Getting and Staying Fit and Healthy

?Good health is easier to maintain than to regain, once lost.? ? Dr. Ken Cooper

Since it?s the New Year, and I just KNOW you?re on a path to better health, fitness and overall wellness, I?m going to tell you in just 5 steps the cold hard truth about everything you need to know to get and stay fit and healthy for the coming year, as well as the rest of your life.

Ready? Here we go?

Step #1 ? Eat & Drink Well

If you?re really serious about making some long term changes to the quality of your overall health, fitness, wellness and life, stop eating and drinking garbage, to include junk food, sweets, processed crap and calorie laden drinks.

If you?re not serious, keep it up.

Step #2 ? Exercise Some

I?m going to let you in on a little secret?I?m not really a fan of regular kick butt, knock your socks off, heart pounding, on the edge of puking workouts.

?Uncle Steve?surely you jest!?

Nope. It?s true?and here?s why: you can?t maintain that level of intensity for any appreciable length of time and remain healthy and well. Yea, you may be somewhat physically fit, but if your joints ache, or you?re constantly sore, or mentally drained?what good is it?

And, let?s be honest, if you?re not willing to follow through with Step #1 and eat a clean diet, why exercise hard to begin with? Remember my mantra?

You cannot out train a crappy diet!

Smarter and shorter training sessions (think HIIT), performed more consistently with greater intensity will take you further down the road in terms of a lean physique, longetivity, freedom from pain and good overall physical fitness anyway.

Step #3 ? Recovery

In order to train smarter and harder of a consistent basis, you must recover from the previous training session(s). That is accomplished through several methods, to include:

• Good nutrition (sound familiar?)
• Sleep
• Stretching
• Massage/Foam Rolling
• Other hands on modalities like chiropractic or acupuncture

Of all of these recovery techniques, the first two are primary to overall success. Food is the fuel for recovery, and sleep is the vehicle which makes the transition successful. Do your level best to get the most from both.

Daily stretching and foam rolling are excellent tools for keeping the body supple, lithe and mobile. A ?hands on? massage is also a great recovery tool, but because of the expenditure is often not sought and/or utilized as often as it should be.

Step #4 ? Relaxation

Relaxation is a form of recovery, but is geared more to the mental aspect of good overall health and wellness. Relaxation can take many forms like:

• Reading
• Watching a movie
• Listening to music
• A drive through the country
• Spending time talking with friends

Basically it is anything you think of when the term ?relaxation? is used.

Step #5 ? Fun

You may not be a kid anymore, but that doesn?t mean you can?t, or shouldn?t, have fun.

Fun is an essential part of a healthy life. Fun is just what it says it is?stuff that is fun for YOU to do.

For me, fun is fishing or hunting with my wife, family or outdoor buddies. It?s working with my hands on a lathe making something from a piece of wood. It?s writing an article.

What do you consider fun?

Is it a hobby? An activity? Time with family?

Whatever it is, spend a little more time doing that. That is, if you?re serious about being truly fit, healthy and well.

Wishing you a great 2013, and beyond.

Steve

Tag: 5 Steps, Better Health, Cold Hard Truth, Consistent Basis, Dr Ken, Fitness Wellness, Freedom From Pain, Good Health, Good Nutrition, Health Fitness, Junk Food, Ken Cooper, Lean Physique, Modalities, Physical Fitness, Rest Of Your Life, Staying Fit, Term Changes, Training Session, Workouts

Source: http://www.firestormfitcamps.com/2013/01/09/getting-and-staying-fit-and-healthy/

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