Fitness Foodie Facts Friday 11/7

Today I am going to give you a two for one. Thanks to WedMD I am sharing 10 facts they feel are important when you begin your new healthy lifestyle. And a shopping list courtesy of Dr. Oz. I will share which items are always in my cart - probably not that many :/


1.) Exercise boosts brainpower

"Exercise increases energy levels and increases serotonin in the brain, which leads to improved mental clarity," says Atkinson, director of program development for Cooper Ventures, a division of the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas.

2.) Movement melts away stress

"Exercise produces a relaxation response that serves as a positive distraction," says Cedric Bryant, chief exercise physiologist for the American Council on Exercise. He says it also helps elevate your mood and keep depression at bay.

3.) Exercise gives you energy

When endorphins are released into your bloodstream during exercise, says Astorino, "you feel much more energized the rest of the day."

4.) It's not hard to find time for fitness

"Everyone has 20 minutes," Atkinson says. "Everyone has 10 minutes to jump rope, and sometimes that's better than 20 minutes of walking or running."

5.) Fitness can help build relationships

"For long-term weight loss, you need to have social support," Astorino says.

6.) Exercise wards of disease

Research has shown that exercise can slow or help prevent heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis (bone loss), and loss of muscle mass, says Astorino.

It also helps ease some aspects of the aging process.

"Because exercise strengthens the muscles and joints, it is going to reduce your odds of having some of those aches and pains and problems most adults have, mostly because of the inactive lives they lead," Bryant says.

Provided you don't overdo it, he says, exercise can even boost immune function -- so you spend less time down with a cold or flu.

7.) Fitness pumps up your heart

"Your heart and cardiovascular system will function more effectively," says Bryant. "The heart will build up less plaque. It will become a more efficient pump."

8.) Exercise lets you eat more

Pound for pound, muscle burns more calories at rest than body fat. So the more muscle you have, the higher your resting metabolic rate. And, of course, you also burn calories while you're actually exercising. All this means that "cheating" with a cookie once in a while isn't going to take you back 10 steps. "Can you eat anything? No," says Atkinson. "But you can afford to enjoy some of the things you really like when you exercise regularly. You can better get away with those things in moderation than you can when you're not working out."

9.) Exercise boosts performance

Exercising consistently will strengthen your muscles, increase flexibility, and improve your overall performance.

"Your muscles will work much more efficiently and you'll gain a greater sense of endurance," says Bryant. In addition, he says, your reaction time and balance will improve.

10.) Weight loss is not the most important goal

So whatever weight loss goal you have when starting a fitness program, don't make it your only goal. Strive to feel better, to have more energy, to be less stressed. Notice the small things that exercise does for you quickly, rather than getting hung up on the narrow goal of the number on a scale.

 

So,before I pick and share what is normally in my shopping cart you will probably notice I will not have any seafood or meat in my cart - that is because I am a vegetarian. I don't think I have many people that read this blog but don't let that be a turn off. I do not have a problem with meat eaters, nor do I judge. As you've noticed I do post recipes with both seafood and meat in them. 

In Sierra's shopping cart are numbers: 1,4,5,7,8,9,10,13,25,26,31,38,41,42,43,44,48,49,50,52,55,59,60,61,64,65,71,72,80,81,83,89,90,91,99

Zucchini, Squash, Eggplant, Green/Red/Yellow/Orange peppers, fresh spinach, fresh mushrooms, sweet potatoes, onions, veggie burgers, fresh brussel sprouts are also common finds in my cart. If you read this please, in the comments, share what you like to get at the grocery store.