Live Healthy NYC: Spring 2014

Live Healthy NYC: Spring 2014: What a winter we have had! Here in New York the cold weather started sometime in October (I remember because it was too co...

Spring 2014

What a winter we have had! Here in New York the cold weather started sometime in October (I remember because it was too cold to go waterskiing!) While I love everything about winter: snuggling by the fire, warm sweaters, hearty stews, snow days (and my kids had a lot of days off!) and holiday parties, I am ready for winter to be over! Who would have believed that in mid-April we would have had snow!!!

Jack Frost has wreaked havoc all winter! From nipping at your nose to zapping your vitamin D, there are ways to undo the damage that winter has done. While the temperature might not feel like spring, it is here! And that means it’s time for spring cleaning! Spring cleaning isn’t just about cleaning the closets. It’s also about taking inventory, about looking at your life and considering how you might rejuvenate, replenish and reinvigorate yourself. It’s time to purge, to do a complete overhaul. It’s time to clean out and refresh your home, your routine, and maybe even your life. I encourage you to take a long hard look in the mirror. Are there changes you want to make, post-hibernation? If there are, you can make them. This is the time. It will take effort and a deliberate intention, but the time is now!

It was not uncommon for people to gain weight over the winter months. While I don’t think any of you were sitting at home eating bags of cookies and chips (you know better than that!) it might be likely that a few (or more) pounds crept on. Did you feel that it was hard to go outside and exercise because, let’s face it, it was not very nice outside. It was damn cold! Who wanted to go for a brisk walk when it was below freezing?!? And, lack of movement often comes with a sinking level of motivation until you don’t even want to venture out to the gym. Also, in many areas, fruits and veggies and other lighter healthful foods aren’t in season. It’s easy to settle into a habit of heavy winter foods.

But no surprise, there is a price to pay for becoming lax in health habits over the winter. Do you really want to go shopping for the next size up? My bet would be NO WAY!!! Bathing suit season is almost here. And yes, you do have time to SPRING INTO SHAPE!!!

Whether "activity" means getting off the couch, getting back to the gym or setting a fitness goal beyond all your past successes, here are some tips for springing into 2014. The process is the same for everyone: Set realistic goals that you can meet quickly. Build up that confidence -- it's the motivator you can't replace. Whether you are just beginning to get into shape or whether you are no stranger to exercise and have hibernated this winter, repeat after me: MOVE, MOVE, MOVE! BURN CALORIES!!!! Get out and walk, hike, run, take a class, exercise with a friend, or get yourself to the gym! I repeat: BURN CALORIES!!!

With regards to food, spring is the perfect time to restock your refrigerator with the succulent and yummy vegetables of the season. Consider juicing some of them to start the day or steaming them over brown rice for dinner at night. Forget comfort food – it’s the season for energy food. Find vegetables in the produce section that you haven’t tried before or check out any of the increasingly common spring farmers markets. In the store, make a conscious decision to food shop along the perimeter where the fresh food is abundant. Then step into the aisles to get whole grains and beans, whole grain cereal, brown rice, couscous, garbanzo beans, pearl barley, and lentils.

And, PLEASE, phase out one or more processed foods (soda, cookies, chips -- you know what they are), and replace it with a whole food. Lose the salty pita chips for whole, unsalted raw almonds. Lose the sugary desserts for fresh fruit. Even if you've purged your system of excess sugar and processed food, are you enjoying the bounty of spring produce? Now is your chance to get the best out spinach, artichokes and asparagus for greens, and strawberries and cherries for fruit. These foods are all wonderful!

Working out and eating right intersect. You have to learn to do both and do it right! Be determined. Be focused. Be goal oriented. That equals change. What’s worth the prize is always worth the fight! It has really been a long winter. Setting goals and seeing results and taking pride in your accomplishments is the perfect pick-me up for curing the winter blahs!

Feel free to contact me at Rachel@livehealthynyc.com for more information!