Healthy Living Weekly Post: The Good Life (book review part 4)

I thoroughly enjoyed the final chapters of Ruth McGinnis's The Good Life this week. (Click to see part 1, part 2, part 3 of my book review.) Throughout the book, the author stresses the importance of the various aspects of our lives which cannot be separated in order to enjoy a healthy lifestyle - physical, emotional, mental,  and spiritual.

Chapter 6 discussed emotional health and how addictions and codependency in our lives must be addressed as we seek to improve our overall health. Chapter 7 discussed self-responsibility and the many decisions that we can make as we seek a healthy life: be tobacco free, eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, consume alcohol in moderation, use medication responsibly, protect yourself from the sun, drive safely, and have a positive attitude. She cautions us not to take better care of our car than we do our body. Chapter 8 is all about relationships and how healthy, satisfying relationships add to our overall enjoyment of life. She discusses relationships with family, friends, and an overall attitude of kindness toward others. Chapter 9 focuses on honoring the spirit and taking time for daily quiet time.

This  is my fourth or fifth time to read this book over the past ten years or so, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I like the focus on overall health including all aspects of our lives and not just our physical bodies. This book was published in 1998, but I believe the principles it addresses remain unchanged. The book was updated in 2001 and published under the title Living the Good Life. I think they may both be out of print, but it's definitely worth seeing if your local library or used bookstore has a copy.

Here's how I did on my goals for this past week:
*Ride the exercise bike for 30 minutes at least four times.
  OK, rode three times.
*Complete a 30 minute strength training routine at least twice.
  OK, completed one time.
*Complete stability exercises at least once.
  NO
*Drink at least 48 ounces of water each day.
  YES - 6 out of 7 days! I also drank quite a few cokes this week, but I am pleased that I'm drinking more water - one thing at a time right?
*Complete reading The Good Life.
  YES
*Add one lifestyle activity at least four days this week.
  YES - this was a busy, productive week. I spent several hours one day deep cleaning/organizing/decluttering the master closet and one day doing the same thing in the master bathroom. I started at the top, cleaning the light fixtures (which required hauling in the ladder) and worked down to the bottom wiping down all the baseboards and mopping or vacuuming the floors. Another day I mowed the lawn (with a push mower that is NOT self-propelled) and trimmed the crepe myrtles, and I also intentionally parked further out in the parking lot when I met some friends for lunch - every extra step counts!

My Goals for the Coming Week
*Ride the exercise bike for 30 minutes at least four times.
*Complete a 30 minute strength training routine at least twice.
*Complete stability exercises at least once.
*Drink at least 48 ounces of water each day.
*Begin a new book on healthy living.
*Add one lifestyle activity at least four days this week.

BTW- If you did not see Rebekah's Guest Post on Project Life yesterday (because blogger was having all kinds of problems and deleted posts and comments from just about everyone's blogs!), please click here or scroll down to check it out!)