Motivation Monday-- Diet Dilemmas part 2

How was your week?  Did you struggle with anything?
Today I'll be finishing up our Diet Dilemmas:

Dealing with stress
Eating healthy on the go.
Making time to exercise (finding the motivation to exercise)



Dealing with stress
Pamela Peeke MD author of the book The Hunger Fix realized that stress is unavoidable so she started meditating to cope better."Every morning I sit for 20 minutes, close my eyes, check in with myself, and transend to a peaceful place."  Make sure to take time for yourself. Even if it's only ten minutes a day, find something you love to do.  For me, I've found that exercise is my meditation time.  Not only do I get me time but a fantastic endorphin rush that puts me in a better mood the rest of the day! 

Eating healthy on the go. 

Fun fact: Bob looks better with his shirt off

Bob Harper from the Biggest Loser travels a lot and doesn't like many of the choices at the airport. He avoids eating unhealthy airport food by planning ahead. "If you opened up my backpack, you'd find portable, healthy foods like unsalted cashews, low-sodium deli meat slices, cheese sticks, and beef jerky.  On the off-chance that I don't have my own food, I search out an apple, banana, fruit cup, or a simple turkey and Swiss sandwich and eat it without the bread." These options are great for running errands as well.  Nuts and fruit work well for me.  I will grab a Lara bar in a pinch.  If you like protein drinks, put the powder in a shaker cup and keep it in your car/bag.  When you get hungry, just add water and you have a "meal".  

Making time to exercise (finding the motivation to exercise)

Gardening is a great way to burn calories

I've found that if  I exercise first thing in the morning I'm more likely to get it done. I've also noticed that the people who exercise in the moring are the most fit.  By the end of the day, I'm usually too tired to exercise. Sitting on the couch watching TV with my man sounds a lot more desirable than going outside in the dark or driving over to the gym.  Early morning exercise doesn't work for everyone. Kathy Kaehler trainer to Jennifer Aniston and Julia Roberts says "Exercise doesn't have to happen only on a treadmill.  So if I can't get to the gym, I make sure that my day includes some sort of physical activity--like gardening, rearranging furniture, bringing in the groceries.  All that activity can add up to burn between 250 and 400 calories." ( I love that she throws rearranging furniture in there.  Husband asks "what did you do today." You respond  "Not much dear, I just brought all the upstairs furniture downstairs...we'll be sleeping in the family room tonight.")  Her point is not to move your furniture but find creative ways to burn calories.  Park your car far away, walk to the park and play at the playground with your kids (instead of just watching them), take the stairs, do a mini workout during the commercial breaks while watching TV.  And that interval training we talked about can also make a workout feel a little more interesting.  

As always remember to weigh in and please answer the poll. Keep up the great work ladies! You're doing Fantastic!