Saturday, January 17, 2009

Eating Right And Exercising For A Healthier Future

By Bradley J. Teele

As one gains age in his lifetime, so are his weight doubled and his health imperiled. Many people who want to be fit and healthy nowadays rely on the latest diet or workout program. Though compelling, most of these fad diets and training routines do not produce results. What people actually need are healthy plan for long-term health and fitness, according to health experts.

The authors of Prevention Magazine's book 'No-Fail Fitness Tips' say that there are several ways to reverse the metabolic slowdown as we age and avoid putting on extra weight. From eating regular meals to participating in resistance training on a regular basis, here are some effective ways to ward off weight gain and get in shape regardless of your age and fitness level:

Walk more. Walking is one of the simplest and most effective calorie-burning exercises that is suitable for all ages and fitness levels. You don't have to undertake a formal walking program in order to get results; you can just start walking more by taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking further away from the office and doing more errands on foot than by driving. Walking helps increase circulation and helps keep core muscle groups active and healthy.

Consume only snacks that are high in protein throughout the day. To keep your metabolism at its optimal function, eat small portions of meals throughout the day and consume only protein-rich snacks because these can curb your appetite. Some examples of lean protein and healthy snacks are mozzarella cheese sticks and low fat yogurt. Check your eating habits and limit intake of unhealthy foods.

Exercise daily at the same time. Every day, it is necessary to allot about 30 - 45 minutes in your exercise for you to reduce unwanted body fats effectively. Exercising as a regular routine facilitates sticking with any kind of fitness regiment. In fact, if you really intend to increase your metabolism, do this for the long-term.

Change your negative eating habits. Exposure to unhealthy eating habits can be an impediment in managing a healthy lifestyle. However, if you change your attitude and outlook on the food that you eat little by little, you are helping yourself more. Rather than getting rid of certain types of food, commit to eating smaller amount of food to keep up with your daily calorie limit and avoid deprivation in the process.

Sleep well. A person who deprives himself of sleep may tend to have unusually fierce appetite the next day, which weakens his body's metabolism. Approximately seven to eight hours of sleep is needed daily to be healthy and naturally fend off hunger.

When you know how to incorporate even a few but consistent changes in your lifestyle, it becomes easier to achieve health and fitness goal particularly in terms of reducing the probability of gaining excessive weight, as you grow older. Putting in mind the strategies mentioned here, practicing, and including them in your daily routine may take you to a different level towards a healthy outlook and well-being. - 16004

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