There are many reasons that your belly will grow over the years. It could be from food allergies, alcohol, sugary foods or just from sitting on your couch watching everything on your DVR over and over again.
When you break it down it always comes back to the fuel you put in your body compared to what you really should be eating. It’s easy enough to just grab that pop-tart in the morning and then eat a bag of chips on your break washed down by a soda. Which seems to more often than not lead to a fill up on a carbohydrate laced pasta meal at a restaurant during lunch to prepare you for your afternoon nap under your desk.
We live in a society that encourages the ‘fast food’ lifestyle.
Some how we don’t find the time to make a proper meal, pack a lunch or healthy snacks for the day. However, we do find the time to sit in a drive-thru for 5 to 10 minutes as we anticipate the warm, fatty, salty, trans-fat coated food that is handed to us through a little window by an employee that is usually the poster child for obesity.
This article was inspired by a friend of mine who took that step to not only improve his life via exercise but via a healthy diet.
I’m going to let the picture tell the story on this one …
That is after one year of hard work, dedication and desire for a healthy life style. In case you are wondering the actual weight difference in the before & after pose above … an astounding 88 lbs within 1 year!! ( up to 91 lbs last I heard )
Even more impressive is he is been attacking marathons, triathlons, half ironman, and is set to take on the IRONMAN Muskoka 70.3 on September 12, 2010. He is also doing it to raise awareness for Scleroderma Research and is taking donations for this cause. He will be participating in the Ironman in Lake Placid in 2011 to provide further awareness to this cause.
So now that you have been provided your inspiration and motivation why not take the next step and start fueling your body with more appropriate choices to help you get to your goal as well.
Remember a healthy lifestyle not only benefits you but it also benefits your family, your friends and all your loved ones.
Oranges and Watermelons
Because water flushes waste and excess water out of your system, enjoying water-rich foods is ideal. Watermelons, as their name suggests, are almost all water — 92 percent. Oranges too are approximately 80 to 90 percent water.Yogurt
Not only does yogurt have a high water content, but it promotes the growth of good bacteria in the stomach. This bacteria is responsible for the reduction of excess gas that accumulates in the organ over time.Garlic
This plant helps reduce the levels of fat in the liver, whose main functions include detoxification and the production of biochemicals necessary for digestion — major aspects of the prevention of bloating.Bran Cereal and Oatmeal
Fibre helps relieve constipation, which is an all-too frequent cause of bloating. By adding bulk in the form of certain cold or hot cereals, everything moves through the intestines more quickly. Because women need at least 25 grams of fibre daily, eating a bran cereal with at least five grams of fibre per serving helps reach that goal. Just be certain to not add too much fibre to your diet too fast, or worsened bloating can occur.Strawberries and Blueberries
Fibre also takes the form of certain delicious fruits and berries. Snacking on high-fibre foods such as strawberries and blueberries, as well as dried apricots and dried plums, can help clean out one’s system regularly.Grapefruit
Like other fruits with high water content, grapefruit is nearly 90 percent water. An added benefit of snacking on this pink treat: It’s high in fat-burning enzymes.Broth-Based Soup
Soups based on broth — not chowders, purees, or cream soups that are high in saturated fat — have an extremely high water content yet can be filling. Plus, the sodium levels should not be high as long as the soups are made with natural ingredients and don’t come from a can. Canned soups often have as much as 1,000 milligrams of sodium, which is half of the daily recommended limit, in a single serving.Lettuce and Spinach
These green leaves, in addition to kale and chard, require ample chewing and provide a healthy dose of fibre, vitamins, and minerals. They also help with acid indigestion, constipation, and urinary tract infections.Peppermint and Ginger
Carminative herbs, which include peppermint as well as chamomile and ginger, are gas reducers and can be enjoyed in tea form. In addition to these herbs, bitter herbs, despite their taste, are effective at stimulating the digestive tract as well as the flow of saliva.Chili Peppers
Not just a spice to heat up a meal, these peppers reduce the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease. Capsaicin, an active ingredient found in the peppers, can also increase metabolism and curb food cravings, especially for sweets.Broccoli and Cauliflower
Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage, break down harmful forms of estrogen for safe elimination from the body. Still, they do contain sugars that are sometimes difficult to digest and thus should be eaten in moderation (a half-cup serving at a time).Cucumbers
This veggie may not have much nutritional value, but it serves as a natural diuretic, helping to increase urination and the flushing out of toxins from the body. Cucumbers are rich in sulfur and silicon to stimulate the kidneys into better removal of uric acid. Because cukes are low in both sodium and calories, they’re also a favored vegetable in most diet plans.Pineapples
This tropical fruit, which is approximately 85 percent water, also contains bromelain, an enzyme that breaks down proteins, promotes good digestion, and helps to eradicate some stomach problems.
Source: MSN LifeStyle
