In order to enjoy and make the most out of our lives, we should strive to be physically, mentally, and emotionally fit. Due to the strains in our economy today, many people are finding it difficult to eat well and maintain a healthy lifestyle. As a result, many people do not eat healthy and get little exercise. The outcome of an unhealthy life style is obesity and depression. Research indicates that over the last 10 years, obesity has increased by 18 percent and that more than one billion adults are overweight and have unhealthy life style habits.

For many, health and wellness is connected to one's psyche. Most people connect their feelings of themselves to their self-image. If you feel your self-image is poor you will likely have a poor impression of yourself and how others view you, which will likely lead to mood issues and depression. Considering that the symptoms of depression include hopelessness and low motivation, your health and view on wellness can greatly affect your ability to deal with depression and recovery.

Multitudes of research finds that changing how you think will effect how you view yourself and your mental health.  For example, if you look in the mirror and think "I am fat. I will never loose enough weight to look good", it is likely that you will not be motivated to begin or continue any new healthy lifestyle.  However, if you look in the mirror and say "I am good the way I am, but if a loose a few pounds I will feel and even look better", you might be more motivated to continue with a healthier lifestyle.  This continuation is because you are looking at yourself in a positive way.  You unlikely allow your self-perception to be hindered by success or failure but rather on working toward a goal of changing your life to include more positives.

By altering your lifestyle and changing your thinking, you can live a healthy, productive life and combat depression. It may take time and some adjustment, but the results will be worth the effort. Also, others around you might begin to adjust their lifestyles as well, and you could find a support system open to you made up of others who have adopted the same healthily life style.

Tips for adopting a healthier life style:

  • Seek the advice of a medical professional before you being any weight management routine to insure that you follow a plan that is best for you.
  • Ask for the assistance of a trained mental health professional that has experience in this area. A cognitive behavioral technique may work best for some individuals.
  • Join a support group or try to find a supportive network of individuals that can assist you with staying on track.
  • Monitor negative thinking. Also, pay attention to what messages one is receiving from others. If you are tying to maintain a positive attitude, make sure others around you do too.
  • Keep a close watch on media influences. If you are watching a television program or reading a magazine that is focused on body image be sure that you pay attention to how it affects your mood.  If necessary, look for new entertainment activities that can promote a positive image and mood state.