Healthy Life Pro: fitness

Don't Just Melt Fat Off - Burn It Off With A Blow Torch!

Cardio Exercise...

A huge variety of fitness activities provide cardiovascular benefits. If you're breathing hard and can feel your heart beating, you're doing cardio. Because walking is fun, easy, and requires little time and no financial investment, it's our top choice for cardiovascular activity.

Walking uses your body's largest muscle group, your legs. Because it's rhythmic (you repeat the same basic movements), and it's aerobic (you take in and use more oxygen than usual), when walking is sustained for more than several minutes at a time it provides fantastic cardiovascular benefits - including weight loss - and can be quickly and easily implemented into your daily routine.

Walking at a moderate pace for about 30-60 minutes burns stored fat, and can build muscle to help speed up your metabolism, burning fat even while you sleep! So, let's start moving...

First, wake up your muscles by walking at a warm-up pace for five minutes, signaling to your muscles that they can't just sit back and burn up the available sugars, they need to tap into your fat reserves. This means not starting your daily walk at a high speed. On the contrary, a low-intensity or low-speed start signals your muscles that you are engaging in a long-term activity, prompting the burning of stored fat, and not just sugar burning.

After five minutes, pick up the pace. The speed to walk at for optimal fat burning is a "determined" pace, at which rate you should be breathing noticeably harder, but still able to carry on a conversation in full sentences. By doing this, you raise your heart rate to about 70% of your maximum heart rate, which acts as a
catalyst for burning stored fat.

Try walking as though you're 15 minutes late for an important appointment. Now, start with walking at this pace for 30 minutes each day. For optimal weight loss, walk at least 5 days of the week, with weekly time spent walking eventually reaching 5 or more hours each week.

Use the following "cheat sheet" to help implement a quick and easy walking program into your daily routine:

o Start with a few gentle stretches

o Begin walking at an easy pace for five minutes

o Walk 30-60 minutes at about 70% of your maximum heart rate

o Cool down at a slower pace for 5 minutes

o Finish with a few gentle stretches

o For longer walks, walk 60 minutes at your target heart rate, and slow down a bit to complete 90 or 120 minutes at a comfortable pace

Walking an hour a day is also associated with drastically decreasing your risk of heart disease, breast cancer, colon cancer, diabetes and stroke. Find time to work one-hour walks into your life. It's well worth waking up an hour early to do so. After all, aren't you worth it?

When you feel you can comfortably walk an hour on a single day each week, try the following weekly schedule for increased weight loss and added health benefits, alternating the days to fit your personal weekly schedule:

Sunday: Long Day, 90+ minutes

Monday: Day Off

Tuesday: Short Day, 30+ minutes

Wednesday: Short Day, 30+ minutes

Thursday: Long Day, 90+ minutes

Friday: Short Day, 30+ minutes

Saturday: Long Day, 60+ minutes

On all days, remember to start with some light stretches. Start walking slow for 5 minutes. Walk at your "determined" pace of 70% of your maximum heart rate for the time specified, concluding with an easy pace for five minutes. Always finish with gentle stretching. Lastly, when walking for weight loss, you should take no more than one to two days off each week.

Lose Weight and Get Fit by Getting Fat

Getting enough of the significant fats will engage you to lose fat,

hoard muscle, and recuperate speedier from your exercises.

What's more, it has store restorative purposes of enthusiasm, including being

important for your heart.

Remarkable fats include: polyunsaturated (particularly Omega-3's),

for example, those from fish and nuts, and besides monosaturated fats,

for example, those from nutty spread, olive oil, egg yolks, and fish

oil.

Unpleasant fats join doused fats from things, for example, creature

moreover, coconut fats. By then there is the most exceedingly horrible sort of fat the man

made kind, trans unsaturated fats which can be found in our standard,

of no recuperating respect, waste sustenances such treats, chips, fries

what's more, margarine.

Motivation behind constrainment, if not remain totally far from, the horrendous fats and attempt

to get around 30 - 35% of your calories from the monstrous fats.

"Studies demonstrate that higher-fat weight control outlines search useful for fit

individuals than low-fat weight control plans," says Liz Applegate, Ph.D., creator of

Reference book of Sports and Fitness Nutrition. "In one examination,

unfaltering quality contenders kept running up to 24 percent longer before they drained when they ate an eating regimen that was more than 30 percent fat separated from one that was underneath 20 percent," she says.

