Five Ways to Spring Into Fitness

Sixty-six percent of Americans are overweight or obese and an alarming 80 percent of African-American women are either overweight or obese.

This is a very dangerous trend, because obesity is linked to unhealthy conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer.

Life should be full of joy, happiness and success, but don’t cheat yourself by living a life that has you lying on your back because of an illness.

Here are five ways that will help you build a stronger mind, body and soul.

1. Reduce the Pressure - Stress can be an incredibly powerful drag on your fitness and health and study after study has found that when a person is stressed, the body reacts. Results of stress can lead to high blood pressure, tension headaches, upset stomachs, and many other ailments. Exercise is probably the most effective defense against stress in your life. You are in the middle of a high intensity interval bicycle workout... Are you thinking about being stressed? NO!! You are just trying to survive this training session. So keep your stress in check with good quality well balanced exercise program.

2. Flush it out - Water does the body good when it comes to good health. Water helps flush out toxins and other unwanted things lingering in your body. Water also replenishes fluids that help lubricate the internal body, while keeping you hydrated, lowering your desire to eat, and also helps keep your skin looking smooth and young. I know it's hard to drink lots of water, but find bottled water you enjoy the taste of or filter your tap water and keep it chilled in the refrigerator. You should be drinking at least eight to 12 glasses of water each and every day.

3. Sodium and your Diet - Who doesn't like the taste of salt? As a way of lowering your blood pressure, keeping salt in your meal plan in check is another important way to support your overall health. If you are craving salt, try enhancing your food flavor with fresh squeezed lemon or lime juice or some NO sodium or low sodium seasoning.

4. Rest and Re-energize - Not enough sleep can dramatically affect your current and future health. While you sleep, your body is recovering and resting from all the things you have done during your day. Your body becomes relaxed, and your mind is allowed to clear itself in preparation for the next day's events. If you are not getting enough rest, you will begin to notice it in a physical way. While there is no perfect number in terms of hours of sleep, 8 hours should be your target each and every night.

5. Read the Bible - The Bible may never help you lose weight, but it can help in many areas of your life. Those that read and study the Bible regularly have discovered that God’s word has power. It gives us comfort, it fills us with peace, it teaches us forgiveness, and it reveals to us God’s love and mercy.