What is Healthy Living?

This is something that is so commonly said, but often undefined. I thought I would take a stab at how we view it at CPP.

Eating foods that have a high nutrient density – You are what you eat is overused and true. Let’s start with a concept I got from Precision Nutrition, nutrient density is the ratio of the good stuff in food versus the calories in that food. One end of the spectrum would be veggies and the other would be donuts. Food needs to supply more than energy to properly support physical health. Vitamins and minerals that come from whole food sources are better utilized than from a pill.

When someone follows this they are getting the majority of calories from whole foods instead of processed alternatives. This will result in better physical health, improve body composition, and increase energy levels.

Move everyday – For every hour spent sitting spend an hour on your feet being active. This can be tough for office workers, but even more important. The human body is not made to sit in a chair all day. Physical activity in general becomes harder from the whole body tightness that sitting creates. Get on your feet and fight it.

Moving more can help you be happy. I am thoroughly convinced people who get up and do something are generally in a better mood than those who don’t. The improved blood flow and endorphins have a large role in this. Activity in general helps clear the head and reduce stress levels. So find something enjoyable and do it!

Being able to clear your mind – People worry, stress, mull things over; all this is normal. However, when it becomes constant it can negatively effect wellbeing. Some people meditate. Others have hobbies that allow them to be focused enough to temporarily forget everything else. For me working out, specifically lifting has been this. When I am working hard enough or that there is enough weight on the bar, for that moment nothing else exists.

When contemplating a problem, it is easy to get stuck. Being able to pull out of this even if only momentarily is important. Exercise, meditate, stare at a wall; anything that will get you out of your own head for a short time can do wonders. The anxiety from not being able to do this will often be a trigger for our bad habits.

Having something that you are passionate about – For a lucky few a passion can be a profession, but if this isn’t you that is perfectly fine. A job can just be a means to an end. This would allow someone to support themselves and still follow a passion. The great lie about following your passion to pick a career has caused much unnecessary stress.

Having something that you love and can put full energy into is part of the human experience. Shutting off that fountain of inspiration can make your worl

d gray. It’s ok if that passion changes. The things that we love as children don’t often retain the same meaning as adults. But find something. And to those that struggle to find one, the search is just part of the experience.

Having people to share positive experiences with – Humans are social animals. Being able to share the above experiences can make every one of them better.

Thanks for reading. I’m sure that there can be more said about each one, but this is a quick take on how we view healthy living.