LIFE WITHOUT HEALTH SUCKS

I am always shocked at how so many people do not put their health and fitness first – and by first I mean really first!

Has this been you? Is this you now?

Remember when you were ill and how nothing else mattered except the desire to get better. When we are ill we are unable to function, let alone function to our best ability both physically and mentally. Our daily goals and our long-term dreams get put on hold until we are well enough to focus on them and take the desired action.

Now the scary thing is that as we get older and can be more prone to illness, the types of lifestyle disease that we might get affected by will possibly not get better and our quality of life will dwindle into disability and/or dependence.

With so many people getting sick with diseases such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s and dementia, we have had more than enough subjects for research on how people get these diseases and how they can be avoided.

We know now for a fact that the main contributing factor to getting one of these diseases is lifestyle. Lead a poor, unhealthy lifestyle and your chances of getting sick are pretty high, lead a healthy lifestyle and you have a much greater chance of remaining fit and healthy throughout your life.   

So why do I hear from so many people “I’m too busy right now to exercise, I don’t have time, fresh fruit and vegetables are too expensive, I’ll start eating better once my current problems are over, I’ll start my exercise routine next week…“ And so the excuses go on and on!

Do people not realise that life is not a rehearsal, that we only have one life and that this one life is very very short!

How many dreams do you have?

I’m not sure about you but I know I have many dreams, many goals yet to fulfil in my life and I don’t want to waste any time being weakened by some lifestyle disease or a mobility problem due to joint problems or weak muscles (Sarcopenia). 

I’m sure we’ve all heard it said ”People with cancer only have one dream… And that is to get better”.

Is this what you want?

I find people not only put their health second….or even third but they also think that by taking medication the health issues will be solved.  When was the last time you visited your local GP with some unpleasant symptom only to be given medication as the answer – the quick fix?  Did your doctor ask about your diet, your exercise programme?  Did he check your urine or take a stool sample?

Most doctors do not have the time or the knowledge to treat today’s lifestyle diseases.  Statistics show that the majority of people who visit their doctor do so with issues either caused by or related to stress.  There is no medication that can get rid of our stress …. we need to make life-style changes – this usually means adding more relaxation time to our daily schedule, more time in nature and more time alone with ourselves so that we can listen to our minds and our bodies to find out what they need, what is lacking and what we can do about it.

Most often medication only treats the symptoms of lifestyle disease and not the cause and is, therefore, only a temporary fix Which actually masks the real cause of any disease.

Why don’t people value their health more?

I think there are many reasons: lack of self responsibility for one’s own health, living a comfortable life where we can distract ourselves from reality, lack of confidence in our bodies own ability to heal itself, lack of allowing time for the body to heal itself, lack of education in the fact that we can do so much to prevent disease and perhaps most importantly lack of spending time alone with ourselves, listening to our bodies and acknowledge any imbalance before it gets out of control.

What’s the big deal?

As we adopt healthier lifestyle behaviours and we become healthier and fitter, regular exercise and healthy eating becomes a natural part of our lives as do other health provoking habits and we regret not having made the effort to change sooner.

The next time you are not feeling well, lacking in energy or in pain take some time out to question what may have caused your dis-ease. It’s a good idea to keep a food diary so that you can look back and see what type of food you have been eating as this may be a cause of your ill-health. Also keep an exercise journal to keep notes of how often and for how long you exercise week by week. It is a fact that when we eat processed foods and lead sedentary lives we should expect to feel unwell, tired. experience pain and eventually get sick.

If you feel that you need some help getting a better life balance why not book in with me for a Discovery Session.  By applying my “5 Pillars for Successful Ageing” I can help you to achieve a better quality, live longer and be happier.

Perhaps also consider getting yourself booked in for a Pilates Session.  Pilates is an amazing way to start moving your body and it also helps relax the mind.  If you live in or near South Manchester come along to my next Open Day on Sunday 21st July at Sale Pilates for a free taster and great deals on payment plans.  For more information on my classes visit www.wellforbeing.com/sale-pilates-2/ and to register for a FREE Taster Session at my Open Day click here:  www.wellforbeing.com/booktaster

Anita “Valuing Health” Dawn

07598 129189