Healthy Behaviors for Optimal Health
By Donna Stark
Well, I just wanted everyone to know that I got my cardio in this week. It was grueling, but I successfully managed to run away from most of my healthy behaviors and responsibilities. Have you ever had a week like that? Have you ever been on vacation or under tremendous amounts of stress and life activities that being healthy pretty much got put on the backburner? Sure, those kinds of weeks aren’t our best, but if they do occur, it’s nothing to beat yourself up over and it’s certainly no reason to quit the health journey that you are on. So get back on track and start running toward optimal health and fitness.
Falling Off Track
Life comes out of nowhere some weeks and has a way of throwing us off-kilter, doesn’t it? But if you know where you went off track, then you know how to get back on. Here are some suggestions for healthy behaviors that will help get your routine up and running once again.
- Wake up - That’s right, wake up and get up! Those vacation late-mornings are over and it’s time to get back to your usual routine. So be sure to wake up at the same time every morning and avoid hitting the snooze button over and over again because it actually does more harm than good.
- Start your day with cardio - Any early-morning workout will help maintain your ideal weight and boost energy levels for the rest of the day, but the type that will have the most impact on your body is some form of cardio because it clears the mind, strengthens the heart and lungs, and tones up muscles.
- Eat a healthy breakfast - Consuming a healthy breakfast is critical to get your day going in the right direction. It helps to set the tone for the rest of the day’s meals and wards off hunger pains in the middle of the morning, which could keep you from unhealthy snacking.
- Add extra movement to your day - The effects that prolonged sitting has on our health are now being compared to smoking, and that should be enough to motivate you into moving more! Stop the sedentary lifestyle and get up and move at least once every hour.
- Stay hydrated - Water can be found in every cell, organ, and muscle in the body, so there is no denying how important it is to your overall health. If you don’t drink enough of it, your body’s health can be seriously compromised and may not be able to function as it should, so keep a filled bottle next to you at all times.
Getting Back on Track
Although I was kidding when I said I got my cardio in this week, running away from healthy behaviors is certainly nothing to laugh about. If you had some days, or even a week like I did, don’t worry. Just get back on track to optimal health as soon as you can again!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Cumming, Ga.