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What is Considered a Healthy Active Lifestyle?
A healthy active lifestyle is considered to be a lifestyle that includes a healthy diet and a regular exercise plan. It generally also includes an absence of unhealthy habits, such as smoking. A healthy and active lifestyle is a lifestyle that many people of all ages strive for, and with a little effort, it is entirely possible to achieve through some simple life changes.
One way to get a healthy active lifestyle is to start with a healthy diet. Try eliminating some of the unhealthiest foods from the diet, or making some substitutions. For instance, if you have a soda or two every day, that could be replaced with water. A regular snack of chips or cookies might be replaced with whole-grain fruit or nuts. Many people also choose to take a daily multivitamin to make up for any deficiencies in their diet.
Overall, it is best to eat a diet made up of a lot of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein such as chicken or fish. It is difficult to lead an active lifestyle without eating a healthy diet, because it will be difficult to get enough energy to exercise. Get creative while cooking, and try to make new recipes with healthy ingredients; it is always possible to find new favorite foods. Again, be sure to drink enough water every day, and to try to quit unhealthy habits such as smoking or excessive drinking.
The second part of a healthy active lifestyle is exercise. A regular exercise routine, such as working out at a gym, going for a daily walk or jog, or doing some regular weight lifting is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. There are other ways to incorporate exercise into everyday life; for instance, take the stairs instead of the elevator, park further away from the door when driving somewhere, and take a break from work to go for a walk.
People of all ages can incorporate regular exercise into their lives to develop a healthy active lifestyle. Many people who lead active lifestyles also enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, or skiing, which can be great ways to have fun, make new friends, and get in better physical shape. Leading a healthy lifestyle is a great way to lose weight and maintain that weight loss over time, rather than a fad diet where the weight may come back just as quickly as it came off.
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![Drinking plenty of water.]()
By: studiovespaDrinking plenty of water. -
![Individuals who enjoy active lifestyles often participate in adventures that include hiking, kayaking, or mountain bike riding.]()
By: Dudarev MikhailIndividuals who enjoy active lifestyles often participate in adventures that include hiking, kayaking, or mountain bike riding. -
![A diet with lots of vegetables is part of a healthy active lifestyle.]()
By: yanlevA diet with lots of vegetables is part of a healthy active lifestyle. -
![Including protein-packed foods, like cheese, into one's diet is part of a healthy lifestyle.]()
By: Ewa BrozekIncluding protein-packed foods, like cheese, into one's diet is part of a healthy lifestyle. -
![Eating fresh fruit can help a person maintain an active lifestyle.]()
By: ipagEating fresh fruit can help a person maintain an active lifestyle. -
![People with an active lifestyle should consume several servings of fiber-rich grains and fruits daily.]()
By: kentohPeople with an active lifestyle should consume several servings of fiber-rich grains and fruits daily. -
![The benefits of a healthy active lifestyle include maintaining a healthy body weight.]()
By: Minerva StudioThe benefits of a healthy active lifestyle include maintaining a healthy body weight. -
![Fruit smoothies may be part of a healthy active lifestyle.]()
By: TanouchkaFruit smoothies may be part of a healthy active lifestyle. -
![Fish contains healthy fats and high levels of protein.]()
By: HLPhotoFish contains healthy fats and high levels of protein. -
![A regular exercise routine is part of a healthy active lifestyle.]()
By: Jacek ChabraszewskiA regular exercise routine is part of a healthy active lifestyle. -
![Regular exercise is part of a healthy active lifestyle.]()
By: MaxRiesgoRegular exercise is part of a healthy active lifestyle.
Discussion Comments
@Subway11 - I understand what you are saying and for the most part I do live a healthy lifestyle, but once in a while I want to eat a real burger and fries and I don’t want to be reminded of how many calories it has.
I am very active and workout 60 minutes every day and eat a pretty healthy diet so I don’t feel guilty about eating a burger once in a while. I think that a menu with the calories on it would make me uncomfortable because when I go to a restaurant I want to enjoy my meal.
I don’t want to think about all of the calories I am eating. That really takes the fun out of eating because I would now second guess every choice that I would have to make when ordering my food.
I understand the push for healthy nutrition but I don't know if this is the right way to do it.
@Cupcake15 - I think that if you make it a primary focus to eat healthy food you would be surprised at how easy it is now. There are so many restaurants that are adding healthy choices to their menus that it is almost impossible not to enjoy eating out in a healthy manner.
There are still some restaurants that might hold on to their old menu, but if they don’t have healthy choices I skip going to them because I rather spend my calories with a filling meal than spend my entire days allotment of calories with just one meal.
I went to New York City on a trip recently, and they have a law that restaurants have to disclose the nutritional contents of every food item that they serve. I have to tell you that it makes you think twice about what you order. I wish that more restaurants had this policy.
@Latte31 - I know what you mean. There was a lady that I knew that weighed about 250 pounds and was about 5’3’. The only exercise that she was able to do initially was to walk around her apartment but over time she joined a weight loss group and started exercising little by little and she now has lost 100 pounds and runs marathons.
I think that when people acclimate to healthy eating habits and lose a lot of weight they have this confidence in themselves that is really nice. They also have improved circulation because of the exercise and healthy eating and they tend to look at little younger as well.
I also know that when you exercise regularly it helps you sleep better. Healthy living also allows a lot of people to come off their medication because the healthy and active lifestyle did the trick.
I think that the sense of accomplishment is something that allows people that have lost a lot of weight to speak in a passionate manner about their weight loss.
I think that being healthy and active go hand in hand but it may take some time to get used to. Healthy living is like a lifestyle choice that includes better habits but it is not extreme.
For example, if you want to change your lifestyle to a healthy living lifestyle you have to eliminate the bad habits one at a time. It takes time to get used to living a healthy lifestyle.
You may want to start by incorporating fruits and vegetables into your diet instead of eating chips and cookies. You can also include exercise that you can commit to daily like walking for at least 20 minutes or riding a bike.
When you start to live a healthy lifestyle you will be surprised at how many other aspects of your life will change for the better.
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