MANILA, Philippines - Your commitment to health should always be at the top of your list, as setting personal fitness goals is a good way to keep your overall well-being in check.
According to Dr. Jojo Carlos-Raboca of MakatiMed’s Weight Wellness Center, exercising, eating right, and maintaining a positive mindset will always be the key factors to health and wellness.
Being busy should never be an excuse to ditch exercise. There are simple things that you can do at home or in the office that will help keep your weight — and your fitness — in check. In fact, studies show that just 15 minutes of moderate exercise can do you and your body a world of good.
If you don’t have time to go to the gym, get yourself a fitness ball or a jumping rope. There are plenty of calorie-burning exercises that you can do with these, and you can even watch a DVD in the comfort of your own living room while you’re at it. Keep it interesting by doing a different exercise each day.
When in the office, do a couple of desk exercises to keep you from becoming too idle. Even something as simple as practicing perfect posture can help strengthen your abdominal muscles and prevent backache. Also, try taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or parking farther away from your office so that you can walk the rest of the way.
Contrary to popular belief, the best way to lose weight is eating right, and not necessarily eating less. Never discount the importance of breakfast; always make it a point to eat something at the start of each day, as it will give you that much-needed energy boost to kick-start your morning.
Never skimp on carbohydrates either. But make sure that you are eating good carbs — those that aid in the burning of calories, which in turn trims down body fat. Examples of these are fruits and vegetables, whole grains and potatoes.
Commit to lessening your junk food intake, as most of these contain high levels of sugar, fat or salt. However, for those who find it hard to curb their desire for junk food, a good way to fight the temptation is to find healthier alternatives, such as fresh fruits or nuts.
If you haven’t been drinking enough water, now would be a good time to start. It is common knowledge that a person should consume at least eight glasses of water each day, but not everyone knows why. Drinking the right amount of water flushes out the toxins in your body, makes your skin healthier, and helps regulate body temperature, among others.