lifestyle? Here are some simple things to help get started. If
you can follow the suggestions for a month, you will be well on
your way to reducing belly fat AND establishing an anti-aging
lifestyle. It's not difficult – if you really want to do it.
Remember, these are baby steps, but you have to start some
place.
1.Check your fridge. If you use butter, you can use less by
diluting it half-and-half with olive oil. Let a bar of butter
soften to room temperature. Beat it smooth and gradually beat
in an equal amount of olive oil. It will be runny but will set
up to a soft spread in the fridge.
2.Rethink the mayo. If you can't live without it, make your
own with olive oil. Then you will really have something
worthwhile to spread on bread or to make a salad.
3.If you eat peanut butter, buy Smart Balance peanut butter for
it's omega- 3 content. If you are not taking an omega-3
supplement, you should.
4.Keep a gallon bottle of water on the kitchen counter or at
work. Drink at least half of it every day. Having it in plain
sight will help you drink more of it.
5.Check your pantry. Don't restock chips, cookies, soda,
toaster pastries, sugary breakfast "cereals" (a misnomer if
ever there was one!) It's just as quick and easy to scramble a
couple of eggs for breakfast as it is to wait for a pastry to
toast. I know how tough it is to get rid of the nutritionally
bankrupt junk, so do it in small steps if you can't do it cold
turkey.
6.Substitute whole grain bread for white bread. Beware of
"wheat" bread – it's probably not whole wheat. If possible, go
to a whole foods market and get some real whole wheat bread. In
my area, I can buy incredibly good whole grain bread from
Alvarado Street Bakery. You can buy it online, and if you do,
put it in the freezer the minute it arrives. Because it's
"live" and preservative free, it will get moldy very quickly if
you leave it out. I particularly enjoy the Alvarado sprouted
whole grain bread.
7.Having a whole foods market nearby makes it easy to cut down
on processed food. If you make a trip a couple of times a week
you can get all the super-fresh veggies and fruit you will need
to provide a healthier diet for your family. For protein, focus
on chicken – preferably baked or roasted. I use a lot of ground
turkey – you can prepare it so many ways. If you work and are
pressed for time, many whole foods markets offer excellent take
out. It may cost more but it's usually worth it.
You will notice I did not mention fish. I rarely buy fish
because it's so difficult to get good fish. If I can't get wild
salmon or other fish that hasn't been farm raised, I don't
bother. I would never eat shrimp because it causes too many
intestinal problems. There is another way to get the benefits
of eating fish – in fish oil capsules. True, you run the risk
of contamination there as well. But I think I'd rather opt for
the capsules than supermarket fish that looks like it's seen
better days, and probably has.
8.Skip fried anything as much as possible. And you certainly
won't need your deep fat fryer anymore, so throw it away.
(Well okay, give it away. But you won't be doing anyone a
favor.)
9.If you are an emotional eater, eat unbuttered popcorn or dry
roasted nuts, such as almonds or cashews. You can flavor
popcorn with garlic salt or any seasoning of your choice. Or
try spritzing on garlic flavored olive oil. Drink green tea to
wash it down. Most commercial green teas are bitter or
tasteless but I have found some very tasty teas at Clipper
teas.
This should be more than enough to help you start to live a
healthier, anti-aging lifestyle. Start with at least one step
and add others as you develop a system you will stick with.
About The Author: Barbara Morris is a pharmacist and author of
Put Old on Hold. Visit her website at
http://www.PutOldon
newsletter and receive a complimentary copy of "Thirteen Diva
Tested Tips for Fabulous Skin."
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