The physical dimension of wellness is the ability to adapt practices in one’s life that will help achieve a healthier physical well-being.

Practices involved in the physical dimension of wellness include:

• EXERCISE
• SLEEP AND RECOVERY
• TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF ILLNESS
• NUTRITION
• SUBSTANCE ABUSE AVOIDANCE

EXERCISE

Getting proper exercise in your life does not have to be complicated. The social norm is to join a gym to achieve physical wellness. However, joining a gym may not always be a wise choice if you are like many who end up not going shortly after the “I got to get in shape” New Years resolution wears off. There are definite benefits to exercise, such as, cardiovascular health,  reduced stress levels, and achieving balanced hormone levels in the body. If you want to incorporate physical exercise into your life, always consult with your doctor first. Doing something is better than doing nothing. If you are starting out, walking is a good way to get physical exercise. Park the car a little further each time when at the supermarket, or mall. Take brief walks during the day, or take the stairs instead of the elevator at work. Every step forward will make a difference in your physical well-being. If you do decide to get a gym membership to lift weights or to do various cardio workouts, doing the right type of exercises with proper technique and intensity on a consistent basis is key to achieving results. It is a good practice to seek advice from a certified personal trainer, especially if you are starting out, to develop a workout program that is specifically tailored for you that will yield consistent results. Starting off the right way is critical to progressing faster and achieving your physical gains. People always want things that are easy. When things get hard, they end up quitting. Isn’t your health worth investing your time and energy into?

SLEEP AND RECOVERY

Sleep is an underrated practice that is vital to your overall well-being. We need sleep to recharge our mind and body. Sleep allows our body to repair and regenerate our internal organs, and keeps our immune system and hormone levels in check. Recommendation of the amount of restful sleep one should have on a daily basis ranges from 7-9 hrs. However, people rarely get the appropriate amount of sleep on a daily basis. Instead they use stimulates found in coffee, tea and energy drinks, to compensate for sleeping less. There is always a work around but in the end, the shortcuts in life will catch up to anyone, especially if you continue depriving yourself of sleep. People will religiously charge their cell phone at night to ensure it has a full charge in the morning. Would your leave your home with a 50% charge on your phone and feel good about it? So why do we not make a conscious effort to charge our body to 100% by getting the proper rest?

TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF ILLNESS

Another practice that ties into the physical dimension of wellness is the treatment and prevention of illness. With the advances in modern medicine, there are evolving forms of treatment and prevention of illnesses that are leaps and bounds from what they were a century ago. However, many of us are too lazy or too afraid to get medical treatment for an irregularity of one’s body or mind.  Make it a habit to be in tune with your physical health and listen to your body; if it is telling you something is not right, get checked out by a medical practitioner. Follow your medical practitioner’s treatment advice as they are the experts and know best. Don’t you owe it to yourself to be the healthiest version you can be?

NUTRITION

Proper nutrition is a vital part for living a healthier lifestyle, but eating healthy can be a tall order for many. We live in a day and age where convenience is the mother of all evil. We are programmed from an early age to want things that are quick and easy to obtain. The large food corporations know this and have mastered the processed food industry because it is more profitable than selling foods that are natural and healthier for human consumption.  If you look at the ingredients on the back and cannot pronounce it, then how natural of a food is it really? Understandably, it can be very difficult to not eat some form of processed food since processed foods are far more readily available and can often be less expensive to buy. But, if you take the time to determine the amount of quality nutrients you are in fact consuming from processed foods, you will be surprised how little nutrients you are providing your body. Eliminating processed food from your diet will go a long way to living a healthier life. An excellent resource for information about nutrition is the Canada Food Guide which has recently been updated. Isn’t the quality of the “fuel” you put into your body worth a second look?

DIET

When it comes to dieting, there are many that are currently trending, such as the Mediterranean, Ketogenic, and Paleo diet. Always consult with your doctor to determine what type of diet would be best suited for you, as these types of diets can sometimes be harmful to one’s body if it is not administered properly. However, the simple truth of dieting is the age-old fact that calories in equals calories out. As a guide to determine your daily caloric intake there are calorie calculators online that you can use as a starting point. If you consume food in which your daily caloric intake equals your daily maintenance calories, your weight will stay the same. If you consume foods that contain daily total calories that are less than your maintenance calories, you will lose weight and visa versa. It is best to ensure your daily nutritional intake include the following group of essential nutrients. Protein, Carbohydrates, fats, minerals, vitamins and water.

Try to eat foods as close to it’s raw form as possible, limit processed foods and use the calories in equals calories out philosophy to structure your diet.  The investment of incorporating proper nutrition into your daily lifestyle is well worth the time and effort.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE AVOIDANCE

The last area one should focus on to achieve optimal physical wellness is to abstain from using harmful substances such as tobacco, drugs and alcohol. Harmful substances such as these, can have detrimental and irreversible effect on one’s well-being. Why do people smoke, drink alcohol or use drugs in the first place? Perhaps for some, it all started with peer pressure at an early age with the need to fit into a social group. Or it is a habit that was formed because of one’s surroundings, such as influence from parents or siblings. But, more often than not, people resort to drugs and alcohol in order to cope with life’s challenges. Using harmful substances only masks the pain and problems. A better approach is to recognize that there is an underlying issue to the problem and to consult with a medical specialist to resolve the issue permanently. Getting professional help to address your problems is the courageous thing one can do to avoid going down that dark path of substance abuse. Do you not deserve to take control of your own life?

CONCLUSION

To achieve a optimal physical dimension of wellness, incorporating exercise into your life is a must and should be a habitual daily course of action. Getting the proper rest to recharge your body and mind is crucial to function at an optimal level. As well, the ability to be aware of how your body is feeling and recognizing any pain points or abnormalities in your physical well-being is key to a healthier lifestyle. Take action and consult with a medical specialist for treatment and prevention of illnesses. In addition, proper nutrition is an important practice, as food is what fuels the body and mind. Lastly, avoid using harmful substances in your life. Find the root cause of your pain and take the steps to resolve it. Incorporating these physical wellness practices in your life will allow you to achieve a better quality of life.

DISCLAIMER

Please note that the information provided and other related web properties are for informational purposes only. This information is not advice and should not be treated as medical advice. Refer to Disclaimer section for full details