I'm terribly unhealthy, and I have little will to change 😀

Where to start?

Small changes go a long way. If you take the bus, try getting off a stop early. Small walking distances build up if it is done daily. This is particularly good when it is sunny and nice out. In terms of food, try eating high in fiber snacks, or diet bars are also good. They are often dense and require more chewing which helps reduce your hunger. Lower fat intake, particularly fast food since it is all fat, and try cooking. Cooking gives you an opportunity to be healthy and have fun experimenting.

For some big changes, cutting out soda pop and fruit drinks helps. If you're a big Coke abuser like I am, you probably take in roughly 800-1200 calories a day on pop alone. Water tastes nasty (unless you have a fresh water dispenser, but I don't. Only tap T_T) but it is definitely a healthier alternative. In terms of exercise, you'll find walking and light jogging better than muscle training or sprinting. This is because aerobic exercise helps burn fat a lot better than anaerobic exercise that depends heavily on glycogen storages. The key difference though is that anaerobic exercise is fast, whereas aerobic exercise is long and tedious.

Light jogging or even casual walking can burn a lot of fat, but only if it is done for a long enough time. What happens is that the body must first extinguish quick storage sources of energy such as the glycogen that is stored in muscles before the body begins breaking down carbohydrates and fats. This means that the longer you walk or jog, the higher your metabolism is going to rise. Instead of using just glycogen storages, when you deplete these you end up having to convert fat into carbohydrate, and carbohydrates into a useable energy. Even after exercising, your body will continue to have a higher metabolic rate because it needs to replenish your glycogen storages. Overall, it typically takes roughly thirty minutes to of casual walking to deplete glycogen storage, so walking longer than that is beneficial.

A tip i got from a friend awhile ago was to walk in the morning after waking up. Since your body has been sleeping all night, it is low on glycogen storage, but after a little bit of research, i found that energy is needed to convert fat into carbs and carbs into energy, so perhaps a light caloric drink or eating a fruit helps replenish just enough energy for that jog.

In terms of diet, there are a series of zero or negative calorie foods that actually cost more energy to digest than it provides. Such foods include lettuce, and lots of different greens. A quick google of negative calorie foods will give tables of foods and how much energy it provides. Other than that, stay away from processed or manufactured foods. The thing about the human body is that it digests natural products the best. Unhealthy foods that are processed typically contain lots of fat and salts which both lead to obesity and heart problems. Overall, if it is convenient food, it is probably unhealthy.

No right poll option for me 🙁
I don't really live healthy but I don't want to change. .-.

Quote from Vudoodude

In terms of food, try eating high in fiber snacks, or diet bars are also good. They are often dense and require more chewing which helps reduce your hunger. Lower fat intake, particularly fast food since it is all fat, and try cooking. Cooking gives you an opportunity to be healthy and have fun experimenting.

Argh! Cutting fat isn't the answer (though I agree with not eating fast food). The study that the government and all of the US food policy is based on was flawed, horribly. The saturated fats were not the cause of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, it's the refined sugar, refined grains ect. Ever wonder why the disease rate, obesity, diabetes ect have gone up in the US even though as a nation we've decreased our fat intake by 20% since that study came out? It's because we've increased our intake dramatically of these refined processed foods and sugars and reduced our fats.

Just because it's fat going in does not make it fat going out. Fats are easily digested by our body, and turn into many other things (they are needed to unlock several vitamins as one major use). The sugars, refined flour ect however are converted into fats. Not all fats are good though either, vegetable oils are mostly bad in the body (another thing we've gained more of). Butter, olive oil, coconut oil, and lard are better for you than margarine, vegetable oils, and shortening. My wife and I currently eat more calories than we used to, much more fats, and we're loosing weight without a diet. The sugars/refined grains were cut, the good fats were added back and we're much more energetic/healthy/happy. We are full faster as well, the fats help to trigger a hormone that tells your brain when you're full.

Those fiber and diet bars are usually bad for you as well (made mostly of refined flours and sugars). If they are not made from oats, nuts, and maybe some honey or brown sugar to stick it together, it's going to do more harm than good 🙁

I agree with the cooking though! You get to control all of what you eat if you cook from things you know are food (veggies, meats ect). You can also make those granola bars from scratch at home healthier than you can buy. It's a good investment of time.

Quote from Vudoodude

For some big changes, cutting out soda pop and fruit drinks helps. If you're a big Coke abuser like I am, you probably take in roughly 800-1200 calories a day on pop alone.

Cutting sweetened drinks alone is the biggest thing you can do for yourself to loose weight and stay healthy. If you slug down the soda each day like I used to, even without changing anything else in your diet, you can loose weight and be healthier after cutting it out.

