By Debra Orringer, Clinical Physiologist
Wellness is a HUGE word – it’s become one of the biggest catch phrases in this decade. How do you define it and what does it mean to you? Some people say ‘wellness’ is defined by exercise. Others say it’s about being healthy with food choices, and some even define it as being overall happy. Would you believe it’s all three and even more?
Wellness is a continuous cycle ever evolving and must be made to be part of your lifestyle. Your total well-being embraces aspects such as: the physical, spiritual, social, nutritional, financial, and emotional depth of who and what you are. A simple example is that we could be a person who is in amazing physical health, yet feel lost in our social environment. We could have loads of money but be filled with anxiety all the time, and suffer from medical manifestations.
The ‘wellness wheel’ is an incredible symbol for the overall wellness concept because it shows us the importance of reaching and sustaining a well balanced and well rounded lifestyle. Imagine the wheel as a tire. If one part of the tire is flat, then the wheel makes our ride bumpy and difficult to maintain, thus the analogy of the wellness wheel in our lives. Granted not every wheel is perfect as our lives are not perfect, but we have an awareness and eagerness to continue to evolve and improve our quality of life.
Every person has a different definition of each category. Within the categories are questions we can ask ourselves. For example, physical wellness is a perception of our physical health. Are we exercising and eating properly, avoiding use of tobacco and getting regular check-ups from our physicians? Even our emotional wellness has to do with our ability to identify who we are and our ability to cope with other influences in our lives. Keeping positive attitudes and viewing challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles can be huge.
The idea of wellness is a mindful act. It is very easy to fall into old patterns when on the go, whether this is grabbing a candy bar or drinking a soda. Making an active effort with preparation ahead of time is an example of that mind body connection. It’s time we put ourselves as the priority; and only when we do that are we able to help others do the same.
A couple of healthy snacks to have on hand:
– hard boiled eggs
– apples
– your own trail mix of raw almonds, raisins, walnuts and raw oats
– keep a cooler on hand with raw vegetables to snack; carrots, celery, peppers, etc
Homemade hummus (my favorite healthy indulgence)
• 1 can chick peas
• 3 TBSP fresh lemon juice
• 1.5 TBSP tahini
• 2 cloves fresh garlic crushed
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• add your own flare of flavor whether it’s fire roasted red peppers or spicy mustard – personally I prefer the roasted red peppers with a smidgeon of sriracha sauce
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Debra Orringer holds a Masters of Science degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology and numerous upper level certifications. Debra spends a great deal of her time presenting, lecturing and educating others in the realm of wellness around the country. She successfully owns her own Wellness Company where she has helped hundreds achieve the health they strive for. She can be reached at 321-749-8719, debo@321getfitt.com, and www.DebraOrringer.Isagenix.com
“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”
This wellness article provided courtesy of our friends,Grandparentslink.com – http://www.grandparentslink.com/achieving-wellness-your-guide-to-healthy-living/
