The follies of our lives - part II

Folly #2 

Adopting a lifestyle that kills

Not too long ago we were dying from infectious diseases. Today we die mostly from chronic diseases. Why? Because we have adopted a lifestyle that kills. Even if we do not smoke and/or drink alcohol, we eat food that kills, we sit instead of walk, we do not sleep enough, we stress too much.

 
Change

We have heard it all: habits are hard to break. And yet, I am not sure that most of us realize that the actual choice is “Your habits or your freedom”, and may be even “Your habits or your life”.
 
Changing habits may feel like you are trying to walk against a crowd running in the opposite direction (i.e., the “killer lifestyle” direction). There will be problems: you will be pushed, cursed at, shoveled in one direction or another, swayed from your determination, but you have to remember that healthy lifestyle equals freedom. Also remember that no one else cares more than you about your health, and you cannot trust a sick health care to take care of you when you are in need.

The same way you accumulate and track your money, you should track your health. 

If you are smoking, stop. There are ways to do it.

If you feel depressed, gorging on junk food is not the answer.

If you are overweight/obese, take small steps to improve your diet. There are many self-help websites, and no one else but you is most interested in your health.

If your children are becoming overweight or obese, take measures since you do not want to blame yourself for killing your own children by instilling unhealthy habits. Encourage your children to move more and become their prime example to follow.

Stop consuming any soft drinks and fruit juice.

Challenge yourself and try to get your vitals in shape with intermittent fasting and with this advice.

Wean yourself from processed foods, and learn how to cook at home, it could be fun and it would be very beneficial for you. Learn how to cook soups, for example.

If you can, eliminate as much stress from your life as possible. Here are a few stress busters. Speaking about stress, free yourself from consumerism. The less you need, the less you will work from 9 to 5 and the more likely is that one beautiful spring day you will be able to go out and enjoy the sun instead of subjecting yourself to physically and psychologically toxic work conditions.

Face your anxieties and try to work out a plan of your life. Gain a new perspective on your life and its meaning.

Make time for your family and dinners that bring you together with the most loved people.

Stop watching TV: this is how you will block the confusion generated by the media, and you will have to put up with less “noise”.

Advance your knowledge on how to protect yourself from the worst diseases: prevention does not take a medication, all it takes is your good will.

In brief, be good to yourself and your loved ones. 

Have I been good to myself and my loved ones? Today I am doing my best to live by my advice. It is just that sometimes life is so stressful that I move through the days like a zombie. I am still unable to effectively deal with stress.

Anyway, have I always observed the advice I give now? No, seven years ago you could find me biting on a salami sandwich and sipping orange juice. What is worst, I gave the same food to my child. However, once I found what was good and bad, it was not difficult to give up processed meats, orange juice and sugary treats.  I had no problem decreasing to a minimum red meat consumption. 

It is a struggle to convince other people to adopt these dietary habits. The only thing I can do is inform people how to live a healthy life, and hope that I am not labeled as the most annoying busybody. 

To be continued...

Folly #3