Healthy tips for the modern lifestyle

Staying healthy is becoming harder and harder. We used to live in a society where our jobs usually involved physical exertion of some kind, meaning that people were practically exercising all day long. In an agrarian culture, this meant tilling crops, raking stuff (notice how my knowledge of agrarian culture is already starting to wane), and the like. This was hard work. So was working in a factory, laying bricks, digging ditches, and carrying lumber and steel. Nowadays, however, many people spend their 8 to 15(!) hours per day sitting behind a desk, staring at computer screens and moving only to occasionally go to the bathroom. Our diets aren't getting any better, either.

Processed foods, fast-foods, chemical-laden foods -- they have all laid their claim in the American diet. Convenience is king in the fast paced, New York Minute type world that we live in. As a result, it's easier to reach for a Big Mac than it is to make some grilled chicken and vegetables. Let's face it, it takes time to make grilled chicken and vegetables!! The Big Mac? No time at all. So therein lies the problem: How do we make healthy choices when our lifestyles are not conducive to supporting them?

Here are a few tips that can help you work around this conundrum.

Exercise performed in several short sessions, spread throughout the day, can be just as effective in helping you burn calories as one, long workout session. This means that if you can squeeze a few quick sets of push-ups or a brisk walk into a coffee break, go for it.

Walk the stairs instead of taking the elevator. I know that you've probably heard this one a thousand times, but it still bears repeating. The extra calories you will burn for the day may not seem like much, but added over a year's time, you could be looking at losing upwards of 10 pounds or more.

Forget what you learned all your lives with respect to eating 3 Square Meals a Day. It's rubbish, it truly is. The key to losing weight is to eat five-to-six small meals per day, spaced out every two or three hours. You may find doing this to be the most difficult lifestyle change, since it requires taking time to prepare and make two or three more meals per day. But, these meals should not be the same size as the three mega-meals that people typically eat.

Ride a bike to work. Let's face it, with traffic being the way it is in some cities, you'll probably get there faster, anyway. Plus, you'll save yourself a bundle on gas.

Prepare your meals for tomorrow tonight. Set aside a small period of time in your night when you can focus on putting together your next day meals. Although this will involve a little bit of your time upfront, it will save you far more time for the following day, ensuring that you have the healthy foods you need and don't instead reach for a quick, not-so-healthy fix.

Eat nuts. In addition to being a good source of good fat, nuts will help curb your appetite. This way, you'll never find yourself getting hungry in between meals.

Workout during commercial breaks of your favorite TV shows. Former football star Hershel Walker was famous for this method. Judging by the amazing shape he whipped himself into, it seems to be an effective approach. Granted, he just admitted to having multiple personalities, but one thing has nothing to do with the other. Besides, I'm sure all his other personalities are in great shape, too.