Post your "healthy lifestyle" tips

[xXSeanXx]

Hi. I try and live a healthy balanced life sytle when it comes to my body and I try to look after it. I dont (and have never) smoke, drink alcohol or do drugs.

Lets share some PERSONAL tips on how to keep a healthy body. Please make them detailed and not just "exercise" or "eat healthy"

My top tip is drink at leased 2 litres of water a day and forget about fizzy/caffien filled drinks

I didnt think it would make such a difference. Along with loseing 6lbs I have been feeling alot better and seem more focused etc

Caffien will have a diuretic effect and you will starve your body of water. It will then go into survival mode and store any water it gets stored which will make you heavier. (im sure thats how it works)

Right, now, you go.

 

[BAMA32]

My top tip, cut out the fast food (McDonalds, Burger King, etc.) and similar foods you could make at home. I did cold turkey as my 2008 new year's resolution, and have remained fast food free since.

There are plenty of other alternatives if you must eat out and eat quick. For example, subway, where you can pick what you want on it OR not want on it. Even Mcdonalds offers salads (though you should not use their sauce or load up on chicken in their chicken salad). Bringing your own lunch to work is the best idea. Complete control. You can make healthy foods, bringing leftovers, etc., AND you save lots of money.

At home, don't still make these fast food items. For example, you may not buy french fries from that local burger joint anymore, but that doesn't mean you should fry up a bunch at home in your fry daddy. Try homemade/cut potato wedges instead, baked. Try making your burgers at home, grilled with extremely lean meat, maybe on a whole wheat bun and fresh vegetables...light on the sauce then. Or, rather than having the burger, grill a steak. I haven't even eaten any burgers since I quit fast food and I don't miss it. A lean steak is awesome beef alternative with plenty of protein. And I don't even need any kind of heavy sauce for it, though some A-1 is good.

 

[xXSeanXx]

BAMA32 Thats some AMAZING advice right there! and a lovely explanation.

I have done the same. I make all my food/meals from scratch (as i enjoy cooking) and dont eat fast food. If you cook from scratch you know what is in your food. No added salt/sugar/oil/butter/sat fats etc so you are eating even healthier.

Oh and the tip about making your own healthy alternatives to fast food is great. Another one is healthy Pizza. You can make a wholewheat base, whip up a tomato sauce easily, pack with crunchy veg and soya cheese and chicken breast and bake for 20 mins and its so good and everything on it is healthy. Pizza with no guilt.

Other great meals are jacket (baked) potato as you can add whatever the hell you want on top. This means it wont get boring. Although avoid loading it with butter and stick to baked beans (1 of your 5 a day and a great source of fibre) Or things like tuna and Low fat mayo if you feel like it.


Oh the joys of cooking!

 

[BAMA32]

Thanks. I'm actually also doing what you said as well. That was my new years resolution this year '09, was to cut out the sodas and drink more water. And so also to avoid wasting plastic and also to save money, I went the route of filtered water and filtered ice from the tap. And now I love a nice cool glass of ice water. I think that's a great suggestion. Plus, aside from sugar, there's so much sodium in sodas--even the sugar free ones.

 

[xXSeanXx]

Thanks. I'm actually also doing what you said as well. That was my new years resolution this year '09, was to cut out the sodas and drink more water. And so also to avoid wasting plastic and also to save money, I went the route of filtered water and filtered ice from the tap. And now I love a nice cool glass of ice water. I think that's a great suggestion. Plus, aside from sugar, there's so much sodium in sodas--even the sugar free ones.

Yeah a nice ice cold water with a slice or fresh lemon or orange dropped in is so nice and so refreshing. I have a water filter thing, but I dont always use it, I should. Diet coke just make me feel sluggish and bloated.


exercise wise I find running outside on the uneven pavement high impact on my joints (and im only 18) so my mum gave me all of her exercise equipment.

The lateral thigh trainer is really good, built up some nice leg muscles on me and there is a cardio workout with it to that works great.

The Ultratoner is OK, fun and decent, good for muscle toning.

The orbitrek elite is quite good to. Worth getting if you ever thinking about it IMo

There there are the old skipping roap which is great and GET A TRAMPOLINE!! Best buy ever, 20 mins a day is a massive workout and its fun. You can listen to music why to jump.

 

[palemale]

Eat a healthful breakfast every morning. I try to limit my meat intake. Eat fruits and vegetables. Don't eat pasta after 8pm, try to eat only whole wheat pasta. Drink plenty of water. Eat smaller portions than the typical American portion. If you snack, try to snack with fruits or nuts.

