Health and wellness - the new revolution

Why your health is so priceless you need to start taking good care of it

Your health and wellness is very important and it is to your credit if you take extreme good care of your body. Unknown to many people, what is on your plate can determine your destiny. What you eat, drink or put inside your body will undoubtedly manifest itself in your body in the future.

Your eating habits, especially using your emotions as a justifiable substitute for eating junk food and gaining weight in the process, is really not doing your body any favours.

Another underlying cause of weight gain is the genes. This is when people put on weight and are not aware of their body’s signal that it cannot consume any more food.

Medical conditions can also lead to obesity. For instance, medications that treat high blood pressure, inflammatory conditions and mood disorders can also lead to weight gain. If you are experiencing this, you need to see your doctor to change your medication.

Obviously losing weight is not an easy task especially with the increasing amount of work pressure and family commitments people go through everyday. In between all these daily activities, you can quite easily eat and drink without being aware of your calorie (from concentrated fat and sugar) intake.

According to the Food Standards Agency both men and women are allowed only 6g of salt a day. What this translates to is that even if you eat a packet of crisp, that will be your allocated salt intake for the day.

*(If you want to get the balance of your diet right, use the eatwell plate.The eatwell plate makes healthy eating easier to understand by showing the types and proportions of foods we need to have a healthy and well balanced diet).

For any food containing sugar, men are allowed only 120g and women are allowed 90g a day. For calories, men are allowed 2,500g and women are allowed 2000g a day. For fiber, men are allowed only 24g and women are allowed 24g a day. For fat, men are allowed 95g and women are allowed 70g a day. For saturates, men are allowed 30g and women are allowed 20g a day. The carb-fat-protein ratio is Carbs (40-60%); Fat (20-30%) and Protein (10-15%).

Evidently you don’t need to be told that exercise and lots of it, is good for the body. Exercise not only combats cholesterol, it energizes our heart and when followed with a strict workout regime, almost certainly prevents the excess pounds of fat from building inside our body.

Aside from the obvious jogging, swimming and working out in the gym, these activities are geared towards maintaining a healthy body and fit body. This is entirely different to someone who makes no concerted efforts to exercise at all.

It has been scientifically proven that regular exercise can boost the immune system as well as improve the function and performance of the brain. In other words, it helps the brain to absorb and process more information. This happens when there is a flow of blood to the part of the brain which is responsible for memory retention and learning development.

Furthermore, exercise can also reduce stress and release any pent up aggression when you indulge in a punching bag session in the gym. This activity will build your muscle tones, strength, stamina as well as endurance.

However to shed the unwanted pounds, you must first adopt a healthy living habit. The most difficult aspect of sticking to a strict health regime is the starting block. It takes a significant amount of discipline and a strong will of mind to overcome this. But the good news is that, it is possible. The thought of going through the “No pain, No gain” exercise routine is simply a state of the mind.

Now stop for a moment and ask yourself this question: What do you hope to achieve from losing weight and how do you hope to do this? What time frame have you got in mind to attain this goal? Why do you have to do this? Are you doing it because you want to live a healthier lifestyle or you are doing it because you want to please someone?

Once you have honestly answered these questions and you have a plan, then you are ready to begin the process of losing weight. Without focusing on the reasons behind why you want to lose weight or having a detailed plan to achieve this, you’ll simply give up half way into accomplishing your goal.

Next, you need to write down how you intend to lose or gain weight, depending on your body weight - which is a balance between calories in and calories out.

To aid you in your plan, you will have to know a few basic nutritional facts to be able to know the amount of fats, fibre and fluid intake you will need for your diet. It is advisable to consult your doctor to provide you with a health guideline.

Also, you will need to check your body mass index (BMI).

This is an important guideline to help you determine if you are a healthy weight for your height. It must be stressed though, that this guideline is only for adults and does not apply to pregnant women or women who are currently breastfeeding.

Finally, the moment you make the decision to start a health diet and stick rigidly to an exercise pattern, your body will become accustomed to this new and exciting regime. You will find that you are able to burn calories effortlessly and have a beautiful and well toned body.

Ultimately, you will begin to notice a significant change in your stamina and fitness. You will be less tired and your level of concentration will improve tremendously. And another brownie point you earn for all your hard work is that your stress levels will come down.

Disclaimer:

The information and tips contained therein on this page about healthy living, weight loss and wellness are intended as an aid to weight loss and weight maintenance, and do not offer medical advice. If you suffer from, or think you may suffer from, a medical condition you should consult your doctor before starting a weight loss and/or exercise regime.

If you decide to start exercising after a period of relative inactivity you should start very slowly and consult your doctor if you experience any discomfort, distress or any other symptoms.

If you feel any discomfort or pain when you exercise, do not continue. The tips and information contained therein on this webpage on healthy living and weight loss are not intended for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding, or for any person under the age of 18.

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