'...annnnnd We're Back!'

Welcome back to work, school, or whatever commitments you got a quick break from this weekend. If you're like me, then you probably need another day off just to recover from the Memorial Day festivities. I don't know how it happened, but I partied (or at least drank) from Wed - Sun w/no days off. I didn't mean for it to go down like that (or maybe I did), but I am certainly now realizing that I am old as hell and need to go sat down somewhere! Between the alcohol, bar-b-que, and lack of sleep, my poor body is wondering if I really love myself like I say that I do.

I definitely need to take some time to detoxify my system and rejuvenate my body. The good news is that this is almost just as easily said as done! Here are some quick tips to get your body back on the right track!

1. Drink lots of water! This will help to re-hydrate you after consuming so much liquor.

2. Clean up the house! Now I actually cleaned over the weekend, but most ppl fall off of the 'home maintenance wagon' while on vacation and find their home looking like a hurricane hit it. Trust me, you feel soooo much better when you're living in a clutter free zone, so take the time to pick up a bit.

3. Exercise today! I know that it's common to also fall off of the diet and exercise wagon, which leaves you feeling lazy and dare I say, fat! Even though 4 days probably hasn't done as much damage to your goals as you may feel, hopping right back on the plan will leave you feeling encouraged and motivated. Don't delay! Get to the gym before the day is out and move forward as though you never missed a beat.

4. Eat lots of fruits and veggies! Your body needs these foods to flush out all of the bar-b-que chicken and baked beans. The nutrients included in foods like apples, oranges, broccoli, and asparagus will boost your energy and nourish your body! Try steaming or sauteing your veggies to avoid cooking out the essential vitamins.

5. Catch up on your sleep! Typically it's tough for me to get enough sleep the 1st day back from vacation b/c my body has adjusted to not having much sleep. However, I try to carve out time over the next few days to get into bed early and recapture my rest. If you can't get rested, then all of your other efforts will be wasted b/c you won't even be able to muster up the energy or desire to see them through.

Hope these tips help! Have a great day!

*singing* "I Pop, I Drank...I'm on Patron and Purp! I can't think!"

Ok, well maybe not the 'purp' part, but I certainly do enjoy partaking in the libations. I wouldn't even categorize myself as a 'social' drinker. I like to drank, and I have no embarrassment or inhibitions about that fact! The problem is, of course, that drinks contain lots of calories. Sometimes one good cocktail can have more calories than an entire healthy meal. Talk about sabotaging a diet. Unfortunately for me...I don't give not one hell. I'll just have to exercise harder! LOL!

However, I would recommend putting more thought into how many calories lie in the other beverages that you consume throughout the day. Try counting up all of the calories that you consume everyday for one week. You will need to journal in order to keep track. I think that you will find yourself quite surprised at the results. You may assume that you're taking in about 1600-1800 cals/day. AND this may be correct...as far as food goes. However, sugary drinks (from Vitamin Water to Orange Juice to Pop) can add on an extra 400-600 calories if you aren't careful.

Check out this article. It calls out some common pitfalls, and gives tips to avoid them. Personally, I try to do the following things:

- Drink water the majority of the time
- Choose a 'diet' version when I am having pop
- Order the 'small' version of any coffee drinks and sub in Skim Milk

I'm sure that this doesn't make me 'perfect' by any means. There are always ways to be better, but it works well for me to be healthy AND happy!

Work Hard and Play Hard!

• So Memorial Day weekend is just around the corner, which means that I have 4 days all to myself. This is one of the few long weekends that I'm not traveling to another destination, which is actually somewhat bitter sweet. I'm excited about 4 days of spending time w/my Chi-town friends, relaxing on my balcony, sleeping late, and finishing off the 3 books that I bought in the last two weeks. At the same time, I kinda wish that I could swing to the ATL to chill w/my mom and sister...not to mention to get up on the ATL Carnival activities.

• Anyway...I've digressed. My point is that, I have an excellent opportunity to really get in some 'Me time'...to rest and to restore my soul. That is...if I don't procrastinate on work this week, which would cause me to have to 'login' over the weekend. Now many of you know that procrastinating is a problem for me (really evidenced by the fact, that I'm blogging at work at 10 am). I hate that I do it, but I just can't help but to put off the necessary...esp. when I have free time up ahead. However, this week (starting just after I post this entry). I AM going to clear my 'to do' list by Thursday night. This may mean some long evenings, but I DO NOT care. Weekends where I have no 'work rain cloud' hanging over my head are the best (not to mention the most relaxing), and I am determined to make this one of those.

• What about you guys? How is your weekend, and therefore your week shaping up? Are you going to spend your free time focusing on the parts of your life that truly matter? God? Yourself? Your family and friends? Or are you going to use the extra time to get caught up (if not ahead) on work, home projects, and other to do items? Even if you have to knock some work or chores out of the way, then I definitely encourage you to take some time to honor yourself and those parts of your life that are your true priorities. You never know what tomorrow will hold, so live today to the fullest!

You know I love the kids!

Check out my debut on YouTube.

*singing* 'Summer, Summer, Summertime....Oooh Summertiiiimmme!'

That's right folks, Summer is HERE. Well if you leave in the north, then it's not really...here, but you should be getting days that are consistently 70 degrees or higher. Not too bad. Certainly good enough to get outdoors and get fit.

Last time that I posted, I mentioned that I did plenty of walking in France. Well not only did I do lots of walking, but I actually did a bit of hiking. Although hiking isn't a part of my normal routine (surprise...Chicago just doesn't have many hills), I actually have had the pleasure of enjoying it on a couple of occasions. While on vacation in Puerto Rico I hiked through El Yunque rain forest, and I've hiked up Stone Mountain (in Georgia) a couple of times. Now I've added Mont Sainte Victorie (the beginners hill) in Southern France to my repertoire.

Although this work out can be challenging and at some times perilous, it was absolutely rewarding. The view from the top is amazing, and you have just a feeling of accomplishment. In the case of my trip to Puerto Rico, I discovered a hidden water fall as the treasure/reward for my efforts. Absolutely beautiful.

If you're thinking of giving this sport a try, then I definitely recommend doing a bit of research first. You can prepare and condition your body to make your journey that much more pleasant. Here's an article to get you started.

Now, if you don't live anywhere near a hill...much less a mountain, but you still want to enjoy this beautiful season, then here are some other alternatives. Enjoy!

Swimming

In-Line Skating

Cycling

Ultimate Frisbee

*singing* 'Walk, walking is a habit...Get like me!'

Well I'm just back from vacation in the south of France, and guess what...people there walk EVERYWHERE. They walk up the hill...they walk down the hill...they walk to the market...they walk to work...they even walk to kick it. After five days of eating pretty much everything in sight (oh yeah...we enjoyed the local cuisine), I've barely gained a pound. Do you know why? Because I walked several miles each day. In fact, I am now sore like I've been working with a personal trainer!

As a result, I've begun to see just how valuable walking in your 'everyday life' can be. I still believe in working out (goodness knows that some of us will walk 5 steps and call that our daily workout), so I don't suggest cutting your normal routine. However, I do believe in adding a walk into your day, where possible. For instance...tonight I am attending an event downtown where I could take two separate buses...oooooor I can walk a few blocks over and only take one bus. You see? It's not a workout, per se, but it is a bit of physical activity that can add up over time.

In fact, I'm going to start looking for all sorts of opportunities to walk. I think that there are quite a few out there, but I've just gotten so accustomed to 'door to door' service, that I've been overlooking them. Well with the summer rolling in, there is no better time to get back into the habit. Don't you wanna get like me :-)