Just so we are clear, you can do this. Actually I’m pretty sure that the majority of people in the westernized world could. And what that is, is complete a one year challenge. The prize? Well, I can only speak for myself, but it was worth it. The Challenge? That’s where things get interesting.
 
I’m not to sure where I came up with the idea. It was probably in one of the last 4 moves I did in two years. I vowed on the last one that the countless boxes I was hauling around containing all my worldly possessions could use a little diet. Actually, that wasn’t my first thought. It was more along the lines of, “I wonder how much small storage would cost?” Then the absurdity of that statement struck home when I actually looked in those very boxes I considered paying to store these items.

Like many, I define myself by my possessions. Not entirely, but I will admit they play a part in who I am. I don’t consider myself especially materialistic, but it seems that over my 27 years on this planet that I had been accumulating more than shedding. It’s those types of things that begin to fill up closets, drawers and collect dust on shelves. It’s gifts that you feel guilty about throwing out but have absolutely no intention of using (I’m looking at you George Foreman Grill). It’s the shirt that is clearly out of fashion, but you did spend $60 on. It’s the electronics that you upgraded, but still feel compelled to keep, just in case the other one quits. The list is endless as are the reasons. But in the end, it’s clutter, and not just physically, but in the mind as well.

Okay, you’ve been patient enough. Let me explain what the challenge was. I vowed that everyday I was going to get rid of exactly one thing. That’s it. Beauty in simplicity. What I didn’t appreciate was the effect it would have on my life.

There is no doubt that obesity is one of the biggest problems that many men and women of all ages suffer from, and although everybody wants to lose weight quickly, burning fat is no easy task. We all want to eat everything we want, when we want, in the quantities that we want. At the same time, we act as if we are concerned about staying fit and healthy. Nevertheless, here are a few weight loss tips that will help you shed some pounds with a bit of hard work and determination. Don't expect to just read these tips and tricks and expect to lose weight while you sleep, it will take a lot of effort on your part to succeed.

Without further ado, here a few methods you may want to look over when embarking on your weight loss journey.

Try to minimize the foods that contain high amounts of fats like butter, full fat cheese, nuts, sweets or foods that contain a high proportion of carbohydrates like bread, rice, pasta and potatoes and instead focus on eating foods rich in fiber vegetables and fruits. Other very healthy foods are meat low in fat, chicken without the skin, and skimmed milk instead of full fat milk. And in case you feel hungry you should eat low-calorie foods such as vegetables and fruits, instead of eating junk food like cookies and chips.

Although nobody can guarantee you that by adopting a specific lifestyle you will be able to live a longer life, there are certain things you can do to increase your chances of living longer. By following some healthy guidelines for sure you have nothing to lose but you have a lot to gain. Anything you do in order to live longer has to turn into a habit. In other words you have to do it without realizing it. Healthy living and lifestyle is a way of living and this is how you should approach it. The 7 most important habits for a better life and outlined below:

1. Don't worry be happy

It is proven by many studies that people who are happy live a better life. Happiness helps you approach life with a positive eye and this positivism keeps you away from stress, anxiety and other troubles. To find happiness in your life you have to ask for it and chase it. Finding happiness means: Desire to be happy, being grateful of what you have and achieved in your life, be ready to forgive other people, rejecting negative thoughts and feelings and generally be positive about life and people.

2. Eliminate negative thoughts

The way we think about our self or other people and situations can affect the quality of our life. If we approach anything we pessimism and negativity then this will create disappointment and stress. These two factors can be the beginning of more serious health problems. For a longer live you should eliminate negative thoughts and always approach situations from a positive angle. People who have negative thoughts end up with low self esteem and the low self esteem does not let them to anything else in their life than feeling useless and continuously in doubt about their abilities.

3. Healthy diet habits

Following a healthy diet is among the best ways to enjoy a life with out stress. A diet based on healthy principles cannot only improve your mood but also it can assist you maintain your normal weight and thus stay away from the stress caused by obesity. Weight loss and health are strongly tied together so you have to follow healthy guidelines for both. Some quick diet tips include: do not consume too much caffeine and alcohol, eat more fish and other protein food, avoid full fat foods, drink a lot of water, learn to enjoy fruits and vegetables, stay away from junk food and learn to cook at home.

Most couples that want to get pregnant, usually say that they do not care about the gender of the baby, and that everything is okay with them, but in most cases they would prefer one or the other. This is quite common since people do have opinions about things like this and they all root to their own childhood. If they have had only brothers, it is common to only being interested on how to get pregnant with a baby boy, because they know how to handle with them, and know what to expect. Giving birth to a girl would be something that is even frightening to them. Although this is not true in all and some people want to get a child of the opposite sex that they are used to. Many things have an effect on the personal preferences when the gender of their own child is concerned.

Besides just the personal preferences of the couple there are also reasons that do not rely on the couples. In many countries it is preferred to have a child of a specific gender - in most of them it is preferred to give birth to boys due to many cultural reasons. In China it is common to only want boys in your family because of the "one child policy", and since women do not forward the family name a boy is usually preferred.