This is not a joke but a real British research conducted among 20 000 healthy British men and women from 1993 to 1997.

Participants were asked about their lifestyles and also have their blood tested, as well as their Vitamin C intake measured (Vitamin C is an indicator of how much fruit and vegetables people ate). All participants were middle-aged and older (45-79).

Here are the four small changes you need to do in order to improve your health and add 14 more years to your life:

1. Quit smoking
2. Eat fruits and vegetables – 5 servings every day
3. Exercise regularly
4. Moderate drinking

Quit smoking comes first as it has the greatest benefit – it gives up to 80 percent improvement in your overall health condition. Second is the fruits and vegetables consumption as it has the second great benefit to prolong your life.

Moderate drinking and exercising regularly have equal benefits and both share the third position. However, they are listed that way to keep the list simpler and clearer. This way you’d remember you have four things to pay attention to in order to change your lifestyle, not just three and to skip number 4 because it’s equal to number 3.

These 5 useful tips on how to stick to your Medifast diet are the result of my research on how different people feel and cope with Medifast diet plans.

You will definitely like the complexity of feelings and emotions people share in their Medifast success stories. Their motivation is remarkable:

Tip 1 – Just getting started!

If you are not following the Medifast diet plan, please do not say that it can’t help YOU or you don’t have time for such diets, or you just can’t do it.

Whatever your social engagements are, or wherever you go, just bring your Medifast diet products with you. Order a hot water in a soup bowl and spoon, poor your “secret” powder soup or pudding into it and your meal is ready!

Do not feel embarrassed – nobody will stare at you, or if they do it will be just out of curiosity.

Tip 2 – Don’t give up from the first week

Do not give up just because of the first week’s hard times. The Medifast is not hard or impossible to follow. Quite the contrary – it is an easy to follow weight loss program that takes just a few days to turn into a pleasant everyday routine. (more…)

In case you missed the free tips to lose weight from my previous posts:

Part I covers:
Make sure you are really ready for this
Find out the reason to be fat
Go to Part I

Part II covers:
Find a diet plan just for you
Track your results honestly using software for your convenience
Go to Part II

Part III covers:
Go for a walk at the weekends
Exercise at least 3 times per week
Go to Part III

Part IV covers:
Drink honey and cinnamon to keep the fat away
Eat more fiber rich foods
Go to Part IV 

1) Stay motivated

One of the best ways to stay motivated is to look at your body into the mirror every time you feel hungry or when you plan visiting the kitchen for a small snack.

It’s absolutely in vain to break your diet because of a small weakness. Instead, go in front of the mirror, take off all your clothes and look at your body. If you feel great about the way you look, why are you dieting at all? (more…)

In case you missed the free tips to lose weight from my previous posts:
Part I covers:
1) Make sure you are really ready for this
2) Find out the reason to be fat
Go to Part I

Part II covers:
3) Find a diet plan just for you
4) Track your results honestly using software for your convenience
Go to Part II

1) Go for a walk at the weekends

I always go for a long walk at the weekends.  That way I relax and leave the stress behind. I suggest you to do the same. Go where the air is fresh. Remember – oxygen burns the fat. (more…)