Can you name the top two threats to your heart health? No, it's not genetics, or your cholesterol level. It's not your blood pressure, or even the foods you eat! While all of these factors do matter, a new study says the two things that do the most damage to your heart are excess weight and a sedentary lifestyle.

Researchers came to this conclusion after examining data from the Nurses' Health Study, which has tracked the health and habits of almost 70,000 women for more than 28 years. They discovered that the women who didn't exercise and were more than moderately overweight ran the highest risk of dying from sudden heart failure — regardless of other risk factors. The good news? Women who had at one time been overweight or inactive reduced their risk almost the moment they changed their lifestyle.

The bottom line is that a healthy diet and regular exercise not only can help you look and feel better but will vastly improve your health in ways few other changes can. And it's never too late to take a step in the right direction! So keep it up — you're making changes that will benefit you for life!

You can make a choice. Tell that little voice to cease and desist with those negative thoughts. Introduce positive self-talk into your life today!