Prevent Diabetes and Obesity - Start Getting in Shape

Medical experts are warning of a potentially dangerous trend here in the USA. Are other countries faced with similar threats of obesity and the resulting health problems. Just look around - they are everywhere. Sitting across the aisle in church - or speeding down the highway. People are getting fatter. What is happening to us?

If this trend is left unchecked we here in the good old USA may be faced with a potentially explosive health crisis - and the resulting price tag. Much press has been devoted to the President's Health care agenda lately. The numbers are staggering. Over 800 billion dollars to provide health care coverage for an additional 36 million Americans.

If these medical scientists are even close to accurate in their dire prediction of more obesity and diabetes as a result - we are in for even more expensive health care prices. Diabetes is bad trouble - just ask anyone who has it. Or knows someone who does.

What if you could avoid this potential nightmare - and the incredible costs of treatment? What if you could avoid becoming one of the countless millions who just might develop diabetes due to the ever growing waistline?

Would you invest as few as 30 minutes a day to keeping these health issues at bay? Would you devote yourself to getting up and getting active for as little as a half an hour a day? Would you be willing to cut the useless calories and make the choice to enjoy eating healthier foods at every opportunity?

You can save a yourself a bundle. And help the good old USA avoid some rather expensive health care costs. Do it for yourself. Do it for your country! Do you have a family? Do it for them! Just Do It!!!

You can avoid adult onset diabetes. You can ward off and prevent obesity from entering into your world! Start getting in shape - fast!!!

The Best Kind of High!

Losing weight is not all about your diet! Improve your metabolism by building muscles, snacking on a variety of healthy, low-calorie foods, giving your body enough protein and keep moving!

Exercise is one of the best ways to jump-start your metabolism. Both aerobic workouts and weight training will help your body burn more calories, and build muscle - bolstering your metabolism in the process.

Losing weight and keeping it off is best accomplished with two simple habits: (1) Enjoy a variety of healthy foods and (2) Exercise daily and stay physically active. For some people, losing weight may be as simple as changing their diet, but for the vast majority of us exercise is equally important. As we age, exercise becomes an even more important factor to our metabolism.

University studies show that not only does exercise increase metabolism during your workout, but it causes your metabolism to stay increased for hours after exercising, helping you to burn more calories!

The facts are clear - if you want to lose weight, enjoy life more and live longer - your odds are much better if you get some exercise most days of the week! Eating healthy foods is equally vital. You know what the bad stuff is. Find ways to fit more healthy choices in your busy life. Schedule some time each day - just for you. And guard it closely!

For the best results - try a balanced approach. Combine weight or resistance training with flexibility and aerobic exercise. If your program is balanced enough, you wont have to be concerned about developing over exaggerated muscles. You really can exercise and lose weight fast! Try it for a few weeks. You'll soon be hooked on the exercise high!

Happy Thanksgiving!

If you eat just a light Thanksgiving meal this year with most of the traditional foods so many of us enjoy you could easily consume over a thousand calories! And all those calories could easily be accounted for before you even have that 2nd slice of pie! Is it any wonder so many of us take on a couple extra pounds between Thanksgiving and Christmas?

Don't let this happen to you!

The key to weight control is keeping energy intake (food) and energy output (physical activity) in balance. When you consume only as many calories as your body needs, your weight will usually remain constant. If you take in more calories than your body needs, you will put on excess fat. If you expend more energy than you take in you will burn excess fat.

Exercise plays an important role in weight control by increasing energy output, calling on stored calories for extra fuel. Recent studies show that not only does exercise increase metabolism during a workout, but it causes your metabolism to stay increased for a period of time after exercising, allowing you to burn more calories.

How much exercise is needed to make a difference in your weight depends on the amount and type of activity, and on how much you eat. Aerobic exercise burns body fat. An average adult would have to walk more than 30 miles to burn up 3,500 calories. ( That is the equivalent of about a single pound of fat. ) Although that may seem like a lot, you don’t have to walk the 30 miles all at once. Walking a mile a day for 30 days will achieve the same result, providing you don’t increase your food intake!

If you enjoy just 100 calories a day ( about 9 ounces of beer ) more than your body needs, you will gain approximately 10 pounds in a year. You could take that weight off, or keep it off, by doing 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily. The combination of exercise and diet is the quickest way to lose weight! And keep it off!

Nurture Your Health

From an old Greek Poem:
Health, thou most frangible of heaven's dower,
With thee may what remains of life be spent;
Cease not upon me, thus, thy gifts to shower,
And in my soul to find a tenement.

