Since today is my 44th birthday, the only thing I can think of to write about is getting old. In my mind and my heart I still feel like I am 30, but I must admit that my body sometimes tells me otherwise. I have a nagging lower back ache that tells me when I have done too much, my knees just aren’t the same, and I have been trying to lose the same 10 pounds for about a million years. So I keep on trying to eat healthy meals and walk 3 miles a day and add in an occasional hike, 15-mile bike ride, and game of golf to stay young and have fun.
We all know what we are supposed to do to stay healthy and fit and young, but we often forget about our health in the course of our busy lives. This will just be a quick reminder of the things you should be doing to treat that wonderful, amazing, complex body of yours in the best way that you can!
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Much of the illness, disability, and death associated with chronic disease is avoidable through known prevention measures. Key measures include practicing a healthy lifestyle (e.g., regular physical activity, healthy eating, and avoiding tobacco use) and the use of early detection practices (e.g., screening for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers, diabetes and its complications, and depression).”
This week I challenge you to think about how well you are participating in your own disease prevention and healthy lifestyle. Pick one thing this week to improve upon, whether it be diet, exercise, making an appointment for a physical, or doing something to relieve stress. Set some new goals. Feel great knowing that you have done something to stay young and healthy. And we can’t forget that often healthy body equals healthy mind! When we feel good physically, we feel better mentally as well.
Have a great week! Be healthy, and do something to make you feel like a kid again. I am going to carve a pumpkin, and try really hard not to eat all of the candy I bought for the trick-or-treater’s!
By Cindy Glewwe, Health Science Curriculum Coordinator