Move Your Body Naturally
Convenience is a no-no. Technology has made life way too easy. Nowadays, there is a remote for the remote. Luckily, the Blue Zone Lifestyle is not dictated my any type of remote control. Therefore, remotes are off limit in the zone. Making life a little tougher and less convenient can add more activity to your life. For starters, instead of using the remote, get up to turn your TV channel. This is step one of the tips to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Next, get rid of your television remote. garage door opener, electric blender, snow blower, and power lawn mower. Be ready to ride your bicycle, rake leaves, sweep the driveway and snow shovel. These are all natural ways to get tour cardio and aerobic exercises. Next, this is the beginning of your, this is the beginning of your discovery of the main tips to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Key Tips to Have Fun and Keep Moving
Make a list of all the physical activities you enjoy. Rather than joining a fitness club make your lifestyle active. Ride a bicycle instead of driving. Walk to the store. At work, take a stroll around the block instead of a coffee break. Build activity into your routine and lifestyle. Do what you enjoy. Forget the gym if you don’t like it. Don’t force yourself to do things you dislike.
Walking is Cool
Did you know walking is one of the greatest physical activities? It is one of the activities that all successful centenarians on a daily basis. It’s free, easier on the joints than running. It is always accessible, and it invites company. Another thing about walking is that if you are walking briskly, it has the same cardiovascular benefits as running. After a hard day, a walk relieves stress. Furthermore, it can aid in digestion after a meal.
Incorporating aerobic exercise like walking outside,, gardening, or swimming is advantageous to your overall health. It;s easy, enjoyable and doesn’t cost a thing. Just get in there and do it, right, my friends.
Organize a Walking Team
Walking more enjoyable with your favorite friends. Nothing could be more fun than to grab a few friends and start a walking group. This is a good way to combine exercise and socializing. Establish who to include in this group. In addition, make sure everyone has the same physical ability to keep up.
Plant a Garden
Planting a garden is lots of fun. At the same time, it is a good way to get your workout. When you are gardening, you are using every muscle group in your body/ Trust me, I was in a garden club for ten years. It may take time for your muscles to acclimate to the physical activity, but overtime you will become a pro.
Working in a garden requires frequent, low-intensity, full-range-of-motion activity. For example, you dig to plant, bend to weed and carry to harvest. It is an amazing experience.
Use Smaller Plates is Key
One way to make your transition to a healthier lifestyle is by using smaller plates. By downsizing, you are automatically reducing your food intake. In fact, studies show that eating from smaller plates results in weight loss. Another important thing to do you are just starting out is buy smaller bowls and food containers.
Make Food Look Bigger
One study found that people who ate a quarter-pound hamburger made to look like a half-pounder with lettuce, tomato and onions felt equally full after eating. Also, students who drank a smoothie whipped to twice the volume with the same calories ate less for lunch. Thirty minutes later, they reported feeling fuller.
Eat at a Slower Pace
Eating faster results in eating more. On the other hand, slowing down allows time to sense and react to cues telling us we are no longer hungry.
Focus on Food
Distraction is surefire way to consume more calories. For example, if you are eating while watching TV or while emailing a friend you are setting yourself up for dietary failure. Otherwise, just eat without distraction. At the end of the day, you’ll eat more slowly. consume less and savor your food.
Avoid Eating on the Run
Many of us are guilty of eating while we are in the car, standing in front of the fridge or eating on the run. This is a no-no. This means we are not aware of what we are eating or how fast we are eating. Therefore, it is imperative to make an effort to sit down when eating. This will enable us to appreciate the tastes and textures of the food. It also helps you to eat more slowly and feel more nourished when we’re through.
Never Hurts to Scale Up
One study found that women who weighed themselves daily lost an average of 12 pounds. On the flip side, women who never weighed gained an average of 5 pounds. In other words, at the end of two years, women who weighed themselves every day were on average about 17 pounds lighter than the women who never weighed themselves. Therefore, shunning the scale did not result in weight loss.
Eat Early
In the Blue Zone community, the biggest meal of the day is eaten during the first half of the day. For instance, Okinawans, Nicoyans, and Sardinians eat their biggest meal at midday. On the other hand, Adventists consume many of their calories from breakfast.
Hearty Breakfast Eliminates Cravings
That said, all of the Blue Zone residents eat their smallest meal of the day in the late afternoon or early evening. Furthermore, Adventists firmly believe in a hearty breakfast. They also believe that a breakfast that includes whole grains, fruits, milk, nut butter eliminates the cravings for sugary or fatty foods.
Avoid Meat and Processed Foods
Most centenarians of the 5 Blue Zones never had the opportunity to develop the habit of eating processed foods, sugary drinks and salty snacks. For much of their lives they avoided meat except for special occasions. In addition, here are some of their other best practices:
- They eat four to six vegetable servings per day
- Limit their intake of meat to twice a week. (Serving size of a deck of card)
- They showcase a big bowl of fruit for everyone.
- Beans are a main staple
- Residents eat a hand full of nuts everyday
Glass of wine at 5
- The Sardinians drink 2 glasses of Cannonau red wine every day,
- “Happy Hour” includes a glass of wine, nuts as the appetizer, and the gathering of friends or time with a spouse.
- A serving or two of wine per day, keeps the doctor away. Drinking wine in moderation has many health benefits.
Finding Your Purpose
Founder, Rachele
mybluegenes.com
rachele@mybluegenes.com