Lifestyle

It is important to decide what changes you can make to the way that you choose to live your life and how they could benefit your health. In the Lifestyle section we will look at areas such as nutrition and exercise.

 

Nutrition

If you like to snack, you could replace chocolate or biscuits with some dried fruit. Eat more fresh fruit and vegetables, whilst reducing your intake of coffee and alcohol. Try to eat whole foods such as whole grain bread and brown rice, rather than white rice and bread made with white flour. Limit your intake of red meat, whilst increasing your consumption of oily fish. Try to avoid processed foods as they generally contain high levels of salt, sugars and chemical additives.

 

Exercise

Regular exercise is an important part of maintaining your health. It improves energy levels, reduces blood pressure, strengthens bones and muscles as well as enhancing your sense of mental well being and alertness. This makes you better able to cope with the stresses and challenges of daily life as well as enjoying its many opportunities. Also during exercise, the body releases it own natural feel good chemicals such as endorphins and serotonin. In this section we will look at exercise plans which could help you to improve your level of physical fitness. In addition to general strength training we will look at running, swimming and cycling. It is important that you enjoy what you are doing so that you look forward to it rather than approaching it reluctantly as a chore which you resent. You should therefore find an approach which best suits you and the lifestyle that you chose to lead. To get the full benefit, it is important to make exercise a regular part of your daily routine. This means taking a positive decision to change bad habits which whilst they might be comfortable are not good for you. Don't make the mistake of enthusiastically buying expensive new exercise equipment, only to relegate it to the garage after a few weeks, or joining the local gym but going only a few times. The septugenarians that you will find running in many of the worlds city marathons, demonstrate that age is no barrier to getting fit and staying fit. There is evidence that the muscles of men who stay active can remain strong well into old age. So this lifestyle choice can become a lifelong commitment to staying fit. However remember to build up gradually, rather than doing too much too soon. If necessary consult your doctor or a qualified trainer to determine an approach that is suitable for you, particulary if you have been sedentary for some time or have had any past health problems. You should also drink sufficient liquids and see your doctor if you experience pain beyond the expected aches from exercise.