02 Feb 7 PILLARS OF HEALTH – THERE’S MORE TO IT THAN FOOD AND TRAINING
When people think of health they usually think of one’s diet and exercise regime. Health is actually an all-encompassing lifestyle made up of many different segments. At The Chief Life we have created our 7 pillars of health that we focus on with each of our customers to help set them up for long lasting success.
NUTRITION/FOOD/NOURISHMENT (including limiting alcohol):
You may have heard the saying that you are what you eat, but you are actually what you digest and absorb. Food provides us the essential micronutrients needed for our bodies to perform optimally, poor quality food choices mean that we are not getting enough nutrients into our bodies and some processes begin to falter resulting in illness, injury, weight gain/loss etc. Don’t skimp on food, the debt collector will come.
TRAINING/EXERCISE/ACTIVITY:
We are not designed to sit at a desk for 8 hours or more a day. We need to be moving, walking, exercising in some way. Movement keeps us strong and able to perform daily tasks like carrying shopping, rearranging furniture, picking up children. Exercise also releases endorphins (the thing that makes you happy) and can take a load off a bad day at work. Remember that if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it so keep those bones and muscles strong for a longer life of independence.
SLEEP:
Sleep is the time to rest, repair, recover and regenerate. Sleeping 5-6 hours a night isn’t enough time to recharge. At least 1/3 of our day should be spent sleeping and the other 2/3 can be for working and playing. Poor sleep hygiene means you’re more likely to make poorer judgements, crave things like sugar for that pick me up when you hit that afternoon crash, and retain more body fat. Find out more about the importance of sleep at http://thechieflife.com/tcl-podcast-ep-75/
STRESS MANAGEMENT/MINDSET:
When we stress we throw everything out of alignment. Our bodies cannot process foods optimally, our sleep may be interrupted, and our cortisol levels are raised super high. Our mindset is truly the power between whether we can, or we can’t and also the key to our limiting beliefs. Find things to do that make you happy and reduce your stress (note high intensity training is not something that will reduce your stress levels). Surround yourself with people that are positive and can help keep you motivated and on the right path.
HYDRATION:
We all know hydration is key but we still are nourishing those cells. Drinking enough water keeps the cells plumped up and juicy, too little water dries them up and leaves them shriveled and tough. Many cells are transporters within our bodies so keep them full and plump and dewy so that they can slide on through. Drink at least 60% of your bodyweight in ounces of only water as a liquid per day as a base support.
VITAMIN D/SUNSHINE/OUTSIDE TIME:
Vitamin D is absolutely essential for our brain, bones, heart, muscles, immune system and more. One key way to obtain vitamin D is via the sun. Here in Australia we have plenty of sun and, yet we are still a country that is highly deficient in the Vitamin. Make the time to get outside for 20-30 minutes a day
BREATHING:
Breathing/Meditation helps calm the nervous system. We live these crazy and busy lives today and are always on the go. Stopping to take deep diaphragmatic breaths will allow your body to calm (get out of that fight or flight mode) and allow digestion along with many other processes to do their magic.
