Self improvement or solutions to problems rarely occur until there is a decision to make a change or devise a solution. I was no exception. Not until I truly decided to improve my health, did it happen. Here are the steps I have taken to improve my health.
Choose an Exercise Program that Fits Your Lifestyle
Joining a health club with the idea of working out 4 or 5 days a week after driving 45 minutes to an hour one way to work, putting in 45 or 50 hours a week; is a setup for failure. Pick an exercise program that fits within the time constraints for your life. However time constraints may only be part of the story.
For example, I had a home gym set up with hundreds of pounds of weights. I no longer wanted to devote an hour and half to two hours per workout. I had everything I needed to get into shape, but the weights sat there and gathered dust because it no longer fit my lifestyle.
My solution was bodyweight exercises. It allowed me to build strength, gain flexibility, and at the same time get in a cardio workout. Do a search for “bodyweight exercises”, for suggestions on exercises and routines. As a result I have ever felt better in my life.
Dramatically Cut Back on Your Sugar Intake
I am probably one of the biggest sweet tooth’s ever created. My will power on a scale of 1 to 10 is -3. However, I decided the only way I was going to loose weight was to eliminate the sugar. The first couple of weeks were pure hell, but little by little it got easier and easier.
Be sure to read labels at the grocery store because you will be amazed at how much sugar is in our food. A better solution is to spend most of your food budget in the produce section of your local grocery store.
Completely Eliminate High Fructose Corn Syrup
Do your own research, but my research tells me that high fructose corn syrup contains mercury and is one of the reasons why so many people carry so much extra baggage. Again read food labels; high fructose corn syrup is in everything! One of the biggest culprits of this unhealthy chemical is carbonated sodas. Stop drinking soda today! Don’t think diet soda is any healthier because most diet sodas contain aspartame which is also a chemical none of us should be ingesting. I lost weight almost immediately when I stopped drinking soda.
Get Out of Debt
This may not be an area you think that can improve your health, but it aided in my quest to improve my health. In the hard economic times we find ourselves, financial stress can be as responsible for affecting our health as poor diet and lack of exercise. My wife and I were in pretty good financial shape, but we decided to completely eliminate ALL of our debt.
Eliminating all debt, including our mortgage, relieved virtually all the financial stresses that have consumed too many of us. Many researchers have concluded that stress lowers our metabolism and can aid in weight gain, high blood pressure, and lack of sleep. These are all a recipe for disaster.
This is my story. There are many different ways to improve your health. Remember one size does not fit all. Do your research, try different exercise programs, and experiment with different foods that will allow you to eat healthier.
