A representative for the Fit & Fresh company sent me a LivPURE filtered water bottle a couple days ago to review. Their LivPURE bottle is a reusable container with an integrated filter which is designed to filter 75 gallons of water and make the water cleaner and better tasting compared to water from the tap.

We, as a population, use too many plastic water bottles, don't we?  And many of which end up in landfills. This bottle makes a good substitute for buying water bottles and may save you money in the long run. I like the idea of drinking from a vessel that is not only reusable but will filter out some of the less desirable substances, as well save me money!

What does it filter? The company states that the LivPURE water bottle "reduces chlorine by more than 50%," therefore improving the taste of regular tap water. The filter also "inhibits the growth of common bacteria." The water bottle has been tested and certified by the Water Quality Association.

The soft, plastic LivPURE bottle holds 20 oz of liquid, has a built-in drinking spout, and features an ergonomic hour-glass shape, making it easy to hold. The company recommends changing the filter every 2-3 months. At the time of this posting, the water bottle costs $9.99, and the filters cost $7.95 for two.

Buying bottled water can be expensive, use too many resources, and add to pollution. Three rather undesirable effects I must say.  So, if you only buy bottled water because you don't want to drink from the tap, you may want to give this water bottle, or a similar product, thoughtful consideration.

.

... All this talk of water has made me thirsty! OK, time to pour myself a tall one (that would be water).

Originally posted 2008-08-08 07:40:07. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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• BPA in your water bottle and other noteworthy posts Time I share some link love! And what an exceptional week to do so. I read some great posts that may have you rethinking a few of your daily habits. Workout mommy wrote two informative posts about the controversial chemical found in many water bottles and canned foods. Bisphenol-A (BPA)......
• Deep in the Heart of Texas I'm back from the great state of Texas; my visit with family was long overdo and enjoyable. One of my goals during the vacation was to maintain an exercise schedule, and honestly that was a challenge! I focused more on isometric/strength training exercises in the privacy of the guest bedroom (with the......
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What Exactly Is MRSA?
MRSA, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, (pronounced “MER-sah” among many medical professionals) is a type of bacteria that can’t be killed by certain antibiotics, mostly of the penicillin variety. This kind of staph infection can potentially kill; not very encouraging!

An infection usually looks like a nasty bug bite or boil that’s filled with pus. The infection can turn into an abscess and then get into the bloodstream.

Take note that staph bacteria are for the most part harmless to healthy people. In fact, many individuals have these “bugs” in their noses or on their skin, and they’re not sick.

The problem is that they can transfer the bacteria to others who would get sick, especially to those in hospitals and nursing homes with open wounds, weakened immune systems, and catheters.

So What Happens If Someone Does Get Infected With MRSA?

The medical community brings out the big guns: Vancomycin, one of the few antibiotics still effective against MRSA; however, some strains of MRSA are gaining strength.

What Can You Do Right Now To Protect Yourself And Others?

1. First of all, don’t live in fear. You need to live life, and to the fullest. But, you can try to live it a little more wisely.
2. The best thing you can do is wash your hands! This decreases the spread of germs. It may sound elementary, but it merits reminding. Scrub your hands with soap and warm water for at least 15 seconds. Dry them with disposable towels. Turn off the water with a clean, disposable towel, and open the door with one, as well. You may look funny, but you’ll be relatively germ-free!
3. Use an alcohol hand sanitizer when you are unable to wash your hands. It’s better than nothing!
4. Don’t share towels, clothes, athletic equipment, razors, cosmetics or cosmetic brushes with others.
5. Sanitize gym equipment after use, and even before use. Who wants to sit on a sweaty piece of equipment! Use a towel as a cover too.
6. If you have a cut or abrasion, keep it clean and covered until it is healed.
7. If you or a loved one is in the hospital or nursing home, make sure the medical staff washes their hands. Politely ask about hand washing; it’s OK to do so and even encouraged in some facilities.
8. Make sure that IV lines, injections, and catheters are inserted via sterile technique. Again, it’s OK to ask about this before the procedure begins.
9. See a doctor if you have an infection that doesn’t heal, gets worse, has pus draining from it, is an abscess, or is accompanied by other symptoms, such as a fever. Ask about getting tested for MRSA. That way you can receive the right treatment for you.

Check out The Mayo Clinic for further info.