All the more essentially to most perusers of this gift, experts

are starting at now understanding the way that a help layout high in the gigantic fats makes the body eat up fat. Omega-3 unsaturated fats enlarge the measure of your cells' fuel-consuming radiators so your metabolic rate rises and you eat up more calories each depiction of dependably.

Omega-3's in addition help your body's affectability to insulin. This engages your body to store less fat. In like way, the fat you do store is all the more immediately and effectively changed over into noteworthiness and eaten up amidst action.

This keeps your glucose levels stable and keeps you far from those really popular sugar mishaps and wishes and precarious mental scenes.

Another fundamental exercise influence is that Omega-3's in like way engage your body to make testosterone, the hormone in charge of building new muscle. The late Dan Duchaine has called the major unsaturated fats the most anabolic true blue help supplement one can take to fabricate muscle.

Plainly, more muscle acquires back the first venture with more calorie exhausting reciprocals less muscle to fat leftovers.

Fat can in like way engage you to recoup from your exercises. Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-dissolvable and are essential cell strongholds in the muscle-building, bone-repairing gathering.

As I decided above, fat besides helps your heart. Omega-3 unsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats help chopped down horrifying LDL cholesterol and help divert blood bunches, making your heart arranged to finish it's occupation with less anxiety.

On an individual note, I endorsed my most valued essential unsaturated fat

supplements to a sidekick of mine beginning late who has always experienced raised cholesterol, paying little respect to working out no less than five times each week and eating a to an extraordinary degree solid eating plan.

Will allude to the email she sent to me. I revere getting stuff thusly.

"I was at a demo toward the begin of today, from 10-2, and it was at an action center that was having a people thankfulness day, so they had unmistakable tables set up.

This person who had a table near to mine was doing circulatory strain tests and cholesterol tests.

When it upheld off and bit he asked concerning whether I required my cholesterol done. I uncovered to him it would most likely be high, it

's been more than 230 all through the recent years.

I showed him as for the marine oil supplements I was taking and disclosed to him I have been taking them just around 7 weeks or close, and he let me know he'd check my cholesterol, to check whether the supplements are hacking it down any.

I got a looking at of 150!!!

He thought possibly he treated it horrendously, so he did it AGAIN, on my other hand,(pin prick and blood taken) and it read 150 AGAIN!! Precisely!

He got all fortified and advanced toward me for the n3inc site!

I uncovered to him I have not changed my eating regimen OR exercise - the essential concern I am doing specific is taking ResQ 1250 and ResQ LDL-X.

I hear tributes like this over and over from individuals who take quality major unsaturated fat (EFA)supplements. Promising you get a fitting supply of the gigantic fats will go far toward a sound life and the fit, formed

Why Peanut Butter is a Big Part of My Sports Nutrition

I absolutely love organic peanut butter and eat it almost daily. I'm even guilty of eating a tablespoon straight from the jar. Peanut butter just so happens to be one of the best sports nutrition superfoods. It's a rich source of healthy fat and quality plant protein. Did I mention it tastes amazing!

I can be very creative with peanut butter adding it to oatmeal or mixing with protein powder. Eating healthy fats like peanut butter is one of the ways I obtain essential nutrients that maintain my fitness.

Did you know good fats help boost your metabolism to more effectively burn body fat? Unfortunately eating fat has received lots of bad press and blamed for making us fat. Not true. There's a difference between fats that help keep us healthy and fats contributing to being unhealthy. Compare a donut to a handful of raw nuts for example.

Healthy fats like peanut butter and other nut butter are shown to promote good health. Another thing to keep in mind when enjoying peanut butter is portion size. I don't sit around with a spoon in my jar until it's gone, although tempting. We can enjoy our good fats but just like with all macro nutrients, eating the right amount to maintain our fitness is essential.

Good fats have numerous health benefits and studies show can help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, hypertension, joint pain, and boost our immunities. The nutrients contained in peanut butter provide our body with protection from many illnesses including certain cancers and neurological disease. It's also shown to reduce our total cholesterol, specifically LDL cholesterol (the bad stuff) and triglycerides.