For what is there of beauty, wealth or power,
Of gentle offspring, or the wiles of love,
But owes its solace, sweet, in every hour,
To thee, thou regent of the powers above.

The spring of pleasure blooms if thou but bless,
And every step upon the Autumn way
Is lit by thee, parent of happiness!
Without thee sadly sounds life's roundelay.

Health is one of those intangible inestimably precious possessions, like life and liberty, to which all are entitled by natural Law. Yet are there but few who are careful to conserve this priceless heritage. It is a boon all too often unappreciated until lost, and once lost, it may not always be regained, though intense be our regrets and our endeavours exhaust the field of human resource.

Hold on to your health.

Enjoy a Better Attitude

In addition to Losing Weight, the benefits of a little daily exercise are many. Millions of healthy, happy people get more done in less time and avoid or minimize stress along the way. Daily exercise has been proven to help keep life's stressors at bay - or at least manageable! Exercise even helps reduce and in some cases eliminate the onset of depression.

Do yourself a favor. Try it for just three weeks. Get active for just 30 minutes each day. ( More if you can! ) If you've been out of shape for a while - no worries. Simple start at a pace you find comfortable. Then gradually pick up the pace - a little each day until you are working your body harder for a full half hour! Then shoot for 45 minutes.

You'll feel the effects - more vitality and energy. Your mood will start to improve. You'll probably find yourself smiling more. Worrying less. You can enjoy a much better life when you get as little as half an hour of exercise every day. For even better results - stretch your active time to 45 minutes or an hour. Find time in your schedule for some good old fashioned exercise!

And don't forget the extra benefits found in eating healthy foods. Eating healthy gives your body the nutrients you'll need to burn more calories and feel the fullest benefits of your exercise! Eating more healthy, natural foods can even help improve your attitude. Help you through those nearly inevitable energy dips so many of us experience in the middle of the afternoon.

If you find yourself getting a little low on patience - growing irritable or unfocused, take a little break and munch on an apple or a handful of walnuts and some dark chocolate! These help stabilize your blood sugar levels and help you avoid those mid-day energy drains!

If time permits - take a mental break for a few minutes. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Take a few slow, deep breaths and then return to breathing normally. Clear your mind of whatever you’ve been worried about or working on. Think about something pleasing – your memories from a favorite vacation. Think about the sights, sounds and smells of a day at the beach – or one of your favorite places in nature! Nature has a real calming effect – so try to get outside for even a few minutes if you can for your momentary escape!

Wherever you make your escape - clear your mind. Forget about or divert your attention away from everything cluttering up your mind! Focus instead on a single pleasant thought. Stretch your body – slowly! You’ll soon feel a renewed sense of energy and clarity!

Take care of your health – invest a few minutes each day for healthy habits. Keep eating healthy foods, exercise frequently and you can enjoy the many lasting benefits of a healthy body and mind!

Change Your Routine for Better Health

Do you ever get bored doing the same old thing day after day? Like you could practically die of boredom if you don't find something new ? Something exciting? Change is healthy. Variety helps keeps our minds and bodies sharp!

If you do 20 push-ups every day - well that's great! You probably have a toned upper body and arms. Then, look down at your legs. If you don't mix in some walking or running - you could easily end up with skinny little "chicken legs".

One way to keeping your fitness efforts effective and interesting is to change it up and keep trying something new. Learn a new sport. Join a winter bowling league or basketball or volleyball. Don't have one in your town? Pick up the ball and start one! Maybe you could volunteer to help coach a local youth team. You AND the children will benefit!

If your fitness level isn't quite where you'd like - start taking action today! Try something new. You can make some simple changes to your exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle habits and achieve your fitness goals. You're not alone. We all tread through the occasional valley on our journey to better health and fitness.

Add some new activities to your daily schedule. Write them down in your planner and keep those appointments with yourself! You don't need to spend a small fortune. You can get into great shape just doing some simple - old fashioned - exercises. Do you remember Middle School P.E ? Get outdoors and walk.

And keep eating healthy foods. Start your day with a healthy breakfast! You never want to pass up breakfast. A healthy, protein rich breakfast kick starts your metabolism for the day and gives your body the nutrients to keep you going. A Healthy Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. Eating healthy foods is vital to your overall health and fitness!

If you still hope to lose a few pounds before this year goes into the history books - the quickest way to lose weight, and keep it off is with a 2 step approach. Work your body. Get active. Try to get at least 45 minutes of heart healthy cardio - like walking or running most days of the week. Build your strength - and lose some of those extra pounds doing some resistance training. And keep eating healthy!