Originally posted 2007-10-23 07:47:33. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• The Dreaded Halloween Candy! How do you get through Halloween (and its aftermath) when you’re faced with candy at work, candy you buy for the treat-or-treaters, candy your kids bring home, and leftover candy when Halloween has come and gone? Here are 13 tips on how to handle the candy and keep your diet......
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• Why Wait for That "Ideal" Weight? One of my goals has been to eat for health and not solely for looks. I must have forgotten this important goal because the other day I was being too critical of the way my body looked - a little bit of tummy pooch; thighs not exactly rock solid. I'm......
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If you are doing your own hair, then you want to make sure that you are businesslike about the supplies and the equipment that you use so that you can get professional results every time. Healthy hair care absolutely requires that you have the right tools, supplies and equipment so that you can get the job done the right way. This is one of the simplest healthy hair tips but also one of the most vitally important if you want for your hair to be healthy.

If you ever do any of your own cutting, even if it is just a matter of snipping your own bangs, you are going to want to make sure that you have professional shears for cutting hair, and you are going to want to make sure that they are actually sharp.

Whenever you are using metal pins or plastic clips of any type including pin curling hair pins, metal clips, bobby pins or plastic clips, you are going to want to make sure that they are smooth, free of rough edges and free from rust because rough edges and rust can really harm your hair if you allow it to.

If you make use of home permanent kits to do your own perm, or dye kits or any other type of manufactured product, then you are going to want to make sure that you are following the instructions that come on the package to the letter. While professional hair stylists may fudge the rules a bit to create a certain result, you do not have the experience to do this on your own hair and the results may be disastrous if you are not prepared.

The important thing for you to think about when it comes to hair is that you can use your healthy hair to enhance your appearance while you draw attention away from flaws. One of your greatest assets is your healthy hair, and so you should do absolutely everything that you can in order to keep it healthy and natural all the time. Healthy hair care can be performed at home, but you have to have the right healthy hair tips and the right supplies in order to make it happen.

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Photo Credits: Ana Santos

Originally posted 2009-10-16 03:25:05. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Healthy Pregnancy Tips for Expecting Mothers Congratulations on your pregnancy! Now that you are aware of the fact that you are expecting a baby, you are going to find yourself being shouldered with the truly vital task of making sure that both you and your baby are healthy for the next nine months. This may sound......
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• Good Health with a Healthy Pregnancy Diet If you are not striving to consume a healthy pregnancy diet during your pregnancy, then you may be missing some vital ingredients that are necessary for pregnancy health. Imagine leaving an important ingredient out of a complicated recipe. This is what it is like to leave the wrong nutrients or......

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So, what happens when we're really feeling sleepy and our energy tank is riding on "E"? Give in and take a nap? Well, yeah! Actually that's one option, but it's not always feasible or helpful for some individuals.

Let's see what else we could do...

Eat a healthy breakfast! As cliché as it may sound, breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. Why? Because it sets you up for the remainder of your day. It gets the fuel tank filled and your energy jump started.

Notice I wrote healthy breakfast. A mug of coffee doesn't count; sorry. Donuts don't count either. They just don't provide you with enough energy or nutrients to sustain you. A quality breakfast is one that includes protein and a complex carb. It will keep your blood sugar levels steady and keep hunger (and, for me, sugar cravings) at bay. Examples are:

• Yogurt and whole wheat toast spread with natural peanut butter
• Oatmeal with walnuts and milk mixed in
• Breakfast burrito - scrambled eggs, cheese, green peppers and onions wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla
• Brown rice with tofu and green onions mixed in it (Who said breakfast has to have traditional breakfast foods?)
• Whole grain pancakes (wheat flour, oat flour, spelt flour, or any other kind of whole grain flour) with sausages (can be turkey, tofu, or lite).
• Whole wheat English muffin topped with scrambled eggs and a bit of shredded cheese.

Have a tall one. I'm talking about water here. Dehydration, even just a little bit, can make you feel sluggish, even. You don't necessarily have to feel thirsty to be dehydrated. In fact, feeling thirsty is just a signal that you're really dehydrated and to drink water pronto!

Want to get an estimate of how well hydrated you are? Well... (Careful, I get a little intimate and graphic here!) Next time you go to the bathroom, check out the color of your urine. If it's clear, you're probably well hydrated. If it's a dark yellow, you may not be drinking enough water.

