Good Healthy Habits You Need To Start Immediately

Change the bad habits and make the good, healthy habits

We all have bad habits. Some of them are due to laziness, or we plain hate the thought of giving up those bad things we love so much. Or maybe it wasn't a bad habit at some point, but it has now become one. However, no matter what the bad habit is, it's challenging to gain control of and change it.. But the bottom line is they are called bad habits for a reason. They are bad for us!

Change is hard. Hard. We tell ourselves that we will do better. But it's a struggle even to get started. I can tell you that change is no more comfortable when you realize you have no choice but to break certain bad habits for the sake of your good health. Sometimes we have no choice in the matter. We must change. Our health and our doctor tell us that change is necessary.

So why do we keep putting off making the necessary changes? What stops us from creating those new habits that we need and ditching those bad habits that are oh so bad for us?

The answer is that the bad habits have become such a regular part of our daily lives. We do them automatically without much thought. They are ingrained into our daily routine. And it will require readjusting and changing certain habits.

Having had a heart attack recently, I want to encourage everyone to take a good look at their lifestyle. Don't put off changing your bad habits for good habits. Get consistent with living healthier.

My list of essential good habits for your health would be the following-

Smoking is one of the worst habits we can take up. I adopted that habit when I was very young and stupid. But I also smartened up years ago and dropped it.

So, as one of the worst habits to have, I say to you, drop that smoking habit. Although I dropped it several years ago, I wish I had stopped it much sooner. Or better yet, never started smoking.

Smokers reach for a cigarette after a meal or with a cup of coffee. When I was a smoker, I would grab my cigarettes before making a phone call. Yes, it was a habit.

So, to help in dropping the smoking habit, you have to replace it with something else. So maybe when the phone rings, you grab your coffee minus the cigarettes. Or your water bottle. Most of us don't consume enough water. Keep mints or gum handy as a substitute for cigarettes.

Exercise is another vital habit to have.

Setting small goals sometimes helps. For example, instead of going all-in on establishing a full-blown exercise program, why not just make your goal something simple? How about I will start walking for 20 minutes every day. That doesn't sound nearly so intimidating. And even better, it sounds like something that you can easily accomplish.

And once you have achieved that goal, add another doable fitness goal. Add more time to your daily walking. Then add some push-ups, sit-ups, and some weight training.

Exercise is so vital to our health. Engage in daily cardio to help strengthen your heart. It also gives you more energy.. You will not regret incorporating exercise into your daily routine.

Regular Doctor appointments-Get in the habit of scheduling your annual doctor appointments. That one is easy for me. My primary care physician's office will call and schedule an appointment for me. It appears that we are required to have an annual check-up with our primary care physician to remain their patient.

Never doubt the importance of keeping your yearly doctor visit. Take the time to make the appointment and then go. It is for your good. Ask questions and always inform the doctor if you are experiencing any health issues. No matter if you think they are no big deal. Pick up any referrals you may need. I always get one for my yearly mammogram.

Healthy eating is crucial to your overall well-being. Diets high in sugar can lead to elevated triglycerides, increased blood sugar levels, and hypertension. Too much sugar can increase your chances of heart disease. And too much sugar can also cause joint pain. These are things we want to avoid as we age.

Drop that habit of eating an overabundance of junk food. Yes, I know all too well how hard it is to give up that sugary fattening stuff. It is not easy. However, I am working on it and making progress. Allow yourself one of your favorite treats occasionally, but always in moderation.

And then there is the issue of sodium. Stay low-key when it comes to the use of salt. Less is better. Experiment with other spices. Avoid processed foods that contain a lot of salt.

And then we get to the fat in our diets: the good fats and the bad fats.

The bad fats are essentially the fat in all the foods we love the most.

Trans fats are found in all those gooey, delicious, sugary baked goods we love to consume. And they are also found in fried foods, such as French fries. Yes, we need to cut these out or, at the very least, reduce them. Limit them!

The saturated fats might not be as bad, but they are still harmful and can cause our bad LDL cholesterol to rise.

And that means limiting the amount we eat of ice cream, cheese, beef, and butter, to name just a few of the popular foods that contain a lot of saturated fat.

I am by no means an expert on healthy living. I am learning as I go, and believe me, it's slow going. Will I ever be living a 100% healthy life? No, probably not. But I am aiming for at least 75%-80%. I am not sure the cardiologist would agree, but it would be a significant improvement.

I realize that most cardiologists would strongly encourage a whole-foods diet. But I have to be realistic. That's not me. But who knows, maybe one day.

I think I would be setting myself up for failure if I were to commit to a total plant-based diet right now. Right now, I don't see myself never eating a slice of pizza or having some ice cream, and yes, even an occasional steak. But, as I said, maybe someday. However, I am paying more attention to the kinds and amounts of fat in the foods I eat. I aim to reduce my intake of sugar and salt. It's a journey.

I urge everyone to take control of their health. Engage in daily exercise and maintain a healthy diet rich in vegetables and fruits. Please don't put it off. Start now. Get informed.

Your heart will thank you for choosing a healthy lifestyle. .

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