How Diet And Fitness Work Together
Most of us have been at a place in our lives where we are struggling to regain our physical fitness. The accumulation of a few – or many – pounds over a few years, a sedentary lifestyle spent sitting at a desk, and a chaotic schedule that has not allowed much time for ourselves have all contributed to an unhealthy body. But for those of us looking to right the wrong and get healthy, there can be no greater connection between diet and fitness.
Overall health comes with a strong body that is being fed nutritiously and is physically active. Most of us understand that in order to lose weight and get healthy we must combine diet and fitness through a concentrated and consistent implementation of a healthy food plan and exercise regime. There is no way around this formula; for all the magic diet pills and get healthy quick schemes – it all comes down to this simple combination. And if you ignore the combination then you will ultimately fail at achieving long term health.
To begin a diet and fitness regime you must first know where you are starting. Begin with your food intake and look for ways on a weekly basis to begin eliminating those food groups that are contributing to weight gain and an unhealthy lifestyle. Many people, when embarking on a new diet plan, will eliminate everything right away, and while this may hold up for a few days or even weeks, eventually that person will go right back to their old eating habits. The key word here is “habit” and in order to establish a new habit you must do it slowly. For the first several weeks focus on removing those food groups that are high in saturated fat, or greasy, fried foods. Begin adding more fresh fruits and vegetables and lean proteins into your diet. Following this, begin to eliminate those items containing sugar including products made from white flour. Instead, introduce products that contain whole grain or wheat. Move towards a diet and fitness program that focuses on whole, natural foods and avoids any food that is processed in any way and is therefore likely to contain sugar and preservatives.
A diet and fitness regime must also account for physical activity and this should be moved into gradually as well. Begin by incorporating small amounts of physical activity into your daily life – taking the stairs, taking short walks, stretching in the morning – and build from there. Work towards a consistent and weekly regime that includes cardiovascular exercise – such as walking, running, and aerobics; stretching and core work – such as yoga or Pilates; and weight training – such as the lifting of free weights or the use of machines.
If you proceed gradually and begin to take control of your life through food and exercise, you will soon find that your diet and fitness regime has paid off in weight loss, increased energy, and overall health.
Michelle Bery
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/how-diet-and-fitness-work-together-121395.html
August 15th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
How can I get the motivation to get back on track with my diet and fitness?
I was doing really well… I was on Weight Watchers and got to goal on March 4th of last year… I did well for a few months after that but have been slipping constantly since… I am very low on motivation and my self esteem has plummeted… Does anyone have any advice, motivation, or anything to help me get it together?
August 15th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
how did you do weight watchers ? did you go along to the classes group motivation can be the best thing
put a picture of yourself at your best on ur fridge to remind you what your working towards!
keep some semi junk food in a secret place for back up for example put some healthy cereal bars in the cupboard but some which you like so if u feel like cheating its not going to be with chocolate
drink plenty of water and exercise as i believe this helps your mood
organise something a party family meal something to work towards- a date
goodluck
also remember the health benefits!
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August 15th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
I understand where you’re coming from, but cheer up: all is not lost.
Maybe it’s time to re-evaluate where the slips happened, and go back to the healthy eating skills you learned with WW. Also, it is important to realistically look at what the slips have caused: are you back to your pre-weight loss weight, or have you been steadily gaining a few pounds here and there? Or just a couple? Do you have regular activity as part of your daily life?
We all go through good and bad periods, and nothing can make a person feel worse than achieving a goal and then seeing it seem to dissipate. I feel you. But what you do now is, you pick yourself up, look at the problem squarely, and realize: you are in control of you. Nobody is going to make you eat the wrong things–or the right ones, for that matter. And when it comes right down to it, you have to allow yourself to be powerful enough to be in control of your own body and your own life and goals. You are not losing weight, eating healthily, and exercising for anybody but yourself. Sure, your family and friends can only benefit from a happy, healthy you; but in the end, you are your own driver. Know that. Be honest and kind to yourself, and understand that taking care of yourself is something that you have to do your whole life long–but that only you can do it, and while it’s not easy sometimes, it’s NOT impossible. Treat yourself nicely, be fair to yourself about the failings, and get back up on track. There are a lot of us who have been in your shoes, and I certainly know how you feel. But be strong, and you CAN get through the rough patches. Get support where you can–reaching out to your friends or maybe to some people you met in your WW meetings can really help you right now. And whatever you do, DO NOT beat yourself up. You haven’t committed a crime–you’ve had a setback, and you can fix it for you. Do not fall into the trap of thinking that the failures and setbacks define you as a person, because they don’t.
I’m pulling for you. Good luck.
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August 15th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
cut a really hot, skinny, pretty girl (several pictures if you want) out of the magazine or print out online, some magazine like victorias secret or some other pretty models and paste it around your house, everywhere bathroom, kitchen and etc. that works very well if you are espeacilly living alone. Make sure nobody really sees it, because then they will (maybe) make fun of you and you will loose the motivation again.
or
you could try to find a friend and see if she wants to have a little competition with you how to loose the most waight and fat. If you set a reasonable amount of money (not too little money, but not too much either, but somethig significant enough to strive for, 500$ ?). Set a specific date, and on that day compare results. whoever wins gets the money.
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August 15th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
A new motivational speaker I’ve heard lately is Sam Crowley, excellent for this. Check out his inspiring video and other info:
http://everydayissaturday.com
Cool concept about Saturday!
Enjoy and here’s to your success!
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