Living Healthily and Healthy Weight Loss

How do you know if you're overweight? There are all sorts of charts available showing the average weight of men and women according to their height and these can be a useful guide but do they take age, for instance, into consideration?

When thinking about your weight, health, diet and exercise, remember that you're an individual and you must aim for what feels right for you. Take an honest look at yourself. Does your tummy bulge when you look at your side in a mirror? If you lie flat on your back, can you place a ruler on your side so that it touches both your ribs and your hip bone? Or are there a few pounds in between?

Now I've mentioned age and on average, people do put on weight as they grow older. However, it is not impossible to get your body back into shape.

Some people carry excess weight on their stomachs. Some on their bottoms and others on their legs. That's one reason why you should follow exercises that might pinpoint the area of your body on which you really want to work.

Here's another simple test to do to find out if you're carrying excess weight: Tie a belt around the lower part of your ribs and slide it down to your waist. If it doesn't move, you're carrying too much weight.

But don't think that being on a diet means you have to feel hungry all the time. There are actually foods you can eat in generous portions without worrying too much about putting on weight. These include: broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, tomato, celery, dandelion greens, mushrooms, turnip, parsnips, peas, pickles and rhubarb.

Exercise should be a natural part of your daily routine. It is generally recommended to include 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times a week. Find an exercise activity that best suits your age and lifestyle. Take a look at what's offered in your local area. Joining a gym can help you meet like-minded people and having a good social network is also good for your emotional health.

Relaxation is also good for your health and should be incorporated in your life for a healthy lifestyle. You can relax yourself in many ways, such as reading books by your favourite author, taking a long aromatherapy bath, walking the dog, playing with the kids or just watching a feel good movie.

To start living more healthily, think about what you eat, add regular exercise to your diet and avoid too much stress by going for relaxation techniques that work best for you.