Here Comes the Sun! (Doo Doo Doo Doo)

Since today is June 1st, and in New England it feels like summer has truly begun (yes-calm down, I am aware it doesn't ‘officially’ start for another 3 weeks), I wanted to share some of the transitions that not only the amazing mother nature herself does, but also the transitions that occur in weight maintenance/loss this time of year. No, I’m not referring to the transition into the hardcore jealously some of us might get from skinny people prancing around on the beach in virtual dental floss (me… jealous?…never…); rather, I am referring to the transitions in our diets, lifestyles, and exercises that take place this time of year.

This is the PERFECT time for transformation and to mix things up a bit. This is MY season- it’s warm enough to be outside, but cool enough not to die! And honestly, I’m hell bent on using this weather to the fullest before we’re back to carving pumpkins and picking out Christmas trees!

I love kayaking, hiking, playing volleyball, white water rafting, swimming, gardening, playing Frisbee, etc. These are activities that I have always loved but have not always been able to comfortably do. Think about it, why don’t you try strapping on an additional 110 pounds and going on a hike or trying to garden?…Not the most enjoyable of activities…

Showing Off My (lackluster) Volleyball Skills at my Best Friend's Jack & Jill!

To exemplify this rational, allow me to explain. This time of year I go from a winter/spring DVD work-out type of girl (though I must admit, the DVD’s have a bit of dust on them lately from minimal usage) to being outdoorsy again! This literally feels like a breath of fresh air!

One activity that my fiancé and I have taken on this summer is a 20’ x 20’ garden plot in a local community area. And let me tell you, planting a 400 sq foot garden without one piece of god-damn machinery is more of a work out than ANY DVD could provide [ Just ask my fiancé, my temper and bitchy mood by the end of the day I’m sure was quite a joy to be around ;) ]

Our Lovely Garden-I Promise it's Bigger in Person :)

Besides finding different forms of exercise, there are also foods that literally taste better this time of year. The day before yesterday I made my first summer pasta salad of the season…and boyyyy was it yummmmy! I used regular elbows (would have used wheat elbows if I had them), barely any light mayo, a can of light tuna, peas, celery, and onion (would have used cucumber if we had them as well). I bulk it up on the veggies so it is very hearty and healthy. Also, the less mayo you use the more you can actually taste the natural flavors of the veggies and pasta-and it's good! This is one of my favorite summer dinners ever, and if I had a grill in our little apartment to grill up some healthy ‘burgs or ‘dogs I may have been in heaven!

Any who, this season is about getting to finally do the activities or eat the foods that some of us (especially born and bred New Englanders) don’t get to experience half of the year. Push yourself to do more activities with exercise hidden in them (the anti-gerbil like treadmill type of exercise-my favorite!), eat more locally grown produce from farmer’s markets, grow a garden, try new recipes, and for gosh sake-soak up the sunshine (with sunscreen though please-leathery skin is not cute no matter what size you are!) And if nothing else, remember what the Beatles say: “Here comes the sun (doo doo doo doo), here comes the sun, and I say, it's all right!”

What are some of your favorite activities to do this time of year? What are some of your favorite summer recipes/foods?

And for all you Beatles fans...here's a little 1972 live performance of 'Here Comes the Sun'

Until next time, keeping the bulge at bay!

Too Tired, Too Busy, Too Stressed, Too Sick…

I don’t know about you, but sometimes working out can be quite a drag. Therefore, some of us tend to find any excuse in the book to avoid working out-I’m… too busy…too tired…too stressed…too sick... (sometimes too sick is true though-I worked out last Thursday and have been sounding and feeling like a leathery old smoker with all the hacking and coughing ever since-pleasant thought, no?)

