How To-25: "How to Live a Healthier Life"

How to Live a Healthier Life

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

These days we are bombarded with unrealistic images of models, actors/actresses and professional sports players. It has become increasingly hard to fit healthy meals and adequate workouts into our busy schedule. With these tips and words of advice, hopefully you will find insight on how to manage your diet and exercise regimens.

Steps

1. Set a Flexible goal & stick to it.
   
2. Track your progress with a fitness and/or diet journal. Use it to note what you eat and when, how you're feeling and if you felt guilty or good about what you ate. This will help track of your habits so you can see why you eat the things you do and when.
   
3. No more late night eating. Gone are the times of late night snacks or dessert. Set a time limit, no later than 6:30 and make sure to not eat anything later than that. If you really need something make sure it is a snack that is healthy. low in sugar and low in fat.
   
4. Begin eating breakfast, even if it is something small. This will prevent you from binging later when you become over-hungry.
   
5. Know when you need a snack and what kind. You can have snacks, or small meals in between your meals, but be sure it is healthy: nuts, low-fat yogurt, protein rich peanut butter, raw vegetables, whole grains and fresh fruit instead of dried.
   
6. Things to cut out completely: processed food (frozen dinners), soda: even diet, dried fruits - they're sugary and have nowhere near the nutritional value of fresh fruit, bleached grains: replace with wheat bread, wheat flour and wheat pasta, dried up herbs that have been sitting on your shelf for years - fresh herbs have vitamin/nutritional value to them and are more flavorful!
   
7. A salad is a dieters best friend - but make sure your salad is the main focus. Using 1 teaspoon of dressing is enough when you toss well.
   

Tips

• More protein & calcium in your diet is a must.
  
• Begin a vitamin regimen.
  
• Make a conscious effort to drink more water.
  
• Find an exercise you enjoy and do it daily: walking, cycling, yoga, whatever it is but make sure you are exercising consistently. Peruse your local free library for any workout DVDs or reading material. There is a plethora of information on the internet.
  
• Find a buddy to workout with. You can teach each other your favorite exercises, as well as motivate each other to go during a lazy spell. Also, there's nothing wrong with a little competition!
  
• Never cut out an entire food group. You need fat, protein, vitamin c, carbohydrates. Just all in moderation and variety.
  
• Every week look through your schedule and mark times to workout. You may not make each appointment, but having it there reminds you that you DO have time.
  
• No one wants to be muscle man (or maybe you do), but many people are afraid of weight training. It is an imperative part to losing weight. Gaining a bit of muscle is what will boost your metabolism and help you burn fat faster.
  
• Get more sleep. Getting more sleep will help you feel more rested and ready to face the day in the morning. It gives your body more time to rejuvenate itself as well!
  
• Make a Workout mix on your iTunes that you listen to only when you are working out. Every time you switch on the mix your body will get into the pattern of knowing its time to workout!
  

Warnings

• Make sure you are losing weight for the right reasons - for you. Not to look like a specific celebrity, or please a boy/girlfriend. Both your best friend and worst enemy is yourself. Doing this for yourself is the only way to make sure you're doing it for the right reason - the exception being if you are severely overweight.
  
• Make sure to speak with your doctor on your plans, show them your food/diet journal and make sure you are following a healthy procedure that is safe for YOU.
  
• With that said: FAD DIETS = THE DEVIL. Sure eating only soggy cabbage for 5 day will make you lose weight but what happens when you start eating other things? During liquid fasts you lose a lot of minerals/vitamins from other foods.
  

Things You'll Need

• Diet Journal: http://www.amazon.com/My-Diet-Journal-182-Day-Exercise/dp/1411623266
  
• Pedometer to set "Step" goals: http://brookstone.com/store/product.asp?product_code=534669&search_type=search&search_words=pedometer&prodtemp=t1&cm_re=Result*R1C1*T
  
• Sturdy Water Bottle: http://www.nalgene-outdoor.com/store/detail.aspx?ID=29
  
• Adequate Workout gear (t-shirts, shorts, pants, jacket, sneakers, socks): http://www.nike.com/index.jhtml
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Start Your Own Exercise Regimen and Stick to It
  
• How to Establish a Diet Plan
  
• How to Diet Without the Myth of Fat Burning Foods
  
• How to Have a Fun Workout With Balloons
  

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