Financial Books To Help You Manage Money & Reach Financial Freedom

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financial books to become financially free

(This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I’ll receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much! Read our full disclaimer here.)

How can someone who is poor become rich and is it even possible?

That was a question I’ve wondered for a long time. Growing up, we always had enough for what we needed, but that was it. I began wondering what was the meaning of life and why do other people seem to be more successful than others.

Being poor was not fun. In middle school, I experienced a really embarrassing moment. A kid asked real loud in front of everyone asked, “Why do you wear the same pants every day?” I know he did it to make fun of me and I experienced embarrassment and anger. A lot of other kids seemed to have really nice clothing. I had two shirts and two pants. That’s it.

I knew I wanted to be successful financially, but I had no real plan. They don’t teach money in school and I couldn’t find anyone around me who really knew how to manage finances. So like many others, I did my own thing. But my plan didn’t work.

When I began learning how to handle money the correct way, I was already a young mom and had a family. Still living with my mom (yikes), my husband worked to provide for everything we needed. But we were still only breaking even and I still didn’t have any nice clothes.

Think about that. A young mom living at home with her parent with no job, no car, no income. Once I got my hands on some really good financial teachings, I knew my life was changed forever. I learned that rich is a mindset and by becoming successful at mastering your mind for abundance, it will surely come. Read more

How To Read A Nutrition Label And Win Your Health Back!

- arielshanelle 2 Comments
Reading a nutrition label

Reading the Nutrition Label can be a bit intimidating. Have you seen how long those things are? Who can make sense of it? I hear ya. But the truth is, understanding the food label is vital to your health. And your health is important. That’s why I’m here to help you decipher the code and step into a healthy lifestyle.

First off, I want to stress that what we put in our mouth is the most important thing when it comes to our health. There are people who begin exercising in an effort to be healthy, but keep eating the same foods that are destroying their body. Plus, once you switch to the foods you were meant to eat, your body will feel incredibly different. Exercise will become easier!

If you’re ready to change your health like no way before, continue reading. There’s no turning back now!

(This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I’ll receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much! Read our full disclaimer here.)

What Is The Serving Size?

In order to give you a proper listing, the company has to use some sort of measuring. The serving size tells you the amount of food you need to eat to receive all the nutrients/toxins listed below. Usually, the serving size is an amount that’s easy to measure like a cup or a package. Think of it this way, “This much gives you these results.”

For example, if the serving size is 1 cup and there are 2 servings per container, that means you’ll be eating 2 cups per container. You’ll be consuming 2x the nutrients on the label if you eat the whole thing. It’s pretty simple. Ask yourself, “How many servings am I eating?” Read more

How To Achieve Your Goals Faster To Have The Life You Want

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Reach your goals faster

What if I told you there was a way to achieve your goals faster – hurling you toward the life you desire at lightning speeds? There are strategies that can help you do this and I’m going to share them with you because I want you to achieve your goals. It’s not enough to work hard, you have to work smart also. By utilizing the tips I’m about to share with you. you’ll be able to fast forward your success and begin to experience the rewards sooner.

In order for these tips to work, you must be fully committed. (Although if you’re reading this, I can tell that you are.) Keep in mind, these things will only speed up your progress if you apply them day after day. But first, I want you to envision what life will be like once you reach your goals.

Imagine how you will feel once you’ve achieved each thing on your list, one by one. How will your life be changed? How will the world be changed by it? The greatest thing is it’s going to happen to you. You can achieve absolutely anything as long as you don’t give up.

Are you ready to kick your progress into super gear? Let’s get to it!

Analyze Your Schedule

What does your schedule currently look like? Are there any areas you can cut back on? Maybe you’ve never taken the time to write or even look at your schedule. If you’re serious about reaching your goals, it’s super important that you do this.

Write down a schedule of what your average day looks like. Go ahead, I’ll wait. Don’t forget anything, including the time you spend watching tv and on Facebook. I’ll be right here when you get done. Read more

Yes! Too Much Sugar Can Kill You! Here’s Why.

- arielshanelle 4 Comments
Deadly side effects of sugar including multiple diseases and chronic pain and inflammation

It seems like sugar is such a hot topic.  Health experts are constantly talking about reducing sugar intakes, switching from one form to another, and more. What’s the truth though? How can someone possibly know what to avoid when it seems like we have to avoid everything?! No wonder so many people give up trying to live healthily! It’s too confusing!

I hear ya! But I’m here to break this sugar thing down the best I can so you can know exactly how to avoid sugar and which sugars to avoid.

First off, let’s take about the negative side effects of sugar and why you don’t want to eat it in excessive amounts.

What Does Sugar Do To The Body?

In today’s world, it’s no surprise sugar is in everything we eat. From soda pop to fruit juices, candy bars to granola bars; there is literally sugar everywhere! About 200 years ago, the average American only consumed around 2 lbs of sugar per year. Today, our intake has increased to about 152 lbs of sugar per year. [1]

Why? Because the food industry is more concerned about making a buck than our child’s health. I mean, if your child gets sick then the medical industry will be booming. It’s a win-win for them, but a lose-lose for us.

The American Heart Association and the World Health Organization recommend that adults should only consume about 5% of their total calories from sugar. For men, this can be 38 grams and for women, it’s less than 25 grams of sugar daily. However, the average can of soda contains as much as 39 grams! Yikes!

