Healthy lifestyle

 Healthy lifestyle
   by onyinye

  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,
he or she at a healthy weight,
he or she eats healthy foods and exercises on a regular basis.

It sounds so simple,funny  but just how hard it is to do all of these 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 challenge we're having is 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'll damage ourselves or  exercises has to be vigorous for what our bodies can handle. The truth is, everything counts and the more you move, the healthier you'll become.
It's great if you can spend time exercising, Meaning you're sweating, working on  your target  heart rate zone and/or 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 feel 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 sticking 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..

more on healthy lifestyle on era magazine..