This Way to Balance

My Motivation

So, I've just committed to my first marathon.  Training starts this week.  That means running four times per week in this winter weather.  Luckily, the dreadmill is there if necessary, but I plan to do three out of the four days outside.  That being said, I know there will be days when I will need some serious motivation.  One of my favorite bits is this You Tube video of Joan Benoit Samuelson winning the marathon in the 1984 Olympics.   

I've watched it countless time, and never tire of it.  It always makes my heart pound and my stomach flip.  If you're in need of a shot of inspiration, no matter your sport or passion, this clip should help.

Food Changes

So, it’s January 2^nd.  How are those resolutions coming along?  I’ve talked with many people about their goals for the new year and it comes as no surprise that losing weight and inches is the most common theme.   The time between Thanksgiving and New Years is killer for maintaining a healthy eating plan and regular exercise.  Losing that weight and changing the shape of your body BEGINS with a healthy eating plan.  (don’t worry, we’ll get to exercise later!)

Some of you may be juice cleansing, or embarking on a specific, specialized diet program to get on track.  I am not opposed to these methods at all.  I could literally write a book on all the different plans and programs I’ve tried.  I know first-hand how making a dramatic change for a week or so can bring forth results.  Seeing a change (especially a quick one) can be very exciting and most likely, is something you can hold on to for a while.  That is, until you “fall off the wagon” and start allowing whatever forbidden food back into your mouth, and then the snowball effect sets in and you’re back to where you started. 

Again, I support you New Years (safe) cleansers and (healthy) dieters.  Keep it up and feel free to share your success here!  However, I would encourage you to also try to make a food change that becomes a lifestyle change.  Here are twelve suggestions in no particular order. 

1.    Switch regular, white pasta for 100% whole wheat.  (same thing for rice and bread)

2.    Just say “no” to soda!   Yes, even diet!

3.    WATER!  Carry it with you wherever you go.  Drink it throughout the day.

4.    Eat a piece of fruit with breakfast every morning.

5.    Um . . . maybe I should have started with “eat breakfast every morning”!

6.    Try a new, healthy recipe once a week.

7.    Limit pre-packaged foods. 

8.    Switch bottled dressing for vinegar.  Rice, balsamic and red wine all taste great and have little to no calories!

9.    Eat in color.  Mixed greens, sugar snap peas, red peppers, sweet potato, summer squash, etc.  Make your plate pretty!

10.   Bake breads, muffins and scones with whole wheat pastry flour.

11.   Eat a meal containing beans or legumes instead of animal protein.

12.   Go ahead and eat dessert . . . once a week.

So, here’s a challenge for you (I know you LOVE challenges!): take one of the above-mentioned suggestions and stick to it for the month of January.  Let me know which one you select and how you fare.  Comment on this post so everyone can see, or feel free to e-mail me privately.  Good luck and be well!

 

Reset and Recharge!

It’s that time of year.  New beginnings; a fresh page; a clean slate.  So many of you have health and fitness goals and resolutions for the new year.  Let’s reach those goals together!  I will be posting a fresh, new workout at the beginning of each month, along with health tips, healthy recipes and support.  My goal is to help you make health and fitness a lifestyle, not something you jump into each January and forget about a few weeks later.

Here’s what you need to do:

1.     Write down specific goals.  Both short and long-term.  Small and lofty.

 

2.    If you want to lose weight/inches, take a photo of yourself, weigh yourself and take measurements.  Keep this information in a drawer or in a private file on your computer, and forget about it for now.

 

3.    Subscribe to my blog feed, so you are instantly updated on all new postings to help keep you motivated!

So, that’s it for now.  That’s not so bad, right?  Stay tuned for a lot more to come and please e-mail me privately with any specific questions you may have. 

Happy New Year!