Change Is The Only Constant | Health

Let’s talk fitness, food, and fun with a readiness to change.

Change is inevitable. Sometimes it is forced upon us and sometimes we seek it out to improve.

If you are over 40, ask yourself: are the exercises I am doing good for me and will they improve my current activities of daily living? Fitness should build a stronger body both physically and mentally for today, tomorrow and …For Your Life™. Keep changing exercise habits regularly with a willingness to adjust workouts as your life changes. At every age you should change variables of fitness to include balance, strength, cardio, and body composition. Where can you improve and change your workout to be stronger tomorrow?

COVID-19 has caused some people to gain weight but even before the pandemic over 65% of Americans were overweight. Being overweight can have negative effects on blood pressure, heart disease, COVID risk, and more. You can effectively manage your weight with a balance of being active and eating well. Assess your nutrition status regularly and change foods often. Are you missing ingredients or having enough of the right macronutrients? Set up a time to talk to a nutritionist or dietitian to talk about your individual needs or create a 3-day food recall to assess where you can improve.

Anxiety, stress, or self medicating can decrease quality of life in the long term but make you feel good now. Find things daily that help you find joy. Limit drug and alcohol use as they may mask your inner happiness and quality of life today but have longer term effects on your quality of life. Make a list of things that make you happy daily that are not drugs or alcohol and do them more often.

Loaded with these tips, assess if and where you need to make a change now. Change is the only constant on your way to a healthier lifestyle. At every age we need different things, we need to adapt, and we have the unalienable right to pursue happiness with health.

Gary Gianetti has an M.S. in Allied Health and holds certifications in health, fitness, and exercise sciences. When he’s not coaching, he enjoys outdoor adventures on foot, rock, wheels, and in the air with his little ones and his wife. He is the founder of Healthy Altitudes…For Your Life™.