Healthy Lifestyle Checklist Anyone?

As we get older, medical check ups becomes frustrating every now and then, it is inevitable that some parameters go beyond the limit, and doctors will simply say that it is a matter of lifestyle. How can we have a good one?
Below is the checklist given by Dr. Anthony Leachon, a Cardiologist at the Manila Doctors Hospital, and I am sharing it here in my blog, hoping to touch more lives...

1.) Stop smoking.
This is the single most important factor in improving the quality of your health. Smoking is linked to a host of serious diseases, including cancer, heart, and stroke. Stopping should be a first priority. It's good that I, and hubby doesn't smoke. So, no worries for us.
2.) Watch your diet. Avoid high-fat foods!
Keep yourself away from french fries, burgers, processed foods, junk foods, pork, beef, cakes, ice cream and, etc.....
The biggest dilemma for me in my weight battle is having a diet that works and lasts. Maybe it's time, to be a good patient and take some effort in counting all the calories of food taken and limiting it to 1300 calories only per day then simply zip my mouth. While it is easier said than done, I will CHALLENGE myself in this regard! The cardinal rule in weight management  they said is calorie in equals calorie out for weight maintenance only.
3.) Exercise. 

Keeping physically active is very important part of a healthy lifestyle. A 30 minutes daily brisk walking, running, dancing and swimming is recommended.
For someone like me, with osteoarthritis in both knees high impact activities are kept minimal, but I need to be more diligent in my swimming, biking and dancing regimen and to stop being a couch potato. In short, I must keep on moving around to burn calories. Again, another CHALLENGE  that I must meet head on.
4.) Maintain an ideal body weight.
Every time we visit a doctor; we are always weighed, sometimes I feel hesitant to step on that scale for fears of the numbers that registers. It is always Body Mass Index or BMI that the Doctors are looking at. A person's weight in relation to one's height.
5.) Stop Alcohol drinking.
No problem in this area, because I am allergy to alcohol and hubby is an occasional drinker only.
6.) Reduce stress
By relaxation, exercise, meditation and talking to family and friends about your problem...
Hmm...but what if they are the one giving you the stress? Don't mind them and don't show you are affected. By doing so, any stress unduly given will just fade away. Or better to stay away from things that won't make you smile...I'll simply put it that way.  
7.) Take your medications regularly.
Yes, we have to because there are no short cuts, especially when antibiotics are prescribed.
8.) Visit your doctor regularly.
The old adage that health is wealth still holds true to date. We have to find time out of our busy schedules to visit our doctors.
9.) Sleep for at least eight(8) hours.
Oh, that's something that needs a lot of catching up especially when living in the metro when we are always on the run.

10.) Be Happy.

Amid all the things that are happening around us, it is still better to keep a positive attitude and choose to be happy no matter what!
God Bless!!!