Exercise can be especially difficulty if you are using every excuse in the book to not get physically active. A consistent fitness regimen is part of an overall healthier lifestyle that has vast benefits. Don’t let excuses for not exercising hold you back from getting fit and living what Bob Greene calls your Best Life. The fitness guru and trainer for Oprah explains why reasons like being too tired, not having time to exercise, and five other excuses should be ignored. We challenge you to end the excuses and start living a healthier life today.

By Bob Greene for TheBestLife.com

I usually prefer outdoor workouts to indoor workouts—you don’t have to worry about fighting for the treadmill at the gym, the scenery can be inspiring and the fresh air is invigorating. But as the temperature drops, you might be tempted to head indoors. Don’t let the weather ruin your workout plans. Use the tips below to stay warm until spring.  

Step One: Select the right shirt.

Layers are an exerciser’s best friend. Your first layer should consist of a long-sleeve undershirt (I love turtleneck and mock turtleneck athleticwear) made of wicking fabric without any buttons or zippers. Then, cover it with a sweatshirt made of a “Polar-guard” type of material. If needed, add a final layer of a wind-resistant shell or jacket. Even though it’s cooler out, you still have to worry about sun protection. I recommend choosing sun-protective clothing, like Coolibar.

Step Two: Go light on your lower half.

Your legs will stay pretty warm once you get going, so you don’t need as many layers on your lower half. Jogging tights are a good option because they don’t move and won’t chafe your skin. When it’s cold, you can add a layer of pants made of a “Polar-guard” type of material.  
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It’s as hard for us to believe as anyone else that “the holidays” officially kick off in just one week! We hope we aren’t the only ones already thinking about how to make this a healthful season where we spend more time giving thanks and less time feeling guilty.

We want to help ensure you have such a holiday season for yourself and your family. That’s why we’ve partnered with Bob Greene and team at The Best Life Diet for a five-week Holiday Survival Guide.

You’ll learn how to manage the craziest parts of the season – like overeating, stress, and fitting in a workout. If keeping you motivated weren’t enough, together we’re offering up more than $5,000 in prizes to help you end this year on a high note as you work on embracing all that lies ahead in 2013.

The Holiday Survival Guide kicks off on Tuesday, November 20 with a Twitter Party to get you in the spirit of this special event. Join us and the Best Life team for a one-hour event to introduce you to both of our social media teams, which will play an integral role in keeping participants motivated for five weeks.

TWITTER PARTY

Use #HolidayFit

Follow @TheBestLife and @DietsInReview

Start at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT on Nov. 20

You can officially sign-up to join The Holiday Survival Guide on Monday, November 19 at TheBestLife.com. Then, you’ll receive five emails each week through December focused on a different element of managing the season in a healthful way. Plus, find Facebook and Twitter posts each day to keep you on track.
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By Bob Greene for TheBestLife.com

I’m a big fan of breakfast—in fact, starting off each day with a healthy, balanced breakfast is one of the key guidelines on my Best Life plan. A morning meal jump-starts your metabolism, delivers some much-needed energy after a night’s rest and can help with weight loss.

Don’t think you have the time? Check out these five dishes, which you can throw together in five minutes or less.

Speedy Cereal

Be picky about what you pour into your bowl. Our guidelines: Opt for a cereal that has at least 4 grams of fiber, no more than 5 grams of sugar, and no more than 120 milligrams sodium per 100 calories. (Click here for a list of healthy cereal choices.) Top it off with fat-free or one-percent milk or calcium-enriched soy milk. To add more nutrients and flavor, top with some fresh fruit or a tablespoon or two of nuts. Or try this shortcut: Mix a few healthy cereals together, put them in a re-sealable plastic bag, and go.
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By Janis Jibrin, M.S., R.D., Best Life lead nutritionist

You may be somewhat of a portion pro after reading my last two blogs: I’ve shown you how many starchy foods you can eat, and how many indulgent foods (sweets, alcohol and more) you can get away with. If you can get a handle on these fattening foods, half your calorie battle is won.

Now it’s time to focus on the rest of your diet: protein, fat, dairy (or dairy alternatives), fruits and vegetables. Find out how many servings you get of each using the chart below.

Keep in mind, it’s not just about quantity—the quality of these foods can make or break your long-term health, so I’ll steer you toward the healthiest choices down below.
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