Advice for Healthy Living in 2006
By Anna Fleet
With the New Year now upon us, it's important
to give pause and consider making some positive
changes regarding the state of your health.
As they say, there’s no time like the present.
People the world over often make resolutions
to do something to better themselves in the
coming year. In 2006, consider doing something
that will benefit your overall health. The
following suggestions may just help to ensure
that you’re able to make New Year’s resolutions
for many years to come.
Get a Check-up - An excellent place
to start when considering lifestyle changes
is with an honest assessment of your health.
At this stage, it wouldn't hurt to consult
with your physician. Why not make an appointment
for your annual physical exam? This way,
you can begin the year with an accurate
assessment of your physical state. Your
doctor will be able to focus your attention
on areas that are of immediate health
concern. This is especially important
if you’re a smoker, if you’re overweight,
or if you have any significant health
issues that might prevent you from performing
simple daily tasks.
Drink More Water - Make another profound
difference to your health by consuming
more water. Many people make the mistake
of assuming that they’ve received enough
water from the various pop, coffee and
other beverages they’ve consumed in a
day. This is not entirely accurate. Ideally,
one should consume upwards of eight, 8-ounce
glasses of water per day. Water helps
the body metabolize stored fats. It can
also help your body cleanse itself of
free radicals, which have been linked
to cancer and other such ailments.
Get Moving - Exercise is yet another
effective way to maintain optimal health.
That’s not to say that one has to become
entirely committed to working out each
and every day, but it’s in every individual’s
best interest to perform some form of
activity 3 times per week. Physical exercise
can be performed in a wide variety of
ways to keep it fun and interesting. For
instance, the simple act of walking is
a highly effective form of exercise. It’s
one that can be completed without supervision,
without props, and without any previous
experience working out. Joining a gym
has a number of direct benefits as well.
Not only will you have access to some
excellent equipment, but you will also
benefit greatly from the fitness knowledge
that most personal trainers possess.
Pay Attention to Nutrition - Diet also
plays a significant role is one's overall
health. Everyone should be familiar with
the dietary guidelines established by
the leading health agencies and authorities.
The "food pyramid" is by far
the most popular set of published nutritional
guidelines. The food pyramid advises people
to include all of the major food groups
- grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy and
meat (or protein) - in their diets. Keep
in mind that the food pyramid is merely
a nutritional guideline. The dietary needs
of each individual will vary drastically,
and what’s ideal for one person isn’t
necessarily ideal for the next.
By following these few simple suggestions,
you can take control of your health and
your life in 2006. Good luck!
Anna Fleet is a certified personal trainer.
When she is not working out or helping
others achieve optimal health, she is
the face and voice behind fitnessgear101.com
- an excellent online resource for
information about Fitness Gear Information,
Aerobics Equipment, and Workout Routines.
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