No, I didn’t mean your JEANS. Studies show that changes in your lifestyle can ‘turn on’ the good genes and ‘turn off’ the bad ones.

That is good news for anyone who has a family history of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes or being overweight. These lifestyle diseases—so called because they are most often related to our lifestyle choices– are primarily responsible for the strain on the healthcare system. Our lifestyles of little activity, high calorie and high fat foods are the main culprit.

If you do have a family history of these diseases it means that you may be more prone to developing them. However, this does not mean that you are destined to get the disease. You do have control!! This is an important message and can help to shift one’s attitude about family history.

You can change this predisposition by altering your lifestyle choices. And, those choices don’t need to mean deprivation or sacrifice. Successful change means finding foods and activities that are pleasurable to you, while still being healthy. It may mean that you change what you are eating, but it doesn’t mean you feel starved or deprived. You can still have some of your favorite foods—probably in smaller amounts, though.

Eating a healthy diet does not mean deprivation; rather, it is finding a way of eating that you can live with for the rest of your life. How does that prospect compare to taking medications for a chronic disease for the rest of your life?

In thinking about these changes, consider how you will benefit. If the benefits outweigh the disadvantages, it will be a bearable, worthwhile change. Do you want to feel well, feel healthy and be able to do the activities you desire? Then, reflect upon these questions as you think about making changes:

What are you doing to keep yourself healthy?

If you decide to ____________ , what would be the benefits?

If you stopped doing __________, what would happen?
 

So, if you want to fit into those jeans that haven’t fit for awhile, remember, your genes don’t control you!

Polly Wilson
Delight in Healthy Living!