The Key to Stay Fit and Sexy

(PNA) — Perhaps you’ve already tried several kinds of diet – Vegetarian, South Beach, Zone Diet, Juice Diet, and many others popularized by different celebrities.

Sometimes, people tend to forget that to be “sexy” (based on the society’s definition of sexy) doesn’t mean they’ll go on a diet that may deprive them the amount of nutrients necessary.

Moreover, some believe that slimming teas, other slimming products and surgical clinics are the only solution to their goal figure.

Okay, let me say that I am not sexy. But, as I was able to interact with many doctors and cover the health beat before, I’m sharing effective and doctor-approved ways to stay fit.

* Eat on time.

Don’t just eat healthy; you need to eat on time. If you’re the type who thinks skipping a meal is good, it’s actually not. It would only make you hungrier and make you crave for more. This is why skipping a meal usually result to overeating.

Also, don’t skip breakfast. Remember that health professionals say this is the most important meal in a day. I used to eat late and skip breakfast when I was in college. I had gastroenteritis back then, just because of that.

*Choose water.

So when I had gastroenteritis, the doctor told me I can only drink nothing but water. It was so hard for me. But did you know that clean, pure water is actually the best that we could drink?

To prevent diabetes and to avoid getting fat, doctors say we must avoid sugary drinks.

From sodas, to energy drinks and canned juices, smoothies, lattes, we should all avoid these.

It may be hard for you, too. Fresh fruit juices, which you can make using a blender, may be an alternative. However, note that fresh fruits (such as ripe mangoes, watermelon, pineapple) contain high sugar, too. Thus, you should only drink a very moderate amount of fresh fruit juices. Mixing some vegetables with your favorite fruit drink is also good.

*Go green and natural.

Do you still remember how our elementary teachers would describe green leafy vegetables as nutritious items we shouldn’t miss? Yes, they were not fooling as because veggies do have so many health benefits.

Also, you need to opt for natural foods. Avoid canned goods and processed foods. Aside from being unhealthy, processed foods and canned items might be cancerous.

Oh, and by going natural means we should also avoid alternative sweeteners. These are also risky for one’s health.

*Get enough sleep.

Some say that the ideal is 8-10 hours of sleep. Lack of sleep, according to studies, makes a person gain extra pounds. How? Lack of sleep causes the body to release more ghrelin hormones, which signals hunger.

*Take time to unwind.

Each day might be stressful for you, so don’t forget to take time to unwind and recharge. Have you noticed that stress also makes you gain weight? Stressed people tend to eat (or overeat), while some indulge on sweet treats like chocolates, cakes and ice creams.

Remind yourself it’s okay to take a break. Work hard, but give yourself a pat on the back enjoy a well-deserved vacation, for instance. A visit to a spa is also great. The key here is balance between work and play.

*Exercise.

Exercise need not be complicated, to the point of hurting yourself. It doesn’t have to be boring, either.

Gone are the days when people could only picture jogging, jumping jack, sit-up when they hear the word “exercise”. There are many fun and cool forms of exercise.

You could try joining a fun run. Here, you can choose to run from 3K, 5K and up. Some organizations do fun run for a cause, so that means your run will be more meaningful.

Biking, swimming, kayaking, and other sports are also a form of exercise. If you love music, you may join Zumba sessions with your friends.

These things might sound simple, or maybe easier said than done. One step at a time isn’t bad. With proper determination, I know anyone could follow these doctor-approved ways to stay fit… and sexy. (PNA) RMA/MCCA/EDS By Ma. Cristina C. Arayata