My love affair with peanut butter began with 'PB and Js' and still remains to this day. Mom wasn't far off with the importance of eating this healthy fat. It has helped me maintain my physical fitness over decades. I use peanut butter toast prior to and even following my workouts. I also enjoy a tablespoon when craving something before bed. If I want to create my own peanut butter cup, I toss a few dark chocolate chips on the spoon for an awesome treat.

I realize some have peanut sensitivity and allergies and therefore can't consume peanut butter. However, there are a wide variety of other kinds of nut butter just as nutritious and satisfying. Peanut butter works for me and my healthy lifestyle and probably the easiest healthy snack I eat daily.

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Food Journals Can Help Us Get Back On Track Sooner Than Later

Keeping a food journal can be your best friend and accountability partner when learning how to implement a healthy nutrition program. It can also feel like a burden depending on your commitment level.

I have heard it all when it comes to food journals and the love/hate relationship caused when keeping track of every morsel. The problem is really not the food journal, but the issue of not wanting to be honest with ourselves. When life is going great and our program is on track, we gladly write down every healthy bite and proudly share eating habits producing positive results.

On the other side of the spectrum is feeling guilty eating off track and not wanting to write it down. We even convince ourselves somehow not writing it down means it didn't really happen. We tend to have moments of forgetfulness when we stop being mindful of our eating behavior.

The truth is regardless of what we want to include in our food journal, our body keeps an accurate record. You can run but your body will not hide the consequences of unhealthy choices.

Our food journal wants to know all the hidden secrets causing us to get off track. Are there food triggers? What's going emotionally and how is it affecting your day? These are important facts that could help figure out why we're eating unhealthy. Using the food journal as an emotional outlet helps resolve potential behaviors that may occur, and allows us to get back on track sooner than later.

Giving our food journal the stink eye for poor food choices is not where the blame should be placed. We are responsible for living a healthy or unhealthy life. If our fitness program is off track, we should be grown up enough to own it, plus the consequences of those choices. Keeping secrets from our food journal does nothing to help in a positive way. In fact, being dishonest with ourselves will prevent us from reaching our health and fitness goals.

We can come up with all kinds of reasons not to journal: too hard, waste of time, it�s not working, controls me too much, refuse to feel micromanaged, and the list goes on. Keeping a journal is truly a personal choice but can't be blamed when poor decisions are made. When it doesn't work, it's about the dishonesty occurring when we cheat on our journal.

Studies have shown increased health and fitness improvement when food and fitness journals are maintained. This is great news but they won't work if we're unwilling to use them correctly. Cheating on our food journal takes away it's ability to be used as a learning tool to help us correct unhealthy eating patterns.

We have the choice to view the food journal as friend or foe. If we view the food journal as a friend, our chances for improved health and fitness would significantly increase. Good friends help keep us accountable even when it's difficult to hear the truth. It may be hard to see our poor eating habits on paper but it's necessary to stand in our truth so we can make healthy changes. Friends should be able to offer constructive criticism and have it be accepted in a positive way without defensiveness.

The food journal is there to do that very thing: show you what has gone wrong, where you can improve, and ultimately help you make better choices for living a healthy lifestyle.

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Women Who Lift Weights Gain Muscle Definition Not Bulk

For those who believe lifting weights will make you lose feminine curves, I am here to say it's a myth. We simply don't have enough testosterone naturally to produce extreme muscle mass.

We can create a firm, tone body with the help of weight resistance training. A small part of how we are built is also based on genetics. Every woman is different with the look weight training provides. This is called life and normal. As long as we maintain our lifting program along with healthy eating, we can enjoy a well-sculpted physique for life.

We may see over-developed women bodybuilders who appear manly but this is often times created using illegal drugs, steroids, and male sex hormones. For us regular gals not on the bodybuilding circuit and just hitting it hard in the gym, this is not our norm. We may create some muscle, but nothing to the degree of lean mass enhanced with steroids. This is a whole other level of muscle development not applicable to active women in the gym. Unfortunately, seeing overly muscled women has caused many gals to fear lifting heavy.

