Redefining and redesigning legacies by focusing on the improvement of holistic wellness in the areas of mental, physical, emotional, relational, and financial health.
Physical
Physical Wellness
Last week, we talked about setting goals to create a healthier you in 2020. If you've set your goals, it's important to make a plan to guide you and keep you on track. Creating a plan also helps you gauge how feasible your goals are. For example, you may have set a goal to eat a healthier diet. A lot of foods deemed unhealthy are pretty addictive and hard to cut cold turkey. Setting a plan that allows for a transition period will produce a more sustainable change. So instead of getting rid of everything at once, choose to remove desserts the first week, soda and unnatural juices the second, deep fried foods the third, and so on until you've successfully eliminated all of the items you've vowed to give up. Remember small changes lead to big changes.
The world and our lives in it never stop moving. But there are moments when we can take a breath and reset. The timing of these resets are different for each person, but in the spirit of resolutions at the start of a new year most of us are inspired to makes changes and take on new challenges. Implementing habits that increase our physical health will always be advantageous. Not only does it help improve our quality of life in the present but it allows for a more energized, productive and healthy future. If you haven't started already, think about what changes you want to see. Keep in mind that most healthy habits are 90% dietary and 10% physical. What goals do you plan to crush in 2020? On your mark...
Yesterday on the Red Table Talk, the Smith family did some tests to get a better understanding of their health status. And the results were pretty shocking. But the doctor was able to dispel their fears by recommending action steps to improve their health. While we may not be able to afford such exams, it is important that we at least get a physical once a year. Even if you don't have insurance, there are free health clinics in most areas that can help. If you can stick with the same physician it is beneficial because they are familiar with your medical history and can guide you toward an optimal state of health. You may be thinking, "I don't even know how to find a physician." One way is to ask people you know. Find out if coworkers, friends, or family members have someone they can vouch for as a good doctor. And thanks to this age of technology, the internet has tons of resources available to find a doctor whether it's through a free clinic, your insurance carriers website, or Zocdoc.com (my personal favorite). It's time to get a handle on your health and you have to set up the right team to make that happen. Your doctor should the coach who can direct you to the championship.
Our bodies are made of 60% water. In the adult body, certain organs like the brain and heart are 73% water, the muscles and kidneys are 79% and the lungs are 83%. Basically your body NEEDS water to function. And some will say "but we can get water from other sources like juice and soda." Sure, these contain water. But they unfortunately also contain other ingredients that can be quite harmful to our bodies, namely sugar. Even more alarming, recent studies have shown that high levels of sugar from fruit juices can cause premature death since our bodies process it no different than sugar from soda or other unnatural drinks. I know, I know. The taste of water is boring. So add some flavor by infusing it with fruit such as lemon, strawberry, or pineapple. Even a bit of mint or ginger can add a little something special to your hydration routine. So this week let's give our bodies that water it wants and needs.
The holiday season is officially underway. And those of us who were blessed enough to partake in a feast last week are likely starting to feel the weight of guilt about our health and bodies. In the US, the colder weather during this time of year can be an ally as it allows us to cover up the extra pounds that sneak up on us from the holiday parties and events. And you're probably thinking, "I'll enjoy myself now and start fresh in the new year." Unfortunately, it's easy to put on weight not so easy to get it off. Consider implementing your routine now. Ideally, you're making healthy food choices during this season as we talked about last week. Don't wait until January to join the gym or start your fitness regimen. Start now. As the saying goes, "there's no time like the present." You may even find that increasing your physical activity now will inspire you to cut back and have more control on your eating habits. Now is the time where gyms are offering amazing deals. You can also inquire with your employer to see if they have a corporate discount with any gyms. If not, you could recommend it to them. The benefits to a corporate partnership with a gym is that insurance companies may offer lower rates to the company if the employees are making strides toward a healthier way of life. This means the discount could provide a double benefit to your wallet. Now let's get moving so we decrease the amount of guilt caused by the sweet potato pie. 😋