Top Ten Simple Ways to Stay Fit

If you are living and breathing in the 21st century, you've probably been concerned about your weight or health at some point. Alas, the rat race just takes over our lives. Where on earth are we going to find the time to get/stay fit? And how? Luckily, there are some fairly simple ways to stay fit while making only minor adjustments to our daily routines. Here are 10 tips to start with:

1. Think about additional opportunities to keep moving. It's not necessary to join a gym. Just look for ways to move more during your average day. Staying active burns calories and tightens muscles. Be creative: take the stairs rather than the elevator. While grocery shopping, go up and down every aisle. Better yet, park as far as possible from the door.

2. Don't worry about exercising for a solid 45-60 minutes. Instead, break it up into chunks--15 minutes here and 15 minutes there. Before you know it, you've collectively achieved 45 minutes to an hour of exercise.

3. Obtain the support of your immediate family/loved ones. In fact, encourage them to join you in your efforts to remain fit. After work, put on your favorite boogeying music and dance with your partner or kids. Let them choose the music. Or, have your partner or kids take turns selecting the family activity: touch football today, basketball tomorrow, a walk the next day. You get the picture. It will be a great way to re-connect and unwind for everyone.

4. Pair your regular exercise with something you enjoy. If you can't pass up watching that nightly episode of "Seinfeld" or "Two and a Half Men " just move the treadmill into the TV room; then watch and walk at the same time.

5. Pledge to eat three fruits daily. A cool way to accomplish this feat is to make it a "rule" to eat a fruit just before each meal. This way, you are taking the edge off your hunger to avoid overeating during the meal. Plus, you're getting your three fruits. Great job!

6. If you must order that designer coffee drink, go nonfat and use the sweetener rather than sugar. You'll find that it tastes nearly the same, plus, you won't feel deprived of your special treat.

7. Eat red meat just twice weekly. When you do eat beef, be sure it's a lean cut. Because of the availability of lean pork, chicken, and fishes, you'll discover this tip is not all that difficult to follow.

8. Drink more liquids that are calorie-free. Pledge to drink those 6 to 8 glasses of water daily. Carry the water mix-ins in your purse or car to shake in to a bottle of water. Take your favorite decaffeinated iced tea to work with you.

9. Give some time to yourself. Arise 15 minutes earlier to reflect on your day over that first cup of coffee. Arrange to have the first 20 or 30 minutes at home after work to be your special time to prop your feet and drink a tall glass of iced tea or water before starting dinner. How does this help you stay fit? Giving to yourself helps you recognize that you are important and that what you want is important, too. Use this time to reflect on what you are willing to do to stay fit and how you will do it. Think positive.

10. Don't eat anything 3 hours before your bedtime. Many fitness experts believe it's best to eat a snack--if you must--earlier in the evening so your body has time to digest it before you retire for the evening.

Select one of the above suggestions that will work for you. Make a vow to carry it through. Write the tip down and affix it to your bathroom mirror. Even better, say it out loud--"I'm going to..." Be realistic about what you can fit into your schedule fairly easily. In summary, with our busy lives, it is not always easy to fit in manageable methods to keep in shape. However, with the top 10 list above, you have some simple ideas to incorporate efforts to stay fit into your very busy lives.