If I were asked to share everything I have learned over the years about living a healthy lifestyle... it would be summed up into these 10 P's! Here are my top 10 tips to start living, enjoying, and putting a healthy lifestyle into practice!

1. Partner with God: I firmly believe that success in any area of our lives begins when we make the choice to partner with God. I also believe that God is pleased when we look to Him for strength, guidance, and help. We can partner with God by inviting Him into our situation or journey, which can be done through prayer, spending time with Him, and continually seeking His wisdom every step of the way!

2. Prioritize: I think that it's pretty safe to say that as women we tend to neglect ourselves in an effort to care for those around us! Somehow we tend to think that putting a priority on our health is selfish...although this could not be further from the truth! In fact, I always like to think about how the stewardess in an airplane explains what to do in an emergency... Before takeoff the stewardess explains that if you are a mother of small children, you need to put your oxygen mask on yourself before putting it on those around you, because if you are not healthy, you won't be there to care for those who need you! I think that it is time that we realize that in order to be the best wife, mom, caretaker, businesswoman, etc. we need to be prioritize our health so we can be healthy enough to care for others! It's time that you give yourself the permission to care for yourself, because you are valuable and you are worth taking care of!

3. Pray: Many of us grew up eating our meals around the dinner table, but our society sure has changed in regards to sitting down to eat a meal! These days people are eating on the go, standing up, or even in the car more than ever, and often times this means that we forget to take the time to relax, enjoy our food, and pray over our food. If this sounds familiar, I would encourage you to take the time to sit down and invite God to the table with you every time you eat. Take a moment to pray over your food, and ask God to help you to choose and desire healthy foods; and ask Him to help you to listen to the hunger cues He placed within you. When you take just a few moments to invite God in on the 'small' things, (such as praying over your meals), you will find that He will be there in those moments to lead and guide you to make the best choices for your body and health!

4. Pitch the Junk: The first thing that I recommend to someone trying to get healthy is to clean out the fridge and pantry, and pitch the junk food! It may seem hard at first to get rid of your favorite treats, but I can tell you that you are not doing yourself any favors by keeping your greatest temptations within arms reach! Now it may seem difficult at first to go without the things that you are used to eating, and that is because man-made processed foods and foods loaded with salt and sugar can be down right addicting! Not only is junk food addicting, but it is void of nutrition, which means that it provides no lasting nourishment or satisfaction... which keeps you coming back for more! Now, that being said, I don't suggest that you banish your favorite foods all together! I believe that all things can be enjoyed in balance and moderation, but I don't suggest keeping them in your home! Instead, go out to eat on occasion and enjoy those things in moderation. In addition, I suggest finding healthy alternatives and swaps to the things you do enjoy! Dashing Dish can help you there, as it currently has over 800+ recipes that are specifically designed to help you find healthy alternatives to the food you crave! Also, here are some other good swap outs to make when replacing junk food in your home:

• INSTEAD of White Sugar TRY Stevia or Honey
• INSTEAD of White Flour TRY Oat Flour or Almond Flour
• INSTEAD of White Pasta TRY Quinoa, Veggie, or Lentil Based Pasta
• INSTEAD of Butter TRY Nut Butters, Unsweetened Applesauce, or Plain Greek Yogurt
• INSTEAD of Processed Snacks TRY High Protein/High Fiber Real Food Snacks

5. Plan: One of the most common obstacles that prevents people from living a healthy lifestyle is a lack of time...and I have said it once, and I will say it again: When it comes to living a healthy lifestyle when you are busy, planning ahead is key! Planning ahead prevents you from making bad choices when you are hungry, stressed, or are strapped for time. One of my favorite ways to plan ahead is to Meal Plan. Meal planning can be as simple or as complex as you want to make it. For example, you could start small by planning out just your dinners for the week, or you could plan on a broader scale and cook one or two days a week, preparing meals for your entire week! I personally fall somewhere in between, where take a few hours on a Monday to prepare my meats, wash and cut my vegetables, and boil some quinoa or whole grain pasta to throw into recipes throughout the week! Another important part of planning is to get organized and have a plan, because in the midst of a busy week lets face it...who has time to think about grocery shopping and planning out meals!?! I like to use my Dashing Dish Custom Meal Plan Builder to plan what I will be having for the next week. As I plug in my recipes into the meal plan calendar, the ingredients go straight to the Dashing Dish Grocery List Builder, which then syncs to the Dashing Dish iPhone App! I love having my calendar and grocery list with me on my phone and print it off to hang on my fridge at home! This keeps me organized and on track, and it saves me time, stress, and money in the long run!

