Get Lean and Healthy This Summer
By Olivia, age 15, Louisiana
Okay, ladies, it's summer. We all want to get in shape and look fine for our man-candy. So, even if our super-busy, super-social schedules won't allow us to do any hardcore exercising and working out, we can still set a little time aside to be healthy and do a little cardio, eh? So, I've thought up a few tips to lean up and feel healthy all summer and possibly after.Exercise for half an hour daily - that's not so much time if you put it in perspective. It's 1/48th of your day; you can sacrifice that much texting and watching marathons of Vampire Diaries all day (even though we all know Damon is the perfect specimen). Take it from me...I either ride my bike or walk almost two miles every day, and I've felt so much better ever since I've started. So pick something and stick with it. I recommend some cardio - rollerblading, walking, running, or biking. They get your heart pumping and you can burn calories.
Eating healthy is also a huge part of getting fit and healthy. Substitute anything with high fructose corn syrup for things without. Eat less red meat and cut out all trans-fat and saturated fat. Then, to detox your body, try drinking teas and foods high in fiber, such as fruit.
Here is a list of some of my favorite foods to eat to curb hunger and stay light and fit:
1. Green tea (try mint - it's so refreshing)
2. Mangos, bananas, oranges, apples
3. Cheerios or Honey Bunches of Oats
4. Cheese sticks
5. Soy milk (chocolate or vanilla flavored)
I'm also a vegetarian, but I really don't expect people to go that far with it. Just take a glance at the things you eat and build awareness of what you eat on a daily basis. Do a bit of research on what's good and what's bad, and be mindful of your nutritional intake to get a balanced diet.
