What are the reasons why we should all pursue a Healthy lifestyle?

[alexie]

Other than living longer and preventing diseases, why is it important to pursue/study health . Im still a young person , healthy person but payed absolutely no attention to what i eat, health benefits, when to exercise etc. Just basically going with the flow what feels good and focused on other subjects. But now im going to study the topic alot more but feel very unmotivated to do so. Just wondering what are the reasons/benefits of studying health. Thanks

[Minsc]

You'll generally feel a lot better with a healthy lifestyle and will be able to think more clearly...

[Shamou]

alexie! I don't know if you like expensive cars... but, if you do... this analogy could serve to illustrate why it is that you should take care of your body...

If you owned a beautiful Ferrari... what kind of care would you give it...???

Your body is way more complex then the most expensive car ever made... and it will respond to whatever care you give it...

If you have anymore doubts how important your health is... I suggest you take a long stroll through any hospital... you will come out a convinced person...

Don't take chances with your health... it is one of the more important asset that you have... take good care of it...
.

[Andrew Brunelle]

Your health is so important. If you do not have health, you have nothing. If you are an unhealthy millionaire, you cannot enjoy your money. If you are an unhealthy humanitarian, how can you help people effectively? All else being equal, it is far more beneficial to be super-healthy than to be average or unhealthy. It improves every aspect of your life in so many ways. And the more you delve into it, the better everything gets.

[Sam988]

For me, the greatest benefit of a healthy body is a healthy mind, that thinks better and more clearly. Of course, having an athletic body isnt something i would throw out of the window either

[Angela]

Hi, Alexie. I don't think we *should* do anything, not even live a healthy lifestyle. We make the choices we make for your own reasons and in our own time -- no shoulds about it.

For me, it's important to take great care of my body, spirit, and mind because I want to feel wonderful. Now, and as I get older. The things you do to take care of yourself when you're younger make a huge impact on how you feel as you age. I realize that you probably feel your older self is too far away from you to even take under consideration. But unbelievable as it may seem now, your older self is actually an aspect of who you are right now, and the gratitude you will later feel towards your younger self for delivering a mint-condition vehicle will be immense. Likewise, if you squander your your body, your vitality, your strength, and your suppleness, and deliver a beat up old wreck to yourself, the regret you may feel would be immense.

It just feels so good to feel good!

[alexie]

Thanks for all the awesome responses guys. I guess I have been resistant to health-concious ideals because i often think that I would have to trade my present happiness for the future like always watching what I eat. I love food, i would much rather eat what i want and enjoy life then to live a 10 years longer disasatisfied.

[Buddy]

Because, as you say, you are young and healthy. But surely you're smart enough to know that is (like all things) temporary. Think of it as investment.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by alexie

I love food, i would much rather eat what i want and enjoy life then to live a 10 years longer disasatisfied.

You don't have to live on bird seed and bottled water to be healthy... just use a little common sense...

Life does not have to be a "either/or," black of white or yes or no affair... there is a great range of options between extremes... so, try to find one where you will be comfortable yet healthy... if you can get at least two neurons to fire together... you can find it...
.

[NotesMaeve]

A healthy lifestyle FEELS great. Now, tomorrrow, I might have ice cream, true. I enjoy it. But you know what? Eating vegan today felt awesome. I feel energized, clear-headed, relaxed. I like junk as much as anyone, but the crappy results manifest themselves physically.

I feel better after a little exercise and a vegan meal than I do after anything else.

[islander473]

I think of having optimum health as the key to getting the most out of life. In life if you want to maximize your money, relationships, career, hobbies, fun, whatever - you need energy.

Focusing on your health and fitness through proper diet and exercise is an guarantees you have the energy to get the most out of life. You've got to be able to push through the mental and physical barriers that will pop up from time to time in order to achieve your goals. If your body isn't up to the task, guess what - you dont reach your goal!

It's simple. Poor health = poor results in life. So it's great you're deciding now to pay attention to something that's so important to having a great life. Good luck!

[JoeBlogs]

But also remember that healthy does not necessarily equal vegetarian or vegan. I sometimes think people on this board appear to talk as if the only way to eat healthily is to be a vegetarian or vegan and can be misleading.

[SmellyOrc]

A better question would be, in my opinion: 'What are the reasons why we should NOT to pursue a healthy lifestyle?'

[Amandaaa]

the greatest benefit of living a healthy lifestyle is that while all of your friends are sick and hooked on medications, your body is still in tip-top shape... you're more efficient, you have greater mental clarity, and you wake up every morning feeling refreshed and happy...instead of diseased and in pain.

i'm still kind of young too (22), but i don't want to deal with having cancer or a brain tumor later in life... i hear way too many gruesome stories, and i would rather not have to live through that.

plus, i just feel a thousand times better when i'm respecting my body and the world around me.

I sometimes think people on this board appear to talk as if the only way to eat healthily is to be a vegetarian or vegan

hahha... he's probably right...
i do tend to think that the way that you treat yourself is also a reflection of your values and beliefs.

i eat the way that i eat because it doesn't harm any animals, and it demonstrates compassion and respect for the environment.
i think they're all intertwined-- your lifestyle reflects your level of compassion, your knowledge of ecological impact & environmental stewardship, your concern with your quality of life, your level of self-responsibility, whether or not you think in terms of "the big picture"...etc., etc.

becoming vegetarian wasn't about "trading in my present happiness" -- it was about amplifying it.

buuut, i'm not trying to convert you...(i promise ) and you don't have to be an "extremist" to live a healthy life.
there is some middle ground out there... you don't have to live on yogi tea and spinach leaves to be healthy. you can still eat plenty of good food.

my friends used to think that i had such a "restrictive" diet... but they're always surprised to find that the food i eat is actually really satisfying...and they don't feel like a dirty garbage disposal afterwards.

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by alexie

But now im going to study the topic alot more but feel very unmotivated to do so.

You make it sound like a lot of work ("I'm going to study the topic a lot") and that may be why you have negative feelings about it ("feel very unmotivated to do so").

But I don't think it necessarily takes a lot of "studying" to lead a healthy lifestyle. It's not rocket science.

It's probably more like making a few fairly obvious lifestyle changes (eg what you eat; how often you exercise) and importantly, sticking to them.