Tips: How to stay healthy and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Sport is health.
Get your metabolism going! Do sports regularly (at least once or twice a week) and do not miss any opportunity to exercise and move your body (climb stairs, walk on foot or ride the bicycle).

Ballast substances giving a feeling of fullness.
Cheat hunger: ballast substances contained in whole grains, vegetables and fruit quickly create a feeling of fullness that lasts.

Drink, drink, drink!
Only if you drink enough fluids (at least 1.5 liters per day - coffee does not count!), you can help your body eliminate metabolic waste.

Eat vegetables!
Vegetables, by increased volume contributes to filling the distended stomach and giving a feeling of fullness, while providing you with necessary vitamins and minerals. The consumption of "green" food, with their entire fiber content, allows you to eat sufficient amounts of food without gaining weight.

Motivation
We all have ideals, dreams, desires, but you have to realize that all this depends on your health. It's easy to reach your goals and maintain your health by keeping these things in check: lots of exercise and a balanced nutrition. It all up to you to succeed.

Cut back on sweets!
Caloric needs of a normal weighted adult woman with an average daily activity level is about 1800 kcal, while for men it's around 2200-2400 kcal/day. Limit your intake of sweets. Carbohydrates should represent 50% of daily caloric needs. Do not drink sweetened sodas. Drinking water would be the best solution: it does not contain any calories, it requires no effort of digestion and it's an ideal environment for life processes.

You should eat more of these products:
- cereals, grains, cooked rice and pasta dishes;
- fresh greens and vegetables (potatoes, peas, beans etc);
- fresh fruit whenever you can.

Balance and moderation!
Always eat in the morning. The interval between meals can be 5-6 hours, and dinner to be as "light" as possible and at least 3 hours before bedtime. Sit at the table, do not eat "on the run", chew your food well before swallowing, take your time to enjoy and appreciate the taste of the food.

More exercise!
Daily walks outdoors, taking a deep breaths, making sure we get as much oxygen into the body as possible. Adopt a regular, preferably daily, physical activity. To generate positive health effects, physical activity should be performed frequently (at least 3 times per week), at least 30 minutes/session.

Losing weight. Understanding metabolism

The metabolism is the process (rate) by which the calories in your body turn food into energy. Do not misunderstand that the metabolism is largely dependent on the weight you have. Weight depends primarily on the balance between calories consumed and calories burned. It can be defined as an engine that burns calories and a scale that regulate caloric needs.

Metabolism involves three essential elements:

1. Basic Needs
These are known as basal metabolic rate and includes calories needed to sustain vital body functions. In a person, forming a basic metabolic rate 66-75% of total daily calories needed. In other words, the BMR is quantity of minimum energy (expressed in calories) that your body needs to stay alive in conditions of bed rest.

2. Digestion and absorption of food
Approximately 10% of total daily calories are digested and absorbed by the body. Somewhere may sound ironic, but it takes calories to burn calories.

3. Physical activity
The amount of calories burned depends on how much exercise you do every day.

Best and worst used cars

Best and worst used cars

The Consumers Union that testes every year cars sold in the USA and rates them according to reliability scores issued the 2011 Consumer Report and teaches us which are the most reliable models and those to avoid

Savvy car buyers know that the best way to get the most vehicle for their money is to buy a used car. With the average new car losing 47 percent of its value in the first three years, buying used is an affordable way to get the safety and comfort features you want at a far better price.

The Best of the best list guides you to the 2001 to 2010 models that scored well in our road tests when new and have been consistently reliable over time. Each has achieved multiple years of above-average used-car verdicts (available to subscribers), indicating that owners have had relatively few problems.

Models built by Toyota and Honda dominate the list once again, and many of the best used vehicles are from Asian manufacturers. But high-quality vehicles are available from domestic and European automakers as well.

The Worst of the worst list shows models that have had multiple years of below-average reliability in our survey. It is dominated by vehicles from domestic and European manufacturers, primarily General Motors, which had 16 of the 29 models listed.

Our reliability data are derived from our Annual Auto Survey, which generated responses from subscribers on 1.3 million vehicles. We also list reliable cars by price range (available to subscribers), so that you can easily see what's available for your budget.

Best of the best

Here we highlight the most reliable and well-rounded vehicle in each category. We also list other contenders in order of their overall reliability scores for model years 2001 to 2010. Each model has at least three years of reliability data.

Small cars - Honda Fit

The Fit has been an economical, reliable, and versatile hatchback ever since it went on sale in the U.S. in 2007. It packs a huge amount of usable space into a small package and has standard antilock braking and curtain air bags. But before 2011 electronic stability control (ESC) was available only on models with the optional navigation system.

