Spring into Summer: Let’s talk about Being Healthy

Every year as the seasons change ladies have two things on the top of their list of things to think about: what to wear, and what to eat so that we can wear what we want to wear. Winter is the time to layer, wear comfortable sweaters, and dress in “security blankets,” so when spring and summer rolls around again every woman starts to think about those few extra pounds we always seem to think we have.

It’s true, isn’t it ladies? We have this superpower ability to see parts of us with a magnifying glass while forgetting that we are not only part of us, we’re a whole and that is how people see us. So while it’s tempting to quickly go on a diet when spring and summer comes we’ll make more of a lasting change by starting with the way we think.

Be Positive - See Yourself as a Whole

This isn’t one of those self-help columns where you cram a bunch of positivity down your throat that isn’t helpful, but a challenge to stop holding the magnifying glass up to yourself. Who you are on the outside starts inside, and often that is what people see when they look at us: the outside as a thin veneer on top of the inside. We’re not fooling anyone. If we are unhappy, bitter, stressed, jealous or negative all the time the outside is going to be a dull veneer that doesn’t glow and sparkle, but on the other hand if we set ourselves into patterns of positivity and gratefulness then that is going to be the best foundation any woman can ever use.

How to: Write down 3 things you are grateful for every day, and make sure to do it first thing in the morning to stop yourself from thinking negatively about getting dressed and the day ahead.

Do: Refrain from checking emails or the news just before you go to bed or just when you wake up. Leave that for closer the middle of the day.

How long: At least 21 days. This is how long it takes to make or break a habit.

Be Healthy- Eat Whole Foods

If you are planning to lose some weight this summer I challenge you to take stop and take a good look at your lifestyle of eating. Oftentimes we think of losing weight as a losing a food group for awhile. Our minds latch on to one specific food that is a bad thing to eat if we want to be slender, and unless you look at soda, french fries or ice cream as a food group this isn’t the best approach. The same principle that applies to how we look at our bodies applies here:
when we hold a magnifying glass up to what we eat we’re likely to focus too closely on a specific issue rather than seeing it as a whole.

It’s far, far better to focus on health and good nutrition for your body to develop a healthy mindset about what you’re going for.

A good rule of thumb is if we have to exclude any one thing to lose weight we should plan on leaving that food alone as a part of a lifestyle change. Eat Whole. Eat Clean. Eat Delicious. And of course, Eat Chocolate.

How to: Focus on being as healthy as possible and nourishing your body. Instead of thinking of foods as forbidden fruits, think of them as foods that will compromise health. Usually when we make good food choices our bodies reflect the difference.

Do: Avoid following trend diets or ‘lifestyles’ that recommend cutting out whole food groups. There’s a lot wrong with how food is grown and processed, but avoiding something instead of working to fix it holistically isn’t a good option either.

How long: For the rest of your life, but at least 21 days of doing it faithfully to set the habit.

Be Fit and Strong- Exercise

This one wraps up all the rest in a nice, toned package. If you’re working on what goes on inside, it’s only right to pay attention to the outside now. Exercise, skin care and great hygiene are the keys to keeping the outside polished so the inside can shine through. Exercise plays a huge, important part in your internal health, but it also plays a big part in how we look on the outside. If we’re positive and grateful, and nourishing our bodies how they’re supposed to be taken care of, we’ll see the max amount of results outside with exercise, whereas if we ignore the first two points the third one isn’t going to make as much of a difference.

How to: Find the way of exercise that best works for you. Forget that Susan or Jen love spin classes or zumba, and get into what you love. If we don’t love what we’re doing we don’t keep going on it, so if tennis or walks are your thing forget all the latest “magic pill” exercises that are supposed to give you the maximum benefit and go for that class or walk. The whole point is to get our bodies moving.

Do: Exercise strenuously (please ask your doctor first if you have health complications) 2-3 times a week and mildly 2-3 times a week. By strenuously we mean something that gets your heart pumping, and mildly, something that you can do pretty easily and still be able to talk at the same time. You don’t have to talk, but you should be able to.

How long: For the rest of your life, but do it at the very least a minimum of 21 days to set the habit and get over the initial soreness. Listen to your body and don’t overdo it.

The Wrap Up

The most popular motivational kick is don’t wait ‘till tomorrow what you can start today. It sounds counter-productive, but we recommend getting a good idea what you’re going to start tomorrow before vaguely hitting something you won’t be able to keep the day after tomorrow. Start slow so you don’t wear yourself out, remember “slow and steady wins the race.”

That’s it, ladies. Be sure to whip up our weekly feature at Kauffman’s for a delicious evening meal that doubles as a comfort food and soup.

Wild Rice & Rosemary Chicken Soup

Ingredients:

1 small onion, chopped fine

1 (4 oz) can sliced mushrooms (or use fresh ones)

1/2 c butter

1/3 c flour

2 c milk

2 c chicken broth

2 tsp parsley

1/2 tsp garlic salt

1 tsp rosemary

1 tsp seasoned salt

1/2 tsp pepper

2 c cooked chicken

3 c cooked rice (prepare 1 c (dry) wild rice pilaf according to directions on bag)

1/2 lb Velveeta cheese

Directions:

In a large pan over medium heat, sauté onions and mushrooms in butter until tender. Stir in flour with a small whisk and cook until first bubbles appear. Slowly pour in chicken broth and milk, stirring constantly, then add seasonings and rice and bring to a boil, stirring often. Reduce heat; do not continue to boil. Chunk cheese and add, stir until melted. Add chicken last, and let set a few minutes to heat before serving.

Grande Biscuits

Ingredients:

2 c all purpose flour

1 Tbsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 Tbsp white sugar

½ c shortening

1 c milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425F
2. Whisk together dry ingredients in large bowl and cut in shortening until the mixture looks like coarse meal. Gradually stir in milk until the dough pulls away from the side of the bowl.
3. Turn dough onto floured surface and knead 15-20 times. Roll or pat out the dough to 1 inch thick and cut the biscuits with a cutter or juice glass dipped in flour. Repeat until all the dough is used. Brush off the excess flour and place biscuits onto an ungreased baking sheet.
4. Bake for approximately 13-15 minutes or until the edges begin to brown

Bon appetit!