My Battles With Daily Temptation

Everyday is a good day to be alive.  Not that the world becomes perfect overnight --- it’s just that the amount of possibilities is staggering.  So does the daily temptation.

Being a little older than some of my colleagues, it’s easier to see why things seem easier for me.  I know better, and that “last” bottle of beer?  I know it’s going to haunt me --- if not in the morning, but for months or years to come.

It’s easy to think back to easier times, when, after a day of solid work, I’d go thinking how a couple of bottles of beers, cigarette breaks or a heavy meal might do me some good --- but now, these things are part of the daily temptation I try so hard to avoid.

 

Alcohol – I never believe in alcohol abuse.  The alcohol doesn’t abuse the body of the drinker, but when the drinker decides to abuse the alcohol, that’s when things go horribly wrong.  Part of the daily temptation is knocking back a few after a hard day’s work.  I used to think that I deserve that shot, or that bottle --- but now I consider that I deserve MORE.  I deserve my health, for what lifestyle changes I put my body through.

Smoking – I tried it when I was younger.  My advice is, if you don’t smoke already, don’t even try it.  It’s a nasty habit that leaves your teeth stained and your hands constantly smelling like burnt excess.  Daily temptation is storming out of a conference call and lighting one of these up in the designated smoking area.  Most buildings have designated smoking areas that just make you feel bad about smoking, like an empty rooftop.  If that wasn’t a sign enough already, consider your health.  I considered mine.

Heavy meals – A good meal is something to be valued, treasured, even --- for a meal only happens once in your life.  But constantly binge eating only reinforces the bad habit as instant gratification.  It makes your body ill and makes you think less of yourself.  I can’t think of a time when something deep-fried or buttered isn’t a daily temptation, and I’m not bound to try and decode why --- I don’t want to confess these sins from a hospital bed, see.  :D

Do YOU want a healthy heart?

“Do I want a healthy heart?”  Not to be crude, but … well, duh! 

With the current trend of a lifestyle of excesses, it’s easy not to care what the heart has to say, when you’re puffing that smoke, downing that drink and chewing that glorious piece of red meat.  Even though studies have shown that men have a greater risk of heart disease, women should be equally concerned.  Heart diseases can start from palpitations, a mild discomfort in the chest, followed by a running pain down your shoulders … and well, that’s it.

In order to keep safe, you follow a few simple tips.  Some of which may be hard to follow, but remember to ask yourself, “Do I want a healthy heart?”

Learn to Breathe

Take deeper breathes.  No, really.  The deeper the breathes, the more amount of oxygen is taken in, which is just important for the heart.  Get one of those air purifiers for your home while you’re at it.

Laugh out loud

Laughter has been proven to increase immune functions, boost endorphin release and whatnot --- but the deeper reason for choosing it is simple: stress is a killer.  Stress causes palpitations, arrhythmia and other heart disturbances.  Try watching funny movies at least twice a week, or read the funny papers before heading to work --- it’ll do you a world of good.

Exercise

A strong heart is a healthy heart --- just like any other muscle in the body, it must get the exercise it needs to get the blood pumping.  Not enough time to work-out?  Use your environment --- choose the stairs over the escalator the next time you’re in the mall.  Take a walk in your afternoon coffee break. 

Supplement

Eat as many organic fruits and vegetables that you can --- this is bar-none the best thing you could do for your heart.  If you can, eat them fresh and uncooked, as some of the nutrients are lost once a fruit or vegetable is cooked.  Eat fresh fish twice a week, and get more omega-3’s from a fish oil supplement.

Limit

Avoid any kind of toxic exposure for the body.  Limit your intake of saturated and trans fats or anything cooked in hydrogenated oil.  Stop that cigarette habit.  Quit the binge drinking!  All of these contribute to you getting a higher blood pressure, which is always linked to heart disease.

May you live long, strong and happy!