Generation X Life Support

With a new year on the horizon, most folks are beginning to map out their resolutions in hopes of making 2009 one of the best and most rewarding years yet.  Establishing a weight management program is normally a staple in the list, especially since we’ve all learned that life as a Thirty something can severely impact your free time and your metabolism.

Don’t give up though, with a few changes in your diet and exercise routine, we can all make some great steps in the right direction this year.  

1) Learn more about HIIT training.  High Intensity Interval training can blast through calories in a shorter time.  It’s been said to be the most efficient form of cardio exercise.  Of course, everyone has their opinion, but a lot of folks have found tremendous success.

2) Understand the difference between good carbs and bad ones.  Overly processed grains like white bread, pasta, white rice, etc have been stripped of fiber.  Once eaten, they quickly spike your blood sugar triggering a chain of events that quickly have you storing it as fat.  To slow the spike in glucose, choose grains that are high in fiber.  These are the whole grain counterparts like brown rice, 100% stone ground wheat breads (be careful not to be fooled by wheat breads that are still bad for you), whole grain pasta, etc.

3) Eat more raw foods – We’re starting to lose touch with foods as they appear in nature.  Everything we eat has been overprepared and stripped of vital nutrients.  Get back to basics in your eating habits.  Eat more vegetables and salads and go easy on the dressings. Stick to low fat or fat free oil based dressings. 

4) Adopt a strength training regimen.  Building lean muscle will help you burn more calories at rest, help prevent Osteoperosis, slow down muscle decay, and, not too mention, make you look better.

5) Give sugar and its substitutes the boot.  A lot of us are still under the impression that sugar doesn’t really harm our bodies (except our teeth).  This couldn’t be farther from the truth, sugar will actually make you fatter that eating fat.  Since it’s purely a taste thing, just give it up.  I guarantee that over time you won’t miss it from your coffee or soft drinks.  In fact, after a while you’ll find sugar to be rather objectionable.

The best thing you can do for yourself is get edcuated.  Once you properly understand how to eat and exersice you’ll find it easy to make the necessary changes in your life that will allow you to live longer, happier, and healthier.

Lastly, be sure to set some specific and measurable goals, both in the very short term and the long term.