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Successful Slimming
By Jeffrey Crupi

Staying fit and trim can be an uphill struggle, but these five simple strategies will work with any teacher's schedule

As we age, our metabolism changes and we often have responsibilities that prevent us from going to the gym. If you are trying to lose a few extra pounds, consider the following suggestions for a healthy way to lose weight.

exercise
  1. Eat breakfast. Skipping breakfast can slow your metabolic rate by up to five percent. By eating a healthy breakfast each morning, you'll have more energy and be less inclined to snack late in the morning.

  2. Drink water. In the hot weather, it's tempting to reach for a cool, delicious beverage. It's also important to know the nutritional value of these beverages. For example, a Dairy Queen® Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Blizzard® has 675 calories and 26 grams of fat, a TCBY® Mocha Cappuccino Chiller has 646 calories and 22 grams of fat (source: www.nutritiondata.com). A Starbucks® Grande Coffee Frappuccino is a lighter pick, with 260 calories and 3.5 grams of fat (source: www.starbucks. com), but if you are trying to lose weight, your best beverage bet is water.

  3. Weight train. Weight training is extremely important to reverse the perimenopausal metabolic decline. An intense weight training workout can keep your metabolism elevated for as long as 48 hours after weight lifting. During your next trip to the gym, consider arranging an appointment with a personal trainer so that you can receive a customized weight-training program for your body's specific needs.

  4. Cardio train. Increasing your cardiovascular activity by just 10-15 minutes can help you lose weight. Find time to add some additional cardio training to your schedule. Try to squeeze in a walk or jog before or after work. The extra calories burned will help with your overall weight loss.

  5. Get sleep. This may be easier said than done with all the demands that are placed on teachers these days. However, adequate sleep provides your body with muscle-building and fat-burning efficiency.

Just like success for your students takes proper planning, keeping your body in shape means planning proper eating choices, setting aside time for exercise and getting enough rest.

Jeffrey Crupi is the owner of Peak Fitness Gym in Westport, CT. He is a certified fitness specialist with a degree from Marymount Manhattan College.