Essential Tips for a Healthier Lifestyle
By Stephen R. Farris
Making changes in your life can be a difficult task to undertake, especially when it comes to the subject of managing your weight for better health. This usually requires you to change the way you eat and/or exercise. Sometimes you just have to dive head first to motivate you in getting started toward a healthy lifestyle.
Even by diving in head first, it doesn't necessarily mean you have to take drastic measures. Take small steps. Set goals (realistic and attainable, that is), and make new ones once you're achieved the first level. This goes for eating healthier, and with exercise.
Cut the Carbs
Whether you love pizza, spaghetti, bread, or even sugary sodas, one of the first changes in your eating habits should be to cut down on your carb intake. Most carbs have been refined, losing their healthy ingredients like fiber and nutrients. Not every single carb is bad for you. There are the more complex ones -- which are better for you and digest slower to keep you fuller longer -- that can be found in carrots, potatoes, barley, and quinoa to name a few.
Heavy Lifting May be Required
Did you know that you could actually lose weight by lifting heavy? While aerobic exercise is great, lifting weights is equally great as this exercise method can help boost your metabolism, which can help lead to weight loss. Plus, you'll build and maintain your muscles for a more toner look.
Watch Out for Those Fad Diets
If you stay up late at night, you're bombarded with infomercials peddling the next greatest wrinkle cream, cooking oven, and/or fad diet. Your best bet is to stay far away from the latter, the fad diet. Sure, you may lose a lot of weight fast with a fad diet, however, people almost always gain the weight back or even more once they quit using it. So you end up going back and forth to lose the weight again. Not only that, but some fad diets can actually cause more harm to you than they can help. Some of these can lead to diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and other health ailments. Talk with your doctor or chiropractor before thinking about starting on a fad diet.
Choose Foods with Less Ingredients
Think of it as a food rule of thumb. When shopping, choose foods with less ingredients. The more ingredients in the product's list usually means it's not going to be as healthy as you think or is advertised. The best way to go is by purchasing fresh fruits, raw vegetables, and leaner cuts of meat. Think smarter and choose wisely.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Lake Mary, Fla.