When many people think of health, they think of being UNhealthy and visiting the doctor to cure an illness or disease.  This is because many of us take our health for granted until we don’t have it anymore.  When we are healthy, we go about our daily business, not giving much thought to how much different (and more difficult) everything would be if we were not healthy.  Fortunately, you don’t have to lose your health to appreciate it.  Once you recognize how fortunate you are to be healthy or recognize that you can improve your life by becoming more healthy, you’re well on your way to finding ways to maintain or elevate your level of health.  This will keep you happy, energetic and youthful for years to come!

HOW WEIGHT AFFECTS HEALTH

It’s hard to deny that our weight and activity level have huge impacts on how healthy we are as individuals and as a society.  In today’s technology-based, busy world, it’s become a habit for too many people to make their diet and exercise a low priority.  After all, running through a drive-through is faster and easier than preparing a home-cooked meal.  And why would we walk the five blocks to our best friend’s house when it’s so much quicker to drive there?  Add in how technology has started playing a major part in our lives (you probably notice your kids might spend more time texting and chatting on line with their friends than actually playing with them in person) and what you’ve got is a major health problem on your hands.

Fortunately, when it comes to your diet and activity levels, there is always time to make changes and these changes can often halt or even reverse the health conditions you may be experiencing due to excess weight or a sedentary lifestyle.  Here are some things to consider when making lifestyle changes.

Exercise and Nutrition

“Exercise provides so many benefits to ones health and well-being,” explains Lianna Spieldenner of Body Innovations. “Just 30 minutes a day can lower resting heart rate and blood pressure, decrease weight, decrease body fat, increase lean body mass, build and maintain bone density, improve sleep, aid digestion, and improve overall mood.  In addition, in the long-run, it also enhances your immune system, making you less prone to illness. Generally, those who lead an active lifestyle will feel better, live longer, and have an increased quality of life.”

However, regular exercise is not enough.  According to Mike Bevard of Capital City Bootcamps, “When it comes to your body, the two habits that define your physique are your eating and exercise habits. In fact, everyone that you know who is in great shape has dialed in these two important habits.   If you aren’t happy with your body, then simply adjust your eating and exercise habits.

Here’s how to adopt a habit:

Decide on the ONE habit that you would like to develop. It’s tempting to pick up three or four healthy habits, but choosing just one new habit is realistic and doable.

Second, write your new habit down on paper. Also include your three main motivators for developing this new habit, the obstacles you’ll face, and your strategies for overcoming these obstacles.
Third, commit fully to your new habit in a public way (posting on Facebook, announcing at dinner table, etc.).

Fourth, keep track of your progress with a journal or calendar.

Fifth, keep yourself publically accountable (update Facebook, tell your friends and family how you’re doing).

Sixth, when you fail, figure out what went wrong so that you can plan around it in the future.

And finally, reward yourself for your success (but not with food!).  Once your new habit becomes second nature, usually in about 30 days, feel free to add a second habit by going through the same seven steps.”

Jeff Dousharm of Tiger Rock Academy also stresses the importance of nutrition and exercise working together.  “As many people look to exercise to improve their lives, they need to be reminded that exercise is NOT enough.

If you are trying to make a real difference in your life, you have to focus on three areas:

1) exercise

2) nutrition (and supplementation if you choose)

3) stress management

These three areas all have to be addressed or odds are, you will fall short of your goal.  Many times people focus too much on just exercise and never clean up their diet or manage their stress…this leaves their metabolism in a slump.   A great quote to remember is “abs are earned in the kitchen”.  Think about that next time you are deciding what to eat.”

Finding an activity you love to do is an important aspect of starting and remaining on a successful exercise program.  For example, if you love to ride bikes, why not make that your exercise of choice?  Buy a top-notch bicycle and find a group who likes to ride on Lincoln’s great trail system or take bike rides with your kids when the weather is nice.  Jeff Dousharm states, “The key is to find something that works for them.  Some people get great results in a gym, but others are intimidated or don’t know how to train properly for their goals.  Others get more out of group classes and the motivation provided there.  Still others would prefer to go it alone on long runs by themselves.  The point is, find out what works for you and be willing to try more than one option before you settle on something or, more importantly, before you give up!”

There are a number of barriers that people experience that prevent them from getting or staying active or eating right.  “One of the biggest barriers I hear from people is they can’t find the time,” says Lianna Spieldenner.  “It’s not like time is hiding somewhere and you’re suddenly going to happen upon it.  There’s never going to be enough hours in the day to do everything you want.  Just like anything else in your life, you have to make time.  When you make your health a priority, the time will be there.  It just takes a little planning ahead and mental commitment.

Taking the time to properly plan, cook and eat properly is also a huge factor in your weight loss.  Unfortunately, some people just don’t know how to eat right.  If you fall into that category, it’s important you meet with a nutritionist who can guide you through the right way to eat for your body and your lifestyle.  If you’re working out regularly, it’s also important to get educated on the importance of protein.  The experts at Proven Nutrition stress that a post-workout protein shake is a necessary addition to anyone’s workout routine no matter what their goals may be.  Protein itself is the body’s most plentiful substance, after water, and every time someone puts their body through a workout they break down their muscles. In the body, protein is primarily used as a means to build, maintain, and repair the tissue which is damaged during their exercise. In addition to this, protein also serves as an energy source when no carbohydrates are available. It provides tissue preservation during dieting, and keeps the body’s immune system up to par. The list can continuously go on about the importance of protein in everyday life, but some key features of proteins within the body would be their improvement of lean muscle mass and how protein assists the amino acids route through the body in order to balance the nitrogen levels within the body. Lastly, when examining protein shakes versus other sources, one should keep in mind that shakes are a much more balanced and complete source, and often time friendlier to the bank account.

