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!
Health, Life, Lifestyle, Tips

Top Tips on Making Lifestyle Changes Easier

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Photo by destiawan nur agustra: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-holding-iphone-while-eating-1034940/ 

The way you live on a daily basis will have a big impact on how you feel overall. If you strive for a healthy balance in life, you’ll feel more positive and your mental health will be greater than someone who isn’t looking after themselves. Unfortunately, throughout life, you will have your ups which are great, and your lows which aren’t so great. When you are going through a down period, it’s important you identify this and work on it, in order to help turn things around. 

Making changes to your lifestyle could be a big part of changing the way you feel. If you have been taking drugs, detoxing from drugs could help improve how you feel. So does improving your diet, exercising more, and increasing the number of hours you sleep. The challenge can be sticking to the changes you want to make. 

Making lifestyle changes takes dedication. This is why it’s important to make your changes realistic and you should not change too many behaviors at one time – you don’t want to set yourself up to fail. To help you with making lifestyle changes easier, we have put some tips together below. 

Set realistic goals 

Rule number one when setting up any goals in life is to make them realistic. Do not set yourself up to fail before you’ve even tried making a change. If you are not setting realistic goals, you’ll soon find yourself struggling to motivate yourself as every day you are failing. When setting your goals, set smaller targets within the big target and celebrate when you hit those small milestones. This way you can feel a sense of achievement when reaching those goals and want to continue in order to better yourself to reach your overall target. 

Track your progress 

Don’t set yourself a target and just hope for the best. Imagine saying you were going to run a marathon in six months but never tracked your training and just guessed when to go on your training runs – it would be impossible. When setting your realistic goals, track your progress daily or weekly in order to know you are doing your best. Depending on what your lifestyle change is, there may be an app out there that you can use to track your progress. The simplest apps to use would be your notes on your phone or your calendar as you will always have your phone on you. Then after a few weeks or months of making the changes, you can look back through your notes to see the progress you have made. If you are trying to improve your diet you’ll find plenty of specialist apps out there for example. 

Change one behavior at a time 

Don’t go guns blazing and try to change everything at once. This isn’t realistic and although you may set a realistic goal for each change, you will ultimately fail as you are trying to make too many changes at once. Instead, change one behavior at a time. By doing this you can really track it and realistically make good progress on changing this lifestyle trait. Once you’ve been working on it for a few months, you can then slowly start to add another change that you would like to make. Once a change has been done for long enough, it will become a habit instead of you trying to actively change it. 

Create a plan 

As the saying goes “if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail”. When setting your realistic goal, create a plan that follows. Depending on what lifestyle changes you are trying to make, this plan can include daily, weekly and monthly targets for you to achieve. When making your plan, think about how much time you can dedicate to this change, the cost of it, any research that you will need to carry out, and the commitment it’s going to need. This plan will help you in deciding if your goal is realistic. It may be that it’s harder than anticipated – that said, you should never give up. 

Find a lifestyle partner 

Whenever you are making any sort of changes in life, it’s always easier if you have someone there who will do it with you. Whether it’s your partner, your friend, or a family member, try to find someone who is going to make the same lifestyle change as you. This way you can both motivate each other to achieve it and hold each other accountable when you are starting to slip. It always means you have someone else to talk to when going through the journey who will understand how you are feeling and be able to support you as you can support them. 

Ask for support 

Never feel afraid to ask for support if you need it. When making your lifestyle changes, tell your friends and family members so that they can help and support you through the process. If you are trying to drink less, they can help by not offering you a drink when you are around for dinner. If you are trying to lose weight, they may cook a healthier meal instead of ordering a takeaway, etc. They may also know others who are going through the same process and be able to give you some good advice. As well as asking your family and friends, reaching out to a professional may also help. If the changes you are trying to make are more in-depth than imagined, they will have helped others through the changes and be able to assist you. 

We hope the tips give you some insight into making lifestyle changes easier and more achievable for you. Whatever change you are wanting to make, know you can do it and believe in yourself. 

What tips do you have for making a lifestyle change easier? Are there any tips that we haven’t included that you think we should add? Which of the above tips did you find most useful? Is there anything you would like to share that will benefit our readers? Let us know in the comment box below.

Lifestyle

Planning a Trip as a Dark Tourist; Here’s 4 Key Considerations

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Are you considering taking a trip to experience some of the world’s darkest locations? If so, you’ll need to consider a few things before planning your adventure. Here are four fundamental things to consider when embarking on a dark tourism journey.

What is a dark tourist destination, and why visit one?

A dark tourist destination is associated with death, suffering, or other negative aspects of human history. Although it may seem morbid to visit such places, dark tourism can be a meaningful and educational experience. By learning about the dark events that have taken place in the world, we can better understand the human condition and our capacity for both good and evil. Moreover, by confronting the darkness of our past, we can appreciate the value of life all the more. Of course, it is important to approach dark tourism with sensitivity and respect. Visitors should be mindful of the suffering at these sites and avoid making light of it in any way. With this in mind, dark tourist destinations can offer a deeply moving and enlightening experience for those willing to learn from them.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio: 

How to find the right dark tourism destination for you.

