There are many that claim to have found the secret to burning fat or getting 6-pack abs. Drugstore magazine covers are speckled with ads that read “walk off the pounds”, “fat burning foods”, and “7 ways to a sexy waistline”. On-line pop-up ads have hopped on the bandwagon advertising diet pills and other products that promise fast weight loss. The truth is no pill or potion can make you lose fat or grow muscles overnight. The only way to healthy, safe, and lasting weight loss is to eat clean and be active. This means cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and optimal nutrition.
Optimal Nutrition
Fuel your body properly by eating clean. Everyday eat a colorful variety of fresh vegetables. Try greens like spinach and broccoli, red radishes and tomatoes, yellow bell pepper and summer squash, orange carrots, and purple eggplant. Include lean proteins like chicken, turkey, beef, pork, egg whites, and fish. Despite the bad reputation of carbohydrates, be sure to include sources of whole grains from breads, pastas, cereals, and beans. Don’t forget about fat! Healthy fats, like those found in walnuts or fish, are loaded with Omega-3 fatty acids that assist in many bodily functions, particularly in the brain. They also slow the digestion process helping you to feel fuller longer.
Active Lifestyle
The key in maintaining an active lifestyle is to find an activity you enjoy. Incorporate cardiovascular exercise and strength training into your weekly routine.
Why cardio? Why not! Adding cardio assists in weight loss, strengthening of the heart and lungs, reducing stress, reducing risk of heart diseases and some types of cancer, temporary relief from depression and anxiety, better sleep, more energy, and confidence in the way you look and feel. Try walking, running, participating in sports, playing with the kids, riding a bike, or simply doing jumping jacks.
Strength training also has many benefits. Adding a little muscle tone will allow you to burn calories all day long – even when sleeping, reduce body fat, increase metabolism, prevent injury, improve balance, heal faster, perform better in sports or exercise, and add confidence in how you look and feel. For at-home training, try doing sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups, lunges, and squats.
Be active, eat healthy, live happy!
Comments
These tips are great. We all know what we're supposed to do. If how-to's were enough, we'd all be thin.
Why don't we do what we're supposed to do?
Ah, the million $ question! It's b/c of our programming. Like a computer has programming, so do we. And just like your computer will not, in a million yrs ever be able to open a powerpoint presentation if you don't have PowerPoint programming, your body is never going to get & stay slim if you don't have the slim programming.
Reprogramming yourself isn't easy; neither is dieting/extreme exercising. I know reprogramming works b/c it was the only I could shed 135 lbs and keep it off for many yrs, after a lifetime of yoyo'ing. (I shed & regained over 300 lbs before learning about reprogramming and using using it. )
Reprogramming=the missing link; the reason people don't stick with their new habits & eventually fall off the wagon. Willpower is not enough, it'll run out. Learn about reprogramming yourself at WhyAreYouWeighting . com
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