You hear a
lot about living a healthy lifestyle, enough that the phrase 'healthy
lifestyle' may be one we'd like to permanently retire. The problem is, that
phrase describes the life we need to live if we want to feel good and look
good. So, what does it actually mean? Well, there are the obvious things that
describe a healthy person: He or she doesn't smoke, is at a healthy weight,
eats healthy foods and exercises on a regular basis. It sounds so simple, it's
funny just how hard it is to do all of those things in our current world.
The good news is, you don't have to
change everything at the same time. In fact, the trick to healthy living is
making small changes. Take more steps each day, adding fruit to your cereal,
having an extra glass of water or saying no to that second helping of buttery
mashed potatoes. So, what else can you be doing to live healthy? Your first
order of business is to start exercising.
Exercise
One
of the biggest reasons we're have a weight problem these days is because we sit
around too much. We know we need to exercise, but we have so many excuses not
to do it. We're too busy, don’t know where to start, we're not
motivated or we're afraid we might injured ourselves or we're
afraid that exercise has to be vigorous for what our bodies can handle. The
truth is, everything counts and the more you move, the healthier you'll be.
It's
great if you can spend time exercising. Meaning you're doing something to
strengthen your body. But it doesn't always have to be that way. Moderate
activities like chores, gardening and walking can make a difference.
Just adding a little movement to your
life can:
·
Reduce the risk of heart disease,
stroke and diabetes
·
Improve joint stability
·
Increase and improve range of
movement
·
Help maintain flexibility as you age
·
Maintain bone mass
·
Prevent osteoporosis and fractures
·
Improve mood and reduce symptoms of
anxiety and depression
·
Enhance self esteem
·
Improve memory in elderly people
·
Reduce stress
So,
even if you opt for small changes and a more modest weight loss, you can see
the benefits are still pretty good. One study has found that just a 10% weight
reduction helped obese patients reduce blood pressure, cholesterol and increase longevity.
In fact, you don't even have to have a goal to lose weight, especially if
you have trouble stick to a program. Why not focus on being healthy to
start and worry about the weight loss once you've got some healthy habits under
your belt?
Simple
Ways to Move Your Body
You can start the process of being
healthy and weight loss now by adding a little more activity to your life. If
you're not ready for a structured program, start small. Every little bit counts
and it all adds up to burning more calories.
·
Turn off the TV. Once a week, turn off the TV and do something a
little more physical with your family. Play games, take a walk...almost
anything will be more active than sitting on the couch.
·
Walk more. Look for small ways to walk more. When you get
the mail, take a walk around the block, take the dog for an extra outing each
day or walk on your treadmill for 5 minutes before getting ready for work.
·
Do some chores. Shoveling snow, working in the garden, raking
leaves, sweeping the floor...these kinds of activities may not be 'vigorous'
exercise, but they can keep you moving while getting your house in order.
·
Pace while you talk. When you're on the phone, pace around or even do
some cleaning while gabbing. This is a great way to stay moving while doing
something you enjoy.
·
Be aware. Make a list of all the physical activities you do
on a typical day. If you find that the bulk of your time is spent sitting, make
another list of all the ways you could move more--getting up each hour to
stretch or walk, walk the stairs at work, etc.
Learn
about more ways to fit in exercise.
Eating
Well
Eating
a healthy diet is another part of the healthy lifestyle. Not only can a clean
diet help with weight management, it can also improve your health and quality
of life as you get older. You can use the new Myplate to determine
how many calories you need and what food groups you should focus on or, if
you're looking for smaller changes, you can use these tips for simple ways to
change how you eat:
·
Eat more fruit. Add it to your cereal, your salads or even your dinners
·
Eat more vegetables. Add them wherever you can. A tomato on your
sandwich, peppers on your pizza, or extra veggies in your pasta sauce. Keep canned
or frozen veggies ready for quick snacks.
·
Switch your salad
dressing. If you eat full-fat dressing,
switch to something lighter and you'll automatically eat less calories.
·
Eat low-fat or
fat-free dairy. Switching to skim milk or fat free
yogurt is another simple way to eat less calories without having to change too
much in your diet.
·
Make some
substitutes. Look through your cabinets or
fridge and pick 3 foods you eat every day. Write down the nutritional content
and, the next time you're at the store, find lower-calorie substitutes for just
those 3 items.
Creating a healthy lifestyle doesn't
have to mean drastic changes. In fact, drastic changes almost always lead to
failure. Making small changes in how you live each day can lead to big rewards,
so figure out what you can to be healthy today.