Health and Wellness

Good health begins with good information.- B.B. Martin

A new section I will add to this blog is one that tackles health and feeling well generally. I get tons of information from varied sources on the benefits of some products, services, methods, techniques, and even a way of living that promote health and overall well-being. Like anyone, I like to feel good about myself. I am not necessarily in search of the eternal fountain of youth but I would want to get the most out of life by having good health. Everyone can relate to this goal.

Very simply, "wellness" means a state that combines health and happiness. It usually includes physical, mental and spiritual health.

The opposite of wellness is illness. So the definition of wellness would include the condition of no or little illness and there are different degrees of this.

Besides, health would be a better topic than say religion or politics, as I notice that people tend to discuss health issues more vibrantly without losing their cool. Everyone has at one time or another tried healthier living. Many times we fail. There might have been small victories. Some may be more successful than others. Some would start and stop a program and start another one and this cycle goes on and on. One program may be successful initially but over time results would become less dramatic. Some may claim not to need any lifestyle change that would restrict free choice of food, activities, and life patterns until it is too late......

Whatever your experience is, it is most certain that we all desire a life free from disease, pains, and other medical problems at a certain point in time. These days, kids are even much more discriminating in what they eat and consume; in their habits; and in their lifestyle in general. I see this in my own kids and my students. Gone are the days when smoking and drinking were considered chic. My kids shrieked as soon as they learned I was a one-time smoker. MD mocked me saying, "ewwwwwwwwww!". Just for the record, I was not a heavy smoker. The 'bad' habit was formed out of peer pressure. It was dropped even before I could enjoy it as I developed a lung problem.

I have been reformed since my days of wild abandon and invincibility. Just for purposes of profiling this blogger, I am 5'5" tall and more or less fall within my normal weight range. I don't diet conciously to be model 'thin'. I eat just about anything but would lose appetite on certain food at particular times. I used to easily lose the weight gained in a short time. This would explain why I stay at a certain weight for a long time until recent years when I slowly packed the pounds. I don't weigh myself regularly which would probably explain why I didn't notice that undesirable portions are already added to my once lean frame. At my heaviest, I was nearing 130 lbs and I don't feel good at this weight. I am not obese or anything like that. It's just that I am used to being under my normal weight most of my life. I feel and look better when I feel lighter. It is for this reason that I want to lose some of these unwanted pounds. My target is to go back to within the 115 - 120 lbs range. I am currently between 125 - 128 lbs.

In recent years, I would have pains in different parts of the body notably my back that are perhaps brought about by poor eating habits and unhealthy lifestyle. I subscribe to an annual physical examination and have thus far been conferred a 'normal and healthy' individual certificate for all tests conducted including those added for persons reaching a certain age (yeah, I reached it.... no need to rub it in!) Aside from this, I don't have any serious ailments thus far.

I have slowed down in my activities because of various preoccupation and a general feeling of lethargy making me want to spend any little idle time that I have just lying down. I gave up playing badminton with friends because of lack of opponents and time (even my friends do not have much time anymore). Walking whenever possible is my only physical activity. I do this on an almost daily basis because I walk home after disembarking from my shuttle service in the evening. In addition, running up and down my three-storey home can be considered another exercise.

I still maintain a fair amount of social life tete-a-teteing with friends while having coffee or sipping wine. I am mostly on the internet at work and still does this at home at times. My family would occassionally eat out to celebrate or just to do something different. I have become a homebody eversince I had kids. I love shopping and travelling and would do this more if I have the means.

I take life as it is....... tread through both potholes and expressway of life. I ask for His Guidance whenever I feel that I couldn't take on some more......

So where am I on the "health and wellness scale"?

Where are you on this scale? We definitely change position from day-to-day, but take a good look and see where you feel you are overall on the "health and wellness scale."

Are you sick, tired or almost dead most of the time? Jumping up and down with vitality, aliveness and energy often? Or somewhere in between?

This is the one of the first things you can do to improve your health and energy – find out where you are now. Even if you don't think you’re a “spring chicken” or you have a chronic illness, you can always improve your condition, even a little.

So take time and look at where you are right now on the scale of wellness. Don't worry about where you'd like to be for the time being. We start on the road to improvement by taking the next realistic step from where we are today.

Most people only look at where they want to be and tend to give up easily when they don't get there tomorrow. When you identify where you are now, then you'll be in a position to take the next realistic step towards improvement.

One of the things that we should keep in mind is that I need to focus on the little improvements and pat ourselves on the back for achieving those "little" goals - and then go on to the next step.

Well, I guess, I am not that bad in this scale but I could use some help to make the most out of life.........

This site mainly focuses on the physical aspect of improving health, but the mental and spiritual factors are key to total wellness and a feeling of well-being as well. In my desire to improve my health and energy level, my attitude has been a vital aspect in achieving my goals.

This space is open to all who wants to share their own experiences in healthy living. By sharing information, a better life can be achieved.

Related Posts:
Improving Health and Energy
Health and Wellness

N.B. Posts in this section are not scientifically and empirically tested solutions to health problems but are means personally tried or being contemplated on being tried by this blogger. Caution should be exercised when trying any of the methods discussed.