It's a lifestyle! You have to change everything!

It's a lifestyle! You have to change everything! So say's Dr. Arthur Waters. So here are some tips. I hope they at least function as a starting point. they are short, sweet, and to the point. I encourage you to do more research. Equip yourself with knowledge, and develop a new lifestyle that is 100% focused on making this life count - and on improving your quality of life.

Tip #1 - Focus on food quality. Make sure that 90% of your calorie intake comes from meat, fruits, veggies, healthy fats and quality carb sources such as rice and oatmeal. Limit your junk food severely.

Quality food choices are rich in micronutrients, which are vitamins, minerals, and other chemicals and substances required by the body to function properly. Eating is more than calories. If your body is in-taking an abundance of micronutrients, you'll be healthier, and have fewer issues with hunger.

Tip #2 - Practice portion control. Never overfill your plate. Eat one plateful of food and wash it down with plenty of water. If you are still hungry, wait exactly an hour before eating again. This small practice of discipline helps more than you think. You'll be far less likely to overeat.

Tip #3 - Get some sleep. Good sleep is essential to not only good health, but also appetite control. When you are overtired, the stress your body is feeling often leads you to overeat and make bad food choices. Lack of sleep also impacts your disciple, and you are more likely to eat anything in front of you on a whim.

Force yourself to go to sleep at the same time each night. Yes, you might have to sacrifice TV or computer time, but remember we are forging forward with a new lifestyle. We are practicing habits that are life-giving rather than life-destroying.

Tip #4 - Learn how to cook. This tip saved my life. Literally. Hate veggies or bland "healthy" meals? There are a million recipes and video tutorials floating out there on the Internet. Google search. Learn how to turn bland, healthy meals into amazing dishes. Learn how to turn boring veggies into something you can't resist,

Tip #5 - Eat only until satiety. Feel full? Stop eating. You don't need to finish that plate of food and stuff yourself. Resist the urge.

Tip #6 - Get moving. Find a form of exercise you enjoy. It doesn't matter what it is. Bowling. Hiking. Gardening. Just get out and get moving. Unchain yourself from the gym and endless cardio sessions. These are boring as heck. All you'll be doing is watching the clock.

Tip #7 - Understand exercise burns little fat. 3 hours of cardio (treadmill) per week burns only about 600 calories. At this rate it will take you nearly 6 weeks to burn off one pound of fat. Excessive amounts of cardio are not the way to go, not to mention that they quickly become a burden.

Tip #8 - Use cardio for health. Following up our last tip, cardio should be performed, but only to improve overall health.

Tip #9 - Avoid fad diets. Fad diets usually involve extremes, or practices that will never be incorporated into a healthy lifestyle once the diet is done. Listen to your body and eat when you are hungry. It's better to work with your existing eating habits and tendencies than to try force yourself to do something that doesn't feel natural.

Tip #10 - Stay hydrated. The body needs water. Stay disciplined and make sure you are reaching your water intake goals each. Not sure how much water you need? Look it up on Google!

Tip #11 - Ignore mistakes. We all have bad days where we overeat, under-sleep, or drink too much. Ignore bad, or excessive days. They are part of the journey. Everyone has them. A bad day doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong. It just means you're human. Move on and don't beat yourself up.

Tip #12 - Don't smoke. Not much else to say here. Don't smoke.

Tip #13 - More interaction, less mindlessness. Keep your brain active. watch fewer hours of TV each week. Instead of tuning into the tube, read a book, play a puzzle game, or do some other activity that keeps your mind active.

Tip #14 - Work on your mental transformation. Become a better person. This mental evolution will make you happier, and more satisfied with life. Practice kindness, generosity, unselfishness, active listening, and other "human" skills that will make you feel better about yourself.

Tip #15 - Unplug from negativity. Distance yourself from negative people, negative relationships, and negative environments. Surround yourself with positive people making steps to a better life.

Tip #16 - Avoid the white poisons. Try to minimize your intake of the white poisons - white sugar and flour.

This is by no means a comprehensive list, but it's a good start. Reduce stress, eat better, don't overeat, get more sleep, think more, don't smoke, unplug from negative people, and get more exercise. All of these practices, when applied for years to come, will help to foster a positive environment, and will also lead to a reduction in your weight.

Stay focused on longevity and making good choices each day. You can't go wrong by doing this.  Carleton Roberts