We’ve all heard the importance of eating healthy and exercising regularly; in fact, it has probably been beaten into our brains more times than we can count.  The reason we hear it so much, however, is that it’s really true.
    Think about this scenario. You feel a whole lot better when you are healthy than when you are sick with something contagious, like a cold or the flu.  Knowing this, you should constantly be asking yourself why you are not taking action to live each day as beneficially as possible so you feel healthy all the time.
    The excuse for many people is that they are too busy with work, school, or taking care of everyone around them that they neglect their own health.  If you fall into this category, make it a priority to change this circumstance.  A healthy lifestyle can greatly increase a person’s longevity.
      The first step toward a healthier you is simply eating the right type of food.  No, this does not mean cutting out all sweets and simply eating celery and carrots. Any type of food may be eaten, as long as it is in moderation. 
    However, most of your caloric intake should come from healthier foods, like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, milk, and lean protein. Each of these food groups supplies essential nutrients to the body.  In addition, fruits and vegetables help to lower the risk of chronic diseases.
    Experts say that a healthy breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it wakes up our metabolism and gives us  the energy we need to move through the rest of the day.  The best way to eat meals throughout the day is by eating small portions, such as six small meals a day or a light but fulfilling lunch and satisfying but not overly fat-filled dinner
    Don’t deprive yourself by not going out to eat at restaurants.  Instead, make a smarter choice to split meals or eat only half of the portion given.  A rule of thumb is that most portions are twice the size of what you are supposed to intake.  Denying certain foods is not a good idea because it can result in binging on that food.
         Another step toward a healthier and happier lifestyle is exercise.  No, this doesn’t mean running for an hour every day, especially if you hate running.  Exercise can be made fun if you do it with friends and participate in activities like yoga, kickboxing, biking, swimming, aerobics, dancing, and many others.  Exercise is great at improving heart function, lowering blood pressure and blood cholesterol, and controlling diabetes.  It increases the metabolism which in turn helps the body burn off food and excess fat faster.                                                                       
    Something as easy as sleep can have a huge effect on your lifestyle.  The average adult needs approximately seven to eight hours of sleep each night to provide energy to handle all the demands of living each day. Sleep deprivation is a major reason why people become unfocused and forgetful. If you have trouble sleeping, exercising regularly should help you sleep better.
    So what did we learn from all this?  Engaging in a healthy lifestyle isn’t as hard as it seems.  A daily regimen of a healthy breakfast, small meals throughout the day, and even throwing in a few desserts here and there will have you feeling better and healthier.  Exercising can be a FUN activity, rather than torture, and can lead you to looking forward to a half hour of it most days of the week.
    Being healthy doesn’t mean wearing a size zero and weighing 100 pounds.  It’s about taking care of yourself and having you feeling better and experiencing positive results not only related to your overall health, but your energy level as well. Life is short, so make it longer by choosing healthy lifestyle habits.