Why You Want to Live a Healthy Lifestyle

“I want to be healthy.”

“I want to lose this number of pounds.”

“I want to have a beach body for once in my life.”

We often hear these statements and health goals from people and even ourselves at certain points in our lives... as a New Year’s resolution, when summer is around the corner, when clothes don’t fit anymore, when someone comments about our weight gain, when the results after the annual medical exam are not good, or simply when you see a pretty convincing social media ad that triggered the need to live a healthier life. Then, you decide to lose weight, set goals for yourself and try to work on them as best you can. Some can be successful in reaching their goals or even go beyond it. For others, however, goals only remain as goals. Or as Napoleon Hill would say, without deadlines, a goal remains only a dream.

The question is - why? Why do some people fail to keep the motivation and sustain the momentum? Why do some people seem to be careless about their health when they don’t mean to be?

“He who has a why can bear almost any how.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

It’s time to rethink and ask yourself “Why?” What’s the reason beyond your goal of losing the extra pounds, getting active and fit, or lowering your cholesterol levels? On the grander scheme of things, why do you want to live a healthier lifestyle? As long as you haven’t found your WHY, setting goals will simply be a cycle.

Your “why” is the reason that underlies everything, and becomes your core driver and motivator. Your "why” has to be aligned correctly with your intention, and with your true, authentic self.

So, how do you find your deeper and truer “why”?

Ruminate. Reflect. Block out a time when you can really put thought into it. Think of things that are meaningful and personal to you. Look into the lives of healthy persons who inspire you the most. What are the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle that you see in them that could drive you to take action? What is that one thing that would motivate you to change more than anything else you desire?

If you still can’t discover your WHY/s... here are some reasons that could, hopefully, inspire you to discover what that is to you, to help you start living a healthy lifestyle today:

You will have much more energy to do the things you love and reach the life goals you want to achieve.

Whatever personal goals we set for ourselves, they most likely involve a physical action: to get the promotion at work, travel to different places, start a business, have better relationships with family or with a partner. And sometimes, we may be too focused on achieving them that we forget that health is an essential requirement to help us fulfill them.

Good health allows us to actively work towards our goals, which goes beyond achieving a slim and fit body. Our bodies work like machines that need to function optimally. It needs to be properly cared for and maintained to help drive us towards whatever direction we want go in our lives.

You will spend more on what you love - instead of on medical bills!

Contributing to your potential savings is just one of the many benefits of healthy living. If you stay healthy, you have a better chance of preventing illnesses that save you from medical bills - hospitalization and medical prescriptions. It is also pretty common to think that to live healthy is expensive. But, it is not always true. Fruits and vegetables are cheaper than a lot of processed foods and meat. There are some instances when instant noodles or chips are cheaper than an apple or a banana, but you do get what you pay for. The cheaper the cost, most likely, the lesser the nutrients it gives. Instead, try to consume whole foods. There are so many to choose from that can fit all types of budgets.

You will gain more confidence.

Having a healthy body can boost your self-esteem and confidence. You look at yourself in the mirror, and it makes you happy seeing what you’re seeing. Or in doing your workouts, it makes you happy noticing that strength that you’re developing. The amazing feeling that you’re experiencing will radiate in other areas of your life and in your relationships. Your confidence will affect those around you and will contribute to building a supportive environment for your continuing progress.

You will age functionally and gracefully.

Isn’t it inspiring to see older people who continue to remain active in sports and in their fields of practice? It’s really amazing how they go beyond using age as an excuse to be active in physical activities - and ultimately, showing what's possible and what to look forward to as we age.

Benefits in better managing your health include the prevention of chronic diseases like heart disease, type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and cancer to name a few, especially since most of these are developed in our bodies over decades as we age. Aside from this, the reward includes enabling you to continue doings things you enjoy.

You will inspire your family and other people to reach for a higher quality of health and life.

When people see and recognize in you the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, they will start seeking your advice on how to live and maintain one, and start taking action themselves. Your energy and confidence will inspire them to change to a healthier version of themselves and it will surely touch your heart and motivate you further to continue with your practice. You can become a role model to your family and friends who'll be witnesses of your transformation and joy in better health.

To be aware of your reason/s why you choose health is necessary. And, as you evolve, definitely, your reasons may evolve as well, but that awareness is what will motivate you to continue on your journey. Do not underestimate the power of "why" in helping you achieve whatever goals you set for yourself.

So, dig deep and deep within you. Find your own “why” and write them down, or share them with others to help you take a step closer to better health.

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