Achieving and Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle
Does it seem impossible to achieve, and maintain, a healthy lifestyle? Does it seem that when you strive to become healthier, something prevents you from remaining true to your goals?
Do you feel you don't have the energy to work at becoming healthier because life is too busy and you just manage to get through the day as it is?
I feel for you. I've been where you are but I have good news for you...though it is possible to maintain, or improve, your health... though more work, determination, and stamina is often required of you...the rewards are worth it! You'll feel the positive difference in your life!
What you'll find below...
- Stress Factors in Life
- Keep 10 Points in Mind
- Eating well-balanced meals
- Books from Amazon which may be useful
- Keeping fit
- Consider the following DVDs...
- Adequate Rest and Sleep
- Check this out!
- Eliminating Addictions
- Meditation
- Reduce Stress
- Be financially responsible
- Learn to Forgive!
- Socialize with Family
- Vacations are for everyone!
- 10 Steps to a Healthy Lifestyle
- I'd love to hear from you!
- Share your opinion!
- Isle of Squid
Stress Factors in Life
Keep 10 Points in Mind
If you desire to achieve, and maintain, a healthy lifestyle, there are steps you must take to help you realize your goal.
Eating well-balanced meals
The cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle
You must eat well-balanced meals. Food guides were created to educate you in the amounts of food required each day to be healthy. It's important to follow its guidelines.Study nutrition labels. When you see foods high in saturated and trans fats, sugars, and sodium, avoid them whenever possible.
Books from Amazon which may be useful
Afterall, we can always use a little extra help.
The books listed here are sure to help you along your way in making healthy food choices and you will soon discover that it IS okay to snack; it just depends what you are snacking on.
What the Bible Says About Healthy Living
Amazon Price: (as of 07/12/2009) 
Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating
Amazon Price: $12.47 (as of 07/12/2009)
Snacking Habits for Healthy Living (The Nutrition Now Series)
Amazon Price: $10.75 (as of 07/12/2009)
Healthy Living Made Easy: The Only Things You Need to Know about Diet, Exercise and Supplements
Amazon Price: $15.56 (as of 07/12/2009)
Shopper's Guide to Healthy Living
Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 07/12/2009)
Keeping fit
Regular exercise is vital
Exercising daily improves all aspects of your health. Exercising forces your heart to pump blood throughout your body at a faster rate which helps keep your heart strong and healthy.
Also, as blood pumps through your body it seems to have a renewing effect on your mind. You feel younger, stronger, and better equipped to deal with life's situations.
Consider the following DVDs...
They may help you on your journey!
Dance Fitness for Beginners with MaDonna Grimes: African Beat - Latin Heat
Amazon Price: $9.98 (as of 07/12/2009)
Crunch: Belly Butt and Thighs Bootcamp
Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 07/12/2009)
Dance Fitness for Beginners with MaDonna Grimes: Urban Street Heat
Amazon Price: $6.49 (as of 07/12/2009)
Women's Health: Total Workout in Ten!
Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 07/12/2009)
Adequate Rest and Sleep
Your body needs a break!
Sleep provides your body with much needed energy to carry on daily functions. Your body's immune system is strengthened during sleep, helping to fight infections and disease more easily.Sleep allows your body to relax which reduces the amount of stress you endure.
Eliminating Addictions
You may shudder, but it's highly recommended!
Eliminating nicotine, alcohol, and drugs will help reduce stress on all levels. Your body won't continue to crave substances which affect your nervous system, especially when such addictive substances are unavailable.Reducing caffeine also helps reduce the level of anxiety a person feels in many situations.
Gambling is another major addiction which has the potential to destroy your family.
This may not even cross your mind but your addiction to requiring the latest styles of clothing/shoes and your addiction to needing the newest computers or electronic gadgets can wear you down because you never feel satisfied with what you have!
Though it seems difficult to work towards - and maintain - a healthy lifestyle, the rewards are worth it. You'll feel better in all aspects of your life and people will begin to feel better around you.
