Diet And Fitness Tips For Women - A Lifetime Of Evolving Needs

Most women experience a lifetime of significant events; puberty which brings the onset of menstruation, single or multiple pregnancies, nursing of babies, and finally menopause. These events are associated with hormonal and other physical changes. In addition, there are chronic health conditions primarily associated with women like osteoporosis, hypothyroidism, polycystic ovarian syndrome, etc. Whether they are a result of normal life events or illnesses, these physical conditions need to be supported with appropriate diet and exercise changes. Educating and providing health and fitness tips to women helps the entire family.
A healthy diet for women takes into consideration both age and physical condition. Did you know that there is a need for more iron with the onset of menstruation? Eating a well balanced diet is not just for pregnant women; it is important both before pregnancy and after the baby is born. Folate deficiency (a B vitamin that is also known as folic acid) can cause birth defects in the baby. There is also the common concern related to weight gain with pregnancy. It is important to adopt diet tips for weight loss provided by qualified professionals like registered dietitians and doctors. Drastic attempts to lose weight after the delivery of the baby can be a serious health risk. Aging increases the risk for osteoporosis due to hormonal changes with menopause. A diet that is rich in calcium combined with weight training exercises can help strengthen bones. There is also a decrease in the metabolic rate (need fewer calories for daily living) with aging. Also, flexibility and other health concerns can interfere with daily physical activity. The best fitness tips offer recommendations for all ages and fitness levels.
From an early age, women seek physical perfection based on unrealistic standards set by society. History clearly shows that the standards for physical beauty vary across cultures and time. Body weight is not just related to fat content; it is also a representation of muscle, bone and organ weight. Some of us have an hourglass figure, some pear-shaped while others may have fewer curves. Body shape is mainly defined by the skeletal framework, muscle structure and location where we gain weight; all of these attributes are genetically predetermined. Simply focusing on body weight and shape can lead to serious eating disorders in even young school girls. Help redefine physical beauty standards; set a good example by following reliable health and fitness tips.

Health & Fitness :: 8 Highly Effective Eating Tips to Stay Fit and Satisfied

Food is supposed to be savored. But with the kind of lifestyles we have nowadays, it seems that food is now taken as a matter of course. Working lunches which put the focus on the meeting and not on the meal are fast becoming popular options to deal with deadlines and projects. We eat while watching television or while studying. Rarely is eating ever really focused on eating. The ease with which we can buy food also contributes to the problem. It's easy to grab a chocolate bar or go to a drive-thru when you're hungry. There's a 24/7 convenience store that can cater to your midnight food cravings of chips and dips. With all these, it's easy to understand why obesity levels have risen to gastronomic proportions in this country.

  If you really want to stay fit and full, here are some diet tips to keep you right on track:

1. Go as natural as possible. When you eat foods that have undergone little or no processing such as fruits and vegetables, you fill yourself with fiber and complex carbohydrates. These foods are slowly digested and make you feel fuller for longer. Compared to highly-processed foods that are rich with empty calories, natural foods are more nutritious. Besides that, they require you to chew more before swallowing so your brain registers satiety before you indulge in another piece.

2. Choose bulky and water-rich foods since they fill you up quicker and make you feel full for longer. Thus, if you have to choose between grapes and raisins, go for the grapes. Also, choose foods that take a little more chewing so you feel full with less. Examples of these are crunchy salads and seeded fruits.

3. Don't allow yourself to grow thirsty. Always drink a full 8 to12 glasses of water a day and drink one or two glasses before each meal.

4. Choose smaller plates. Dinner plates have grown as large as our appetites. And because we have been reared to fill our plates when we put on the serving portions and finish everything that we put there, bigger plates naturally mean a higher number of calories ingested. Buy smaller plates and use these in your regular meals.

5. Make breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks all about the food. Don't watch television while eating and savor every morsel. Also, while it is good to dine in company, try to eat by yourself as much as you can as research has shown that people tend to eat more when they are in a group.

6. Strive for six to eight hours of sleep everyday. When you don't get enough sleep, your body produces hormones that continually signal hunger, making you want to eat more.

7. If you have just had a fatty meal, don't keep on gobbling up portions. It takes time before fullness registers with a fat-laden meal compared to a protein-filled one. Eat slowly and wait for the feeling of satiety to come.

8. Eat a piece of starchy fruit, such as an apple, before every meal. It will give you fiber that will significantly lessen the amount of calories you take when your main course arrives.