How do you use the lessons taught by your mother to get fit? There is a cliché’ that says, “mother knows best.” Your mother taught some of life’s best lessons. Those lessons were never forgotten and remain with you. But why have those lessons endured the test of time? Perhaps it comes down to maternal instinct. Mother has a connection with nature.
She taught small lessons that had significant consequences. Some of the experiences that mother taught us, we neglected over time, leading to adverse outcomes like a bad back, low energy, and being overweight. Do you remember, “eat your vegetables, and then you can have some dessert.” What are three big lessons mothers teach that most people need to revisit?
How could you forget this lesson taught by your mother: Stand up Straight?
Many health and fitness benefits come from standing correctly. Here are seven benefits of standing correctly:
- Lowers the risk of obesity
- Improves blood circulation
- Lowers blood sugar levels
- Increases metabolism
- Lowers risk of heart disease
- Improves productivity
- Reduce back pain
- Enhances mood and energy levels
- Lowers risk of Type 2 diabetes
- Strengthens appearance and tones muscles
The key to standing up straight is to maintain vertical integrity. The first step is to bear your weight on the balls of your feet. Second, keep your knees slightly bent. Third, keep your feet shoulder-width apart. Fourth, stand straight with your shoulders pulled backward. Fifth, slightly pull your stomach in. And sixth, keep your head level, not forward, backward, or to the side. When you stand correctly, it is the same as a vertical plank. Standing correctly engages every muscle in your body.
How many times did mother have to teach this lesson: Slow down and chew your food.
Slowing down and chewing your food has health and fitness benefits. Here are six benefits of slowing down and eating your food:
- This leads to weight loss
- Improves the taste of food
- Less Stress
- Better digestion
- Improves social connections
- Improves hormone communication
The first step to slower eating is to set a time frame of 30 minutes or more to eat. Second, chew each bite 20 or more times. Third put down the fork, spoon, and knife after each bite. Fourth drink a few sips of water after a few bites.
Fifth, take a couple of breaks before completing the meal. Sixth, make meals a social time. By eating slower, you give your hormones enough time to let you know when you are full, and you help your digestive system process your food for energy.
One of mother’s most famous lessons: Go to bed!
Going to bed has many health and fitness benefits. Here are a few of them:
- Increases energy levels
- Lowers the risk of cancer
- Reduces stress
- Improves alertness
- Reduces risk of type 2 diabetes
- Improves heart health
- Reduces risk of depression
- This leads to weight loss
- Improves hormones
- It helps the body to repair
The first step to getting a good night’s sleep is to set a firm bedtime. Second, exercise and perform exciting activities early in the day. The exception to the rule is sex. Third, take a warm shower or bath leading up to sleep.
Fourth, control your environment – temperature, light, technology, and bed. Fifth, learn your circadian rhythm. Sleep, like eating, is an anabolic activity that will help you build hormones, muscles, and a healthy immune system.
In conclusion, the key to following lessons from Mother is to prioritize and give them the same weight as a diet and exercise.
This means you need to plan and catch yourself following your mother’s lessons. It is okay to tell yourself that you are doing a great job by standing correctly, eating your food slowly, and going to bed early. Not only should you catch yourself following your mother’s lessons, but you should remind yourself to follow your mother’s teachings and practice them when possible.
Occasionally stand up for no reason at all and practice how to stand correctly. By making small changes with these three big lessons you learned from your mother, you will find that you are spending your days and nights improving your health and fitness.
