Where Do You Start?
So, where should you start? Personally, I believe that unless you have your health, it’s hard to focus on anything else. For that reason, I definitely recommend starting with a general self-assessment of your health, nutrition, exercise and fitness. Take a look at the questions below and answer them all, but just for you. Feel free to add additional questions or comments because this is for you. You only need to share it if and when you are ready.
Self-Assessment
Physical Activity
Do you take the stairs or ride the elevator?
How often do you do physical activity including dancing, gardening, washing the car, structured exercise, etc?
Do you practice yoga or Pilates?
Do you do core work and/or strength training?
Can you keep up with your grandchildren?
Is it hard to catch your breath if you have to walk from the far end of a parking lot to your destination?
If I paid you $100,000 for how long or far could you walk without stopping?
Unhealthy Behaviors
Do you smoke or vape?
Do you regularly use chewing tobacco?
Are you known to drink more alcohol a week than about the equivalent of 3 beers or mixed drinks?
Are drugs, prescription or recreational, a part of your lifestyle?
Are you a Type 2 diabetic?
How are your teeth and gums?
What addictions do you have (gambling, gaming, shopping, etc.)
Mental Focus
Are you stressed?
Are you depressed?
What brings you joy?
Do you get distracted easily?
How do you learn, by reading, by watching, by doing, by hearing?
Body Condition
Is your weight more or less than you think it should be?
Does your body ache, other than from exercise?
Are you anorexic or bulimic?
Do you pamper yourself with massages, chiropractic treatments, bubble baths, or something else?
Nutrition
Are there more processed foods or whole foods in your refrigerator and freezer?
How many times per week do you eat fried foods?
What percentage of your meals are processed food?
Do you eat fruits and vegetables on a regular basis?
How often do you eat fast food?
Do you eat a lot of white food (pasta, rice, potatoes, bread)?
Could you live without sugar for 2 weeks?
Sleep and Relaxation
Do you toss and turn or fall right to sleep?
How many times a night do you wake up?
Do you meditate?
Do you listen to soft relaxing music or sounds before bedtime?
Are you a snorer?
Do you have aches and pains that keep you awake?
Solutions
No matter what your answers are, you could probably be healthier than you are. The fact of the matter is that our health is directly related to inactivity and eating the wrong foods. So, to get you on a healthier track, here’s what I suggest for the next two weeks.
- Make a commitment to do some sort of physical activity at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes. Some examples are walking, running, yoga, pilates, stair climbing, hiking, swimming, riding a bike, dancing, playing a sport, pushing a lawnmower, washing a car. . . .
- Eliminate two or more of these harmful products that you are ingesting: soda, pasta, bread, potatoes, rice, cigarettes, alcohol, deserts. . . .
- Add two or more of these beneficial products daily for 2 weeks: avocados, tomatoes, beets, mixed nuts (not peanuts), berries, cider vinegar, turmeric.
- Reduce the amount of fried foods and red meat by at least half of your normal intake. You can substitute with more fruit and veggies.
Please comment below if you are willing to commit to the 2 weeks and then comment again at the end of the 2 weeks to let me know how you did.
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