Get in Motion! If you're starting to feel the afternoon slump heading your way, get up and move. Stretch, do crunches and push-ups, turn on some music and dance, climb the stairs at work... or at home! Go for a walk. Getting some sunshine will wake up the body. Feeling a brisk breeze will refresh the mind, as well. A walk is a good way to get in some exercise too, so this option works like a one-two punch!

Fuel up. Again, protein comes in to play. Make sure your lunch has some form of lean protein. Chicken breast, turkey, fish, tofu, low-fat cheese, and eggs are several examples of protein sources. You can take any of these foods and turn them into a great lunch.

One example: I love fresh salads with everything on them! Add carrots, green and red peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, whole wheat pasta, and grilled chicken. Top with a mixture of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper or simply some lemon juice and herbs. Wow! That tastes good! I'm getting hungry just thinking about it! And you will be satisfied; trust me!

During the bewitching hours when sleepiness appears, instead of reaching for the cookies or candy (I am guilty here!), have a snack of string cheese and an apple, peanut butter on whole grain toast or crackers, low-fat yogurt mixed with walnuts and almonds, or carrots and celery with cottage cheese or hummus.

Take a power nap. As mentioned at the beginning, a nap may be a good option for recharging. Just make sure this won't interfere with your regular sleep at night. If a nap causes you to stay awake later at night or you find it difficult to fall asleep, then you may want to reconsider taking naps.

If an afternoon snooze agrees with you and you're able to do it, a 20-minute nap can give you that second wind and help you feel more alert. Going beyond 30 minutes may actually make you feel worse. If you know you've got to take a long nap, let your body go through a sleep cycle. That way you won't feel so groggy when you wake up. One sleep cycle is approximately 90 - 110 minutes long.

Get those Zzz's! Speaking of sleep, make sure you're getting enough of it at night! The average adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep every night! I happen to fall in that group. My brother, on the other hand, can get by with 5 or 6 hours! I was always amazed at this when we were kids. Still am!

This is a topic for a future post as there's a lot to cover! But just keep in mind that if you're yawning a lot in the afternoon, you might not be getting enough sleep at night. Sometimes it's hard to get in those forty-winks, though, isn't it?

Notice I left out caffeine. I'm personally in favor of other options to recharge in the afternoon. Caffeine in the afternoon has the tendency to disrupt sleep at night. It can cause other unpleasant side effects too such as jitteriness, rapid heart rate, upset stomach, and dehydration, not to mention it is addicting! To me, all that's not worth the temporary pick-me-up. I'm far too sensitive to caffeine to want to use it anyway!

OK, I make an exception: green tea! One caveat, though; it's gotta be from Japan!

Photo credits: bizior, lusi, DawnAllynn, marklph, sofa

Originally posted 2008-03-19 08:00:23. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Breakfast - The First Step to Breaking a Sugar Addiction If you're a sugar sensitive individual, you're more prone to becoming addicted to the white stuff (sugar and refined foods). If you know you're physically dependent on sugar and you truly want to end the addiction, there is hope. I'm reading Potatoes, Not Prozac, and in it, seven steps to breaking......
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• Healthy Pregnancy Tips for Expecting Mothers Congratulations on your pregnancy! Now that you are aware of the fact that you are expecting a baby, you are going to find yourself being shouldered with the truly vital task of making sure that both you and your baby are healthy for the next nine months. This may sound......

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And over here is a study describing what I've been holding to for years:  skipping breakfast = weight gain!  The study looked at adolescent boys and girls and found a direct relationship between bypassing breakast and a higher body mass index.  Why this is so is not for certain, but researchers surmise that breakfast provides energy, a satisfied tummy, and leads to increased activity levels and less consumption of food later in the day.

So eat that oatmeal; have that omelet, and go ahead and wash them down with a cup of green tea (preferably from Japan, but you know that's just my opionion)! 

Originally posted 2008-04-02 08:20:53. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• The Afternoon Slump Ever feel sleepy in the afternoon? I do sometimes, right around 2PM. It's actually normal and related to the natural ebb and flow of our internal body clocks. It's perfectly normal to feel a twinge of drowsiness in the afternoon. So, what happens when we're really feeling sleepy and our......
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• Breast Cancer Risk Factors for Women There are a number of ailments that women are actually at risk for developing without actually realizing it. For example, breast cancer risk factors for women are much more significant than they come to realize in many situations. Of all the types of cancer that you can get, breast cancer......

