Stay on track

Happy Holidays! As we enter the last month of the year, when we should be celebrating the successes of the past year and evaluating the things that didn't work for us, we are instead consumed with stress. The constant running to try and get everything done in our daily life while adding the additional 'shopping and purchasing' that seems to go with this season, it seems our health goes by the wayside. Fast food becomes a staple of our diet, exercise becomes optional and down time, non-existent.  Remember, there is nothing in this world that can replace you. A stressed, out of shape, poorly fed body, is a body looking for trouble. Take the time to continue your fitness routine. Do you absolutely have to give up the gym until January? Than take time to walk briskly around your neighborhood and enjoy the wonderful weather at this time of year, take in the beautiful decorations and find joy in being alive. When you do go to the mall or store, park your car at the farthest space from the entrance. Fuel your body with nutritious food. Keep portable food handy for snacks. Apples and oranges, raisens and nuts make great portable snacks. Avoid fast food and processed food. The sodium and fat content is enough to kill you (OK, not immediately but...) not to mention the 'non-food' ingredients used to make it. (that's a subject for another blog!) Take a few minutes everyday to be thankful. No time? This is my life: I teach Zumba 4 mornings a week, own and operate a Pilates Studio full time, have two boys that play sports and a husband that travels. Yes, I know about 'no time'. So this is what I do: I take my few minutes at lunch, I sit in my car or on a bench outside and just enjoy.  I enjoy the sun on my face, the breeze that is almost always blowing and I just sit. I don't think about what I need to do next, or that night or tomorrow. I sit. I usually only have 15 minutes for lunch with the rest of my day spent taking care of others, so I sit and enjoy for that 15 minutes. Could I do something else? Maybe write up someones program? Clean my studio, make some phone calls? Check emails? Sure I could, instead I sit and enjoy the sunshine and the breeze and the occasional heron that flys by and know that I will be refreshed and ready to go on with my day at the end of that time. So I urge you to give yourself the gift of good food and a few minutes every day to just sit. Enjoy and know that you will be on this earth just a little longer for taking the time to take care of yourself. God bless. Have a wonderful end of the year.

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