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Healthy Lifestyle In a perfect world we would all have a healthy lifestyle. We would be eating the right food, exercising, sleeping well and just generally enjoying life.
In the real world most of us
manage a percentage of the lifestyle and muddle through as best we can
with the rest of it.
Part of the problem is we are encouraged to think,
mostly by the media, that we should be doing everything possible towards a
healthy lifestyle, all of the time. For most of us this is just not possible.
Constant concern about what we should or
shouldn't be doing causes our stress levels to go up and that negates any good
work that we've done. Yes, we should certainly try for a healthy lifestyle, but
the two key words are “moderation” and “balance”. By applying these criteria to
achieving a healthy lifestyle we won't be beating ourselves up for failing
another diet or dropping out of the latest exercise regime.
A common mistake that many people make when they
decide to adopt a healthy lifestyle is to try to do too much too soon. They
then give themselves a guilt complex when it all falls apart. It is also easy to
be influenced by others, when we should only be adopting a healthy lifestyle
plan to suit ourselves.
Ah! Did I say lifestyle plan?
Do you have one, or do you just try the next thing that is in your magazine or
Sunday supplement? By all means read these articles and take them into
account as you plan how you want your healthy lifestyle to take shape.
Leading a healthy lifestyle doesn't mean you
have got to run a mile before breakfast, eat seeds and think pure thoughts.
Great if that's what you want, but for most of us “healthy” means being in
reasonable shape,
eating our fruit and vegetables and generally having a feeling
of vitality.
______________
Decide on your definition of a
healthy lifestyle, and then plan a strategy that works for you.
As part of my health plan I decided I wanted to
walk in the mornings before breakfast, but there was no way I wanted to get up
at the crack of dawn to do it. So I planned a ten minute circuit that includes
a short flight of steps and a not too steep incline. I power walked that route
every day and felt really good. Sure l wouldn’t make the City to Surf marathon,
but I compromised and made it work for me.
______________
Today, much is made of organic foods, but the
reality is that organic food is generally more expensive and well out of the
range for most budgets. Yes organic is probably the best option, but it doesn't
mean that if you're not eating all organic you are not eating right. If you're
concerned about general produce, be a bit discerning when you shop. Look for
fruit and vegetables that are fresh and unblemished. You should also buy product
brands that you can trust. If you shop wisely, you can have a well-balanced
healthy diet that won't break the bank.
Basically living a healthy
life means looking at your lifestyle as a whole, it is not just about diet and
exercise. It is not always necessary to make major changes. Most
people know their weak spots, and are happy if they can make a few changes that
show results.
______________
A friend of mine was drinking
several cans of soft drink a day. She was feeling tired and generally under the
weather. When I read an article about the health risk of soft drink I
copied it and gave it to her, whereupon she decided to give up the soft drink
there and then. A week later she got back to me and said she couldn't believe
the difference, her energy levels were up and she was feeling great. Just
that one change was able to make a difference and she feels good about the
healthy choice.
Sleep and leisure time play a big part in a
healthy lifestyle, and for the most part people underestimate the value of good
sleep. Our bodies aren’t designed to operate at peak performance twenty four
hours a day. Anyone in industry knows that machines that have to work
continuously need a lot of maintenance. When we are sleeping our body is
healing and regenerating itself and we should wake up feeling refreshed and
revitalized.
We can go
without sleep for
extended periods, but we can't do it indefinitely. The amount of sleep an
individual needs varies a great deal, and there is no such thing as the right
time to sleep. Obviously most people sleep at night, but if you are one of
those folk that comes alive in the small hours, you might need to catch up with
your sleep during the day.
______________
A big part of healthy living
is being comfortable with yourself. Don't be pressured into trying to
attain a certain look, or push yourself down a career path you are not suited
to. Constant worry about what you are doing will only have the opposite effect
on your health. Don't get paranoid about your diet, about what toothpaste
you should use or about expensive exercise equipment you need to buy.
Allow a common sense approach to dictate when
you are making lifestyle choices, and remember, there is nothing wrong with
compromise if it means your healthy lifestyle plan will work for you.
This site is not intended as a medical reference site. The information it contains is general, not specific to individuals. The material on this site is not meant to take the place of diagnosis and or treatment by a qualified medical practitioner or nutritionist. A qualified practitioner should be consulted before starting any diet or exercise regime, as well as for serious or long-term health problems. copy rights ©Moonstone Publishing 2000-2011 |
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