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Thankfully, my body doesn't react to the pollen that is floating around in the air. My claim to fame is cats. I break out in terrible sneezes, itchy eyes/nose, and a scratchy throat if I pet a cat or breathe in the same room with cat for an extended period of time. So it makes sense that any cat (and I seem to run into quite a few since many of my acquaintances are owned by one.) enjoys rubbing it's body around my ankles.

So for me, it's not so much of what's floating around outside that makes me want to take out my eyeballs and scratch them; it's what's in the home- a place that is supposed to be a safe haven from the evils of the world - that causes my allergies.

Not only can pets cause year-round allergy fun, but other, and sometimes unknown, allergens inside your home can potentially trigger your immune system to go into overdrive.

Bedsheets and Pillows

Here's a lovely thought: Mold spores, pollen, and especially our friends, the dust mites love to camp out in the bed sheets. They can cause allergy flare ups in those sensitive, which leads to a poor night's rest. If you're feeling sleep deprived and are unsure of the reason, you may want to rule out potential allergies. The best solution: clean your sheets! And this goes for everyone, not just the allergy-prone, including a certain college friend who washed her bedsheets about once a month! (Say it with me: "Ewww.")

• Wash sheets, blankets, and pillow cases at least once a week in water that is > 130 ° F
• Don't buy goose-down pillows or duvets
• Wash your pillow every 6 months
• Use dust mite-proof covers
• Check your detergent! Avoid brands with perfumes and dyes. And skip the dryer sheets. Vinegar works very well as a fabric softener when added during the rinse cycle.

Allergies from the bathroom

Mold is the primary allergen in the bathroom as it thrives in warm, moist environments. I believe I am guilty of promoting new mold species on my shower curtain when I was a wee bit... wee-er and too lazy to clean the darn thing! I have since learned my lesson: I don't use shower curtains. (see first point below)

• Clean shower curtains, or replace with shower door instead
• Clean sinks, tubs, toilets, and counter tops on a regular basis
• Fix leaky sinks
• Seal cracks where water can seep

Reducing allergens in kitchen

Kitchens can be a breeding ground for budding gourmet chefs, as well as icky bacteria, molds, and... cockroaches! Even the food can be potential allergens if someone in your family is sensitive to it. To reduce the ick factor and allergens:

• Wash dishes daily
• Place garbage in can with insect-proof lid
• Empty trash frequently
• Put recyclables in the garage. Rinse out cans/bottles before dropping in bin
• Disinfect sponges by putting them in the microwave for one minute (careful; they'll be hot)
• Throw out ratty, old sponges
• Store food, including pet food, in air-tight containers
• Clean kitchen, eating area, and pantry floors on a regular basis
• Clean pantry and cupboard shelves
• Someone in the house have a food allergy? Store that troublesome food far from all other foods; better yet, don't even buy it at all!

Allergies and carpets

Even though they offer padding, which is great for active little ones, carpets can harbor all sorts of nasties, from dust mites, to dirt, to pollen.

• If you can, get rid of the carpet and go for hardwood or linoleum. (pretty, but expensive)
• If this is not an option, vacuum at least once a week, and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
• Vacuuming can stir up dust, so keep those with bad allergies out of the room for while.
• Wear a mask if you're the allergy sufferer who's pushing the vacuum.

The decor makes me sneeze

Be careful of having too many intricate knickknacks because they will accumulate dust, and in hard to reach places too. Use furnishings that are easy to clean.

Allergies in the air

• Replace air filters regularly. Keep humidity no higher than 50%.
• If allergic to pollen, keep the windows closed during prime, pollen months.
• Stay inside on high pollen count days (usually warm, dry, and windy).
• Shower immediately after coming in from the outside.
• Clean window frames and sills

Mom, can we keep him?

If you've got a strong allergy to animals, your best bet is to not own a pet, but sometimes that's simply nonnegotiable. Thankfully, I am a dog-person, so I'm not heartbroken that I can't have a cat!

• If you do have a pet, don't let your pet on the bed.
• Don't even let your pet in the bedroom!
• Keep the pet outside most of the time, if you can, or in only a specific area of the house.
• Consider allergy shots

Managing allergies and even preventing them is possible with a little detective work, and it often starts right at home. If you or someone in your family is prone to allergies, see what you can do right in the home to prevent them because, fewer allergy symptoms = a much happier and productive life!

