| After New Year's this past year I walked into | | | | going to recommend what you should eat but |
| Barnes & Noble to check out their new | | | | make sure it's healthy. Whole grains, a lean protein |
| releases because I wanted to use a gift card I | | | | source, and fruit are always a great combination. I |
| had received as a Christmas present. What I | | | | usually have a bowl of Special K cereal with Soy |
| found in the New Releases section was not what | | | | Milk and add blueberries to my cereal. I usually |
| I expected. There was nothing but diet books!! | | | | have a glass of Pomegranate Juice or Orange |
| And I'm not even embellishing about this at all. | | | | Juice with breakfast as well. On top of this I drink |
| There wasn't one new release in the entire | | | | Green Tea for its high dose of antioxidants and |
| section. This was really disheartening because I'm | | | | because it is known to speed up your metabolism. |
| an avid reader and I expected to find a wide | | | | |
| variety of books that were just released focused | | | | 3) Eat a small healthy meal every 3-4 hours-I |
| on different subjects as there always is. Not so | | | | usually eat a 300-400 calorie snack every 3-4 |
| much after New Year's I found out. Once the | | | | hours to keep my metabolism going throughout |
| holidays are over and we enter a new year | | | | the day. It is a known fact that by eating small |
| people are dedicated to eating healthy and | | | | meals a day you increase your metabolism. I |
| working out more because they failed to do so | | | | usually pack a couple Tuna Fish sandwiches on |
| the previous year (and the year before that and | | | | Whole Wheat bread and add a Tomato and |
| so on). The sad thing is these people usually join a | | | | Romaine Lettuce. Another good meal is fruit with |
| gym and go on a diet for the first 2-3 weeks | | | | Cottage Cheese. As long as you're eating a light |
| after the New Year and then give up because | | | | and healthy snack every 3-4 hours you should be |
| they aren't seeing results after such a short time | | | | good. As a rule of thumb you biggest meal should |
| period. I'm sure Barnes & Noble is not the | | | | be breakfast and they should decline in calorie |
| only bookstore who does this after the New | | | | intake throughout the day. It's a big misconception |
| Year. After all, they are in business to make | | | | that lunch and dinner should be your biggest |
| money and what better way to start off a new | | | | meals. What happens after a big lunch? You |
| year than selling a plethora of diet books to | | | | usually get tired in the mid afternoon which can |
| unassuming people who come in droves looking | | | | really affect your work. By eating small meals |
| for them? | | | | throughout the day I don't suffer from these |
| | | | | tired spells and usually have a ton of energy all |
| This whole episode was very upsetting to say the | | | | day long. |
| least. As someone who has a good understanding | | | | |
| of healthy living I will say that diets are a | | | | 4) Drink water-It is important to keep yourself |
| complete waste of time and money. Diets are | | | | hydrated throughout the day. Most experts agree |
| not long-term programs that focus on overall | | | | you should get at least 64 ounces of water per |
| good health. They usually consist of cutting back | | | | day. I've spoken to some doctors who say you |
| your calorie intake to extreme levels, eating | | | | should only drink when you're thirsty and not |
| nothing but a specific food category for an | | | | overdo it. As someone who used to drink nearly |
| extended period of time, eating frozen prepared | | | | two gallons of water a day I can tell you that the |
| meals (often sold by the same companies putting | | | | only thing that came out of it was more time |
| out the book or an affiliate), and so on. In fact, | | | | running to the bathroom. I recommend getting |
| there are so many different kinds of diets out | | | | between 64-100 ounces of water per day. They |
| there it's not even funny. Each one promises you'll | | | | say if you exercise regularly you should drink |
| lose weight and feel great. What they don't tell | | | | more than the recommended amount each day |
| you for obvious reasons is that 95% of people | | | | to keep your muscles hydrated. |
| who go on diets gain all their weight back once | | | | |
| they get sick and tired of the diet or once the | | | | 5) Limit alcohol intake-Most experts agree that a |
| diet is over. The weight loss industry is a | | | | man should drink no more than two drinks per |
| multi-billion dollar industry and is extremely | | | | day and women no more than one drink per day. |
| profitable to the companies that sell diet plans, | | | | If you're really dedicated to maintaining a healthy |
| pills, and meals. Have you ever read the | | | | weight and good health I recommend having a |
| ingredients on a Nutrisystem package or any | | | | glass of red wine with dinner a couple times a |
| other prepared meal? If you have an | | | | week at most. Calories from alcohol can really add |
| understanding of each ingredient I'd be shocked | | | | up and too much alcohol consumption is not good |
| since most people don't have a clue, including | | | | for your health. |
| myself. | | | | |
| | | | | 6) Exercise regularly-If you don't have experience |
| The simple fact is that diets are short-term | | | | exercising at all I recommend joining a gym and |
| programs and often times very unhealthy. Cutting | | | | asking the staff for help. I have also found that |
| your caloric intake to extreme levels can leave | | | | people who work out are very helpful when it |
| you feeling weak and deprive you of many | | | | comes to knowledge of exercise and nutrition. If |
| nutrients you need to maintain good health. If you | | | | you have the means and want to hire a personal |
| truly want to maintain a healthy weight and a | | | | trainer I've seen many people obtain great results |
| strong immune system you need to learn to eat | | | | by doing so and it's a huge boost having someone |
| healthy and exercise and make it part of your | | | | motivate you. Most experts agree that you |
| lifestyle not as a short-term fix to your current | | | | should get at last 3 days a week of exercise for |
| weight problem. Eating healthy and exercising is an | | | | about an hour each session but this depends on |
| extremely broad topic but here are some | | | | your fitness level and goals. It's really too broad |
| guidelines to go by if you truly care about your | | | | of a subject to get into here but there are a ton |
| health and want to maintain a healthy weight: | | | | of great resources online and in bookstores to |
| | | | | help you get a workout program started. I |
| 1) Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night-This | | | | recommend consulting your physician before |
| really depends on the individual and these are just | | | | starting a program though. |
| basic guidelines. Some people require less sleep | | | | |
| than this and some people require more. Only you | | | | These are just a few guidelines to help you lead a |
| know how much sleep you need to feel energized | | | | more healthy lifestyle and to help you maintain a |
| the next day. It is a known fact that sleep | | | | healthy weight. As a rule of thumb, stick to the |
| deprivation can lead to weight gain. If you want a | | | | perimeter of a grocery store since this is where |
| strong immune system and want to maintain a | | | | you will find produce, lean proteins, and dairy |
| healthy weight make sure you get plenty of sleep | | | | products. The aisles are usually filled with boxed |
| every night. | | | | and packaged goods that are filled with sugars |
| | | | | and preservatives that are not good for you. |
| 2) Don't skip breakfast-This is truly the most | | | | |
| important meal of the day. When you sleep at | | | | Do yourself a favor and do some research on |
| night you're fasting since you're not consuming | | | | proper nutrition and exercise programs. Just |
| any food while you sleep. If you want to speed | | | | remember that eating healthy and exercising |
| up your metabolism it is imperative that you don't | | | | should be a chosen lifestyle and not a short-term |
| skip breakfast since this gets your metabolism | | | | fix. Stay away from the latest and greatest diets |
| going first thing in the morning. You'll notice you'll | | | | and choose to live a healthy lifestyle. You'll be glad |
| have more energy throughout the morning and it | | | | you did. |
| will really help burn fat in the long run. I'm not | | | | |