Lively And Healthy Essentials

Lively And Healthy Essentials

REALITY CHECK

By Sharon Jane Akinyemi


In a perfect world, we would crave only healthy foods, eat only when we are hungry, and move all day long. Since that doesn’t seem to come naturally to many of us, we have to make conscious choices to balance out our imperfect lifestyles and habits. Its time to get a reality check so that we can make those choices based on truth. You make deposits into your calorie bank account every day in the form of foods and drinks. You also make withdrawals in the form of energy or calories burned. Unlike our financial bank account, most of us would prefer to be a little overdrawn in the calorie department burning more calories than we eat, at least until we used up all of our excess fat. The key to good health and effective fat management is the frequency and amount of the compromises you allow in your daily diet. Here are few compromises we need to make:


DRINK ENOUGH WATER

A sports or energy drink, fruit smoothie, or light beer — each serving contains about 100 calories. Yet these beverages don't satisfy you the way 100 calories of food does, so they're a waste. Other liquids may be high in sodium and carbohydrates, which trick your body into retaining water, puffing you out.Water, on the other hand, has zero calories and carbs and little to no sodium, making it the perfect slim-down drink. And strangely, it actually helps flush out excess water weight as well as jump-starts your metabolism. If it's just too boring, add lemon wedges or mint leaves


CARBOHYDRATE IN MODERATION

Cutting out all white grain products — such as white bread, white rice, spaghetti, cassava meal, (akpu/gari) will instantly slim you down because the simple carbs in these foods cause bloating, especially around your belly. "Simple carbohydrates wreak havoc on your weight because they're digested very quickly, leaving you hungry and more likely to overeat later. To go a step further, instead of replacing them with healthier yet still bloat-triggering whole-grain bread products, substitute vegetables for the week. For example you take vegetable sauce with sweet potato or slightly ripe boiled plantain, chicken salad, moinmoin, boiled beans. The complex carbs from vegetables are digested more slowly, so you remain full longer. And because veggies are mostly water, they also help flush out excess water weight.
After twelve weeks of low-carb discipline, begin to add the other foods one or two at a time. Watch the scale or your dresses to be sure you keep losing. Try to keep your calorie count for each day between 1300 and 1400. Also eat some protein at each meal. This two strategies ( plus the addition of daily exercise) will continue the weight loss without lowering your metabolism.


Use these guidelines to figure out how many calories you need :
To maintain weight: multiply your present weight by 12, if you are inactive
15, if moderately active 20, if very active
To reduce: subtract 500 calories a day from normal diet to lose 0.5kg a week through diet alone. Exercise will increase this loss.
Further more, this is the era of choice. But to aid in your decision making, ask yourself a few easy questions:


-Do you prefer indoor or outdoor activities?
- Do you have any health problems that prohibit sun exposure? Or a heart condition?
-Is your main objective to firm muscles, improve health, lose fat, or do all three?
-Do you like to exercise alone, with a partner or a group?
-Does music motivate you? Do trainers and group leaders challenge or intimidate you?
-Do you have lots of time for exercise? Or do you need to do "daily dozen" in a matter of minutes?



FUN ACTIVITIES
Any workout that gets your heart rate up will burn calories. But you'll use more calories if you pick a cardio routine that engages multiple muscles simultaneously. Try to consider: brisk walking, jogging and aerobic dance. Half an hour of each torches 200 to 300 calories while toning up your arms, legs, and core so everything appears sleeker and tighter. You'll burn even more calories per session if your workout incorporates interval training: alternating short bursts of intense cardio with slower activity. Experts aren't sure why it works, but trainers swear by it. Usually aerobics (with oxygen) will mean weight bearing exercises, but bicycling and brisk walk also count if sustained for at least twenty minutes. Some pleasant outdoor choices that can be done alone with a partner or in groups include walking, running, jogging, skipping swimming bicycling and road walk. These activities get your heart rate up, burn some fat, work your heart, lungs, and circulation, and use approximately 300 calories per half hour of exercise (except for walking, which uses 150 calories per half hour, and running, at 350 calories per half hour). Which one sounds fun to you?


There are some advantages in choosing one of these workouts. Outdoor activities can give you a new perspective. The simple act of stepping out into the sunshine and fresh air lifts spirit and chases cares away. Don't exercise in the heat of the day, but you can always wear sunscreen and preferably a face cap when exercising in sunlight.


Indoor exercise choices include aerobic dance, step aerobics, spinning (a new type of stationary cycling), circuit weight training, jumping rope, stationary bike, rowing machine and treadmill. Also floor exercises like sit-ups, leg lifts, stretches, and push-ups( these will require the use of an exercise mat). These exercises can also be done alone, with a partner, or in groups. Some involve little expense. If you choose to do aerobic dance in the privacy of your home, all you need is an exercise video or some music. Gyms and fitness centers memberships may not be affordable to you but they may be worth the expense to keep you consistent. These workouts challenge your heart, lungs and muscle, also burning fat and calories ( between 200-350 per half hour of exercise). Indoor exercises have the advantage of being private and weather proof. And if you have a tendency to boredom, you can watch the news and read a magazine while on a machine. A schedule that works well couple with keeping you committed is to choose several sports or machines and alternate them.


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THE MAGIC OF MOVEMENT

THE MAGIC  OF MOVEMENT
By Sharon Jane Akinyemi
There was a time  in my life when I could only walk a minute at a time, if that I remember so well. I was beginning a slow recovery from an illness (again) and wanted to build up my body. I forced myself to go out and walk everyday. I could barely walk across the room to go to the bathroom,  mind you. But I knew the only answer was to build up my stamina. Each day, I'd head outside to "exercise." The first day I walked about a half minute at a snail's space. Wow what an athlete! But I was so weak I couldn't do more than that. The next day the same, and the next. Then I forced myself to walk a half minute more. A few days later, I added a half minute more. After that strenuous exertion (I'm being sarcastic here!) I'd go in and throw myself onto the couch, exhausted. The slow progress continued, all by sheer determination and will. In time, however, I become more and more encouraged. I was gaining strength and growing healthier. After many months, I could walk at a good clip for one hour or more without stopping. I've kept at my walking ever since, and now I run a little every other day along with my walk.
The secret to pain-free, low-cost, lifetime fitness is to learn to love your body in motion. Although not all of us are full time athletes, we have enjoyed various forms of movement. Each of us has our favourites. Here are some good things that happen to me when I added the discipline of exercise to my  life:

My figure improved as the muscles are toned, and I  had more strength and endurance

I  lost weight from burning calories and fat, and my  metabolism charged up.

My  posture straightened, not only due to stronger muscles, but also because my sense of well-being and self esteem were enhanced. 

My complexion glowed with good health.

My  bones retained their density, and my joints became  more flexible.

My  blood vessels transported  life-giving oxygen more efficiently to the whole body, and my blood pressure lowered.

My heart is strengthened , and my heart rate  reduced

My lung expanded to process more oxygen

My digestion and waste removal improved, and my appetite  more controlled. 

My nervous system relaxed as stress  lessened and depression lifts.

Sleep came sooner and is sounder.

My brain sharpened, became more alert and able to concentrate.

And I also include God in the activity (as in prayer walking  during which I  also pray, meditate, and memorise Scripture). I am happy to announce to you that exercise has become a complete body and soul prescription for good health and beauty in my journey of fitness.