Change is difficult to say the least, and sometimes it takes serious getting used too. After years of letting life just happen you are now being told that you need make some changes “for your own good”. I read an interesting article this morning from the Grimsby Telegraph/ Scunthorpe Evening: Grimsby (UK) May 18, 2011) about making positive changes. The article had a “just do it” attitude that I liked.
A death in the family, a momentous event or a health scare is often the catalyst for change. It is easy to start a diet or start an exercise program, but the real challenge is keeping up with it once the emotion of the situation wears off. When this happens it is easy to slip back into old habits, whether referring to diet, exercise or mental stimulation. It takes a lot of thought and a lot of effort to forge ahead, but this is your life that we are talking about. The author reminds us that we only get one chance at this and she is right. This is the fact that most people forget. Life is short and can be made much shorter if you ignore the fact that you need to take care of yourself. That should be enough of a reason don’t you think? It shouldn’t take an “event” to remind you of this in the first place. All of us should be spurred on by the knowledge that it is the right thing to do. Your ability to enjoy an independent lifestyle depends on it.
Pretending ignorance is not an excuse. Not only is your doctor always making oblique remarks but every newsstand is fill with articles about lifestyle changes. Whether you take your advice from Oprah or your health care provider is immaterial; they are all on the on the same page and they all preach the same story.
Courtney Klemm (Tribune Business News: Washington: May 2, 2007) wrote an article about how mental and physical health need to mesh to ensure lasting lifestyle changes. Mental health is a big part of this whole healthy living scenario. It is important that you understand what works for you and what doesn’t. Older people have certainly has been around long enough to understand this. If you don’t feel good physically it will impact how you feel emotionally and vice versa.
Balance is the key to a healthy lifestyle. You don’t want to overdo it on any side. You want to eat foods that are good for you and in the proper amounts. You want to exercise but not to the point of injury. Resting and enjoying life is right up there at the top too. Most people will work hard when it comes to dieting and exercise but then walk away from it and fall back into old habits. The people who make lifestyle and diet modifications that they can live with tend to do better. Change is a lifelong endeavor. It is important to feel in control, but it is just as important be able to forgive yourself if you fall off the ladder. You can pick yourself back up and get back on track as soon as possible. Weight loss and exercise are only a part of the equation. Healthy living is important, but it shouldn’t be the only thing on your mind 24/7. It is just as important to immerse yourself in other areas that you feel passionate about so that you aren’t always thinking of “poor little me.”
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