Healthy Living.........what does that mean?

      Seriously? What does it mean to be healthy, to be fit, to eat right?
      We hear these catch phrases all the time from seemingly everywhere, but what does it really mean to live and be healthy? The fact is, that it means many, many different things and manifests in many, many different ways. So, what's right? What trainer, author, doctor, coach, or nutritionist has the right solutions?
      Actually, none of them do and all of them do.
There is no one thing, and I promise you if you go ahead and try to live by just one thing, you'll most likely end up less healthy in the end.
We just aren't that simple.
      What I've discovered in myself and in my clients is that for the best long term health, which includes a good healthy well rounded diet, regular exercise and sufficient sleep, the right formula is not easy to figure out. It may take some mistakes and trying lots of different things before you figure out what works best for you. All the while trying not to forget that we are all very different and even the so-called professionals may not be  handing down the best information for you and your body. So, what do you actually do?
      Honestly, my answer to that is 'I don't know'. Lame, right? Maybe, but figuring out our own formulas has to be done by each one of us individually. So, we try to sift through all the information that's bombed on us daily and try to make sense of it. And, at the end of the day what really matters most is how you feel. If you eat and then feel gassy or bloated or overly tired, you're probably eating the wrong foods for you. If you don't get enough sleep or don't drink enough water and have to load up on caffeine during the day, well there's something wrong there too. If you live a sedentary life and wonder why your knees or back hurt or you have no energy to go out for a walk, your health will undoubtedly fail. The answers to these issues are not in a pill or in surgery or whatever other quick fix may be presented, the answers are in proper nutrition, exercise and proper rest and recovery.
      For me, it's an on going experiment. I haven't found out my formula yet, but I have found a few answers.
My problem, with my body, has always been inflammation. A nagging ache in joints from overuse mostly and not enough time taken to let my body repair. And, with my diet, always wanting and going for sugary treats. The catch of course for me is that sugar is a big culprit for inflammation in the body among many other not so great things. So, I've been researching foods and trying to find foods that will naturally help my body fight the inflammation, keep me full and satisfied and soothe my sweet tooth. So far, the results are OK, but my will power against sweets is still lacking.
      Besides experimenting with all kinds of things to find your own formula, there are a few things that will and can set the scene that are actually good for everyone no matter what. And, they're totally doable and won't inconvenience you at all. These are those things:
1. Drink water. It's recommended to try for half your body weight in ounces every day.
2. Get sleep. Sleep time is when our body's repair and it's vital for a healthy life.
3. Exercise regularly. This can be as casual as a walk or as intense as a boot camp workout. As long as you get moving, you're good.
4. Eat food that makes you feel good. Your meals should be well balanced and should always include protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats.
      There is a long list of items that we should avoid or should consume and I'm not going to get into all that now, those are the choices you'll need to make for yourself as you try to figure out your own formula. The journey is ongoing and things will constantly change as we do, but whether you're wanting to drop pounds or feel less stressed, making simple changes like the four listed above can help get you there.
      Oh, and don't forget to have some fun. We may get older but that in no way means we have to stop playing.