Bad Eating Habits Stop You From Losing Weight

Quit smoking. Lay off the junk food. Stop being a couch potato. Don’t stay up too late.

Sounds simple enough: If you have a bad habit, break it.

But “simple” doesn’t necessarily mean “easy.” You’ll need a good strategy. Losing weight is more about the kind of food you eat rather than how much food you eat. Yes, the amount of food will make a diiference, but eating pizza and hamburger or fried chicken every day will put on weight even if you only eat a child's portion. 

Swap Bad for Good

It’s important to add good habits to replace your bad ones. Otherwise, the stuff you want to stop doing will probably come back. For instance, you go to Starbuck's in the morning to meet friends, that's not a bad habit, it's what you order that can make it a bad habit. You want to replace the Latte with something that doesn't have calories. Black coffee or tea with non-fat milk. You might not eat breakfast, but Latte's have lots of calories and they're empty calories.

If you smoked, people who quit smoking can replace it with eating too much. Packing healthy snacks can be a good replacement. Bring fruit or nuts with you to work, don't buy junk from the snack machine. 

It might be great that you turn off the computer in time to wind down and fall asleep, but if you replace that with looking at your phone or watching TV, that’s probably not going to help. Instead, try meditating, writing in a journal, or reading something on paper. (Light from a screen can keep you awake.) Use a book or something printed on paper to help you fall asleep.

Make sure you enjoy your new healthy habit. If you hate running on a treadmill, chances are you won’t stick with it. If you don’t like broccoli, there’s no point in loading your plate with it because you won’t enjoy it. When you're looking to replace a bad habit make sure this is something you like.

Change one habit at a time. Trying to do too much at once can be overwhelming. It can make you feel like you don’t know where to start, so you don’t start at all. As you meet each goal, try to add another one.

Don’t rush it. Chances are you didn’t develop the bad habit overnight, so give yourself the time to develop the new one. It can take 2 to 3 months for a habit to really take hold.

Track Your Progress

Keep a daily record of the changes you make. If you haven’t met your goals for the week, think about what went wrong, then adjust. If you’ve met your goals, give yourself a little reward. Seeing things add up -- like your work-outs or the days since you’ve had a cigarette -- can motivate and encourage you.

Forgive Yourself

Setbacks are normal. Don’t beat yourself up. Think back to when you first started, look at your daily record, and remind yourself of how far you’ve come. One slip-up doesn’t wipe all of that out. Pick up where you left off.

Breaking a bad habit is about the journey, not the destination.

I wanted to change what I eat and I changed all at once to a fresh food diet. I wasn't going to buy anything anymore that had a label. Everything fresh. Meat,fruit and vegetables, I even started to buy bread from a bakery fresh baked.

I found out that it takes a lot of will power to change everything all at once. For most people, it might be too hard, but it worked for me. After you make the change, you can't look back. I know it might sound easy, because there won't be any calories to count or special diets to follow. That's true, but that also means no canned or bottled drinks except for water. You can't drink anything with calories. 

Coffee and tea is fine, but don't add calories. Don't make foods with gravies or sauces. Eat fresh means to eat the food as close to it's natural state as possible. Yes, you can season your food but use spices but no added sugar. 

The part that I found the hardest was "eating out". That can be challenging. For the longest time I was eating dry salads with vinegar or lemon juice and a glass of water. You have to be careful ordering salads. Don't order a salad with cheese or meat. You can change a 300 calorie salad into a 800 calorie salad real quick. Chef salads and Taco salads are the worst. Some can be more than 1000 calories.

I know it sounds crazy to only eat salads when you're in a restaurant, but meats in restaurants are usually soared in marinates which is bad for your diet and sometimes bad for your health. Restaurant chains will use marinate to tenderize meat and add flavor and that's when it becomes a high-calorie dinner. Fish can be a better option, if they will serve it without a sauce or any gravy.

