By: Stephanie Ferrari, MS,
RD
“Take your time. Think a lot. Think of
everything you’ve got. For you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may
not.”
- Cat Stevens singing one of my favorites
Are you comfortable in your
body? Whether you answered “yes” or “hardly,” the reality is that we constantly
ebb and flow between the answers to this question.
It’s nearly impossible to
feel 100%, 100% of the time. So what can
you do to build a foundation of comfort in your own skin? Following these tips
may help you get there. Think of this as a friendly reminder to treat yourself
with the respect you deserve.
1. Stay hydrated. It’s easy to forget to drink enough fluids when
you’re on the go. Purchasing a stylish
water bottle and filling it up every chance you get is a great way to stick
to your hydration goals.
I usually fill up a big mason jar with water
on the rocks and keep it by my desk. What
do you do to stay hydrated?
Looking for hydration with
benefits? Chamomile Tea is magic. Feeling anxious? It will calm your nerves.
Have a tummy ache? Triple bag your mug and you might notice a difference. Have
a big presentation coming up? Replace your morning coffee with a cup of
Chamomile and public speaking won’t seem as formidable. Think I’m full of it?
Give it a try and then come talk to me. I’d love to know if this works for you, so email me about it!
2. Choose the right foods. Whether you’re at home or on
the road, the best thing you can do for yourself is to stay on your routine
eating schedule and choose the right foods to fuel your body. Some of my
favorite on-the-go snacks include a piece of handheld fruit with a hard boiled
egg, a yogurt parfait with berries and low-fat vanilla yogurt, a fat-free cafe
latte, or leftover quinoa with freshly cut veggies.
Whether you’re at a
restaurant or cooking at home, go for options that fit the MyPlate model like baked salmon, brown rice, and a garden salad. Ask
for a glass of fat-free or low-fat milk instead of soda for your beverage.
What’s the point? Let me count the ways! Your digestive system, hair, skin,
nails, libido, shape, energy levels, and sleeping patterns (to name some) will
thank you for treating yourself right.
This
is a picture of one of my most recent favorite dinners: boiled lobster, corn
from a local farm, salad, and a Sauvignon blanc called "Lobster Reef"
Obviously, I’m not saying
to give up the wine or the dessert. You know me better than that by now! Please feel free to treat
yourself with a glass of wine and your favorite dessert once in a while. After
all, having a little fun is just as important as eating right and working out.
3. Get moving. Sweat
at least once every day. Whether that means you’re working out HARD for 10-15
minutes or going on a nice, long, mind-clearing run, it doesn’t matter. Your
body will respond positively and you’ll notice the difference. Need a
motivation boost? Sign up for a race or pick an event in your near future
that you really want to look your best for. These small milestones will
help you stay on track.
Running
a race with your friends is a great way to stay motivated (even when it's
freezing cold outside..maybe even especially then!)
4. Relax a little- sheesh! As my sister
used to say, “Take a Chill Pill!” Seriously. There is nothing SO important that
you can’t take a ten minute break to take a few deep breaths. Studies show that
stress plays a major role in health issues. Whenever you’re feeling stressed to
the max, pause and take a moment to put things into perspective. Maybe you
listen to your favorite song or maybe you just take a short walk. Whatever it
may be, life is short and being stressed out is not an action that will lead to
productive behavior. Take a second, get over it, and move on!
Want more tips on how to
feel your best? Send us your requests at iamguiltless@gmail.com.
And please share some
comments below! Comments from YOU make us feel good about ourselves! :)
