Sunday, September 21, 2008

How The Health Fitness Lifestyle Can Work For You

When you think about living a health fitness lifestyle, what does that really mean? Basically it means getting in some moderate exercise on a weekly basis, eating healthily, and quitting smoking, limiting alcohol consumption and maintaining a normal weight. To the average person who is strapped for time and busy with job and family commitments, maintaining your health may seem overwhelming. It does not need to be. As we will see, small changes in your daily living can mean big changes in your health.

Eating right does not have to be a chore. Simple changes you can make while on your next visit to the grocery store can get you on the right path to eating better. Small substitutions like eating more fruit and veggies and eating less refined and processed foods over time saves calories and adds nutrients to your diet. Don't force yourself to shelve your entire diet and start with something restrictive. Feeling deprived leads to failure. Go slow and enjoy each new item you add to your diet.

Exercise does not have to be a dirty word. If you lead a sedentary lifestyle, start slow and increase your activity level as you reach small goals you set for yourself. It may be just using the stairs at work instead of using the elevator. Over time, you might decide to walk for part of your lunch break. Finally, you might want to join up a fitness center to add to your progress. Go at a pace you are comfortable with and enjoy.

If you smoke, consider a smoking cessation program. There are medications in pill, patch and gum form that can assist you in stopping. Talking to a counselor or adopting a quit-smoking buddy has been shown to help smokers quit smoking at higher rate than trying to go it alone. Side effects of smoking include rapid heartbeat, decreased circulation, and shortness of breath and more serious problems like cancer, emphysema and heart disease can eventually develop.

Drinking alcohol in moderation has actually been shown to benefit the cardiovascular system. However, consuming more than a glass or two a day can cause liver damage. The liver acts as a giant filter system of the body. When the filter is clogged, the body does not function properly. Jaundice, gallstones, blood clotting difficulties, organ failure and death can result when the liver is compromised.

Knowing your body mass index (BMI) can help you calculate what a healthy weight is for your body type. You can calculate your BMI by dividing your weight by the square of your height or go online and use a BMI calculating tool. Regulating your diet and adding health fitness weekly can help stabilize your weight.

So you've let yourself go. You don't feel fit. You lack energy. Serious health issues may run in your family. What to do? It is never too late to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Integrate more healthful food choices into your life. Add health fitness to your routine. Quit smoking and have a glass of red wine with dinner. Eating better and increasing your activity level helps you maintain a normal weight. Each little change gets you closer to the lifestyle goals you set for yourself.

Obesity is on the rise and it seems as if it is not slowing down. A sedentary lifestyle has led many people to pack on those extra pounds. Each pound adds pressure to the joints and heart. Over time these pounds add up and before you know it, you have tipped the scales into obesity. The problem is that many people are embarrassed to go to a gym and work out with others. There is a solution: treadmills. A treadmill is used in the comfort of your own home and you can use it anytime. Click here to find the model you want: Lifetime Fitness also Bally  Fitness and at Fitness  Tips

1 comment:

Unknown said...

People choose different types of exercise methods according to their body needs and mainly to their comfortable etc. some may chose sports which are very effective exercise for reducing excess fat. There are also many fitness equipments available to make exercise more comfort with best work outs. You can get more information about Treadmills which I browsed on internet can fetch you help.