Wow, lots of good inspiration here.
After a rough winter and spring, I've been working these last couple of weeks to be more committed to getting daily activity in. My basic idea is to sweat for at least a half hour -- preferably a full hour -- once a day. I like to mix it up. Run/walk one day, bike the next, swim, etc. This week I finally got to the fab new Under Armour gym that opened up after a long construction delay about five blocks away from my studio. They offered a really amazing bargain rate for people who signed on before they opened (last year! When they thought they would open Jan 1), and I impulsively joined. I included some pics from inside the building, which is a treat in itself. (The last two photos were taken when I walked out of the building after a rainstorm, and show the clock tower where I work.)
So this week I took a barre class there, and a boxing class last night. Both classes were intense workouts and got me sweating buckets! But last night after boxing, I could definitely feel that endorphin high, even more so than I do after a bike ride. I was also pleasantly surprised that even though this was an entirely new kind of workout for me, I pretty much kept up with everyone and didn't seem to need any more breaks in activity than the other class members (most of whom are men). I got fist bumps from lots of the other class members and the instructor after we were done.
So now I need to keep it up (even though I'll be away for three weeks soon, I'll be hiking almost every day).
My much bigger struggle is eating. I have a sweet tooth, and I find it hard to bypass treats. Also, unlike many of you, I did NOT grow up in a family that enjoyed and celebrated cooking. My mom had very simple -- and yes, bland -- tastes, and cooking was pretty much just a task. She liked vegetables more than meat, but I suppose I take more after my father in that left to my own devices, if I didn't know better, I'd probably eat junk all the time. I'm not proud of that, but there it is. So I am always pushing myself into healthier choices and trying to resist lazy eating. The good thing is that I tend to self-correct: if I eat crap food for a day or two, I then start craving salad and healthier things.
One thing has been helpful in the last couple of months: a friend sent us a free week of Blue Apron, and I've gotten several weeks' worth now. They are really great for making sure I cook at home, watch portion sizes, and gain confidence in my cooking skills. Plus I have some new knowledge of what makes dishes tasty (so often the key is in the flavoring and sauces!). It's not cheap, but I like not wasting food, and I do find it satisfying to cook, even if it is kind of time-consuming.
Has anyone else found ways to make cooking and eating healthier more fun?
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