If you are like me, you have that middle-aged belly, walk a bit slower than you did when you were 20, am somewhat out of shape and looking for a way to recapture your figure of 10 years ago. Did you ever believe youd be this out-of shape? I sure didnt, but three operations and a few rounds with cancer saw me sink to a low that I never imagined. My journey towards better health and less girth started extremely slowly. I had to be able to walk up the stairs without collapsing. Making it to the top of those 15 steps was a true victory. Now, I can walk for blocks without passing out. When I approached a diet and fitness program, I looked for one that matched my current lack of fitness and compared myself to no one. Intelligent Weight Loss
Before you start any type of weight loss or diet regimen, make sure its tailored to your current lifestyle, the shape your body is in and not a pipedream on television. Set reasonable goals based on your age, current weight and level of fitness and always check with your doctor for any additional tips or advice. Run from any weight loss supplement that promises you'll shed pounds without exercise or promises excessive weight loss in a short period of time. It just doesnt work, and you could be setting yourself up for more damage than good by taking costly pills that promise miracles. Make sure you take the required nutrients while on a weight loss program, and don't "crash" diet with a formula and just expect it to work instantly! Set reasonable weight loss goals. Record the factors that influence your weight control efforts. Be sure to include a moderate exercise program. Walking has proven to be a really easy way to get back into shape for many middle-aged people. If youre middle-aged and out of shape, unless you are really, really motivated and disciplined, forget joining a gym. Its a waste of money. Just resolve to walk each day for about 10-20 minutes (even if you need to take rest stops in the beginning). Save the gym for when you can walk more than 10 blocks without feeling dizzy and out of breath. Getting Vitamins from Organic Food Helps with Weight Loss
Supplements, while good, cant do everything. Look first to the bountiful harvest that nature provides and add supplements to your food choices. Usually, by the time youre 40-something, your children are grown and you have time to research and consider what youre going to eat. Organic food may be a good option. It was found that, on average, organic food contains higher levels of vitamin C and essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron and chromium. Some additives found in organic food are added for legal reasons including iron, thiamine (vitamin B) and nicotinic acid (vitamin B3) in white flour, and various vitamins and minerals in different types of baby foods. Specific ingredients and additives are also not allowed in organic food: monosodium glutamate, aspartame, phosphoric acid and hydrogenated fats. The Soil Association conducted a systematic review of the evidence comparing the vitamin and mineral content of organic and conventionally grown food. An independent review of the evidence found that organic crops had significantly higher levels of all 21 nutrients analyzed compared with conventional produce including vitamin C (27% more), magnesium (29% more), iron (21% more) and phosphorous (14% more). Then, theres the stupid stuff to remember like whole-wheat bread is the better choice, because of its fiber, vitamin and photochemical content than plain white bread. You might want to add a combination of natural foods and pills to your weight loss regimen. Adding Supplements to a Weight Loss plan.
A variety of vitamin supplements are labeled with phrases that market an individual product to a specific target audience: older men, heart patients, weight loss folks, competitive athletes, stressed-out women and the like. Be careful to fully research what youre about to take. Even if there are all-natural ingredients such as vitamin C and grape seed, check to see how they interact. For the best health effect, make a plan that works towards a long-term win like making garlic a part of an overall heart-and cancer-protective diet that's low in saturated and trans fats and abundant in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans. Take care of your immune system
When dieting, your immune system can sometimes take a dip. Echinacea is a very popular herbal medicine used to stimulate the immune system cells against infection. Echinacea's health benefits include reducing the symptoms and duration of colds, flu, and sore throats, speeding up wound healing, and building immunity against chronic infections. Theres nothing worse than catching a cold to derail your fledgling efforts at better health. Health education
Knowledge is power and this is no different. Go to the library or bookstore. Choose from topics like natural health, renewable energy, the environment and more. You can either visit the library or simply Google it. Either way, research and draw up a plan. Include your doctor, who will, trust me, be very helpful in working with you. |
