Muscle - Retention for Lifelong Wellness and Longevity and on Habits

It turns out muscle retention is extremely important for healthy longevity. Other things may or may not be important.  Being skinny is one that is not important or relevant.

Because of the societal pressure to be slender, we may mistakenly focus on that instead of the more critical qualities of lifelong vitality.

Anatomically, we are all unique.  Being the ‘right size’ means you eat enough quality foods, but not too much. It means you get enough movement or exercise, but not too much. If you have a special interest in the value of muscle building for longevity, head over to the link here It connects you with Time Magazine article on a woman bodybuilder.

Give some thought to the lifestyle habits that better support your longevity. Someone told me her Dad’s parents died in their 60s, and the father was crippled with arthritis. Despite his parents’ health issues, he practiced healthy habits, walking 20 minutes in the morning and evening, eating well, and engaging in lifelong learning. This man lived to 101.

On Habits

Tomorrow I'll do better....

We all say this about those things we want to improve upon, but it's not always easy to make it happen.  In fact, it is very hard.  That thing we want to change is a habit, one that we know doesn't suit us, but we keep doing it.  It's so maddening!

In my wellness coaching, we look at why this is so hard. One reason is that whatever that habit is, it gives us pleasure in the moment.  But that's just it - it's only in the moment.

In the work we do, we focus on delayed rewards. Ask yourself if you didn't have that momentary pleasure of, say, that piece of cake, or that ice cream or that mocha coolatta,  is there a "good" that could come from that?  Knowing there's a reward down the road, like a few lost pounds, may be enough for you, but that may be weeks away.  What if instead you consider how you feel in the moment when you make a decision that benefits your overall goal of being healthy and well?  Powerful?  Satisfied?

If you need an immediate reward, pat yourself on the back, say something nice to yourself, or buy yourself some flowers.

When you make a move in your favor here, you have two wins - the long and the short sense of victory in the moment. A double win.

PEG DOYLE:  As a Northeast U.S. author, speaker, and coach, Peg brings her expertise in nutrition, stress management, aging well, and a healthy lifestyle into every client encounter and speaking engagement.

You may want to be well, but don't quite know how to get there. Through thoughtful conversation and a series of research-based action steps, Peg helps each client establish clarity about their health goals and give them the know-how to achieve them. 

"Our clients don't just lose weight.  They have the energy to do the things they might not have been able to do."

PEG'S MISSION

As the owner of Wellness and You, Peg specializes in working both with individuals and organizations who have a mutual focus on or interest in lifelong wellness... Objectives are to reduce stress, increase energy, and improve health through attention to balanced nutrition and lifestyle. 

She is the author of Food Becomes You - Simple Steps for Lifelong Wellness and writes a blog about how to age well, how to live longer, how to lose weight quickly and how to feel more energized.  She has been a guest on radio shows and wellness blogs. She is a sought after Corporate Wellness Speaker and presents to many women's associations.

Because of her holistic approach to health and wellness, Peg also maintains a bodywork practice based upon the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, all with the objective of restoring balance to the body.