OK, is it me, or is anyone else feeling itchy right now from reading through this post?

Originally posted 2008-06-04 08:00:19. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• 7 Heart Healthy Diet Tips If you want to improve the health of your heart and your over all health and well being as well, the following heart health dietary tips are going to come in handy. These are diet recommendations that have been recommended by the American Heart Association for being able to improve......
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Something just didn't sit right with me when I read this article from People which touches upon Carrie's thoughts about her appearance and using sweets as a means of comfort. The full article about Carrie Underwood is featured in this month's issue of InStyle.

In my opinion, her focus on analyzing her body and needing to stay thin seems to be playing games with an obsession and even an eating disorder. And eating disorders never play nicely. Emotional eating may be a problem for her as she speaks about turning to ice cream when experiencing sadness and hurt.

Now, I don't think there is anything wrong with thinking about improving one's body and counting calories. In fact, I believe this can be very helpful to losing weight and improving health. However, I believe it turns into a problem when thoughts about such things become obsessions. Obsessions interfere with simply living and enjoying life. Obsessions about body weight and calories open doors to other problems, like eating disorders.

Riches, fame, talent, and beauty do not exempt one from the pressures to stay thin (and may even encourage it), whether those pressures are external (coming from others/society) or internal (created in your mind). I bet Carrie is feeling these pressures, and her celebrity status most likely intensifies them.

Here's some food for thought: Does Carrie's simply being a woman in the spotlight increase her pressure to remain thin? Will beauty according to Hollywood standards help her earn more money than by her talents alone? Does this apply to women in other professions? And what about the guys? Do they have it easier with appearance expectations?

Originally posted 2008-04-25 07:30:12. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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• Girl Scout Cookies - Wolves in Sheep's clothing? Girl Scout cookies seem to be everywhere these days! Coworkers bring in their child's cookie order sheet to work and encourage you to, "Just buy 8 boxes, and Jenny will get her badge!" Bubbly girls in green bombard you as you enter and exit the grocery store by displaying the......
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What I need is to come up with a plan that will assist me in handling my cravings the best way possible. In my experience, making small changes over time is easier to adopt and is more effective than trying to change everything in one fell swoop. I'm also sure that as I learn more, my battle plan may change. In the days to come I'll focus on these changes that I feel work best for me. The one I will focus on today is:

A Quality Breakfast: The first step to battling junk food cravings

Why breakfast? Breakfast gives the body fuel and keeps blood sugar levels steadier. I know that if I skip breakfast my blood sugar will crash about mid morning, and then I'll stuff myself silly come lunchtime. Steady blood sugar levels means I'll avoid "crashing" and subsequant overeating. It also means I'll feel a lot more alert and energetic, and I need this as I'm not a morning person!

Not all breakfasts are the same, though. A mocha latte with whipped cream sounds like a tasty breakfast, but it's not particularly healthy, nor would it hold me all morning! When I say a "quality" breakfast, I'm refering to a breakfast with some protein and complex carbohydrates.

• Complex carbs have fiber and more nutrients than the refined stuff. Again, my blood sugar will be a lot steadier, and that means I avoid the sugar crash.
• Protein will hold my hunger at bay for a longer period of time.

Now the hard part: Incorporating all of this into a breakfast I will actually eat!

Here are some breakfast options I've come up with that I know I would enjoy:

• High fiber, protein whole grain cereal with skim milk or soy milk
• Whole wheat toast with scrambled eggs (made with mostly egg whites)
• Oatmeal with a bit of protein powder, walnuts, and skim milk added to it (add don't forget chopped apples and cinnamon!)
• Breakfast burrito - scrambled eggs, onions, peppers, low fat cheese in a whole grain tortilla
• Pancakes and sausage!!! (OK, only if the pancakes are made with something other than refined flour and the sausages are made from turkey or soy beans!!)

(I was really only kidding about the pancakes and sausage part... sort of!)

I think these are realistic and palatable options, and I'm going to give them a try in the days to come. I'll let you know what happens. Feel free to voice your suggestions or share what breakfasts work for you.

