Oghomwen (Owen) Jones
The non-negotiable components of a healthy lifestyle
There are four essential characteristics of good health
Spiritual Health
Spiritual health involves a search for a deeper meaning of life. It is vital for our well being and is often hugely underestimated and/or misunderstood. Spiritual health includes a life of purpose, a desire to please our Heavenly Father and fulfil His will in our lives. When we are healthy in our spirit, we are more connected to God and those around us. Our Heavenly Father, also promises us in His Word to be more connected to us too.
James â€4:8‬ â€TPT‬‬
Move your heart closer and closer to God, and he will come even closer to you. But make sure you cleanse your life, you sinners, and keep your heart pure and stop doubting.
Spiritual wellness, gives us more clarity in making our daily choices and encourages us to act in a manner that is consistent with His Will.
Spiritual health, also helps us create a balance between the spiritual, physical, emotional and social aspects of our lives.
Our Heavenly Father instructs us in various ways in scripture. In my opinion, one instruction that is all encompassing is that given in:
Matthew‬ â€6:33‬ â€TPT‬‬
So above all, constantly seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness, then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly.
It is in seeking God’s Kingdom first that we can truly manage stress, as we will experience His peace that passes all understanding. When we seek Him first, He adds onto us so that we do not have to fret about our concerns/needs.
Healthy eating
This is non-negotiable. We must consume predominantly nutritious foods/drinks, regularly to be healthy. This is true for weight loss and/or maintenance. The difference in these phases, will primarily be in the amount of food eaten.
When I embarked on my weight loss journey 30+ years ago, I ate many of the foods I still eat and enjoy today…in my weight maintenance phase. The difference was in my portion sizes. I found at that time that a smaller sized plate helped. There is something about the way our mind works, we tend not to feel deprived (satisfied) when we eat from a full plate. Is this your experience?
We must never be influenced to stop eating healthy, because we know of people who are not overweight despite unhealthy eating habits. For all you know, there could be a lot of disease brewing in their bodies unknown to them. These may include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, the onset of Type 2 diabetes etc
There is no stereotype for a healthy body. We are all built differently…tall, average, short, large, medium or small boned. The absence of excess fat is a good indicator though.
We should also, always be honest with what we eat. We must not be closet eaters fooling ourselves. When we eat predominately nutritious foods and exercise, both in moderation we are likely to be healthy as long as there are no underlying conditions. I discuss some of these conditions in Chapter 10 of my book ‘Moderation Is Key’.
Exercise
There is no substitute for exercise. It energises and is exhilarating. It has been suggested that we need at least 30 minutes of daily exercise to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
There are many different types of exercise routines. Our choice will typically be influenced by what we enjoy and our goals. When we have not exercised in a long time or ever, walking is a good start. Start with a slow to moderate pace for at least 30 minutes, say three times, in the first week. Intentional and incremental steps in our exercise routine are vital to transition from an unhealthy lifestyle to a healthy one.
We must also endeavour to be as active as possible through out the day. In other words do not exercise for 30-60 mins a day and then be a couch potato for the remaining 23 hours.
Physical inactivity (a predominantly sedentary lifestyle and/or a lack of exercise) has been identified by The World Health Organization (WHO) as an independent risk factor for chronic disease development. It is now the fourth leading cause of death worldwide.
Stress management
This is often underestimated, at the cost of our wellbeing. We must never forget that it is possible to eat well and exercise too and experience disease when stress is not managed. Stress compromises our immune system which can open the door to various diseases, including cancer. There is a reason scripture tells us to cast our cares onto Him…let’s take a look.
1 Peter‬ â€5:7‬ â€TPT‬‬
Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.
When we choose not to humble ourselves and carry our cares, we suffer. Our Heavenly Father did not make our bodies with the ability to bear stress. When we do it affects our wellbeing and can cause the onset of disease if the stress levels are chronic and experienced over long periods.
As mentioned earlier on in this blog, spiritual wellness is crucial to living a life of peace. It helps us manage stress.
I write about this and much more in my book ‘Moderation Is Key‘. It is a must read for anyone who wants to be a good custodian of their body, God’s temple; unlock their full potential, their purpose, enjoy food and be healthy too.
It’s available on Amazon in different formats…hardback, softback, kindle and audio.
