A Healthy You

By La Plata Physical Therapy, Inc.

All year long we battle time, energy, food choices, and recreational activities daily. We all deal with these obstacles and for some it is easier to make better choices than others.

Often, the most difficult challenge to overcome is committing to the healthier environments for improved exercise and eating habits. If you can give yourself a commitment to a healthier you, you will achieve many great improvements in your health.

There is significant evidence showing that supervised exercise is not only the safest way to improve physically, but also one of the greatest ways to improve your mental and social state of wellness. Continued activity on most days of the week over the lifespan positively increases health and decreases vulnerability to disease and death.

There are many positive reasons for changing your lifestyle from sedentary to active or remaining active for the rest of your life. Some of the most common risk factors that can be prevented, well managed or even reversed to normal state by performing exercise are anxiety, depression, cholesterol, blood pressure, resting heart rate, type 2 diabetes, respiratory function, cardiovascular disease and coronary artery disease.

By increasing your activity level you are allowing your body to increase endorphins, blood circulation, good cholesterol (HDL), lower blood viscosity, sugar processing, heart strength, lung capacity, oxygen levels

overall (including the brain), mus-cular endurance, muscular strength, balance, and flexibility to name a few.

With all of these wonderful changes, just imagine how great your mind and soul will feel too.

Much of your success begins with your surroundings. A positive environment without a doubt yields improved success. Find places that make you happy, people that make you smile, coaches or confidants that support you, and physical activities you can tolerate and even enjoy.

Your health and wellness is predetermined by how you feel mentally, physically, and socially. Go ahead and be fantastic, form a more positive environment and see your success skyrocket, as you stay active and true to your healthy eating habits.