A picture says a thousand words, and when it comes to our ability to maintain our ideal shape – it’s handy to think of an open fire (or furnace).
Our bodies have an internal furnace that needs to be stimulated to burn efficiently and consistently, to use the fuel (the food) that we eat, and create a balance between how much energy we take in (what we eat) and what we burn.
How well our internal fire burns, is affected by several systems in our body; including these…
–Cardiovascular – making sure that the oxygen and nutrients that our body needs are delivered to where they’re needed, and the waste products are safely taken away
–Digestive – great digestion, absorption and assimilation means our cells can actually use what we’re eating and drinking. If for some reason our digestion is upset, then it takes more energy to break down and extract the goodness from our food. This can often lead to eating more than we need in an attempt to get the nutrients we’re missing.
–Respiratory – working closely with our cardiovascular system; efficient breathing makes sure our cells receive their oxygen and remove their carbon dioxide for optimal health. This is especially true for our muscles, which need oxygen for many functions, including burning fat efficiently. To get the picture, just think of the way a fire needs oxygen to burn.
–Musculoskeletal – our muscles and joints (and all the structures supporting them) need to be working well for us to be able to drive our furnace to burn our fuel at the right intensity and efficiency.
And of course our immune system; which affects how well we are, is a key player in this picture, alongside our hormonal system.
If you’re not feeling 100%, you’re working out and you’re not noticing the changes you’d expect – it’s worth having a health check. There may be something your body’s fighting, or an imbalance in your hormonal system, for example, that’s affecting your overall results.
Take away – If you’re ready for new results this year, and you’re keen to get moving – although challenged to fit it all in, then check out ‘want to exercise, even though you’re busy?’ – it may be just the ticket to get yourself on track.
And if you prefer to watch or listen rather than read – this link is for you ‘what makes this simple exercise so good for us?’
Fi Jamieson-Folland D.O., I.N.H.C., is The LifeStyle Aligner. She’s an experienced practitioner since 1992 in Europe, Asia and New Zealand as a qualified Osteopath, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, speaker, educator, writer, certified raw vegan gluten-free chef, and Health Brand Ambassador.
Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Pinterest YouTube