There are plenty of reasons to eat right and exercise. You can lose weight, get in shape, and improve your overall health. You can take back your life. You can act your age (or younger). You can set and reach goals. And you can definitely look and feel better. Besides all of that, improving your diet and implementing a routine of physical activity can help you to fight off illness and live a longer, happier life. But while all of this sounds really great, the means to the end is not necessarily self-evident. How do you eat right? Which exercises will give you the results you want? Where does a healthy lifestyle begin? Here are a few helpful hints to get you on track with eating better and getting a move on.
- Clean out your kitchen. Get rid of the junk food! You know what I’m talking about. Toss the chips, the sodas, and anything that contains processed sugars, trans fats, and preservatives. You’ll probably want to get rid of any items that are pre-packaged and exchange them for fresh foods instead.
- Try organic. As you may or may not be aware, fresh produce often includes traces of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and so on that are administered to fruits and vegetables during the growing process (that can stick around even after careful washing), not to mention hormones and antibiotics injected into animals intended for consumption. Experts claim that these small amounts of chemicals aren’t harmful, but over time, many of them build up in your body. Rather than waiting to find out what kind of damage they might do, perhaps a better course would be to remove them from your diet by purchasing all-natural alternatives.
- Become a flexitarian. If you haven’t heard of this, it’s basically vegetarianism for people who simply can’t give up meat. It emphasizes healthy vegetarian fare, including fruits and vegetable, whole grains, nuts, and beans (plus animal products like dairy and eggs) but allows the inclusion of meats periodically (mainly lean protein like fish and chicken, but red meat can be included up to twice a week). The nice thing about this diet is that it can be tailored for anyone, as long as the diet is “mostly” vegetarian.
- Join a gym. If you don’t know what kind of exercise will appeal to you, try going to a local gym to find out. They have tons of equipment, many offer a schedule of classes, and resident trainers can help you learn the benefits of each type of exercise as well as setting up a routine to keep you on track.
- Set a goal. The best way to get yourself in gear with exercise is to set a goal so that you have something to work toward. You can try to lose a certain amount of weight, lower your body mass index (BMI) so that you have more muscle and less fat, or train for a race (5K, 10K, marathon, triathlon…whatever strikes your fancy). Just make sure that the target you aim for is realistic for you. Nothing will derail you faster than the inability to reach some vast and unattainable objective.
- Find a program. If you’re having a hard time getting started, you’ll be happy to know that you’re not alone. In fact, so many people need help with their health that there are a number of programs specifically designed for that purpose. So join up with Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Curves, Bali, or any number of organizations that aim to help people learn to embrace a lifestyle that promotes health and fitness.
Dana Livingston is a writer for a culinary arts website where you can browse schools and the latest trends in the culinary arena.
