Sitting before the TV in a cozy armchair, with a can of cold beer and a plate of peanuts at hand, or going to the pub on Friday, is certainly the most welcome form of relaxation. This is the usual thing you do after work. What you may not know is that the couch-potato kind of relaxation actually puts a sluggish, worn-out body in a worse condition than it was. It is about time you lose some weight and trim that beer belly. Here are the 4 proven steps to fit and healthy body:
Exercise
The best way to relax, believe it or not, is to huff, puff, flex, and grunt – in a gym or outdoors . Each time you snatch a breath of fresh air or give your heart an aerobic workout, you are giving your body a treat, though you may not realize it immediately.
But wait up. Exercise alone does not a healthy person make. Top physical conditioning must be complemented by many other factors, particularly proper eating habits.
Eat the right food
The body’s daily nutritional requirements are basically carbohydrates, fats, fiber, minerals, proteins, vitamins, and water. Carbohydrates are supplied by cereals, grains, and pasta . Proteins, vitamins and minerals are derived from meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables. Fiber comes mostly from cereals, fruits, grains, and raw vegetables.
What, then, makes up a proper diet, the famous balanced diet that had been drummed into our heads at school as far back as we could remember? Think of a lauriat, where several dishes are served. To truly enjoy the feast, you must pick a little of everything and not load up on only one or two dishes. A balanced diet works roughly the same way: A meal must contain sufficient amounts of all the basic food groups.
Good Eating Habits
Eating balanced meals is only half the picture – the easy half. The difficult end of the effort is to know when, where, how, and how much to eat, and what not to eat.
WHEN is simple. Stick to regular meals – breakfast, lunch, and dinner – and take them at regular times. Avoid snacks, particularly after-dinner morsels.
WHERE is not hard either. Eat meals only at the dining table. Avoid taking meals while watching TV, as this may build the habit of having to eat the moment you sit before a TV set. Of course, snacks do not come into the act at all.
HOW is a common problem among busy people. Eat slowly. Chewing the food carefully is good for digestion.
HOW MUCH is a gray area. The quantity of food needed by the body varies from individual to individual. Athletes burn up a lot of energy and, therefore, require more replenishment. Conversely, people with limited physical activity must control their intake.
WHAT NOT TO EAT is the hardest aspect to control. Foods frowned upon are the very foods that people love to feast upon. Topping the list is the proverbial junk food – usually, packed snacks with little or no nutritional value. Then there are the saturated fats (which raise cholesterol levels) found in meat and dairy products. Salt and sugar must be kept at a minimum. (In other words, steer clear of cured food and pastries. And oh, yes, alcohol is definitely taboo.
The Right Attitude – The biggest test of wills does not come with the decision to start eating correctly. Problems stat a week or month later, when the temptation to indulge in “forbidden” food peaks and the proper eating habits are not ye firmly rooted.
Actually, lapses are not that bad, especially when you are in the company of friends who are not into healthy eating (yet). The tricky part is getting back on track until you have all the do’s down pat.
