This One Adjustment Will Better Your Lifestyle

 

People who are overweight can easily give up on their goals by focusing only on the number of calories they have lost, not how many calories they have gained. But what if instead, they focused on one thing that will improve their lifestyle? It’s your waistline that is being affected the most by excess weight. If you are trying to lose a small amount of weight, then a good place to begin would be eating more fruits and vegetables and less processed food.

To achieve this goal, it may help to adopt an intermittent fasting diet plan or even eat nothing but water for a day. Doing so should help bring down your body mass index (BMI).

You may also want to consider going to health clubs where the fitness instructors provide you with exercises like walking on the treadmill while at work, running, yoga, etc. Getting some exercise regularly and staying active is great for losing weight also; however, be careful when choosing activities as most gyms offer too much variety and it could lead you to overeating and unhealthy choices.

When you go hiking in forests and mountains, there are times when the weather is bad or the temperature is high and you don’t feel like doing anything.

But when you get out to do something fun outside, such as going camping, playing golf, spending time with friends, hiking through the forest, etc., all these activities require physical activity, which can be very satisfying and you don’t need to do anything else apart from enjoying yourself. And if you want to be healthier, then a healthy lifestyle includes having plenty of sleep. Without adequate rest, your brain cannot receive the oxygen and nutrients needed for healthy functioning.

So make sure you sleep at least 4 hours from the time of waking up until you get back to sleeping again. Even if you just sleep for 2 hours, that is too little.

Remember, a person’s metabolism varies with age, sex, race, body size, etc. Most importantly, keep track of eating habits, activity levels, weight loss and any other changes you notice in your life. Don’t forget about those pesky pounds you’re trying to lose! They’re part of the aging process.

Many people think there is no way to eat better and live longer. The truth is that many diseases and chronic illnesses are linked to obesity. For example, diabetes is becoming more prevalent due to excessive body fat, whereas asthma often occurs because of breathing difficulties.

Obesity can affect all areas of your body and make your lungs “heavy” which causes shortness of breath and makes it difficult for you to breathe properly, leading to chest pains. A sedentary lifestyle may also cause depression, headaches, anxiety and irritability due to stress. Other illnesses caused by lack of movement include arthritis, heart attacks, stroke and osteoarthritis, among others. Research shows that obese individuals are at risk of developing certain cancers including colon, breast, prostate, lung, thyroid and esophageal cancer, etc.

Obese individuals are less likely to live long, healthy lives than their thinner counterparts because they are more prone to heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), cancer and stroke, among others.

What does this mean for you? Well, that means that the key is to consume fewer refined carbohydrates and to focus on more fresh fruits and vegetables.

Not only will these prevent the onset and progression of various diseases and conditions, they will also help you stay more energetic throughout the day since natural substances in fruits and vegetables promote satiety.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are best eaten raw since they take longer to digest compared to cooked foods. Also, avoid eating fried foods. These contain highly refined ingredients which alter the composition of your stomach, causing constipation.

It can also increase your risk of suffering from gastrointestinal disorders. When you are looking to reduce body weight and increase energy level, you really ought to invest in gym equipment like elliptical machines, rowers, treadmills, stationary bikes, gymnastics and dance classes in addition to taking frequent breaks from sitting at work and doing household chores.

In addition, it would be wise to engage in aerobic exercise and strength training, which are effective for burning body fat and increasing lean muscle. Exercise is beneficial to maintaining a healthier state in multiple ways.

First, regular exercise boosts your immune system by providing vitamins and minerals, which helps fight off infections and improves energy (as we know, poor energy is always accompanied with fatigue).

Second, regular exercise creates an overall sense of well-being that increases self-esteem, confidence and morale, thus improving quality of life.

Third, exercise promotes faster recovery. Experts tell us that after exercise, muscles are damaged and tend to recover quickly if you choose to continue exercising, and you are not experiencing extreme pain.

There are two types of exercise. Aspirin-based exercise or moderate-intensity exercise benefits people of all ages. Examples are jogging, walking, or riding a stationary bike. Strength training benefits older adults and younger children alike who are unable to engage in aerobic exercise by themselves.

Examples are lifting weights, lifting dumbbells, holding a plank, performing pull-ups and crunch exercises, etc. Lastly, engaging in leisurely activities like biking, swimming, walking and gardening is good for both mental and physical health.