Treat your body right!
A person who weighs 150 pounds has to run for 30 minutes at 5 miles per hour to burn the calories in a small order of fast-food french fries. But a cup of strawberries provides fiber, calcium, and potassium, and supplies the energy for 5 minutes of jogging. The right foods will fuel your body for energy and supply needed nutrients. Foods high in calories and low in nutrients contribute more calories than you can use effectively.
Find out why so many people make time to work out.
Fitness is important, but most people exercise because it's fun. Whether you play organized sports, get together with friends for a video dance game, or join a martial arts class, when you get up and move, your mood shoots up too.
On the other hand, high calorie snacks are more likely to be on hand when the TV and computer are on. That's another good reason to think about cutting your screen time and heading outdoors- maybe shooting some hoops or swimming some laps.
Do right by your body and it will do right by you!
Vitamin A (carrots, cantaloupe and sweet potatoes) and vitamin C (bell peppers, broccoli, strawberries and oranges) will keep your skin healthy.
B vitamins (nuts, oatmeal, bananas, eggs, soy) help convert food to energy. They also speed healing and boost your nervous system.
Vitamin D and calcium (milk, yogurt, cottage cheese) will build strong bones for life.
Little changes go a long way; small steps add up fast. Cut out one soda a day and add one minute a day to your walk. In a month, your heart and lungs will be getting a 30-minute daily workout and you'll have cut 4500 liquid calories. You'll feel better, look better and have more energy for the things you enjoy and the people you care about.
Get it together---partner with a few friends
Experiment cooking or trying healthy foods, then invite 5 or 6 friends for a tasting. If dining out, choose grilled foods with a big salad. Split meals but add a fruit or vegetable. Skip the sugared drinks and grab a water.
Next time you're thinking about settling in front of the TV with a bag of chips, call a friend instead. Or call a few more friends and set up a dance party. There are many ways to make sure that you look and feel your best- and a lot of them, like pick-up hoops or dance parties, can take on a life of their own. Why not be the one who gets the first one started? Before you know it, you'll have a dance party every Friday night!