Walking the fine line of fitness

We all know that the United States has an obesity epidemic. We also venture into the other side of the spectrum with the significant numbers of girls who develop eating disorders.

Fast food is extremely popular, and portion sizes are enormous. Most kids and teenagers are constantly on a sugar rush, or eat out every night.

People are less active due to technology taking the place of playing outside. Substandard Physical Education courses that send the message across that the best way to stay physically fit is to play a sport do not help either.

I have absolutely no athletic ability, and because I live in an area where I have to drive 15 minutes to go anywhere, I have always had a problem with staying healthy. I cannot play a sport to stay fit, and my Physical Education course gave me no alternative. I had to develop my own way of getting exercise into my life and following a proper diet.

I have decided to give some of my tips and tricks that I personally follow to stay somewhat in shape. Whether you're talentless like I am, extremely busy, or just don't know what to do, I think you would benefit from reading this.

First of all, you should find a BMI calculator online to see if you even need to lose weight. Unless you are in the NFL and your weight is entirely muscle, your Body Mass Index is a good indicator of how healthy you are weight-wise.

How to determine your BMI:

1. Google "BMI calculator" - here is one that I found: http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/

2. Input your height and weight.

3. Check on the scale to find what percentile your number is.

BMI Categories:

Emaciated: <15
Underweight = <18.5
Normal weight = 18.5-24.9
Overweight = 25-29.9
Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

I am currently 5'5" and 130 lbs. I have a BMI of 21.6 . My BMI is in the healthy range.

It should be noted that health problems begin to arise upon reaching certain BMIs in the healthy range. Some factors play into this like ethnicity, but the main thing that I have heard is that health problems usually start at a BMI of 23. ( A BMI that is semi-okay doesn't give you the excuse to be a couch potato.)

Whether you want to maintain weight or lose weight, you should find something that can compute the minimum you need for bodily functions. I have found different calculators online. There was an especially good one where you selected your activity level in addition to the factors it uses. For simple purposes, this one computes your metabolism at a resting rate.

http://www.inspiringnutrition.com/scripts/rmrCalc.asp

Like the BMI calculator, this requires your height and weight. It also takes your gender and age into consideration.

For a 5'5", 130 lb, 16-year-old Female, the rate would be 1382 calories.

If you are hellbent on simply maintaining your weight, all you would need to do would be to count calories religiously. If you cut portion sizes and just eat healthy things, it'll work. You still should exercise for your heart.

If you are exercising, you need to eat more. Hardcore athletes eat something like 3,500 calories a day. It all depends on your activity level.

The reason I mention metabolic rate is because 1 lb is 3,500 calories. You can gain weight back very easily by eating over a certain number. However, you can't starve yourself. It doesn't work short-term, and people die from eating disorders. Just don't do it.

Cut portion sizes. Americans eat way more than anybody else. It's so silly. After a while, you'll notice that a lot of what you're eating is unnecessary. (Your stomach does take like 20 minutes to realize its full, you know.) Cut soda and coffee out of your diet. Liquid calories from Starbucks don't make you full - they just make you fat.

What I do to lose weight is to both exercise and eat slightly under my minimum for bodily functions. I'm pretty sure that's the best way to do it.

The only fool-proof way to stay healthy is to eat well and to be active. "Well, I can't play any sports, what do I do?"

Things that require no hand-eye coordination:

-Running/Jogging
-Biking
-Swimming

Swimming is the best exercise there is. Everybody swims in the summer. 15 minutes of straight swimming is crazy. Check with your pool to see how old you have to be to swim at Adult Swim. Mine is only 16. I was thrilled to learn that, because now I can actually do laps. And if you have your own pool, then swim swim swim. Swimming is fun!

Running is excellent exercise mainly because it requires no talent. I'm not even kidding! I run all the time! The first couple times it's really hard because you're not used to it, but increase your speed/distance gradually and you'll be fine. After a while, the only thing pulling you back is boredom. So put a great playlist together and just go. (I've found that Amon Amarth is fantastic running music.)

Find an exercise buddy. A friend, your mom, your brother, whoever. Make it fun so your brain wants to do it.

Just incorporate it into your lifestyle and you won't have to worry about anything. Make it second-nature. And if you're super serious about weight-loss, consult a doctor. Most of what I'm writing is just common sense - it shouldn't substitute medical advice.

How To Walk In Heels

Okay, first off, start with wedges or chunkier heels to get the hang of how your foot/ankle/leg are positioned. Don't jump straight into 6 inch stilettos.

1) Stand up in front of a mirror and make sure you are not slouching or positioned awkwardly. Stand up straight!
2) Lead with the hips! Obviously don't jut them so far out it's obvious, but lean back a little.
3) Step heel, toe, heel, toe, heel, toe, etc.
4) Walk around the house first on different floors like carpet and wood before venturing outside.
5) Walk with confidence! That's the most important part.
6) Lean back, head up, and think sexy time :]
7) Practice turning.
7) Practice going backwards. Overdo it, just incase. Often I find you don't realize you make little steps backwards in normal life and you don't even realize.
8) Practice more on the floor as you get better. Don't mark up the hardwood, but if you have linoleum or something similar try walking on that. It's harder to walk on and more like the halls at school.
9) Practice sprinting when you get good. Just short sprints, because I sprint for buses and what in real life.