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3. A Positive Attitude and Healthier Lifestyle

By murray | May 25, 2009

It is now a well-accepted fact in the medical profession that in order to remain healthy,  physically fit, and to be energetic every day, you need to participate in a regular exercise program.  In addition to regular exercise, you should  also hpt-jiminclude proper nutrition and adequate rest in your daily routine if you hope to remain healthy.  Another component that is equally important to maintaining your health is having a positive mental attitude toward yourself.  Positive thinking leads to positive action which improves your self-esteem and continues the cycle towards a healthier and more productive you.  Maintaining a positive mental attitude and believing in yourself are especially important when you are starting a new exercise program.

It is very important to realize that the type of exercise necessary to improve your health and physical fitness differs greatly from the amount of exercise required by a trained athlete to excel at their sport.  In nearly any sport it is common to find athletes who over-train because their competition demands high intensity training to achieve success.  But this is not necessary for someone whose goal is to improve their appearance, physical fitness, and/or health.l  Thus, for the majority of people beginning and exercise program, the key is to start slowly and work at moderate intensity to gradually achieve your goals.

There are many obvious lifestyle changes that you can make to improve your health, such as not smoking, eating properly and improving your stress management.  In addition, there are many simple lifestyle changes that can also make you healthier which involve becoming more physically active in your every day routine.  You can walk or cycle to work or the store rather than driving, or even get off the bus one or two stops early and walk the rest of the way home. Another way to increase your daily physical activity is by climbing the stairs rather than taking the elevator.  Every little bit helps;  doing anything that makes you more physically active will add to your regular exercise program and improve your health.

Since "being healthy" means different things to different people, everyone should establish their own individual fitness and exercise goals.  These goals should be discussed with your Hamilton Personal Trainer.  A balanced fitness program should include cardiovascular exercise to maintain the health of your heart and lungs, as well as weight training exercises to strengthen your bones and tone your muscles.  In addition, stretching exercises should be included in your fitness program in order to maintain the flexibility of your muscles and to reduce the chance of injury.

Leslie Wade

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