Have you heard of 5 A Day? 5 A Day programs are implemented in every state in the USA. This program is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute.

Increasing the intake of vegetables in our diet can help with a variety of medical conditions such as bowel disease, heart diseases, and some cancers.

We’re Not Listening
Evidence shows however, that many of us are not listening to this healthy eating advice. Recent research shows that only 1 in 7 of us achieve the 5 a day quota. Many of us aren’t listening to this advice.

There has been research that has shown that only one in seven are getting five servings of vegetables and fruit daily. It can be hard to make changes in your dietary eating habits. I always recommend making changes slowly.

Why Aren’t You Eating Five A Day

1. It’s too expensive

There are numerous healthier and in many cases cheaper choices that you can make and still add high quality nutrient dense foods into your diet.

2. Lack of Time

This is something that many of us struggle with. We want to make a change with our eating habits but finding the time can be challenging. I prepare meals in advance and I’m a big fan of fruit and vegetable smoothies. That is my favourite way to incorporate 5 A Day into my dietary intake.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I dislike vegetables and fruit!

If you often don’t eat them, the tastes and textures might seem strange to you. I suggest, adding them with dishes that you do enjoy, try a different fruit and vegetables, adding them to smoothies.

Ways To Get Five A Day

1. Salads

Adding a healthy salad to your diet is a smart way to make sure you are eating a nutritionally based meal along with increasing your dietary intake of vegetables and fruit.

2. Smoothies

Invest in a blender and make delicious fruit and vegetable smoothies.

3. Add To Meals That You Enjoy

You can add them to stir fries, soups, baked dishes, ets.,

4. Fruit Puddings

You can puree fruit in a food processor to make fruit puddings.

A New Year usually brings on a “new resolution” for some. The one that tops many peoples list is weight loss. I don’t make New Years resolutions anymore. I set short and long term goals as needed. My attitude has always been if I really need to do something I don’t need to wait until the start of a new year to accomplish my goal.

During the first few months of the New Year, the gym where I attend is more crowded than normal. It’s filled with people who are determined to lose weight. They come to the gym religiously but after a few months you don’t see them anymore. Why have they failed? In most cases, they didn’t have a plan. They have a desire to lose weight, but they really didn’t think of how they were going to accomplish this. After the first few months they become disappointed and stop working out.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

People make all sorts of excuses as to why they cannot work out. Injuries, lack of time, hate exercise, or they don’t have a gym membership. I’ve worked as a physical trainer, and occasionally I still train people. The excuses I’ve heard are many. I’ve found that if a person really wants to work out it they can. They need to get past the main person that is holding them back, themselves. Along with the physical workout, they need to engage in a mental workout. Your mind is powerful if you continually tell yourself you cannot do something in most cases you won’t its self-fulfilling prophecy.

For example, one of my workout partners has used injury as an excuse of why he cannot have an effective workout. What was his excuse? A leg injury, Initially I didn’t question him about t; however, as time progressed I felt the need to learn more about this injury. In his case this injury had happened over four years ago.

In my mind, I suspected part of what was holding him back from working his leg was himself, but I told him to check with his doctor to see whether he could work out his left. After he received the approval from his doctor, I gave him additional leg exercises. In his case, he had the ability to work out harder with his legs, but his mind told him he couldn’t. What are his results? He’s getting a better workout because he isn’t using his legs as an excuse. He realizes that even with his old injury he can still work out.I’m not saying everyone who say they have an injury cannot workout. That’s something your health care provider has to decide. I do believe that many of us hold ourselves back because in our mind we believe it cannot be done.

If you want to lose weight set realistic goals be positive. If you face minor, setbacks don’t let those keep you down. We all make mistakes. Pick yourself up and keep moving.

Question: What’s holding you back from losing the weight? What’s holding you back from exercise?

Want to lose weight check out these fine products that will help you shed those pounds.

There are many people out there that are struggling to shed a few extra pounds of excess body fat. After all, we all want to look our best. It’s only natural to want to look and feel your best at all times. Choosing the right diet plans to lose weight is often easier said than done. Especially since there are so many weight loss programs, pills, shakes, supplements, and other approaches to choose from.The best thing to start with is by setting a goal what you want to achieve.

What is the ideal weight you want to achieve. Write this number down. How does it coincide with your height, build and age. You also need to take into account body fat that is required. Although men and women both strive to get rid of body fat with new-age diet plans to lose weight, you need to retain a small portion to stay healthy as well. This is especially true for women. Okay, what type of diet plans to lose weight are you interested in? Would you prefer a simple and convenient pill supplement that suppresses hunger and increases energy levels, a series of pre-planned meals that can be heated in the microwave at home, or a plan that involves altering your overall lifestyle? Although all three of these approaches work well for different people, one might be ideal for you.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Most commonly, a real lifestyle change works best for most individuals. Naturally it is normal to desire more convenient diet plans to lose weight, but if you actually change your eating habits for good, and begin to exercise regularly, you will have a better chance of dropping unwanted body weight and keeping it off in the long run. There are many simple books that can walk you through this process, or you could take the time to visit a professional. The assistance of a nutritionalist and a personal trainer can go a long ways.

The key is to stick with a diet plan!  Unfortunately the reality is that many people stop dieting and and fall right back into their old habits of eating poorly and avoiding exercise. Therefore regardless of what diet plans to lose weight you check into, they all require you to stick with it. For individuals that prefer to avoid over-the-counter supplements, diet books, and fad weight reduction programs, you can also visit your doctor or a specialist in this area. He or she can prescribe a prescription weight loss product if you meet a certain criteria. However, keep in mind that these prescription weight loss products can have some side effects, which should be taken seriously by all dieters that use them.