Do you know what to do, eat, take, or avoid to be healthy? It can be confusing. Truly, there is no secret food, magic pill, or easy-to-use piece of exercise equipment that will suddenly solve all of you health issues now and into the future. Good health, like life, is a journey -- not a destination. Making simple choices everyday, not beating yourself up when you slip up, and keeping your eye on what you want from life is the key.
As a heart attack survivor and busy woman, I've had to develop healthy strategies and habits to fit into my life. As a heart health educator, it is my pleasure to share these strategies with other busy women.
Here is what I discovered:
Being active doesn't mean you have to spend your life in the gym. An active lifestyle is a habit and many activities you do every day, such as cleaning your house or playing with your kids, can be used to get the exercise your heart needs to be healthy.
Eating healthy doesn't mean you have to deny yourself the things you enjoy. Developing a healthy philosophy about fueling your body will allow you to feed yourself well and enjoy what you eat.
Treating yourself well isn't a luxury, it is essential. Too often women deny themselves time and credit to take care of other people and their needs. Stress causes your body to produce cortisol, a chemical which damages your heart. Laughter, relaxation and sleep (along with exercise) eliminate cortisol from your body. Finding ways to laugh more, relax and rest are as important as exercising and eating right.
For example, did you know your friendships, work and personal relationships can affect your heart health? Women with good female friends reduce their risk of heart disease by 30%. Good news Chat, Chew and Chocolate fans! The unfortunate flip-side, however is negative interactions and bad relationships can cause heart disease. For example, a stressful, unsupportive marriage has been shown to increase a woman's risk of heart attack, heart failure and metabolic syndrome by up to 34%.
Jim Rohn says, "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with."
He's right, but think about it. How much of your day is spent with stress-creators rather than stress-relievers?
What are your five doing for your health and what can you do about it?
Pay attention to your body cues. Does your stomach clench every time you see one particular number on caller ID? Do you start to get anxious when you see a certain coworker coming down the hall? Are you excited about walking in the door or does going home seem like a chore? Listen to what your body is telling you and don't ignore the problem.
Seek out positive interactions. Just like one good golf shot can make a whole round worthwhile, one good interaction can turn your day around. Cultivate relationships that allow you to laugh, decompress and feel good.
Create a safe place to dwell. Choose to surround yourself with people who help you live a healthy and productive life -- at work and at home. Limit the time you spend with people who bring your down and give you stress.
Be the person other people want in their five. Pay attention to the way you interact with others. We all need to vent, but make sure you share the good things too. Listen more than you talk. Laugh more than you grouch. Love more than you complain. Nurture those who give you joy and comfort. Say thanks for the support every once and a while.
Pay attention to your words. For many women complaining about their spouse or significant other is part of casual conversation, and is often exaggerated for effect. Words have power. If you only ever talk about the negative aspects of your partner how can he or she not diminish in your esteem? Talk about the good aspects of your relationships and build them up rather than tear them down.
Laugh a little more and do something good for your heart.