I was reading this article about a study from the United Kingdom that revealed that a few healthy habits can result in an extra 14 years of life. The formula is neither new nor miraculous. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, don’t smoke, drink alcohol in moderation and exercise regularly.
The study tracked 20,000 people and found that those who followed the four health strategies lived on average 14 years longer than the other study participants.
Motivation
If you were looking for additional motivation to do the right thing, this study just may be the ammunition you need. We all know that healthy habits can result in a better quality of life but now there’s proof we can actually add years to our life.
What would you do with an extra 14 years? It’s worth considering as you seek to make healthy changes. It’s also worth considering the opposite. How would your life be impacted if you cut it short by 14 years? Smoking, drinking excessively and fueling your body with unhealthy foods can shorten your life span.
Back to the Future
Far too often we don’t consider the impact of today’s choices on our tomorrows. We may have fallen prey to the attitude of “life is short, enjoy it!” However, how enjoyable is life when out of control diabetes leads to the loss of a limb? Or worse, when your carpe diem choices cause a premature death?
Americans are long overdue for a reality check. Eating a healthy diet and exercising should be non-negotiable. Our bodies need the right kind of fuel to function properly. We need exercise. We were not meant to sit in chairs all day and stare at computer screens.
Easier Than You Think
Adopting a healthier lifestyle does not require a 2 hour gym workout or spending thousands of dollars on “designer” foods. The first step is to pick one health habit to change. Resolve to eat one more vegetable per day, or to exercise 20 minutes, three times per week. Focus on one change at a time and as that becomes a habit, add another change.
Small changes will add up and so will the years you have to enjoy them. Now that’s truly seizing the day!
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I am a firm believer in changing one habit at a time. That way, you can concentrate on the one thing and won’t get so easily distracted, or forget about it. I also think that drinking 8 glasses of water a day has a lot to do with staying healthy, and that’s the change I am trying to achieve right now.
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@Petra – I also agree with changing one habit at a time. Small permanent lifestyle changes lead to slow permanent weight loss.
I once heard my high school friend say “Life is short, so it’s my right to enjoy it!” That time, she was overweight. After 6 years, I met her at a local mall, and she is absolutely slim and healthy! She said she got tired of eating just because she wants to eat, instead she exercises and eats smaller meals so that she wouldn’t get fat again. I asked her how she got slim – she said it wasn’t easy..it took her four years (we were at different college schools) to actually lose her excess weight and keep it off. Now, that’s slow yet permanent change in weight loss!
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