Dec 6, 2010 Connie Spolar
Drink More Water - Carlos Porto
Although not everyone needs to lose weight, we can all strive to live a healthy lifestyle. The following are some simple tips no matter what your goals are and chances are you may have a family member or friend that could use some encouragement in this area. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "Obesity is common, serious, and costly. Approximately 72.5 million U.S. adults are obese. Obesity is a factor contributing to several leading causes of death, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some types of cancer. " While this article is not focused on the subject of obesity, it does offer some simple tips that can help all of us to maintain a healthier lifestyle.
Physical Activity
The website for the CDC has recommendations for weekly aerobic and muscle stengthening activities. For those who are not used to regular phystical activity, these recommendations may at first seem daunting. Instead of giving up before you start, start somewhere even if it is just a five to ten minute walk a day. Starting with a short daily walk is a perfect way to ease into activity. There is no schedule in the world that doesn't have room for five minutes! If there is some reason that you can't get outdoors and have some fresh air with your walk then walk inside even if you have to watch T.V. while you do it. If you have kids that are inactive make sure they start this way as well. Once you start and are comfortable with your five or ten minutes then simply increase the time. If you truly feel that it is impossible to set aside 20 or 30 minutes for a walk then break it up and do 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the evening. The trick is to start small and build on that but start somewhere!
Drink Water Daily and Stop Drinking Soft DrinksAccording to Organic Facts there is a long list of health benefits associated with drinking water as "water has one of the most important roles to play in maintaining a healthy body" including playing a role in weight loss. On the flip side, if you drink soft drinks, even the diet kind you should check out the article by Judith Valentine, PhD, CNA, CNC titled The Dangers of Soft Drinks - America. The article describes a long list of health risks associated with drinking soft drinks. In addition, Dr. Oz is currently promoting a "28 Day National Soda Challenge" to encourage soft drinkers to kick the habit for their health and to promote weight loss.
Eat what you want but cut it in halfFor those people wanting or needing to lose weight, the prospects of going on a diet can bring on a lot of different emotions. If you are looking for a starting point, try eating the foods you like but cutting your portions in half. This way you will reduce your over-all calorie consumption but still have a taste of what you like so you won't feel so deprived.
A healthy lifestyle and body weight should be about balance while still enjoying life. By making some small adjustments to your daily activity and food consumption you can take the first steps to good health.
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