by Mike Mccarthy

Created on: March 06, 2009   Last Updated: May 04, 2011

A healthy lifestyle is something we should all consider. However, this does not mean one has to go to extremes. It is very easy to improve the health factor within your current lifestyle without changing it beyond recognition. Also, small and constant change is easier to maintain than some radical adjustment, that will soon become impossible to maintain.

Adopt the principles of Kaizen, a Japanese concept for continuing change. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaizan . Although this is normally applied to commerce, there is no reason why it shouldn't be applied to a lifestyle in general.

Add elements of healthy eating into your diet. More fruit is a good start as many of us do not eat enough. The same applies to vegetables as well. Slowly introduce the additions, and the family probably won't even notice the increase. Give your kids dried fruit instead of sweets. At a very early age they will not know the difference, and enjoy raisins and sultanas as much as M&M's. You do not have to stick to the 5 a day regime, any improvement is good.

Now look towards increasing physical activity. Again, small changes. Too many rush off and sign up with a gym or health centre, pay lots of money for fees and membership, and never go. This is most likely because the change to their current lifestyle is too great initially. Go for walks, if your shops are local, walk there instead of driving. One good way to make a start is to buy a Yoga DVD or similar and introduce elements from such on a daily basis. One salute to the sun exercises every muscle in your body, but is not too strenuous as a start to the day. Don't be afraid to try this, you may find you like it, and you can do this in the privacy of your own home. So, as a beginner, nobody sees your initial efforts.

If your evening is spent sitting on the couch watching television, or, your job means you are seated for most of the day; get up and move around a little, say, once an hour. You will be surprised at how much better you feel once you start doing this.

Once you start making your little changes to your lifestyle, you will find that you become more innovative as you start to feel the effects of the changes. A mindset will start to develop and you will subconsciously look for the more healthy option.

Having started on the road to a more healthy lifestyle, you will start to feel the benefits. You will be more active, you will be less suceptible to smaller illnesses and will recover from such more quickly. You will be happier, because doing what you are doing will have an effect upon your general morale. Because you are happier, those around you will feed off this and be happier too.

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