Quote from Vudoodude

Overall, if it is convenient food, it is probably unhealthy.

QFT

I eat horribly but I feel the rest of what I do makes up for it.
I walk whenever the weather is nice. I'll walk for 2 hours straight.
I like recreational sports ect. Anything that has a meaning to it. Running on a treadmill is pointless.
I'm naturally thin so I don't worry about getting fat ever... but I still know I don't eat right.

I don't drink or do drugs, not because I can't but because I choose not to.
I don't like to take medication unless absolutely necessary. Headaches can be relieved with a nap. 🙂

I also don't use sunscreen but I don't really suntan either.
Sunscreen smells horrible and feels disgusting... not to mention it probably causes cancer.
Technically anything you put on your skin gets absorbed through your pores and goes into your body... basically don't put stuff on it that you can't eat. Not that that usually stops me from using moisturizer or body cream. 🤨

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Quote from Toto

Quote from junefreei

I'd love to know what you call yourself. Like vegetarian or vegan, or something? I was thinking about changing my diet like that also, but I do not know what it's called... if you could provide me with some info it'd be awesome!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raw_foodism

Yep, raw vegan. 🙂

Meat is good for you. Vegeterians would have died 100 years ago. In fact... it was called scurvy.
Humans are made as omnivores. Don't get me wrong... I could never kill a live animal but someone else does that for me. 😀 If you want cruelty-free meat go hunting. Shooting a deer once and ending its misery is technically better then eating a cow that has lived a horrible life from birth. 😀

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Quote from Kitteh_13

Meat is good for you. Vegeterians would have died 100 years ago. In fact... it was called scurvy.
Humans are made as omnivores. Don't get me wrong... I could never kill a live animal but someone else does that for me. 😀 If you want cruelty-free meat go hunting. Shooting a deer once and ending its misery is technically better then eating a cow that has lived a horrible life from birth. 😀

These days you can totally find animals that haven't been treated horribly since birth, but, most often you've gotta go to the farm that raised it. It's cruelty-free meat. The animals are raised as they would be naturally (all our farm-stock is domestic, the last wild cow died like 500 years ago), on grass, in pastures ect (there are many farmers getting into small scale production like this). Just have to vote with your dollars and those CFO's will go away someday (I hope, since they only get my money when I absolutely have to eat out [travel ect]).

Being able to look the person who grows/raises your food in the eye is a wonderful thing (these farms always have days where you can go on a tour, and since you buy at the farm, you can see if it's run well or not). The meat does cost more when you buy from these farms, but it's worth the extra. It's healthier, more nutrient dense, and best of all, you're supporting a healthy life for the animal before it goes to your table (they graze green fields instead of standing in their own filth till slaughter).

Sorry if I've been a bit...vigilant..in this thread. Food is something I'm quite passionate about (so much so that I'll be raising/growing/making almost all of my family's food within 5 years). It's the only way I can be certain that the FDA won't be able to take away my right to healthy food.

Quote from Kitteh_13

Meat is good for you. Vegeterians would have died 100 years ago. In fact... it was called scurvy.

Scurvy is caused by a lack of Vitamin C which is found in many fruits and vegetables. And I'm sure most vegetarians don't have a problem staying alive and healthy.

I wish I were like you and relieve my headaches with just a nap! Mine require 12 hours of sleep to go away.

I'm not on a special diet or anything. I prefer most of my food to be as fresh and natural as possible, but if I get a craving for junk food I won't deprive myself. I don't think I have any really bad eating habits. What I really need is to get more exercise. I don't look like I need it, but I'm pretty sure I'm dying on the inside.

Looking for... shoujo with a canned peach confession. Don’t English me I’m panic.

I live unhealthy. I rarely consume fruits not my favourite. Say yay to vegie love them. Chicken is the best meat ever for me. Sugar less in my coffee and drink lots of white water and milk. I dont like snack much just take dark chocolate and oat meal. I like to eat out and go to sushi king. My biggest problem is im lacking of exercises and lately lack of walking too. oh lol. Just doing some pumping and sit up aw. 🤢

I'm terrible at sticking to health plans 'cos my memory is really poor and even after writing things down, I forget everything. ^^;;

But currently, I try to eat more veggies and fruits and I don't always consume snacks. The only sugary stuff I take are stevia and xylitol: which have very low glycemic levels. I do take cakes once in a while, though.

I'm still trying to work out the difference between cacao and cocoa and still wondering if it's as beneficial as advertised everywhere.

