Spring Into Fitness!

Feeling sluggish lately? Shake off the cold-weather weight and step into spring with simple, sustainable lifestyle changes. From metabolism-boosting meals to fat-burning veggies and outdoor movement, this guide offers easy tips to help you feel lighter, stronger, and ready for summer—no matter your age.

Spring Into Fitness

The long-awaited arrival of spring is finally here. Summer is just around the corner, so now is the time to put in extra effort to work on your health and get fit so you are beach body ready regardless of your age.

Many people have a tendency to gain weight over the winter. Although the extra pounds are not a comfortable feeling, the motivation to do something about it is not quite the same as the incentive the warm weather brings.

Whether it’s a matter of personal pride or vanity, many people become self-conscious when they gain weight. We live in a world inundated with a superficial ideal of what is body beautiful. The entertainment industry, together with social and mainstream media, drives the narrative and helps feed the desire to have the perfect “look.” Sadly, this can initiate poor self-image and feed low self-esteem. The good news is that when we take positive steps and engage in healthful practices, we begin to feel and look better.

There are three areas of practice to devote your time and energy to when trying to achieve an optimum weight: eating habits, diet, and exercise. Separately, each has its own benefits. When used together, these lifestyle practices are the most effective and the foundation for healthy weight loss.

Try one or several of my suggestions. At the very minimum, you will receive some positive health benefits. Remember, the more effort you put into self-care, the more you will get positive results—so don’t wait for the perfect time, just jump right in.

Weight Loss Lifestyle Tips

Adopt a plant-based diet centered around whole unrefined grains and vegetables.

Whole grains are the “good carbs” that keep your blood sugar more stable, can be stored in the liver as glycogen, and called upon when you need energy.
Vegetables are nutrient-rich and calorie-low! The high fiber content helps to clean our digestive system, making it more efficient for absorption and elimination of excess.

Have 2 or 3 regular meals a day and do not skip a meal.

Regular meals keep your metabolism more active, and eating at regular times helps to keep your blood sugar more stable.
Try to eat at earlier times, like: breakfast at 8:00, lunch before 1:00, and be finished with dinner by 8:00.
Eating at regular times helps to regulate your blood sugar. Levels naturally drop as the day progresses, with more of a dip in the afternoon. Eating earlier means your body does not have to work as hard to raise the sugar level.
Do not eat before bedtime. Give your body time to digest, which is about 3 hours.

All these practices will help to keep your metabolism more active and help you to eliminate more excess.

Foods to Help Melt Fat

Eat plenty of leafy green vegetables, both lightly cooked and longer cooked.
Have quick-steamed greens with fresh-squeezed lemon often or daily.

Become acquainted with the radish—and Daikon is the king of the radish family when it comes to weight loss.

You can grate it and eat it raw. (Prep tip: add a few drops of shoyu to activate it.)
Boil or steam it until it is soft like a potato—only the daikon melts fat deep from inside.
Make miso soup with daikon radish, dried shiitake mushrooms, and leafy greens often.

Avoid These to Support Weight Loss

Stay away from refined and processed foods.
Avoid all seed oils. (Helpful tip: read ingredient labels.)
Avoid high fructose corn syrup, corn sugar, and any and all artificial sweeteners.

Move More

The most important exercise for weight loss is actually walking outside.
Try to walk outdoors as much as possible. If you have the time, take a walk every day. Be active and engage yourself in activity that you find enjoyable and fun.

Next time, I will discuss exercise in more detail since I feel it is important to find what suits you and what will give you the most benefit over time.

– Susan

Check out all of our macrobiotic courses to get started.

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Spring Into Fitness!