Before you take that first step towards any lasting change you should first evaluate where you are. So ask yourself the following questions:
- How do you feel most days?
- Are you always tired?
- Do you sleep well?
- Are you happy?
- Are you stressed?
For every action there is a reaction
Most of us don’t realize the stress our body is under due to our daily lifestyle choices. We don’t exercise and wonder why we lack energy. We don’t get enough sleep, and wonder why we can’t remember or focus. We have poor eating habits, and wonder why we can’t lose weight. We even hold on to stressful anger, hate and resentment, and wonder why our hair is thinning, we feel weighed down, and we look twice our age.
Know Thy Health
Good health is not a mystery; you just need to understand a few basic principles of how the body works. Acknowledge your eating habits, your health status, your family history, your bad habits, and your willingness to change for the better.
Acknowledge Your Physical Health Status
Are you overweight or obese?
- What is your BMI? (BMI – calculator)
- BMI (body mass index) measures your health status by considering your height in relation to your weight.
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- If your BMI is under 18.5 – you are underweight
- If your BMI is between 18.5 to 24.9 – you are normal
- If your BMI is between 25-29.9 – you are overweight
- If your BMI is over 30 – you are clinically obese
- What is your waist circumference?
Your waist circumference is closely related to your risks for diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, or heart disease. You are at risks if:
- You are a woman with a waist measurement of 35 inches or more
- You are a man with a waist measurement of 40 inches or more
Are You Stressed?
The effect of chronic stress on your body is very destructive. Stress has a catabolic (breaking down) effect on your body that can lead to disease:
- Immune System:
- the stress response suppresses your immune system leading to infections
- Cortisol is released
- causing your body to store fat
- Circulatory System:
- elevated blood pressure and heart rate can damage blood vessels
- Intestines:
- decrease in blood flow may lead to ulcers
Evaluate Your Lifestyle
- Do you Smoke?
- Do you Drink Excessively?
- Do you get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days?
- Do you have diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, or heart disease?
Know Your Genetics
Take a good look at your parents, your grandparents and their siblings. Ask questions regarding heart disease, cancer, and hypertension. Know your risks based on family history and make sure to discuss them with your physician.
The Hard Truth
Changing your lifestyle to one of better health and fitness is more than deciding or wanting to make the change. Your heart must be in it, or most (if not all) of your planning will be in vain. We often feel that if it doesn’t truly interest us than it’s really not worth all of the effort, especially when it means sacrificing, depriving, or sweating.
You must be ready, willing and able to make the commitment to your health. And that requires a serious acknowledgement and acceptance of the tough changes regarding your eating habits and the physical demands of exercise.
Start off slow, and gradually incorporate additional steps as you become comfortable with each new health initiative. Set realistic goals, and be prepared to compromise. It’s never an “all or nothing” deal. Make changes that are easier for you; like walking instead of biking or jogging. Reduce the time spent watching television; and when you do watch television, take advantage of the commercial breaks and do a few repetitions of exercise.
The small steps will motivate you to do more. And the moment you realize you feel better, you look better, and you are a better representation of yourself – well that’s the “Sweet Spot” we all crave!