5 Steps to Better Health

Five simple habits can help you change your life for the better! Take your time. Adopt a new habit each week for the next several weeks. And stick with it! You'll soon realize some of the benefits of better health and fitness! Want less stress? Maybe you'd like to have more energy? Enjoy Life more! Try these 5 simple steps to better health. Smile and enjoy the journey!

1. Eat healthy foods - preferably 4 to 6 smaller meals a day. Eating more often helps your metabolism. Enjoy an occasional treat. Just try to keep a majority of your food choices healthy. Enjoy good, natural foods that are high in nutrients, fiber, "good fats," and lean protein. Get some protein early in the day.

2. Sleep at least seven hours every night. Try to get on a schedule and stick with it. Guard your sleep time closely. People who sleep at least seven hours a night tend to enjoy overall better health and are ill less often than those of us who can't seem to find enough time for at least seven hours.

3. Exercise and stay active. Americans spend a great deal of time sitting. Its unavoidable - we sit at our desks for hours on end, and in the car. Then we go home and sink into a favorite easy chair. But the human body was built to be active. So take a walk, go for a jog or a bike ride. Get a jump rope, or do some push-ups and jumping jacks. No need to spend a fortune at the local health club. You can stay active and get in better shape without shelling out a small fortune every month!

4. Schedule a little time each day - as few as 15 minutes to relax and free your mind. President Reagan used to take a brief nap every day. Millions of healthy, happy folks enjoy some quiet time early in the morning reflecting on all they have to be thankful for. Make an appointment with yourself. Write it down in your calendar. Spend just 10 or 15 minutes each afternoon clearing your mind and relaxing. For the best results, go outside and breathe in some fresh air.

5. Laugh. Find something each day to laugh at. Grab a funny book or pick up a comedy at the library. Rent a funny movie. Laughter is good for your brain and your whole body! Release some healthy endorphins in your brain and laugh as much and as loud as you like!

Try these simple and effective steps to better health and fitness!

Start Your Day Right - Enjoy a Healthy Breakfast!

Start your day right – eat a healthy breakfast.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It gets us going and ready for another great day! Eating a healthy breakfast will help you do better in school or at work. Breakfast can be easy to prepare – even if you find yourself running short on time. A banana, maybe some cold cereal with fruit and low-fat milk, whole-wheat toast with peanut butter, yogurt with fruit, whole-grain pancakes or waffles or even left over pizza!

Many healthy folks love to get in some pre-dawn cardio with a nice brisk paced walk or run before breakfast. If you can sneak out of bed a half early - before the rest of your family gets up - get outside and enjoy the early morning fresh air! Breathe in the cool Autumn air as you give your body the healthiest start to any day!

After your morning run - or walk - put together some healthy fruits and maybe an egg-white omelet if time permits. Eating a healthy breakfast gives your body an extra boost to help you conquer whatever comes your way! The experts suggest that early morning protein will give your metabolism a little extra kick and have you burning more calories throughout the day!

Keep eating healthy foods and start each day with a healthy breakfast!

Change Your Life!

Start your journey to Getting in shape Fast. Improving your health happens in stages.

Starting an exercise program is like setting off on a journey; it requires a step-by-step approach. When making any major lifestyle changes, many people go through 5 stages: you get the idea, you start thinking about it, you begin preparations, you take action, and maintenance.

Contemplation—Getting Motivated

By reading this information, you have already moved beyond precontemplation, which is the stage in which you’re not yet thinking about strength training. In contemplation, you are intrigued by what you have heard about strength training. Reading about the health benefits of these exercises or hearing about them from a friend or doctor has stimulated your interest in starting the program yourself. At this stage, you work on getting motivated, thinking about your goals, and asking yourself what you want to get out of the program. This is also the time to address possible obstacles and find ways to overcome them.

Preparation—Starting Your Journey

You are ready to take action once you have thought about your motivations and goals for strength training. At this stage, you take steps to prepare for a new exercise program. You set aside the physical space needed to do the exercises and buy any equipment you may need. You look at your schedule to see where strength training might fit in and set specific exercise days and times.

Take Action—Adopting the Program

At this exciting stage, you are learning the exercises and doing them regularly and consistently, at least three times per week. You're beginning to see the results of your work! This is the fun stage - you're seeing results and feeling better. Start Getting in shape fast and watch your whole life improve!

Maintenance—Progressing and Staying on Track

This is the stage at which regular exercise becomes a way of life. When you reach this point, there's a good chance that you find it hard to imagine not doing your daily exercise. As you progress, you may add new strengthening exercises to your routine and new activities to your life. Find a new sport to enjoy! Try some new exercises! Enjoy the journey!