So then, realistically, how are we supposed to drink things like soda and still live a healthy lifestyle? This part sucks, but you really can’t. Products like soda have no nutritional value and are void of anything healthy. I wish these kinds of products didn’t exist, but since they do, we just have to say no.

Kick sugar out of your life

For example, I started removing all sorts of added sugar from my diet. I only allow myself to consume a lot of sugar in one sitting if the food is a fruit. Other than that, I don’t consume soda, juice, sweets, and the like. I haven’t felt bloated and I’ve had more energy.

The good news is once you rewire your taste buds, natural foods (like fruits) will taste so much better! I mean, waaayyy better!

(This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I’ll receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much! Read our full disclaimer here.)

Acne Breakouts

Does it seem like you’ve tried everything under the sun and still cannot get that annoying acne off of your face? The cure may be simpler than you think! Foods filled with sugar cause insulin and blood sugar to spike. This leads to an increase in oil production, androgen secretion, and inflammation. All of these factors greatly impact the skin and can cause acne. [2]

Who would’ve known the foods we eat can have such a powerful effect on our skin?

Don’t believe me? A study conducted with 2,300 teenagers concluded that those who constantly ate foods with added sugar had a greater risk of breaking out with acne by 30% [3] Also, studies prove that diets with low-glycemic (low sugar) levels are directly connected to a lower risk of developing acne. On the other hand, high-glycemic (high sugar) diets yield a much higher risk of producing acne. [4]

The next time you’re about to indulge in that entire box of chocolates, ask yourself if the acne you’ll experience afterward is worth it.

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Things I Wish I Knew When I Was Suffering From Depression

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Suffering from depression

Are you depressed? I sure hope not! Depression causes a wave of negative emotions to capture our mind and body into a deadly state. Before we get into how depression affected me, let’s take a look at some alarming statistics:

  • 300 million people around the world have depression. [1]
  • 16.2 million adults in the United States (6.7 percent of all adults in the country) have experienced a major depressive episode in the past year. [1]
  • It’s estimated that 15 percent of the adult population will experience depression at some point in their lifetime. [1]

Why do we care if someone is suffering from depression? Because very often, depression does not end there. It can very much evolve into suicide. Take a look.

  • 44,000 Americans die by suicide each year. [1]
  • 8 out of 10 people considering suicide give some signs of their intentions. [1]
  • Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. [1]

We are responsible for the earth and all its inhabitants. If we don’t take care of each other, who will? People shouldn’t be divided. We should all recognize one another as the family we are and should strive to make the world we live in a more enjoyable one for the sake of the human race.

Anyhoo, depression hit me hard around the age of 14. I went through all the motions and even attempted suicide. Read more

The Difference Between Corn Syrup and High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)

- arielshanelle Leave a comment
High fructose corn syrup vs corn syrup

Fructose goes right to the liver and triggers lipogenesis, which causes liver damage to 70 million people around the world annually. [1]

How’s that for an eye-opener? Liver damage is no joke. Unfortunately, it’s only one of the horrible effects of regularly consuming high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). One of the questions I’ve recently come across is, “Is high fructose corn syrup and corn syrup the same?” This is a great question because they sound so similar! However, they are certainly different and in this post, I will tell you why!

Can you do me a favor? I want you to do some critical thinking and identify a clear difference in naming. Are you ready? High fructose corn syrup and corn syrup. Do you see the difference? That’s right! The only real difference between the two is the fact that one has high fructose. Sometimes we use the term HFCS so much that we tend to group the words as one. However, we have to remember the ‘high fructose’ part makes HFCS unique.

Fructose is sweeter than glucose, which is the substance table sugar is made of. Therefore, by finding a way to incorporate more fructose to sugar is genius! The only problem with this solution is it’s causing massive harm to those who are consuming it.

How Is High Fructose Corn Syrup Worse Than Corn Syrup?

While sucrose can be digested throughout the whole body, fructose can only be digested in the liver. When a person consumes large amounts of fructose, the liver can become overloaded.

Picture this: You’re at work and your boss is giving you too much work to get done in your shift. You start off fine, but as the final hour approaches, you begin cutting corners and doing things wrong. You begin shoving work in areas for the next shift in hopes your boss won’t find out. That person you’re imagining is your poor liver! Read more

Stretching Daily Can Change Your Life & Your Health!

- arielshanelle Leave a comment
Stretching is important

Importance Of Stretching

Stretching is so important for you, but people don’t seem to rave over it that much. I understand that people doing yoga may stretch more than the average person, but the average person still needs to do their own stretches. Yes, that means you. I guarantee you’ll feel a lot better once you incorporate stretches into your daily life.

Stretching allows the body to warm up for the day. Have you noticed the first thing animals do when they awaken? They stretch! From their head to their toes, they make sure to extend every muscle. How about babies? Have you notices babies stretch the second they open their eyes? It’s not a coincidence that toddlers rarely ever experience cramps. Preparing your muscles beforehand helps keep them strong and healthy!

Unfortunately, people don’t understand how necessary it is for a healthy lifestyle. Many people feel older than what they truly are. The chances of pulling a muscle, straining something, or damaging tissues increase if you do not stretch. (Pretty scary, huh?)Most people stop participating in physical activity after high school, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Once we become active again, our bodies will adapt and become strong.  Since there are many benefits of stretching daily,  why not get started today?

(This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I’ll receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much! Read our full disclaimer here.)

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; We grow old because we stop playing.”

-George Bernard Shaw

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