Living a Healthy Lifestyle Brings Many Benefits

In my youth, I was very athletic and usually had no weight problems, but I do come from a family with many obese members, so I know where obesity comes from.  As I got into my middle years, I gained a lot of weight due to injuries and medical problems like many people do.  I hope I can help other people learn how to not only lose weight and gain many health benefits from doing so. 

Many people gain weight because of poor eating habits, such as eating for emotional reasons, like stress, boredom or anger.  Some people have medical reasons for obesity, like hypothyroidism, which is an underactive thyroid or other glandular problems or slow metabolism, and others suffer injuries.  I would never suggest to anyone that they make drastic changes to their lifestyle without checking with their doctor.  That said, I would go on a healthy lifestyle plan of which there are several online.   If finances don’t allow you to join one of these programs, there are some that are free.   There are plenty of recipes and recipe books for low fat or low sugar cooking for low cost to assist you in your healthy lifestyle available for free online. 

I first joined an online weightloss program when my doctor told me that I must lose weight because I had osteoarthritis in my knees and spine and that the weight was making the problem worse plus causing more pain.  I was able to lose 35 pounds in a little over one year; other benefits that I noticed were that my blood pressure, which had gone as high as 150s/110, began getting as low as 110/70!  Also, my cholesterol, which had gone as high as 228 began going as low as 188.  My blood sugar which had gone into the pre-diabetic range was going as low as 70s on a fasting blood sugar test.  I also had more energy. 

One of the nicest things that has happened to me is that I now really enjoy eating at least five or more fruits and vegetables, two to three nonfat milks, one or two servings of protein, two to three oils, and at least one complex carbohydrate serving each day; this has also improved my complexion, and my hair is shinier.  With increasing my activity by walking daily and doing yoga for a half hour at least twice a week, I’m more flexible and have more energy!  I used to need a nap every day ever since I had a serious car accident many years ago, but now it’s rare that I need a nap.  I am in my mid-fifties and semi-retired.  I am a published writer, and I love to cook and bake healthy recipes, enjoy photography, actively belong to a volunteer crochet/knit group which donates baby’s blankets and outfits to new moms and their newborn babies at the two local hospitals, and enjoy long walks with my husband, Tim, as well as garden with him.  The US government has a food pyramid that you can find if you use a search engine online too.  Don’t let lack of funds keep you from improving your health—it’s too important!  Life is too short, and you can even go to your local library to obtain low fat, low sugar cookbooks and healthy lifestyle books as well as request them from your library online.  I truly hope that everyone in the US fights obesity in their loved ones and friends by spreading the word that you should be eating healthy to lead a long and healthy life!