When Shelda Raymonvil started high school at William H. Turner Technical Arts High School in Miami, she ate cookies for breakfast, chips for lunch and several slices of pizza for dinner.
“Later, I realized that my unhealthy eating habits caused me to become obese and fall asleep in class because I had no energy,” she says.
Shelda started dieting, but didn’t have much luck. Depriving herself of meals and food she enjoyed caused Shelda to binge.
With the help of her doctor, Shelda created a plan to get fit. She made sure that she didn’t skip any meals and learned to love healthy snacks like multi-grain bars, baked chips and raisins.
“I exercised three times a week for 40 minutes doing activities that I enjoy like riding my bike or simply walking,” says Shelda, who’s now 18 and a freshman at the University of Central Florida. “I lost 33 pounds.”
There are many benefits to eating right and exercising. Getting fit can reduce your body fat, help you concentrate better in school and sleep better at night. You may feel more confident about your appearance and have more energy to do the things you enjoy.
Eat Smart
When you’re on the go, it can be tempting to visit a vending machine when hunger strikes. But planning ahead and packing healthy snacks in your backpack can help you eat right when you’re busy. Keep these snacks handy and you’ll be less tempted to eat candy.
• Carrot sticks • Dried fruits • Pretzels• Apple slices • Whole-wheat crackers • Rice cakes• Oranges • Baked chips • Granola bars• Nuts • Trail mix • Raisins
Get Moving
You don’t need to work out for hours or spend money on expensive exercise equipment. Here are some easy activities you can do at home or in a park. 20 minutes burns 190 calories Grooving to your favorite tunes works your calves, abdominal muscles, shoulders and arms.
SAND WALK
20 minutes burns 88 calories Walk on the sand near the water where it’smore level. Softer sand creates resistance. As you build up speed and endurance, you’ll tone your body, heart and lungs.
CLIMB STAIRS
20 minutes burns 300 calories Don’t take the elevator. Stair climb fast or slow or two steps at a time. Work your legs, thighs and butt as you improve coordination and balance.
WALK
15 minutes of brisk walking burns 100 calories. Get some fresh air after school and walk around your neighborhood or at a park. Walking works your legs, hips and butt.
JOG
12 minutes burns 100 calories Get your heart rate going by jogging at a steady pace. Your calves, hamstrings, thighs and glutes will thank you.
For more tips, check outhealthyfloridians.com
http://www.floridanext.com/health/article_view.asp?id=609
–Ashley Cisneros
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Ashley Cisneros is a co-founder of Chatter Buzz Media, an Orlando Internet marketing firm that helps companies and organizations engage with their target markets through inbound marketing via the Internet. Chatter Buzz Media, which won the Social Madness competition for the Orlando small business market, is a full-service digital marketing firm specializing in website design, search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing and content creation. Prior to founding Chatter Buzz, Ashley worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine editor, technical writer, marketing manager, public relations practitioner and freelance journalist. To see Ashley’s content writing, visit www.ashleycisneros.com. You can also reach Ashley on her Google profile.
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