BAKED WHITE FISH

2 teaspoons peanut oil    
1 small bunch green onions, sliced thin
1 teaspoon paprika
2 small kiwis, cleaned and sliced thin
2-4 white fish, cleaned and scaled, 2 pounds each
salt & pepper to taste   
3 tablespoons white wine    
3 tablespoons CHAMPAGNE DRESSING (or substitute fish or chicken stock)  
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 lemon, sliced

• This will work with other whole lean fish and cuts or 'roasts' of halibut or pink salmon.
• Adjust the cooking time according to the thickness and density of the fish.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Spray baking dish well with PURE.
• Rinse the fish well inside and out, pat dry, season lightly with salt, pepper and paprika and lay side by side in a shallow baking dish.

• Layer lemon slices loosely over fish and season again.
• Pour  the stock, dressing and ending with the butter over each filet.

• Make a loose tent of foil over the tail of the fish and place in the oven.
• Bake, rotating the pan once halfway through the cooking time, until a skewer easily enters the thickest part of the fish, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary.

More about → BAKED WHITE FISH

Mid Week Blue Plate Special/Happy Leap Day

Photo taken at Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Untitled "Blue Plates".



To finish off Fitness February with a Flair, please check out how the color blue suppresses appetite at Color Matters.

Thank you so much, and Happy Leap Day, Year too!

More about → Mid Week Blue Plate Special/Happy Leap Day

CINNAMON ROLL CAKE

I can't remember where I first saw this recipe, but it is soooooo good and needs to be passed around again and again!  I'm posting this just for MarthaM - ROFL

CAKE
3 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 cups milk
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup butter, melted

• Mix everything together except for the butter. 
• Slowly stir in the melted butter and pour into a greased 9x13 pan.

TOPPING
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon cinnamon

• Mix all the ingredients together until well combined. 
• Drop evenly over the batter and swirl with a knife. 
• Bake at 350 for 28-32 minutes.

GLAZE
1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
4-5 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

• Mix all the ingredients together until well combined. 
•  Pour over top of warm cake.

More about → CINNAMON ROLL CAKE

PORTION CONTROL OR DEPRIVATION?

MarthaM and I are using a new tool, My Fitness Pal to aid in our weight loss, workouts and food monitoring.

Martha and I talked recently about posting some healthy recipes.  But, before we do that I thought I'd mention a few points that help tremendously, but don't make you feel like you're depriving yourself.

 image credit

• HYDRATION - I cannot stress how important this is.  Drinking enough water (at least 8 glasses a day) is key to weight loss and toning muscles.  The body just can't do without it.  And no soda, tea, beer, etc... DO NOT count towards that goal.  Keeping your body hydrated goes a long way making it easier for your body to give up some extra weight and tone your muscles too.
• PORTIONS - In today's world everywhere you go, they are offering bigger and bigger portions!!  By using My Fitness Pal you can see how little you really need to keep your body going and more importantly satisfied.  Overeating is really one of most people's biggest problem.
• EXERCISE - without exercise, the body just keep storing all that food and fat for a rainy day.  YOU have to train your body to use the calories for energy.  It's all about what YOU want and do.
• CHOICES - We all snack.  Anyone who says they don't is probably lying or just unaware.  They key is to make healthier choices.  Don't reach for that cookie, reach for the apple instead.  Thinking about some ice cream?  Open the other door and pull out a yogurt or even a string cheese.  There are so many other things we can satisfy our hunger with besides cookies, crackers, chips, cakes, etc...  I often buy grape tomatoes and pop a few of those or a basket of blueberries...

More about → PORTION CONTROL OR DEPRIVATION?

Motivation Monday - Making Fitness Fun

There are lots of different ways to make fitness fun. If you have children or grandchildren go out and play! Throw the ball around, have races, ride bikes together, shoot some hoops, play Frisbee. If you like a sport of any kind, play it often. If you love nature, go on long walks. Hop, skip, jump, run! Do you have a pet? They love to run and play too you know!

(photo credit)

This week's Challenge is all about fun and games. Who doesn't like fun and games? Go ahead raise your hand. Just what I thought, we all like fun and games! :)

I came up with a few fun little things we can do when we are at home that will contribute to our quest for fitness. My boys think it's silly but are willing to go along with it for at least one week. Here's what we have so far...

1. Reach for the ceiling and hold it for 5 seconds every time we pass through a doorway.

2. Consider our desk chairs and the couch a hot seat - every time we are going to sit down we have to stand back up when our butt just barely grazes the chair (squats) 5 times.

3. Do 10 wall push ups before opening the fridge or freezer.  

4. Do tooth brushing calf raises - up on your toes, hold for 5 seconds and then back down, do these 25 times while brushing teeth.

5. Do 25 jumping jacks before using any electrical appliance in the kitchen.

These are just fun little ways to sneak in a little extra. Our rule here this week is anyone caught doing any of the things mentioned without the attached exercise has to do double!

Can you think of more? Have fun with this challenge, and let the games begin!

More about → Motivation Monday - Making Fitness Fun

R & R for Sunday, February 26th, 2012

Sleep is that golden chain that ties health and our bodies together. 

Thomas Dekker

R and R tip # 90:  Regroup and Restore

Rest, relax and sleep for a healthier life style.

Sleep, like food and water, is necessary for everybody because it is a time when the body is at rest and can heal. Unfortunately, in today’s frantic society sleep tends to be put on the back burner

When people mention that they want to improve their lifestyle they usually refer to two things, eating properly along with an increase in physical activities.

Though diet and exercise are critical components of healthy lifestyles, it’s also important to remember that sleep is inherently linked with how we eat and how much, how we exercise and whether or not we lose weight, and how we function on a daily basis. Getting the proper amount of sleep each night is necessary to face the world with your best foot forward.

Think about the last time that you didn't get enough sleep and how the next day played out? Perhaps your memory was a little bit off, or maybe you saw yourself getting irritated by small nuances that had occurred. 

Sleep makes you feel better, but its importance goes way beyond just boosting your mood or banishing under-eye circles.  Sleep will improve your memory, cause you to live longer, curb inflammation, spur creativity, sharpen your attention span, and reduce levels of stress.  All very good reasons to get a good nights rest.

Take time for yourself - Outside of your exercise regime and taking better care of yourself through a healthy diet try getting more sleep, This will help relieve stress and take care of your emotional well-being.  Even small changes to diet, exercise and sleep habits can return big benefits to your health and  how you feel when you wake up each morning to face the world.

Love, Live, Laugh and Be Happy!

ma

More about → R & R for Sunday, February 26th, 2012

IT'S TIME TO GIT!

The idea of a GIT Challenge is to play catch up with whatever we need to get done. Just leave a comment saying you'll play along, minimize this post so you can easily come back to it throughout the day, stop what you are doing (meaning get off the computer and stop procrastinating!), take an hour right now to catch up on things you need to do and work as fast as you can!

Come back every hour or two and leave a comment with your progress. Check out what other participants have accomplished - all in the comment section, no blog hopping necessary. After updating, get back to work for another hour or so until you're done for the day. We always accomplish so much during these challenges!

Jump in anytime, there's no special time to start or finish. It's fun working together - join us!

More about → IT'S TIME TO GIT!

STARTING FRESH

Most of you know that this past couple of years have been particularly hard for me with everything from care taking of family members with debilitating diseases, major moves and being diagnosed with cancer myself.

One of the things I like to do to feel better is have some ME time.  Now while everyone deserves some ME time, not everyone can afford to do the SPA experience regularly.  So, I thought I'd share some of my homemade recipes with you.

CUTICLE CREAM
2 tablespoons petroleum jelly
1/2 teaspoon sunflower oil
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

• Whip until creamy.
• Massage cream into your cuticles and nail beds.
• It will keep 2 weeks.

FACE WASH
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons mild liquid soap

• Mix together in a bottle with a spout.  (I use an old honey bear bottle)
• Shake before using so mixture is well blended

BODY SCRUB
1/2 cup ground coffee
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup sunflower oil

• Whip together until well blended.
• Place in an air-tight jar.
• Massage over body.
• Rinse and pat dry.
• Keeps for a month.

GREEN TEA MASK
1 tablespoon green tea powder
3 drops lemon juice
1/2 cup warm water

• Whip all together to form a paste.
• Smooth over your face and relax 10-15 minutes.
• Rinse and dry.

More about → STARTING FRESH

Self Respect

More about → Self Respect

Off to Zumba tonight, a smile for Humpday

Happy Wednesday and I am sure I bear a stronger resemblance to Jim Carrey in the above picture, than the other photo during my Zumba Class.
I am stepping up my workout routine, how are things going for you? What small changes have you been working on?
Thank you so much, Martha

More about → Off to Zumba tonight, a smile for Humpday

No Limits

More about → No Limits

Motivation Monday - Final Pre-Training Week

So here we are at the final pre-training week. I know I'm ready to kick things up a notch, how about you? How are you coming along with the 10 pre-training steps?

What I've been doing so far has definitely been working for me. I simply started being more mindful about what I'm eating, concentrating on getting in the healthy stuff and being more motivated about increasing my activity levels. I don't even feel like I've been doing all that much, but just adding in a brisk walk, a bike ride, or even just walking the dog a little further than usual each day can make a big difference.

My first weigh-in on Friday... 4 pounds lost!

I've been logging every bite I eat, my exercise, and water consumption religiously at Myfitnesspal. com. It takes me about 5 minutes at the end of the day. They also have convenient free phone apps making it easier to add as you go during the day. I downloaded the app, but generally just don't have time to add during my workdays, but do add as I go on weekends and in the evenings.

My Fitness Pal has really been eye opening for me. If you haven't done it yet in the pre-training steps I hope you will all go over and open your free account now. If you do, I'd love it if you'd add me as a friend. If you prefer to keep it private I think it will still be very beneficial just to see what your daily totals are, and maybe soak up some motivation from others there. Even if you aren't ready to make any changes yet, just try it this week and let me know what you think.

This is also the week to clip on your pedometer and log your daily steps. Again, this doesn't mean you have to have a specific goal - YET, just wear it all day and log how many steps you get in. It would be great if you would share here daily in the comment section of this post.

Anyone in?

Here's to a Motivated Monday. Together we can do it! :)

More about → Motivation Monday - Final Pre-Training Week

R & R for Sunday, February 19th, 2012

Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer

William S. Burroughs

R AND R TIP #89: MIND OVER MATTER

There is no denying that we carry much anxiety with us today. Anxiety can be called a burden, a worry, a problem or stress. It can be a difficult place to be and too much of it can drain us of energy and motivation. It also crosses every age group and the reasons why we are anxious are endless.  

Everything you do in life is based on your mind set.  It is important to make sure your thinking is straight, and sometimes that’s hard to do with all the influences you have on a daily basis  Stress comes from high demand and low control  When you don't have a say is something it becomes stress and stress causes burnout.  I've been burnt out a few times in my life and recovery is a slow process.

  The ideal is to find balance so your burdens don't cause you to be stressed out in the first place.  I've found that sometimes the best way to find the answers to my problems is to step away from them for awhile.  Time spent in nature, at play, or focused on simple tasks can allow the answer to quietly but clearly slip into my mind.

Learn to love your life and how you live it, or you’ll never have the peace and satisfaction that is truly yours.    Be true to your goals, desires, thoughts, and passions and you will conquer your mind to be over life’s matter.

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter

and those that matter don't mind.

Dr. Seuss

Love, Live, Laugh and Be Happy!

ma

More about → R & R for Sunday, February 19th, 2012

IT'S TIME TO GIT!

The idea of a GIT Challenge is to play catch up with whatever we need to get done. Just leave a comment saying you'll play along, minimize this post so you can easily come back to it throughout the day, stop what you are doing (meaning get off the computer and stop procrastinating!), take an hour right now to catch up on things you need to do and work as fast as you can!

Come back every hour or two and leave a comment with your progress. Check out what other participants have accomplished - all in the comment section, no blog hopping necessary. After updating, get back to work for another hour or so until you're done for the day. We always accomplish so much during these challenges!

Jump in anytime, there's no special time to start or finish. It's fun working together - join us!

More about → IT'S TIME TO GIT!

GREEN CHILE TUNA CASSEROLE

It's dark and stormy here, so a perfect time for this comfort food recipe.

GREEN CHILE TUNA CASSEROLE
2-5 ounce cans tuna, REALLY well drained
2 cups cooked egg noodles
1 bunch green onions, sliced
1 can chopped green chiles, well drained
1 can Campbell's cheddar cheese soup
1 cup whole milk
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

• Preheat oven to 375˚.
• Blend together milk and soup until well blended.
• Fold tuna, onions, green chiles, garlic, salt and pepper into soup mixture.
• Fold in cheese.
• Gently fold in egg noodles.
• Pour into a generously greased baking dish.
• Top with potato chips.
• Bake for 30 minutes.

More about → GREEN CHILE TUNA CASSEROLE

Boost Your Health- Random Acts of Kindness Challenge

Charley & Abigail sunbathing, best buddies.

Happy Valentine's Day, and I hope today finds you with a light and happy heart, spirit too.

Our focus this month is Health and Fitness, and one way you can improve your immune system, blood pressure, and stress levels, is to perform a Random Act of Kindness. So, in addition to taking yourself for a walk, doing your stretching exercises, and making better diet choices, I challenge you to do something nice for someone else. Whether it's holding open a door for a stranger*, picking up trash, or bringing a snack to a hard working costume designer, the rewards are many. No good deed is forgotten, and hopefully, does remain unpunished.**

*With the certain exception of an elderly gentleman for whom I held open the door at our local shopping mall. He barked at me, literally barked at me, "Why did you do that for?" "Trying to be nice." I replied.

And I will keep trying in ways, big and small, cranky old men aside.

** "No good deed goes unpunished." What did Mother Teresa say? Do good anyway.
(See, not only Mother Teresa and Superman can do "good", we can too.)

Thank you so much, and I look forward to learning of your plans and reactions to this Challenge to share kindness, and a smile too.

More about → Boost Your Health- Random Acts of Kindness Challenge

Motivation Monday - Health and Fitness Challenge

Last week I posted a series of 10 things I was going to do to get ready to go all out in health and fitness area and I suggested you to do the same. This week I have copied each step and added my own answers below each step. It's not to late to join in the fun! 

1. Have a regular check up if you haven't done so recently. Not only to get the ok from your doc to start a fitness program, but also to find out what your cholesterol levels are, blood pressure, weight, and to address any other problems you are having that might get in the way of starting a new program.

My cholesterol was is normal range. I asked but can't remember the numbers. I need to call and have them send me a copy so I can compare it "after."  My blood pressure was 120 over 80 which is normal range but a little higher than my usual. Weight 130, 12 pounds higher than my visit last year, but still in normal range. I'm all clear to work my butt off!

2. Go to Homefuse.net to calculate your body mass index (BMI), your waist-to-height ratio, your body fat levels, and your basal metabolic rate. I like the calculator at Homefuse because it takes your waist measurement and age into consideration for a much more accurate calculation.

I went to the website to do the calculations. My BMI or Body-Mass Index is 21.7 which is great. My Waist-to-Height Ratio is in the increased risk range at 49.2 (guess we all know now that I carry all my weight right in the middle). My Body Fat came in at 34.9 yikes! My Basal Metabolic Rate is 1296.

3. Take a before photo if you really want to give yourself some serious motivation. It will give you a major wake up call, I promise!

Photo taken, definitely not sharing!!

4. Get a pedometer if you don't already have one, very inexpensive ones can be purchased at any drug store. Wear it a few days over the next week or two to gauge your average steps per day. A steps per day challenge using a pedometer is in the near future, be ready!

Have mine and ready when the challenge begins :)

5. Be sure to get yourself a decent pair of sneakers if you don't already have some. They don't have to be expensive, just not worn out and with good support.

I didn't make it out shopping last week but it's on the list for this week. My sneakers definitely need to be replaced, they are super worn.

6. Take a pledge to be more mindful of what you eat - strive for good healthy meals, eating smaller portions more often in place of big meals, focus on getting in the good stuff such as the recommended daily intake of veggies especially, and reducing the amounts of processed foods.

I took the pledge and have done very well with eating this past week. I almost forgot how good health food tastes. I've really been loving eating healthier foods again!

7. Start increasing activity levels. I won't give any specific challenges for this yet, but you know they will be coming soon!

I've started walking again. I've mapped out a one mile walk to take with the dog, a two mile and a five mile to walk focused and briskly without the dog, also started biking again, usually 20 minutes at a moderate pace at a shot.

8. Go to My Fitness Pal to create a free account. At My Fitness Pal we can set goals and track our daily foods and exercise. It really seems to be a great site with tons of support and motivation.

This is a great tracking website! I'm not big on counting calories but at this site you track foods, exercise, and water consumption. At the end of the day when you hit save for the day it tells what you would weigh 5 weeks from that day if you ate and exercised the same everyday as you did for that day. It's pretty neat and although I can't see myself using it all the time I think it could be a really great tool. Try it! It also has a friends option there. Let me know if you sign up so we can be fitness friends :)

9. Take some time to seriously think about your own person health and fitness goals - be realistic.

My goals are to lose 12-14 pounds and get my muscle tone back. I plan to accomplish this in 8-10 weeks. I know it's realistic because I've done it many times. It's a lot of hard work, but I'm a big leaper, not a baby stepper.

