All posts by R.C. Liley

I'm an ex-mutual fund accountant who left the cubicle world to be a stay-at-home dad to my beautiful little girl, Avery, who entered our life on 11/15/13 and handsome little boy, Wes, who joined our family on 11/19/17. Also happily married to my wife, Kelley, as of 8/17/07. Sorry ladies... :) Fitness and nutrition is of the utmost importance in our family and we strive to reflect this in our daily life. I always prepare our meals at home and only go out if it's a special occasion, and even then I tend to not get much. Food should be fun and a joy to eat, not something quickly consumed from a fast food chain or scarf down before the next meeting. I have come from strictly logging high miles to train for the next marathon to keeping exercise varied and focusing more on strength. I still enjoy going for a run when I can, but nothing crazy, and I prefer hill sprints while pushing my daughter, Avery in the stroller. She loves it and I get a great workout! I want to show the world how to appreciate their body and feed it real, wholesome food while moving more throughout the day. In doing so, everyone would be healthier, happier, and we'd all live in a better place as a result. I blog mainly about my life as a stay-at-home dad and frequently include reviews, participate in campaigns, and share my thoughts on fitness and nutrition. If you ever have any questions or thoughts to share, please reach out as I'm always open to listening or helping others however possible. That is, when I have free time since Avery is and my wife are the number one priorities!
Parenting

Showing Your Support For A Loved One Who Is Trying To Be Healthier

Leave a comment

Whether it’s your partner, friends, or family, you want them to live strong and healthy lives. So, when someone that you care for tells you that they are ready to make positive health changes, you may find it hard not to bombard them with advice, however, telling them what they should eat, drink, and do make not be the best way for them to navigate their changes.

healthy, health, living, life, fitness, food, cooking
Image by RitaE from Pixabay

Your support in helping them achieve their goals shouldn’t be underestimated, but it is definitely more than just advice and to do’s. Whether it is choosing to attend one of the American Addiction Centers or make changes with the amount of exercise they do, it is shown that people stick to healthier changes when they have a good support group.

How Can You Help? 

A great way to help, over recommending food they should eat, is to prepare some ready-made meals for them to try. You will find that they react more positively to something like this over being told what to eat, it offers them a chance to try something new. 

You could also ask them why they are making the changes, and what they want to achieve, this way you know what to expect and won’t get carried away or put them off when they are just starting their journey.

Rather than saying what they should and shouldn’t do, try showing them how to set and track goals that can achieve, and don’t make them all about a number on the scale. Although it can be hard to break the habit, health isn’t all about the number on the scale. Maybe ‘I want to be able to run 5k by the summer’ is a better goal than ‘I want to lose 10lbs’. 

Ask Them What Support They Need 

You may think that your friend wants to hear all the advice you have to offer, or every new recipe thrown their way, however, in reality, they just want someone to go on a cycle with or a walk around the block at lunch. 

Rather than jump to the conclusion that they need all your hints and tips, ask them what they need to help them get to where they need to be. And then listen to it. 

Offer To Help With Cooking Or Meal-Planning

It is far easier to make good, healthy choices when you can open your fridge and it is full of nutritious choices. However, planning your meals for a week requires some time and effort. One of the easiest ways to make sure you are ready for a healthier lifestyle is to meal prep so you can grab and go if you need to. It helps to prevent you from grabbing the wrong foods. Offering to help with the food planning, going shopping with them, or preparing some meals could be just what they need to get started and in the swing of things. 

These are just three of the ways you can offer your support to a loved one who is making healthier choices and changes. Do you have any other ways you can show your support? Please share them in the comments below.

Going Healthy, Lifestyle

5 Causes Of Bad Breath

Leave a comment
bad breath, coffee, health, hygiene, mouth
Pexels. CCO Licensed.

Got bad breath? There are lots of things that can cause our breath to stink. Here are five of the most common causes.

Lack or oral hygiene

Want to avoid bad breath? Don’t neglect your oral health. If you’re not brushing your teeth thoroughly, you can expect bacteria to build up in your mouth. This bacteria will cause your breath to smell. Eventually, poor dental hygiene could lead to tooth decay, which could result in even worse breath. This could lead to a whole host of other problems too.

A good dental health routine will keep your mouth clean. This involves brushing twice per day at morning and at night for two minutes at a time. Brush each tooth individually using small circular motions (or use an electric toothbrush). Flossing can also help to remove plaque between teeth.  

Smoking

Smoke regularly and your breath will stink of tobacco. You could also increase the risk of developing gum disease by smoking, which in turn can further contribute to bad breath.

