subject: 7 Ways To Go Green While Getting Lean [print this page] What we do, no matter how small, impacts our environment. This is the reason why we all need to be more conscientious about the choices we make everyday. Going green is a principle that can be applied in many aspects of your life. As you work towards weight loss, you can make changes that will make your fitness endeavor earth-friendly as well.
Below are 7 ways to go green while getting lean. If you follow them, you will enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that you did your part in making our planet a healthier place and that your weight loss efforts not only benefited you but the world you live in as well.
1. Go gardening. If you have one, spend more time working on it. If you don't, why not create one? You can get started with going green right in your own backyard. You can burn up a lot of calories working vigorously in the garden. Try growing your own herbs and vegetables and while you're at it, do it the organic way. Gardening offers so many quiet pleasures such as the excitement of seeing new buds springing forth or being awed by the beauty of a flower.
2. Breath new life into your old sneakers. You can recycle your running shoes by donating them to charity. If your shoes are no longer fit to be worn, they can be made into new surfaces especially designed for sports and playgrounds.
3. Shop locally. You can do your part in cutting back on fossil fuels used when food is transported by buying fresh produce from local farms or farmers' markets. Aside from the eco-friendly value of this practice, you also get to support the small farmers in your area. In addition, you will be able to purchase fresher fruits and vegetables without paying a lot.
4. Get a reusable water bottle. If you drink a lot of water and bring your bottle along anywhere you go, then you've developed a very healthy habit. Going green means not buying water in disposable bottles anymore and getting a reusable water bottle instead. By doing this, you don't end up contributing to wasteful stuff that end up in our landfills. Get a lightweight bottle and choose one made of stainless steel because it stays odorless. Installing a filter on your kitchen sink faucet is another good idea as it will allow you to have clean water straight from the tap.
5. Pack your lunch wisely. Packing your lunch to school or work is more economical and eco-friendly. Imagine how much paper, plastic and Styrofoam are used for a week's lunch when bought from a fast food store. Get a lunch kit and keep a set of metal eating utensils at work. When preparing your lunch and snacks, practice portion control so you don't end up overeating.
6. Keep the car in the garage. Walk, jog or bike more often. According to The American Association for the Advancement of Science, if every American did 30 minutes of walking or cycling instead of driving, the carbon emissions would be cut down by 64 million tons and 3 billion pounds of excess fat would be burned off. See what all of us can do to help the environment just by trying to lose weight the eco-friendly way?
7. Know what kind of fish to include in your diet. Everyone knows that fish is practically fat free and contain healthy omega-3's which are good for the heart. Going green when it comes to buying fish means not getting those which are being overfished and those contaminated by pollutants. Alaskan salmon, Pacific halibut and mahi-mahi are good choices.
