Originally published July 12 2005
Overcoming barriers to good health
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Mayo Clinic Patient Educator and Wellness Expert Jon Giese says the key to getting healthy is overcoming five barriers - nutrition, weight management, strength and flexibility, cardiovascular exercise and stress reduction - by listing pros and cons and setting goals.
Fad diets, the latest exercise craze, even diet pills.
These weight loss quick fixes may sound good, but there's no short cut to getting healthy.
It's all about eating right and exercising.
But what if you don't like broccoli or hate breaking a sweat?
There's a new way to get even the biggest junk food-loving couch potato healthy.
How did Cathy Mestad, a ex 3-pack a day smoker, who ate whatever she wanted, and loathed exercise.
Mestad says, "Hated it with a passion.
Wind up pumping iron with a smile on her face?
Mayo Clinic Patient Educator and Wellness Expert Jon Giese says the idea is, Giese says, "One good behavior tends to be a catalyst to another."
Giese says there are five barriers you need to overcome to get healthy: Nutrition, weight management, strength and flexibility, cardiovascular exercise and stress reduction.
If you start by knocking down any one of these barriers, the others will tumble more easily.
Giese says, "Eating better leads to feeling better and feeling like you've succeeded.
First, write down the pros and cons of change.
Write them down and tell someone about them.
Then, choose the step that's easiest to fit into your life.
Maybe it's nutrition - make a grocery list and plan a healthy menu.
Or maybe it's meditating to reduce stress.
That led to cardiovascular exercise, which lead to eating better, then weight loss and eventually, reduced stress.
Mestad says, "A lifestyle that makes me feel good about myself."
Now, she's enjoying the benefits of hard work made easier by adopting a Get Fit philosophy.
For more ideas, watch the HealthBeat special "Lose to Win" on July 5th at 6:30pm CST on KELOLAND-TV.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml