10 Healthy Living Tips: Do I follow them?

 

I really liked  Amanda’s (from Run to the Finish) post last week where she addressed 10 healthy living tips that she doesn’t follow.

I thought it would be fun to look at the 10 Healthy Living Tips she discussed and, almost like a survey, see if I follow them.

1. Drink Warm Lemon Water

I don’t drink lemon water in the morning (unless there’s a lemon in the house which is rare) but I do drink water mixed with Apple Cider Vinegar every morning which I always forget to mention.

I have been doing so for a couple of years now and although they claim there are multiple health benefits to drinking Apple Cider Vinegar, I can’t say that I feel them at this point; I think I drink it out of habit more than anything else but hey, if it’s good for me, great! Maybe my insides are appreciating it.

Quick List of Apple Cider Vinegar Health Benefits (click here for more in-depth info):

• Improved Digestion
• Detoxification Properties
• Regulate Blood Sugar
• Weight Loss
• Improve Skin
• Regulate Blood Pressure
• Reduce Leg Cramps
• Increase Energy Levels

2.  Kale Chips

I have gone through phases making kale chips but too much kale hurts my stomach so I really don’t buy kale any more at all. I know it’s a great green to eat but spinach is much easier on my stomach. So there.

3. 10 oz Water Per Mile While Running

While hydration is extremely important, I have never measured the amount of water I drink while I run nor have I considered how much water I drink per mile. In fact, unless it’s summer, I rarely bring water outside with me when i run. Maybe this isn’t right but I would say that it works for me. I do make sure to drink of course – in advance of my workouts, after my workouts and all day long. I eat hydrating fruits as well.

At The Cheesecake Factory over the weekend, I definitely had our waiter filling my cup over and over – I always drink a ton of water when we eat at The Cheesecake Factory, with lemon 🙂

During races, I do grab water as often as possible, especially early in the race, even before I think I am thirsty. The one time I skipped a water stop thinking I wasn’t thirsty, I got thirsty right after and I do believe it negatively affected the rest of the race for me.

4.  No Eating after 7PM

No clock is going to tell me when I eat. I cannot go to bed hungry. If I am even the slightest bit hungry, I eat something before going to bed. If I even try to go to bed slightly hungry, I will be up, nauseous-starving, looking for oatmeal at 2:00 am (which happens sometimes anyway).

5. No Eating in Front of the TV

Like, I get it, but I often eat my snacks and meals while watching television if no one else is home and I have no plans on changing this habit.

6. Cut the Sugar

If I ever tell you I gave up cake or the desserts that I enjoy, please call my mother to schedule an immediate intervention. I may not eat cookies, ice cream sundaes and chocolate cake every day, but they are all regular occurrences and make me happy.

I had this delicious parfait thing from Whole Foods over the weekend! It was layers of chocolate cake with fresh whipped cream (like a thick whipped cream, almost more of a whipped cream frosting) with lots of strawberries. I would definitely get it again.

I won’t deny my dessert cravings and I won’t give up the naturally occurring sugars in fruits either. In fact, I don’t count the sugar in fruit as sugar, I look at an apple as if it’s an apple and a banana as if it’s a banana.

I realize that other products contain hidden sugars, which I do notice on the bottles of tomato sauce, barbecue sauce and ketchup but the products I buy (which are free from artificial stuff and high fructose corn syrup), I enjoy.

I try not to get too nutty over these things because doing so would make my life miserable and I think, for me, on a negative path to disordered eating.

7.  Buy Organic For Anything Where You Eat The Skin

I try to pay attention to the dirty dozen list but I don’t always; I do the best I can. They do say it’s still better to eat your fruits and veggies regardless of organic or not organic than to not eat them at all.

8. Get a Trainer

You know, I totally forgot that I had a trainer when I was in college. He was my dad’s regular trainer at our gym so sometimes I would take his sessions or schedule a few of my own. He definitely worked me hard but it’s not something I am looking to get involved with again. I like my workouts and my routine just fine without the extra help.

9. Lift Heavy Things

Do 3 lb weights count? How about my body weight exercises? Those feel heavy and difficult for sure!

I never liked weight lifting so finding Pure Barre was the best thing ever for me since the light weights and tiny isometric movements can be killer AND super effective. I have also noticed that although I mostly work with light weights and body weight exercises, I can lift heavier free weights than before I started Pure Barre.

10. Cold Shower Therapy

A cold shower to trigger fat burning? No thanks. Heck, I can’t even take an ice bath after my runs, you think I am getting into a cold shower ever on purpose? I will happily keep my fat in favor of a hot shower every morning.

Your turn!

Pick one or a few of these healthy living tips and let me know if they are a part of your daily routine or if you skip them completely!

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