Other good choices:

Toyota Echo, Honda Civic, Scion xB, Pontiac Vibe, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Matrix, Mazda3,

Subaru Impreza (non-turbo), Honda Civic Hybrid, Volkswagen Rabbit, Suzuki SX4 and Mazda Protegé

Family cars - 2004 Toyota Prius

The Prius has had outstanding reliability and has delivered standout fuel economy. But the redesigned 2010 model has only average reliability. Look for one with optional ESC, starting with 2004 models.

Other good choices: Ford Fusion (FWD), Mercury Milan (FWD), Toyota Camry Hybrid, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima Hybrid, Mazda6 sedan (4-cyl.) and Nissan Altima

Upscale cars - Lexus ES

The ES has long been a strong contender in this category. It has had outstanding reliability over the past 10 model years and is quiet and comfortable. ESC became standard with the redesigned 2007 model, which included a bigger engine and a six-speed automatic transmission.

Other good choices: 

Lexus IS sedan, Toyota Avalon, Acura TL, Acura TSX, Infiniti G35, 37

Infiniti I30, I35, Volvo S60 (FWD), Lincoln MKZ, Zephyr (FWD)

Luxury cars - 2005 Acura RL

While the RL isn't the sportiest car, it has had excellent reliability wrapped in a comfortable and refined package. The 2005 redesign brought standard all-wheel drive but complicated controls. The Infiniti M35 is sportier and the much-larger Lexus LS is more luxurious.

Other good choices: Lexus LS, Lexus GS (RWD), Infiniti M35, Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan (V6, RWD).

Sports & sporty cars - 2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata

The Miata is affordable and fun to drive. Look for models after 2006, when ABS became standard. The Lexus SC is a top-down cruiser with the added comfort of a folding hard-top roof. For a sportier alternative, consider the Acura RSX coupe and the Honda S2000 roadster.

Other good choices: Lexus SC Acura RSX, Honda S2000, Toyota Camry Solara, Honda Civic Si, Ford Mustang, BMW Z3, Z4, Toyota Celica, Porsche Boxster, Scion tC, Volvo C70 and

Mercedes-Benz SLK.

Small SUVs - Honda CR-V

The CR-V is comfortable and drives like a car, with a fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine. In 2005 ESC and curtain air bags were made standard, and the 2007 redesign brought more power and improved fuel efficiency. The Acura RDX is quick and agile but has a stiff ride. The Toyota RAV4 and Mitsubishi Outlander offer third-row seats.

Other good choices: Acura RDX, Mitsubishi Outlander, Toyota RAV4, Kia Sportage ('05-09), Hyundai Tucson (V6), Subaru Forester, Infiniti EX and Nissan Rogue.

Midsized & large SUVs - Toyota Highlander

The Highlander is quiet and refined, with a comfortable ride. It delivers good fuel economy, especially the Hybrid model. The Land Cruiser combines luxury with serious off-road ability.

Other good choices: Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota 4Runner (V6), Honda Pilot, Toyota, Highlander Hybrid, Lexus RX, Lexus RX Hybrid, Acura MDX, Infiniti FX35, Toyota, Sequoia, Mazda CX-9, Lexus GX and Subaru B9 Tribeca.

Minivans - 2008 Toyota Sienna

A Lexus-like ride and comfort are hallmarks of the Sienna. The well-mannered suspension and refined V6 engine, along with very good reliability, are among its strong suits. Look for post-2004 models, which are roomier and more powerful. AWD is optional, but the run-flat tires may wear somewhat quickly. The Honda Odyssey has better handling, but its reliability has not been as good.

Pickup trucks - 2007 Honda Ridgeline

The Ridgeline combines car-like handling with the utility of a pickup truck. It is easy to get in and out of the cabin, the tailgate can open horizontally or drop down, and the composite bed has a lockable, all-weather trunk. The Toyota Tundra offers greater towing and cargo-hauling capacities.

Other good choices: Toyota Tundra (V8, 4WD), Toyota Tacoma (V6, 4WD '05-10).

Worst of the worst (listed alphabetically)

Audi A6 (2.7T, 3.0T), BMW 535i (AWD) and X5, Cadillac SRX (AWD), Chevrolet Astro, Aveo, Blazer, Colorado (4WD), Impala (V8), S-10 Pickup (4WD) and Uplander, Chrysler PT, Cruiser (turbo), Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan and Grand Caravan, GMC Acadia (AWD), Canyon (4WD), S-15 Sonoma (4WD) and Safari, Hummer H3, Jaguar S-Type, XF, Kia Sedona, Mercedes-Benz R-Class, Mini Cooper Convertible, Pontiac G6 Coupe & Convertible, Saturn Outlook (FWD), Saturn Relay, Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible and Volkswagen Passat (V6, FWD).