I know I usually devote Fridays to interviews with experts and other mental-health bloggers or try to answer a specific question of yours, but I thought I’d switch seats and be interviewed for a change.

Fresh Living bloggers Holly Lebowitz Rossi and Valerie Reiss asked me some questions that made me think about some of my health philosophies and goals. To get to the full interview on Fresh Living, click here. Here are some excerpts:

Fresh Living: Do you have a general life philosophy that helps you balance your life and spirit? What is it?

Me: This sounds negative, but it keeps me on track: “Nothing is free. You’re going to have to pay for it one way or another.” Meaning, I can’t totally binge on hamburgers and fries for a week straight without feeling the effect on my mood, my gut, even my concentration. And when I think I can really get away with burning the candles at both ends, because all my organs are in okay shape now … that my carelessness and stress will somehow come to haunt me, either as a form of depression and anxiety or as some other health condition.

Fresh Living: What kinds of activities do you do to stay in that balance?

Me: Exercise is key. Especially running, biking, swimming, and walking. Prayer is also important: sometimes I say a rosary, or repeat a mantra as I’m walking. I often yell at God, and give him/her a piece of my mind. I really want to write the word “meditation” here but I still am so bad at meditation that I feel like saying I meditate would be lying.

Fresh Living: What are some of your favorite “power foods” for health and vitality?

Me: Omega-3s are my friends. So I eat a lot of salmon and take six Omega-3 capsules. I’m pretty obsessed with almonds, too, and snack on them throughout the day. Holly got me addicted to tea, which I find is a nice treat in the afternoon to get me to dinner. I’ve always been a big veggie person, so I like to indulge in a large salad with lunch or dinner. And apples. I do believe what they say, that if you eat one of those guys a day you can keep SOME doctors away (not the shrinks).

Fresh Living: What’s the one vice or habit you’d like to change to Live Fresher?

Me: I would like to think happy thoughts. Really I would! But I have to work REALLY hard at that and I feel as though I’m a permanent beginner at training my mind. Fortunately, my day job involves reminding my peeps how we have to do that – or sharing with them different techniques that have helped me — so they are always FRESH on my mind.

Fresh Living: What’s the best piece of advice or wisdom you’ve ever gotten regarding living a balanced, juicy life? Who gave it to you?

Me: “Everything in moderation. Even moderation.” My step-mother-in-law (is that the right term?) told me that, probably after I had consumed a box of her dark chocolates. But I do think it’s true. Moderation is the key to longevity, but we must always make some room for fun and chocolate milkshakes.

To continue reading, click here.

Tell me … What are your health secrets?

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