The sun is shining (for now). You can feel the energy that nature is putting out regenerating itself, getting ready for summer. From the warmth in the sun, to the power in the breeze, you can feel the energy. Why not tap into that a little?
I've discovered a new hobby that I'm interested in pursuing. Ever heard of Frisbee golf? (called "disc" golf by the pro's who actually get offended if you refer to it as Frisbee) You know the best part? It's free. Well technically you need a disc, but those run around $10 each or $25 for a set. However once you have your disc, as long as you have control, you can play indefinitely for free :D. There is a fantastic disc golf course up in Riverdale that is right next to the river. It's rejuvenating to be out in nature and getting a little exercise.
Another idea is to go hiking. Once again this activity is free. There are fantastic hikes all around Utah. I'm excited to get that hobby of mine going again this summer! Ogden canyon is full of great hikes so if anyone is ever up in the area or would like to come up hiking I'm all for it!
How about go to a park and swing on the swings? I promise you that it will bring you back to the feelings of child hood. The feelings of flying and of freedom. Who cares if you're an adult, who cares if you swing with your children. Let go of the stress and complications that come with being an adult and just release yourself.
Plant a garden, plant flowers, get your hands covered in dirt. I'll admit that I am no gardening expert, I tend to kill things very quickly and very easily. A goal of mine is to plant some flowers for my porch and for them to survive the summer. This may seem easy to some, however to me this would be a REAL goal to accomplish.
Watersports/rafting/tubing. Yeah it's a tiny bit too cold for this right now however as soon as it warms up, why not think about tubing down a river? I've been down the Provo river, and oh my goodness so much fun. How about taking up fishing? The canyons are my favorite place to spend warm summer days. The cool breeze along with the rushing power of the water really help reset yourself.
All in all though, be grateful for your body. Be grateful for the strength and energy that you posses at this time. Tell yourself that, "I am grateful for a healthy body". Don't let your life pass you by, get out there and live it.
And don't forget the sunscreen!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Why we "crave" the fattening stuff
I'll let you in on a little secret..... you are not bad, different, or abnormal for craving high calorie foods. There's a reason that our favorite foods are high in fat and typically deliciousness. From that piece of chocolate cake, those homemade butter and cream smothered mashed potatoes, to that lasagna that tastes just like mom used to make, it is built in our genes to crave and create an emotional connection to these foods.
Let me take you back thousands of years ago when mankind was just developing. We were hunters and foragers long before we developed farming and herding techniques. When our ancestors came across a berry patch that yielded sweet, delicious, high calorie food, it was literally a jack pot. So much of our time was devoted to finding foods for us to survive, that we developed a bond with high calorie foods. This actually helped in our survival to crave the high calorie foods, because less energy was spent on finding the food which meant we could then spend more energy developing new technologies. This comfort food made us who we are. It was hard wired in our genes to search out and crave the high calorie treats.
Back to present day. It is still in us to search out the high calorie foods. You are not abnormal for craving chocolate, or whatever your high calorie temptation may be. What we've got to learn is to accept that part of us, and have our indulgences every once in a while. It's when we make indulgences habits that we get into trouble. You can also learn to retrain your path of thinking to CRAVE the healthy foods. Try replacing the high in fat treats with delicious natural snacks- fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts- the things that our ancestors would have thought of as a "jack-pot". In the end, we can't change that emotional connection that is hard wired in us towards high calorie foods, however we can manipulate that to our advantage. YUMMMM, berries!
Let me take you back thousands of years ago when mankind was just developing. We were hunters and foragers long before we developed farming and herding techniques. When our ancestors came across a berry patch that yielded sweet, delicious, high calorie food, it was literally a jack pot. So much of our time was devoted to finding foods for us to survive, that we developed a bond with high calorie foods. This actually helped in our survival to crave the high calorie foods, because less energy was spent on finding the food which meant we could then spend more energy developing new technologies. This comfort food made us who we are. It was hard wired in our genes to search out and crave the high calorie treats.
Back to present day. It is still in us to search out the high calorie foods. You are not abnormal for craving chocolate, or whatever your high calorie temptation may be. What we've got to learn is to accept that part of us, and have our indulgences every once in a while. It's when we make indulgences habits that we get into trouble. You can also learn to retrain your path of thinking to CRAVE the healthy foods. Try replacing the high in fat treats with delicious natural snacks- fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts- the things that our ancestors would have thought of as a "jack-pot". In the end, we can't change that emotional connection that is hard wired in us towards high calorie foods, however we can manipulate that to our advantage. YUMMMM, berries!
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