I found that eating "fresh" meant a lot of home-cooked meals and that's the hardest part. Making your own meals can cut several hundred calories a day.

If you really want to lose your body fat than look for my e-books at the websites listed below. You'll get information on Healthy eating, exercise, and diet. Instead of spending hours on the internet reading dozens of posts, you can save time by picking up one of my e-books. 

There are two e-books. “How Bad Do You Want To Lose Weight?” is available at all the online bookstores selling for $1.99. Go to any of the websites below and search the title to find my e-book. This book gives you all you need to lose weight without spending money on gym memberships, diet plans or meal plans. Look for my book. at Amazon.com, B&N.com, iBooks, Kobo.com, Scribd.com, or Gardner Books in the U.K.

My new e-book is available on Smashwords.com, just type “getting to a Healthy Weight” in the search box at the top of the home page. 

Diet Buddies

Yes, there is such a thing as a "diet buddy". When someone has a hard time sticking to a diet, after quitting your diet several times, you might be tempted to look for someone to give you "moral support". I know it sounds like a good idea but the success ratio is pretty bad. I know that sounds discouraging but it's the truth.

A blogger on WordPress that I try to read pretty often wrote about this very subject and at the end of her post it said, "If you're looking for that special someone to give you the encouragement to stick with it, simply look in the mirror." Wow, real words of wisdom.

I think by this time you have probably guessed that I'm not in favor of "diet buddies" or "exercise buddies". For some unknown reason we never seem to pick the right person and after a few weeks, they are finding excuses not to show up or not to continue "being there for you". Or worst of all, they are the one that ends up needing all the moral support and you're getting nothing. Your partner doesn't even know how to give support and you end up totally involved in all their problems. Like you don't have enough to think about.

I tried to go that route many years ago and gave up looking for a partner I could put up with. When it comes to moral support or finding someone you can depend on, you either have to pay someone, like a life coach, or be your own best friend. If you're the one who wants to slim down, become fit and have that body you have always dreamed about, it's only you that has to muster up the determination to change your life. You have to forget about all the foods you like and the things you like to do when you're not working. Because for a few months you'll have to concentrate on living a healthy life. If you need to workout with a partner, get a trainer. They can put you on the right path and after a few weeks you'll be able to do it yourself. 

This means that you might have to do some homework. You'll have to learn about "living healthy". Fortunately, we have the internet now, and all the information you need is on the internet. Healthy eating is the most important part, exercise alone won't get you to your goal. But after you straighten out your diet, you'll have to find an exercise routine to strengthen your muscles and help you burn more body fat. A trainer will help you with that. You can't exercise away a bad diet. If you workout and aren't losing weight, it's your diet. Know when you need help.

Living a healthy, active lifestyle means you'll need to change your routine. Change what you eat, how much time you spend sitting or reclining and even how much your sleeping. You'll have to pay more attention to your bodies needs. I'm sure you have seen those slim, trim people playing Tennis or Golf and wish you had the time for that. Living an active, healthy life means you have to get organized and make time for "being active". And it also means that you have to learn what it means to "eat healthy". Your body fat is robbing you of energy, the energy to live a healthy life. Lose your fat and you'll feel 10 years younger.

I write several blogs and e-books, check out some of my other sites.

gettingtoahealthyweight.wordpress.com
idropped40pounds.wordpress.com
howbaddoyouwanttoloseweight.blogspot.com
blogonweight.blogspot.com

If you really want to lose your body fat than look for my Ebooks at the websites listed below. You'll get information on Healthy eating, exercise, and diet. Instead of spending hours on the internet reading dozens of posts, you can save time by picking up one of my e-books.
There are two e-books. “How Bad Do You Want To Lose Weight?” is available at all the online bookstores selling for $1.99. Go to any of the websites below and search the title to find my Ebook. This book gives you all you need to lose weight without spending money on gym memberships, diet plans or meal plans. Look for my book. at Amazon.com, B&N.com, iBook, Kobo.com, Scribd.com, or Gardner Books in the U.K.
My new e-book is available on Smashwords.com, just type “getting to a Healthy Weight” in the search box at the top of the home page.