Quitting Bad Habits

Sometimes it is what we’re doing rather than NOT doing that is keeping us from being as healthy as we should be.  Smoking is a prime example of that.  If you’re a smoker, it’s imperative you quit as soon as possible if you want to achieve a healthy lifestyle.  Of course, like almost anything that is good for you, it’s usually easier said than done.  That’s where hypnosis comes in.  “The dangers of smoking have been studied and analyzed for years,” says Jeff Martin of Lincoln Hypnosis.  “The detrimental effect of smoking on people’s health and their activities is now public knowledge, and many people who have become addicted to smoking are now looking for ways to quit.”

He goes on to say, “Most stop smoking programs work at increasing the individual’s strength to resist the desire to smoke.  They rely on willpower and for most people that is the worst method for quitting smoking.  Willpower fluctuates like moods and emotions.  One day it may be strong, the next day it may be weak.  Hypnosis works at eliminating the desire to smoke, whether it be from identification or replacement, the two principle reasons for smoking.  For both types of smokers, smoking is both a physical and mental process.  So to be effective, the stop-smoking program must address both aspects. Hypnosis takes advantage of the mind’s natural ability to imagine and visualize.  The client can picture himself or herself free from the habit, filled with new health, energy and vitality.  They can see themselves as looking healthier, more attractive, and being more active.”

Hypnotism is not only for those who smoke, either.  It can also help with stress management, overeating and other habits that impact our health.  Never been hypnotized and wondering if it will work for you?  Martin offers a free hypnotism assessment to see if it’s right for you.  If you are not a good candidate, he will honest with you and encourage you to seek another form of treatment.

Chiropractic

Many people have found that adding chiropractic care to their lives has made a huge impact on specific injuries or ailments they are facing or on their overall health in general.  Dr. Joni Smith of Active Life Family Chiropractic explains, “Chiropractors contribute to overall health by eliminating any interference on your nervous system.  By adjusting the spine, the delicate structures of the spinal cord and spinal nerves are able to transmit information from the brain to the body much more efficiently therefore, allows the body to function optimally.  The nervous system controls everything in your body and works intricately with the immune system, so by going to a chiropractor, you are giving your body the best chance at fighting off any illness or injury.”  Dr. Corey Dousharm of Mosier/Timperley Chiropractic adds, “Adjustments help to correct misalignments in the vertebrae (Subluxations). By correcting these subluxations, the body is able to function at its max potential. This means that there is proper nerve flow to the arms, legs, vital organs, immune system, etc. When your body is working at its highest potential, then overall health is much better. The best way to make sure overall health is achieved is by getting adjusted, eating your fruits/veggies, exercising and getting plenty of sleep!”

Although all chiropractors have a main goal of getting their patients to optimal health and helping them stay there, different chiropractors may employ different methods of doing so.  Dr. Alex Leonida of Healthy Start Chiropractic says, “Some chiropractors use their hands to make the adjustment, while others use an instrument.  Some chiropractors can treat the misalignment with more of a soft tissue approach as well.  Also, many people don’t know that chiropractors can specialize and be board certified in treating certain populations.  For example my wife and I are board certified in the pediatric and pregnant population.  Other chiropractors are certified to treat sports injuries and so forth.  So be sure to seek out those specific chiropractors who are more specialized in seeing the type of patient that you are.”

Choosing the right chiropractor for your needs is a huge factor in how successful you will be under their care.  “I’m a big believer that comfort with your chiropractor is key,” says Dr. Timperley. “You need to see someone you have faith in and trust. A lot of times, patients see their chiropractor for frequent visits…more often than you would your family MD or a dentist. If you walk in and something “just doesn’t click” then chances are you are not going to get the best results in your care. I always say ‘If you don’t feel comfortable talking to the doctor during your consultation then its not the right fit.’”

Dr. Smith suggests, “Educate yourself on the different techniques that are available and what you are most comfortable with.  A simple website search can provide a lot of information about a chiropractor and his or her philosophies and techniques.  Seek out those chiropractors who have additional training that is specific to you and your condition.  You may also be able to schedule a free consultation with the chiropractor.  This can help answer any questions you have, and just as important, to see if the your personalities fit well to ensure that you can work together.”

Remember that if you have a bad experience with one chiropractor, don’t let it affect your opinion on chiropractic in general.  Each chiropractor is as unique as the patient they are seeing, so if you didn’t mesh well or experience good results with one, it’s very likely that your experience with a different one will be much more satisfying.

Massage

When you begin exercising or increase your exercise level, it’s inevitable that sore or pulled muscles will result.  Of course, stretching and properly warming up will help limit this, but you will also benefit from a regular appointment with a massage therapist.  Getting a massage is not just about getting pampered and relaxing (which is always nice, of course!), but getting deep tissue or sports massages can help manage sore, tired muscles or even help with conditions such as headaches, fibromyalgia or other soft tissue related ailments.

We never know how important our health is until we lose it.  It’s vitally important that we manage weight, get enough exercise, quit bad habits and take care of our bodies now—both for our future and to model healthy behaviors to our children.