Not everyone can say they live a healthy lifestyle and trips to the local burger joint or supermarket for cigarettes may be on the mind of many. Fortunately, there are a number of simple steps you can take to lead a more healthy and active lifestyle for you and your family.
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Get Annual Check Ups
Before implementing a plan toward eating right and exercising, you want to visit your primary care physician for an annual examination. This will allow a doctor to make sure you don't have any health risks, and you can prevent any issues from becoming a larger concern. Preventive medicine comes with an annual check-up and should include an all-over examination and a series of blood tests. For those with limited coverage or without health insurance, an online health lab can help with finding a screening for annual check-up, drug testing, cancer screening and many other services available at reasonable rates.
With these services, a patient will fill out an order form online or by phone. They will then receive a confirmation by email with a form that they will print out and take to a local lab to get the testing performed. The patient will be contacted by a doctor within a day or so with the results. This testing process is inexpensive, thus making it affordable to get a series of tests done annually to be able to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Following a healthy diet doesn't mean you can't enjoy a cookie or glass of alcohol in moderation. Individuals who consume a diet rich in fiber, fruits, vegetables, whole-grains, low-fat dairy, and lean protein a majority of the week can still indulge. Working in the occasional treats can also prevent binging.
Quit Smoking
Smokers have an increased chance of heart disease, stroke, cancer and other critical health conditions. Smoking can also shorten your life span significantly and cause your loved ones to suffer needlessly from second hand smoke. There are a number of treatment options that can help an individual quit such as hypnosis, the patch, gum and electronic cigarettes.
Keep a Healthy Weight
Yo-yo dieting can cause your weight to fluctuate, especially if it increases and decreases significantly. Try to maintain a healthy weight by weighing yourself weekly. When you see it begin to rise by a pound or two, you know to tweak your caloric intake a bit. Obesity has been linked to a variety of illnesses that include kidney disease, cancer, heart attack, stroke and more. There are a number of resources that make it easy for you to determine the number of calories you need to consume based on your activity level, size and age.
Exercise
In order to maintain a healthy weight, you need to get a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise each day. Staying active not only helps keep the pounds from creeping on, it can also reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes. You can begin with little steps, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking your car far away from the doorway and walking at lunch time. Finding an activity that holds your interest can generate a passion for fitness. Enlist the help of family and friends by choosing activities that you can share.
Promoting a healthy lifestyle can be done to set a good example for your children. It can also be a means for helping you live a longer life. However, most individuals do it because it makes them feel good and helps them achieve the right amount of balance in their life.
About author: Health enthusiast, Lisa Coleman, shares some basic knowledge to encourage steps towards leading a healthier lifestyle. With the right fundamentals and convenience of online, low-cost health labs, that provide basic testing from a screening for annual check-up to a much wider range of specific testing, it is easier to lead a healthier life.