Want To Lose Weight? Your Diet Is The Secret

You’ve heard that the French have a diet that would put weight on any American, but they're thin. Most men and women of all ages in France are thin. When we first looked at their diet we thought that the red wine they drank was the answer. These people eat out as much as we do, they don’t even know what low cal means.

So how do they do it? Well, first they walk more. City people don’t use cars that much, They walk everywhere. Also, bike riding is more popular, you see gasoline has always been expensive in Europe and the people have learned to conserve. Conserving food is something that France has done since World War II when food was scarce. So today their meal portions are smaller than ours and combine this with the increased amount of walking the French do and it’s much easier for them to control their weight.

Now how does that help you? Well, there are studies going on today that are discovering that our meal portions may be double what we need. So how much food do you need? First of all, I think we all know that Americans eat too much and that we are a nation of overweight people. Studies have also been done in the far east. Thailand, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan to see why those people have much less Cancer than North Americans. They found that the people there are very healthy. They don’t have the weight problems we do and there more physically fit.

So are we the only country that is habitually overindulging? Well no, Canadians and the English are just starting to change with this new generation of young people. A lot of the Central European and Eastern European countries had the same problems. Some of the problems in this country and in Europe after World War II were the same. Too many poor people who couldn't afford quality food. Cheap food has too many carbs and a high-fat content and those people eating low-cost food will put on more weight.

 So what’s the answer? Besides the quantity of food consumed also the quality of the food makes a difference. In France for instance, yes they eat smaller meals but they also eat better than we do. In fact, most of Western Europe eats better than we do. And I don’t mean more. I mean a better quality of food. Food is made with fresh ingredients and made from scratch every day because refrigeration is still a new concept in most parts of rural Europe. By new I mean in the last twenty years.

After World War II, Europe was pretty much in ruins and yes the big cities did rebuild pretty quick. By the early 50′s tourism was once again a major industry. But the rural parts of the different countries took much longer to recover. So farming communities didn’t have electricity for many years. Europe is really only two generations away from the depression of the '40s. It’s this new generation today that doesn’t remember the War or the recovery.

So what does this have to do with you? In Europe, people have learned the proper way to eat, and watching their diet is the way to control your health. We lost that way of thinking in this country. When I get away from my regular way of eating, maybe on a vacation or business trip, I think back to the way my grandparents ate, the way we ate in the '50s. No snacks, no soft drinks, just real food. Three meals a day at the family table.

If you really want to lose your body fat then look for my e-books at the websites listed below. You'll get information on Healthy eating, exercise, and diet. Instead of spending hours on the internet reading dozens of posts, you can save time by picking up one of my e-books. 

There are two e-books. “How Bad Do You Want To Lose Weight?” is available at all the online bookstores selling for $3.99. Go to any of the websites below and search the title to find my e-book. This book gives you all you need to lose weight without spending money on gym memberships, diet plans, or meal plans. Look for my book. at Amazon.com, bn.com, iBooks, Kobo.com, Scribd.com, or Gardner Books in the U.K.

My new e-book is available on Smashwords.com, just type “getting to a Healthy Weight” in the search box at the top of the home page. 

Until February 23rd Smashwords has a sale on my ebook for $.99, don’t miss out. This book is a one-stop-shop for all your weight loss questions. Use the coupon code CL77K.

Define Clean Eating

Eating "clean" is gaining traction — but what does it actually mean, and how is it good for the body? You here about it almost everyday if your reading food blogs of watching cooking shows.

