Health Explored
Let’s explore ways we can pursue better health!
I want to communicate the rich world of health news with each of you so I am writing this inaugural post of the Whole Health Chiropractic Boston blog. I picture this as a way for us to share the most relevant research, functional rehabilitation advice, and the most pressing concerns in the area of wellness today.
You may have heard the phrase “knowledge is power”. This is partially true, but the real power lies in putting knowledge into action through focused practice. Recent definitions of health have moved away from the black and white notion of health as the absence of disease. Now health is thought of as a continuum; poor choices diminish it, but good choices increase it. Incremental improvements in diet, posture, sleep habits, and exercise habits have a cumulative effect–moving you farther towards the positive side of the continuum.
Many people set wellness goals for themselves such as losing weight, quitting smoking, spending more time exercising, or eating better foods. This is an excellent start, but most fail to reach their goals because of the lack of realistic short-term goals and benefits. For example, if someone’s goal is to lose 50 pounds primarily for body image reasons, they may become discouraged after losing 15 pounds and seeing that their shape hasn’t changed much. However, someone who is setting short-term goals along the way can avoid this discouragement. Focusing on the other benefits, such as increased energy and improved sleep, encourages you to continue your progress.
Setting one simple sustainable goal at a time is the best way to get healthy. Going “on a diet” implies that you will go “off the diet” later. It is better to make small changes that you can maintain permanently. For example, try reducing your calories by about half for only two days of the week. Or, switch one unhealthy food that you eat regularly with a healthy one. Lasting results require lasting changes in your daily habits.