10. Go one step further and decided why you want to focus on health and fitness - is it so you can fit into your skinny clothes, to set a good example for your family, to live a longer more healthy lifestyle?

Yep, those are all my reasons - along with desperately just wanting to feel comfortable in my own skin again, even if that's the only thing I'm wearing ;)

So there you have it. If you have started (or finished) working your way through the list during our pre-training time leave your answers in the comment section or leave a link if you've posted about it on your own blog.

Taking the first step is the hardest part. Now that's I've taken those steps I'm really excited about setting up my plan to go all out!

I will keep thinking, planning, and getting into my routines this week. I'll be back next Monday with my plan followed by weekly challenges every Monday. Will you be ready?

Together we can do it!

More about → Motivation Monday - Health and Fitness Challenge

R & R for Sunday, February 12th, 2012

R and R Tip # 88:  Love has a lot to do with it

A child asks her father a question about her homework.  But he is at the computer, working on a project for work.  And the television is on, shouting the world news.  And two other children are busy with a noisy fight.  Suddenly Dad realizes he can't concentrate! He has to pause. He has to tune out the other messages. And he has to focus his attention on the one who came to him for help. Sound familiar?

It is sometimes easy to forget the bigger picture. Our days are full of things to do, essential jobs to get done, deal with the unexpected and often trying to get several things done at the same time. It's not easy at times, it can often be tiring and sometimes what we do is not always appreciated. But when we think of the bigger picture there is often a good enough reason to keep us motivated. Love is often the reason why. When there is no love, it is simply a cold duty and just done simply for the sake of doing it

 All the little things we do are all intertwined and connected in some way. Because I became a mom of seven children there have been a lot of things I wouldn't have otherwise had to experienced in my life.  And because I knew the importance of my family, I learned early on that if I wasn't taking care of myself by getting enough rest, I surely wasn't going to be much good to them.

When we take the time to re-connect with ourselves, replace our fears with trust, and learn to let go of the things we cannot control, this is taking care.

When we listen to our intuition, embrace all of our imperfections, and stay authentic to who we are, this is taking care.

When we ground ourselves in the present, and make mental space to find clarity, this is taking care.

When we discover our interior barriers and find courage to dissolve them, this is taking care.

When we learn to be gentle with ourselves, this is truly taking care.

Pressures of work and family life can weigh on us and we need to be the best we can be.  Getting that rest so that we can stay focused on the important things in life is more important than I can ever begin to explain.

Let LOVE motivate you.  Love your life and love your work.  Love your family and friends most of all.  In the end they are truly a motivation in LOVE all by themselves.

Happy Valentines Day to you all!

Love, Live, Laugh and Be Happy!

ma

More about → R & R for Sunday, February 12th, 2012

IT'S GITTING TIME

The idea of a GIT Challenge is to play catch up with whatever we need to get done. Just leave a comment saying you'll play along, minimize this post so you can easily come back to it throughout the day, stop what you are doing (meaning get off the computer and stop procrastinating!), take an hour right now to catch up on things you need to do and work as fast as you can!

Come back every hour or two and leave a comment with your progress. Check out what other participants have accomplished - all in the comment section, no blog hopping necessary. After updating, get back to work for another hour or so until you're done for the day. We always accomplish so much during these challenges!

Jump in anytime, there's no special time to start or finish. It's fun working together - join us!

More about → IT'S GITTING TIME

Thursdays With Linda

 

I’m so ready for the Health and Fitness Challenge! Are you in….

I took care of all my doctor appointments in the month of January… actually I have been to the doctor every week for the last six weeks… including an appointment this week and next week… taking care of annual appointments and the pinched nerve/bone spur in my neck plus the hacking cough that has finally gone away after six weeks…

This is me on my 45th birthday in June of 2009…

Here I am in October 2010, 33 pounds lighter…

Here I am this past Christmas 2011, 14 pounds heavier…

I know some say not to weigh yourself more than once a week but I find it is very helpful to keep on track and be a reminder of the goal at hand when I get on the scale everyday…

I so need to get back to portion controls… I know that was the key factor in my losing the weight… Being in the right set of mind is the only way to lose weight… You can’t just say you are going to do it… I find I at first have to fight with myself as I tend to rebel which is what I have been doing by eating anything and everything when I KNOW what the correct way to eat is…. I read recently that when you are choosing food to make a fist and that action will cause you not to be able to pick the food… I remember when I was losing the weight I would sit back from the table after eating and cross my arms to resist filling my plate again… which is the same as making a fist, so I was doing the correct action without even realizing it… although when I was writing this entry I ate popcorn and drank a root beer, so I’m still working on my mindset… which is also hard when under a lot of stress from work, family, chores, bills, etc; which seems to be going around a lot this past year for everyone… Take time to walk away and do something just for you to get away from the stress factor and the kitchen…

Hubby and I have been walking every day for the past couple of weeks and I still wear my pedometer every day getting in from 6000 to 14000 steps…

I miss the skinny feeling I had before… and the energy and good feeling I had… I don’t like having succeeded in losing 33lbs, just to gain almost half of it back… I want to get back to the size 10 pants I had bought when I lost the weight… I want to do it for me…

Happy February…

 

More about → Thursdays With Linda

Functional Fitness and Flexibility

Welcome to Wednesday at The Motivation Station, and this month, February, is focused on improving our Health and Fitness.

A huge part of being healthy and fit, no matter what your age, is Flexibility. For activities of daily living, it doesn't matter if you can bench press three times your body weight, if you don't have the ability to reach down and tie your shoelaces.

In addition to a cardiovascular workout that increases your heart rate, and strength training to build up and define your muscles, stretching is crucial in preventing injuries, and most importantly, insuring the functionality of the human body as we age. Maintaining flexibility helps prevent falls, and decreases the effects of arthritis and potential neuromuscular problems, like back and neck pain. Such an important part of any fitness regimen, and so often forgotten! My challenge to you this month is- Don't Cheat the Stretch! Take a moment before and after your walk or work out to gently stretch your muscles and open your joints in both opposing directions. Take several deep breaths to saturate your hard working body with oxygen, and be mindful of the gifts of health and fitness.

Stretching can be done anywhere, anytime, including at your desk. Some of my favorite stretches include clasping my hands behind my back and lifting my arms straight up towards my shoulders, while pointing my chin to the ceiling. This helps reduce the tension in the neck and shoulders. Opening up the neck also provides circulation to the thyroid gland, which helps metabolism.

Another delightful stretch that can also be done at your desk, or while standing, or sitting, or in bed, is to bend one leg and hug it with both arms as close to your chest as possible. Hold for several moments, then switch legs. This stretches the small muscles of the lower back and hip area.

The Mayo Clinic has a slide show of "Office Stretches" and please share any of your favorites. Also, in what area do you want to improve your flexibility?

Thank you so much, and it's Fun to be Flexible!


Doing a knee hang at Trapeze School in Santa Monica, CA for my 50th birthday.

More about → Functional Fitness and Flexibility

Motivation Monday - Health and Fitness

It's time to focus on health and fitness, time to focus on ourselves for a change.

I don't know about you, but I've really been slacking in this area of my life lately. I've been so consumed with work, decluttering, renovations, etc. that I just let everything to do with health and fitness go by the wayside. 

I am going to use the next couple of weeks as somewhat of a pre-training/preparation period. I hope you will consider joining me.

During this pre-training time here are 10 things to do...

1. Have a regular check up if you haven't done so recently. Not only to get the ok from your doc to start a fitness program, but also to find out what your cholesterol levels are, blood pressure, weight, and to address any other problems you are having that might get in the way of starting a new program.

2. Go to Homefuse.net to calculate your body mass index (BMI), your waist-to-height ratio, your body fat levels, and your basal metabolic rate. I like the calculator at Homefuse because it takes your waist measurement and age into consideration for a much more accurate calculation.

3. Take a before photo if you really want to give yourself some serious motivation. It will give you a major wake up call, I promise!

4. Get a pedometer if you don't already have one, very inexpensive ones can be purchased at any drug store. Wear it a few days over the next week or two to gauge your average steps per day. A steps per day challenge using a pedometer is in the near future, be ready!

5. Be sure to get yourself a decent pair of sneakers if you don't already have some. They don't have to be expensive, just not worn out and with good support.

6. Take a pledge to be more mindful of what you eat - strive for good healthy meals, eating smaller portions more often in place of big meals, focus on getting in the good stuff such as the recommended daily intake of veggies especially, and reducing the amounts of processed foods.

7. Start increasing activity levels. I won't give any specific challenges for this yet, but you know they will be coming soon!

8. Go to My Fitness Pal to create a free account. At My Fitness Pal we can set goals and track our daily foods and exercise. It really seems to be a great site with tons of support and motivation.

9. Take some time to seriously think about your own person health and fitness goals - be realistic.

10. Go one step further and decided why you want to focus on health and fitness - is it so you can fit into your skinny clothes, to set a good example for your family, to live a longer more healthy lifestyle?

Make the commitment - leave a comment saying you are in! Be sure to come back every Monday to report your progress and join the weekly challenges. Together we can do it!

More about → Motivation Monday - Health and Fitness

R & R for Sunday, February 5th, 2012

R and R Tip 87:  Rid yourself of the old in order to relax 

Several days before their New Year celebration, many Chinese families give their home a thorough cleaning. They practice this tradition because it is believed the cleaning sweeps away the bad luck of the preceding year and makes their homes ready for good luck.

Many cultures believe that sweeping each morning prepares the ground for the new day at the same time as it deepens  awareness of the importance of letting go of the past to welcome the present. It's not often that we sweep off our front steps but not a bad idea at all.  As we clear our steps, we create a space that feels clean, fresh, and open to all who enter. We could think welcoming thoughts as we sweep, reflecting on what is needed for the day. Making sweeping part of our daily ritual can tune us into the continuing cycle of releasing the old and welcoming the new that is the hallmark of a healthy life style.

This seemingly simple action has the power to clear away the old and make space for the new. It stirs up a feeling of freshness and energy.  This kind of sweeping is not about cleaning the area of dust. In fact, the broom doesn’t have to actually touch the ground to be effective. You might want to consider having two different brooms, one you use for cleaning dust and dirt, and one you use for starting each day as a new beginning. If you are so inspired, you could decorate your broom by carving its handle, painting it, decorating it with gemstones and ribbons, or any other creative adornment that appeals to you. You can also make your own broom out of tree branches and twigs, or choose a naturally appearing broom from nature, such as a pine bough. 

We don't want to sweep things under the rug...

We seem to always be in the process of sweeping up one mess or another...

A clean sweep makes the difference

Even if the only broom you own is an imaginary one,  sweeping away the dirt of yesterday and making way for a fresh start always leaves us with a good feeling and more times than not, when we feel good, we are relaxed.

Love, Live, Laugh and Be Happy!

ma

More about → R & R for Sunday, February 5th, 2012

IT'S GITTING TIME

The idea of a GIT Challenge is to play catch up with whatever we need to get done. Just leave a comment saying you'll play along, minimize this post so you can easily come back to it throughout the day, stop what you are doing (meaning get off the computer and stop procrastinating!), take an hour right now to catch up on things you need to do and work as fast as you can!

Come back every hour or two and leave a comment with your progress. Check out what other participants have accomplished - all in the comment section, no blog hopping necessary. After updating, get back to work for another hour or so until you're done for the day. We always accomplish so much during these challenges!

Jump in anytime, there's no special time to start or finish. It's fun working together - join us!

More about → IT'S GITTING TIME

Thursdays With Linda

 

What a great challenge Martha had to start off 2012…

I couldn’t stop at 100 though and tossed a total of 634 items this month…

This week I cleaned out my bathroom drawers…

47 makeup, lotion, free samples, hairdryer parts, misc…

After picture, a bit more manageable…

47 pairs of unmentionables, 18 pairs of socks and 3 pairs of jeans from son2…

 

 

Happy February…

More about → Thursdays With Linda

Winter Squash Soup With Roasted Pumpkin Seeds and a Delightful Fruit Chaser

My husband made a delicious Squash Soup with Roasted Pumpkin Seeds over the Holidays, but the real star of the show for me, was a lovely simple salad of sliced oranges and pomegranate seeds, (aka arils, a new word for me :o), that we served afterwards. It really freshened up our taste buds for the next round of yumminess.





What winter soups and fruits do you enjoy, that wake up your taste buds too?

Thank you so much, and for a quick winter fruit fix, Honeycrisp Apples are in season.

Happy Wednesday!

More about → Winter Squash Soup With Roasted Pumpkin Seeds and a Delightful Fruit Chaser