Most real change comes with time, consistency and focus.
According to Harvard.edu: "Chronic diseases —including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer— account for some of the most common health problems in the United States, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Yet many of these chronic diseases are preventable, as they’re linked to poor diet and lifestyle choices including tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, and inadequate physical activity.
The CDC reports some sobering statistics about Americans:
Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability.
70% of annual deaths are due to chronic diseases.
These preventable conditions not only compromise quality of life, they add to rising health care costs—75% of our health care dollars are devoted to treat these diseases.
Among adults ages 20 to 74, diabetes remains the leading cause of kidney failure, blindness, and non-traumatic lower-extremity amputations."
But daily commitment to exercise, healing foods requires purpose. And, Abstinence from those habits/foods that are our personal or collective kryptonite isn't particularly sexy. Nonetheless, we could feel better, live longer and experience more joy and serenity by implementing changes in our diet and lifestyle. #1. Drink ENOUGH WATER #2. Get ENOUGH SLEEP #3. REMOVE added SUGAR from our diet. #4. CONSUME a diet rich in FRESH FRUITS and VEGETABLES. #5. MOVE YOUR BODY AND CHALLENGE YOUR STRENGTH AND AGILITY, But how do we stick to these commitments when the it is so hard to see immediate improvement? First of all, I highly recommend looking for the small wins. Eating healthy should taste good. It should be pleasing to your body and soul. Exercising, getting enough sleep and drinking enough water should lead to immediate improvement to the quality and level of your energy. I also invite you to consider the metaphor of the stone cutter: The stone cutter hits the giant stone with her hammer and spike. One that first hit there is no visible result. She hammers again and again always with the same intensity, still nothing. On the 97th hit, nothing, 98th, nothing, on the 99th hit the stone splits in two. Ask yourself, "which hit was it that broke the stone?" Was it the 1st or second? the 30th, 50, 97th or the 99th? Of course the answer is that the result came on the 99th but that it was the cumulative result of all 99 hits that broke the stone. So let's take a moment to flip the script on the concepts of perseverance and dedication. Maybe they're sexy after all. Look to the stone cutters and those who understand that the result is through repetition rather than a magic snapping of the fingers or swallowing of a pill. The unfolding through consistent implementation over time is much more the truth of nature, which is the field of disease and health after all.
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