Wellness: A Commitment for Life

If you’ve recently been told your weight is something you need to watch, it’s time to take preventative action. With the majority of adults in the U.S. hovering above the threshold of healthy weight, the nation is on the verge of a health crisis of epidemic proportions. However, you don’t have to become a statistic.
 
Through wellness-oriented actions, you can take control of the scale and be healthy for life. Here are a few ideas on how to get started.

Address Underlying Issues
 
Oxford Academic recently released a study on depression and obesity that clearly illustrates the connection between weight and mental health. It was found that obese people, based on weight alone, were nearly twice as likely to be depressed than those with a healthy body mass index (BMI). Before you begin changing your lifestyle, you need to address underlying issues such as depression and anxiety. Unless these mental health conditions are under control, you are at a higher risk of developing an eating disorder. Binge eating and bulimia are common in overweight people and are typified by overeating and guilt and binging and self-induced vomiting, respectively. These serious mental health conditions can lead to even greater depression.

Seek Dietary Guidance
 
It is not enough to simply eat foods you think are healthy. You must understand how each food relates to your body and learn to identify “hidden” health hazards. Added sugar and over-processing are two major problems in American grocery stores that can sneak in and wreck your healthy eating efforts. Consulting with a professional dietitian/nutritionist can help you set your meals on the right course toward a healthy weight. In addition to educating you on food, a dietitian can teach you methods to take your mind off food when it isn’t meal time. 
 
Give Yourself Access to the Tools You Need
 
A healthy lifestyle isn’t solely molded by the foods you eat. In order to lose weight and maintain a healthy body from the inside out, you must also find ways to fit exercise into your daily routine. For many, a well-thought-out home gym is a good place to start. Your at-home fitness center should contain a variety of equipment that allows you to achieve a full body workout, including cardiovascular and core training exercises. HomeAdvisor offers more information about putting together the perfect home gym. Before you lay down the cash for equipment, find a place for it in your house. You can turn you garage or spare bedroom into a full gym or stash separate pieces in the corner of each room if space is a concern. You’ll also want to make sure your workout is something you enjoy. For instance, if you hate running but love to hike, take your fitness routine outdoors when the weather is nice.
 
Embrace Sleep
 
Your body needs seven to eight hours of rest each evening, and while you might think this inactivity is bad for you, nothing could be further from the truth. Sleep gives your body the chance to repair tiny tears in your muscles and heal damage caused by over-flexing joints and impact from actions like walking up stairs. It also lets your brain shut down and, through dreaming, process the billions of bits of information that gets thrown at you each day. According to Reader’s Digest, the melatonin your body produces while you sleep can help you create brown fat, which actually burns calories instead of storing them. You can read more about brown fat and why it’s good for you in this NCBI study.
 
You can’t afford to let your weight get in the way of a long and healthy life. Making changes now will help trim down your waist and create healthy habits for the future.

Author: Dana Brown
HealthConditions.info