Originally posted 2008-01-25 08:30:32. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Take the time and make the effort to establish a relationship or a rapport with the owner and the servers at your favorite restaurants. What this will do is make it easier in the future for you to negotiate menu items, asking for lower fat and lower salt versions of your favorite dishes. This is extremely worthwhile if you eat out a lot, or have favorite dishes that can be made healthier in some way.

When it comes to serving dessert, you should be choosing fruit ice, fresh fruit, gelatin, sherbet and angel food cake. All of these dessert items are excellent alternatives to snack that are laden with cream and fat. You won't notice the difference in sweetness or flavor, but you'll certainly notice the health benefits boost.

Some people that are dealing with congestive heart failure are required to limit the amount of liquid that they are taking in every single day. Many doctors are recommending that people drink eight glasses or less. It is important for you to consult your own personal physician to determine what is ideal for you because this could play a large role in improving or maintaining good heart health.

Avoid frying foods when you are preparing them because it adds fat, grease and oil. Rather than fry your foods, you should be baking them, broiling them, roasting them, boiling them or even microwaving them in order to result in less fat and far fewer calories than if you were to fry them in oil or butter.

Make the investment in a non stick frying pan. This way, you can use very little butter or oil, as these things add cholesterol and fat to the food during the preparation process. Despite cutting down on the presence of oil and butter in the pan and on the food, your food will not stick to the pan.

If you are working with a cooking recipe and it calls for eggs and butter, what you may want to try is substituting in polyunsaturated oil or margarine in place of butter. You can substitute 1 egg white and 2 teaspoons of unsaturated oil in place of a single egg, or 1 tablespoon of polyunsaturated margarine or ¾ tablespoon of unsaturated oil in place of a tablespoon worth of butter.

When you are eating out, always ask if you can substitute in healthy alternatives-- such as unsalted vegetables or a plain baked potato rather than high sodium and high fat side dishes such a onion rings or French fries in order to cut calories, fat and sodium all at once.

Photo Credits: Mornflake

Originally posted 2009-09-04 03:43:05. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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The problem is, I can get used to this indulgent, “lazy” lifestyle rather quickly, and I find it difficult returning to the more disciplined routine.

I truly enjoy exercising and eating “clean;” I feel more energetic and healthier. Yet, it’s so much easier just to be lazy – to sleep in, to eat those tantalizing cookies or second helpings of leftover stuffing and cranberry sauce, to sit and play on the computer all day or lounge on the couch wrapped in an afghan, reading a good book. 'Sigh' Oh, the conflict!

For me, the hardest part of an exercise and healthy eating routine is forming the routine itself. This is especially apparent come holiday time when visions of chocolate sweets and a homemade turkey dinner dance in my head. Oh, the guilt!

So what to do? I'm learning a couple of things that help me. The first is to be a little more forgiving with myself and accept a "lazy" day or two. Enjoying a holiday dinner and skipping a workout isn't going to ruin my health or figure. I am learning to just relax and focus on enjoying the holiday, it's meaning, and the family gathering.

Allowing myself to accept and enjoy temporary “laziness” relieves me of guilt. No guilt helps me avoid the all-or-none mindset - you know, the rationalization, "Oh, I messed up and had 2 cookies; might as well have 5 more and a large piece of cake to wash them down!" And avoiding the all-or-none futility, I can get back into my exercise routine without going overboard.

The second lesson I'm learning is: to get back into the eating and exercise routine, I must be committed to doing so and set a specific and realistic day to start again. If I simply say, "Oh, I'll start exercising some time Christmas or the new year," I'm not that committed and my routine will be shaky.

Failed routines also exist if I set unrealistic start dates, such as running 5 miles Christmas night or 5 AM the next day! I know myself. These statements are too lofty for me; I wouldn't commit to them, and I'd end up feeling guilty.

With my 2 lessons in mind, this year I accepted a few "lazy" days without letting myself feel guilt... at least not a lot of guilt! I set a specific and realistic day to return to my more self-disciplined routine again, and I committed to it. And I accomplished this without too much of an ordeal - quite refreshing!

How I'm doing? Not perfect, but pretty darn well, I'd say. I'm back to the old routine again with an occasional chocolate treat leftover from Christmas. (It would be criminal to throw them out!) I enjoyed a temporary "lazy" period, knowing that my usual routine would be waiting for me without condensation after the holidays were just a memory. Hopefully I can remember these lessons during the next major celebration!

Photo credit: cwcav

Originally posted 2008-01-02 19:00:29. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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