There are many types of dark tourism destinations, from sites associated with death and tragedy to those offering a more unique and unusual experience. With so many options available, it can be challenging to know where to start. So here are some tips on how to find the right dark tourism destination for you.

First, think about what type of experience you are looking for. Do you want to learn more about a particular historical event, or are you simply seeking a more unusual vacation spot? There are dark tourism destinations to suit all interests, so it is crucial to narrow down your options.

Next, consider your budget. Dark tourism destinations can vary widely in terms of cost, so it is vital to set a realistic budget before you start your search. Remember that some popular destinations may also be the most expensive.

Finally, check reviews and feedback from other travelers. This is a great way to understand what to expect from a particular destination. Once you know what you are looking for, you can start planning your trip. With a little research, you will indeed find the perfect dark tourism destination.

What to consider when planning your trip.

Planning a trip can be overwhelming, especially if you’re trying to visit multiple destinations. There are a lot of factors to consider, from where you’re going and how you’re getting there to where you’ll stay and what you’ll do once you arrive. But with a little planning and forethought, you can make the process much less stressful. Start by making a list of all the places you want to visit. Then research travel options and look for flights, trains, or buses that go to all of your destinations. Once you’ve figured out your transportation, start looking into hotels or Airbnb rentals in each location. When you’ve got the basics figured out you will want to research into if there is a visitors tax and how to pay it if there is. For example, when you are visiting some parts of Mexico you’ll need to pay a visitors tax which will help fund the economy and protect the environment. You’ll be able to pay this tax and apply for the visa at http://visitaxmx.org/ or pay at Cancun airport. Finally, research activities and attractions in each place so you can start making a list of things to do. By taking things one step at a time, you can make the process of planning a trip much easier. And with a bit of planning, you can ensure that your trip is everything you’ve dreamed of.

What to pack for your dark tourism adventure?

When packing for a dark tourism adventure, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you’ll want to dress comfortably and in layers. Dark tourism destinations can often be chilly, so it’s important to bring clothes that you can layer. You’ll also want to pack sturdy shoes, as you’ll likely be doing a lot of walking. And finally, don’t forget to pack your camera and ghost hunter kit! Even though dark tourism sites can be somber, they’re also incredibly photogenic. By keeping these things in mind, you can ensure that you’re prepared for your dark tourism adventure.

If you’re thinking of planning a trip to a dark tourism destination, there are a few things you need to consider first. First, consider what interests you and try to find a goal that aligns with those interests. Second, do your research! Make sure you know as much as possible about the location before you visit. Third, take precautions while traveling – remember that these are often dangerous areas. By following these tips, you can have an enjoyable and safe experience visiting some of the world’s most interesting (and darkest) destinations.

Going Healthy, Life, Parenting, Tips

What To Do When Recovering From An Unexpected Accident As A Parent

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Many people become more safety conscious upon becoming a parent. However, no matter how cautious you may be in your daily life, accidents can and do happen. As a result, it’s important that you’re aware of the steps you should follow in the aftermath of an incident, in order to ensure the best outcome moving forward.

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Photo by Lucian Alexe on Unsplash

This remains crucial regardless of whether or not your children were with you at the time, as your own health, well-being, and safety are paramount to theirs – meaning that if you don’t take care of yourself, you’ll find it harder to take care of them. 

With that in mind, here are some steps you should follow in the wake of an unexpected accident. 

Prioritize recovery. Whether you were involved in a car accident or are suffering from a workplace injury, it’s crucial that you give yourself the time you need to recover. Follow all medical advice that is given to you by your doctor, and don’t try to get up on your feet again before you are ready. If this means that you’ll need a little help with looking after your children for a while, call in for reinforcements from friends and family. While you may not want to burden them, they all want what is best for you and will be happy to step in when needed. The more time you give yourself to rest up and recover, the easier the next few months will be. 

Reach out to a lawyer. Unexpected accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries that are hard to recover from. If you require a lot of medical care and support, or to take time off work, they can also cost you considerably. As such searching for legal representation by searching War For Hou (or elsewhere if another location is more suitable) is a great way to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve in the wake of your incident. This reduces the amount of pressure you’ll face staying on top of mounting bills, meaning it can be a great way to lower stress that could otherwise prolong recovery. Furthermore you can have peace of mind that they are experienced in dealing with such matters, regardless of the kind of injury, you can find a specialist out there that can take charge of the case. Say you slipped on wet ground at work; offices like an Anidjar Levine slip and fall injury lawyer are only a phone call away.

Take care of your mental health too. The aftermath of an accident (or the recovery period) can also take its toll on your mental health. As a result, it’s important that you take care of yourself emotionally (as well as physically) during this time. This could mean that you need to work on your own mental health stigmas that you may have developed, by accepting that it’s okay not to be okay, and that you can ask for help no matter what situation you have found yourself in. Whether you choose to reach out to friends and family, or to a licensed professional, do not suffer in silence. There is always somebody ready and willing to listen, to provide you with the advice you need to get back on track and feel more like yourself again. Much like physical recovery, emotional healing can take time – but it’s an important one, and you’ll feel much better by working on it than by attempting to ignore your emotions.