Are you healthy? How healthy? What does it mean to be physically healthy?
Can you be at a "healthy weight" and not be healthy? Can you engage in "healthy behaviors" and not be healthy?
Are you lying to yourself about your health? What is your body telling you about your health?
Definition of Health
The World Health Organization defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
Do you meet this definition of health?
Signs and Symptoms from the Body
I believe, when it comes to health, our bodies are smarter than our brains. We may think we are healthy but our bodies may saying something different.
Our bodies send us all kinds of signs and signals about how healthy we are. Thirst, headaches, indigestion, pain, itching, rashes, colds, flu, swelling, fatigue, are just some of signs our body sends out letting us know something is wrong.
Many of us choose to ignore these signs and symptoms, treating them as annoyances, rather than powerful information designed to guide our decisions and direction. But eventually, the problems will get worse until they can no longer be ignored. How many times have you ignored your body's warning signs?
My Experience Ignoring my Body
I have ignored by body's warning signals lots of times. I've been too busy to stop for some water when thirsty and ended up with a headache. I've failed to take low back pain seriously and ended up with such severe sciatica I had to slither out of bed onto a heating pad to start my day. I've indulged in too much alcohol and suffered hang overs. I've eaten too much food and ended up bloated and miserable.
Fortunately, the excruciating pain and debilitation caused by sciatica was my wake up call. It came pretty early - in my 30s - and I chose to listen. Since then, I have learned to pay more attention to my body's signals and symptoms; and as a result suffer a lot less. I have slowed down and modified my behavior in little ways too numerous to list. It has paid off.
For the most part I'm in pretty good shape for a gal my age, but I still have one more glass of wine than I need from time to time and my body lets me know with restless sleep and morning grogginess. And if I drink to much caffeine or eat too much spicy food I get red blotchy spots on my nose and cheeks. (I love the way my body keeps me honest, even when my mind would prefer to ignore or rationalize away what works for me and what doesn't.)
Listen. Learn. Change.
*PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT Weight Watchers Zero Points fruits and vegetables using the WW Recipe Builder.
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