Get Your Heart Pumpin' For St Valentine's Day!

I went to the gym today to do my cardio workout.  I noticed there were less people there today, mid-Feb, then were there the first of the year.  Pretty typical, right?  You know the drill:  New Year's resolution to get in shape then, falling off the going to the gym wagon.  This observation reminded me to blog about  finding the motivation to get back into or even to start an exercise routine.  A good exercise rule of thumb is 30 mins of cardio, 5 times a week.

Since it's St Valentine's Day, and we should all be lovin' on ourselves,  I thought I would discuss the emotional benefits of exercising.  Of course we all know exercising makes us healthier on a physical level; however, sometimes even that is not enough of a motivational factor to get people moving.  My point as aforementioned:  less people at the gym!  So, let's look at why we would want to motivate ourselves to exercise from an emotional viewpoint.

Exercising on a regular schedule has been shown to oxygenate the brain and increase levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin.  Serotonin regulates mood, therefore, physical activity has been shown to decrease depression and make us feel good.

When we commit to exercising on a regular basis, whether that means going to the gym, or doing something we enjoy that gets us moving, we have more self-confidence, less stress, and higher self-esteem than those who don’t put regular physical activity in their lives.  With this increased self-confidence, that, makes our professional, personal, and social lives better.

Exercise calms our mind and helps us feel less stressed with ourselves and others, at work, in our social lives and at home.

When we exercise, that activity gives us time to gain perspective about our life.  It gives us time to reflect and think about things. A wonderful emotional benefit of exercise is that we work off tension, which helps us think more clearly about our life situations.

Exercise helps us feel better about ourselves. We begin to look and feel healthier, which leads to a better life.

I know when I exercise, I feel happier and actually, I feel proud of myself for accomplishing something that is good for me.  Exercise also helps me stay on plan; I don't want to undo all the healthy doings!!!  We are more optimistic and happy as people who do exercise than people who lead sedentary lifestyles.


The emotional benefits of exercise keeps us motivated to live a healthy lifestyle.   Exercise is more than just working out, it can benefit our mind, body, and soul.  Get moving, you'll love yourself  for that and Happy St. Valentine's Day!
Lynn

Score Points for Yourself by Staying on Plan For The Big Game!!

The Super Bowl has almost become an American holiday.  Game day is all about football, family, friends, and food!  Oh yes, and the commercials.  Since the traditional fare and snacks at Super Bowl parties are not the best, healthy food choices, this may be a temptation when it comes to sitting down and watching the game..  We may not realize what we are eating in front of the television, we may be tempted to stick to traditional party junk foods, or there may not be the best food choices available at the party. When a get-together like the Super Bowl combines these scenarios, it can go badly for someone trying to stay on plan.

Here are some tips to help you stay on track, make or bring these healthy options when there is so much less than healthy party food around.  Hey at least you will feel good about yourself  by staying on your diet, even if your team is not doing as well!!

Instead of traditional Chips & Dip, have veggies cut up and whip up a low-fat homemade dip.

Instead of Buffalo wings or strips which are usually breaded & fried, have a healthier alternative such as  marinated buffalo chicken, grilled and cut into bite-sized pieces with celery, make a buffalo chicken salad, or cut into chicken strips.  Wings are ok , but have more fat and watch the breading or sweet sauces.

Instead of ordering pizza or having a lot of pasta, have a lower fat chili or healthy casserole

Instead of drinking beers and mixed drinks, have a drink if you like, but instead drink plenty of water, and make that sparkling or seltzer with lemon or lime for a change.

Super Bowl Sunday is not just about the game, it is about the party food too.  Pass on the high fat snacks and take-out food like pizza and fried wings. Regardless of who wins the game, you’ll score points for yourself by staying on plan and making healthy choices.