Getting in Better Shape - 5 Things You Can Do to Start Feeling Much Better

There are so many fad diets on TV and also being advertised online that have complicated menus and strategies. Also so many exercise programs that cost a bundle and require a huge time commitment. If you want to start losing some weight and getting in better shape, here are 5 things you can to start feeling much better.

Portioning

I know this is a touchy subject to people who love to eat as much as I do. Have you really ever considered when you have actually satisfied your hunger, or do you cross the line and end up feeling stuffed and lethargic like I have so many times? Eating smaller quantities more often over the course of a day is actually better for your metabolism. Also, portioning out home-made meals ahead of time is a huge money saver.

Cut Out the Soda

Many of the meals we eat are easily pushed past the "sensible" desired calorie level by those delicious sodas we all love. A 12 oz can will easily tack on an extra 100-140 calories. The 32 oz large size offered by many fast food chains can get as high as 400 calories! Juices may have just as much sugar, but they are much better for you than what is in sodas. Replace your soda with a tasty beverage with fewer calories. Don't forget the all-time champion of thirst quenching and low calories, water.

Bananas

Bananas are an excellent source of vitamins and they are also made up of a kind of starch that boosts your metabolism. This makes it an excellent snack for in-between meals. Not only that, but they are super cheap too. Yes they have sugar, but once again, natural sugar is much better for you that the kind that we are used to ingesting. If bananas aren't for you, any other fruit will do.

Walk More

Park farther away from your destinations. Load up your MP3 player with your favorite songs and take a long walk around the neighborhood or park. Find as many ways as you can to keep moving those legs, and you will start to notice that you have more energy and some of those pounds will be coming off.

Stairs

If you can find a set of stairs near a park, in your apartment complex, or anywhere the public is welcome, you have a powerful way of dropping weight, improving the health of your heart, and gaining strength. Just a few trips up and down the stairs will give you quite the work out. It takes a little bit of a commitment to do this but nothing like forking over $40 a month to wait for someone to get off the treadmill or stair climber so you can use it.

Lets be clear, I am not a doctor or a nutritionist. These are just common sense ideas that have proven helpful in my own weight loss. I have recently gone from 220 lb to 190 lb in less than five months with these minor adjustments to my eating and activity. I will also say to check with your doctor before making epic trips up and down stairs. Overall, I think you will find these suggestions reasonable and easily adapted into your own daily life. I know pretty soon you will start to feel much better.