Summer Lovin'

There is nothing like summer to kick start a personal campaign to live a more healthful life. About this time every year I feel a renewed sense of excitement towards clean eating and exercise. The season provides the motivation that's missing during the dreary months between late fall and early spring that tend to zap our energy and leave us wanting nothing more than a baggy pair of sweats, a comfortable couch and the tv remote at the end of the day.

Let it Shine

Study after study indicates that exposure to sunlight has a positive effect on one's mood. I know that this is the case with me. I purposely leave my blinds just slightly cracked at night so that the sunlight can start working it's magic on me from the minute I wake up in the morning. A bright morning gets the day started right and I'm much more likely to be motivated to get chores done around the house rather than lying around in my bathrobe with a cup of coffee and the morning news.

The great outdoors.

When you live in a climate with 4 distinct season like I do, the opportunity to regularly workout outdoors is limited to a few months out of the year. Yes, we can walk outdoors in the winter, but who enjoys that? Exercise shouldn't feel like torture after all. But when I'm taking a morning bike ride, enjoying nature on a brisk walk or spending an afternoon rowing with my husband on a local pond, it doesn't feel like exercise at all; it feels like leisure.

Why not take advantage of the great weather and kill two birds with one stone. Instead of driving on errands that are a short distance from home, bike or walk instead. Make it a family affair if you have kids. Children love it when adults join in their play. A game of tag or an afternoon at the swimming pool benefits everyone.

Even my sweet dog Murphy benefits from the nice weather. Every member of my family enjoys taking him on walks through the neighborhood. A couple daily walks can burn off some extra calories even for our canine friends. To boot, Murph's little nails get worn down so I don't have to take him to get his nails trimmed!

My baby boy, Murphy

Eat up!

If finding foods that you like that are also good for you are an issue then summer is your BFF. An enormous selection of fresh fruits and veggies are in season. As an added bonus, when it's in season prices are lower.

Grilling makes summer cooking fun and quick. Marinated chicken, fish, lean ground beef and veggies are all healthy choices and taste so good when grilled that you'll never miss pizza. Make it a point to chop up veggies and fruit once a week and meal planning is effortless. You'll be able to use your seasonal selection of produce to whip up quick salads, kabobs and even low-calorie desserts. Have you tried grilled pineapple or peaches, yum!

Via KitchenProject.com

For all these reasons, I'm loving summer.

What are your favorite things about the season?

The Naked Truth

In his book Naked, author David Sedaris includes a hilarious short story about his experience visiting a nudist camp. I wish I could remember the exact quote he used to sum up his recollections of that time, but the gist of it was this: Most people, almost all people, don't look that glorious naked. So why is it that the average American woman is so quick to point out the flaws she sees on her own body?

While I've never been to a nudist camp such as the one Mr. Sedaris described, I have been to vacation destinations where nudity was permitted. (Sorry to disappoint, but I didn't choose to take part and, therefore, have no tales to report .) Surprisingly enough, once I got passed the initial shock of seeing both men and women strolling down the beach or frolicking in the water sans clothing, it didn't take long before the strangeness of it dissipated. My guess is that most of those people walking the beaches in the buff weren't Americans. Why? Because they seemed comfortable in their own skin. (Pun intended!) In many countries nudity is not considered taboo the way it is in America. Nude beaches are commonplace and entire families visit together. In America, dare I say, we are socialized to view our bodies negatively if they don't fit a certain stereotype of the ideal.

I'll admit that at 127 lbs I still find myself the victim of negative self-talk from time-to- time, swimsuit season is a particularly challenging time of the year. Heading into the fitting room there's always that feeling of dread knowing that the cellulite on my thighs will have nowhere to hide in the tankinis or one-piece suits I've selected. While we purchase swimsuits to visit pools and beaches, places that are supposed to be fun, these tiny pieces of clothing have the power to make us miserable.

Could it be that we, American women in particular, should take a cue from the nudists? Embrace our bodies for what they are at the moment. Of course we should nourish them wisely and insist on providing them with daily activity to keep them strong and healthy, but also we should appreciate and respect them for the gifts that they are.