When it comes to personal health there are various issues we face, one of which is that we have no reasonable way to evaluate it. We usually take a black and white approach where all is good until something goes wrong. This is too simplistic, in reality is there is a gradual scale in health until the point a problem shows up so that a doctor or medical check-up can identify it.
Another issue is the word health itself, which people often equate to being alive rather than to a more helpful evaluation of health traits that affect our life. The final issue is that people believe they cannot change their current state which is of course completely untrue.
So with this all in hand what are we to do if hoping to avoid a surprise health diagnosis being thrust upon us? e.g. your blood pressure is high etc. The answer lies in using an evaluation system of some kind and comparing this to a baseline*. You can then chart what is normal and then how it changes as you put in place healthier elements. The goal would be to take action way before you get to a symptomatic level. Here are my favourites evaluations to use –
Body Temperature – This represents how strong your metabolism is burning. A strong all guns blazing metabolism will have energy to restore the body as needed to maximise health. A weaker one will not be able to do this so efficiently. How you react to temperature is a good insight into metabolism. Do you often feel cold? Do you wear many layers of clothes? Do you need to have hot drinks to warm up? How does this compare to previous points of your life?
Sex Drive – Another good trait to see how well the body is operating is your sex drive. While it is one of our primal instincts it is one that is quickly shut down when the health of the body is running at a lower efficiency. How often do you have sexual urges? How strong are the sexual urges? How does this compare to previous points in your life?
Energy – Your overall energy comes in different forms, the link to fitness and exercise perhaps gets a little too much attention. Energy also shows itself in how much sleep you need, how often do you snooze on the sofa and the level of get up and go within you. What are your current overall energy levels? How does this compare to previous points of your life?
Mood – How you feel is directly related to your health optimisation. Your mood and emotions are a symptom of the body as well as being a result of events in life. There is also a direct influence on physical health from emotions. In this context we are looking at overall general mood states. How often do you feel up or down? How does this compare to previous points of your life?
Mental Focus – For many people their mental focus is what goes when their health is on the decline. This may mean you are not able to focus on work for so long or with previous efficency. It could be you make mental errors you didnt used to do or in opposite you are really sharp and productive when things are going good health wise. What are your current levels of mental focus / productivity? How does this compare to previous points of your life?
Sub-clinical Health Traits – This refers to the whole host of possible health measures we can look at which includes the five mentioned above. Other traits for example could be dry skin, nail quality, hair strength, sneezing, itching, digestion efficiency, headaches frequency and so on. The more of these you have the more compromised the body. You may remember earlier this year I gave you a free health traits checker tool. Have you completed the Health Traits analyser form? How does this score compare to previous scores?
Weight – While weight is certainly not the be all and end all it is still a very good guide for general health. Doctors use BMI for this very reason. It is so quick to measure also that it should be used in a general health evaluation guide.
********************************
*Identify Your Baseline – These traits are for self comparison and not for comparing with other people. You may work outside and thus be much more cold resilient than an office worker. However, you should compare how you are to what you previously were. Sex drive is similar with some people having much greater drive than others, in this comparison game you are looking at how you “normally” or “previously” were to gauge your current state of play. The same applies to the other traits, e.g. your mood is affected by current events in your life.
What To Do NOW?? – The idea would be to take some base measurements from looking at one or more of the above factors. Then start a health plan of action and then return to see how these things change. IF your energy is low and spend most your weekends slumped on the sofa. Then put in place a plan, start exercising, change your foods and then re-evaluate in 4 weeks time to see how energy has changed.
The actual changes in health will usually come from three main changes. These are :
Eating More Good Foods – Expand your vitamin and mineral profile as well as eating with a more ideal macro ratio and you will see energy and health improve.
Stopping Bad Foods – Cut out the sources worst for your body. Usually top of this list is sensitive foods followed by more typical junk and chemical laden foods.
Starting Exercise – Through introducing a consistent exercise routine sensational changes may happen in the body. The body wants you to move every day.
*********
Need Support Getting In Shape? For support, coaching, nutrition and exercise plans wherever you are in the world read more here>>>> If looking for Personal Training Battersea please contact me. I am available for sessions in homes, private gyms or Personal Training Battersea Park. To see my locations please visit my Battersea Personal Trainer page>>
Battersea park was created in 1858. For me and many others Battersea Park is considered one of London’s most interesting Parks housing Battersea Zoo, Battersea Evolution Exhibition Centre and right next to Battersea Park Dogs & Cats Home and the iconic Battersea Power Station.