Clean eating is a deceptively simple concept. Rather than revolving around the idea of ingesting more or less of specific things (for instance, fewer calories or more protein), the idea is more about being aware of the food's pathway between its origin and your plate. At its simplest, clean eating is about eating whole foods, or "real" foods — those that are un- processed, refined, and handled, making them as close to their natural form as possible. However, modern food production has become so sophisticated that simply eating whole foods can be a challenging proposition these days.

Stores like Whole Foods have changed the food scene. We have more mini grocery's that specialize in fresh foods, organic foods and healthier brands. Ten or fifteen years ago we had 3 major grocery's where I live, and we had Whole Foods and convenient foods in gas stations. Today the scene is much different. Healthy foods are becoming common place in the majors and small grocery chains are springing up throughout the city selling organic, fresh, healthy food. Restaurants are starting to offer healthy food on the menu. The difference is today the public demands it. Menu will have to show the calorie count. And recently the FDA what's food manufacturers to put the amount of added sugar on food labels. These changes won't happen immediately but the changes will be a good thing for consumers.

Not eating processed foods is the biggest part of "eating clean". I was surprised to learn how many people don't really understand what foods are considered to be processed foods. Most people don't realize that bread is a processed food and that some cheese is processed. These new milks like soy milk and almond milk are processed foods and may have chemical additives.

I just finished a sugar detox recently. For 10 days I couldn't eat anything with added sugar. I'm glad I did the detox, but it's difficult finding foods or drinks without sugar.  I had to just buy the basics and make my own food. It's very healthy and I learned a lot and I have no regrets. The hardest part was not eating in restaurants. The other hard part was only drinking water, tea and coffee. I could add lemon for flavor and add cinnamon to black coffee. I could eat salads in some restaurants but no salad dressing, only lemon, oil, or vinegar.

The reason I mentioned the sugar detox is, if you want to get a taste of what it's like to "eat clean", try a sugar detox.

If you really want to lose your body fat than look for my e-books at the websites listed below. You'll get information on Healthy eating, exercise, and diet. Instead of spending hours on the internet reading dozens of posts, you can save time by picking up one of my e-books. 

There are two e-books. “How Bad Do You Want To Lose Weight?” is available at all the online bookstores selling for $1.99. Go to any of the websites below and search the title to find my e-book. This book gives you all you need to lose weight without spending money on gym memberships, diet plans or meal plans. Look for my book. at Amazon.com, B&N.com, iBooks, Kobo.com, Scribd.com, or Gardner Books in the U.K.

My new e-book is available on Smashwords.com, just type “getting to a Healthy Weight” in the search box at the top of the home page. 

What Is The Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean diet is based on the traditional foods eaten by people living in the Mediterranean region, especially Greece. It's loaded with healthy foods and research findings suggest following this diet may help reduce some of the risk factors for heart disease. 

According to the Oldways Preservation & Exchange Trust, the Mediterranean diet was introduced in 1993 by Oldways, Harvard School of Public Health and the World Health Organization.

 The diet includes:

• Olives and olive oil
• Whole grains, mostly in bread and cereal rather than pasta
• Very little red meat
• Fish and seafood
• Some cheese, but less milk
• Lots of vegetables and fruit
• Plenty of legumes and nuts
• A little red wine

The Mediterranean diet is high in fiber and antioxidants from vegetables, legumes and nuts, far greater than the typical Western diet, and low in saturated fat. Very little red meat is eaten in this region, and milk consumption is limited as well, except for some cheese and yogurt.

Oldways designed a Mediterranean Diet Food Pyramid to help you see which foods are best.

The base of the pyramid is made up of foods like whole grain bread, cereals, pasta, potatoes and rice. Fruits, legumes, nuts, and vegetables make up another large share of your daily diet, along with smaller amounts of cheese, yogurt, and olive oil. Poultry, fish, and eggs are eaten weekly, and red meats are eaten about once per month.

Oldways also suggests you drink six glasses of water every day, along with moderate consumption of red wine for some people. The Mediterranean Pyramid even allows for one sweet treat every week.