Quote from Toto

Quote from junefreei

I'd love to know what you call yourself. Like vegetarian or vegan, or something? I was thinking about changing my diet like that also, but I do not know what it's called... if you could provide me with some info it'd be awesome!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raw_foodism

For anyone who follows a vegan/raw food diet: make sure to see your doctor or a dietician. A pure veggie diet puts you at risk for low iron and protein levels, and gives you no source of vitamin B12, for example.

...It really isn't very good for your body.

Quote from VampireBanana

I'm still trying to work out the difference between cacao and cocoa and still wondering if it's as beneficial as advertised everywhere.

Anti-oxidants are in all veggies. It's just a sales gimmic. If they stick labels on things like that it's just to sell more of something that isn't healthy for you. Avoid anything that touts it's health benefits as a sales point. The things that are truly healthy for you don't get advertising dollars (ever see a commercial for a green pepper?).

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Quote from VampireBanana

I'm still trying to work out the difference between cacao and cocoa and still wondering if it's as beneficial as advertised everywhere.

Anti-oxidants are in all veggies. It's just a sales gimmic. If they stick labels on things like that it's just to sell more of something that isn't healthy for you. Avoid anything that touts it's health benefits as a sales point. The things that are truly healthy for you don't get advertising dollars (ever see a commercial for a green pepper?).

Actually, I don't take cocoa for antioxidants but for its' benefits in terms of regulating dopamine which is a key weapon for serotine(lack of serotine has a lot of side-effects including ... playing a partial role in causing depression, bulimia, anorexia, certain behavioral issues and so on)

Here, I'll paste this from someone elses' post in another forum about why I take cocoa and certain other vitamins over anti-depressants like Prozac which can be linked towards suicide and worsening certain behavioral problems:

It is the cacao that is healthy, not the cocoa butter, sugar and milk added to make chocolates. But yes, cocoa is a strong antioxidant, and it does contain brain altering chemicals. PEA is an amphetamine that creates a dopamine rush, which gives us that "in love feeling". This is why there is a tradition of giving chocolates to the one you love. PEA is also found in high levels in some cacti species. American chocolates tend to be low in PEA. It is the darker chocolates and really high quality European chocolates that have a decent PEA content. Anandamide is a lipid compound that has a very similar structure to THC from marijuana. Though it is metabolized very quickly.

I'm also well aware that magnesium(vitamin pills) has the same benefits but I prefer to take "foods" containing magnesium than randomly tinkering around with the dosage(which may have unintended consequences). Also, the amount of vitamins and other types of nutrition present in plants and animals really varies by the geographic area: nutrition of soil, wind that blows in pesticide/insecticide from other areas, type of fertilizer used, heat, type of water used, plastics pollution, etc. and other factors can really have a positive/negative effect on how nutritious they are.

All that aside, though... going back to the main topic. I want to be healthier but I'm very careful with vitamins and stuff like that. Like... zinc is very helpful for your immunity system but too high a dosage can suppress it. And same for vitamin D, more and more reports are showing a possible correlation between excessive dosages of Vit D and osteoporosis. I think the list goes on... and on and on.

I don't eat healthy. I have probably some of the worse eating habits. And I don't exercise, though I do love to run and play sports. Not because I want to be healthy but because I like getting dirty and playing rough.

If it weren't for the gutter, my mind would be homeless.

Quote from VampireBanana

I'm still trying to work out the difference between cacao and cocoa and still wondering if it's as beneficial as advertised everywhere.

In general, cacao is just the less processed version of cocoa. It is highly debated whether or not either are good for you. Some say it's great for you, while others say otherwise. I personally recommend carob instead, if you truly want a healthier option than chocolate. 🙂

Here's a video that explains this a little: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccE43Xdxy5E

Well, I'm pretty good exercise wise (Not really.. but better then I used to be. I do 10 minutes or so a day, with a 30-40 minutes day once per week. This is up from last year, where I would do only 30 minutes an entire week.).

My real fault is in my diet; I cut out all soda (Replaced it with water and the occasional Ice tea w/ raw local honey), but almost all of my diet consists of processed foods. I know I need to change it, but it's so much more convenient. You don't have to cook anything; you just plop it into the microwave for a couple minutes and BAM! A full meal.

I always mean to incorporate more fruits/veggies into my diet, but I never seem to get around to it. (Actually, the problem is the fact that they always get eaten too quickly. 10 people in my house, and whenever we buy Cherry Tomatoes/Oranges/other tasty fruits/veggies, they get devoured, since everyone else also thinks they taste good. ><)

Does the walker choose the path, or the path the walker?

Uh... well I became a vegetarian, gave up on soda and junk food (a chocolate bar and a bag of chips like once a month is okay though...)