4 Steps to a Healthier Way of Life

Put yourself to the test: how do your habits stack up?

Photo by Svyatoslav Romanov on Unsplash

Do you believe you live a healthy lifestyle? Aside from the occasional detour, most of us believe we do a good job of maintaining our health through good (or at least adequate) eating habits and physical activity whenever we can fit it in. Is this, however, sufficient to be considered “healthy?”

Top Secret Recipies

According to a recent study, only a small percentage of adults meet the criteria for a healthy lifestyle. The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found that only 3% of American adults scored perfectly on the four basic criteria for healthy living, according to the authors. Only 13.8 percent met three of the criteria; 34.2 percent did not.

See how you fare on the four keys to health identified by the researchers:
Do you use tobacco?

• Are you able to maintain a healthy weight (BMI 18–25) or are you able to lose weight to achieve a healthy weight?
• Do you consume at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day?
• *Do you exercise for 30 minutes or more five times per week?

The good news is that all but one of these behaviors should be familiar to you, as they are essential components of the Weight Loss Clinic. Numbers 2–4 are the foundation of the WLC program, and they are habits that we constantly discuss, write about, and recommend.

Everyone is aware that smoking is harmful to one’s health. Pat yourself on the back if you were fortunate enough not to become addicted to nicotine. Smokers, I hope you are working diligently to kick your habit. It’s impossible to underestimate the importance of a smoke-free life for your health — as well as for the sake of those around you.

4 Steps and More

While those four habits are undeniably important for living a healthy lifestyle, some may argue that more factors should be considered. What would you put on your list?

Just for fun, I came up with my own personal top 8 lists of healthy behaviors (beyond the four basics) that contribute to wellness and satisfaction with one’s lifestyle: