Exercise and Diet

Passionate About Healthy Lifestyle

healthyThere was a break in the rain yesterday, so I went out to prune my wisteria. There is no way it could be termed ideal weather for gardening, but I’d been stuck inside most of the day, and I thought this was a great to get some fresh air and a little exercise.

Passionate About Healthy Lifestyle

While I was working, I asked myself why I was passionate about diet and exercise. My immediate response was that I wanted to keep my weight down so that I felt good about myself, but it goes deeper than that. I realized I’m on this weight loss quest to improve my quality of life, not just right now, but as I age. I want… Read More

Desserts and Weight Loss

dessertsI attended a family Christmas party this past weekend, and while I didn’t eat to excess, I still felt like I did. I wasn’t bloated, I didn’t have that overly full sensation, and I’d even left food on my plate I didn’t like, but I didn’t stop when I was full.

Losing weight is hard work

I didn’t understand why until I read Diane Carbonell's, author of 150 Pounds Gone Forever recent blog about How to Keep Going When Your Diet gets Hard. She discussed the challenges she faced when losing weight, and a point she made about desserts stood out for me.

Desserts

She talked about attending a party where there were dozens of rich desserts. As she’d… Read More

Combating Holiday Stress

Combating Holiday Stress

Holiday stress has really taken a toll on me in the past—lack of sleep, poor diet and little exercise makesstressme feel lethargic, exhausted and bloated. As part of my weight loss quest, I have decided to make some changes to the status quo this year. My goals this holiday season are to:
  • Be kind to my body
  • Fill my body with healthy food
  • Make time every day to exercise
  • Make time ever day to unplug, sit and reflect
  • Get plenty of rest, including naps
  • Savor my food, whether it’s a rich dessert or a healthy meal
  • I will remind myself that it isn’t the food that’s special, but the people that make the holiday memorable (thank you Jansen Schmidt for that great… Read More

Post Thanksgiving Review

Post Thanksgiving review starts with this quote, “The best laid plans of mice and men…”exercise

Cooking and Exercise

I had intended to try Rebecca J. Clark’s, author of The Checklist Diet suggestions for cooking and exercise.
  • Calf raises—whenever you're stirring something on the stove.
  • Side leg raises—while stirring/mixing away from the stove.
  • Stand on one leg—while washing your hands (don't forget to switch legs).
  • Arm circles—while waiting for the pot to boil.
  • Deep breathing—while chopping vegetables (in through the nose, pause, out through the mouth)
I’d also planned to play plenty of music and dance while I was cooking, but all I managed to do was a couple of calf raises. And the outdoor exercise I’d planned, never got off the ground. Of all… Read More

Holiday Weight Maintenance

savor Walnut trees turning color Tis the season when pounds start magically appearing. Exercising and maintaining my weight can be a challenge this time of year. My routine gets out of whack with guests to entertain and an abundance of food to eat. Suddenly, I’m not exercising regularly, overeating and not savoring my food or the holiday.   savor Cattle grazing under Mt. Shasta

New Traditions

This year in my quest for a healthier lifestyle, I am instituting some new traditions. Instead of vegging in front of the television the entire time, I will take a walk. If there’s snow, instead of cuddling up by the fire, I… Read More

New Exercise Routine

New Exercise Routine

exerciseIt’s fall, and while I absolutely love this time of year, it messes with my exercise routine. This is mostly due to the change in weather. When it’s raining or the wind is howling I don’t ride my bicycle outside, so I have to adjust my routine and ride the indoor bicycle. And some of the mountain biking trails I love get shut down because of weather. It doesn’t mean I can’t ride in the winter, it just means I have go to more winter friendly trails.

Shaking It Up

This changeup isn’t bad, it just means I have to readjust. It takes time for me to get in the groove with these changes. Instead of assuming I will… Read More

Fall Meal Planning

meals Red moon I love fall. The crisp air in the morning, the cool afternoons to exercise without getting heat stroke, but most of all I love cooking again. It’s time for all those lovely fall meals. I’m ready for a change of pace, so this week is fall meals week.

Fall Meals

meals Chili and corn bread I kicked off my fall menu lineup with a pot of chili—the spicier the better for me. My recipe for chili is a mix of several recipes and I kind of toss everything into the pot.
  • ½ chopped onion
  • 3 cloves of garlic crushed
  • ½ chopped red or orange bell pepper
  • Turkey sausage 16 ounce package
  • 2… Read More