5-4-3-2-1 Fitness

Overwhelmed by the myriad of exercise and eating style options available to whip you into shape?

Missing the Cliffs Notes that got you through high school or college (maybe that was just me)?

Here's a brief, laser-focused list of important items you can use to build a well-designed path to better living (click on links for more info on each):

Five things to prioritize when choosing what to eat are (in this order): water, veggies, protein, fruit, everything else (including nuts, beans, seeds, grains, etc.).

Four interdependent areas of fitness are: strength, endurance, flexibility and core stability.

Three critical points of the quality of form with strength training are: posture, line of movement, and controlled tempo.

Two underappreciated areas of wellness are adequate sleep and stress reduction.

One practice – healthful living – is the single biggest factor affecting your physical quality of life.

Zero days is how long you should wait to start living a better life.

Dan Taylor, ACE, NASM-CPT, is a 20+year fitness trainer and writer, former faculty member for ACE and NASM and owner of Pleasanton-based Tri Valley Trainer. They provide personal training and small group fitness solutions at their studio and an innovative, medically endorsed web-based group healthy eating coaching program.