something you like.   5.   Forget the fad diets out there!  When choosing foods, stop and ask this simple question:  Is this food giving my body the nutrients needed to support good health?”  If the answer is no because it is loaded with fat, sugar and preservatives, keep your portions very small or walk away totally.  If the answer is yes because it is lean protein, fruits and vegetables filled with anti-oxidants and fiber, eat hearty portions!  Answering this question honestly and then making your food choices accordingly is all you need to know about diets. Every day, every minute, every moment is an opportunity to choose and recreate.  It all begins with a single thought.  Give yourself the “Gift of Health” with healthy thoughts that bring you vitality and energy, stamina and strength not just physically but in all aspects of your life.