Five Ways To Stay Healthy

This one's for you, R.C. What's it mean to live healthy? How can I keep healthy? Well, here's five things according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that you and I can do to live a healthy life.

FIRST: Eat Healthy. Pick and choose healthy foods. If you're like me, I admit it, I DO NOT eat enough fruits! I don't know what it is about fruit, maybe the texture, but I do not eat enough. I try to have a piece of fruit every afternoon while at work, but that sometimes is my entire fruit intake. I have had people at work say to me, "You are so good about what you eat," when they see me eat my ONE piece of fruit, and I admittedly state that I do not eat enough fruit and I need to eat more.

SECOND: Get Active. Get moving 30 minutes or more a day. You don't have to join a gym or take an aerobic class, but you do have to move! Walk! What a cheap exercise. Park the car further away from the door when you go to the store and WALK! Take 15 minutes at lunch and WALK! Take another 15 minutes before or after work, and WALK! Get off your duff to get the fat off your duff!

THIRD: Get Screened. Take the time for that annual physical exam and follow up with the necessary screenings. As uncomfortable as some tests may seem, it will definitely be alot more comfortable than a serious illness if things aren't taken care of soon enough. I'm sure we have all talked to, or know someone, that did not have that colonoscopy done and then when there were concerns, it was quite scary!

FOURTH: Quit smoking! "My father smoked for years, and nothing ever happened to him. He lived to be 80!" I hear it all the time! Let's face it: NOTHING GOOD COMES FROM SMOKING! Smoking is the leading cause of heart disease! Smoking causes cancer and all kinds of other ailments. Just because you've been lucky so far, why play with fire? Sure! If you play Russian Roulette, you might not get a bullet in your head, but why take the risk when you don't have to?

FIFTH: Watch your weight! No pills or easy exercise is going to take off the pounds! The way to loose weight: burn more calories than you take in! Only way around it. Either eat less or move more, hopefully a combination of both.

Living healthy is not something I try to do to live longer. I know my quality of life is enhanced by staying healthy. I have more energy when I exercise and I feel a whole lot better. Believe me, I'm not the perfect example of good health, but I am trying!