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The world is overweight, especially in the United States.
Every year we seem to get lazier and fatter.
People who have put on a few extra pounds typically fall
into one of two categories. They are either obsessed with
dieting and losing weight or they just do not seem to care.
They are both doomed to fail.
The former group will likely fail because of their unreasonable
expectations, while the latter group thinks that weight loss
and fitness are just too difficult, so they give up without
even trying.
If you belong to either group, you need to put things into
perspective. You will probably never develop a supermodel
figure or bodybuilder physique. But the good is that you do
not need to.
Fitness is not about hourglass figures or washboard abs.
Just losing a few pounds can add years to your life and make
those years much more enjoyable.
Excess weight can reduce your stamina, put stress on your
joints, and even cause illnesses, such as heart disease or
diabetes.
So start each day with the intention of eating better and
getting just a little exercise. Do this one day at a time
and you will find it to be much easier than you expected.
Here are some tips to help you get started.
1. Start your day with a tall glass of cold water. Not only
is it a great way to start the day, but you feel less hungry,
so you will eat less.
2. Try to eat breakfast within an hour of getting up in the
morning. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,
but you should not wait until you get really hungry or you
may be inclined to eat too much.
3. Eat a lot of fresh fruit. They are an excellent source
of nutrition and many contain the extra fiber that your body
needs. You probably know what a lack of fiber can do to you.
4. Do not forget the vegetables. Try to eat at least one
salad every day. When you feel the urge to snack, try some
celery or carrot sticks. Some people seem to have a phobia
about veggies, but they really are good when you give them
a chance.
5. Control your sweet tooth. Sweet usually means sugar, which
translates into calories. Too much sugar can harm you in many
other ways, as well.
6. Keep a food diary. Write down everything that you eat.
At the end of the day, you may be surprised, even shocked
by what you have written down.
7. Stay away from fried foods. Even if the oil is drained
away, there is still a lot of hidden oil, which adds fat and
calories.
8. Do not be a couch potato. There are several little things
that you can do for exercise. Walking instead of driving.
Bike riding. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. If you
just stop for a moment and think about it, you can come up
with dozens of ideas.
So start with small goals and find how much easier it gets
every day.
And let's face it, is that not that what you are looking
for? Easy?
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