Health is the probably the single most important factor to succeeding holistically in life. It’s like having a solid foundation that supports everything else you want to achieve. We asked a few of our readers, how they maintain their health and fitness and this is what they said:

 

“Health is wealth”

My motto is “health is wealth“. Health management should be holistic involving physical, mental and spiritual health. This covers:

 

• Fitness – exercise regularly. These days I walk for 45 minutes to 1 hour almost daily and run once or twice a week. This regime helps me reduce stress on my knees while improving my cardiovascular system. Recently, I’ve started a chair Yoga routine which is easy to do and helps maintain my strength and flexibility. I do annual medical checks to see if there are any issues with my medical health.
• Finances – live within your means. I try to live simply and buy everything with cash unless there are big-ticket items.
• Family – love your family and spend as much time as possible with them especially, when they are young. Apart from work, I try as much as possible to be involved with my wife’s and children’s lives as possible. The love of a closely-knit family is my anchor in the storms of life. The joy of seeing the kids doing well in life surpasses all my personal success.
• Friends are an important part of the health equation. I have a few good and close friends whom I treasure whom I make great effort to meet and nurture our friendships.
• Food – Someone once said, “if you don’t eat your food like medicine, you will be eating medicines like food.”
• Faith – I practice prayer and meditation daily. I can’t recommend it enough. We are all spiritual beings, and our health management must incorporate spiritual practices.

– Mr. Daniel Sinathamby, 55 years old,
Physical Education Teacher

 

“Earn your indulgence”

Maintaining my health is a top priority, and I achieve this by prioritising my morning exercise routine. By committing to this schedule, I eliminate any room for excuses to skip my workout later in the day. Additionally, when I anticipate indulging in rich foods and drinks, I make it a point to incorporate a workout session to “earn” my indulgence. This proactive approach helps me avoid feelings of guilt, knowing that I’ve already burned off the extra calories. In addition to physical health, I also prioritize my mental well-being by spending quality time with loved ones. Embracing intermittent fasting further contributes to my overall health regimen.

– Ms. Maya Kumari, 45 years old,

Journalist

 

“Positive mindset sets the tone”

There are two intrinsically interwoven aspects to good health management, the mind and the body. One cannot succeed without the other. My day typically starts between 6 to 7 am.  Upon arising it almost always starts with a word of gratitude to the Creator, regardless of how it may turn out. A positive mindset in my opinion sets the tone for a healthy and happy life. Two large glasses of water wake the body. On an empty stomach, a half-hour brisk walk kicks the body into gear.

 

As part of my health management journey, I have incorporated the following into my health journey.

• Daily stretching with a light workout
• Drink more water throughout the day.
• Limit eating outside food to 3x a week.
• Smaller but healthier food portions
• More fruits and vegetables
• Intermittent fasting
• Listen to soothing or uplifting music.
• Appreciate life in it’s ups and downs
• Laugh heartily.
• Forgive others and yourself.
• Take your vitamins and minerals. 

– Mr. Edgar Silva, 57 years old,

Shipping Executive, Retired

 

“Brisk walking two to three times a week”

As I have had knee surgery and slip disc, my keep fit regime options are limited. Nevertheless, being a couch potato is not an option either as your health and fitness just goes downhill after that. I do light stretching exercises daily – mostly yoga-based postures with my friend and brisk walking every week. I aim to improve my brisk walking to two to three times a week and start a weekly swimming routine. I walk an average of 8,000 steps daily and my aim is to achieve a daily average of 10,000 steps and then progress on to 15,000 steps by the end of the year. While I have started small, I aim to increase progressively to find my balance point and maintain it. I take a low-carb diet with a smaller portion of rice and more vegetables. I am not a frequent meat eater with occasional non-veg meals two to three times a week.

– Sivakumaran 56 years old, 

Director

 

“Disciplined approach”

As someone who travels quite a fair bit, maintaining health on the go is crucial. I prioritise quality sleep during layovers, opt for nourishing food choices to sustain energy, and diligently take vitamins and supplements. This disciplined approach ensures I stay at my best while navigating the demands of travel.

