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So, you’ve been working out regularly and are really starting to see changes in your body. But, for some reason you feel tired, without energy and are getting more colds than usual. Your doctor says you are in good health. So, what’s up with this tired feeling? It’s time to look at the other aspects of wellness involved. In other words, are your lifestyle choices and habits sabotaging your good work at the gym? Let’s take a look at a few things that can affect your health and wellbeing and hence your fitness: 1. Procrastination Procrastination can really wreak havoc on your health. For example, if you put off your exercise day after day, you lose fitness. If you put off going to the doctor for an illness, it’s likely to get worse. But what about everyday tasks? If you put them off, they end up having to be completed in a hurry, you end up stressed and have to put off other things (like sleep and exercise) for a few days. 2. Losing weight by eating less often I have to admit, I am guilty of this one from time to time. It never works. Basically, your body needs the fuel on a regular basis or it goes into starvation mode, saves calories and doesn’t burn them. This not only makes you feel tired, but it also lowers your immune system. 3. Taking too much on/ chronic stress Stress is an individual thing. I have friends who have full-time jobs, go to school part-time and have small children. For me, this is overwhelming and I know a lifestyle like that would make me seriously stressed out. But one thing for sure about stress on a long term basis… it impacts the body in many ways, not the least of which is the immune system. 4. Not sleeping enough/catching up on weekends It’s really important to get enough sleep with REGULARITY (the experts call this good sleep hygiene). The body and brain requires adequate sleep to rebuild and regenerate. Without solid rest, the body just doesn’t recover from that really hard workout, or really stressful business trip and you end up feeling a bit weaker or even catching a cold. 5. Working out too much/not recovering This is really important if you are training for a sports event or want to improve your muscle development in the gym. Muscles need rest in between workouts (see sleep above as well) to rebuild from whatever loads you put on them. If they become too fatigued, the joints end up taking the stress of the activity…which can end in injury and weakness. Your immune system is also compromised by long or hard workouts and needs time to recover. 6. Holding on to anger The way people process anger has a big impact on their body. The classic example of this is the “Type A” personality type who has a heart attack. I am not really qualified to discuss this in depth, but anger has an evolutionary reason (flight or fight response) which is necessary. But the body responses to anger are designed to be short in duration. Holding on to anger keeps the body in this state. Eventually, health is compromised. Wishing you good health and fitness always! Sources: “Habits that Hurt Your Health”. www.shape.com
Article Source: http://www.bodyformind.com/db
About the Author: Ainsley Laing, MSc. has been a Fitness Trainer for 25 years and writes exclusively Body for Mind eZine. She holds certifications in Group Exercise, Sports Nutrition and Person Fitness Training. Read other articles by Ainsley at www.bodyformind.com.
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