Applying a regular weight training program can create noticeably shapely arms, butt, legs, and an overall beautiful fit look. The other benefits include feeling great, boosted confidence, wearing anything you want and it's nice to receive compliments for your healthy lifestyle.

I have been lifting weights for thirty years, have muscular curves but definitely not bulky. What allows my muscle to show more is maintaining a lower body fat percentage year round. However, I keep that within a healthy range to not screw around with my hormones.

As a woman in menopause, I understand the importance and health benefits of weight bearing exercise. I enjoy how my body looks, but more important, focus on my bones remaining dense and strong as my estrogen levels continue to decline. Weight training is prescribed to all women going through this phase to reduce the risk of osteoporosis and/or osteopenia.

I am genetically lean thanks to my Dad and my body has also responded well to weight training. I actually used resistance training to put on muscle weight and provide more curves. Being naturally thin also comes with challenges. I am a hard gainer so work even harder in the gym for the muscle I have.

Some may think I look bulky, but if you met me in person, you would have a whole different opinion. Can I flex it up in images? Yes and especially after an intense lifting session when the muscles are full and vascular. When I'm dressed in jeans and t-shirts, you might say I look like a woman who takes care of herself.

The health benefits of weight training go beyond what is visible. Lifting weights helps improve bone and joint function, bone density, and increased muscle, tendon and ligament strength. The more lean mass we have, the more efficient our bodies become with burning energy stores and maintaining a healthy weight. We become healthier overall, and our confidence is boosted when we feel our healthy best.

The look obtained from weight training is one that exemplifies a healthy lifestyle. It's not a "she-man" body that seems to be running around in everyone�s mind. The media has successfully distorted the truth in all areas of fitness. The use of photoshop, airbrushing, and claims of weight lifting for females equals turning into a man. Nonsense!

This is far from the truth and laughable. I believe in being our own health and fitness advocates. It's important to research health and fitness subjects including weight training and applying what is best for our bodies to become a healthier person. Our female hormones which do include a small amount of testosterone naturally will allow for some muscle increase and a sculpted look.

The inward and outward benefits of lifting are not only beautiful but we as women should embrace weight training as a very important part of our health programs.

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I Love the Workout Perks of Coffee

The only stimulant I use to improve my workouts is coffee. Unregulated supplements come with too many health risks and who knows what's really in the stuff. Coffee contains caffeine, tastes amazing, full of beneficial antioxidants and a natural stimulant to boost my workouts.

Chronic studies have provided positive findings for caffeinated coffee improving athletic performance and other health benefits. It is said to increase our metabolism, reduce induced exercise muscle pain, improve mental focus, increase fat burning, and reduce the risk of disease.

The thing is you don't need that much coffee for effective results. More is not better and one to no more than 2 cups of black coffee is what's recommended according to research. I thoroughly enjoy my large mug every morning and admit to adding a small amount of creamer. I haven't been able to develop a taste for straight up black coffee.

I happen to be one of those people who is caffeine sensitive so drink half-calf and that works for me. Any more would have me bouncing off the walls. Call me a lightweight and I am just fine with that. I only indulge in the morning before a workout otherwise I would have a problem getting to sleep.

I love the natural edge up coffee provides as I prepare to hit the gym. Within 30 minutes, I feel more energetic and ready for an intense workout. It really prepares me mentally and physically. I don't have health issues like hypertension or diagnosed heart problems where coffee would be contraindicated so I do partake in moderation. The other health benefits from antioxidants are an added bonus.

Drinking coffee is one of my secret weapons for maintaining a fit body. Studies show the fat burning effects last up to 3 hours after having caffeine so I create that window for my workout. I would not venture into an unsafe stimulant scenario and don't support unhealthy ways to maintain my body. Coffee, on the other hand, is one of the best natural effective stimulants and my pre-workout drink of choice.

It's very important to check with your doctor before adding coffee to your nutrition and be aware of how your body responds to caffeine.

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Lasting Results Happen When Fitness Becomes Our Lifestyle

Adopting a healthy lifestyle and achieving fitness goals can provide a feeling of accomplishment in the beginning. We plug into our fitness apps, fit bits, eating right and motivated to exercise. We are in fitness euphoria and experiencing self-motivation at its peak. We are determined and feel nothing will get in the way of reaching our goals, right?

