We invite others to share their thoughts, ideas, and insights. This month we welcome Grace Duckworth, a Instructor and Personal trainer.
A key to a healthy fulfilling life is your body. Your body is the of temple of your spirit and the first Gate of the 7 Gates of Power®
Resolution To Be Fit
By Grace Duckworth
Every January millions of people make the resolution to become a healthier and more physically fit version of their current self; and each year more than half of those resolutions have been broken and forgotten before the snow begins to melt. This year make a real change by choosing to stay consistent and avoid giving up.
I could write out a list of tips that one would read from a fitness magazine, but that information would be moot. There are no "magical" pills or exercises that I can share with you to make you transform into your vision of physical perfection, but there are very important and real life factors that can help you become a healthier being.
Priorities:
If health does not fall at numero uno on your list of priorities, realistically, the possibility of making large changes in your life is slim to none. There are millions of excuses that people can find to replace the importance of physical fitness; work, family, groups or activities, etc. Now let me make clear, these things are important BUT your personal health affects everything else in your life therefor affecting your career, relationships with friends and family, involvement in groups or activities, etc. If you are unhappy with your physical being, everything in your life will feel as though it could be better. If you feel good about your level of health then all aspects of your life will begin to feel positive as well.
Physical Activity:
Whether it's walking, lifting weights, interval training or yoga; it is incredibly important to make physical activity a regular part of your schedule. It is also very important find variety in your routine. The human body loves to be comfortable. For example: if you are an inactive person and suddenly become active, the body will respond rather quickly. But if you continue to do the same fitness routine for longer than 1-2 weeks, the body will again become comfortable and stop responding to the activity.
Nutrition:
Along with physical activity, nutrition is an incredibly important factor that ties into being healthy. You cannot be fit without eating right and you cannot benefit from the nutrients of food without being active. They go hand in hand. So here comes the big question, "What should I be eating?" There are so many companies out in the media that promote quick fixes to being thin or muscular, etc. But does that mean that it is healthy? No. Here are a few tricks to know if something is truly good for your body:
- Look at the meal you are about to ingest and ask yourself, "was this ever living?" The human body reacts best to food that was alive at some time. Produce such as fruit and vegetables - fresh is preferred as first choice, frozen would be the second choice and canned as a last resort due to the preservatives and syrups added that reduce nutritional value. Things that grow from the earth like beans, nuts, wheat and so on. When purchasing dairy choose products that are pure in form and eat smaller doses rather than large amounts of the overly processed low-fat or low-calorie versions. If you eat meat then shop for animal products that are free range, not injected with chemicals and preservatives.
- When purchasing processed food, read the ingredients list. If there more than 3-5 things listed that you do not recognize put it back. Only buy food that includes ingredients that you actually understand and know. There are many additives in processed food that will literally slow down or shut down the human body; lead to disease, clog the blood system and create impurities in the body.
Making a real difference in your life as a physical being is possible but you have to choose to make it a priority and then follow through with regular physical activity and real nutrition. Your whole life can evolve with the actions of a single choice. Remember this as you enter into the New Year and commit to live well!
Namaste!
Grace Duckworth
graceduckworth@fitbodyclearmind.com
www.fitbodyclearmind.com
