We hear a lot about living healthy life style and healthy living, but its meaning changes with every individual. The rick to healthy living is making small changes is, taking more steps which involve adding fruit to the cereal, having an extra glass of water and these are just a few ways one can start living healthily without any drastic changes in the routine.
Just taking up these little steps will help one to not get susceptible and become strong to diseases like:
- Improvement in joint stability
- Increases and improves the range of movement
- Helps to maintain flexibility at any age
- Prevents osteoporosis and fractures
- Reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes
- Improves memory in elderly people
- Reduces stress
- Improves mood and reduces the symptoms of anxiety and depression
- Enhances self esteem
So, opting for small changes can indirectly bring a big change in one’s life, because following all the above shall help in keeping obesity at bay. A proof to the above point is a recent study that says, just 10 percent weight reduction helped obese patients reduce blood pressure, cholesterol and increase longevity, which is an automatic link to a healthy living.
To make the dream of healthy living possible, it is very important as mentioned above to lose enough weight first. Now, to make the swift weight loss possible, one may start the process of weight loss by adding a little more activity in their life. Every little bit counts and it adds up to burning more calories. So get the following simple ways to move the body in a healthy way:
Turn off the TV – Once a week, turn off the TV and glue self to some activities that require physical strength such as playing games, taking a walk…almost any other activity under the sky that involves physical strength and muscles is surely more active than just sitting on the couch.
Walk More – Look for small ways to walk more. Take a walk around the lawn, take the dog for an extra outing each day or walk on the treadmill for 5minutes 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 one moving while getting the house in order.
Pace While Talking- Talking on phone or mobile, one should pace around or even do some cleaning while gabbing. This is a great way to stay moving while doing something one enjoys.
Be Aware- Make a list of all physical activities done on a typical day. If one finds a bulk of the time is spend just sitting then make another list to make some moves such as getting up each hour to stretch or walk, walk the stairs at work, etc.
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 the health and quality of life as one gets older.
- Eat more fruit– Add it to cereal, salads or even dinners
- Sneak in more veggies– Add them wherever one can–a tomato on the sandwich, peppers on pizza, or extra veggies in pasta sauce. Keep pre-cut or canned/frozen veggies ready for quick snacks.
- Eat low-fat or fat-free dairy. Switching to skim milk or fat free yogurt is another simple way to eat fewer calories without having to change too much in diet.
- Make some substitutes. Look through cabinets or fridge and pick 3 foods that are eaten every day. Write down the nutritional content and, the next time at the store; find lower-calorie substitutes for just those 3 items.
