[Vettezuki]

Being fit improves everything in your life. It reduces stress big time and even helps brain function (makes you sharper).

I'm a bit sensitive to high starch/simple carbs. They make my energy swing all over and I can put on fat quick.

For me a sweet potato is a good alternate to white potatos. Their calorie profile is about the same, but they are more nutrient rich (lots anti-oxidants) and have a lower glycemic index (about which there is some controversy) but I can say they don't have anywhere near the same effect as a baked potato, which I don't eat at all anymore.

Other things I might add.

REST
If you're really trying to get in shape you must rest properly. If you don't the results won't be as good and you run the increased risk of injury. On the upside, excercise will dramatically improve your ability to sleep. I ONLY sleep well when I'm genuinely physically tired. Otherwise its a nightmare for me to get to sleep.

WALKING
It's not super intense, but it is a way to burn up some calories and is a fanastic stress reducer. Going for a nice walk with your loved one(s) or listening to podcass/audio books is about as cheap healthy as it gets. It's also a great way to start if you are in not so great shape to begin with. You don't want to be doing interval sprints if you're 200 pounds over weight. Start with daily walks.

NUTRIENT TIMING
This is more of a competitive thing, but *when* you eat what relative to scheduled high outputs of energy is a huge, I mean huge deal. When I did a triathlon, it was the difference between motoring through and being in agony. When your body runs out of energy to easily burn things can get fugly and miserable. It never ceases to amaze me how people fail to fuel themselves, then take off.

FAT vs CARBS
This is on the cutting edge of research and practice, but "paleo" diet based athletes are starting to be studied. These would be diets based on pre-agrarian anecestry (they way we lived for by far the majority of our genetic history). Basically, we're very well adapted for using animal fats and protein, but only moderate carbs from whole food sources (some fruits and veggies) AND NOT the basis of our modern staple foods, *especially* wheat, and super duper specifically refined wheat and sugar products which have literally only been around for about 100 years.