This is awesome but the struggle is usually not in starting but in the maintaining. We all need to start the process of getting healthy but even more important is being able to continue the lifestyle.

As we progress in our fitness journey, things often become less important. Our determined mental game starts to soften.

Week three of the start may not feel as good or exciting anymore. Other things take priority and somehow being too busy to exercise or eat right dampen our motivation.

Week four seems to be filled with obligations that become more important than the promise we made to ourselves to get healthy.

Week five may involve a long vacation where fitness is set aside and anything goes with food that will surely expand the waistline. Exercise is also put on the back burner. I mean who wants to be active on vacation is the typical feedback.

In a short time, our goal to get healthy has taken a back seat and old patterns have returned. The struggle is real for many out there.

Processed foods have replaced the good carbohydrates consumed just a month ago. The menu has returned to pizza and burgers instead of lean proteins and healthy fats. Water intake is also not what it should be for optimal fitness. What happened?

Believe it or not, choices and behaviors like this happen all the time. It can cause feelings of failure, discouragement and many of us give up. None of us are immune to returning to poor eating habits and reasons not to exercise. We somehow think once we reach our goals, we can start slacking. We miss the point of getting in shape is staying in shape.

Lasting results happen when fitness becomes our lifestyle. This means being mindful of how we eat, staying active and getting plenty of rest. It also means taking responsibility for the choices causing us to return to unhealthy patterns. This will require getting back that motivation felt so strongly upon starting our fitness program.

If you are unable to do it alone, hire a qualified personal trainer or find a workout partner. If you are sabotaged at home, start creating two separate meals to ensure that you're eating healthy. If too busy seems to be a problem, it's time to review your priorities.

Achieving your fitness goals is a great accomplishment. Learning how to maintain them is truly what it means to live a healthy lifestyle.

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Diets Really Have No Place in a Fitness Lifestyle

Getting fit has nothing to do with going on a diet. In fact, I came up with an acronym for the 'diet' word and how it affects us:

D: Depressing
I: Illogical
E: Extreme
T: Taxing

How many times have you heard someone say they are on a diet? Diet trends are numerous and marketed ad nauseam. Diets may have a place in clinical scenarios but really not something for us regular people who may be sedentary or even active adults wanting to get back in shape.

Nutrition does play the largest role in our health and fitness. This doesn't mean restricting our calories by means of a fad diet is the way to a fitter body. It simply means eating better food for our goals. Actually not eating enough can work against us causing our body to hold onto fat stores.

Diets are also not lifetime sustainable because they can be too restrictive and remove important macronutrients from our daily food intake. We function best eating all macronutrients including lean proteins, healthy fats, and good carbohydrates. Any nutrition plan asking you to eliminate vital nutrients to reach your goals quickly should be a red flag. It may be tempting, but remember if something sounds too good to be true - it is.

Reducing fat and gaining muscle is not about eating less just eating right. Consuming nutrient-dense foods like vegetables, lean meats, whole grains, nuts, and seeds will enable you to reach your goals without feeling deprived. It does mean reviewing your current nutrition plan and changing up the food you eat.

Nutritious foods contain fewer calories allowing us the freedom to eat more and not feel guilty. When we start filling our plates with mostly vegetables and an appropriate portion of lean meat, counting calories can even be removed from the equation. Remember, no one ever got fat eating kale.

A healthy lifestyle is meant to be enjoyed and not to feel like a burden. Contrarily, diets can cause us to feel deprived and frustrated. Who enjoys drinking special shakes all day instead of eating real food? We are meant to cook, eat and enjoy real food. This is also called eating to live and loving every minute of it.

When we stop looking for quick fixes and forget about fad diets is when we can really be on our way to getting fit and healthy.

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Listen to Your Body When it Comes to Fitness and Illness

Have you ever had a severe sinus infection? I have experienced a couple and they can really put me down for a few days. I couldn't believe how horrible the symptoms were and I sympathize with anyone who has suffered through it. Bad sinus infections can take a while to recover from similar to any severe illness. For those of us who rarely get sick, this is quite a humbling experience.

