6 Tips for a Healthy and Fit Lifestyle

Consistently living a healthy and fit lifestyle does not happen by accident. For some, it starts with making small changes in diet and trying to be more active. Others may join a gym and vow to make it there at least 2-3 times a week. Inevitably, life takes over and before you know it, you are back to your old unhealthy habits.

What I’ve learned over the years is that it requires commitment and diligence in order to break the chains from old lifestyle choices and begin new ones. For me, it is akin to having a job where you must be responsible and effectively manage tasks in order to achieve established performance targets and goals.

Here are some tips to help you along the way:

Get an Annual Health Screening
Mark your calendar and get an annual health screening. A routine screening for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and cancer can help to facilitate early detection and mitigate complications that are costly to your health and your wallet. This is also an opportunity to discuss with your health care practitioner any concerns that you have about your health and any additional needed screenings.

Follow a Healthy Diet
Many struggle with this one! However, what individuals do not realize is that your mental and emotional health is a product of your diet as much as your physical health. A nutrient dense diet is required for everything to operate optimally. Therefore, minimize the amount of unhealthy fats, cholesterol, processed sugars, and salt consumed. A little indulgence once in a while does no harm. However, consistently eating unhealthily and over time will ultimately lead to detrimental consequences.

Manage Stress
Easier said than done right? Like many others, this one is difficult for me. Called, the “silent killer,” stress is a key contributor of many common diseases plaguing a number of individuals including heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, stroke, and depression. So how can you manage stress? There are a wide variety of stress management techniques available. Conduct research or work with your health care practitioner to determine the best methods for you.

Get More Sleep
Sleep! Some days I do not get enough. But getting more sleep will boost how you feel and perform during your waking hours. Additionally, sleep deprivation and weight gain are closely connected. Therefore, this could ultimately sabotage your weight lose goals. How much is enough? Many resources state that 7-8 hours is recommended for an adult. However, needs ma vary among individuals and as we age. Consult with your health care practitioner for further guidance.

Cultivate Healthy Relationships
Relationships can heal you and harm you. Therefore, it’s important to recognize the relationship patterns that cause stress and anger in your life and learn to manage them. Learning how to manage your mood, emotions, or reactions in your interactions can save your life and relationships themselves. Yes, there will be times you will get angry with your significant other, children, friends, or peers, but that anger must not control or consume you.

Find Joy In Every Day.
By making the effort to look at the positive side of things, you can change your outlook and overall mindset. Have you ever noticed that when you think negative thoughts, negative events tend to be drawn to you. The same happens when you think positive thoughts. It’s simply the law of attraction. While this may not help you live longer, it will help you experience more joy, happiness, and less stress during the time you do have.

REMEMBER: Life is not a dress rehearsal. You have to live it to the fullest each day.