Get a Body and a Life to Love

Your Holiday Survival Guide

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No question, the holidays are here!

If you believe Walmart, Christmas starts in September… but I digress. Eating healthy is a challenge for many of us… especially so during the holiday season.holiday survival

Stress can lead to overeating and overdrinking. If you dread the holidays, rethink them. They should not put you into debt, make you feel anxious or force you to do things out of obligation.  It is totally OK (and your right!) to say NO to activities and “extras” that are stressful. The world WILL keep turning even if you don’t go to that party… or have a tree that Martha Stewart would envy… or make handmade gifts for everyone in the neighborhood… or participate in 25 cookie-exchanges…. or do your gift list from Oprah’s list of Favorite Things… or decorate your house as if it were going to be on HGTV.  No one will die. Trust me.

Here are 8 tips [Read more…]

Be Kind, Be Thoughtful, Be Genuine but Most of All Be Thankful

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attitude of gratitude

As we approach our traditional and uniquely American holiday of Thanksgiving, we often focus solely on the festivities and food (Oh!  the FOOD!). The Pilgrims had a very good reason for celebration in 1621. After all, they were still alive because of the kindness of the Wampanoag Indians. Half of the colonists had perished that first year. We tend to forget how grave their situation was.  The “attitude of gratitude” root of this holiday is often lost… amidst the turkeys, hams, pumpkin and mincemeat pies.  Yet, it turns out that being thankful is actually beneficial on a day-to-day basis in today’s world, not just for one-time events – like avoiding starvation in a new world.

Still, many of us are often wrapped up in “what’s wrong with the world/ my life” and some mighty “pity parties.  The lower light levels of winter can sometimes provoke these feelings… but that is another topic. While it can be a challenge to avoid self-pity and playing “gee,  ain’t it awful,” try swapping it for an attitude of gratitude. [Read more…]

The Switch Witch

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halloween

For anyone battling weight, for parents/grandparents who are concerned about their kids’ weight and health, Hallowe’en can be a nightmare. Sooo much candy…. soooo much sugar! Did you know that one-quarter of all candy sold in the US is purchased for Hallowe’en? What to do? Here are some ideas I’ve gathered:

The Switch Witch

My friends started what they call a “Switch Witch” tradition with their daughter when she was about 4 years old. She gets to go trick-or-treating as long as she wants — costume and all — and can eat a few pieces of candy when she gets home. Then the “Switch Witch” comes during the [Read more…]

Childhood Obesity Puts Kids at Risk for Health Problems

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childhood obesity

One in 3 children in the United States is overweight or obese. Yes!

The really bad news is that childhood obesity puts kids at risk for health problems that were once seen only in adults, like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. It also puts them at risk for other nasty things… like bullying, like being picked last for sports teams and games, like being overlooked in class or judged to be less intelligent…or lazy or sloppy…or name calling… like “Fatty, fatty, two by four… Can’t get through the bathroom door!” ( I heard that one on the school bus.) [Read more…]

Cucumber is a Nutritional Powerhouse

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cucumbers nutritional powerhouse

Many of us tend to think of cucumber as a garnish, a decoration… at best an afterthought on salads and side dishes… or a clever decoration on the buffet.

Like its cousin the melon, cucumber is actually a fruit. Unlike tomatoes, it actually can pair well with fruits.

Never mind all that… let’s just say it’s an amazing vegetable.

Why??? Because cucumber is a nutritional powerhouse!

Cucumber is a super-food containing almost all the vitamins you need each day, including B vitamins, vitamin C, fiber, vitamin K1, copper, potassium, and manganese.

But wait! There’s more… [Read more…]