I can remember – a couple of decades ago (ouch! that hurt!) that the big focus on being “healthy” was about feeling the burn and losing weight and being skinny. Emphasis was placed on presenting an hourglass figure (ginormous shoulder pads, remember?) and highlighting your cheekbones and lowlighting your waddle area to produce a thinner face effect.
Anybody else remember that?
It was about counting calories, avoiding fat, eating lettuce and eggs for lunch and drinking more water than a camel could store.
While some of these points were right on, many of them were focused outwardly. It was solely about the appearance.
Fast forward a few decades later, and much has been discovered about the real effects of Good Health and Wellness. It isn’t just about the number of calories consumed in a day. It isn’t about the 3 hours spent sweating away at the gym. It’s about finding a BALANCE in what we eat, what we do, and what we think – which ultimately affects how we feel.
While the gimmick diets continue – and the supplements promising quick weight loss appear practically every week – there is a sense of understanding that the WHOLE person is part of Good Health and Wellness.
While the foods we eat and while the activities we participate in absolutely affect us physically – they can also affect us emotionally and mentally. And here is where the balance is required.
So how do we find balance?
Whole foods. Whole foods, which have undergone little refinement or processing, are essential for one’s well being. Vegetables and fruits, especially organic (because they have not been treated with pesticides or poisonous fertizilers) are an essential part of good health. Butter – not margarine – is a good fat because it has fewer synthetic ingredients. Virgin Coconut oil is better because it is available in an unrefined form. Whole grain items – bagels, breads, pastas, etc. – offer more bang for the buck in that the carbohydrates require more energy to break down in a less refined form, allowing your body to burn more and store less! Organic Honey and Stevia leaf, used for sweetener, are better for the body because they are in a natural state which the body can use more readily and don’t provide toxins for the body to store… (We’ll talk about organic items more tomorrow…)
Proteins, Carbs, Fats. Yep – fat is a necessary part of good health. GOOD fat. Each of these nutrients are essential for good body health. Protein provides energy for muscles and is a building block for our body. Carbohydrates provide fuel for longer-term, and fats are essential to keep the brain and body structures functioning properly.
Portion Size. Aha! Here it is! It’s not that baked potato with a little butter and sour cream that are bad for you – it’s the fact that the baked potato weighs 16 ounces, is slathered in 1/4 cup of butter, and has 1/4 cup of sour cream on top… Learning proper amounts and sizes is a BIG part of eating healthy. More on that to come…
Exercise. No, no, no – put away the 3 hour aerobics video. Who can manage that every day? Even the folks on The Biggest Loser – after their time on the ranch – understand that in the REAL WORLD, exercise is something that must be scheduled and maintained without completely consuming their lives. This, again, is about balance. And while a 30 minute workout is really good for you, if its not possible for whatever reason, break it down into 3-10 minute sessions of walking, light weight training, and strengthening exercises. Movement is required for the body’s health – or else we’ll all end up looking like the folks on Wall-E… ALWAYS consult a physician before beginning any exercise program.
Relaxation. This is a SERIOUS part of good health. Stress is a major contributor to heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other serious health conditions. How many of us honestly take time to RELAX on a daily basis? Weekly? Monthly? Whether you learn to meditate on Scripture, participate in a Yoga class, or find other ways to relax, it is absolutely a necessary part of our good health and WELLNESS.
Sleep. My favorite. And my most sought after. Sleep is a NECESSARY and CRITICAL part of good health. Studies have shown that a body put on serious sleep deprivation can eventually die. Our bodies were made to be active and move, but GOD Himself rested on the 7th day of Creation – and its not because HE was limited in any way. He was showing us the NEED for rest. And our brains – if no other body parts – require adequate sleep to function properly.
These are just starting points, and I’ll address a few things in more detail tomorrow, and share some great resources to get you on the right track to Good Health and Wellness.
Join me, won’t you?
