Complete Idiot's Guide to Wellness

Wellness rests on three strong pillars--proper nutrition, regular moderate exercise and stress management. As with anything balanced upon three legs, if one of the legs is missing or weak, the whole thing collapses. If you exercise regularly but eat poorly and do nothing to manage your stress, you are setting yourself up for illness. If you eat right but never get up out of your recliner, the same thing will happen. Even if you manage to eat well and exercise four times a week, the good benefits you accrue will not protect you from developing an illness if your life is full of unrelenting stress. The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Wellness teaches readers how to improve overall health and avoid illness by balancing these three pillars. In addition to providing readers with the necessary facts in each of these three areas, this book provides them with the tools necessary to proactively track their own wellness initiatives and identify when its time to get a particular check-up or exam, and under what circumstances to seek medical care.

Part 1: What Is Wellness?

1

(50)

Wellness Defined

3

(16)

The basics of wellness and hints to get you started

The History of Wellness

19

(10)

Why our ancestors were in better shape than we were and what we can learn from them

The Four Pillars of Wellness

29

(12)

Wellness rests on these strong foundations

What's in It for Me?

41

(10)

Wellness benefits to get you motivated

Part 2: The First Pillar: Nutrition-You Really Are What You Eat

51

(104)

The Importance of Proper Nutrition in Maintaining Wellness

53

(12)

Think nutrition isn't important? Think again

Diet of the Week-an Overview of Current Diet Crazes

65

(14)

Popular diets analyzed and compared

Protein, Fats, and Carbs-What's the Optimum Balance?

79

(18)

You need all these nutrients, but in what proportion?

Sugarholics and Junk Food Junkies-Remaking the Diets of Full-Time Snackers

97

(12)

Hints to help you moderate your sugar, fat, and salt intake

Planning Healthy Snacks and Meals

109

(12)

Tips for incorporating optimal nutrition into your diet

Vitamins-Do You Need Them or Not?

121

(12)

An informative overview of vitamins

Minerals, Herbs, and Phytonutrients

133

(12)

All you ever wanted to know about these essential nutrients

Water, Water, Everywhere, and You Need Lots of Drops

145

(10)

Savvy tips for getting enough H2O

Part 3: The Second Pillar-Exercise-Get Up and Move

155

(46)

Why Do I Have to Exercise?

157

(10)

We know you don't want to, but here's why you have to

Fighting the Slide-How Exercise Keeps You Young

167

(10)

Scientific proof that exercise can be a fountain of youth

Overcoming Inertia-No, Clicking Your Remote Is NOT Exercise

177

(14)

Can't get started? Here's how to get off the couch

Run, Walk, or Ride Just Choose Your Weapon

191

(10)

An overview of the most popular exercise programs

Part 4: The Third Pillar-Stress Management

201

(44)

Does Stress Really Cause Illness?

203

(10)

How stress weakens your immune system and makes you vulnerable to illness

What Are Your Stress Triggers?

213

(10)

Take our test and find out what sets you off

Tools and Techniques to Manage Stress

223

(10)

From aromatherapy to the art of meditation, here are the best ways to stay cool, calm, and collected

To Sleep, Perchance to Dream

233

(12)

Hints to get a good night's sleep every night plus an overview of things that might be keeping you awake

Part 5: The Fourth Pillar-Preventive Maintenance

245

(34)

Checkups to Check Out

247

(10)

Age- and gender appropriate recommendations for tests to help you monitor your health

Your Wellness Preparedness Plan

257

(10)

Keep an eye out for these symptoms of illness

Tools to Track Your Progress

267

(12)

How to keep a Wellness Journal

Part 6: Wrapping It Up

279

(38)

You Deserve It-Convincing Yourself That Wellness Is Important

281

(8)

Change your self talk and make yourself number one

Motivation-a Matter of Carrots and Sticks

289

(10)

How to figure out your motivational style

Get Focused and Get Going

299

(18)

Inspiration and tips for self motivation

Appendixes

A Resources

307

(4)

B Glossary

311

(6)

Index

317

What is included with this book?

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