Whether you’re a Baby Boomer or older adult, you realize it’s time to finally take control of your wellness and fitness. After all, it’s your health journey, your quality of life, your future!
So no more procrastinating! It’s time to put a plan in place to cultivate more energy, get stronger, and live independently as long as possible.
Like all major projects, your journey starts with a blueprint, and all parts must be in place for success. I call this the 5-step SHINE system.
S–START by laying your foundation
Gain clarity on where you are, where you want to go, and how to get there. Set short- and long-term goals, develop habits for behavior change, and identify support systems.
Without this foundation, you’re just spinning your wheels, repeating past failures.
H: HARNESS the power of movement
The easiest way to start increasing your wellness is to begin decreasing sedentary behavior.
Become aware of how much you sit and build in systems to get up and get moving to feel energized, decrease the risk for chronic disease, and increase your life span.
This step is vital; sitting time is literally killing you!
I: INGEST a whole-food, plant-based diet
Decrease reliance on meat and processed foods; save money, improve the healthfulness of your diet, decrease the risk of inflammation and chronic disease.
If you continue relying on processed foods and meats, your intake of sugar, harmful fats, and sodium will threaten your independence and longevity.
N: NAVIGATE your way to cardio and strength training
Decrease the risk of falls, burn extra calories, maintain weight loss; gain strength to have the qualify life you want to live.
Without these two types of exercise, your endurance will decrease, blood fats and blood sugar will increase, and your muscle size and strength will plummet. Independent life will become impossible.
E: EMPOWER Your Continued Success
Life always happens and often gets in your way, so anticipate challenges. Ensure long-term success with systems to monitor progress, deal with roadblocks, and celebrate success.
Your wellness journey is a lifelong process, and if you ignore this step, you’ll go back to your old habits.
In the coming weeks, I’ll be detailing each step necessary for your success, beginning with S–START by laying your foundation on May 15.