Our favorite love holiday is upon us again, ladies and gents! What I deem as the third-worst holiday for unhealthy food intake (right behind the yearly health debacles we call Thanksgiving and Christmas) usually results in what can easily be compared to a diabetic meltdown. I am one that typically doesn't like to receive chocolate on Valentine's day due to the fact that the box might be inhaled before the day is over, so better to not receive it. (Out of sight, out of mind, right?!) So how about trying a HEALTHY Valentine's Day this year for you and your honey! I'll give you some ideas of what the perfect healthy V-Day scenario would be for me. Now keep in mind, this is not "the norm", so most people would probably think I'm nuts (hey!...nuts are a healthy V-Day snack! Haha! I know...off track) but go with me here and make your own changes to suit your own fun and healthy spin on it if you wish.
1. GIVE YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER AN INVIGORATING MASSAGE!
Massages are obviously very good for your mind, body, and your spirit, so give your special someone a relaxing deep tissue, preferrably in the morning to start the day off in a relaxed, recharged kind of way. Plus massage breeds closeness and intimacy. Love is in the air already!
2. MAKE SOME CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES TOGETHER!
Chocolate covered strawberries are probably one of the healthier treats to have on this day (or any day, for that matter) especially when they are dipped in DARK chocolate! Ultra-yumminess! Find some big, plump and juicy ruby reds and turn them into heavenly chocolate jewels with a dip in the 75% or higher variety, meaning find some dark chocolate where the level of antioxidant-laden cacao bean in the chocolate is 75% or above. Your heart (and your stomach) will be happy!
3. CHOOSE A RED WINE AT DINNER!
When you're out later at dinner (like everyone else in America) there's nothing wrong with making some healthy tweaks to your choices...and you don't have to sacrifice taste. Instead of beer, soda, etc, choose a nice, smooth glass of red vino to start. Red wine contains resveratrol and other polyphenols that are really good for the heart and the arteries, keeping them clean and healthy.
4. TWEAK YOUR MEAL TOO!
There are ways you can still "have your cake and eat it too" so to speak. Try putting your dressing on the side with your salad. When you take a bite of salad, lightly dip your bite in a bit of dressing. You'll save HUNDREDS of calories by not putting it all on the salad! Also, say you get chicken fettucine alfredo as your main dish. Ask your server to have the kitchen go lighter on the alfredo sauce or better yet, put the sauce on the side as well. That way, you actually have control over what goes into your mouth and what doesn't! 'Cuz we all want to keep that slim waistline, right?!
Well I thought I was going to keep this short and sugary sweet (yes, pun intended) but I guess that's all I've got, for now. Keep it simple and fun! Have a happy and healthy Valentine's Day everyone!
Monday, February 13, 2012
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Making Exercise a Habit Again
After having reconstructive knee surgery last March, I have pushed through various obstacles at various times on the road to recovery. For the first 4-1/2 months it was grueling physical therapy, extending up to 6-8 hours a day. (My "full time job" at the time, yes?) Then came the task of teaching my leg how to walk correctly again, use the stairs again, etc. It's amazing how after a year of limping, your body adapts to that and thinks that is a correct walking stance! And now the biggest hurdle of all......trying to make exercise a habit again.
See, the problem with the timeline of returning from an injury is that, during that time of recovery, you have other things you need to put your efforts into, which takes your focus away from going to the gym. Inevitably, you end up "out of the habit." Before my surgery I couldn't understand why people found it so hard to get to the gym! I was going nearly every day without even a second thought! It was like breathing for me. Now I understand how, when life gets in the way, it is VERY easy to just put your health on the shelf and save it for another day.
I want to share some ideas with you that have helped me GREATLY improve on making exercise a habit again. They are small things at first, but lead to BIG impacts when you're ready to make a more solid commitment down the road....
1. SET SMALL GOALS AT FIRST
Some people like to dive headfirst into the deep end when they've never touched water. I have been one of those people in the past that tries something too soon, too fast, and ended up on the couch not being able to move the next day. However, with something as big as a surgery, I knew that approach would backfire. When I was first coming back into the "normalcy of life" stage, I started out with a goal of just walking in the doors of the gym and just doing SOMETHING. Also I set a goal to only allow one day's rest in between workout sessions. These things are important because they start you on the train to habit-town!
2. RE-TRAIN YOUR MIND TO PUT FITNESS BACK AT THE FOREFRONT
Remember when your name was synonymous with "gym rat" back in the day? If you don't, it means that your health has become lower on the life totem pole again. Re-training your mind and the way you think about health is important! Probably the MOST important thing, because this is the NUMBER ONE REASON why people fail...they fail in their mind before they even make an attempt to start! Fill your mind EVERY DAY with positive health affirmations like these:
"I choose to be healthy because my family and friends deserve the best ME that they can get!"
"I exercise and eat right to BE HEALTHY!"
"My body is strong and healthy, and capable of amazing feats!"
You get the idea.....EVERY successful endeavor someone has attempted has started IN THE MIND. They BELIEVED that they could do it!
Two very simple things to focus on that bring big results later! It's like anything else in life...focus on the little things and the big things will take care of themselves. Start with small exercise habits and the bigger feats in the gym will eventually feel so small again. Good luck!
See, the problem with the timeline of returning from an injury is that, during that time of recovery, you have other things you need to put your efforts into, which takes your focus away from going to the gym. Inevitably, you end up "out of the habit." Before my surgery I couldn't understand why people found it so hard to get to the gym! I was going nearly every day without even a second thought! It was like breathing for me. Now I understand how, when life gets in the way, it is VERY easy to just put your health on the shelf and save it for another day.
I want to share some ideas with you that have helped me GREATLY improve on making exercise a habit again. They are small things at first, but lead to BIG impacts when you're ready to make a more solid commitment down the road....
1. SET SMALL GOALS AT FIRST
Some people like to dive headfirst into the deep end when they've never touched water. I have been one of those people in the past that tries something too soon, too fast, and ended up on the couch not being able to move the next day. However, with something as big as a surgery, I knew that approach would backfire. When I was first coming back into the "normalcy of life" stage, I started out with a goal of just walking in the doors of the gym and just doing SOMETHING. Also I set a goal to only allow one day's rest in between workout sessions. These things are important because they start you on the train to habit-town!
2. RE-TRAIN YOUR MIND TO PUT FITNESS BACK AT THE FOREFRONT
Remember when your name was synonymous with "gym rat" back in the day? If you don't, it means that your health has become lower on the life totem pole again. Re-training your mind and the way you think about health is important! Probably the MOST important thing, because this is the NUMBER ONE REASON why people fail...they fail in their mind before they even make an attempt to start! Fill your mind EVERY DAY with positive health affirmations like these:
"I choose to be healthy because my family and friends deserve the best ME that they can get!"
"I exercise and eat right to BE HEALTHY!"
"My body is strong and healthy, and capable of amazing feats!"
You get the idea.....EVERY successful endeavor someone has attempted has started IN THE MIND. They BELIEVED that they could do it!
Two very simple things to focus on that bring big results later! It's like anything else in life...focus on the little things and the big things will take care of themselves. Start with small exercise habits and the bigger feats in the gym will eventually feel so small again. Good luck!
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