Your relationship is important to you. And you have a great thing going with your partner. But what about the health status of the two of you? Ever given that a thought?
It’s a no brainer that people with healthy relationships have more happiness and less stress.
All through the lockdown you have been cooped up together 24/7, and have done everything together - household chores, cooking, watching Netflix, maybe even worked from adjoining tables. So why not plan and make ‘health together’ your guiding mantra too.
Eat Breakfast Every Morning Together
Set the alarm for 15 minutes earlier, to ensure that there are no snatched (or skipped) breakfasts for both of you, ever again. Make a ritual of eating together in the morning to ensure that neither passes up this important meal. Fixing up who cooks when, is another motivating stick-to-the-routine tool. The big bonus - those who have a morning meal score more vitamins and minerals, and less fat and cholesterol, resulting in a leaner body, lower cholesterol count, and lesser cravings through the day.
Do this: This weekend do some breakfast goodies online shopping together and spend some time shortlisting some healthy quick breakfast recipes for the week ahead.
Maintain a Health and Food Journal
Make a food and health diary, and log all details religiously. Keep each other’s records updated. Mention complete family history (this is critical information) about all diseases running in the family on both sides. Note all over-the-counter pills and supplements both of you take, also mention all allergies (food, medicines, pollen…), phobias, and ongoing treatments and dates of appointment with doctor. Also on a weekly basis keep a record of your weight and pen down the food deviations (wrong food that you eat) too. Make a section on exercise that you do, and like to do, and keep recording them.
Do this: Keep every first Sunday afternoon of the month your journal-update day when you both sit down together, before you begin your Netflix binge watching.
Help Quit Bad Habits
So your partner has an old unhealthy habit (maybe sweets after every meal?) that is deeply entrenched. Who doesn’t? We all have these stubborn spots. Surely you do too (maybe endless cups of tea through the day, or is it cola?). Chucking these can be a task, but not if there is support from a loving partner.
Do this: Take on each other’s one health sponging habit (at a time) and start working at it.
Get Fit Together
Incorporating exercise into your life is crucial for the mind, body and soul. So couple (and thus double) your intentions, and work up a sweat together. Zero in on what you think will interest both of you and then do that something physical and fun each day, together.
Do this: make a list of all the physical activities that both of you enjoy doing and then zero in on when you would do these - together of course!
Get a Fat(s) Makeover
Take a good look at your fat intake (both quantity and quality) and make smart trade offs - replace bad fats for good. Boost omega3 fatty acids from fish or flax seed oils and limit hydrogenated trans fats (margarine, vanaspati, friend street food).
Do this: Snack every day on a handful of nuts (preferably unsalted) instead of cookies, chips, pastries or microwave popcorn — all of which contain hydrogenated oil. And dip bread in some homemade chutney instead of slathering on butter.
Learn to de-Stress Each Other
Pin down stress. Learn to defuse each others triggers. Cut clutter from your life as that invariably adds to stress. Learn some quick tension release tactics. Simply massaging each other’s tired feet after a gruelling day’s work helps ease stress quickly. Take an online Taichi or yoga class together.
Do this: If dance is a passion for both of you, then nothing better than signing in for an online salsa class for weekends. That way both of you can simply boogie your stresses away.
Open up Your Ki
Blockage of Ki (energy), also called Ki stagnation could show up as joint pains, muscle soreness, vaginal dryness, lack of interest in sex and migraines. Foods that will help overcome this are whole grains, vegetables, beans (which brings in potassium), and fermented foods. Include these in your daily diet.
Do this: Also stay away from too much dairy, sugar, white refined flour, processed and refined foods, coffee and alcohol to prevent Ki stagnation.
Plan a Health Vacation Somewhere
Now that the world is opening up maybe it’s time to leave the cocoon of the home and step out for a break - together. Go for a holiday together that is truly a break in the real sense of the word. A sort-of time spent with and for your soul n’ body – ‘just the two of you’, with no fixed itineraries. This will recharge both of you by connecting you with what really, deeply matters and you will return refreshed, more focused and productive, and yes healthier.
Do this: plan a holiday where you can share quiet moments with each other – maybe at a health spa (to give your getting city rusty body an overhaul) or go to an out in the woods cottage (to recharge your body and soul both).
(Kavita is a nutritionist, weight management consultant and health writer based in Delhi. She is the author of Don’t Diet! 50 Habits of Thin People (Jaico), Ultimate Grandmother Hacks: 50 Kickass Traditional Habits for a Fitter You (Rupa) and Fix it with foods.)
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