Wellness Zone with Phyllis Ogo Ogar
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Most people in the society think that success in life is measured by how much money you make. Unfortunately this will not help you live a better and fulfilling life, except you adopt a lifestyle that allows you to enjoy what you have commensurately.
Lifestyle is the most important factor affecting our wellbeing, but most often, a lot of people don’t know how to reach this objective. Fitness by itself would not necessarily decrease the risk for disease and ensure better health, and that’s where the concept of wellness comes in. To enjoy a lifestyle of total wellness, one has to practice behaviors that will lead to positive results.
Wellness is an all inclusive umbrella covering a variety of health related factors. A wellness lifestyle requires the implementation or adoption of positive programs geared towards behavioral change aimed at improvement of health and quality of life, increment of life expectancy and achievement of total wellbeing.
Bearing all these factors in mind, the need to enjoy an optimal wellness lifestyle need not be overemphasized. To achieve this, the seven dimensions of wellness, that is, physical, emotional, intellectual, social, environmental, spiritual and occupational have to be practiced and positive outcomes achieved in all these components.
Unfortunately, it is rather an uphill task nowadays for most people to start a fitness and wellness plan and stick to it. Little wonder it happens because of our very hectic schedules that live little or no time for recreation, and most big companies who tout magic diet plans that basically deprive the body of essential nutrients as well as near starvation plans. The internet and magazines too are flooded with adverts featuring well edited photos of “fat people" who shed magical pounds after swallowing some pill or drink. The weight loss market has boomed to a billion dollar industry.
I am extremely wary of diet pill companies that promote their “magic” potions and pills as the easiest and best way to lose weight and keep it off. What upsets me the most is many of these companies take advantage of well-meaning people who want to make a positive difference in their health and sell them products that may not work or (even worse) do more harm than good by altering or totally damaging their metabolism.
Of course the body fights back so it is little wonder that the weight shed comes back almost close to 300 percent and then makes it more frustrating and demoralizing for the person as the bounce back pounds are harder to shed because the metabolism has been altered by the junk pills and potions. I am not a fan of fad diets rather I am a strong advocate of REAL, delicious and wholesome foods in order to boost metabolism, feel energized as well as satiated, and lose tons of fat at the same time.
Avoiding preservatives, artificial sweeteners, so called diet drinks and hydrogenated oils, over processed foods, whole cream dairy products as well as sodium and sugar flooded foods.
Permit me to make a bold statement here and say that if a “diet” program requires you to purchase their pills and shakes to make the diet work, you should be very, very cautious (and probably look for a different program) or ask for board certified clinical trials on the product(because knowledge is power) and not anecdotal records.
One’s ability to lose weight involves a number of factors. The two primary factors in weight loss are the food choices that we make, and the amount of exercise that we get. Both of these help to create an overall healthy lifestyle, and both can help to boost metabolism, which is a very important part of weight loss. In fact, the higher your can raise your metabolism, the more fat you will burn! The key is striking a balance.
The great news is that we have the power to influence our own metabolism. Exercise, (particularly weight training) is the number one way to help boost our BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate). The other way to help boost metabolism is through the food and beverages that we consume. I will tell you with 100% certainty that all you need in order to successfully lose weight and keep it off is wholesome, natural food…and that’s it! Oh, and water, of course. But you don’t need any magic pills or shakes to drop the excess fat off your body and keep it off for good.
I tell people in my wellness classes and diet clubs that the most important key is your mind.
I absolutely love seeing people make the decision to make a positive change in their weight and their health and adopting a new healthy eating and exercise plan. If you condition your mind to tell yourself that u can do it, then you will do it.
Another crucial key to weight loss is discipline. You have to have an iron clad discipline to embark on a lifestyle changing course and stick to it, because in the long run your body will thank you for taking care of it.
So people, rid your pantry of junk food, dust your trainers and get your work out gear ready, while making a positive commitment to change your life for good by adopting a better lifestyle.
In my next article I will be elaborating on each of the seven dimensions of wellness while giving you a personal evaluation plan. Keep Moving.
TIPS OF THE DAY
Watermelon is a natural diuretic. It contains mega levels of lycopene, much higher than tomatoes. Lycopene has been shown to aid in protecting against certain cancers and alleviate depression.
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