Some people combat smoker’s breath by chewing gum or eating mints. However, this still won’t stop a smoking habit from damaging your gums and mouth. The best solution is to give up smoking. A replacement habit such as vaping could be a good start. 

Alcohol

A night after drinking, your breath could end up smelling of booze. Alcohol however can cause bad breath in other ways too – it reduces the production of saliva, causing the mouth to become dry. A lack of saliva can cause bacteria to build up, which in turn can lead to bad breath.

If you regularly drink heavily, you’re more likely to have bad breath. Drinking a lot of water is one way to combat the dehydrating properties of alcohol, possibly helping you to produce more saliva and preventing your breath from smelling. However, the most effective solution is cut down on your drinking.

Coffee

Drink a lot of coffee and you could experience ‘coffee breath’. The effect on our breath isn’t just a result of coffee’s strong smell – drinking a lot of coffee reduces saliva production. Like alcohol, this causes bacteria to breed in the mouth, leading to stinky breath.

If you’re a coffeeholic, consider cutting down your cups of coffee per day. Drinking more water throughout the day could also help to boost saliva production and combat coffee breath. 

A medical condition? 

Bad breath can sometimes be the result of a medical condition. Tooth decay and oral diseases are some of the biggest culprits, however other conditions affecting other parts of the body can also have a knock-on effect on our breath odor. Digestive issues, kidney issues, tonsillitis and diabetes can all result in unusual smelling breath. 

Most medical conditions will have other symptoms beyond bad breath – you may experience abdominal pain, fatigue or a sore throat. If this is the case, you should definitely see a doctor. A professional diagnosis will allow you to look into treatment options, which could help to rid you of your bad breath.

Life, Lifestyle, Tips

The Stats Tell the Story: Is It Realistic to Pass the CPA Exam in the First Attempt?

Leave a comment

After registering for the CPA exam, it can be intimidating to prepare for such a crucial investment in your future. Between hearing horror stories that only a select few pass on the first try, figuring out the most efficient preparation method, and having the free time required for studying, preparing for the CPA exam can be incredibly overwhelming. The best course of action is dedicating a lot of time and effort to studying and registering for a prep course that fits your particular learning style.

Take an Exam Prep Course

Registering for a CPA Exam Prep Course can be an excellent resource for hopeful accountants. They offer a unique perspective and provide a wealth of exam knowledge. The prep course teacher will have a syllabus with all the relevant information you need to pass the test and tips on how to prepare properly. As long as you’re willing to dedicate the time and energy, you will benefit significantly from taking a prep course.

Stats on passing the first time

You’ve probably heard horror stories that not many people pass the CPA exam on their first try. Well, the answer is yes and no. No, not many people pass all four sections on their first try, but most pass at least one section. The national average pass rate is right around 50%, give or take, meaning that most people do not pass on their first try. However, don’t be discouraged. With a commitment of time and effort, you can considerably increase your chances of passing the CPA exam. Yes, it takes hard work and sacrifice, but the end result is worth it by far.

How to Increase Your Chances of Passing

You may be wondering how to increase your chances of passing the CPA exam on the first try. For starters, find the right CPA prep and review course that best fits with your learning style. The exam covers a wide range of material and information, so it’s ideal to find the study tools to help you learn efficiently and effectively.

Prepare Yourself Mentally

Another way to increase your chances of passing is to prepare yourself mentally for the challenge ahead. Studying for and taking the exam is not going to be easy. It requires mental sacrifice, social sacrifice, and a considerable time commitment. However, with the right time management skills, motivation, and focus, you have an excellent chance of passing the first time around. Work smarter, not harder, and you will succeed.

Effective Time Management

When preparing for the CPA exam, avoid isolating yourself by utilizing practical time management skills. Don’t spend hours locked up studying alone, which will overwhelm you and isn’t an effective way to retain pertinent information. There’s a fine balance between having a social life and still having time set aside for studying. Going too far one way or the other can cause stress and conflict throughout your life, negatively affecting your mental focus and outlook.

Find a Mentor

Another way to increase your chances of passing the CPA exam is by finding a mentor to help you navigate the entire process. Find someone experienced and knowledgeable who is willing to work with you. Your mentor needs to provide feedback and constructive criticism, which will help you learn, grow, and prepare for the exam in the most efficient way possible.

Spend Time and Effort Preparing for Your CPA Exam

Though the entire process of preparing for and taking the CPA exam can be overwhelming, with the right tools you can succeed at becoming an accountant. Though it will be a pretty big undertaking, by registering for a prep course, devoting lots of time to study, and asking a mentor for guidance, you can increase your chances of passing the exam on the first try. It might be a lot of work, but when you finally become a CPA, all that hard work will have been more than worth it.