Symptoms can include a severe headache and I would say more like entire face pain. Also, the inability to breathe and high fever are typical signs of a sinus infection. Sleeping can feel impossible and eating is often limited as our appetite decreases. Sinus mucus coming out yellow, green or even brown are obvious infection markers. Fitness is pretty much out the window when an illness of this magnitude comes calling. This is the time to focus our energy on getting better.

Illness can happen and does furthermore, it's alright to unwind with your work out schedule. Actually, your body will recuperate quicker in the event that you require some serious energy off to rest enabling your antibodies to construct and work to your advantage.

There will be things we don't need or get a kick out of the chance to do however are important to recuperate from ailment. I needed to take anti-infection agents for my sinus disease for instance on the off chance that I would show signs of improvement.

Put exercises on hold. Our body is endeavoring to recuperate and saddling it with an instructional meeting is truly not the best thought. I'm not discussing the sneezes here, but rather a serious sickness requiring a couple of days of bed rest. In case you're excessively debilitated, making it impossible to get up, you have no business in the rec center.

Tune in to your body. In the event that you have a fever, regurgitating, unfit to inhale, and discover it an extraordinary push to get up, at that point remain there. Likewise, tuning in to your body implies knowing when to see the specialist. Not all sickness will leave without some help. Attempting to intense it out for a really long time can really conflict with you.

It's smarter to beneficiary in favor of alert and let a specialist analyze a disease or infection. An infection normally runs its course without pharmaceutical yet a disease as a rule requires anti-infection agents. On the off chance that you simply don't feel right, are hot, and not performing at what feels like you, at that point you might need to get it looked at.

It's alright to relax and miss days at the exercise center. Diehard exercise center rats will battle with this. Missing my normal wellness routine is troublesome for me too, however recuperating from an ailment the correct way is a piece of being fit and solid.

You're not going to lose your wellness since you became ill and missed a couple of exercises. Not enabling time to recuperate from ailment or notwithstanding coming back to exercises too early can make our body backslide. Backslide of an ailment can happen by overlooking your need to rest and get well. Backslide is said to be ten times more awful than the first bug. It's smarter to be down for a couple of days than a little while, correct?

Drinking a lot of water, and recharging electrolytes are basic while recuperating from sickness. Expending chicken soup and juices are old cures examines demonstrate feed our body and supplant sodium lost through liquids.

The primary concern is to think reasonably with regards to wellness and sickness. Setting aside opportunity to recoup will in reality better set up your body to come back to the exercise center speedier. Disease is something out of our control however we do have control over how we treat our body when it happens.

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I Respect Everyone Trying to Get Fit

We may all differ in our fitness levels but all share the same goals ... health improvement. Getting fit takes changing our life and daily habits to become healthier people. This choice is inspiring and motivating to me. I respect everyone trying to get fit.

The decision to get in shape can feel overwhelming for some of us and even vulnerable. Being over fat can come with a negative stigma and society can make people feel bad about themselves. The same goes for muscular women and skinny men. Body shaming has no place in our fitness journey. Making the choice to become our best healthy self is a great decision regardless of the stares or opinions of others.

We don't need to be told we're too fat, too skinny, too muscular or not muscular enough. We all know the condition of our health and body without negative lip service. What we all need is positive support and motivation on our journey to achieve fitness goals.

Part of achieving fitness goals is accepting where we are right now and taking responsibility for our part in being unhealthy. This has nothing to do with body shaming or judgments and everything to do with self-love. We have to own our actions to change our actions.

All people deserve to be treated with respect while working to improve their fitness. We definitely shouldn't be throwing stones when most of us live in glass houses. There are many people running around unhealthy not wearing it on the outside of their bodies. Imagine if everything about everyone was exposed automatically for all to see. There would be a serious decline in judgment and body shaming.

We all need to feel safe to share our reasons why we allow ourselves to be unhealthy. This is critical to successful self-improvement. All of us want to be healthy and supported through the process.

It will be our responsibility to create that healthy life regardless of our size, shape and even the lack of respect from others. The healthy choices we make today will form our healthy tomorrows.

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I Allow For Moderation to Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

Living a healthy lifestyle is not about restriction but allowing for moderation. It's not realistic to eliminate a favorite food forever from our diet. I consider my occasional splurges as treats and not even cheats. Because eating them in moderation is an enjoyable experience. It's called living a balanced healthy life.

