If you've clicked on this link looking for a quick way to lose weight, you might want to keep surfing. This article is about real ways to live healthy and find happiness. When you get tired of searching for health and happiness through weight loss, come back and take a look at these suggestions. You will find more health benefits and happiness doing these things than you will on any scale, no matter what the numbers there read.
What is Good Health?
Because good health is described almost exclusively these days as a low number on the scale, it's important to cover what good health really is. In reality, none of us would truly be happy to be skinny if it also meant that we were constantly sick and so weak we were unable to live our lives. In reality, health is a state in which you have energy and strength. It's a state where your body doesn't get in the way of normal living, but actually supports your ability to do everyday activities. Imagine being able to play with your children or grandchildren without getting out of breath or having to limit the activities you participate in. Imagine working hard all day and going to bed feeling satisfactorily tired, but not exhausted. Imagine eating a good meal and not feeling tired afterwards. Wouldn't this be true health, much more than simply having a body that is shaped to please others?
What is Happiness?
That brings us to the next point. What really is happiness? Most people would describe happiness as a certain activity that they enjoy, such as partying or skiing. Those events can provide feelings of amusement and excitement, but they aren't true happiness. The truly happy person can go home from an enjoyable occasion and still feel a sense of peace and satisfaction when they are alone with themselves. True happiness comes from knowing that your life is good and that you are worthwhile.
Learn to like yourself just the way you are
The first step to any positive changes in your life is to learn to like yourself just the way you are. People who don't have a sense of self worth aren't motivated to make positive changes. They may find brief motivation in the criticism of others or from other sources, but they will keep returning to their old habits because they don't believe that they are really worth making all that effort.
One part of this step is also letting go of what other people think of you, whether it's good or bad. When you let other people's opinions shape the way you see yourself, you ride a constant roller coaster of self doubt because others' opinions are always changing. If you have to depend on someone else for a positive view of yourself, you run the risk of someone else getting you down. However, if in yourself, you have a sense of self worth, you never have to worry about what others think of you or let their opinions influence your actions.
Another result of not allowing others to determine your worth is that you will stop trying to lose weight. No one really loses weight for themselves. A skinny, sexy body is all about others looking at you. Imagine looking in the mirror and loving what you see, no matter what you look like. Wouldn't that truly make you happy? The truth is, no matter what your weight, you (and others) will always be able to find something that needs improvement. If you stop worrying about how you appear to others, you can focus on the things that will truly make you happy and bring you good health.
Give up all addictive substances
If you are serious about good health and happiness it's essential to give up all addictive substances and practices that you are using in your life. These substances might include alcohol, tobacco, sugar, or caffeine. You may also be addicted to a certain practice such as gambling, sex, watching TV, or getting angry. Many other substances and practices can also be addictive. Addictions hamper both health and happiness.
Addictive substances are always ones that are detrimental to your health, but addictive practices also lead to bad health in the negative effects that they have on your lifestyle. They can cause you to skip meals, stay inside too much, and not get enough exercise. They can lead to high blood pressure, depression, malnutrition, and other health problems.
All addictions restrict happiness because they are used as an escape from reality. Instead of dealing with the problems of life, addicts turn to whatever substance or practice they are addicted to and find relief there. But the relief given by addictive substances is temporary and since the problem hasn't been addressed and solved it keeps coming back and causing further pain in the addict's life.
