Are you healthy?
How Do You Know if You're Healthy?
The answer to this is different for every single person.
The government says that as long as our blood pressure is a certain number, as long as our cholesterol is a certain number, blood sugar etc.
But they don't care if you're on meds to do so, and these meds all have serious side effects.
So...what is healthy?
Healthy is what you want/need it to be. In reality, you have to be happy with you.
So, if getting your numbers to match what government suggests makes you feel healthy, then that is all that matters.
I know people who eat so much processed junk food that when they pick a processed food that actually has protein and fiber in it, I jump for joy for them!
Healthy is what you need it to be for you. I try to steer my clients toward Life's Simple 7 withOUT meds.
Here are Life's Simple 7 by the American Heart Association...
No smoking
Healthy eating = 5 svg veggies, 4 svg fruit, 6 svg grain, 3 svg dairy, 2 svg protein, 3 tbs healthy oil (4-5 of these components daily) (veggie and fruit should vary between 5-7 different varieties)
Physical activity = 150 min moderate physical activity or 75 min vigorous activity over at least 3 days, +2 days strength training
Manage BMI = BMI range for your age/height
Bood Pressure = under 120/80
Cholesterol = under 170
Blood Glucose = under 100
More people than you think do not eat veggies regularly if at all, they barely get a fruit a week.
Sadly, in some situations jelly is considered a fruit. How do I know this? I was told a school can serve it and it is considered part of the fruit requirements.
More poeple than ever have blood pressure well over the numbers above and do not get regular physical activity.
These are hard sentences to swallow when you realize most have fallen short of many of these.
So! What is healthy to you?
When a client comes to me, I aim to help them move toward a "healthier" life. Meaning they get to choose but we choose forward not backward.
One thing you can begin today that is painless, is start becoming protein focused.
Make protein the priority each time you eat. Start looking at labels. DO NOT make protein the ONLY thing you eat. Just start paying attention!