How to Follow the Mediterranean Diet

Replace the fat you use now with olive oil. You probably don't want to add more calories to you diet so use olive oil in place of butter, margarine and other salad dressing oils.

Olive oil is good for cooking too.

Eat lots of vegetables. This idea just can't be stressed enough. Every healthy diet includes lots of vegetables. Many people in the Mediterranean eat a pound of vegetables every day. Green and colorful vegetables are low in calories and high in antioxidants. Prepare Greek vegetarian dishes several times each week.

Enjoy a little starch. Choose whole grains more often because they're higher in fiber. Potatoes and polenta, which is made from cornmeal, are also commonly used as starches in the Mediterranean.

Eat poultry and fish. Fish contains omega-3 fatty acids that are good for your heart and your brain. Plus, fish is low in total fat and calories. Poultry and eggs are also acceptable protein sources. Bake or broil your fish or chicken, don't deep fry it. Breaded and deep fried foods don't fit this diet at all.

Limit red meat consumption. Red meat has a lot of saturated fat that's not good for your heart, so there isn't much room for steaks and hamburgers in this diet (only about one meal per month).

Instead of a greasy burger from a burger joint, make a ground turkey burger on a whole grain bun instead. Add lettuce, a slice of avocado and tomato, and you won't miss the red meat.

Discover legumes and nuts. Legumes have lots of fiber, protein, and nutrients and can be used in the main dish. Choose fava beans and other dry beans. Nuts such as almonds, walnuts, and cashews make a delicious and healthy snack.

Enjoy fresh fruits as dessert. Avoid sugary pastries, cakes, and cookies. Fruit is lower in calories and high in fiber and nutrients.

Yogurt and cheese are sources of calcium. Choose some low-fat yogurt and cheese every day. You could make a yogurt dressing or try a healthy salad with tomatoes and feta cheese. Keep it light. 

Drink water and wine. The Mediterranean Pyramid includes six glasses of water every day and a glass or two of red wine. Water is good for everybody, but don't drink red wine if you're pregnant, underage or if drinking alcohol puts you or others at risk.

Switching from a typical western diet to a Mediterranean diet seems difficult if you're not used to olive oil, fish and some of the vegetables and seasonings often associated with this region. But it's quite delicious. After a couple months on this diet you will feel healthier and have more energy. You may over-eat at first but after the first week, you'll notice that you won't be eating as much. Stick to this diet and don't cheat, you'll become a healthier person with more energy and considerable happier. 

You'll have to follow the same simple rules to lose weight. Eat several small meals, one about every three hours. Don't drink calories, except for that glass of red wine. And don't eat anything the last 4 hours before bed.

I write several blogs and e-books, check out some of my other sites.

gettingtoahealthyweight.wordpress.com
idropped40pounds.wordpress.com
howbaddoyouwanttoloseweight.blogspot.com
blogonweight.blogspot.com

If you really want to lose your body fat than look for my e-books at the websites listed below. You'll get information on Healthy eating, exercise, and diet. Instead of spending hours on the internet reading dozens of posts, you can save time by picking up one of my e-books. 

There are two e-books. “How Bad Do You Want To Lose Weight?” is available at all the online bookstores selling for $1.99. Go to any of the websites below and search the title to find my e-book. This book gives you all you need to lose weight without spending money on gym memberships, diet plans or meal plans. Look for my book. at Amazon.com, B&N.com, iBooks, Kobo.com, Scribd.com, or Gardner Books in the U.K.

My new e-book is available on Smashwords.com, just type “getting to a Healthy Weight” in the search box at the top of the home page.

Make Smoothies For Weight Loss

Smoothie lovers beware! Creamy and delicious weight loss smoothies can actually ruin your diet if you don't follow a few critical rules. Do you know what they are?

