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GT Get Fit Tip: Beat these Bad Habits to Help You Get Toned
Re-post from BG Daily News Amplifier
Summer is near and more people will be dressing less to go out and do their daily deeds. How you feel about yourself will determine what you wear that day and all the decisions you made prior to that could effect how your feeling.
Keeping and maintaining a healthy weight is a lifestyle choice that people make while others make it hard for themselves because of what choices they have made over the past years and months. Take into consideration your daily activites and what you spend time doing during the day. The habits you have and the tasks you perform may be keeping those unwanted pounds on your body and causing you to feel and look FAT.
Beat these BAD habits to help you get toned this summer:
1. Smoking – if your smoking stop!! Bowling Green just recently passed the “no smoking” ordinance and we should all be thankful. Smoking decreases blood flow to the extremities and studies show that smokers have a higher waist to hip fat ratio than non smokers. That means that smokers tend to store more fat around the mid section and look pudgy. Fat around the chest and abs is the worst kind because it impedes organ function.
2. Drinking – Taking yourself down town to get 2 or 3 drinks after work adds more than 500 calories to your daily calorie intake and can add up to more than 5lbs a month in fat gains. Instead of meeting work collegues for drinks, meet for a workout or walk in the park, it will do the your body some good. Alcohol slows the bodies metabolism and increases the bodies signal to store fat.
3. Stress – figure out what causes stress in your life and DEAL with it. When you stress out your body releases cortisol in the blood stream and that also signals your body to store fat. Stress not only adds body fat to your midsection but can also kill you by contributing to stroke and heart attack. Take a walk or count sheep if need be, you have to decrease stress to be healthy.
4. Skipping Fruits and Vegetables – eat more fruits and veggies to lose more body fat. Getting your daily servings increases your fiber consumption which aids in digestion and prevents constipation. If your eating more fruits and vegetables then you are less likely to eat too many carbohydrates and starch. Carbs and starch are easily converted to fat when not utilized by the body shortly after eating.
5. Too much Cardio or none at all – just walking and jogging isn’t enough to reduce body fat. I tell people all the time its hard to “get in shape” without doing exercises that actually shape and contour the body. My suggestion is lift more weights. Proper weight training adds more lean muscle tissue which burns more calories when you are not working out, plus its good for your heart.
6. Not getting H2O – if your thirsty you are already dehydrated. Drinking water is vital to good health because your body can’t function without it. Knee joints, hip joints, and the spine all need fluid to operate smoothly, without proper hydration your joints can ache and cause irritation. If you feel bloated all the time, drink more water. The best diuretic is water.
7. Watching too much TV – turn off the tube, especially at night. People who sleep less than 8 hrs have an increased risk for storing more body fat. When the body is tired it will conserve energy throughout the day in order to have energy when and if its needed. If you don’t get enough sleep or exercise your body never releases stored energy (fat) so it just collects on our body and looks terrible
These are just 7 bad habits that could be wrecking your midsection and the propensity of unhappiness you have about yourself. The first step to looking good and being healthy is body awareness, without knowing your body and being mindful of what your doing you don’t stand a chance in this life.
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GT Get Fit Tip: Sleep Hygiene
Getting a good nights sleep is paramount with health and well-being. The amount of sleep time we have during the dark night can be limited due to life’s stress, so the time you do have to sleep should be of high quality.
Poor sleep hygiene could be the reason you feel the way you feel about yourself, family, work, or life in general. A tired body is a stressed body that will not perform to its highest capability, therefore you could find yourself on the short end of the goals and aspirations you seek.
Good Sleep Hygiene:
- avoid caffeine before bed
- avoid hot & spicy foods before bed
- exercise regularly
- have a cool sleeping environment
- eliminate TV before bed (swap for radio)
- check your medications for non-drowsiness
- arthritis, acid reflux with heartburn, menstruation, headaches and hot flashes interrupt sleep
- start in your favorite sleeping position
- try meditation or relaxation techniques before bed
- reserve the bed for sex and sleep
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GT Get Fit Tip: Workouts Under the Influence of Drugs/Alcohol
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here’s a fitness tip that came to mind:
DO NOT WORKOUT under the influence of drugs/alcohol
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This is what my Uncle Jeff did this afternoon instead of being down at the studio helping me train. Hey I’m not really complaining, we have a 1.75lbs Rib-Eye steak for dinner too!!
Exercise and Fitness Pioneer Jack LaLanne dead at 96
Jack LaLanne literally inspired millions to live a healthful life although as a kid he didn’t start out as a model of health.
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Sorry – its been one of those days
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Avoiding Childhood Obesity (BG Parent Magazine)
Here are 5 proven ways to promote health and wellness
in your family. Give yourself and your family the chance to
adjust and make plans as you go. Encourage every member
to provide input and be a part of something that is positive
and benefits the family as a whole.
Be the Example
Time after work should incorporate leisure activities outside of the home. Get MOTIVATED, incorporate structured physical activities like sports or exercise. Join a gym or go to the park for a nature walk. Take advantage of the local parks. Kereiakes, Preston Miller, Roland Bland and H.P. Thomas, as well as Lost River Cave & Valley all offer walking or nature trails. This is a fun and free way to promote exercise within your family.
Don’t use Food as a Reward
Success of a measured outcome deserves parental acknowledgement but that reward does not have to encompass food. Take kids to a movie or add up points for a favorite vacation destination.
Limit Tv, Game, Cell Phone, and Computer Time
Spending excessive amounts of time in front of the TV or computer can lead to mindless snacking causing weight gain and weight-related health problems. Try to make it a rule to eat all meals and snacks while sitting at the table.
Teach your Kids to Cook
Show them what is included in a healthy meal and how to incorporate fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats. Teach children what foods are healthy and allowed to eat; not what is forbidden!
Family Time
Parents that are too tried after work to provide a nutritious meal for their family will often resort to restaurants. While dining out, it is hard to control portion size when you are paying top dollar for a plate of food. Preparing meals at home not only provides balanced nutrients but also can be a way to promote family time and enjoy the opportunity to get involved in your children’s lives.
Obesity kills, help stop obesity related diseases in Kentucky. All of us can if you will. For more information or to find out where I am training feel free to contact me by email at: dnucksfit@yahoo.com.
About the authorDavid has made physical fitness and healthy living a lifelong quest. He is the owner of a local fitness studio in Bowling Green. He holds a M.S. in Exercise Science from WKU and has been certified by the American College of Sports Medicine.
Repost: http://www.bgparent.com/articles/obesity.html
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