Meditation
Exercise your faith
Whether through relaxation or prayer, meditation is great for you. It allows you the opportunity to slow down and step back from reality to focus on your spiritual selves.
Faith's rewards are many. Your belief system gets you through the roughest of life's trials. You believe things are in control by a greater power than yourself and, eventually, life works together for your good. It makes you feel great.
Reduce Stress
Your mind needs a break
Mentally reduce stress by having personal time each day doing something you enjoy, and be optimistic.Maintaining a positive attitude about life - believing that nothing will happen that you can't handle - does wonders for reducing stress levels.
Be financially responsible
Don't spend what you don't have.
If you have overspent, try consolidating what you owe. In the event that you can't, work toward paying off your higher interest rate debts.
Stress levels will decrease as your debt decreases.
Learn to Forgive!
No one is perfect
It sounds easy sometimes but impossible at others. However, when you refuse to forgive someone, the only person you are hurting is yourself. You are holding on to a grudge that someone else may have forgotten a long time ago.
When you forgive others, it releases you, mentally and spiritually, allowing you to move healthily forward with your life.
Socialize with Family
Socialize with friends
Interacting with, and talking to, your families will bring a stronger bond between you whether you are talking around the dinner table, folding a load of laundry with your child, or quietly relaxing on the patio with your spouse.You will learn more about each other and, when details of troubling days have been shared, your family unit provides comfort, support, and guidance. Your home feels like a healthy place to be.
Socialize with extended family members when opportunities arise. Your immediate family doesn't feel like your only outlet when you need to release frustration or spread overwhelming joy.
Socialize with friends and meet new people. You learn about others and the world around you through conversation. Fun becomes a part of your life away from home and it makes for a healthier you.
Vacations are for everyone!
Take vacations when entitled to them.
You can stay home and do a few things you've been putting off.
Perhaps you'd rather drive to the nearest city to spend a couple of days giving your family a break from routines and responsibilities.
If you live in a city, you may opt to take your family to the countryside for a few days. The important thing is to take a break and to remember that everyone needs the break as much as you do.
10 Steps to a Healthy Lifestyle
What's your opinion on the matter?
Which of the 10 steps to a healthy lifestyle do you consider to be most important? Are there any steps you can think of that are not listed here? Feel free to add to the list!
I'd love to hear from you!
If you've learned something from this lens, enjoyed reading it, or admired the presentation, I'd love to know. I'd be happy to hear other comments as well.
Dr. E wrote...
Unhealthy lifestyle also increases the appearance of cellulite. So apart from using the best cellulite cream, the best way to get rid of cellulite is to live a healthy lifestyle.
Posted May 10, 2009
caryellistaz wrote...
Great lens.. I actually have a similar article. Anyway, 5 star for you! If you need some vegan recipes, check out my healthy lifestyle site.
Posted March 16, 2009
Dr_Joe wrote...
Very informative.
Great lens. Rated it 5 stars.
Feel free to visit Weight Loss Diet Advice | Diet Plans | Diet Pills.
Posted July 21, 2008
hearthealth wrote...
Meditating and socializing: two very underrated stress busters! 5* and faved!
Hope to see you in my GPS lens!
Posted June 13, 2008
Share your opinion!
Has there been too much emphasis placed on being "healthy" over recent years?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes, for sure!
No. Health is important!
RonBeckett says:
Wow! Great lens. Lots of interesting content. Keep up the good work.
Posted March 10, 2009
Susan52 says:
No, health is important, but fads get too much attention sometimes. I like your approach, with a well-rounded lifestyle and more emphasis on things like forgiving and being financially responsible. Those things make for a wonderfully healthy life.
Posted June 07, 2008
ElizabethJeanAllen says:
No. We live busy lives and staying healthy takes focus. Its too easy to swing by and pick up fast food on the way home from work, or skip the exercise routine for a day. The one day leads to two and then three...
Posted May 30, 2008
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