“Health” has been on my mind lately. I feel sad that so many of us have based health on nearly exclusively size/weight. There are so many other categories that comprise your/my/our overall health. In my opinion and for example:
- Quality of sleep. If you are not getting enough or quality-enough sleep, you will probably not feel so great or healthy. [br] [br]
- Energy. Do you have enough of it to greet your day and all the demands you encounter throughout it? [br] [br]
- Enjoyment/satisfaction in life. If you are not enjoying life, food, etc., how healthy are you? [br] [br]
- Variety of foods. Different foods offer different nutrients. I often tell clients that lots of natural color on a plate can be an easy way to know you are likely getting a variety of nutrients. [br] [br]
- Relationships. Are your human connections feeling fulfilling and meaningful for the most part? Of course, there can be tricky times, but overall, are your relationships adding to your life in a positive way? And if you feel you don’t have enough relationships, what might you do to grow more of them? [br] [br]
- Balance of work and relaxation. If you are someone who works a lot, is there a balance of relaxation and recharging yourself? And vice versa. [br] [br]
- Actual markers of wellness such as laboratory work. Skipping the weight piece, how are your test results? If you don’t feel good about them, what might you want to do? Of course you can choose to do nothing, or you can choose to try and fix or improve whatever is out of balance. Respectfully, you do have the choice. [br] [br]
- Mental wellness. Our mental state greatly contributes to an overall sense of being and feeling well. How’s your head and heart? [br] [br]
- Movement (AKA “exercise”). Exercise is a tricky word as it can feel punishing or “I have to”-ish. If you enjoy whatever you do that incorporates strength and/or movement, then you are more likely to sustain it. Why? Because it’s pleasurable. [br] [br]
- Receiving medical care. If you aren’t keeping up with your medical care, your health may become compromised, and you may or may not know it on the way. [br] [br]
And what else can you think of that contributes to your health and feelings of wellness? [br] [br]
Health is about so much more than any number on a scale or a chart. [br] [br]
If you would like to read about a more official and scientific approach to health, one that doesn’t focus on weight, please check out Health at Every Size® (HAES) principles. [br] [br]
