Healthy Living: Simple steps to a better life

Written by Colin McDougall


Continued from page 1

Avoid fad diets

Use common sense and followrepparttar advice of government health authorities, university nutritionists and other well-accredited health care experts. Reliable nutrition advice is available free by contacting your local health department and talking with a nutritionist.

Be wary ofrepparttar 115266 latest “Fad Diets” put forward by authors. Healthy eating is not rocket science—you need to eat a balanced diet that includesrepparttar 115267 four food groups:

  • Vegetables—three or more servings per day
  • Whole grains—five or more servings per day
  • Fruit—three of more servings per day
  • Legumes—two or more servings per day
  • This is well documented by decades of research. Sure,repparttar 115268 fad diets may help you lose weight temporarily but at worst you could seriously damage your health and at best, you will likely gainrepparttar 115269 weight back ifrepparttar 115270 diet is not sensible and sustainable.

    Get more exercise

    The second key to losing weight is to add more physical exercise into your lifestyle. Exercise takes some effort and time, so it is fair to ask why you should bother. The key reasons includerepparttar 115271 following:

  • Weight loss
  • Reduced risk of heart disease and stroke
  • Increased energy
  • Increased bone strength
  • Maintenance of muscle mass
  • Reduced stress levels
  • Better appearance
  • Research continues to show that any exercise is better than none. For example, regular walking or gardening may be beneficial in reducing your risk of heart disease.

    Exercise

    At a minimum you should strive for at least three 20-minute bouts of continuous aerobic (activity requiring oxygen) rhythmic exercise each week.

    Other exercise levels will depend on your physical condition and goals. Consider a session or two with a certified personal trainer to accurately assess your current physical condition and plan an exercise regimen.

    Easy ways for non-athletes to add exercise to their daily lives:

  • Get offrepparttar 115272 bus a stop or two early and walk to work or home.
  • If you drive to work, park in a new location and walk a few blocks.
  • Takerepparttar 115273 stairs at work. Get offrepparttar 115274 elevator a few floors down and walk up a few flights.
  • Ride a bicycle—you don’t need a fancy bike, but you should always wear a helmet
  • Walk—it’s cheap and it works! The average person can walk three to four miles an hour. This makes many short trips torepparttar 115275 store within walking distance, saving you money on gasoline and providing a health benefit atrepparttar 115276 same time.
  • Try gardening—raking, weeding, and tilling will all give you exercise. If you have a small, level yard, consider a push mower. These mowers are quiet, cutrepparttar 115277 lawn beautifully, and give you exercise all atrepparttar 115278 same time.
  • Enlist a friend to join you—have fun together and stay motivated
  • Consider creating a home gym

    More and more people are purchasing exercise equipment to use at home. The advantages include:

  • No wasted time traveling back and forth torepparttar 115279 gym
  • Ability to userepparttar 115280 equipment more often and at more convenient times
  • Increased chance of participation by all family members
  • Here are some tips in selecting equipment:

    Determine what goals you want to pursue—strength training, aerobic training or cardiovascular training before you look at equipment. Buy sturdy, quality equipment from known manufacturers. Purchase equipment that will meet your needs now and as you improve Buy from a reputable retailer, who has a large selection, low prices, and stands behind their products. For an excellent example for home gyms (click here) and other fitness equipment.

    Reduce Stress

    The good news is that by eating a healthier diet and exercising more frequently, you will have already taken two ofrepparttar 115281 most important steps to helping your body fight stress.

    Obviously sources of stress are a personal matter. Be alert to chronic stress you have trouble managing. This can sometimes lead to more serious conditions for both men and women, such as depression. If you feel you are having trouble coping, it is best to talk with your doctor.

    If onrepparttar 115282 other hand, you haverepparttar 115283 everyday level of stress most of us face, you may want to try these stress-reducing tips:

  • Make time for family and friends
  • Avoid stressful thoughts by not listening or watchingrepparttar 115284 news first thing inrepparttar 115285 morning and last thing at night
  • Try listening to music or practicing meditation
  • Take vitamins B6 and B12—they are excellent for fightingrepparttar 115286 effects of stress and most adults don’t get enough of these important vitamins.
  • How can I get started on a healthier lifestyle?

    If you are not living as healthy a life as you want right now, you may be wondering how you will findrepparttar 115287 time andrepparttar 115288 resources to make changes.

    The good news is you don’t have to make allrepparttar 115289 changes at once, but do resolve to make some improvements. Time is always an issue, but time taken to improve your health will yield big improvements in many other areas of your life.

    There has never been a better time to start, because thanks torepparttar 115290 Internet you can purchase quality heath care products and equipment, quickly and efficiently and save money too! Here’s a link to get you started with weight loss programs and healthy living.



    Colin McDougall is a successful freelance writer providing valuable advice for people seeking weight loss programs and vitamins. Visit http://www.weight-loss-and-nutritional-supplements.com and http://www.vitamins-source.com for more articles. He also offers other health and exercise related sites such as http://www.a1-hockey-equipment.com and http://www.paint-ball-gun-reviews.com. His numerous articles offer several healthy living tips.




    Chocolate Bliss. Bodybuilding, bodyshaping and Fitness Walking nutrition.

    Written by Kevin Doberstein


    Continued from page 1

    That’s it!

    So simple. Just mix a scoop of whey protein into a serving ofrepparttar instant chocolate pudding. You can add a sliced banana to it and still keep it low in carbohydrates. The fruit will add natural fiber and other nutrients.

    As a bodybuilding treat, this will help you keep in a positive nitrogen balance.

    Nitrogen balance needs; As a bodybuilder you would like to stay in a positive nitrogen balance to ensure growth. A negative balance will makerepparttar 115265 body cannibalize muscle tissue to feedrepparttar 115266 muscles you just worked. A bad thing if you want growth. Nitrogen from protein isrepparttar 115267 best way of receiving it. Egg and milk products naturally high in nitrogen. Whey protein is excellent.

    The blissful stats:

    Total calories-145 Fat grams-1.5 Carbohydrates grams-10, 1 gram as sugar Protein grams-23

    Well you have to pardon me. My head hurts from hitting it on that White Pine stump. Enjoy your chocolate bliss. Jeopardizing your health isrepparttar 115268 last thing Nature Boy wants. Please check with your doctor before starting a fitness program. We want to make this a healthy start to a better lifestyle. Copyright © Nature Boy 2004



    Kevin Doberstein has been a natural bodybuilder for the past 25 years. 15 years as a gym owner.Kevin was once quoted “give me a barbell and flat bench and I will give you a bench press, give me raw broccoli to eat and I will give you gas”. For more articles about bodybuilding, bodyshaping and nutrition you can visit his site and join his newsletter at www.nature-boy-bodybuilding.com. You can contact him at natureboy_bodybuilding@hotmail.com.




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