There is a pervasive notion in today's society that there is a "perfect" body type. And the one that is portrayed over and over in TV, movies, and fashion is the "skinny" body type. The woman who is 6' tall and 110 lbs. with winter clothes and boots on. But that is just not realistic and healthy for everyone. Even some of those so-called perfect women don't look so healthy. What every person needs to do is figure out what is healthy for you. When have you felt and looked your best? Congratulations if that is right now. But if not, there are some easy things that you can do to find your perfect body type.

Think back over your life? Was there a time where you felt like you could run a marathon and can look at pictures of yourself without cringing? How old were you? What kinds of activities were you involved in? What kind of foods did you eat? Now, we all have to cope with the fact that as we get older, our metabolisms slow down. You can't eat like you did when you were a teenager or even in your twenties. As you move into your thirties and forties, you need to know how many calories you can consume. For a good calorie calculator, go here.

You also have to work harder to burn those calories. But if you find activities that you enjoy, then working out will be something to look forward to, not a chore. And for those of you who are shaking your heads and thinking that you don't have time to workout, yes you do! Wake up a few minutes earlier in the morning and get off the bus a few stops earlier. Walk the dog another couple of blocks. Park your car a little farther from the store. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Look at chores as an opportunity to burn more calories and firm up.

As for what you eat, think of yourself like car. The quality of the fuel you fill up with determines the performance of your car. Why would you treat your body any differently? People may say that they don't have the time or money to eat healthy. But that is taking a short-sighted view of your long-term health. Eating whole foods, getting all of your nutrients, eating organic and naturally, these things will help you fight off chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and even cancer. And that goes for things like smoking and drinking too. Anything we do to our body today will affect us tomorrow.

It is time all of us vow to treat our bodies with the respect and care that they deserve. Find the "perfect" body type for you, and you might just find that you feel better than you ever did. Investing in ourselves today can help us live better lives--today and tomorrow.