Multi-faceted Approach to a Healthier You!

You know that friend of yours that can eat whatever they want and still look fantastic? Well, chances are most of us are not that friend. Nor should most of us aspire to be that friend because great external appearance does not always indicative great internal appearance. Health and wellness is a function of our everyday efforts to avoid that which we know is bad for us and welcome that what we know is good for us. However, we are all still humans that make mistakes and lack continuous self-control. The goal is to not eliminate but rather reduces our unhealthy errors to restore a healthy balance in our lives.

The path to a great body, fully functioning organs, radiant skin, silky hair, and a smiling soul is a long path that requires 3 P's (persistence, patience, and passion) and 5 foundational pillars.

#1 The first stone on this path is your Diet.
What and how much are you putting in your mouth on a daily basis? We all need to be asking ourselves what foods do to us and what they do for us. Also, don't forget to drink lots of water during the day!

#2 Exercise. A body in motion remains in motion!
Diet alone can produce remarkable results, however exercise expedites these results in addition to offering many other great benefits. Some other benefits include increased muscle mass which protects our bones and reduces the risk of osteoporosis. Exercise also reduces HDL cholesterol (the bad kind) and is great for our hearts and pulmonary systems. Being active also reduces stress, which has been linked to obesity.

#3. Sleep
If you find yourself saying "I'll sleep when I'm dead" you may want to rethink that motto. Sleep is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle and staying at a healthy weight due to its connection to metabolism. Its an added bonus that we burn calories in our sleep also!

#4 Relax
Engaging in relaxing activities reduces stress and eliminates the stress hormone Cortisol that is linked with fat production. Sometimes relaxing can lead to a feeling of laziness, but trust me we all deserve a little relaxation because it helps us recharge ourselves so we are prepared for what life throws at us next.

#5 Address Underlying Emotional Issues
For most women, including myself binge eating is not uncommon. When our love lives take a turn for the worst or when work is stressful, we find ourselves searching for sweets. Its only natural for humans to feel as though they are missing fulfilling aspects to their lives, but these issues need to be addressed with more healthy means such as making necessary adjustments to achieve happiness and satisfaction in our lives rather than temporarily seeking comfort in bad foods. Therapy, exercise, fun activities, good friends, and supportive families are all great ways to distract ourselves from turning to foods that will only exacerbate unhappiness.

These 5 components lay the foundation for a healthy and happy lifestyle.

 I will be discussing sub-factors that prevent weight loss and aid weight loss in my next blog post. Stay Tuned!

-KO