I found this post on WedMd.com and if you're like so many other busy people, we tend to drink our breakfast and lunch and save the meals for the evening. That's okay, but you can add a lot of calories if you're aren't careful. I stick to the 300 calorie rule. Never drink a shake or smoothie with over 300 calories. Yes, a protein shake can be a good breakfast. When you want to lose weight you have to start the day with protein and because most of us don't eat breakfast everyday and if we do we don't get the protein we need, protein shakes are a great way to have a quick breakfast either at home or on the run. 

Use this list of healthy smoothie dos and don'ts to make sure that your drink isn't too high in fat and calories. Then use the weight loss smoothie recipes and try new ingredients and boost the nutritional potential of your favorite drinks .

I'm not in favor of drinks that add calories to your diet but because we have protein drinks today and some of us are substituting smoothies or protein shakes for a meal, I've had to re-think calories in drinks. If these drinks are made properly and you can get nutritional value and use them as a substitute for a meal or a snack between meals, then maybe the drinks are worth a try. Remember that not all diets work for all people and if you start gaining weight on any diet, stop it quickly. If I gain 3 pounds, I stop what I'm doing and try something different. Just because you like the diet doesn't mean you can ignor weight gain. A food Log helps you find your mistakes. If shakes are going to max out your calories for the day, be careful. If your body can't burn all the calories you are consuming you will gain weight.

Do Measure Your Ingredients

Don’t throw ingredients into the blender without measuring them first. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a high-calorie disaster. Do measure each ingredient and tally the complete calorie count for your drink so you know how many you'll consume when you drink it.

You won't have to follow this step every time you make your smoothie, but if you measure the ingredients once and continue to use the same recipe, you’ll save yourself from making a common weight loss mistake: underestimating the impact of liquid calories.

Do Add Protein

chia seeds for smoothies

Do balance nutrients. If your smoothie is a meal replacement, make sure it contains each essential macronutrient: protein, fat and carbohydrates. Many fruit smoothies contain plenty of calories from carbohydrates and perhaps a small amount of fat. But don’t forget to add a good source of lean protein.

Protein helps you build muscle, which you need to maintain a healthy metabolism. Need a recipe? Try this yummy Mocha Smoothie with chocolate protein powder. If you already have a favorite smoothie recipe and want to add a boost of protein, throw in a tablespoon or two of chia seeds. The seeds will thicken your drink and provide a diet-friendly boost of fiber as well.

Don't Limit Ingredients

green smoothie recipe

Do try to use fresh or frozen fruit, such as blueberries, strawberries, mango, peaches or apples. You won’t need a recipe to combine these sweet ingredients. Don't be afraid to branch out and use ingredients such as watermelon, spinach or kale to get additional vitamins and minerals. Try this Sweet Green Smoothie to get vitamin-packed green veggies with your morning meal.

Do Cut the Fat

bananas for weight loss

Don't use high fat ingredients to get a creamy texture. A smoothie made with ice cream, gelato or a large amount of peanut butter is delicious, but it may be too high in calories to help you lose weight. Even frozen yogurt may add unwanted fat and sugar.

Do use bananas, either frozen or at room temperature, to get a thick, smooth texture without the added fat and calories.

Don't Add Extra Sugar

sugar in weight loss smoothies

Don't add unnecessary sugar. If you make a fruit smoothie, you’ll get plenty of sugar from the fruit ingredients that you add to the blender. If you add dairy, that source will also contribute lactose, a form of sugar.

Do limit the amount of honey, table sugar or other sweeteners that you add. This 175-calorie Peanut Butter Smoothie is creamy and sweet without the addition of any extra sugars.

Do Add Juice Cautiously

juice in smoothies

Do add fillers such as water or ice. Some smoothie recipes are very thick. It can be tempting to thin them out with high calorie, heavily sweetened fruit juice. But juice can add mega calories and unnecessary sugar.

Water will make your smoothie easier to drink and ice will add thickness. Experiment with a basic smoothie recipe. Try decreasing the amount of juice and adding water or ice to get the thickness and flavor that you like.

