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The Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Diet, Your Health and Your Life
Because I believe diet and exercise
are so important, I'm often frustrated with the recommendations I receive.
Nutrition and natural health ideas are often so negative (don't eat this, watch
out for that) or so rigorous (be sure to eat some raw, natural, organically
grown vegetable I've never heard of) or so complicated, I end up ignoring them.
And yet, I know diet is critical to my health and well-being, so I made up my
own rules. My objective was simplicity, so all of you with greater will-power
and more discipline, cut me some slack, OK? For the rest of us, I hope you find
them useful.
1. Eat less. I used to eat until I was full, and then snack as a hobby. And,
sometimes I still do. But, more and more, I decide when I've eaten enough, leave
room for a treat later, and simply choose to eat a little less. I think it
helps.
2. Drink more water. I used to try to drink 8 glasses a day, but I usually ended
up either losing count…or just going to the bathroom a lot. Now, on my way to
the table I stop by the sink and grab a glass of water. I figure that's more
water than most people drink, it probably helps me eat less (see Rule #1), and
sometimes it reminds me to drink even more. Close enough.
3. Eat more fruit. Benjamin Franklin said, "An apple a day keeps the doctor
away." I just know apples, a banana, some grapes or something "exotic" like a
mango or a kiwi tastes good, and it's the fastest, most portable and convenient
food I've found. A handful of those little baby carrots beats a sandwich by a
good 90 seconds!
4. Eat your vegetables. Yeah, still listening to my mother. But on the positive
side, they're so easy! No sauces, no mixing or blending or nothing! Raw, steamed
or microwaved, they're great for adding color to a meal (greens, yellows, and
beans in all sorts of colors). I know fresh and organically grown is best, and
sometimes I buy them that way….
5. Eat more rice and baked potatoes. I score points with my doctor, my
"significant other" and again, it's about the easiest cooking I've figured out.
6. Stretch when you feel like it. I used to follow a routine that recommended
stretching and yoga for about 30 minutes every morning. Wonderful stuff! Very
healthy. And someday I'm going to give it another try! For now, every morning,
and several times during the day, I stand up and try to reach the ceiling. I
bend, twist, shake my shoulders, breath deep, whatever seems to feel good at the
moment. Then I get back to work.
7. Avoid exercise and elevators. OK, I believe jogging and sweating and lifting
weights are good for me. And I do some of it. But I also find it useful to walk
around the block to get the mail (the box is across the street) or take the
stairs instead of the elevator. I walk the dog, push the lawnmower and play
tennis and golf with my friends. That way I figure I'm exercising and leaving
the gyms open for the rest of you.
8. Spend time with friends. Talking, sharing dreams, giving and receiving
support, solving life's great mysteries and debating politics or religion with a
friend does wonders for the soul. And, hugs are good. And if you have a
life-partner, I find talking regularly seems to avoid a number of other
problems, as well!
9. Laugh every day. Tell a joke, wrestle with your dog or play with the kids
next door, but have some fun! Life's short.
10. Plan for dessert! At the end of the day, I really like something special to
top it all off. So, I plan for a bite of chocolate or a cup of low-fat pudding
or yogurt or a handful of fresh grapes. It sure seems to beat restlessly
searching the cupboards and refrigerator for "something" and ending up with a
big bowl of ice cream!
Finally, a few words of experience. It's OK to "slip" once in a while. At least
it better be OK...I seem to do it periodically. Just get up again tomorrow, make
the rules simpler, more fun or more appropriate for your situation and get right
back on! I don't think the objective is perfection -- there's no point in having
a heart attack getting all stressed out about the rules! Just go have some fun!
"Written by Dr. Philip E. Humbert,
writer, speaker and success coach. Dr. Humbert has over 300 free articles, tools
and resources for your success, including a great newsletter! It's all on his
website at: http://www.philiphumbert.com "
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