Good Health Does Take Work!

I continue watching The Dr. Oz Show every day and wanted to share the following observation I have made with you.

It appears to me that the obese people on the show are surprised and clueless about how they got to be this obese (and unhealthy). I get the feeling that they didn’t know there was actually effort involved in staying fit and healthy.

So, if you are one of those people that never thought about what it takes, no matter what your current weight or level of fitness is, I want you to wake up now!

Except for a tiny percentage of people that are genetically gifted, you have to take care of yourself in order to lead a long, healthy life.

Seriously, it is not enough that you work full-time, are raising your children, taking care of your husband and elderly mother, etc. You actually have to take care of yourself too.

There’s no question about it, exercise is a must. Particularly weight lifting is essential if you are not planning on having brittle bones and being too weak to carry your own grocery bag by the time you are 65.

There are no short cuts and no alternatives to the proper maintenance of your body (and mind).

Here are 5 simple rules you must follow in order to lead the quality of life that you deserve:

1. Work out (cardio and weights) on 3 – 5 days a week. Involve your family, they need it too.
2. Eat 3 – 5 small meals a day consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein sources. If your great-grandmother wouldn’t know what it is, don’t eat it!
3. Get an adequate amount of sleep every night. Most people function best on 7.5 – 8 hours of sleep. For me personally it is more like 8 – 8.5 hours.
4. Fight stress with breathing, meditation, yoga, walking, etc. Nothing ages you faster or makes you gain weight faster than stress.
5. Study everything you can get your hands on about nutrition, exercise, and longevity. You are the master of your health, not your doctor.

So there you have it. For many the above might be common sense already, but I hope to reach the few (or many?) that needed a wake-up call.

What’s your opinion? Have you taken charge of your own health? What can I do to help you do that?

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