Wednesday, January 18, 2012

The Top 10 Ways to enhance Your Diet, Your health & Your Life!

Because I believe diet and rehearsal are so important, I'm often frustrated with the recommendations I receive. Nourishment and natural health ideas are often so negative (don't eat this, watch out for that) or so rigorous (be sure to eat some raw, natural, organically grown vegetable I've never heard of) or so complicated, I end up ignoring them. And yet, I know diet is needful to my health and well-being, so I made up my own rules. My objective was simplicity, so all of you with greater will-power and more discipline, cut me some slack, Ok? For the rest of us, I hope you find them useful.

1. Eat less. I used to eat until I was full, and then snack as a hobby. And, sometimes I still do. But, more and more, I resolve when I've eaten enough, leave room for a treat later, and simply pick to eat a little less. I think it helps.

2. Drink more water. I used to try to drink 8 glasses a day, but I usually ended up either losing count...or just going to the bathroom a lot. Now, on my way to the table I stop by the sink and grab a glass of water. I frame that's more water than most habitancy drink, it probably helps me eat less (see Rule #1), and sometimes it reminds me to drink even more. Close enough.

The Top 10 Ways to enhance Your Diet, Your health & Your Life!

3. Eat more fruit. Benjamin Franklin said, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." I just know apples, a banana, some grapes or something "exotic" like a mango or a kiwi tastes good, and it's the fastest, most transported and suitable food I've found. A handful of those little baby carrots beats a sandwich by a good 90 seconds!

4. Eat your vegetables. Yeah, still listening to my mother. But on the positive side, they're so easy! No sauces, no mixing or blending or nothing! Raw, steamed or microwaved, they're great for adding color to a meal (greens, yellows, and beans in all sorts of colors). I know fresh and organically grown is best, and sometimes I buy them that way....

5. Eat more rice and baked potatoes. I score points with my doctor, my "significant other" and again, it's about the easiest cooking I've figured out.

6. Stretch when you feel like it. I used to effect a habit that recommended stretching and yoga for about 30 minutes every morning. Astonishing stuff! Very healthy. And someday I'm going to give it another try! For now, every morning, and several times during the day, I stand up and try to reach the ceiling. I bend, twist, shake my shoulders, breath deep, whatever seems to feel good at the moment. Then I get back to work.

7. Avoid rehearsal and elevators. Ok, I believe jogging and sweating and lifting weights are good for me. And I do some of it. But I also find it beneficial to walk nearby the block to get the mail (the box is across the street) or take the stairs instead of the elevator. I walk the dog, push the lawnmower and play tennis and golf with my friends. That way I frame I'm exercising and leaving the gyms open for the rest of you.

8. Spend time with friends. Talking, sharing dreams, giving and receiving support, solving life's great mysteries and debating politics or religion with a friend does wonders for the soul. And, hugs are good. And if you have a life-partner, I find talking usually seems to avoid a amount of other problems, as well!

9. Laugh every day. Tell a joke, wrestle with your dog or play with the kids next door, but have some fun! Life's short.

10. Plan for dessert! At the end of the day, I in fact like something extra to top it all off. So, I plan for a bite of chocolate or a cup of low-fat pudding or yogurt or a handful of fresh grapes. It sure seems to beat restlessly searching the cupboards and refrigerator for "something" and ending up with a big bowl of ice cream!

Finally, a few words of experience. It's Ok to "slip" once in a while. At least it best be Ok...I seem to do it periodically. Just get up again tomorrow, make the rules simpler, more fun or more standard for your situation and get right back on! I don't think the objective is perfection -- there's no point in having a heart assault getting all stressed out about the rules! Just go have some fun!

See Also : 2012 Video Games

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