The Best Way to Get Fit Fast

You can't improve your fitness by popping a pill, sprinkling protein powder over your food or drinking a special shake. To get fit fast, you need to focus on eating right and engaging in both cardio and strength-training exercises. Consult your doctor before making changes to your diet or starting any exercise program.

Get Enough Calories

If you're aiming to get fit fast, you need to be at a healthy weight. However, if you need to drop a few pounds, trying to lose weight too fast won't do you much good. When you restrict your caloric intake too severely -- fewer than 1,200 calories a day for women and 1,800 a day for men -- you risk stalling your weight loss by slowing your metabolism.

You need to find the right number of calories to lose at a steady rate of 1/2 to 2 pounds a week. Accomplish this by reducing your current intake by 250 calories to 1,000 calories a day. To figure out your current intake, record how much you normally eat in a food diary and add up the daily calories. Then subtract between 250 and 1,000 to get your new calorie goal for weight loss. For example, if you currently eat 2,600 calories a day, you can lose weight safely by reducing your intake to 1,600 to 2,350 calories a day. Since part of getting fit is exercising, you might want to go with the lower end of calorie reduction, say, 250 to 500 calories, and burn the rest of the calories through physical activity.

Eat Healthy Foods

To get the most out of your fitness program, fill your diet with foods that support your energy needs and muscle growth. That doesn't mean you need to limit your diet to brown rice, steak and egg whites. A "get fit" diet is the same healthy eating plan everyone should follow -- one filled with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and low-fat dairy. Eat regularly throughout the day so you have energy when you're working out. You'll have a better workout when your body is properly fueled, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Also, be sure to eat a recovery snack after exercising to replenish energy stores and promote muscle building. Enjoy a nonfat fruit yogurt, a cup of chocolate milk or half a turkey sandwich.

Limit Processed Foods

It's not just about what you should eat, but also what you shouldn't when you're aiming to get fit. According to a 2011 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, certain types of foods are linked to weight gain, including potato chips, sweetened drinks such as soda and juice and processed meats such as bacon and pepperoni. To improve your fitness level and help you reach your goals faster, limit your intake of these and other processed foods such as white bread and pasta, sweets and fast food.

Read more on https://www.livestrong.com/article/378673-way-fit-fast/