by Lou Belcher

Created on: February 28, 2009

Ten steps to a healthy lifestyle.

Today, a healthy lifestyle can be defined in many different ways. It's important to look at all the components and address how you can create one for you. Here are ten steps to a healthy lifestyle.

1. Weight. Take a look at your weight. Do you need to lose a few pounds? If so, what has held you back? If you've recently lost weight, are you keeping the pounds off? Become a weight manager where you implement changes to ensure that you eat in moderation. Studies have shown that weight boils down to calories. If you ensure you don't take in more calories than you burn, you will maintain a healthy weight.

2. Food. Take a look at what you eat. Even if you're at the appropriate weight, do you eat a healthy diet with treats in moderation? It's an old line, but moderation is really the key to keeping to a healthy diet. Ensure your cupboards aren't working against you. If you keep lots of non-nutritious treats in your cupboards, you will eat them. Basically, concentrate on filling your diet with great whole foods and save the treats for an occasional splurge.

3. Exercise. Evaluate your exercise or lack thereof. Do you engage in any physical activity daily? Physical activity is an important component of a healthy lifestyle because it affects several different areas. First, physical activity is important to losing and maintaining weight. Second, it helps you build and maintain muscular strength. And third, physical activity is a boost to your emotional well-being.

4. Leisure activities. Take a look at your leisure activities. Do they satisfy you and stimulate you? Are you spending your non-work time doing something meaningful and in a way that you enjoy? If not, it's time to look for some new hobbies or interests. If you want to engage with others more, look for clubs or organizations. There are multitudes of possibilities for using your leisure time, such as reading, writing, knitting, golf, tennis, walking, bird watching, sewing, scrapbooking, woodworking, etc. Save the TV for those few programs you must see and fill your spare time with something you love.

5. Relationships. Take a look at your relationships. Are they healthy and supportive? If not, attempt to resolve whatever seems to be the problem. There are many counselors who are adept at leading people through resolution of problem relationships. Don't let problems linger and poison your healthy lifestyle.

6. Career/job. Take a look at your career/job. Are you doing what you want? And,

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