Can you name something you need in yoga, on a financial statement and for your tires? If you guessed balance – you’re right! Balanced health is possible! In the past I have made choices that were out of balance, especially in the area of sleep. I followed unhealthy role models who took pride in how little sleep was needed and I thought I’d catch up on my sleep – in the grave!

Ever feel like you’re just reacting in terms of your health? It shouldn’t be this way. We’ve all tried to do better but where do you turn to for information and motivation?

Not a modern day problem; the apostle Paul give us inspiration and insight,

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

A contemporary approach from Tom Rath, in his book Eat Move Sleep, you’ll find a three part formula to achieve better health. This book transformed my thinking to make lasting changes to my diet, exercise and sleep patterns. Everyone can learn to achieve better health by reading Eat Move Sleep.

The spark for this book is riveting. Tom’s the author of Strengths Finder 2.0, one of my favourite books.  At age 16 he was diagnosed with a disorder that doctors predicted would result in cancer in multiple systems of his body. He began his quest to learn how to fight the possibility of disease. Not a medical or health expert this book is a compilation of his experiences and knowledge to find easy steps to better health.

Up to 90% of your health is up to you in the following three areas:

Eat: Simplify – every bite of food can be viewed as a net gain or loss.  Judge food by the color of its skin and eat a cup of broccoli or other dark green vegetables a day. Focus on the ratio of one gram of carbs for every gram of protein. He believes sugar should be considered the nicotine of food.

Move: Get moving! Buy a $5 pedometer a try for 10,000 steps a day. Sitting is the most underrated health threat, try standing every 20 minutes and taking a break every 90 minutes. Avoid back pain by getting a standup desk and or creating a treadmill desk.

Sleep: Makes or breaks your day. Missing only 90 minutes a night reduces alertness by nearly 1/3. Get less than seven hours and you are 3 times as likely to catch the common cold.

Short chapters provide three suggestions for you to try and implement. In 30 days I’ve made real progress towards balanced better health. Even if you’re a health nut like me and in fairly good shape, there’s a lot I’ve learned.  (I’m even less grumpy now due to lack of sleep and have greater energy – just ask my kids!)

Are you ready for a change? Reach out for help to live better and longer. Order this book and it will radically improve your health for years to come.

Attitude            What is holding you out of balance?

Action                Order and read, or listen to this resource for a transformed lifestyle of better health.

Question           Of the three components of balanced health; nutrition, exercise and sleep, which is most out of balance for you?

Resource          Eat Move Sleep: How Small Choices Lead to Big Changes by Tom Rath