(27-09-13) Four unhealthy habits that are crushing your fitness goals

by Yanjun

(NaturalNews) Staying fit and healthy is not easy. Even when good habits are practiced, such as eating right and exercising, fitness goals can seem forever unattainable. Sometimes, unhealthy habits picked up over the years can be the reason,and it is not easy to get out of a bad habit.


Here are four common habits you may not realize are getting in the way of your fitness goals.
Not Enough Sleep
Adults need about 7.5 hours of good sleep each night. Being sleepy is a sure way to overeat. Without sleep, metabolism slows down. It's difficult to concentrate to plan healthy meals ahead of time. Also, the energy needed to exercise is nonexistent. Make sure you go to bed at least 7.5 hours before you have to wake up; if you can not get enough sleep, try to have a short nap at noon; 20 minute naps can make you feel fresh . Avoid greasy food and staring at television or computer screens right before bed. This ensures that your sleep is restful enough to keep you healthy.


Not Enough Cardio
Thirty minutes of intense cardio three or four times a week keeps the heart strong. It takes motivation to go to the gym or track for a workout, but it doesn't end at that. If you're not working hard when you get there, you're not going to see results.


Skipping Breakfast
In a study of people who lost a significant amount of weight and kept it off, 80% reported that they ate breakfast. Skipping meals causes the metabolism to slow. This is the body's way of dealing with periods of time when no food is available. The best way to eat less during the day is to trim some calories off lunch and dinner.


Eating Like a Teenager
Teenagers need 200-400 more calories a day than their parents. That may be why you can watch them eat all they want and never gain any weight. Don't try to keep up with them. People need less and less calories as they age. For an adult, those extra calories would turn into extra pounds.
Dieting and exercising are great ways to start a healthy and fit lifestyle. However, that is just a start. Tackling established unhealthy habits may be difficult at first, but the reward is a healthy way of life.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.fitday.com

http://healthfinder.gov

http://zenhabits.net

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