What Our Body Language Says About Our Health

They say that our body language tells the real story. The way that we twitch, flinch, blink, or shuffle, are all revelations of what is going on in our heads. The body language I want to talk about today has nothing to do with mannerisms, the way we squirm or wiggle, or any contortions of the face. The body language I am speaking of is the message that our bodies give to others about our health and fitness habits.

Lately, I feel like my body is speaking a foreign language! I caught a glimpse of a woman's reflection in the store window the other day. It startled me a little, because she resembled me. Unfortunately, she was me! Moan, groan, URGH!!!

As I paused to look at the image in the window, I noticed that my former school girl figure had turned into a stool girl figure, one that sits too much. Combine medication, lack of sleep, too much eating out, and not enough exercise and you have a prescription for body disaster.

Being the eternal optimist that I am, I only briefly beat myself up before I vowed to reverse the process and get my body back. I will shed the extra pounds. I will schedule workouts on my calendar for the days that I don't teach aerobic classes, and I will get to bed earlier as many nights as I can. I am determined to fight this aging thing with all my might and strength. I WILL be a role model for fitness!

What is your body language saying about you? Are you where you want and need to be physically? Maybe weight isn't an issue for you, but there could be other areas to improve. For instance, are you sitting at a computer all day? Chances are that you have tight chest muscles and overstretched upper back muscles, due to slumping all day. This can create a pull on your neck and back and make them hurt. Sitting contributes to tight hip flexors and tight hamstrings. Walking around every 30 minutes or so and stretching can give these muscles a break.