The Pope Just Released A List of 10 Tips for Becoming a Happier Person and They Are Spot On

The Pope Just Released A List of 10 Tips for Becoming a Happier Person and They Are Spot On

from The Higher Learning Website

In a recent interview with the Argentine publication Viva, Pope Francis issued a list of 10 tips to be a happier person, based on his own life experiences.

The Pope encouraged people to be more positive and generous, to turn off the TV and find healthier forms of leisure, and even to stop trying to convert people to one’s own religion.

But his number one piece of advice came in the form of a somewhat cliche Italian phrase that means, “move forward and let others do the same.” It’s basically the Italian equivalent of, “live and let live.” You can check out the full list below.

The Pope’s 10 Tips for a Happier Life

1. “Live and let live.” Everyone should be guided by this principle, he said, which has a similar expression in Rome with the saying, “Move forward and let others do the same.”

2. “Be giving of yourself to others.” People need to be open and generous toward others, he said, because “if you withdraw into yourself, you run the risk of becoming egocentric. And stagnant water becomes putrid.”

3. “Proceed calmly” in life. The pope, who used to teach high school literature, used an image from an Argentine novel by Ricardo Guiraldes, in which the protagonist — gaucho Don Segundo Sombra — looks back on how he lived his life.

4. A healthy sense of leisure. The Pope said “consumerism has brought us anxiety”, and told parents to set aside time to play with their children and turn of the TV when they sit down to eat.

5. Sundays should be holidays. Workers should have Sundays off because “Sunday is for family,” he said.

6. Find innovative ways to create dignified jobs for young people. “We need to be creative with young people. If they have no opportunities they will get into drugs” and be more vulnerable to suicide, he said.

7. Respect and take care of nature. Environmental degradation “is one of the biggest challenges we have,” he said. “I think a question that we’re not asking ourselves is: ‘Isn’t humanity committing suicide with this indiscriminate and tyrannical use of nature?’”

8. Stop being negative. “Needing to talk badly about others indicates low self-esteem. That means, ‘I feel so low that instead of picking myself up I have to cut others down,’” the Pope said. “Letting go of negative things quickly is healthy.”

9. Don’t proselytise; respect others’ beliefs. “We can inspire others through witness so that one grows together in communicating. But the worst thing of all is religious proselytism, which paralyses: ‘I am talking with you in order to persuade you,’ No. Each person dialogues, starting with his and her own identity. The church grows by attraction, not proselytising,” the Pope said.

10. Work for peace. “We are living in a time of many wars,” he said, and “the call for peace must be shouted. Peace sometimes gives the impression of being quiet, but it is never quiet, peace is always proactive” and dynamic.

Courtesy of the Catholic News Service.

Week 3: Weigh-in

Weight: 222.0

Loss: 2 pounds

I'm having significantly more trouble sticking to the plan this time around. However, a two-pound weight loss in one week is fantastic! I'll take it!

Work Sabotage

It's another difficult day at work, food-wise. For the first time in weeks I feel like I'm gaining control once more. And what happens when I come into work? A goodbye part with tons of cake. And now, hours later, there are still several pieces up for grabs. So far, so good. I've refilled my water bottle and eaten a protein bar. No cake for me!

This is what I have to deal with on a daily basis. No wonder I have a weight problem!

Week 2: The Real Weigh-in

Weight: 224.0

Loss: .4 pounds

I am down, but not by much. I'm having a difficult time getting my mindset right this time around. I think it worked out so well for me the last time because I was so focused. Now, I'm thinking more about how to make this a lifestyle, rather than just a diet. And then I go and eat some Peanut Butter M&M's. (Those things are like crack to me - I can never eat just one or two!)

I plan to work on getting on board 100% this week, so I should lose some real weight next week. Not just a measly .4 pounds. Although, I'm just happy it's going in the right direction at least!

Week 2: Weigh in

No news is good news?
Not necessarily.

So, no weigh-in today. My scale says I weigh 175 pounds. My goal weight! However, anyone reading this (or anyone who sees me) knows that can't possibly be true! Not sure what's wrong, but clearly the thing is broken. Bummer. Oh and if you're thinking it doesn't work because it's on carpet - wrong! It read 103 pounds on the hardwood. That's VERY wrong!
I plan on starting Weight Watchers this week. I'll post my updated/correct weight on Tuesday.

