June Healthy Living Update

I haven't posted a healthy living update the past couple of months because there really hasn't been much to report. April and May passed with a minimal amount of exercise and limited success with healthier eating. However, I renewed my resolve at the beginning of June and am happy to report that I have been much more successful in my quest to make healthier choices this month.

I exercised or was intentionally active at least 25 days this month by either riding the stationary bike for 30 minutes, completing a 30 minute strength training routine, enjoying time in the hotel pool and walking the mile to downtown on a weekend get-away, painting the walls (10 foot tall!) in my new craft room, or parking at the very end of the parking lot to force some extra walking while completing errands. (Robbie also rode the exercise bike every weekday morning before getting ready for work - I am so proud of him!)

I have done fairly well this month eating less and making healthier food choices. I still need to work on this, however I feel good about my efforts so far. I am currently concentrating on preparing well-balanced suppers by incorporating more non-starchy vegetables and smaller portions of protein and starches.

And I must share this funny little side note about cookbooks. A couple of months ago, I decided it would be a good idea to read through a cookbook to get some ideas and inspiration as we strive to cook more and eat out less. I asked Robbie to pick a book from our collection and he handed me The Two Fat Ladies Full Throttle cookbook. I had never heard of The Two Fat Ladies, so I began reading through. Now I know that many of you have probably watched Jennifer Paterson and Clarissa Dickson Wright cook on TV, but I truly had no idea who they were. To my dismay, I discovered that most of the recipes in the book are full of fat - seriously, one recipe starts with a pound of lard and many of them required a stick (or two!) of butter. Robbie enjoys cooking shows and knew that The Two Fat Ladies show was often shown in re-runs, so we watched a show one evening. I have to admit that it was very entertaining, but also confirmed my suspicisions that their recipes were not what I was looking for in my quest for healthier eating. These ladies may have been exceptional cooks, however they were definitely not living the healthy lifestyle I'm striving for - as evidenced by how winded they became walking a very short distance and then resting while one of them smoked a cigarette! While they did often use the freshest ingredients available, these recipes are definitely more suited for the occasional indulgence.

Unfortunately, as I have made better choices and am feeling good this month, the scale has not altered in its numbers. I am basically down 5 pounds from the beginning of the year. However, the good news is that it does appear I have halted the upward trend of the past four years and that fact alone makes me smile!

One of my other goals (in addition to exercising more and eating healthier) is to get outside more and enjoy the sunshine. I did a fairly good job of this early in the month, but as the temperatures have soared over 100 degrees lately, I am much more likely to be found organizing my new craft room. However, I do hope to continue to enjoy the outdoors and the beauty of nature throughout the summer.

On that note, I'll leave you with a layout I completed last month showcasing Robbie's grandmother's azalea bush in the late 1960s.



Anyone else making strides in your healthy living goals for the year? Please share your successes and challenges in the comments.