By Julie E 
Photo Credit (Gettyimages)
Richard Au Lup Gay has no plans to slow down now that he is 61 years old. Rather, the active businessman is planning for the future and excited to see what the following several decades bring.
Au adds, “I hope to keep pushing myself because that’s what makes me feel alive.” She loves challenges and learning new things. Aging is something I look forward to, unlike a lot of people. I am looking forward to the years that lie ahead since they will be some of my most memorable. I look forward to continuing my lifelong passion for travel and spending quality time with my loved ones.
As far as men his age go, Au is healthier and fitter than most. Jogging, playing tennis and golf with pals, and lifting weights at the gym are all part of his weekly routine. He ceases eating at 5pm daily, although he doesn’t adhere to any certain diet due to his excessive food love.
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Sasha Guzmán
The mind-body connection influences our health in both directions. The state of our bodies is a reflection of our mental and emotional well-being.
One example is the “happy hormones” endorphins and serotonin, which the brain produces with regular exercise. These chemicals can be effective in reducing depression and stress. And when we’re in a good mood, we’re more inclined to work out frequently.
In honor of this critical connection and how we may utilize it to improve our quality of life, January 3rd is honored annually as International Mind-Body Wellness Day.
Four The importance is explained by health specialists in Hong Kong.
Karen Chong, a dietician at Matilda International Hospital in Hong Kong, believes that snacking is good but that you should pick healthy snack choices to help you maintain your diet. Image sourced from Matilda International Hospital
Eat healthy food.
Dietitian Karen Chong of Hong Kong’s Matilda International Hospital argues that what we eat might influence our mental state and how we think.
She says that the gut produces more than 90% of the “feel-good” hormone serotonin, so it’s important to eat fiber-rich foods like whole grains, beans, legumes, fruit, and starchy vegetables, as well as probiotic-rich foods like kimchi, tempeh, sauerkraut, kefir, and natto, in order to keep the gut bacteria healthy.
“Stay away from processed foods that are heavy in sugar and bad fats and lacking in healthy fiber and nutrients,” she says. It’s inflammatory and harmful to your digestive system. Depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment can all be influenced by chronic inflammation.
Eat meals that contain healthy starches like brown rice, potatoes, and wholegrain pasta for energy and mood regulation. Get your brain healthy fats from oily fish, nuts, seeds, and avocado. Get your protein from lean meat and beans. These will improve your mood and brain function, as well as lower your risk of obesity and inflammatory diseases like cancer and diabetes.
Not to mention micronutrients. For example, vitamin D can lift your spirits, and antioxidants, which are abundant in colorful produce, can help keep inflammation at bay and promote brain function, she says.
Chong maintains a balanced diet of fish, colorful veggies, nutritious grains, fruit, and nuts to keep his body and mind healthy. She works out frequently and strives for seven hours of sleep each night.
- Maintain an optimistic attitude
According to Professor Sylvia Kwok of City University of Hong Kong’s Department of Social & Behavioural Sciences, an optimistic view involves looking for ways to overcome obstacles rather than dwelling on issues or restrictions.
The reduction of stress and the subsequent decrease in the generation of cortisol—a hormone associated with hypertension and impaired immune system function—are two ways in which an optimistic outlook contributes to physical health.
Better sleep quality is vital for general health, and less concern can help you fall asleep sooner and remain asleep, according to Kwok.
There is a correlation between feeling good about yourself and having fewer inflammatory indicators in your body, which means you’re less likely to develop chronic diseases.
She lays out three steps to cultivate an optimistic outlook:
Maintain a positive outlook. Anticipate positive results and see hurdles as just that—temporary. Optimists approach problems with a sense of wonder and a desire to find solutions because they think they can make a difference.
A “growth mindset” should be cultivated. Embracing obstacles, learning from criticism, and praising effort are all ways to persevere, learn, and grow abilities and intelligence. You can hone yours by participating in seminars and hands-on activities (such as playing hard games that demand persistence) and by believing that you can accomplish your goals through consistent practice and effort.
Strengthen resistance. Being resilient and able to keep one’s mental health in check in the face of hardship is an admirable quality. In order to control your emotions and make it through difficult times, it’s important to focus on your strengths and areas for improvement.
As professional hypnotherapist Olivier Courret points out, when you let your emotions run wild in your thoughts, they transform into commands for your body and, in the end, determine your reality. Ollie Courret took the plunge
As professional hypnotherapist Olivier Courret points out, when you let your emotions run wild in your thoughts, they transform into commands for your body and, in the end, determine your reality. Ollie Courret took the plunge
Third, train your mind to be fit.
Having a strong mind affects your physical health and helps you overcome challenges in life.
Chemical messengers called neuropeptides are responsible for the real biological changes that our ideas and emotions bring about in our bodies.
“These molecules translate our mental state into physical reality, affecting everything from our immune system to muscle tension,” explains Olivier Courret, founder of Mind Your Brain and a clinical hypnotherapist based in Hong Kong.
Courret, being an athlete, makes mental preparations to influence his physical performance. To give you an example, he hurt himself in 2019 while training for the Asian Triathlon Championship, so he couldn’t run.
Running submerged in water and visualizing his body recovering and running strongly on race day kept him going instead of quitting up. He claims this contributed to the development of novel physiological realities brought about by highly charged mental processes.
Courret not only competed but also set a new record for quickest triathlon run time, all while only having a week to recover from his land-based run.
If you want to change your reality, you have to change your ideas, and when your thoughts are full of actual emotion, they become commands for your body, explains Courret.
When it comes to building mental fitness, he suggests doing things like practicing visualisation on a regular basis, becoming aware of your subconscious thoughts (with or without a therapist), seeing physical challenges as chances to strengthen mental resilience, and learning to control your emotions through meditation and breathing exercises.
- Treat yourself well.
When we’re down, many of us have thought negative things about ourselves, such as how unlovable, inadequate, undeserving, or unworthy we are.
Joint Dynamics psychologist Kathryn Gale of Hong Kong argues that hearing criticism like this might lead to emotional anguish, anxiety, and melancholy.
The human body isn’t designed to handle stress well, according to Gale. “Taking care of our physical health, including getting enough nutrition and sleep, is the last thing on our minds when we’re anxious and depressed.”
Having faith in one’s abilities is associated with less stress and, by extension, better physical health.
She stresses the importance of self-compassion. Pay attention to your internal monologue, question its veracity, remind yourself that you can grow from your experiences, and convince yourself that everything will be alright.
“Every time you catch yourself engaging in negative self-talk,” Gale continues, recommending taking a long, calm breath.
Your capacity to think clearly and have a positive self-image improves in direct proportion to how relaxed you are.
Health and beauty, design, architecture, cuisine, and travel are just a few of the many topics that Sasha covers in her writing. Her work has been featured in various Asian journals, such as Her World Singapore, SilverKris, Wine & Dine, and The Peak. Since 2011, she has been a contributing writer for the South China Morning Post.
Society in Hong Kong
According to young Hongkongers, adjusting to the work culture of mainland China is crucial for a smooth move.
There are options available through the Greater Bay Area Youth Job Scheme, but not everyone can handle the rapid pace and long hours.
Graduate of Hong Kong’s Greater Bay Area Youth Employment Scheme Tin Lau Tin-yat had no qualms about taking a job in mainland China, thanks to Harvey Kong and Ambrose Li.
For as little as HK$18,000 (US$2,310) per month, young Hongkongers with a bachelor’s degree can work across the border for up to 18 months through the program.
A high standard of living on the mainland can be had with the same pay as in Hong Kong, thanks to this scheme, he stated.