***Collaborative post***
If we are to be healthier in ourselves, there is no time like the present to start making lifestyle choices that will set us up. The hardest thing for anybody to understand when it comes to having a healthy life is which ones are best. There is a lot of conflicting information when it comes to health; people talk about vegetarian diets, vegan diets, carnivore diets, and the list goes on, but it’s also about what sort of exercise and physical benefits you should be giving yourself. The reality is that giving yourself solid foundations all stems from the right habits that suit you. Let’s show you some simple ways to set yourself up.
Regular Check-Ups
Before we start removing everything from our cupboards, we’ve got to make sure that our health has undergone an MOT. Doctors’ appointments are crucial here, so you can get your blood and cholesterol checked, but you should also think about going to the dentist. Dentists like Wahroonga Dental can get you started. Regular check-ups are the best way for you to ensure that you are keeping on top of your health.
Being More Active
As obvious as it sounds, people talk about 10,000 steps a day, and the average person could easily hit this by lunchtime. Being active doesn’t need to be about running marathons every few months, in fact, it can be all about doing little and often. It’s about getting that heart pumping! Now the general advice is that you should be doing approximately 180 minutes of zone 2 cardio every week. This is where you are just able to hold a conversation, so this would include brisk walking.
Eat Until You Are 80% Full
This is a Japanese concept known as Hara Hachi Bu and is so important to allow our stomach the chance to process everything. When we overeat, our stomach begins to stretch. And the goal is to not eat until you are full to bursting. You should always eat a little less than you think you need, which is why the 80% rule is ideal.
Eating More Protein
Many vegans and vegetarians may not consider protein to be as important as greens or vegetables. The reality is you can get a lot of fantastic protein from non-animal sources. Protein is the building block of your muscles and if you don’t have enough strength or find yourself sleeping more, you should consider upping your protein intake. If you are exercising more, a good rule of thumb is to consume one 1 gram of protein per 1 pound of body weight, which can seem like a lot, but you will feel the benefits.
Not Committing to Diets
Diets imply that it’s temporary. It’s far more important for us to think about making lifestyle choices that will benefit us in the long run. Rather than thinking about anything being temporary and falling back onto old habits, if you commit now to making a change in your lifestyle and letting it become a habit, which takes approximately 3 months, you will be doing the most beneficial thing to set you up for a healthier life.