I don't smoke, but have my indulgences (booze and pastries). I exercise 3 to 4 times a week. Age 49, 5'10.5", 155 lbs, 30 in waste. Last time I had my ID checked when buying booze was 6 years ago. Oh, and use sunblock every day, including in the winter.

 

[Yohan1989]

Dont ever drink deit soda, or even microwave food.

Stay away from unnatural foods that has chemicals like color-food, for example.

 

[SaneHatter]

For me, I love living a healthy life and keeping fit. It really my boosts mood, self-esteem, and improves the quality of my life. Whenever I try to make a change in my health, I take small and consistent steps to do so. For example, if I want to trim down on some body fat after splurging on junk food during midterms, then I would probably start off by getting off the bus a few stops earlier and power walk to my destination. I would do that for a few days and if I can maintain that habit, I add more things like maybe jogging 30 min every day before class. This allows me to incorporate changes into my life without feeling like I'm disrupting its flow significantly. I feel that if I make a big change from day 1 that really overhauls my whole daily schedule, then I won't be able to maintain that change and I'll revert back to my old ways.

This also works for changing someone's diet. For example, someone can change from drinking whole milk to 2%. It might taste weird at first, but eventually you get use to it. After a few weeks, you can change to skim. Eventually you'll wonder why you ever drank that whole milk in the first place.

 

[fluxxx]

since I'm on diet and now I'm starting to eat healthier
cut fast food, eat more fruits and veggies and i don't eat meal after 6 pm... also stop midnite snacking

 

[Titanic]

Can't profess to be incredibly healthy myself, but I do know what it takes to live a healthy life.

My top tip is to drink water, and I mean a lot. It's incredibly healthy, but it also makes you feel full, helping you to resist snacking when you don't really need to. I swear by this method, it works absolute wonders.

If you need any more motivation, bear in mind that water is essentially free, so it's a heck of a lot cheaper than other drinks, plus it may stop you from eating expensive snack food.

(Edit: Whoops, came in half way through the thread so I didn't notice xXSeanXx giving essentially the same advice. I'd second this though, although I would recommend upping the amounts to somewhere around 4 litres.)

 

[palemale]

since I'm on diet and now I'm starting to eat healthier
cut fast food, eat more fruits and veggies and i don't eat meal after 6 pm... also stop midnite snacking

I live in New York City. We don't sit down to dinner before 8pm on our earliest evenings.

 

[CudDULL]

How can you guys drink so much water, doesn't it bother you that you have to pee so much throughout the day. I hate water (sorry water D it just so bland.

 

[hotatlboi]

Age 49, 5'10.5", 155 lbs, 30 in waste. Last time I had my ID checked when buying booze was 6 years ago.

You had your ID checked at 43? Nice man, I want that to be me when I get your age.

 

[palemale]

I would say eating only twice a day would be a good idea. You don't really need a third meal if the other 2 are sufficient. Or if you must just have a salad and some fruit at night - things that digest very easily. Never eat meat at night because it is very difficult to digest and takes hours to do so(best to eat meat at breakfast like a small steak or ham....also probably early to bed and early to rise isn't a bad idea...most folks around here get up very early (6 am or earlier) but are retired by 9 or so...
Also another tip is environmental - live in an area with good clean air, low stress factors like lack of ambient noise and crime, and kind neighbors. Also helps to be in an area with excellent recreational opportunities such as mountain climbing, canoeing, fishing, and nordic skiing.
All things you can control because you have choices.

City living is good, too, despite our bad air and high stress life style. I live in Manhattan. People here walk everywhere. If we take the subway, we have to walk up and down at least two flights of stairs. People here would think nothing of walking a mile or two to go out, pick up something at a particular store or just to socialize.

Hotlaboi, use sunblock everyday. lol. I also had my ID checked at least 2 other times after my 40th birthday. Use the sunblock! As vain as many gay men are, so many still love the tanning booths and sun bathing. I'm real pale (as my profile name implies), but look very young.

 

[Titanic]

I stay away from sweets (only to indulge in 88% dark chocolate every couple days) as much as possible and drink 4 or 5 cups of brewed green tea with agave nectar or pure stevia to sweeten . I also limit my complex carbs and only eat multi-grain bread in the morning with scrambled eggs. Yes! I am not afraid to eat eggs!! So healthy for you. I also drink a glass of either cranberry or pomegranite juice to ward off kidney stones. Some type of "berry" juice is good for cleansing the kidneys. Do NOT drink any sodas of any kind!! Can't remember when the last time I had a coke or pepsi.

