You may have heard of the dreaded "Freshman 15" which basically declares that most people in their first year of college gain 15 lbs. The main reason being binge drinking, not exercising, and having to feed ourselves for the first time. According to USA Today, young people age 18-29 are staying static in their health or are getting unhealthier than they were 10-15 years ago. So our unhealthy habits seem to be following us out of college as well.

If you're young, this probably doesn't come as a surprise for you. Being young means being untied down, typically with no mortgages, spouses, or kids to worry about. Where does all that extra cash go? Eating out or partying at the bars.  The study claims that among young men, almost 1/3 smoke cigarettes and a 1/4 binge drink.

On top of that, a 1/3 of young people are obese AND 1/3 are overweight. By my calculations, that only leave another third in good standing. 30% also don't have health insurance, but I'm not sure how. If you have a job, you generally have benefits. So perhaps a 1/3 are unemployed?

When you're young your metabolism ifs flipping out. There is no need to have an extra 10-15 lbs added to your body.

So the point is, young people have bad health habits which is likely to translate to health problems when they're older. It also seems that men are more prone to bad habits than women as well.

Young people, especially in their 20's, have an invincibility mentality, and sometimes that can mean disregarding their health.

What can be done to get young people to care more about health? I don't have the answer, all I can draw upon is my own motivation for  being fit. Mine starting with insecurity at a young age. All I wanted to do  was get big and strong and that I did. Then at age 35 I began to look at health being more important than big muscles. So will maturing and growing emotionally bring healthy choices like exercise and eating better into our lives? Or will it take something and emotionally driven event to create a healthy well-balanced habit ?

So what is skinny fat? It's a person who looks thin but is unhealthy in their habits. Usually this means they eat an array of unhealthy foods and do little to no exercise. And for those who are the thin and healthy, they're known as skinny fit. It's weird to think there are so many terms for the kinds of ways a person can be skinny. It just proves how body-obsessed we can all be.

Being skinnyfat, in general, means having good genes but being higher in fat than you should be for over-all health. This means your muscle to fat ratio is out of balance…where your body is flabby, loose. The size of your body is not the main factor, the size of your jeans doesn’t designate your health.

If you are a thin person who eats what you want and still looks skinny or becoming injury due to being weak, then good for you. But can you lift a heavy box or run up the stairs without panting? Physical exercise such as aerobics is a small way to measure fitness. The bigger factor is over-all muscular balance and healthy muscle to fat ratio. So even if you are thin, moving around a bit with resistance training never hurt anyone.

And stop trying to convince others you're fit and healthy just because you're skinny. That's the same  as an over-fat person hiding themselves with big clothes or a towel around their waist at the beach. Just because you hide it doesn't mean it's not there anymore or that you're fit.

Have you ever felt just not right? Remember those silly commercials from the 80s when the daughter turned to mom and they discussed something rather private about freshness?? Have you felt like something was off balance?

Maybe a nagging cold or turbulent tummy . . . that dragging feeling of, "I'm not Sick-sick, but I'm not well."

Perhaps it is time for a full body cleanse.

The cleanse has been around for years as a part of holistic medicine, and it’s finally being accepted and embraced within the modern medicine community. Though there are many different ways to cleanse, the results are all the same as a cleanse works by helping to eliminate toxins and restore a healthy balance within the body.

How Does All of that Stuff Get There?

You may not think that you need a cleanse as you may feel as though you lead a healthy lifestyle already. Even the healthiest person can benefit from a cleanse because there is always some level of toxin and chemical build up, it’s just natural.

Additionally there may even be parasites or other related things lurking within your colon or other parts, and if you don’t perform some form of detoxification this can lead to a sluggish feeling and even health problems over time. So no matter how healthy you are or how you may feel as though you do all the right things, everybody can benefit from a cleanse.

Over time the environment we live in, the air that we breath, the foods that we eat, and the toxins that we knowingly introduce wreak havoc on our bodies. All of these substances start to build up toxins and chemicals in our body that can slow things down, cause our organs to function slower or improperly, and leave us feeling sick and tired. If you perform a cleanse on a regular basis, you will quickly see that you feel more energized and healthier almost immediately.

You will also have better nutrient absorption as the cleanse will take out the gunk that prevents you from fully utilizing those organic veggies you've been noshing.

What’s the Best Way to Proceed?

With so many different cleanse programs out there; it can be hard to know which one to choose. This has been a fixture within holistic medicine for years, and at the core of most cleanse programs is the idea that you subsist on liquids for a period of 3-7 days. The liquids are specifically raw, fresh, natural fruit and vegetable juices.

There are plenty of variations to this body cleanse, some of which involve citrus juices with cayenne pepper and syrup, and others that focus solely on water and natural herbs in the form of teas. Pick one that seems most appealing (or least repelling!). Just remember the cleanse should ultimately focus on letting your organs rest so that the body can naturally get rid of the toxins that have built up.

Be prepared as the results of a body cleanse can be eye opening to say the least! You may find yourself attached to the bathroom, feeling nauseas, and you are likely to feel weak and tired. The first time you perform a cleanse, it can be a good idea to stick close to home so that you can see how your body reacts to this healthy measure. Don’t be alarmed if you see some things come out that you didn’t think possible to dwell within your body—these are all signs that the cleanse is working and the toxins are moving out. After the initial period of exhaustion and living without solid food for a couple of days, you will find that the cleanse leaves you feeling healthier, more energized, and more vital than ever.

Many people report a delightful feeling of "being lighter."