Real Life Real Faith Men of Faith November/December | Page 14

You will live longer, and better, if you adopt some of these health tips and take the necessary steps to
stay conscious about them. Change is scary for most men as we get into our routine and it’s very hard to
break. Here are some tips that you can fit into your routine almost immediately, see amazing results,
and live a healthier and more fulfilling life.

DON’T SKIP IT
Make sure breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Make sure you get a good serving of fiber in
the morning as it means less hunger late in the afternoon, when you're most likely to feel tired and
make poor food choices. My preference comes from steel-cut oatmeal, usually mixed with raisins,
walnuts, and flaxseed oil. You can also invest in flaxseed oil supplement if you would prefer. An early
start on eating also revs up your metabolism and keeps that man motor going throughout the day;
breakfast eaters are generally thinner than people who just rush out the door- SO DO NOT SKIP IT
Get sleep
Listen I was just like you when I was younger, always wanting to stay up well past my bedtime to watch
the best shows or the funniest shows; however, now sacrificing that time is not worth it for your health.
Seven to eight hours of sleep a night not only helps you live longer, but also lowers your stress, sharpens
your memory, and reduces cravings for foods you shouldn’t eat. Set a bedtime and stick to it. Your
target should be between 9:45 &10:30 p.m.
Avoid fad diets.
The secret to weight loss is not to avoid carbs, fats, yellow foods, solid foods, or foods that start with the
letter F. The real trick is to pay attention to the serving sizes and make sure every meal has a healthy
protein source. When in doubt cheat with meat: meaning, if you are hungry, need food, and are unsure
what to eat a healthy 4oz of any protein source would be the best decision. You need consistent
nutrient rich food along with as much color as possible in your diet to achieve optimal health.
Hit the gym
You should do your best to be strictly active for at least thirty to forty-five minutes on average twice per
week. Get good at twice per week and then eventually you will be able to add more days or add more
time. Just 30 minutes twice a week spent lifting weights can build significant muscle mass. What's more,
working all that muscle burns tons of calories, making it a great way to lose your gut, too. Don't have
weights? Try lifting yourself: doing things like pushups, pullups, lunges, squats, and crunches. You can
change how many of each you do per day, time it, just don’t SKIP it.
There you have it, some quick and easy tips that will not overwhelm you, and you can add them to your
daily routine right away to begin living the heathiest life you can.

On Your Journey