What does it mean to be truly “healthy?”

I want to chat to you about what it truly means to be healthy. There’s physical health and there’s mental health. I believe they are joined at the hip and you cannot sustainably have one without the other.

There are tons of diet & workout challenges that completely ignore their impact on mental health, pushing your body too hard or restricting calories can just leave you miserable, flat, moody and you give up because any results just aren’t worth the decline in your mental health.

On the other hand there is alot of “self-care” cultrue that really discourages you from looking after your physical health. Such as frequently skipping physical activities, self-soothing through difficult situations with alcohol or over-eating sweets, excessive take-away to remove the burden of cooking… When really you aren’t addressing the underlying issue / reaction you’re having to a certain circumstance in your life.

There are lots of things we can do to bring the physical and mental health pillars together (I can help) to strive towards good health at the same time.

What can borrow from my physical health tool kit that can help my mental health?

For example, good balanced nutrition (of course I was going to say that right?)

Eating the right macronutrient balance for you not only helps with body composition (fat loss, muscle gain) but it also helps with hormone production, stable moods and there’s a scientifically proven link between good gut bacteria and good mental health.

If we start to think about how one side of health can help the other you will come out on top with a fantastic “happy-healthy” life that is sustainable and enjoyable.

Here’s 4 other habits that support BOTH physical and mental health you can implement today:

1. Move your body regularly
   In a way you enjoy. It could be a walk, a little hula hooping at home or kicking a ball around with the kids/grandkids.
   Alongside building muscle, increasing metabolism, improving your cardiovascular system and calorie buring, physical activity (particularly outdoors) is proven to reduce stress, release dopamine (happy hormones). It’s also a great way to feel as sense of accomplishment (even when your day has turned to sh*t). Regular movement can also help you sleep better (which will improve anyone’s mood!). The list goes on…
   

2. Drink minimum 2L plain water daily
   Of course water helps our bodies function well but water is vital for brain function. A dehydrated brain = poor concentration, irritability and more fun side effects like those.
   

3. Stress management
   Its a no brainer that less stress helps mental health but did you know high levels of cortisol in your system causes your body to store more belly fat :/ It sounds like a strange response but it’s an age old response that in our cave days that in times of high stress often meant an uncertain food source so storing extra fat was a built-in survival tactic.

4. Go to bed 15 mins earlier
   It’s a simple one but most people find it a challenge. The benefits of switching off and getting to bed even 15mins earlier can be significant. It helps you start creating a better habit around sleep and feeling well-rested helps with energy which decreases sweet cravings and a better mood too.

   I hope you can find at least one of these “double-win” habits to implement right away! Thanks for reading. If you feel I would be a good fit to help you on your health journey, get in touch! I’d love to help :)

   H xx