Welcome to the Get Fit Guys, quick and dirty tips to slim down and shape up. My name is Ben Greenfield, and I'm the Get Fit Guy. I was recently speaking to a friend who asked me if I had any rules that I follow in my life, particularly when it comes to health, diet, and exercise. Rules like eating slow carbs or going

gluten-free or doing X minutes of exercise per day. And while I have to admit that I've never really

fancied myself as much of a rule guy, since I feel that excessive dietary or physical activity

restrictions and rules can lead to eventual burnout or boredom, I was actually

able to come up with four rules that I follow nearly every day. These are rules that can really

give you a helping hand when it comes to burning fat fast, keeping your metabolism elevated and

maintaining lean muscle. Only sit to eat. With the exception of car drives and airplane rides,

I try to follow the simple rule of only sitting to eat during the day. This means that unless it's

time to scarf down a meal, I don't plant my butt on a chair. While working, talking on the phone,

visiting with family, exercising, or waiting at the DMV or the doctor's office,

I am allowed to be in any position except slumped over in a seat.

So alternates to sitting could include lunging, kneeling, standing, laying on my stomach, laying in my back, pacing,

standing with one foot up on a stool or a chair, etc.

You get the idea, and I'll put plenty of resources in the show notes for this episode over at

Quick and Dirty Tips.com.

You'll want to look for episode number 222.

For example, one really good article for that first rule is to read seven ways to burn calories by standing more. So rule number

one, only sit to eat. Rule number two, no hot water handle, whether for my morning pre-workout

shower or my post-workout shower, I don't allow myself to use the hot water handle. This means that

every shower I take is mildly cold to, teeth grittingly

cold, depending on how cold it happens to be outside and how cold the shower handle will go

in the shower I'm showering in. This not only maintains really high mental focus, but also

...