Healthy Reminders

Happy Birthday to my awesome roommie Jessica!!

At the 2011 Scooper Bowl

Kelly and I blew up balloons to put outside of her bedroom door

So excited for a yummy b-day dinner tonight down on Newbury Street!

My workout this morning was heart-pumping. I did a circuit-style weight routine and then 20 minutes of easy cardio. The weight routine looked like this:

Chest press on stability ball - 15 reps
Bent over row with non-working hand on stability ball - 15 reps each side
Reverse lunges holding medicine ball - 20 reps each leg
Reverse flys - 15 reps
Squat with stability ball against the wall - 15 reps
Bicep curls - 15 reps
Single-leg hamstring curls on ball - 12 reps each side
Tricep extensions - 15 reps
Deadlifts - 15 reps
Lateral shoulder raises - 15 reps

Rest for 1 minute then repeat once. This took about 25 minutes!

Lunch today was delicious! I made a little salad and some super easy crab cakes :)

Recipe (adapted from How Sweet It Is)
Serves 1

1 6oz can lump crabmeat
4 wheat saltine crackers, crushed
1.5 tbsp egg white
1/3 tbsp mustard
1/3 tbsp light mayo
pinch of salt and pepper
1/2 tbsp olive oil

Combine all ingredients in a bowl, except for the oil, and mix well. Heat skillet on medium heat and add olive oil. While skillet is heating, form two patties from mixture. Place them in the skillet, and cook until lightly golden brown: about 3-4 minutes on each side.

These are sooo tasty!

Self-reminder as to what being healthy really is all about:

So, part of the reason that I started this blog was because I want to stop being so concerned with my weight, body, how it should look, etc. I sometimes focus too much energy on wanting to be skinny, even though I know that isn't what is important in leading a healthy life.

Today, my brother is having one of his infusions for his Crohn's disease, and it's something like this that reminds me of what being healthy is and isn't.

• Being healthy doesn't mean being skinny, counting calories, dieting incessantly, and trying to have the body of a celebrity
• Being healthy does involve taking care of yourself in all aspects of wellness- physical, mental, social, intellectual, emotional, etc.

I think it's important to remind myself of this sometimes. My brother has Crohns, my mom and aunt have Multiple Sclerosis, and my grandmother has breast cancer. I may not always like what I see in the mirror, but I am a healthy person. I do not have diseases or conditions that impact my everyday life. I need to be thankful for my health and grateful for having a body that lets me do the things I enjoy. I love working out and being active, but I need to keep in mind the important reasons for doing it - it keeps my heart healthy, prevents chronic diseases, keeps my muscles and bones strong, helps clear my mind, and boost my mood. These things are so much more important than fitting into a size 0.

I guess I sometimes need a friendly reminder of what being healthy encompasses so that I can focus on the more important things in life :)

What helps you recognize the real meaning of being healthy?