Healthy Lifestyle Awareness Month, February 2012

Get into the swing of things with healthy living

Many of us know that a healthy lifestyle can make a significant difference in preventing disease, reducing stress and improving general wellbeing. But it is not always so easy to maintain a healthy lifestyle in today's high-pressured world. Most people are familiar with the problem of finding time to look after themselves yet they do not know how to overcome it. The good news is that there is a way to find a healthy balance in life - all it takes is a little planning.

As part of the Government Employees Medical Scheme's (GEMS) ongoing effort to educate our members and future members on a range of healthcare topics, we would like to share real life member stories with you and explore certain important healthcare issues. This article looks at the subject of healthy living this Healthy Lifestyle Awareness Month, February 2012.

What are the basics of a healthy lifestyle?

The large quantity of information available about living a healthy lifestyle means that one of the greatest challenges is knowing what advice to follow. There are numerous different products, diets and fitness organisations that claim that they offer the key to good health. However, many of these products and services are expensive and time consuming, and they do not always provide the results that they promise.

It is therefore important to go back to the basics of good health. By starting with a simple yet solid foundation you will find it much easier to build a healthy lifestyle that works specifically for you.

The basics of a healthy lifestyle:

• Healthy diet
• Sufficient nutrients
• Regular exercise
• Reduced intake of stimulants and toxins such as cigarettes and alcohol
• Enough sleep
• Regular check-ups

Many people make the mistake of thinking that in order to have a healthy lifestyle these basics have to be strictly adhered to at all times. For most people this is impossible, which can make them lose hope of ever living healthily. However, each one of these points can gradually be included in your daily life over time with careful planning. This does not mean that your life has to focus around these basics at all times. It simply means that you find a good balance between your wellness needs and the demands in your life.

How can planning help?

Unfortunately, there is no way to instantly transform your lifestyle. It is important to plan carefully in order to successfully incorporate healthy living into your daily habits. Below is a short guide to help get you started in planning your healthy lifestyle.

Eating well

A good diet is made up of more vegetables, lean protein and water and less processed and pre-packaged foods. This does mean that you will need to spend some time preparing and cooking your food, however you can plan to slot this into your schedule in advance.

Tips:

• Buy base ingredients that you can use in various different ways throughout the week so that you only have to cook them once. For example, rice, chickpeas or beans can be used in stews, salads and soups to name but a few dishes.
• Make use of any spare time when you are cooking a main meal to prepare ingredients for other lunches or dinners in the week. Even chopping vegetables and storing them in an airtight container in the fridge can save you time when preparing certain meals later in the week.
• Freeze soups, stews and pasta sauces in small quantities that can be defrosted when you do not have time to prepare lunch or dinner.
• Don't skip breakfast if you are in a hurry. Rather make a smoothie by blending assorted and plain low fat yoghurt. You can also add muesli for a more substantial meal and a little honey for sweetness.

Exercising

Staying active is vital for good health, no matter what age you are. While many people believe otherwise, exercise can be a lot of fun if you find an activity you enjoy and that fits into your schedule.

Tips:

• Take short walks whenever you can, such as during your lunch hour. Use the stairs instead of the lift whenever you have the opportunity and try to walk as much as possible in your daily activities, such as going to the shops.
• Diarise your exercising times and find ways to exercise with friends. You will be more likely to honour your exercise appointments this way. For example, relax at the end of the day by going for a walk or run with friends or family or join a local sports club. This will help to ensure that you continue exercising and can fulfil both your fitness and leisure needs.
•  If you do not enjoy traditional exercise or sport, try something new such as dancing. Again, this can take the place of some of your other leisure activities such as watching television, and is a far healthier way to spend free time.

Check-ups

Many of us do not have the necessary medical check-ups, such as going to the dentist, the gynaecologist or urologist and any other specialist appointments that are needed. It is also important to have regular screening tests for hypertension, diabetes and weight-related conditions.

These check-ups are important as they help to detect health problems early on so that treatment can begin immediately. Some people find it difficult to make time for these check-ups, however they play a very important part in staying healthy. It can therefore be worthwhile to take a day off work for all of one's doctor's appointments. In this way you can schedule them in advance and make sure that you have them every year.

Turfing bad habits

Smoking, excessive drinking and a high intake of other stimulants such as caffeine are all very bad for your health. It can be difficult to give up these habits, however it can be done and even in this instance planning can help. Setting a date to stop smoking or a limit to how many alcoholic and caffeinated beverages you consume in a week can help to stop or manage these bad habits. It can also help to diarise this in conjunction with the starting of healthy habits such as exercising. By replacing your bad habits with good ones you are more likely to succeed than if you simply try to stop.

If you would like to know how GEMS can assist you to obtain more information about any of your healthcare needs, you can contact the GEMS call centre on 0860 00 4367 or send a SMS to 083 450 4367. GEMS will assist you in every way possible to ensure your family's health and well-being.

Sources:

Web MD - www.webmd.com

BBC - Health - www.bbc.co.uk/health

National Health Service of the United Kingdom - www.nhs.uk