Empowering your Healthy Life

I want to live an empowered healthy Life! Who Doesn't?

Why is that so very hard? We do seem to be fighting against the norm to achieve it. Processed food and TV, computer jobs, overly busy with not so productive endeavors leave us tired and lethargic rather than empowered and alive!

It comes down to controlling a couple critical elements in your life: What you eat and how you move, the respect you show yourself and your body.

Easier said than done but here they are:

1. Eat a diet predominantly plant based. Plants have the phtyo-chemicals that give the body a fighting chance to heal itself and fend off free radical damage. American Institute for Cancer Research tell us that fruits and vegetables should be 50% of your meal. LEAN protein is one fourth and complex carbohydrates the other fourth.
2. Get Moving! Exercise is what keeps your body young! Chris Crowley in "Younger Next Year" says that your body does one of two things, it stays young and vital because it's needed or it decays and rots as you become more sedentary. I don't know about you but I'm growing old kicking and screaming.
3. Replenish your body with adequate sleep. Give your body a chance to recover from all that life and free radical damage.
4. Manage Stress - I know! Easier said than done perhaps but clearly stress will kill you. Your body determines it is in for a fight so it builds up fat stores, slows up, turns inward and turns the metabolic furnace to low in order to reserve all energy for the fight it is preparing for- a mild depression state has the same characteristics.
   

What's neat is that these four pillars feed and support each other:

Need ideas to manage stress? Sounds redundant but if you want to reduce your stress, reread the list above:

1. Eat food that is nutritious and empowering not sugary or fatty- both are sluggish.
2. Exercise or get moving some every day.
3. Get 6-8 hours of quality sleep.
4. Keeping your sight on your future goals and not your past.

Do you want to sleep more soundly? (does this list sound familiar?)

1. Eating sugary and fatty food will have you up and down all night
2. Exercising vigorously will aid your sleep
3. Stress will also ruin a good night's sleep- learn to manage it!

Want to get the most vigorous workout? (yes, I am repeating myself!)

1. Eat a clean, and lean meal plan- one that empowers and doesn't slow you down
2. Get a good night's rest
3. Leave your stress at the door when you exercise- I bet it won't be there when you leave!

Eating well tips? (you knew I was going to say this)

1. Stress makes us eat- managing stress will help you stay on a positive eating plan
2. Poor sleep patterns will also make your body compensate by eating more- go to bed on time.
3. Exercise will make your body crave what's good for it. If you want to be a "porche", plan ahead to have healthy complex carbs and lean protein after a workout. People who exercise are less likely to mess up thier hard work with junk food.

Have a healthy day!