Physical Health Improvement

 Good evening Superstars

I was supposed to go live on Facebook but my phone has decided to completely shut down. No problem though because fortunately my laptop is working. So, I decided to commit to the process and summarise what I wanted to say. Over the next 7 days, I promised to share some insight into how we can improve our lives by aligning the 7 areas using the formula PMESSS=F. This formula reads as “Clearing our mess in order to achieve financial freedom.” This is an acronym for overall wellness i.e. WHOLENESS . P stands for Physical health. M stands for Mental health. E stands Emotional health. S stands for Spiritual health. The second S stands for Social health. The last S stands for Sexual health. F stands for Financial freedom.

Today is a Self-Care Sunday

The first area to pay attention to is the Physical growth and development. I prefer to start here because it is easily accessible. The progress is also not as difficult to measure as that of the other areas. The focus is on the BODY and how we can use it optimally. What are some of the challenges around our body and how can we handle them. Our body is the gateway to the inner world. It connects us to our environment through our 5 senses i.e. sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste.

Some of the common bodily challenges include 1) obesity and its “best friends” (illnesses) such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular that is usually the result of genes and environment. This is in no way trying to say these diseases are always caused by being overweight. Nor suggesting that being overweight always leads to suffering from these illnesses. The research just shows that they often go together. They are often referred to as “lifestyle diseases.” Therefore, committing to weight management can mean elimination of such illnesses. The key is not to focus on the numbers on the scale but to focus on health, which is the key element of living a wholesome life. 2) physical fatigue, which may be caused by factors such as physical inactivity or stress (which will be discussed on Therapy Tuesday). 3) Skin problems which are often caused by what we eat and our environment. 4) Sleep difficulties and 5) Sexual challenges.

How To Improve Physical Health

Activities to improve your physical health may include some of the following:

1.      Consulting a medical professional. If you already suffer from a form of physical illness, the first step may be a visit to your doctor or local clinic before considering any of the following tools. Consultation with a professional will allow you to make an informed decision regarding steps forward.

2.      Physical exercise, which may be free such walking, jogging, dancing and bootcamps or subscription-based such as at the gym, with personal trainers, yoga, swimming etc. What is important here is structured movement as it serves specific purposes such as improving flexibility, muscle mass, agility, strength, burning body fat etc.  Physical exercise not only does it prevent physical illnesses by strengthening your immune system and managing weight, but it also has mental health benefits that will be discussed further on mental health day.

3.      Healthy food and drinks. There is a saying that goes, “you are what you eat.” This simply means that the food and drink we put into our bodies often show on the outside whether in terms of body weight, physical health, or skin. As Jim Rohn says, “you do not have to do a radical change. You can start with an apple a day.” Food was meant to be medicinal to our bodies. Unfortunately, the rise of fast-food outlets at every corner makes healthy eating a challenging task. Most of us grew up in homes where even though there was illness all around, healthy eating was never a topic of discussion. This can make it easy to adopt unhealthy lifestyle. However, it is not impossible to start healthy eating. It begins with a decision to take our bodies seriously and loving them enough to want to feed them the best. When people eat healthy food, eliminate unhealthy drinks such as alcoholic beverages, energy drinks, fizzy drinks and start drinking water more, the body becomes lighter, ailments disappear, and skin clears up.

4.      No Smoking. Smoking tobacco is one of the dangerous activities one can engage in. Even though smoking is a mental condition i.e. addiction, it has deadly effects on the body. Even tobacco boxes are labelled, “smoking can cause cancer.” That is self-explanatory.  The most memorable example of a person who was suffering from tobacco’s negative effects on the body had lung cancer and he was literally breathing with pipes. That was the saddest picture ever. Smoking is also said to be one of the most difficult addictions to overcome. However, with the right attitude and help from professionals, friends and family, it can be done.

5.      Skin care. Skin problems are often linked to what we consume. We can age faster due to the unhealthy food we eat or liquids we drink. Good skin is often an inside job. However, environmental factors may also contribute to skin problems such as acne, eczema etc.

6.      Fasting. Fasting is often recommended for its spiritual benefits. It is often associated with religious activities. Fasting can be a good way of “rebooting” your body. It also helps in reconnecting with one’s body. You start feeling tingles or noticing pain that you were never aware of. It is even more beneficial if you remain present by paying attention to the whole body. Body scan mindfulness activity helps a lot in being present in your body.

In conclusion healthy body can lead to a healthy mind and then a healthy soul. Understanding that it’s not so much about the numbers on the scale but about the results which are good health which leads to energy, vitality, and strength.