Sit down in a quiet place alone and take a minute to notice how you really feel inside and out? Would you consider yourself in good health or living a slow death you call life? As you sit quietly observing yourself, pay attention to the signs and symptoms of your body. Notice the things you've been ignoring such as a low-grade headache that rarely ceases, aching joints, slightly blurred vision, a bulging stomach, sagging chin, no zest for life or maybe a definite feeling of being bone tired and constantly in pain somewhere.

The ease and efficiency of your body to function properly, providing you with a painless, disease free, energetic, lean existence is within your realm of control. To accomplish this type of life-style, you need to have the know-how and be able to read the signs along the freeway of life that leads to excellent health.

Health is an ongoing process of constant change. Over the past 20 years in the health and nutrition business we (here at EAT & Be Lean) have discovered that there are five levels of health. You must become aware of what these levels are and how to move up the scale. These levels of health are discussed in the EAT & Be Lean Common Sense Health Solutions newsletter at www.EATandBeLean.com. Do you wonder which one you fit into today? The one you fit into is your choice! The following will give you a brief description of a level one approach to health.

The level one motto is, "Eat, drink and be merry if possible, for today and every day I will live a slow, miserable, death process."

Water is used mainly for bathing, swimming and watering the plants. Heaven forbid they should drink it! Examples of level one drinks are soda pop (especially caffeinated colas) beer, and high sugar juices.

Vegetables are little known substances to level one people with French fries now listed at the number one consumed vegetable for our youth. Ketchup runs a tight second. How pathetic! Grains are rarely recognized as anything at all. There is little understanding about the possibilities of the variety and use of grains. Level one products are "enriched" white breads, white buns, white pastas and white rice. Fruits are obtained mainly through juices (as mentioned earlier) that contain very little, if any of the original fiber content of the whole fruit. Sugar content is high here. Proteins are in the form of meats (95% of the time) and are a main course at every meal. Lots of red meats are used such as hamburger, hotdogs, and bacon, Spam, roast, pork chops, etc. Deserts after meals and on an empty stomach are the rule. Candy will frequently be the substitute for an entire meal or two each day.

At level one, microwave ovens are their only source for cooking; regardless of forthcoming information as to the damage it causes within the body. After all, "quick and easy" is the key to everything for the bargain basement of health!

For level one people, exercise seems confusing and an unnecessary source of pain. It is disregarded completely. Television is their main activity during the day. Their eyes are the most exercised portions of their body along with their index finger on the remote control hand. When and if family activities do take place, their participation is quite brief and may end in a nap while the festivities carry on without them.

Attitude at level one is often contentious and stress filled in dealing with relationships because they don't feel good and they don't have patience or understanding for other people, especially those close to them. On occasions, when they feel pretty good, the positive side may immerge long enough for people to remember why they liked them in the first place.

The quality of health is poor at level one. Level one people can expect to "catch" everything everyone has in the office or that is brought home from school. Fatigue is commonplace and accepted as "the way things are." Hay fever and asthma are common along with headaches, skin growths and worsening obesity, which plagues their existence. Joint and muscle pain creeps in slowly and painfully, growing worse each passing year. Disease is a part of their lives and they are filled with fear when they think about "catching" something.

Overall there is very little understanding for good health principles at level one. They talk as though they know a lot about how the body functions, but in fact they know very little. They can be found quoting studies that support their destructive habits and attitudes. Many can hardly remember what it feels like to feel good and may even have lost their ability to compare. Level one people eat out often. Some eat out every meal! They often smoke, drink alcoholic beverages under the guise of medication and use a variety of medications for every ailment under the sun (which they will experience). Antibiotics and Prozac are taken like vitamins! Drugs are always overused, abused and addictive. These people are commonly late to bed and if at all possible, late to rise. They either sleep too many hours or can't sleep well at all.

Summary

Is this you? Sick of being sick, fat and miserable? Learn how to lower your fat setpoint and raise your level of health by signing up for a FREE common sense health solutions newsletter at www.EATandbelean.com. Start today! Remember, the level you are on is never permanent. If you don't like this level, with time and a little effort daily, you can move up to a healthier, more active life-style. That's why the Favorite Family Recipes eCookbook was written. It is a wonderful resource to help you make the jump from level 1 to level 2 and help you prepare for level 3 (EAT & Be lean Success Formula student manual). It is packed full of delicious, family tested recipes, that are partially healthified for you. It teaches you how to change any recipe you might already have to a healthier level. You do deserve a break today; one that will create a happier, leaner, healthier, more energetic existence for you and your family.

Additional details of this article may be found at http://www.eatandbelean.com/newsletters/Issue_103.htm#3.