Wanting to lose weight is a far cry from losing weight. It’s easy to make excuses for skipping your exercise, but it can and should be a regular part of your life. It’s easy to keep eating the way you always have, but simple, whole foods will combine with exercise to get you where you want to be: leaner, stronger, healthier and happier. The power of good nutrition and consistent exercise is almost like magic, and here are our secrets.
Best Exercise
One form of exercise produces the biggest positive change to your body: resistance. Resistance training (“lifting weights”) builds muscle; strengthens bones, ligaments and connective tissues; and burns fat. It speeds up your metabolism, because the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn (throughout the day, not just during a workout). If you don’t know how to start lifting, seek the help of a professional trainer.
Best Food
Eating healthy helps you lose weight, which is important for a number of reasons. Losing weight can lower your risk of many chronic diseases, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, diabetes, heart disease, some cancers and even depression.
Eat four to six cups of vegetables every day, drink 80 to 100 ounces of water, and focus on eating whole foods (not heavily processed). Have fun learning what foods make your body purr!
Prep meals ahead of time. Don’t make it complicated, but plan out your days. Stick with the basics: lean protein, veggies, fruit, good fats, and limited refined carbohydrates.
The magic is simple—but you have to make it happen. A trainer or nutrition expert you trust can help you get there.
Jill Strand is co-owner (with Chris Radke) and certified trainer at UpLift Guided Fitness in Woodbury.
