Semi-healthy life

Here is how I try to balance my life (YOUR balance may be different than mine, but it is very important to try to find what works for YOU!):

I try to eat healthy and exercise most of the time, but I also know that cookies are my favorite, and I also enjoy an evening lounging with my boyfriend watching a movie.  I know that if I try to deny myself these things, then I will eventually give in…and to the extreme!

Viciously Biting off a gingerbread man’s head…

I try to get as many whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean proteins that I can into my body every day.

Check out my Proteinaholics Blog Post

• When I eat, I try to make sure I am sitting down and have the food portioned out onto my plate NOT, for example, eating directly out of a chip bag standing up or munching on random things out of the fridge.  I have found that when I sit and eat and SAVOR my food I get much more enjoyment out of it AND feel full!
• The key is healthy variety and you have to figure out what kinds of foods work for you!  Check out some of my food in my Recipes and Ideas.
• A good starting tool is Fitday.com.  My Nutrition teacher gave us this site to use to count our calories, but it also shows the amounts of protein, carbs, and fats AS WELL AS the different vitamins and minerals we are consuming.  This will show you where you are and help you know what areas need work.

I am not an advocate of counting calories, but like I said, this is a good starting point.

For dessert,

Applesauce Cookies Blog Post

• I eat it with my meals (usually at the end) because eating carbs (sweets) with a protein can help keep your metabolism under control.  If, for example, you eat a piece of cake on an empty stomach, your metabolism will SKY ROCKET for about an hour and then dip WAY LOW causing you to feel STARVED and to grab at any carbs you can get.
• I also make sure the dessert I am eating is something I LOVE.  It’s not worth it to me to use those empty calories (non-nutrient calories) on something I only sorta like.
• I love to bake as well, so I try to only eat desserts that I bake myself because it is more of a process to getting that delicious sweet treat.
• You can also make recipes healthier by substituting whole wheat flour, adding nuts, oatmeal and dark chocolate.  I have a few healthy treats on my recipe page.

*Sweet Talk Post *
 

Dessert is good, but with the right mindset.

I also like to keep exercise in a healthy perspective.

Check out my most popular Running blog post

You will not normally find me at a gym for more than an hour.  I feel like going to the gym or exercising should be enjoyable and not a huge time commitment.  I feel that if we have a negative association with exercise then we won’t want to exercise!
Some things I do to keep active include:

• Taking nice long walks or going for a run.  I try to do at least 2 miles for a workout.  Make it more fun by walking with a friend or family member.

Health Living Even on Labor Day Weekend

• Stretch while I’m watching television or a movie.
• Do some push-ups, crunches, exercise ball workouts while I am waiting for my laundry to get done.
• Take the stairs.
• Park far away at the grocery store.  If the weather is right, you can add some steps into your day!
• Work out DVD’s.  I like Hip Hop abs currently, but there is such a wide variety, pick one that looks fun!!  Netflix also has some fitness DVD’s available instantly…doesn’t hurt to try one for free!
• I have a subscription to a couple of health magazines that have workouts that you can do anywhere and usually only needing a couple of weights.
• I do also go to the gym to do the elliptical or use some of the machines…but again I do not spend more than an hour there because if I am working hard, it is simply not necessary.
• The Daddio just got a Treadclimber, so you will occasionally find me on that watching 30 Rock, Ugly Betty or Gilmore Girls
• Check out my running posts
• Check out my Neat Fitness post

VARIETY IS KEY TO FITNESS.  Your body can get used to doing the same workout after about two months and after that, no improvements will be made.  Variety is also good for you mentally and keeps being fit fun! (You Have to Change-it-Up Post)

 

I also thank God that I am able to exercise and am so blessed to be able to eat delicious foods!  A positive, grateful attitude can do wonders for our health!
Feel free to ask questions!  I am not an expert, but I can tell you what I have learned myself and hopefully point you in the right direction if I don’t know the answer!

Stop and smell the roses!!  {More About Me Here}

You can comment on my posts, or e-mail me at: semihealthnut AT yahoo DOT com.
Also check me out on FACEBOOK: Diary of a Semi-Health Nut and on TWITTER: SemiHealthNut!

– See more at: http://www.semihealthyblog.com/semi-healthy-life#sthash.DAqdv7a6.dpuf