My doctor sent the results of my blood work back with the word “Impressive” written across the top. So, at 81, I figure I must be doing something right He also put in his medical records that I was being very “pro-active” about my health. I like the idea of taking charge and working to create the healthiest body I can at my age. People who are pro-active want to make certain things happen. They have an objective and they do whatever it takes to be ready to meet that objective. They are hands on, positive, upbeat people that you love to be around.
Be pro-active about your over-all well-being
As we grow older, the state of our health is a primary concern. We want a good quality of life. Here’s the trick, rather than wait for a doctor to prescribe some pills or send you to rehab, you get busy doing what you need to do all by yourself. That’s being pro-active. You cut out sugar and eat more vegetables and fruits. You find ways to walk more. You add regular stretching and exercise to your day.You lovingly cook for yourself. I organically lost eight pounds last year and I continue to lose weight gradually.I’m at the lowest weight I’ve been in 30 years! No, I don’t look slender, but I am in the process of rebalancing my body. To my daily Qi Gong practice I added this great Couch Potato Workout from Dr. Oz’s personal trainer What are you willing to do to be pro-active about your health?
Be pro-active about changing your eating habits
I gave up dairy because I had unexplained and unexpected allergies a year ago and dairy and wheat are the most likely culprits. That had me scrambling to find substitutes for yoghurt and cheese (nutritional yeast has a cheesy flavor) and adjusting recipes like crazy. The most effective dietary step I took was to give up sugar. Sugar is addictive and there was no way I was going to put a cup of sugar in something I baked and then eat it in three days. Within days of stopping sugar, my taste buds changed, my cravings ceased and steady weight loss began. I use maple syrup and honey for sweetener. I make my own granola so I can control the ingredients and add great things like sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, hemp, flax seeds and almonds while I control the type and amount of sweetener. How can you be more pro-active about your food choices?
Be pro-active about enhancing your social life
We are personally responsible for our own mental and emotional health. If we are lonely, we need to go make some friends. If we are bored, we need to seek mental stimulation. Everyone needs some form of social interaction. Call someone to talk, go out for lunch, have them over for game night, go to meetings where like-minded people are gathered. We need people in our lives. We need hugs and compliments and laughter. How are you being pro-active about your social life?
Be pro-active about deepening your spiritual life
A strong spiritual life can be achieved anytime and anyplace. If you no longer go to church, make up your own “service.” Read words that motivate and inspire you. Start a Gratitude Journal to help you become more aware of the bounty that surrounds you. I’m immersing myself in Taoism. I have no teacher, only translations of the ancient texts to study. I work to embrace principles that enhance my daily life. What kind of daily spiritual practice will you initiate?
Make one fundamental change at a time
The plant-based nutritionists I follow say to eat two pounds of vegetables vegetable every day, one raw and one cooked. If I add the suggested four pieces of fruit each day, 1 cup of beans and 1 ounce of nuts and seeds, that’s a lot of eating! A major suggestion is to make a salad the main dish in every meal. I already make great soups like cauliflower, carrot, and butternut squash. I continue to include grains like quince and couscous and brown rice. The idea of creating interesting sauces to go on vegetables interests me – peanut sauce, marinara sauce. The core to my next change is eating more raw foods. I have a sprouting kit to sprout seeds of alfalfa, french lentil, mung, daikon radish, clover, green pea, garbanzo, adzuki, broccoli, green lentil, hard wheat, and black sunflower . I purchased a spiralizer, which allows me to make thin ribbons of zucchini (to replace pasta), strings of carrots, radish and potato strings for salad, and strings of green pepper or beets and curly strands of cucumbers. Then I will make healthy homemade “dressings” to top them off so I have complete control over what I eat. Even now, w hen I eat a veggie burger (no bread), I put raw mushrooms, red pepper, green onions and avocado on my plate to complete my meal.
Observe the changes
I have more energy when I eat greens. I use hemp seeds, flax seeds and chia seeds in my salads and smoothies to add protein and to keep my intestinal tract balanced. I satisfy my occasional urge for chocolate with pure cacoa powder in water sweetened with almond milk and maple syrup. The more vegetables I eat, the greater the weight loss I experience. Observe how your body responds to your loving care. How do you sleep? How do your joints feel? Has your energy increased? What is your emotional status? Let your body guide you in your, pro-active self-care choices. Keep experimenting until you find the right balance for you.
Let the new gradually replace the old
You don’t have to give up anything. You just have to start adding things you love and let them gradually replace the foods you’re ready to give up and the habits you want to establish. I became a vegetarian by eating more vegetables. I became a vegan by finding tasty substitutes to dairy and eggs. I’m steadily improving my overall healthy with the choices I make and the actions I take. It’s all about exploring and experimenting. How pro-active are you willing to be about your health?