How to Take Charge of Your Health

Posted On: Feb 20, 2020
Written By: Parrish Healthcare

Keeping a Healthy Lifestyle

While it’s common knowledge that living a healthy lifestyle leads to a longer-lasting life, it can be easy to fall into bad health habits. Whether it’s a stressful job, working long hours, or juggling schedules for your kid’s sports and other activities, it’s no wonder that making time for self-care falls to the wayside. But, don’t fret! Here are some tips to help you take better control of your health.

Create Realistic Health Goals

Sticking to healthy resolutions can be tricky — but don’t be too hard on yourself. If you’ve gotten into a less than desirable health habit, here are three ways you can keep your goals at the forefront of each day.

1. Start With Small Steps

Jumping into your health goals can be a bit overwhelming. When we bite off more than we can chew, we tend to get discouraged from moving forward. Take baby steps and celebrate the moments you achieve even the smallest health goal. This will help you stay motivated. When you feel confident in achieving the goals you set, then you can add more to your workout regimen and take more significant steps as you acclimate.

2. Keep Your Workout Routine Realistic

Joining a gym is a great start to get your health back on track. However, when embarking on a new workout routine, be realistic about what exercise activities you can take on. Overextending yourself physically can cause more harm than good, and sustaining an injury won’t be pleasant. Before attempting a new workout routine, consult with your doctor on the best way to approach exercise that is relative to your physical health.

3. Seek Support From Family and Friends

Family and friends can help you stick to your health goals and make positive changes. Having someone encouraging you and cheering you on can help you stay motivated to keep making healthy choices. Ask a family member or friend to join you in starting a health and wellness journey where you can get back to better health in support of each other.

Health Problems Related to Stress

Let’s face it — no one is immune to stress, but how you handle it can have an impact on your wellbeing. With the pressures of a job, taking care of a family, everyday errands and other activities, finding a way to fit in self-care can be challenging. Coping and learning how to manage stress levels can help you avoid these health problems:

Many types of cancer.
Headaches/ migraines.
Heart disease.
Obesity.
Diabetes.
Asthma.
Depression and anxiety.
Gastrointestinal issues.
Alzheimer’s disease.
Premature aging.

Stress-Reduction Tactics

Not only are the following stress-reducing activities fun, but they are also good for both your physical and mental health.

Try yoga and other exercises.
Listen to an audiobook.
Read your favorite magazines.
Take a relaxing bubble bath.
Listen to calming music.
Practice mindfulness and learn new meditation techniques.
Spend time with your pet.
Go for a walk and get some fresh air.
Watch a funny movie.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help with chores, errands, and other tasks as a way to take some pressure off your hectic schedule. Once you are less stressed, you’ll be more productive at work, feel more energetic, and sleep better, too!

Making Better Food Choices

While it’s okay to indulge in a sweet treat or decadent dish every once in a while, making it a regular eating habit that can damage your health. Here are some tips on how to get a handle on eating habits:

Don’t Skip Breakfast

With a busy schedule, sometimes we skip breakfast because we are running late. However, leaving breakfast on the table can have adverse effects on your health and increase your chances of developing heart disease and diabetes. Skipping breakfast can also have the following impact on your body:

Weight gain.
Slow metabolism.
Decreased cognitive function.
Irritability and mood changes.
Low energy levels.

If you find it challenging to get in a breakfast meal, try preparing your breakfast the night before. When pressed for time, quick and healthy options can include cereals that are low in sugar, fresh fruit, and low-fat yogurt.

Eating a healthy and filling breakfast not only gives you energy throughout the day, but it can also play a role in the choices you make during lunch hour too. The less hungry you are when it comes time for lunch, the less you are likely to hit the drive-thru and overeat.

Avoid Processed and Fast Foods

Processed and fast foods can cause many health problems such as obesity and increase your risk of developing cancer. Processed and fast foods typically have the following characteristics and ingredients that are bad for your health:

Added sugar and high-fructose corn syrup.
Artificial preservatives, flavors, and colorants.
Low in proper nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Low fiber content.
High in trans fats.

Not only is it best to skip the fast food drive-thru, when grocery shopping, try keeping these processed food items out of your cart:

Cheese.
Meats such as bacon, sausage, ham, and salami.
Cakes.
Biscuits.
Frozen entrees.

Portion Control

Portion control doesn’t mean you are eating less food or depriving yourself. You can still enjoy your favorite meals through portion control. Portion control is a way to become aware of how much you are eating and the nutritional value of what you are putting in your body. Here are some ways you can use portion control to choose healthier options while putting the reigns on overeating:

Use smaller plates.
Use a portion size guide to portion meals accurately.
Load up on vegetables first.
Eat slowly.
Meal prep your portions for the week ahead.
Drink water at least 30 minutes before eating meals to help prevent overeating.

Keeping a Healthy Weight

The term “healthy weight” does not have the same meaning for everyone. When it comes to determining your ideal weight for optimal health depends on factors such as your height, sex, BMI (body mass index), among other things. Keeping a healthy weight has the following benefits:

Reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Increase the health of bones and joints.
Reduce the risk of developing certain cancers.
Increase energy levels.
Improve immune system.

How Living a Healthier Lifestyle Can Reduce Risks of Disease

Taking charge of your health and living a healthy lifestyle has many lifelong benefits and can limit your risks of developing heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and more.

Take Parrish Healthcare’s CancerAware Risk Assessment Test

If you are concerned about your chances of developing cancer, Parrish Healthcare offers a free Healthaware Risk assessment where you can learn your risks in developing certain cancers. The following links will take you to these assessments:

Take Parrish Healthcare’s WeightAware Risk Assessment Test

If you are concerned about keeping a healthy weight, take our free WeightAware Risk Assessment test. Answering a few simple questions can provide you with valuable information about your risk of developing obesity-related health problems.

To learn more about how to live a healthier lifestyle, contact Parrish Healthcare today. We offer many programs, including nutritional counseling, to help you achieve your health and wellness goals.