It’s likely in these early stages of our blogging we are so called preaching to the choir. This is why we have stuck with introducing our tone and personal angle to fitness. On occasion though, those who have been interested in a subject for a fair while can lose site of the proverbial forest.
Fitness matters…huge. Fitness makes a difference. Fitness is for everyone, not just sporty types or well put together people. Fitness is taking care of your health. The notion that your health and fitness can, for the most part, take care of itself isn’t wishful thinking its wrong. Life has changed too fast for evolution to keep up, our oh so evolved brains must get to the job of taking up the slack.
If you and/or one you care about has slacked off to put it bluntly, then this brief and pragmatic ‘to do list’ can possibly be of service. Forget about choosing the parts you like it only matters to apply the whole. A massive but common mistake is directing effort only or mostly to just those aspects you think matter most. It doesn’t work that way, health isn’t about amassing or cornering the market on things it is about balance. Anti health influences vary so your response must remain balanced. This is the check which lets you know you are good to go. When balance cannot be maintained or restored even with your best efforts then this is your cue to seek more in-depth assistance (usually starting with your GP). It is your ability or lack thereof to stay balanced which defines your state of health and indicates what and how much professional care you may require.
Measure your honest self appraisal against these 4 points:
Be Active – extended sedentary behaviour has now been proven to be equal to exposure/consumption of toxins. Regardless of whether you like it or not you are designed to be moving about regularly. Many of your systems depend on it just to function properly (i.e. lymph system). Do you have regular reasons to get at least the equivalent of a solid 30 minute walk each day? By equivalent we mean without break and at a reasonably brisk pace.
Exercise – we all have weaknesses, life causes weaknesses. Exercise should be safe, consistent, and target your personal weaknesses. It should be brief and intense. Too much may polish one aspect to a glowing shine but will over tax another element…remember balance. Exercise vigorously at least once a week minimum. You don’t need to go for long even 20-30 minutes at high intensity will cover the better part of your needs. Push your limits but do so safely.
Rest – primarily with regards to quality consistency of sleep but also in reference to keying down/relaxing time. Most of the good stuff (repair and adaptation) happens during rest not during action. Make getting to bed on time as important as getting up for same. Show downtime real respect so that your up phase can be quality output and good living rather than just getting by, getting it done…surviving. Think of rest as recovery and never underestimate your need for it.
Nutrition – everyone’s ‘biggy’…separate food from entertainment. Believe it or not it is next to impossible to get in trouble with meat, veggies, fruit, seeds/nuts and water. These are tough to abuse unlike man made starches/sugars. If you can’t properly separate and control food from fun (junk food) forget about splitting hairs over types of fat, nutrient ratios, what grains may be ok and the like. People simply aren’t inclined to over eat food but they will gorge on sugar and starchy carb rich consumables (and we use the term loosely). Avoid playing the diet game and make sure you are in charge of your blood sugar levels not the other way around. Give up giving up and just get in the drivers seat. There are zero healthy shortcuts you must want to be personally responsible for what you ingest. That big opening in our faces leads directly into our our inner core, it will make you or break you. Learn about your physiology and stop worrying about food. There are an abundance of choices, you need to know the human body…your body to make these choices.
None of these 4 points takes precedence, balance your time and energy amongst them. Heed the wisdom of these two wise examples (picture and video ). Real fitness will matter when you need it.
This is real motivation- Esther Tuttle, age 99 How to be confident: Treasure your health every day. “Your body is your instrument, and you have to take beautiful care of it. I do one hour of yoga and walk for 30 minutes every day. You really enjoy life a lot more if you’re healthy. And I never leave home without putting on lipstick—it makes me feel pretty!”
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