Dieting & Depression

Many people think dieting will change your life, but instead a new study out of the UK finds losing weight can actually lead to loneliness, lethargy and depression.
Researchers found that while weight loss was associated with improved health ... it also found dieters who lost more than 5-percent of their original weight were also more likely to be depressed.
Most clinical trials have found that weight loss helps to improve mood. I'm a good example of that. During my diet last year, my mood was elevated as I continued to lose weight. However, researcher believe the increase in mood could have more to do with the supportive environment rather than the actualy weight loss.

Of the 1,979 overweight and obese participants, 278 (14 percent) lost at least five percent of their initial body weight with a mean weight loss of 15 pounds per person.
Before adjusting for serious health issues and major life events such as bereavement, which can cause both weight loss and depressed mood, the people who lost weight were 78 percent more likely to report depressed mood.
“We do not want to discourage anyone from trying to lose weight, which has tremendous physical benefits, but people should not expect weight loss to instantly improve all aspects of life,” said lead author Sarah Jackson, M.D.

The bottom line here is that losing weight won't change your life or who you are. As the saying goes "Wherever you go, there you are".  If you think you're unhappy just because you are overweight, you're probably wrong. There are always many factors at play behind depression. While losing weight can make you healthier, it can't remove the other factors behind the depression.

“We do not want to discourage anyone from trying to lose weight, which has tremendous physical benefits, but people should not expect weight loss to instantly improve all aspects of life,” said lead author Sarah Jackson, M.D.

 Not to mention, losing weight can change other factors in your life. For instance, I know dieters who have had to cut friends out of their lives simply because those people cannot be supportive of the dieter. We all have friends who are our "eating" friends. Those people are our dinner dates or binge eating buddies. Sometimes those same people we consider friends don't understand why we want to lose weight and unintentionally (usually) try to sabotage what we are doing. It's understandable that you may need to cut them out of your life. 

“Resisting the ever-present temptations of unhealthy food in modern society takes a mental toll, as it requires considerable willpower and may involve missing out on some enjoyable activities,” said Jackson.

“However, mood may improve once target weight is reached and the focus is on weight maintenance. Our data only covered a four year period so it would be interesting to see how mood changes once people settle into their lower weight.” 

"Don't expect dieting to solve all the problems in your life. But it will make you fitter and healthier"

The findings come from a study of almost 2,000 overweight and obese men and women aged 50 and over.

If you want to read more check out some articles online here and here.

No Magic Bullet

We all know there's no such thing as a magic bullet when it comes to weight loss. It takes hard work, perseverance and a lifetime of watching what you eat. I'm a perfect example of that. I lost a lot of weight quickly and gained it back (some of it, anyway!) just as quickly by going back to my old, bad habits.
My belief is that you do whatever works for you to lose the weight, but the bottom line is you have to change your habits to keep it off long term!

A successful approach to sustained weight loss incorporates dietary changes, regular exercise, sufficient sleep and changes in behaviors toward food, especially in using food as rewards or in response to stress.

This is from an article about why fad diets don't work and some ideas about what does work. It appeared on SFGate.com this week. You can read the full article here.

• Total daily calorie intake should be based on activity, age and desired weight. A 65-year-old woman with sedentary lifestyle (light daily physical activity) needs 12 calories per pound of her target weight. The same woman with a high-activity lifestyle - who walks 3 miles a day at a 3- to 4-mile-per-hour pace, for example - would need about 19 calories per pound of target weight. Estimates are slightly higher for men.

• Everyone should include in their daily diet about 15 to 20 grams of fiber and adequate protein, which is about 0.7 to 0.8 grams per kilogram (or 2.2 pounds) of their weight. They should limit fat, and make sure their diet is varied and includes their favorite foods, which will increase the chances for success. 

• Most successful dieters report eating breakfast, and they space out meals and snacks over their day to avoid feeling hungry. They don't eat within several hours of bedtime, when metabolism slows.

• Successful dieters have plenty of tips to share, such as splurging one day a week or indulging in a small portion of a favorite treat every day. Some dieters suggest using smaller plates, sitting for all meals or having five colors of food at every meal. 

• Prescription medications can help to jump-start a diet but they are not effective when used in isolation.

• Exercise should begin with a small increase in activities every day and increase gradually. A good place to start is 20 to 30 minutes of daily walking. In one large study, people who maintained weight loss for five years exercised one hour a day. People with joint problems or who have difficulty walking can use weights and resistance bands while sitting, or they can swim or join an aquatic aerobic program if they have access to a pool.

• Expectations need to be reasonable. Weight loss targets should be about 1 pound per week.

• People should weigh themselves on the same day of the week at the same time.