Feel Your Healthiest With These 4 Wellness Actions- Guest Post
We have a great guest post this week from our guest blogger Kevin Wells of seniordiabetic.com discussing some wonderful ideas of actions you can begin to take to promote an overall healthier lifestyle and tips to make changes to help you feel your best.
According to the CDC,nearly 40 percent of American adults in 2015-2016 fell into the weightclassification of obese. In addition, theirresearch also states, “The medical cost for people who have obesity was $1,429higher than those of normal weight.” If you are struggling with obesity, youare also at a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes and certaintypes of cancer. **While BMI is notthe best indicator of health on its own, an obese BMI in combination with lowactivity levels, a nutrition lifestyle lacking variety, and participating inactivities such as smoking can put you at increased risks and health costsdiscussed above. If you do have a BMI that falls into the obesity category,please reach out and consult with a Registered Dietitian to see what a healthyBMI or weight range might be for YOUR YOUR SPECIFIC BODY TYPE, lifestyle, andgenetics as it may be different then the generic BMI classification rangesdiscussed above.**
You can obtain a healthy weight range for your body, but ittakes a bit of a shift in your thinking. Here are four wellness actions you cantake to get started today.
Action #1: A PositiveMindset
One of the reasons you may have struggled with your weightin the past is your mindset. Therapist Kathryn Smerling agrees: “Shifting your mindset about how tolose weight is the biggest factor in losing weight.” You have to start byreframing your thinking.
If you are trying to “fix” yourself, you’re bound to focuson the negative: you didn’t lose enough, you didn’t lose fast enough, youmissed the gym, etc. Instead, set small goals and write down thoseachievements. Completed a 20-minute workout? Mark it on the calendar andcongratulate yourself. Try 21 minutes tomorrow. Passed up a cupcake and wentfor a carrot? Write that down, too!
Action #2: A BalancedDiet
Do diets work to help people lose weight? Often they don’t. According to Psychology Today, one reason isthat this is just a temporary fix. When the diet is “finished,” many people goback to their former, destructive eating habits.
Instead, you should change the way you eat. Healthy eatingdoes not have to be bland or tasteless, but it might take a while if you noweat a lot of sweets or fried foods. The key is to find healthy foods that youlike and eating those choices more frequently while eating your less healthy“go tos” less often and in moderation (Keep in mind consuming varied foods inbalanced portions and times of the day will also help!). It’s time to find newfavorite dishes!
Still confused? Here are 14 keys to a healthy diet from Berkeley Wellness.
Action #3: The RightFitness Routine
Ask your doctor to recommend a fitness routine for yourbody, health and history. Remember that you want to do something fun andengaging. Consider things such as ballroom dancing,Zumba, biking and swimming. Read this post from Nerd Fitness to learn how to findthe right workout program for you.
No matter what you select, you should set up a home gym sothat you can work out every day. Find a well-lit area inyour home with enough space to do your reps without getting hurt. Make surethere is no indoor traffic or clutter in the area. Store your equipment in anearby closet when you’re done.
Some equipment you should stock includes:
- Dumbbell andkettlebell weights
- Jump rope
- Resistance bands
- Stability ball
Start with fun and safe exercises and build up as youprogress.
Action #4: ProperHydration
Most people don’t drink enough water, but did you know thatdehydration is dangerous? Plus, water can benefit your health in surprisingways, like reducing high blood pressure, combating fatigue and stopping highcholesterol. Learn more at Natural Society.
How much water should you drink? The experts do not agree.If you drink little to no water, start by adding an extra glass or half glassevery day. Remember that produce with a high water content such as cucumbers,watermelon and grapefruit counts as well. You can also drink seltzer with addedfruit.
Obesity doesn’t have to be a life sentence. Change yourmindset on losing weight, focus on feeling your best, and take actions that fityour lifestyle and preferences. That will motivate you to make progress as youwatch and feel your body get healthier.
I hope you enjoyed this fantastic guest post and would loveto hear any feedback or questions or feedback you have!
If you are looking to take steps to make changes towardachieving a healthier lifestyle, feel free to reach out to me!
Wishing you a week of health and wellness,
–Ricci-Lee Hotz, MS, RDN
Denver’s Dancing Dietitian
A Taste of Health, LLC
“Improving Quality of life one bite at a time”
Photo credit by Pexels