Health and Fitness: The Difference Between Living Well and Living

I believe all of us would like to live a quality life wherein we are able to live our life with meaning. Having good health helps us achieve a high quality of life. Fitness, on the other hand, makes us want to live it every day. If you agree with these three premises, then keep on reading.

My aim is to inform you of new developments in the health and fitness fields so that you'll be able to live your life well knowing what is current and relevant today in matters relating to having a healthy and fit body.

I know you are interested in becoming healthier and fitter or maintaining the health and fitness you have. Unfortunately, you have limited time to devote to it. That is why I'm giving you a fast and simple method to hop aboard the fitness fast train. Get on track with the facts.

It is my dream is for us to be able to live a life long enough so that we'll be able to do whatever it is our purpose here on this planet.  So, I invite you along for the ride and help you over the rough spots to your own fitness destination.

The key to healthy living and a fit body is diet and exercise.  Well, yes, we all know this but my aim is to give you the shortcuts, the little-known tricks and proven methods to help prevent boredom and hopelessness in your quest for good health.  Anyway, it is my hope that I'll be able to provide you with the latest Health and Fitness Tips here.

Below are Some Basic Essential Health and Fitness Tips to Practice Every Day 

"He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything." -Arabian Proverb

1.  Be specific about your health and fitness goals.  Instead of saying,"I'll start to exercise again" or "I'll start eating healthy", be precise about what you'll do to achieve these things, such as "I will run a mile a day everyday" or "I'll eat fruit for dessert instead of high-calorie sweets".

2.  Keep a positive mental attitude and outlook about getting fit.  If sometimes you fall out of the "fitness bandwagon", move forward and jumb back in immediately.  The sooner you get back to exercising, the sooner you'll get results.There's a definitive connection between living well and healthfully and having a cheerful outlook on life. You can't be unhappy when you're smiling or singing.

3.  If you are only beginning to exercise again, do short workout sessions first until you feel comfortable with longer ones so your body won't be strained by sudden exhaustion or fatigue.

4.  Too busy to fit a full 30-minute exercise session in a day?  Try dividing it into three 10-minute session spread out within the day.  You can do it after waking up, before going off to lunch and before foing to bed.

5. Make it a daily challenge to find ways to move your body. Here are a number of ways to start on this one:

• Climb stairs if given a choice between that and escalators or elevator;
• Walk your dog;
• Chase your kids;
• Toss balls with friends:
• Mow the lawn.

Anything that moves your limbs is not only a fitness tool, it's also a stress buster. Think 'move' in small increments of time. It doesn't have to be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute aerobic dance class or tai chi or kickboxing. But that's great when you're up to it. Meanwhile, move more.

6.  Practice proper form in any sport or exercise.  Not having proper form during exercise will render the exercise inefective, and can even cause injuries.

7.  Have a "better body buddy".  Exercising becomes more fun i you do it with other people.  Do aerobics with a friend or play a sport with your family.

8.  Practice proper form in any sport or exercise.  Not having proper form during exercise will render the exercise ineffective, and can even cause injuries.

9.  If the fitness facility that you signed up with offers different stretching and cardiovascular classes, make the most of it.  Participate in a couple of classes weekly, and switch classes every so often to keep you interest level up.

10. To increase your heart rate when walking, take smaller, more numerous strides per minute instead of longer, fewer ones.  

11.  Avoid toning the same part of your body in consecutive days.  Schedule your daily workouts so that you get to work on all parts of your body at least twice a week, but never on two days in a row.

12.  Experts estimate that an additional pound of lean muscle mass can increase resing metabolism by 30-50 calories a day.  A good reason to be motivated to work out; you can shed excess pounds just by accumulating lean muscle mass.

13.  Eat everything in small portions.  That way, you allow yourself more variety in what you eat every meal, without overeating.

14.  Eat in a smaller plate.  Because it fills up easily, it will provide the illusion that you're eating a lot more than you really are.

15.  As much as possible, avoid eating fast-food on a regular basis.  Look for a healthy recipe that is quick and easy to make and pack your lunch instead of hitting the burger chain nearest your office.  As an added bonus, you get to save a lot of money, too!

16. Avoid the obvious such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats (i.e. pork, bacon, ham, salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream should be eaten in low fat versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine, butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts. Most are available in lower fat versions such as substitute butter, fat free cheeses and mayonnaise.

17.  If you are craving for a chewy snack, opt for a healthier alternative like prunes and dried fruits.

18.  Practice "mindful eating".  Chew your food slowly and savor the taste and flavor of every bite.  This way, you maximize the satisfaction of every spoonful, while minimizing the possibility of overeating.

19.  Squeeze your own fresh orange juice every morning to give you a bright wake up call.  Detox your system and start the day the right way.

20.  Cranberry juice is fantastic for relieving cystitis and keeps your bladder in good working order.

21.  Quit Smoking.  The jury is definitely in on this verdict. Yes, smoking is harmful to your health. I suggest you reduce your smoking if you can't totally give up right now. Better yet, give up one cigarette a day.

22.  Taking a nap for 15 to 20 minutes in the afternoon can sharpen your memory, improve alertness, and help reduce fatigue.  If you can't take a nap, set this time for light activities.

23.  Reduce Stress.  I know this is easier said than done but stress busters come in many forms. Some techniques recommended by experts are to think positive thoughts. Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like. (i.e.,Soak in a hot tub; walk on the beach or in a park; read a good book; visit a friend; play with your dog; listen to soothing music; watch a funny movie. Get a massage, a facial or a haircut. Meditate. Count to ten before losing your temper or getting aggravated. Avoid difficult people when possible.

24.  A change in environment keeps boredom at bay.  Tired o your treadmill?  Go out and run in the pask instead. 

25.  Protect yourself from Pollution.  If you can't live in a smog-free environment, at least avoid smoke-filled rooms, high traffic areas, breathing in highway fumes and exercising near busy thoroughfares. Exercise outside when the smog rating is low. Exercise indoors in air conditioning when air quality is good. Plant lots of shrubbery in your yard. It's a good pollution and dirt from the street deterrent.

26. Wear Your Seat Belt. Statistics show that seat belts add to longevity and help alleviate potential injuries in car crashes. So buckle down and buckle up.

27.  Keep mouthwash in your medicine cabinet.  Not only does mouthwash freshen your breath, it gets rid of any inflammation in your mouth.

28. Floss Your Teeth. Recent studies make a direct connection between longevity and teeth flossing. Nobody knows exactly why. Perhaps it's because people who floss tend to be more health conscious than people who don't?

29.  Invest in a tongue scraper!  It exoliates dead skin cells on the tongue and removes harmful bacteria that can help cause tooth decay and bad breath.

30. Avoid excessive drinking  While recent studies show a glass of wine or one drink a day (two for men) can help protect against heart disease, more than that can cause other health problems such as liver and kidney disease and cancer.

31. Choose your parents well. The link between genetics and health is a powerful one. But just because one or both of your parents died young in ill health doesn't mean you cannot counteract the genetic pool handed you. Follow these basic tips for healthy living and you can better control your own destiny.