My Three Steps to a Healthy Life

Obesity seems to be a growing epidemic in America. Fast foods and a hurried lifestyle have added to the problem. Now the problem includes pour children with at least 17% of them being overweight. This puts them at a higher risk for being overweight as an adult.

Being overweight is not a curse, it is a disease brought on by being surrounded with a lifestyle that encourages poor nutrition and exercise. But, hope is not lost for most Americans. There are simple and basic steps we can each take to assure a healthy weight and lower the chances for other medical problems such as heart attacks and diabetes.

Basic eating habits

In our fast paced world we tend to implement bad eating habits. Each of us should neve skip the breakfast meal. A simple piece of whole grain toast with peanut butter or apiece of cheese and a glass of low fat milk can go a long way. Eating smaller portions can also help. Avoid super sizing your meals. Perhaps learning to share with a friend would be helpful. Be sure to take your time when eating. A forgotten fact is that it requires at least 15 minutes for our stomach to advise our brain that it is full.

Be smart in your food choices.

The choice of foods we consume is of vital importance. Make healthy choices. Replace sweetened beverages with water or low fat milk. When eating cereals add a little variety with a topping of fruit such as banana, strawberry or apple.

A little work goes a long way.

As with everything our regimen will require some effort beyond just will power. Be physically active every day for at least one hour. Instead of watching the old boob tube try taking a 30 minute stroll and enjoy the neighborhood. Learn to walk to places like the mall or to a friends' house. Play ball with the kids while reducing the time spent in front of the computer. don't avoid the stairs, they won't kill you. Try a favorite that just makes you feel good like dancing. It is a great cardiovascular workout. (The spouse might like it too.)

These simple steps can be implemented into our lives easily. Our children can learn to do the same. The foremost benefit of controlling weight and weight gain is a healthier life.