Ask someone if it’s essential to Keep Your Body Fit and Healthy, and you’ll no doubt hear a quick “yes.” But you may encounter a pause if you ask why it’s essential. Keeping fit and healthy will be the most important thing you do for yourself. Staying active will help you stay healthy and ward off the possibility of chronic disease.
When you understand why an action is beneficial, you have greater motivation to perform that action, and remaining fit and healthy is no different. Additionally, if you can rattle off a list of the benefits of staying healthy and well, you can motivate friends and loved ones to follow your healthy path.
The best thing you can do to increase your chance of a long life is to remain fit and healthy. In addition to the likelihood of living longer, you’ll have a better quality of life and a higher chance of staying independent during those years if you exercise and consume a healthy diet.
Staying in good shape gives you more energy to perform everyday tasks at work and home. That makes it more likely that you’ll have the energy to spare when the workday is over and it’s time to have some fun.
10 Ways to Keep Your Body Fit and Healthy
It’s the little things that you do each day that add up to being healthy and fit. While we do what we can to be as health-conscious as possible, it is always a work in progress since many elements are a healthy lifestyle.
1. Kick Your Bad Habits
Well, some of them, at least. The other ones you might be able to cut back on. Habits in the “quit” category include smoking, drugs, unsafe sex, and other unhealthy addictions. Unfortunately, there’s just no way to do any of these in a “healthy” way. It might take some time, but it’s worth it if you want to lead a healthy lifestyle.
On the other hand, some habits are not bad but can quickly become a problem if taken too far. These include alcohol, sugar, caffeine, and junk food. However, these things in moderation are doable, as long as most of your choices are mindful and healthful.
2. Get Your Checkups
Get to your doctor for your annual physical to ensure everything is as it should be. If you have insurance, usually these services are covered, so take full advantage of your benefits. Therefore, know your own body to know when something seems awry.
Do breast or testicular self-exams and get suspicious moles checked out. Get exams regularly even if you are healthy so that if and when something is abnormal, you know about it and can take action in conjunction with your doctor.
3. Have a Good Sleep
Sleep affects our physical and mental health tremendously, and many of us do not get enough. Lack of sleep adversely affects metabolism, mood, concentration, memory, motor skills, stress hormones, and even the immune system and cardiovascular health. In addition, sleep allows the body to heal, repair, and rejuvenate itself in a way it simply cannot when a person is awake.
4. Exercise Is Key
Even if you get out for a walk a few times a week, exercise is essential in your daily routine to stay fit and healthy, according to Americans’ Physical Activity Guidelines.
Cardiovascular exercise helps strengthen the heart and lungs, strength training helps strengthen the muscles, and stretching helps reduce the risk of injury by increasing flexibility. Exercise also improves circulation and body awareness, and regular exercise can help combat depression.
5. Eat a Healthy Diet
Get as many fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains into your diet as possible and make them the central part of your overall diet. Include lean protein sources such as poultry, fish, tofu, and beans. Eat balanced meals, and do not overeat. Stop eating before you become complete and give yourself a chance to digest your food.
Start snacking on whole foods such as fruit, vegetables, and nuts. Avoid highly processed foods that contain artificial sweeteners or colors, hidden sugars, or excessive fat, according to Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2015-2020.
6. Eat Breakfast Each Day
A healthy breakfast starts your day off right. It sets you up to have energy and fuel for optimal mental and physical performance. In addition, eating breakfast helps to maintain stable blood sugar levels and healthy weight because you are less likely to overindulge later in the day.
7. Drink It Up
Our bodies are made mostly of water. Most fluids and foods contain water that will help keep our bodies hydrated, but fresh, clean, plain water is still the best and healthiest beverage for maintaining a healthy body.
According to Harvard Health Publishing, it is the most natural cleanser for our organs and digestive system. In addition, being hydrated is crucial for the brain and helps flush toxins out through the skin (perspiration) and urine.
8. Reduce Your Stress
Stress can cause many problems, from heart trouble to digestive problems. But unfortunately, many people do not know what to do about it; how to manage their stress.
Exercise, meditation, doing what you love, appropriate boundaries, spirituality, being in nature, and enjoyable hobbies help alleviate the harmful effects of stress on the body. Don’t overwork. Take breaks (vacations, mini-vacations, days off) and surround yourself with people who support you.
9. Don’t Bottle It Up
Keeping emotions bottled up inside can cause mental and emotional stress and physical symptoms. Unexpressed feelings can lead to depression, sleep problems, eating disorders, and even physical pain.
Learn to talk about your feelings or express them through some art. Writing thoughts and feelings down is an excellent way to manifest things you find hard to say.
10. Focus on Consistency and Moderation
Maintaining a healthy and fit lifestyle is essential when looking at the significant picture result. However, make changes one at a time, and don’t make too many changes at once, or you will risk relapsing into old habits.
Therefore, making these choices a part of your daily life will help you reach your health goals. Avoid extremes in any capacity—exercise moderation for fitness, food, and fun.
I hope you found this article helpful and informative. Would you please speak up if you have anything you’d like to share on the topic or any opinions about my website? I look forward to your comments, questions, and the sharing of ideas.
Please note: Before starting any exercise program, you should consult your physician to determine if you have any medical or physical conditions that could put your health and safety at risk or prevent you from using the equipment properly. In addition, your physician’s advice is essential if you are taking medication that affects your heart rate, blood pressure, or cholesterol level.
Related articles:
How to Keep Fit After Forty | Simple Tips for Getting Started
References:
Health.gov: “Dietary Guidelines, 2015-2020: Chapter 1. Key Elements of Healthy Eating Patterns”
Harvard Health Publishing: “How Much Water Should You Drink?”
Hi Robert
This is an excellent no-nonsense approach to staying healthy. It’s not doing just one thing but a combination of many and being consistent.
I will certainly have to kick a few of my bad habits and start eating better food.
If we could all improve just a little in every one of your 10 Points, I’m sure there would be many more healthy individuals everywhere.
Thank you for reminding me how important my health is.
Regards
Bernardo
A big hello to you Robert and thank you for sharing.
This post comes to me at a right time as I am having challenges with my fitness and health journey. I used to do it very well in the past; and I do realize that this is a lifetime journey not just a one-time project. I also do agree with picking one small thing to change first is a good way to start. For me, it would be to have a good sleep as my sleeping pattern does affect work and personal life. Reading all the impacts lack of sleep causes to the body, it is a wake-up call for me to make changes as soon as possible.
Regards,
Tam.
Hi Tam,
You are so right about fitness is a lifetime journey. I am happy that you fount this article helpful and informative.
All the best!
Robert
Hello Robert,
Thanks for sharing such an informative review on how to keep our body fit and healthy. I must say I appreciate your effort in writing such an excellent post on ten ways to keep our body healthy. Reading such a comprehensive post on a healthy life interests me, and I find your article very beneficial. Thanks a lot for sharing, and have a great day.
Hello there, This is very interesting and helpful too. The slogan health is wealth has been held up in high regard, but still not too many people are convinced about the need to stay healthy. One would take a harmful substance or indulge in illicit behaviors that are dangerous to our health. This information you shared should sound an alarm that, aside from exercising and eating good diets, there is a need to curb bad habits.