– Ms. Darshina, 36 years old,

Flight Attendant

 

“If you don’t use it, you lose it!”

If you want to be strong and healthy at every stage of your life, it is very important to exercise regularly. When I am stressed, I go for a run to clear my head, and get my blood pumping. Gym workouts, running and a healthy diet help me manage my weight and keep high blood pressure and diabetes at bay. Lately, I have also embarked on meditation and that has helped my mental health.

– Mr. James Ratnam, 45 years old,

Marketing Director.

 

“A large water bottle”

I understand that maintaining good health can be challenging, both financially and in terms of sustainability. That’s why I focus on simple, cost-effective methods to stay fit and healthy, ensuring longevity. I prioritise drinking three litres of water daily, for which I’ve invested in a large water bottle. When dining out, I make sure to include vegetables in my meals. While sometimes I’m not motivated to work out, I compensate by ensuring I take 10,000 steps each day, avoiding prolonged sitting and walking whenever possible. Additionally, I aim for an early bedtime to guarantee I get a consistent eight hours of sleep every night.

– Mr. Anand Raj, 34 years old,

Banker 

 

“Listen to your body”

Listening to your body is an essential aspect of health management. It involves paying attention to physical cues such as hunger, fatigue, pain, and emotional signals like stress or happiness. Tuning into these signals can help you make informed decisions about diet, exercise, rest, and overall lifestyle choices to maintain your well-being. Regular check-ins with yourself and addressing any discomfort or imbalance promptly can contribute to a healthier and more balanced life.

 

It is also important to do regular health screening. Regular health screening involves routine check-ups and tests to detect potential health problems before they become serious. These screenings can include blood pressure checks, cholesterol tests, mammograms, Pap smears, colonoscopies, and various other examinations, depending on age, gender, and risk factors. They are crucial for early detection and prevention of diseases, allowing for timely intervention and treatment when needed. It’s important to follow recommended screening guidelines provided by healthcare professionals to maintain good health and catch any issues early on.

– Mr. Eliyathamby Narasinghan, 43 years old,

Senior Engineer

 

“Exercise three to four times a week”

As someone in his 50s, I have become even more conscious about a healthy lifestyle, having lost some good friends to heart attacks. My ethos has been to exercise three to four times a week, either walking, gym or golf. Healthy eating by reducing the consumption of rice, salt and sugar, eating dinner by 6pm and eating salads for dinner at least twice a week. I also try to get at least six to eight hours of sleep. I try to reduce stress by exercising regularly as well as socialising with friends and colleagues or reading a book. I also make it a point to drink at least two litres of water every day and drink turmeric water with lemon drops and pepper first thing in the morning. And I prefer home-cooked food to eating out, especially since home-cooked food is healthier and less stressful on the wallet as the prices of everything have gone up! I am also a big believer in supplementing your diet with vitamins and minerals as we do get everything from our food.

– Mano Ramanathan, 53 years old,

Personal Motivational Consultant

 

“Run to the beach”

To maintain a balanced lifestyle, I have tailored simple, enjoyable and effective methods which help me keep up my health. I do 30 to 45 minutes of deep stretch yoga on a daily basis. I also make it a point to run at least 15 kilometres a week. Running has always been a passion of mine. After sitting at my desk for almost eight to 10 hours a day, a run to beach is a great stress reliever. I do love my food, but I also watch what I eat. A lot of my daily meals are home-cooked and consist of protein and vegetables. As much as I can, I try to avoid carbohydrates and oily foods, especially at dinner time. Mental health has also been a focus for both me and my wife. As we both have very demanding jobs, we make our plans in advance to leave work behind and make sure we spend quality time with each other and our fur kid Sam, our 9-year-old American Cocker Spaniel. 

– Jeevan Thavasukannu, 45 years old,

Digital Experience Consultant

 

 

 

These 10 respondents walked away with a bottle of Mt Monster Cabernet Sauvignon 2020. The wines were sponsored by  CornerStone Wine.

 

 

 

 

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