Wellness Defined

Message from Coach Kate

"Wellness is the key to a long and healthy life. Many people have the wrong perception of it. Wellness is from the neck up, and fitness from the neck down. Too many people work out every day, but go around with the worst attitudes, which just waste all their physical efforts."

~ Coach Dean Smith


Wellness is a concept with many components and often athletes, young and old, believe they have taken care of it all because they are so active. However, while exercise is a very important part of wellness, it is important not too neglect other components. One other big component is nutrition. With too much junk food, no one can compete at their highest level. I like to tell people to try “mindful” eating. Nothing needs to be forbidden, but if you are thinking about what you are putting in your body, you are less likely to eat too much junk food.

Here are a few thoughts that may also help with healthy eating:


Strive for at least 8 - 10 fruits and vegetables a day. Not only are they very healthy, but if you are eating this much of them, there is less room for bad stuff. Avoid processed food as much as possible. When a food is processed, nutrient value is taken out of it to the point where it has to be “enriched” in order to add nutrients back in.

Develop healthy eating habits. Do you remember what you ate the last time you were starving? You will likely gravitate towards that food again next time you are hungry. Eat healthy foods and you will want healthy foods. The trick is incorporating them in the first place. Focus on forming long-term habits, not short-term dietary changes, and be open minded to new and different food choices.

Consume a colorful variety of foods. Tomatoes, blueberries, dark chocolate, spinach, and apples form a rainbow of nutrient density; vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. The more colorful your plate is the better it will be for you.

Don’t fight your genes. Your body type was largely determined before birth, just like your hair and eye color. Individuals on the cover of magazines and infomercials often go to extreme, even illegal, lengths to achieve the "perfect" body. It is far more productive to focus on health and wellness versus targeting the aesthetics of a particular body part. By focusing on a holistic approach to dietary wellness, you will fuel your body more effectively, achieve a healthy weight, and support your immune system.


Wellness is a continuum, and we can all develop concrete goals to improve our personal wellness. Start today with these nutrition tips!


Kate Schulte
Kate@rockymtnwellnesscoach.com
www.rockymtnwellnesscoach.com


Kate@rockymtnwellnesscoach.com
www.rockymtnwellnesscoach.com