I don't believe having a fresh baked brownie now and then is cheating on my fitness program. I follow a 90/10 rule consuming a wide variety of good carbs, lean proteins, and healthy fats 90% of the time. I allow for 10% indulgence like a glass of wine or dark chocolate. These small treats won't derail my efforts as many of us are taught to believe. It's what we do consistently that defines what our body looks like.

I will even apply the 80/20 rule eating healthy foods 80% of the time and allowing 20% for indulgence. This comes in handy when on vacation or during the holidays. I will not turn down a piece of my Mom's home-baked pie or biscuits with butter and honey ... are you kidding me?

I do feel indulgences need to be quality. I don't waste time on packaged process junk foods but will splurge on home baked goods made with real ingredients. I also enjoy a good burger, gourmet pizza, and frozen yogurt with toppings. When I treat myself, I still want to be in control of the quality of the food. I also don't believe in having a free ticket to binge on thousands of calories on splurge day. That is defeating the purpose of a splurge meal or day. If I want a burger and fries, I enjoy the meal and move on.

I don't plan a treat day either but listen to my cravings. I work hard, eat clean 80 to 90 percent of the time and know eating a slice of apple pie Ala mode is not going to break my fitness bank. I will savor every bite of my indulgence and eat slowly. I eat slowly anyway, but really take even more time when eating a treat.

Having treat meals are always a personal choice. Sometimes there are physiological and psychological issues to consider. Those suffering from emotional eating disorders may not be good candidates for treat meals and should be under the guidance of a physician. Also, newbie fitness adapters may not be able to manage treat meals just yet and succumb to past triggers and old behaviors. Medical issues like diabetes require food monitoring and certain treats may not be in their best interest.

I utilize treat meals for balance in my healthy lifestyle. Thinking we can sustain on boiled fish and broccoli is not realistic. I enjoy some sort of sweet treat or fun meal a couple of times weekly and still maintain a healthy body. It really comes down to how we apply treat meals. It's not a reward for being deprived all week or for completing a hard workout.

There is a place for eating healthy and allowing for treats in a healthy life. Living a healthy lifestyle shouldn't feel like a burden or deprivation. If that's the case, a review of your current nutrition plan is advisable. An unsustainable nutrition plan will cause many of us to return to unhealthy eating habits. Life is too short not to eat healthy and it's also too short not to enjoy some splurges along the way.

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How Fitness Can Be Lost With Two Little Words

How many times do we justify unhealthy choices using the 'it's only' intro? Whether it�s only five pounds more, a small bag of chips, or one missed workout, it's easy to keep going once we start.

These two little words can be the start of losing our fitness. The occasional treat turns into daily choices leading us in the opposite direction of our fitness goals. The five pound gain turns into ten, two cookies are suddenly five, and several workouts somehow get missed. Two innocent words have suddenly derailed all our hard work.

The 'it�s only' dilemma can happen at any time but appears to creep back into the picture once fitness results are achieved. What we thought wouldn't make a difference in our fitness has taken us back to an unhealthy lifestyle and body.

These two words are not as innocent as one might believe. Saying 'it's only' is only for those with a strong mental game who really mean it for one time.

Let�s look at the time it takes to break the cycle of sugar craving. This is approximately two weeks or twenty-one days. If a person is two days shy of that goal and decides to break the rules for its only one time, it could snowball into continued unhealthy eating. All that hard work down the drain. This is hypothetical but happens more often than not.

I am all about moderation but starting a healthy lifestyle requires structure and discipline. Success happens when we don't cave to thinking 'it's only' is acceptable. Why risk losing the accomplishments of several days/months of hard effort?

There's no denying two innocent words can take a person from success to digress in short order. Within a few weeks, we may stand in bewilderment wondering what happened. It happened because 'it�s only' became the tool used more consistently than healthy choices.

Pay attention to that inner voice tempting you towards unhealthy food choices and skipped workouts. Be aware of friends and family who may sabotage your efforts with it's only for this one time. Besides, you deserve it, right? Wrong. What you deserve is making the best healthy choices for yourself.

Becoming aware of the two words (it's only) and how we use them to justify unhealthy choices is important to our fitness success. When we're able to identify the behavior, we can avoid setbacks in our fitness life.

