Keeping fit is a lifestyle.
- When you sleep, your body heals and repairs what was broken during the day. Getting enough sleep is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick.
- We can't control everything that happens to us, but we must take responsibility for the decisions we can make about how we live our lives. If something creates a lot of stress in your life, consider changing it or, at the very least, consider ways to help you deal with the stress (like taking up yoga or kickboxing, seeing a therapist, meditating, etc.).
- Avoid catching whatever is going around by washing your hands often. Being dirty once in a while will help your body build up its immune system defenses; however, being sick all the time isn't fun, either. Find a balance that's healthy for you.
- Keep your metabolism revving by exercising a little bit every day. Walking briskly for 30 minutes each day is one of the easiest exercises we can do. However, more exercise is a good idea. Consider home gym equipment, a club membership, exercise videos, or sports leagues. Park your car far away from your destination and walk. Take the stairs.
- Your blood flow and digestion are affected by how much water you drink. Make sure both are working smoothly by giving your body enough water.
- Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats found olive oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, nuts, and avocados are the good fats. These are necessary for improving your immune function, lowering total cholesterol, and regulating hormonal production.
- The nutrition available in fresh vegetables cannot be found anywhere else. Luckily, vegetables come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and flavors. Don't be afraid to try vegetables you're unfamiliar with.
- Regulate your eating cycles and start each day with a healthy breakfast. By doing so, you'll actually eat less during the day. If you've never been a breakfast person, you'll find that breaking this unhealthy pattern is actually quite easy. Start with something small like a piece of toast and build up from there.
- Each meal should ideally include all three basic food groups: carbohydrates, healthy fats, and protein. Your body uses all three to effectively absorb the nutrients it needs. If you leave out a food group, you are short-changing your body.
- It takes about 10 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain that it has had enough. Eat slowly, chewing your food well and drinking plenty of water, so you don't eat more than you need to. If you think you want to go back for seconds, wait 10 minutes and make the decision again.
