The more complex life becomes, the more people yearn for simplicity. You can improve the quality of your life by simplifying health. Unrealistic expectations may be the biggest hurdle to adopting lasting health habits. Not exercising enough. Not attaining that body. Distorted perceptions encouraged by media and the fitness industry run people ragged, chipping away at self-esteem and throwing big obstacles to developing a healthy lifestyle.

Here are simple, practical steps for regaining your sense of what's good for you, by simplifying health:

1 - Listen to your body. It's talking to you! Your seventh sense is your natural instincts. Suppress it, and you'll wither. Awaken it, and you have a life partner to good health. Your seventh sense is coaxing you to move.

2 - Eat fruit or do a juice fast one day a week. This is one way you can simplify your eating habits, and help maintain your weight. Try a drink made from a banana, an apple, a few oranges, a handful of fresh strawberries, or maybe a fresh peach. Any fruit of your choice would work. Toss everything in the blender, it makes a fresh frappe' that is a filling meal by itself. It is so good it almost feels sinful, and it couldn't be simpler.

2 - Believe in yourself. A lot of us pick up destructive beliefs and thoughts in our lifetime. For instance, you might be consistently thinking "Maybe I'll never be fit. I've just never been good at it." Negative thinking in any shape or form will crush your natural body wisdom, keeping you from doing what's best for your body.

3 - Rest, relax, and rejuvenate. If you've ever forced yourself to exercise - dragged yourself to an aerobics class even though you didn't want to be there - you know all too well that you can't force yourself to exercise for very long. Here's a better way: Don't. Rather, exercise in a centered, mindful and restful place. To do so, you must first relax and de-stress. This will give you the needed energy.

4 - Make water your preferred drink. There are lots of reasons to make water your drink of choice, but perhaps the best reason is that very few of the alternative liquids are good for you. If you're used to drinking highly flavored liquids, water may seem dull at first. But eventually, you'll wonder how you ever drank some of those overly-sweet sodas and caffeinated or carbonated beverages.

5 - Fire your personal trainer, and take a walk. The average number of times exercise equipment is used is 6 percent, then it either sits in the corner room of your house, cluttering up your life and making you feel guilty, or it goes to the next garage sale. Everyday this expensive equipment or your gym membership goes unused; your guilt level rises, adding stress to your life. On the contrary, walking requires no fancy equipment, no club membership, no new clothes, and it's the best exercise you can get.

Simplifying health will be better for your body and soul, and there's nothing you can do that's easier, less stressful, and more beneficial.