I am the type of person that loves physical activities that have working out hiding in them. For example, kayaking, hiking, snow-shoeing, swimming, volleyball, etc. These activities have the dreaded word 'workout' camouflaged within them. There is nothing more that I HATE than having to act like a gerbil by running on a machine that never allows you to actually GET ANYWHERE! But the activities listed previously have always been part of my routine and will be forever-I love them! However, they aren't activities that can easily be done daily. As you will see, my daily workout regimens have evolved more than even Darwin could imagine…allow me to explain….

• I used to run at least a 5k four times a week (outside only of course-no treadmills for me!). However, due to my height (about 5'10'') my knees are not strong enough for me to continue being a ‘runner.’ I did love running (especially formal road races), but one knee surgery later and a pending second on the horizon, has forced me to find alternate ways to exercise.
• The gym…oh god, the gym. I have had memberships to over four different gyms and have gone on and off to each of them at different times over about a 4 to 5 year period. However, I can now freely admit (and let me tell you it took a lot of self-reflection to be able to admit this to myself...) I HATE the gym! It is the whole additional ‘work’ part of working out that I don’t like. Having to make it a job to grab my water bottle, iPod, towel, head phones, keys, and wallet; then actually DRIVE all the way to the gym. Hell, I hate the commute to work and they PAY me to be there-I definitely am not going to like a ‘commute’ to the place where I PAY them to allow me to use their gerbil wheels. This is not fun for me and is too much ‘extra work’ to add to the physical work that I want and need to get.
• Yoga by video. I have never tried yoga in a studio before because I’m too nervous to go to a class and look like an idiot, or have the room silent and I am the one that will suddenly fart or something (probably a ridiculous fear but, hey-it is what it is haha) Yoga by video was not my thing...but I am open to other forms of yoga-I feel like I would like them-eventually I will try them...someday ;)
• Nothing. For the first few months of my first ‘adult’ job, I would do hikes or walks on the weekends; but certainly nothing on a regular, daily, basis. To add insult to injury, I sit at a desk all day-five days a week and it caused me to be too tired (insert excuse here) to want to drag my ass to the gym to swim or pretend I am a proverbial rodent running on a wheel. I am very strict on my eating so I wasn’t really gaining weight, but I was getting (and continue to get) headaches from sitting alllllll dayyyyy lonnnnnnnnnng. My doctor told me frankly that I have to get up and move around more during the day. This led me to find the workout that I LOVE….
• I LOVE WORK OUT VIDEOS!! I am currently doing the ‘Supreme 90 Day’ Workout (only $10 from Bed Bath & Beyond-who would of thought?!?). But I do it at a healthy pace for me. This means I try to do it 4 or 5 days a week, however I have NOT been that successful lately because I'm sick...I know, it's an excuse...but I'm feeling a bit better today and am planning on starting back up tomorrow!
  
        These videos work for me because I am ‘home’ up until the second I start, and can go do the dishes or eat dinner the second I am done. Essentially, there is no ‘extra commute’ to work out via video, thank god!
  I have only been doing work out videos for a couple of months now, but I do have to say that I thoroughly enjoy them. I feel like I am getting a personal trainer for free! I should note however, this works for me because I am very regimented and a self-motivator [most of the time… ;) ] When the guy in the video says “only you cheat yourself...work harder, who wants this healthy body more?!?” I sometimes literally say out loud-I WANT IT MORE!!!

Working out is about finding the right thing that will work for you. There are millions of ways to get some good physical activity incorporated into your day. However, there is not one perfect solution for everyone. What one person hates, another person loves. And if you are like me, someone who did not grow up as an athletic individual, it may take you awhile to find what works best for you and your lifestyle (note: this workout may change as your life changes as well). I don’t always have a great workout, and if I miss a work out (or five), I just try to get back on board.

It's the same as eating poorly for a few days then having to start to eat healthy again. As hard as it may be to start back up, for maintenance it is necessary. It's hard, even excruciatingly hard sometimes for me to get back to working out regularly; but at the end of the day-I am accountable to no one but myself.
Only I know whether I am doing my best or not, and trust me, I WANT IT MORE!

Until next time, keeping the bulge at bay…