Straighten Out The Puzzle of Healthy Living

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Thursday, January 3rd, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

Everyone knows that an active lifestyle and eating well is the right thing to do. Our bodies need good food and exercise to function at optimal levels. But many people struggle with eating properly and getting enough physical activity. Even more become confused about the many messages the media gives us and the constantly changing information about good eating habits, smart foods, or which exercise is best. We’ll address some of those questions and provide answers that can help straighten out the puzzle about healthy living.

It’s hard to eat well these days and my schedule is too busy. What can I do to eat right?

If your schedule is so busy that you don’t have time to sit down and eat, then the first recommendation is to take a good hard look at your life and find time for yourself. But if you can’t change your schedule or free hours, then choice is what will determine eating right. Don’t grab the most convenient food at hand, usually something full of fat or salt, and make an effort to aim for something handy but healthy, like fruits. If you feel you’re still falling short of healthy eating, you can supplement your diet with vitamins or nutritional drinks such as Ensure. Don’t replace meals with those protein bars or liquid drinks, though, and do make a conscious effort to eat good, healthy food.

I’ve heard about runner’s “high”. Is this a true phenomena?

To some extent, people who increase their physical activity feel a mental change. A rush of endorphins, released by the brain when someone exercises or is physically active, causes this “high”. Of course, the high is just a general good feeling and a lift in mood, and nothing at all like getting high on illegal substances. The lift in good feelings from getting exercise is one that doctors recommend and encourage and endorphins can keep off bouts of the blues and depression.

I often eat at the computer, but I have the feeling this isn’t very good for me. Is there a right way to eat?

Taking the time to sit down for meals is important. Focusing on mealtime avoids the way people can phase out munching without realizing how much they’re eating. If you sit down and concentrate on your meal, you’ll eat more slowly, which helps your body know when it’s full. No matter where you are eating, whether at the computer, your desk, standing up, or at the kitchen table, do listen to your body and stop eating when you feel you’ve eaten enough.

My toddler eats nothing one day and then stuffs himself the next. Is this normal?

Variable eating patterns are pretty normal for toddlers. This is the phase where they begin to develop likes and dislikes or preferences for certain foods alone. Don’t worry that your child didn’t eat much on a particular day. Growing teeth, developmental stages, or just not being very hungry can be factors. Children also prefer “grazing” or frequent snacks as opposed to three square meals. Sometimes, toddlers are so focused on playing they forget that they’re hungry, so offer small, healthy snacks often. Remember that children’s bodies tend to drive mealtimes and hunger periods. To know if your child is eating well, look at everything they’ve eaten over a weekly period and not a daily period. Most likely, they’ve gotten just the nutrition they need.

Which exercise style is best?

There are many different ways to exercise and it’s hard to say that one is better than the other. What’s important is that you’re physically active. Whether you get your exercise by playing sports each week or by doing Pilates or weight training makes no difference. If you’re looking to develop muscles or strength, different types of exercise develop different things about your body. A physical trainer can give you good advice about what activity you should choose. Otherwise, if you just want to stay in shape, find an activity or exercise you enjoy and have fun with.