You’ve heard it a million times: you should eat right and exercise. It’s out there as often as Biggest Loser is on TV and every time you see Dr. Oz. The thing is, eating right and exercising are things you are going to do if you want to, and no one will make you do them. Your doctor can tell you that you need to lower your cholesterol and that you’re pre-diabetic but until YOU decide to do something about it, there’s no way it’s going to get done. There are some things you can do to improve health in your family and in your own life.
Source: FlickrPortion Control
One diabetic woman over 60 decided to trick herself into losing weight. She switched from a dinner plate to a salad plate. She still loaded it as full as she could and took everything she wanted; however, the smaller plate necessitated smaller servings. This allowed her to lose 35 pounds in just two months. Her diabetes came under control without having to take insulin and she was able to get out more and enjoy life. She currently enjoys a daily walk with friends and is active in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren’s lives. All this happened because she switched plates. You can take control of your portions as well. Instead of ordering giant-sized meals order the next size down. You’ll be surprised how much you aren’t hungry and you don’t have to go through the feeling of deprivation to get there.
Drink Up
Most people don’t drink enough water during the day. Water is the basic building block for a healthy life. One man puts a bottled water on his desk. He has it labeled with lines and times. The top line is 9:00 a.m. and the next line is 10:00 a.m. and so forth until noon. Then he refills the bottle, turns it around, and the afternoon markings are on the other side. This way he knows if he’s getting his daily water intake or not. If he’s a little behind, all it takes if a few huge gulps and he’s all caught up.
Sleep Well
In order to get enough sleep you need to protect your bedtime routine. Turn off all electronics an hour before bed. The lack of lights will signal your brain that it’s time to settle down. You can do night yoga or meditate before bed. The controlled breathing required for both meditation and yoga calm the heart as well as the mind. They have also been shown to relieve stress and thus make it easier for you to fall asleep.
Some people find it helpful to make a to-do list for the next day so they don’t lay awake trying to remember everything they need to accomplish. You can improve health by following a few simple suggestions; cut back on your food intake and watch your portion control, drink enough water to keep your body properly hydrated and running smooth, and sleep a full eight hours every night. With a little care your body will continue to carry you through life’s ups and downs with grace.