I eat grilled chicken, lean cuts of red meat (VERY OCCASIONALLY for protein), fish three times a week, and lots of salads, veggies and in-season fruits. During the summer, I eat lots of watermelon (good for the prostate), peaches, grapes, strawberries, cantalope, etc.

For vitamins, I take daily Omega-3, probiotics, potassium, magnesium, and a multi-vitamin for eye support.

I workout 6 days a week with weights and machines and also do cardio for an hour on an elliptical or treadmill or bikeride. I do drink plenty of water, however, I don't drink it with meals as it dilutes the stomach acids preventing food to digest properly. Water is great but too much is no good either.

I also mix a chocolate protein shake (really delicious!!) that is all natural with no chemical or artificial ingredients and I mix it with dark cocoa powder to make it more chocolatier after my workouts.

I feel great!!!

Wow, talk about a strict routine! Is this what it takes to be fit? Nevertheless, I take my hat off to your committment.

 

[lostnfound]

1. Cut out all foods containing High-Fructose Corn Syrup, partially hydrogenated oils, and transfats.

2. Avoid enriched flour. Go for whole grain products.

3. Always have a nice breakfast.

4. Consume fish and/or a handful of almonds (or go for fish-oil pills)


The best advice I've read is "only eat foods whose ingredients you can 'picture'." For example, if you're eating beef, you can obviously visualize seeing it coming from a cow. But if you're eating something that has lots of preservatives and long chemical names, you can't really "picture" it. Obviously, there are exceptions for vitamins and nutrients, but it's a good rule to follow.

 

[omgitsmetoo]

I would say eating only twice a day would be a good idea. You don't really need a third meal if the other 2 are sufficient.

Many experts actually say that eating lots of small meals throughout the day is better for your metabolism than eating a few larger meals.

 

[Cognition]

Here's a plan I developed to foster a healthy diet and increase cognitive performance:

Brain Training
Diet
Breakfast: Glass of water immediately after waking up, Omlette (beef, tomato, pepper, onion, cheese)
Glass of Mango Tango or Odwalla Superfood (Vitamin C dense juice)
Snack: Granola/Protein Bar and/or Fruit, Bottled Water
Lunch: Protein Dense Dish (Non-Fried Chicken or Fish)
No Breads or Pasta (i.e. Pizza, Biscuits)
No Caffeinated Beverages (Drink only Water)
Select Quantity of Dark Chocolate
Snack: Granola/Protein Bar and/or Fruit, Bottled Water
Dinner: [Avoid Caffeinated Beverages and/or Sweets after 6PM]


Cognitive Performance Self-Examination
"Secrets to Mental Math"
1. Complete book in its entirety

"Training Your Brain"
1. Memory: 62, 64-65, 73, 74, 78
2. IQ: 82-83, 90, 92-101, 102 (one day after completing previous exercises)
3. Numerical: 129, 132-137, 141-146
4. Logic: 161, 163, 165-167
5. Visual: 177-180, 196-205
6. Creativity: 223-226
7. Thinking Aloud: 232-234, 245-250


Daily Brain Training Ritual - (after Self-Examination is complete)
1. Breakfast
2. Reading daily publication (WSJ and/or NYT)
3. Complete 2 chapters of vocabulary from vocabulary book
4. Complete a logic/reasoning puzzle from logic games book
5. Train Ride to School (listening to classical music while reading enriching material)
6. 30-45 Minute Gym Workout (listening to tempo appropriate classical music: Ravel, Vivaldi)
7. Protein Rich Shake/Drink (Odwalla SuperProtein)
8. [Lecture, Coursework...]
9. Snack
10. [Lecture, Coursework...]
11. Lunch
12. [Lecture, Coursework...]
13. Snack
14. [Lecture, Coursework...]
15. Dinner
16. [No homework after 8PM, In bed by 10PM (8 Hour Minimum of Sleep)]

Exams
1. Eat select amount of dark chocolate at least 30 minutes before an examination.
2. Listen to Mozart at least 30 minutes before examination.

Take Supplements (Post Exercise)
1. Krill Oil (48X better than fish oil?)
2. Ginkgo Biloba (Ginkoba, Ginkgold)
3. B Vitamins (Folate, B12)


Other Suggestions for Raising Cognitive Peformance
1. Learn a New Musical Instrument, Pick up on last one: (Piano and Saxophone respectively)
2. New Languages: Spanish (DCCCD), French, Italian, German