6. Pause: So often as women we run to food to comfort us when we are emotional, bored, tired, stressed...you name it! One of the best ways that I have learned to overcome emotional eating is to take a moment and pause when you are heading into the kitchen. If I know that I am going to eat and I am not truly hungry, (ie: it is not time for a meal or snack, or I just finished eating), I like to take a moment and ask myself: Am I eating for comfort? Am I turning to food in order to avoid my emotions, bring me temporary satisfaction, or to procrastinate something? Or am I really hungry? Taking that moment to pause and ask yourself these honest questions will give you the time to do a course correction. When you pause and you realize that you are turning to food out of emotion, it will allow you to physically stop, turn around, and head out of the kitchen. I personally have found that leaving the kitchen and walking away is half of the battle! This will allow you to get away and find somewhere to spend some alone time with God, even if it means getting in your car, taking a walk, or going into your bedroom. When we make the choice to run to God instead of food, He will meet our needs and satisfy our souls in a way that only He could, and we won't have the regrets that come with emotional eating that often pile on top of whatever we were trying to bury in the first place!

7. Power Hour: One of my favorite ways to start my day is to take one hour and dedicate it to spending time with the Lord, which is then followed by a work out! When I start my day with the Lord, everything I do is more productive, I have the joy of the Lord as my strength, and I have the peace of God guarding my heart and mind throughout my day! When I also take some time first thing to workout, I find that my energy levels are geared up for the day, I am able to clear my mind, and I make healthier choices overall for that day! If you are thinking that you don't have time to take 1-2 hours in the beginning of your day, then I would encourage you to try going to bed earlier and setting your alarm for an hour earlier. Another thing you could do is start each day with one hour dedicated to prayer, time in God's word, and perhaps a quick 15-20 minute workout! This will prevent you from making excuses and risk not fitting in the most important things when you get tired or busy later in the day! So, if you are having a hard time fitting in time with the Lord and/or exercise, try starting each day with one hour dedicated to prayer, reading, and fitness...There are so many benefits, you will be glad you did!

8. Perspective: One of the most common temptations when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, (or... if we are honest...in just about in any area) is COMPARISON! There is something so sneaky and subtle about comparing ourselves with others, because so often we can mistake it for 'being inspired or motivated' by someone else. The only problem with this is that so often we take it a step further and try to look like, be like, and act just like someone else...which can leave us feeling defeated and unable to measure up! The reason for this is the fact that everyone is unique, and everyone's lifestyle, genetics, background, and bodies are different! The best thing that I have ever learned when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle is to keep it all in perspective. Being healthy is not about the number on the scale, the clothes we fit into, or being perfect... it is about finding and doing what works best for you in order to nourish your body and care for it's specific needs! When you are on the journey to health, I would encourage you to do the same. Keep it all in perspective, don't compare yourself with anyone else, and remember...Healthy looks different on everyone!

9. Patience: In our society today, we tend to look for quick fix solutions to everything, which can lead to impatience if we don't see results overnight! When it comes to learning healthy habits, we have to realize that it often takes years to develop unhealthy habits...so it will take time to make new ones! Another key to patience is to realize that you don't (and shouldn't) need to change everything all at once! This can be overwhelming, and it often leads to feelings of failure and defeat. Instead, I would encourage you to start by making a few obtainable short term goals. Start to see every choice (big or small) as a step towards your main goal, and realize that they all add up over time! God also reminds us to be patient in His Word! Galatians 6:9 says, "Don’t grow weary in well doing, for if you faint not you will reap a reward!" I like to think of every choice as an act of obedience unto God, and that He is cheering us on every step of the way!

10. Purpose: Last but not least, when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, we all have times in our journey when things get tough. It may be a life change, a stressful season, or a lack of motivation. In times like these, it is important to know our "WHY"... Our why is the reason that we are choosing to live a healthy lifestyle, and it is the reason we started. Everyones why may look different, but it is so important to find yours...Perhaps your why is to live a long and healthy life. Maybe your why is to get in shape so you can keep up with your children and family. Or maybe your why is to become the best version of you! Whatever it may be, finding your why will give you a sense of purpose and commitment to keep you going!