“Do you lead an active lifestyle or a sedentary one? The question is simple, but the answer may not be as obvious as you think. Let’s say, for example, you’re a busy guy who works 60 hours a week at a desk job but who still manages to find time for five 45-minute bouts of exercise. Most experts would label you as active. (Put your body to the test: 10 standards to assess your fitness level.) But Marc Hamilton, Ph.D., has another name for you: couch potato. Perhaps “exercising couch potato” would be more accurate, but Hamilton, a physiologist and professor at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, would still classify you as sedentary. “

Read More: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39523298/ns/health-mens_health/

“On May 11, the White House announced it was targeting a new threat to America’s health and security. It wasn’t some rogue nation or terrorist organization, or a newfound disease or environmental threat. It was a class of chemicals that are making Americans fat. They’re called endocrine disrupting chemicals, or EDCs. And chances are you’re eating or drinking them right now.

The White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity released a report called “Solving the Problem of Childhood Obesity Within a Generation.” In the report they list endocrine-disrupting chemicals as a possible reason for increased obesity in the country and describe how scientists have coined a new term for these chemicals — “obesogens” — because they “may promote weight gain and obesity.”

What does this mean for you? It means that weight gain is not just about calories-in versus calories-out.”

Read More Here: http://shine.yahoo.com/event/loveyourbody/why-you-cant-lose-those-last-10-pounds-1964849/

Exercise as Part of a Healthy Halal Lifestyle

-Jamie Amina Teal-

Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Raheem

Is it correct to equate a healthy lifestyle with a halal lifestyle? Most Muslims probably rarely think of healthy life choices in this way and yet both the Qur’an and the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet (saw) point in this direction.

The Muslim is not left to wonder about which ways of cleanliness, eating, or sleeping are best for him. Islam gives thorough instructions for cleaning the body throughout the day for times of prayer and before and after eating. The hadith relate instructions about how much food and drink to consume at any given meal, how often it is appropriate to eat meat, and the best way to eat while fasting. Even sleeping comes with a set of guidelines demonstrating the best positions for resting and the suggested time for a nap during the day.

In all of this, Allah (swt) has made it clear that part of our Deen is not only to nurture and groom the soul, but equally to nurture and groom our bodies. To this end, it becomes important to examine the subject of exercise. For many and various reasons, it is crucial to keep the body in good working order.

For our general well-being, for improving stamina, for maintaining a healthy weight, and for strengthening the bones and muscles, participating in a regular exercise regimen is key. The various body systems all benefit from the improved flow of blood and oxygen that vigorous exercise can provide. It is important to note that this is just as important for the women as for the men. Each of us has a responsibility to maintaining ourselves.

Men necessarily bear most of the heavy physical labor of the Ummah, from building and repairing our masjids to burying the dead. Allah (swt) has also commanded them to provide for their families and rewards them for being faithful in this. Whether they are actually slaughtering meat and raising crops of vegetables or working daily in an office to earn a wage that will purchase these essentials, it is in the best interest of earning this provision that a man keeps himself in good health.

The sahaba (ra) used to participate in games and races, which not only strengthened the bond of brotherhood and allowed for good recreation, but also helped to keep their bodies in strong physical condition. Today we find that many of our brothers meet regularly with others from their local Islamic center or Muslim Student Association to have a game of soccer or basketball. This seems like a perfect way to continue this Sunnah in spending time with fellow Muslims and developing physical strength.

As for our women, they should not feel that they are excluded from the requirement to exercise either. Allah (swt) has encouraged our women to bear children and raise them with loving care. The physical burden of completing pregnancy and childbirth is as much an athletic event as any. Both require the woman to build her strength and stamina in order to create a safe and healthy experience for the mother and her child and to sustain the woman through the years of caring for the child.

Apart from raising children, women also need to develop high levels of energy for taking care of their daily duties around the home. Many young women entering marriage have little idea of the strength they will need to complete all of the tasks that are due on them each day between laundering and house cleaning and cooking. It is something they learn quickly and would do well to stay in shape for.

Last, but perhaps not least, for the married brothers and sisters among us it is wise to exercise in order to keep ourselves fit and attractive for our spouses. Inevitably with age, each of us will weaken somewhat or add on a few pounds. However, that process can be held in check to some degree with good exercise and healthy eating and sleeping routines. Our Prophet (saw) used to run races with his wife Aisha (ra), and this is a good example to us that husbands and wives should have fun together and encourage each other in such activities.

