When you watch TV or read magazines you get impression that most people spend their days as lean, mean exercise fanatics who compete in triathlons, eat tofu, and drink a gallon of rain water a day.

If you don’t fit this profile, you are not alone. Consider:

Seven out of 10 American adults don't exercise regularly, despite proven health benefits, according to a 2002 study based on more than 68,000 interviews for National Center for Health Statistics.

80 percent of people in US older than 25 are overweight based on body mass index (BMI), a national guideline computed through a combination of weight and height—according to a Harris Poll released in 2002.

According to American National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (CDC), in 2000 most common actual causes of death in United States were tobacco (435,000), poor diet and physical inactivity (400,000), alcohol consumption (85,000).

The writing is on wall— poor diet and physical inactivity is about as dangerous as smoking.

So, why don’t we exercise and eat right?

For most of us, answer is: time. Exercise and diet take time away from our work, our families, our lives.

Some of us have tried to fit exercise into our daily routines before and maybe even stuck with a program for a while, but finally saw too little gain for effort and time it took.

Here’s good news: a healthy lifestyle won’t consume you like it might have years ago. The science of healthy living has come a long way in recent years. Consider:

Modest but regular exercise has proven to raise body’s metabolic rate, so that you burn fat even when at rest.

Realistic health improvement for real people

We all know we should take better care of ourselves, but modern lifestyles with hectic work schedules, commuting, and family and social responsibilities make it difficult for us to live a healthy life.

But you can begin to live a healthier life. You can start slowly and work in more healthy practices. Interestingly, even small changes can lead to big improvements over time. Begin modestly by making a commitment to starting to do something and to stay with it. As you proceed, remember to be proud of your accomplishments—you will be doing more than 70 percent of population!

The doctor will see you now

Before embarking on a fitness program and making dietary changes, talk with your doctor about your plans. If you have prior health conditions, especially cardiovascular disease, your doctor may want you to avoid certain exercises. If you are on certain medications, your doctor may give you valuable information on avoiding drug interactions with certain foods such as grapefruit and with some herbal supplements.

A special word to smokers

If you smoke, you know you need to quit. Modern research links smoking to a vast array of cancers, as well as heart and cardiovascular disease. According to American Cancer Society, smoking alone causes one-third of all cancer deaths.

The bottom line—if you are a smoker, stopping represents single best health action you can take. Talk with your doctor—there are new treatments available.

Some basic health objectives

It can be hard to know where to start when you want to improve your health. Here are three baseline objectives for a healthier lifestyle:

Lose weight / Eat a more balanced diet

Qualified health professionals agree keys to losing weight are to eat less, eat a more balanced diet, and to increase your exercise level. In general, reducing your intake of protein and eating more fruits and vegetables is a good start. Try and reduce your intake of saturated fats common in fried foods. Your heart will thank you.

Here are some tips:

Eat a diet that contains lots of:

Ensure you are getting an adequate supply of:

Reduce your consumption of:

Other Tips:

Consider diet supplements for weight loss and health

Despite our best efforts, it is hard to eat a balanced diet everyday. Consider taking one or more of excellent vitamins and supplements available, but check with your doctor first before taking them.

Today, you can get latest high quality vitamins and dietary supplements at low prices and without leaving your home by ordering over Internet. Here is an excellent example of a vitamins site.