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Fight Frustration With Motivation and Keep Going

We have all experienced frustration and it's actually normal during our fitness journey. Nothing goes perfectly and results can take longer than we thought. When results are slower than expected, frustration can feel overwhelming. Staying motivated can be difficult during this time. Our feelings can move past frustration straight into pissed off and angry.

Frustration causes many of us to consider giving up. We doubt our efforts and think nothing will work. We may even return to old unhealthy habits. Before the negative mental game stops you completely, consider fighting frustration with motivation.

The truth is we're all working toward the same fitness goal but at differing rates of progress. Health is a process of small steps taken over time that provide big results. Just know each positive step to improve our health is working. Our bodies know something good is happening, even when we're unable to see it. It's during times of the unseen we must have faith in the process. Be motivated by the good being done to become a healthy person.

Throwing in the towel and going back to old habits will create nothing but further unhappiness and frustration. It will rob us of all the effort accomplished so far. This is not the time to quit, but to stand strong and kick frustration to the curb with motivation.

Fighting frustration with motivation will require an inner strength we all possess. It will be a choice to love ourselves at this moment no matter what the scale says. It requires daily acknowledgment of our efforts like eating healthy, completing a workout, a daily goal, or whatever has been the most difficult struggle finally accomplished that day.

Having a positive attitude will fight off frustration one motivation at a time. Patience and a consistent habit of healthy eating and exercise will produce results. Begin to focus not so much on the goal, but what can be achieved today. This will minimize frustration and promote feeling motivated.

The stress of trying so hard will be replaced by an inner peace of doing our best each day. When we relax about getting fit, health falls into place. Adopting that healthy lifestyle will eventually feel as natural as breathing.

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Be well and Stay Healthy

Change Happens When We Face Our Fitness Truth

Standing in our fitness truth can be a difficult thing and often times something we avoid altogether. Even as we stand in the mirror with our naked truth right in front of us, we can still be in denial of what is looking back at us.

We believe working out and eating healthy for one week will provide some visible results. We look at ourselves with frustration unable to accept the truth about our fitness. It takes more than a week to get to an unhealthy state and yet we expect an instant miracle. Instead of continuing the fitness journey, we give up before really starting.

If all of us truly took responsibility for our fitness truth, the world would be filled with healthy fit people. This is far from reality. More than 30 percent of Americans struggle with obesity or being overweight.

The problem is the continual dishonesty with ourselves about how we're really living. Most of us aren't eating healthy and rarely get in a workout. Regardless of what we say, our body keeps a good record of what we're actually doing.

We may talk a good fitness game in front of our friends, family, and even our trainer but within our private life, the truth remains a buried secret. Lying to ourselves does nothing to make us healthy people. When we continue to brag about eating healthy, our bodies are telling the true story of what's happening.

Some medical conditions or medications may contribute to weight gain, but this doesn't apply to the majority of people. Denial of our fitness truth is the reason most of us are unhealthy, overweight and unfit. Until we're able to accept our responsibility for causing the problem, we won't be able to apply a solution. Achieving a healthy and fit body takes acceptance of where we are now and changing daily unhealthy habits.

Keeping an accountability fitness and food journal really helps us stand in our fitness truth. The additional splurge meals, alcohol, and snacking can all be written down. Being honest about how many times we exercise can also be included in our journal. It's hard to deny what we're really doing or not doing looking at the facts in writing.

If we don't write things down, we conveniently forget about off track items and only recall eating vegetables and salmon for dinner. Somehow if we don't write it down, it's not happening. We often become frustrated and in disbelief that anything we did could possibly cause us to gain weight or not hit our goals. Who is anyone trying to kid with this type of thinking and behavior.

When we face our fitness truth, positive results can happen. Our efforts to change will result in becoming a healthier, happier, and fit person.

Not being honest with ourselves about our fitness can be difficult to accept. Completely normal feeling as we work through emotions. We all need to start somewhere. Beginning with the truth in all relationships including the one with ourselves is the basis of all trust. Do you trust yourself enough to stand in your fitness truth? Do you really want to experience a change in your life and experience good health and happiness? It will take work and you may even need help going through the process. The effort will be worth every positive step of acceptance and action to change.

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