For men and women living busy lives, it may seem difficult to find the time to go out for a jog or join a team sport after a hectic day in the office or of chasing children around the house. However, when a person has the intention in his heart of doing something for the sake of Allah and starts with “Bismillah,” then he soon finds that it was easier than he anticipated. Feeling tired or lazy should not be an excuse for letting ourselves fall into poor health. The Prophet (saw) used to make dua, “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from worry and grief, from inability and sluggishness…” (reported in Bukhari by Anas ibn Malik).

Taking care of the body that Allah (swt) has given us to live in here on earth potentially gives us a longer life to earn His (swt) favor with good deeds and righteous living as well as making our time here easier and more comfortable for us. May Allah (swt) grant us strength and help us to maintain it.

If you’re a smoker and want to quit take some advice from Mohammed Ameen. He gave up smoking and went on Hajj with the money he saved!

He is now urging other people to make the most of the month of Ramadhan and quit the deadly habit for good.

Read more here: http://bit.ly/bBzxsK

The following is mentioned by Seth Godin about complaining using a positive language.

“In this economy, I’m lucky to have this job, and it’s almost perfect. It would be even better if…”

or

“I love owning this device, it lets me manage my life and contacts, and the one thing that would make it even better is…”

It’s important to leave out the word “but.”

The fascinating thing about this approach is that not only does it make you happier when you say it, it increases the chance that the person you’re complaining to will actually do something to help you.

Dealing with Anger

Channeling Emotions

Dealing with Peer Pressure

Check out Stronger Than Ever: Emotional Strength Program

Recently, LivingHalal coaches have participated in Stronger Than Ever: Emotional Strength Training.

One topic the training covered was dealing with emotions (anger/regret), which the following story presents in a touching way.

USED vs. LOVED

While a man was polishing his new car,
his 4 yr old son picked up a stone
and scratched lines on the side of the car.

In anger, the man took the child’s hand
and hit it many times not realizing
he was using a wrench.

At the hospital, the child lost all his fingers
due to multiple fractures.

When the child saw his father…..
with painful eyes he asked, ‘Dad when will my fingers grow back?’
The man was so hurt and speechless;
he went back to his car and kicked it a lot of times.

Devastated by his own actions….. .
sitting in front of that car he looked at the scratches;
the child had written ‘LOVE YOU DAD’.

Anger and Love have no limits;
choose the latter to have a beautiful, lovely
life & remember this:
Things are to be used and people are to be loved.
The problem in today’s world is
that people are used while things are loved.

Let’s try always to keep this thought in mind:
Things are to be used,
People are to be loved.

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character;
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

I’m glad a sweet person forwarded this to me as a reminder…
I hope you have a good day no matter what problems you may face
it’s the only day you’ll have before it’s over.

Check out Stronger Than Ever: Emotional Strength Program

This is a real story by a Muslim sister.

This week, I applied the CASIC approach (a formula derived by Surah Al-Fatihah by MasterPIES) to a personal problem I had. First, I made duas for Allah (SWT) to help me out with guiding me and giving me patience. I was very angry and did not want to react in the wrong way and regret later. So, I distanced myself from the problem by avoiding my husband for two days. I tried to think objectively about the heated argument we had and decided that we were both to blame, although his temper was very bad and he said very hurtful things to me. I took it all in and decided to try to smooth things out. In fact, he must have been thinking the same thing because that evening, he asked me if I would like him to prepare me a meal (this happens maybe once in a blue moon). So, I agreed and I offered to make dessert, which he accepted. We were still upset with each other, but not as much as before. The next day, I prepared him his favorite dish for dinner and we talked things out in a friendly manner. Neither of us apologized, but in a way we knew we wanted to end this argument. We talked about different options we had and the problem was solved. The fact that we did not react during the heat of the moment meant that Allah (SWT) saved our marriage. Alhamdullah. I am so grateful that I was able to apply the CASIC module to my personal life and find instant solution. Of course, I think the fact that I prayed and made lots of duas helped me a lot too!

Praying at work can be difficult for some. The lack of space, small cubicle, no cubicle but alhamdulilah, Muslims that pray at work have found a way to find-space albeit sometimes in strange places i.e parking lot, stairwell, and other places.

Seems like more and more companies are wiling to accommodate employees that need a space to pray.

Indeed,

And whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). (At-Talaq 65:2)

Read on

Need a reminder for Salah time, try this