Friday, February 27, 2009

Minimum Effort, No Self-Discipline Better Health

By Larry Franklin

Everybody I know is busy. Probably everyone you know is too.

And, our crammed full schedlues are one of the chief reasons that many of us neglect our health. What should be a high priority sometimes get pushed to the bottom of the pile. But, we can change that.

We don't need a lot of time to be healthier, and we don't need superhuman self-discipline. There are some things we can do pretty easily to help ourselves.

Here are some pretty easy health tips.

1. Don't set dramatic goals. Start with modest expectations. You can ramp them up later, after you have enjoyed some success.

2. Commit yourself to 30 minutes of exercise daily, even if it is only walking. Anybody can find 30 minutes a day. Begin your day earlier, exercise during your lunch hour, or skip a half hour a day of TV or computer time if necessary.

3. Do not go more than 4 hours without eating. Nutritious, low calorie snacks can help you prevent overeating.

4. As mom would say, "Don't forget your vitamins". And, as usual, mom was right: everyone should take a good multivitamin.

5. If weight is a problem, you can lose 10 pounds a year just by reducing your daily calorie intake by about 100.

6. Do something about lowering your "bad" cholesterol and increasing your "good" cholesterol. Neither is difficult.

7. Be sure to get a full night's sleep; you'll have more energy, your resistance will be higher, and you may well feel less stress.

If you have the time, self-discipline, and motivation, there is much more you can do. But, you have to start somewhere, and for those of us not now doing much about our health, the tips above are a good start. - 15438

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