The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “not merely the absence of disease but a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.” While the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) defines wellness as “concepts that embrace positive health behaviors that promote a state of physical and mental balance and fitness.”
In other words,
I like to think of health and wellness as a bank account. Every workout, balanced meal, and laugh enjoyed with friends gets deposited into the bank account. If your Wellness account is plentiful, then eating the occasional pizza won’t be so detrimental, and your muscles won’t waste away if you are unable to exercise for a few days. On the flip side, if your Wellness account is depleted, then something like the simple task of bending over to tie your shoe can turn into lower back pain that requires more attention than you might have time for. The depleted account creates a dirty domino effect that hinders the efficiency of your finely engineered body. The human body can do miraculous things when you make the right choices regarding your health.
So what’s the bottom line?
We have control over our health and wellness.
Wellness is a continuous journey, a lifestyle. Buying into fad diets and trendy workouts for their “quick fix” appeal is less than ideal. Instead, think of wellness as more of a marathon, not a sprint. A marriage, not a one night stand. Understand that the commitment to being healthy is about balance, patience, and long term deposits.
Often times, my clients get overwhelmed by the idea of long term fitness commitments or get bogged down with an unattainable check list of things they need to have in order to start getting healthy. The jumping off point doesn’t have to be so scary.
Fuel your body properly- eat your veggies, drink lots of H2O
Move- stretch, lift, run, jump, kick, dance, swing, carry…Use it or Lose it
Relax your mind- take time to breath and enjoy each moment
It really is that simple and always remember it’s never too late to start!
My goal is to help promote health and wellness. Check in with my website periodically- we can explore trends in the health industry, try some new training methods and work together to live a healthy lifestyle. Don’t be a stranger, I’m always available to answer questions.
-Take Care!!