Living a long and healthy life is a common desire for everyone. Although we cannot do much about genetics, we can take many steps to lead us down the right path. Losing weight and maintaining it is just one aspect of achieving this goal. For many of us, avoiding medication, surgery, and being able to live an independent life is equally important. As we shed weight, we become more interested in total body health. Here are nine great health habits to adopt, some of which are obvious, but it’s worth reiterating:
- Quit smoking
- Ensure you get adequate sleep
- Stay hydrated
- Exercise more
- Limit alcohol intake
- Don’t skip breakfast
- Read nutrition labels
- Schedule annual checkups
- Choose a food plan that suits your lifestyle
The first five habits are self-explanatory and require no further elaboration. However, since the last few relate to eating habits, let’s delve deeper into those.
Eating breakfast is crucial, although intermittent fasting has become popular, and if it works for you, great. But if you are tracking your daily calories, you can achieve similar results. Hunger is not an ideal state for me for two reasons. Firstly, I am a type 2 borderline, and keeping my blood sugar steady is more beneficial than allowing it to drop. Secondly, I tend to get into trouble when I let myself get too hungry. I typically do not eat after 8:30 pm and eat breakfast when I wake up because I am hungry and see no reason not to. Unless you plan on doing this long-term, it is best to stick to a routine, start your day off right, and enjoy the morning.
Reading nutrition labels is crucial because many packaged foods contain hidden sugars and fats, and serving sizes can be misleading. Having this knowledge helps you make better food choices.
Having an annual checkup is critical because many medical conditions may not have any symptoms. On two occasions, a simple blood draw alerted me to an under-active thyroid and an elevated A1c. Two of my friends detected small lumps on a mammogram that were lifesaving diagnoses, and they are healthy today. Basic tests for cholesterol, high blood pressure, and other illnesses are easily detectable, and often some changes in eating habits can help you avoid medication.
Selecting a food plan that suits your lifestyle is essential. At Healthi, we offer various options, and members frequently inquire about which plan is best for specific health concerns. The plans are not tailored to address particular health issues. Instead, each plan is customized to each member. All the plans are effective, and following any of them will aid in weight loss and a healthier lifestyle. What works for one person may not work for another. Personally, I do not prefer keto or plans with many zeros, but I know many people who have successfully followed those plans. Having secondary metrics can provide you with additional information. If a plan is not suitable for your lifestyle, it is unlikely that you will adhere to it for an extended period.
Our objective should be to live without health problems and medication, enjoy our families, remain mobile, and not be dependent on medication. We all desire a healthy lifestyle that enhances the quality and length of our lives.
