The World Health Organization says that being healthy is the “state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity.”
It does not say that being healthy is the absence of symptoms, it goes further than that. Being healthy takes intent.
I don’t know about you but that doesn’t sound fun at all. Nothing that requires intent does, not when you look at it as a disruption.
The second pillar of the 4 Pillars of living Your Best life is health. Just like spirituality, your health is all about you. It’s about taking care of yourself both mentally and physically. It’s about understanding that living your best life requires that you put yourself first from time to time.
Physical Health
There is a lot of physical health propaganda circling the internet these days, and while we're not health gurus we both have skin in the game.
Being healthy means being proactive and not getting serious about your health care only when you get sick. You should always choose health care over sick care because sick care could mean that you’re too late.
When it comes to your physical health there are 5 things that you must be aware of, they are:
- Regular activity
- Good nutrition
- Drinking lots of water
- Your Gut health, and
- Getting adequate rest
Regular Activity
Regular activity doesn’t have to mean exercise, it could mean getting outside and going on a nature walk (this is also good for your mental health), or even working in the garden.
Your focus doesn’t have to be running multiple miles a day, your focus should be to get started. That way, you get into the flow that a habit creates. Start small and then work your way up.
Look at your day now, if you’re mostly sedentary then take a short walk around the block. It doesn’t have to be long. Just commit to doing this at least 5 days a week for a month and then adjust upwards.
The idea here is to get moving more than you currently are.
Good Nutrition
Eating healthy isn’t rocket science. We all understand that an apple is a better nutritional choice than eating cheesecake.
There are a lot of different diets out there and it can be more than a little confusing. However, if you focus on calorie deficit, while eating heart healthy foods, you are well on your way to becoming healthier.
To lose a pound of fat you'll need to burn 3,500 less calories than you consume in a week. This can be done via exercise or eating less, or both. This equates to a deficit of 500 calories per day. If you want to lose two pounds that's a 1,000 calorie a day deficit.
Don't know what your calorie intake should be to maintain weight? To lose weight. Use the form below.
Keep in mind that not all calories are created equal. The source of your calories will affect how your body metabolizes its energy. If you want to stay fuller longer choose these foods:
- Nuts
- Whole grains
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Fish