"I believe that the greatest gift you can give your family and the world is a healthy you." Joyce Meyer
We often hear people talk about being healthy and then they list exercise and losing weight as their goals. While doing both can contribute to our feelings of well being, we need more than physical activity and goals to maintain our overall health. I believe that if we focus on a holistic approach to healthy living, we will be in better health and, ultimately, in better shape. If your goal this year is to build a healthy lifestyle, my question to you is: Are you taking care of the whole person? Are you taking social influences and other factors into consideration? If No, then you need to reconsider your efforts and make healthy decisions that cater to the whole person. If Yes, then congratulations, you are ahead of the game!
There are five key elements we must keep in mind on our journey to healthy living: In any healthy living plan, we must care for our Physical, Nutritional, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Health.
Physical Health: Exercise is the first thing that comes to mind, and there are many ways to maintain our bodies and get in shape. Whether you choose to run, walk, do yoga, martial arts, swim or lift weights, it's important to learn how to maintain our bodies in the proper way. Any form of physical activity can lead to injury, if we don't learn the proper form or way to do it. Avail yourself of an expert trainer, even if for a short time, so you can learn the right way to do any type of activity you choose. Walking is a no-brainer, but having the proper footwear is imperative, ditto wearing comfortable clothing. We are never too old to learn and it's never too late to improve our form.
Nutritional Health: The worst thing we can do for our bodies is to feed it junk while we are increasing our physical activity. If you commit to lose weight or increase your activity levels, it's key to keep your nutritional well-being in mind. It would be defeatist to line up the best gear and workout clothes, pay for an expensive gym membership, and then feed your body a diet of junk, high cholesterol, artery clogging foods. If we eat fruits, vegetables, grains and lean proteins with some fat, and add plenty of water to our daily diet, we will be on the road to staying truly healthy. I'm a big advocate for organic foods and fresh foods, but you can eat well by eating a balanced meal from the major food groups. The goal should be to eat in moderation.
"A healthy attitude is contagious but don't wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier."Tom Stoppard
Mental Health: Our mental health is as important as our physical health. If we are surrounded by negativity or have addictions that interfere with our well-being, it is important to take care of them on the road to total health. While our endorphins increase when we work out, if there are issues in our lives that need mental health attention, we must seek help from the appropriate professional to assist in addressing those issues. Anorexia and Bulimia are eating disorders that require mental health attention. If someone you know is excessive about restricting food intake, encourage the person to seek help. Some people fall into a dangerous eating pattern, while claiming they are getting in shape. Anything we do in excess must be addressed with the help of a professional. Maintain your mental health.
Emotional Health: Our emotional well-being is tied into our mental well-being and, if we are emotionally spent, we need to take time out to resolve any issues that are pulling us down. If we don't take care of our emotional health, it can create more problems for us. Some of us eat too much or too little when we feel hurt or break up with a loved one. Some us become hoarders or excessive, emotional spenders when things fall apart in our lives. So, it's very important to check in with our emotional state, seek the help of a therapist or other professional, and sort out our problems. Ignoring the promptings to do something could lead to other emotional problems. Staying healthy also means staying emotionally healthy.
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We often hear people talk about being healthy and then they list exercise and losing weight as their goals. While doing both can contribute to our feelings of well being, we need more than physical activity and goals to maintain our overall health. I believe that if we focus on a holistic approach to healthy living, we will be in better health and, ultimately, in better shape. If your goal this year is to build a healthy lifestyle, my question to you is: Are you taking care of the whole person? Are you taking social influences and other factors into consideration? If No, then you need to reconsider your efforts and make healthy decisions that cater to the whole person. If Yes, then congratulations, you are ahead of the game!
There are five key elements we must keep in mind on our journey to healthy living: In any healthy living plan, we must care for our Physical, Nutritional, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Health.
Physical Health: Exercise is the first thing that comes to mind, and there are many ways to maintain our bodies and get in shape. Whether you choose to run, walk, do yoga, martial arts, swim or lift weights, it's important to learn how to maintain our bodies in the proper way. Any form of physical activity can lead to injury, if we don't learn the proper form or way to do it. Avail yourself of an expert trainer, even if for a short time, so you can learn the right way to do any type of activity you choose. Walking is a no-brainer, but having the proper footwear is imperative, ditto wearing comfortable clothing. We are never too old to learn and it's never too late to improve our form.
Nutritional Health: The worst thing we can do for our bodies is to feed it junk while we are increasing our physical activity. If you commit to lose weight or increase your activity levels, it's key to keep your nutritional well-being in mind. It would be defeatist to line up the best gear and workout clothes, pay for an expensive gym membership, and then feed your body a diet of junk, high cholesterol, artery clogging foods. If we eat fruits, vegetables, grains and lean proteins with some fat, and add plenty of water to our daily diet, we will be on the road to staying truly healthy. I'm a big advocate for organic foods and fresh foods, but you can eat well by eating a balanced meal from the major food groups. The goal should be to eat in moderation.
"A healthy attitude is contagious but don't wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier."Tom Stoppard
Mental Health: Our mental health is as important as our physical health. If we are surrounded by negativity or have addictions that interfere with our well-being, it is important to take care of them on the road to total health. While our endorphins increase when we work out, if there are issues in our lives that need mental health attention, we must seek help from the appropriate professional to assist in addressing those issues. Anorexia and Bulimia are eating disorders that require mental health attention. If someone you know is excessive about restricting food intake, encourage the person to seek help. Some people fall into a dangerous eating pattern, while claiming they are getting in shape. Anything we do in excess must be addressed with the help of a professional. Maintain your mental health.
Emotional Health: Our emotional well-being is tied into our mental well-being and, if we are emotionally spent, we need to take time out to resolve any issues that are pulling us down. If we don't take care of our emotional health, it can create more problems for us. Some of us eat too much or too little when we feel hurt or break up with a loved one. Some us become hoarders or excessive, emotional spenders when things fall apart in our lives. So, it's very important to check in with our emotional state, seek the help of a therapist or other professional, and sort out our problems. Ignoring the promptings to do something could lead to other emotional problems. Staying healthy also means staying emotionally healthy.
More Below!
