the little things.

If you're feeling like I am...like you need someone to come and pull you off the couch...then these ideas are for you.

When you can't seem to get yourself moving or motivated just do one of the following small steps.  You've got to start somewhere and baby steps at least get you off your booty and moving.  And like our good friend, Isaac Newton said, "An object in motion tends to stay in motion."

Here you go (this is an excerpt from the list:  "50 healthy ideas that take 10 minutes or less" see it here):

Brush your teeth
Do 15 sit-ups
Straighten your posture
Stand up and stretch
Resist the impulse purchase of a candy bar
Do 10 lunges
Drink a glass of water
Smile
Put a package of oatmeal in your pocket or purse for a healthy breakfast or snack
Throw a bottle of water in there as well
Ask to have your salad dressing on the side
Open a window
Say thank you to someone who deserves it
Take a deep breath
Wake up 10 minutes earlier
Put on hand lotion
Jog in place for 9 minutes
Put down the remote control and get up to change the TV channel
Hug your kids
Replace your next cup of coffee with a cup of water
Take a 10 minute break
Suck on a breath mint
Take a quick walk
Skip your late evening grocery store run
While watching TV, do 5 push-ups during the commercial

healthy. LIFE.

new ideas.

I've been working on a couple of ideas the last month or so and I can't wait to share.  It's going to be a bit before it all gets pulled together.  I can't wait to share....

This time of year is so beautiful.  There are new scents on the breeze that promise cooler temperatures, fun holidays, and more playing outside.

Make sure to enjoy the chance to exercise outdoors again with these perfect weather.  There are blue skies, puffy white clouds, the last of the roses, pretty burnt orange and hot pink leaves, a bit of green grass after the rains, and lovely air to smell. 

I don't want to miss it!

What beautiful things are you enjoying when you are out?

beautiful. LIFE.

oh...I'm in a habit...

of eating junk food.  

I'm even to the point that I think calling it junk food is just rude.  It's delicious.  I don't want to give it up.

I'm blaming Love Affair.

I gained 5 pounds there.

It was a very delicious five pounds.

We ate at restaurants that were so good I wanted to camp on their sidewalk until my next meal.  Not to mention finding Pokey O's ,a place where you can purchase a custom made, homemade ice cream sandwich.

Ugh.

It's time to get back on the healthy eating train.  I'm tired.  I'm sluggish.  I need a nap.  I don't have energy.  i don't want to get off the couch.  Pass the brownies.

So...tell me what you do when you're feeling like this.  Make it something easy otherwise I don't think I'll be able to bring myself to do it. :)

delicious not nutritious. LIFE.

Gene Autry and I.

I back in the saddle.  I'm blogging again...hopefully.  And I'm back on a schedule to get with the program and get healthy. 

People say that they do best losing weight in the summer with all that garden fresh food everywhere and time to exercise, etc.  Not me!  Summer is the hardest time of the year for me to stick to my exercise plan.  My kids are home and we're doing something different everyday or staying up until ridiculous hours and getting to bed so late that by the time I get the day in gear it's way too hot to walk outside...my excuses in the summer can go on and on. :)  Not to mention the ice cream.

I have to say I love my husband's version of a Coldstone ice cream.  It's so stinkin' good and such a great reward at night as we sit on the could and chat or watch a movie.  (I'm kidding that it's a great reward.  I guess it's a great reward if we want to die and early death...)

Back to school.  Back to the routine means I get to get back to being healthy and exercising.

So...this week it's back to my old ways of being healthy.  Eating less, putting less on my plate, 20 minutes of exercise everyday...all the usual suspects.

I'm back in the saddle.

How about you?

healthy. LIFE.

top 10 best foods.

It probably comes as no surprise that the top 10 best foods to eat are all whole foods.  When I researched whole foods most referenced cleaning up your diet by eating only whole foods.  A lady I know once said that you could stick to eating whole foods pretty well if when you went to the grocery store you only shopped along the walls of the store and didn't go into the aisles.  When I did a mental walk through of most of my grocery stores I knew she was right.  Keeping to the perimter would mean only shopping for produce, meats, and dairy.  (You will need to venture into the aisles to get whole grains and beans.)

Another person recommends when filling your (small 9 inch) plate that 1/3 of the plate be filled with meat and the other 2/3 with produce and a bit of whole grain. 

Obviously, I'm for the simplest, easiest way to think about eating possible.  I don't want to have to weigh my food, measure meticulously, or put together difficult, time consuming recipes.

That's why I love these bite sized thoughts...do the majority of your shopping along the outside walls (venture into the aisle only for beans and whole grains) and divide my (small) plate into 1/3 meat and 2/3 produce and grain.

Want to know the top 10 best foods?  

You can see the list below and the entire article here.

1.  Egg Whites

2.  Oats and Oatmeal

3.  Beans

4.  Quinoa

5.  Fish

6.  Almonds (and other nuts)

7.  Cruciferous Vegetables (what the heck is that? broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussel sprouts, etc.)

8.  Apples

9.  Berries

10. Salad Greens

Weekly Challenge:  Put more whole foods into your everyday life.  Grocery shop more simply by sticking to the outside walls of the store and then picking up only whole grains and beans on the aisles.  Try the 1/3-2/3 rule at your meal times.

*special thanks to Karen for sending me a great article on whole grains!  see the article here ...have you heard of TEFF?  You can learn about it in the article link...*

whole. LIFE.