Holiday Madness!!!

The Holidays are coming!

Fall is here!  I don’t know about you, but once October gets here, the days and weeks fly by and the holidays are here.  Which means that pretty soon, we’re going to start seeing holiday health advice.  Most of it centered on what not to do or doing things we don’t want to think about doing during the holidays.  Things like watching what we eat.  Ugh--no mac & cheese, no sweet potato pie, no cake, and preparing healthier versions of our favorite dishes.  Things like working out.  Who has time to work out when there are parties and events to attend? On top of the extra hours you work to make extra money for holidays, finish projects, or meet your year-end objectives. 

The holiday season is the time to relax and enjoy life, not the time to restrict or stress yourself out—at least that’s how I see it.  So my advice is to start now.  Start adopting healthy habits now and when the holidays get here, you’ll be less likely to abandon them completely.  You’ll be able to relax and enjoy the holidays without guilt.  And if you start practicing healthy habits now, a funny thing is going to happen.  You will naturally change how you enjoy the holidays without giving it a second thought.  You’ll find that eating less and maintaining your exercise schedule or level of activity will not be as much of a challenge.  By the way, when it comes to eating less it might feel weird at first and you might even force yourself to overeat because it’s what you’re used to doing.  I know because that’s what I did!  But after a while, that feeling will pass and you’ll sail through the holiday season with ease. 

That’s my advice to holiday health--start now! When the holiday season arrives, you’ll keep doing what you’re used to doing.  And hopefully, you’ll enjoy those new healthy habits because it’s so much easier to do what you enjoy versus imposing restrictions on yourself because it’s what you think you should do.  

Shirley

What are you Thankful for???

November is the time of year when we are supposed to take a moment to be thankful for what we have.  Don't you think it is kind of funny that this implies that we only take time to give thanks in November during the holiday.  

Lately it seems that everyday at work is very stressful. My every thought is centered around when can I retire. You know how it is. On Monday you start thinking about the weekend and then on Sunday you start dreading the new week. We complain that we don't have enough money for all the things we want. It seems that everything is a hassle, from bad traffic to high prices. So we just complain and complain. Somewhere in all of life's craziness we have forgotten to be thankful for what we have. 

Maybe we should be thankful for having that job that makes us crazy and looking forward to retirement. Thankful for the car that requires that high priced gas. Thankful for our home, family and friends. Maybe we should take a moment to remember what being thankful means.

As hard as your life seems, there is always someone who's life is worse. So take a moment to be thankful for the things we take for granted everyday.

Shirley 

Embrace the Day!

Sometimes we need to think of ourselves first. What is it that you need to do to get to your happy place? As women we tend to focus on everyone else's needs and just let our own fall by the side. We need to learn that it's ok to not only think about what you want but to actively pursue what you want. Now is the time to finally take what you need.

I was divorced when my kids were very young.  So, they became my first priority. In everything I did, they were always first and foremost in my mind.  Now that my girls are adults I can look back and see that I planned very little me time.  My life has been truly blessed.  My daughters have grown into beautiful confident women, we are friends and do things together. I have also learned to do things just for me. Whether that is a manicure, pedicure or taking trips with friends.  I realized now that I did not have to wait for my kids to grow up, I could have been enjoying me time all along.

So remember take what you need now and be a happier healthier you. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us so make plans to enjoy your life's journey.

Shirley

Living in the NOW!

When you woke up this morning did you think about all the possibilities that lay before you. Did you think "today is the first day of the rest of my life"?  Maybe you just started to worry about all the things you did not get done yesterday.  Maybe you started that to do list for tomorrow and the rest of the week and wondered how you would get it all done. Living a healthier life involves more than getting your body in shape.  It also involves the right mind set, free from as much stress as possible.

Sometimes we forget that illnesses such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol often stem from living stressful lives.  Every commercial or ad tells us how we should look head to toe. How your hair, face, and body should look and how to achieve those goals. We hear this so often that we totally forget about feeding the mind and soul. Where is the ad about living in the now and enjoying it? Where is the ad about taking life one day at a time?  I am sure they are out there buried deep beneath the surface of how to  look good and  how to keep your body in shape. 

I suggest that when you wake up tomorrow you think "today is the first day of the rest of my life". With this as your mantra your possibilities are endless. Leave yesterday behind and focus on the positive for today.  We need to feed our mind, body and soul in order to be healthy.  So start living in the now and make today a positive statement for feeling good. 

Shirley

What have you done for yourself lately?

As women we take on many roles: daughter, sister, wife, mom, aunt, grandmother and friend to many. We continue to put others first as we nurture them and watch them grow.  

I, like so many others embraced my role as a single mom raising two daughters. I enjoyed watching them become beautiful and proud young women. I tried to be there for them, my siblings and friends when they needed me, lots of times putting my wants and needs on the back burner.

We  make time for everyone but ourselves. There is always an activity, function, or person who needs us and we tend to forget the most important person of all “YOU”. What have you done for yourself lately?  Isn't it funny how we can find the time or money for all of the extra things our children, grandchildren, spouses, siblings or friends need, but nothing for ourselves? Several years ago my daughters gave me a gift certificate to a spa. I have to say it was a wonderful experience.  But, when I realized that it was something I could do for myself on a regular basis it went from a wonderful experience to a great one.  I could plan it out. One thing a week covering several treatments and then start all over again.  As caregivers, we need to learn to take some time  for ourselves in order to maintain a healthy and stress free life.   Start  by blocking out some time every week just for you.  Read a book, see a movie, or just sit quietly sipping your favorite coffee, tea or hot chocolate. The possibilities are endless.  What have you done for yourself lately?

Shirley

Take Some Time for Yourself This Weekend

It's Friday, yay! 

These days it seems like people are just as busy on the weekends as they are during the week.  I say, make sure you take some time for yourself, even it it is just an hour.  Watch a movie; curl up with a good book;  or get a spa pedicure.  Go it alone or with friends, just do something fun and relaxing. 

Speaking of fun and relaxing, that's one of the reasons why I love line dancing.  It's fun, relaxing, and it's something I can do alone or with friends. 

Anywhoo--if you want to get a workout in this weekend and you're short on time, try these---

Have a great weekend!

Antoinette