Shakes or Smoothies are great for a quick breakfast. Add protein power and watch the calories, but you can make these in minutes and take it in the car.

If you really want to lose your body fat than look for my Ebook at the websites listed below. You'll get information on Healthy eating, exercise, and diet.

“How Bad Do You Want To Lose Weight?” is available at all the online bookstores selling for $1.99. Go to any of the websites and search the title to find my Ebook. This book gives you all you need to lose weight without spending money on gym memberships, diet plans or meal plans. Look for my book. at Amazon.com, B&N.com, iBooks, Kobo.com, Scribd.com, or Gardner Books in the U.K.

My new ebook is available on Smashwords.com, just type “getting to a Healthy Weight” in the search box at the top of the home page.

Not Exercising? That Just As Bad As Smoking

  

New studies show how bad immobility can be. Some people just don't believe working out is necessary. "My grandmother lived to 92 and I never saw her do any exercise." I hear that a lot. I understand but people from that generation lived a hard life. Physical demands on even the housewife were pretty tuff. There was no dishwashers, no washing machines. Before World War II a lot of families didn't have hot water,  the only heat was a coal burning furnace. No TV's until the 50's and no supermarkets. I housewife worked about 16 hours a day. Most men worked some type of blue collar job. 

The reason I bring up this hard life that those people had from that World War I generation is because they were much healthier because they were much more active than people today. They were actually more active then and healthier than their children. We have to workout today because today we work with our minds and do little physical work compared to our grandparents. Read the short article below 

When you see someone smoking, you might question “Why would you do that to yourself when you know it could kill you?” Do you react the same way when you know someone doesn’t exercise? You should.
When I was at a recent medical conference, one of the presenters reminded the audience that research has shown physical inactivity to be as deadly as smoking. I was shocked at this when I first heard it a couple of years ago, but I think I was just as shocked hearing it the second time. My guess is you are too. It’s hard to imagine being inactive could be comparable to smoking, but it is.
You wouldn’t dream of smoking (and if you do smoke, you’re likely trying to quit), so why poison yourself with inactivity? But many of us do. Nearly 80% of us don’t get the recommended amount of exercise. Many experts agree the inactivity epidemic is more concerning than the obesity epidemic.
The benefits of exercise are numerous and irrefutable. It helps prevent heart disease, diabetes, breast and colon cancer, dementia, depression, and more. If you exercise, chances are you’ll live a longer, healthier life. Period.
What’s so powerful about exercise? Take heart disease, for example. Heart disease is associated with inflammation in the body. Exercise is a natural inflammation fighter. When you move, your muscles send out anti-inflammatory chemicals.
Also, every time you get up and move, your blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglycerides improve. When you sit down, they get worse. It’s just about moving more.
If you’re not active now, I’m sure it sounds overwhelming to start an exercise program. The good news is you can see health benefits with even a small amount of activity. Even taking a daily 5-minute walk around the office will improve your health. Slowly build up from there.
Ultimately, you want your goal to be 30 minutes at least 5 days a week of moderate exercise. We’re talking about a brisk walk– hard enough that you can talk comfortably but not able to sing. But take your time getting there. Throw in resistance exercises a couple of days a week, and you’re on track.
If you’ve tried exercise before and didn’t lose weight, don’t be discouraged. You are still getting health benefits even if you’re not shedding weight. If you’re overweight but active and fit, you can expect to live as long and healthy as someone who is normal weight and fit. Even if you’re obese, being active helps you live a longer, healthier life than a normal weight person who isn’t active.
Think you’re too old for it to matter? Hardly. Regardless of your age, getting active has enormous benefits even in your 80s and beyond. We’re not just talking about living longer, but living better with a higher quality of life.
As British-American anthropologist, Ashley Montagu once said, “The idea is to die young as late as possible.” Stay fit and healthy as long as you can.