You Really Are Number One!

It's the start of a new week. You have work, meetings, appointments, events, things you need to take care of at home and most likely people that depend on you in all these various places. You make a plan for each day or maybe you wing-it. You're busy morning-night. Yet, you feel as though something is missing, you may know what that is, but figure it just isn't important right now, or well it is, but it will have to wait. But it shouldn't wait because what is missing is you, doing the things you need to keep you healthy, fit, and happy. How many times do you say, "I have way too many things to do today to even think about going to the or doing (blank) this could be the gym, hairdresser, taking a walk, reading a book, making a healthy meal"...you get the picture.

What we often forget in our busy lives is that we should come first. This doesn't mean that we are the only ones that are important, that we are snobby, it means that in order to take care of all the other things and people in our lives we need to be healthy and enjoy life and not forget about our entire wellbeing. If you really enjoy an activity, make the time for it, no one else will do it for you. Everything else will fall into place.

Now think about that which has been missing that you most enjoy and make it happen!

Healthy Cooking and Eating

This past weekend Paula Deen, celebrity chef on the Food Network announced that she does indeed have Type2 diabetes. Type2 diabetes is also known as adult-onset diabetes. It can be the result of heredity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and being overweight. It's not certain what caused Deens', however she is known as the queen of southern cooking and is overweight. It isn't uncommon for chefs to be heavy. They work long hours, tend to create dishes that include lots of butter, sugar and sodium, may be fried and snack on these foods while working. The Food Network will be launching a new show later this month called Fat Chef that will focus on chefs and people in the food industry across the country. These people will talk and work with fitness and nutrition experts to identify their issues and how to handle them. Not all chefs are overweight, so there must be something they are doing differently.

There are certainly ways to create healthy, less fattening meals that are still delicious. It's not only important for people in the food industry to learn how to cook this way, but also the rest of us. We should be able to go to a restaurant and order a low fat, low calorie, meal that is high on taste. We should also be able to buy a cookbook from our favorite chefs and prepare our own meals that won't do a number on our waistlines. One book out there is Clean Eating by Tosca Reno. It's full of healthy choices.

Let's hope that with Deens' news of diabetes she learns new ways of cooking/eating and shares that with the rest of us.

Vacation and Happy New Year!

Been a crazy last month, a lot going on. December always seems busy with the holidays and getting ready for the end of the year. Short work weeks, make working days more hectic than usual and then there are all the holiday parties and gatherings.

That's why I decided that a vacation the first week of January would be the perfect way to start the New Year! It was short but sweet. A week in the Pine Ridge Mountain Reserve of Belize was a great way to experience some adventures and unwind. The lodge was in the jungle/pine forest. Was peaceful and beautiful. Spent a couple of days exploring well-known Mayan ruins in both Belize and Guatemala and a day in the Mayan underworld, aka Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave. That was one of the most adventuresome things I've done in a while. Trying new things should be on everyone's list. If you never try something how will you know if you like it or are any good at it? After each tour it was back to the lodge for a delicious dinner and early to bed out of shear exhaustion. The last day was more leisurely with walks and sunbathing (soaking up the Vitamin D to take home). It was a wonderful vacation and am now ready to tackle 2012!

Wishing you a wonderful New Year! May you be healthy, happy, challenged, and try something new!