Friday, December 15, 2006

5 Ways to Get Fit Lose Weight and Feel Better Fast

There are a few things that can help anyone to look better and feel better fast. Forget the "magic" diet pills, energy drinks, and un-proven weight loss methods. These types of solutions might seem like an "easy fix" but they don't lead to real, lasting changes in your health, energy levels, or body composition.

Follow the proven steps below and you'll soon have a lot more energy, much less body fat, and quite a bit more "zest" for life...

1. Do some form of exercise at least 5 days per week.

Few things can make as big of a difference in the way you look and feel as regular exercise. Regular physical exercise gives you more "real" energy, greatly reduces your stress levels, burns fat, and prevents a wide array of diseases (like cancer, cardiovascular disease, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, etc.). For best results, do each type of exercise at least twice per week: aerobic, anaerobic (strength training), and stretching/flexibility exercises.

2. Eat healthy fats every day.

Most people don't eat nearly enough "healthy" fat for optimal health. At the same time, they eat way too much "bad" fat, especially the trans-fats now found in the majority of packaged foods. Each day try to eat one or more of the following: oily fish, cold-pressed olive oil, nuts, seeds, avocado and flax. You might also want to try virgin coconut oil. Cut out as much fried foods, fatty meats, butter, margarine, and high-fat packaged foods as possible.

3. Eat a big, healthy breakfast.

Don't make the mistake of starting your day with little or no breakfast. People who do that may think they're "cutting calories" but, in reality, they're setting themselves up for failure. Avoid energy crashes and junk-food binges by eating a big, healthy, fiber- and protein-rich breakfast. Protein shakes are a great option, as are eggs (preferably organic), whole-wheat toast with peanut butter and fruit, sugar-free oatmeal, and high-fiber, low-sugar cereal with low-fat milk.

4. Drink only pure water and green tea.

In order to look and feel your best, you need to stay hydrated. But most drinks simply aren't very health. Soda has too much sugar and chemicals. Coffee has too much caffeine. Fruit juice has too much fructose (a simple sugar). Sports and energy drinks usually have tons of calories and/or artificial colors and flavors. If you want to lose weight and boost your energy, stick to pure water and hot or iced green tea, the only two beverages recommended by most natural health experts.

5. Eat veggies with every meal.

Eating fresh vegetables each and every day is an important step to achieving optimal health and fitness. Simply put, humans are designed to eat a big pile of vegetables on a daily basis, especially the "green leafy" variety. Most of your meals should be based around raw or lightly steamed veggies. They're full of the vitamins, minerals, and trace elements your body needs to function properly. You might even want to have an "all veggie" day once in awhile, where you eat nothing but fresh veggies and/or fresh vegetable juice throughout the day. It's a great way to cleanse and "rejuvenate" your entire system!