How To Maintain A Healthy Lifestyle After You've Met Your Fitness Goal

Jet, Oct 8, 2001

With shorter daylight hours and colder weather creeping up as winter approaches, the last thing you want to do is gain back those pounds that were shed from having fun in the summer sun.

The key is to keep those habits that first put you on the path to a healthy lifestyle. By maintaining a physical routine and eating sensibly over the fall and winter months, you will continue to improve your health and enhance your quality of life.

To maintain your healthy momentum:

* EXERCISE. Physical activity helps to control your weight by using excess calories that otherwise would be stored as fat. Exercising helps you to keep the pounds off, but it also tones muscles, strengthens your bones, heart and lungs and increases physical reserve and vitality.

The amount of time spent on physical activity affects the amount of calories that will be lost. Maintain some form of physical activity at least three to five times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes.

Strength training, according to the American Council on Exercise, has been very effective in helping people manage their weight because added muscle helps offset the effect of dieting and weight loss, which lowers body metabolism.

For some, recruiting a friend or family member to exercise with you as you switch from outdoor to indoor activities may make the change seem a little easier and a lot more fun.

In addition, the National Institutes of Health reports that it's also important to encourage your family to support you in your activities.

If you have children, it is best to build healthy habits when they are young. When parents are active, children are more likely to be active and stay active for the rest of their lives.

* EAT HEALTHIER. If you started to improve your eating habits when the days were warmer, don't stop now. Continue to eat fewer calories and fats as if it were second nature. Keep your meals small; only eat when you are hungry, and make sure to eat until you're satisfied and not until you get full.

Eat a variety of foods such as whole-grain products, fruits, vegetables, protein-rich plant foods and lean meats, but avoid foods high in sugar.

Choose snacks that are low in calories--fruits like bananas, pears or apples are ideal.

Be sure to incorporate water into your diet--drinking eight glasses a day is recommended.

Avoid eating meals in front of the television or while you're on the go. Instead, try eating meals at the table at a more leisurely pace while socializing with family or friends.