health

Jack Lalanne’s Inspiration

Jack Lalanne was an inspirational person. He reminded me of Joesph Pilates in his intense passion for fitness and trying to help and inspire others to a healthier lifestyle. I really hope that when I’m in my eighties and nineties, I’m as active and healthy as they both were.

I imagine that is something we all hope for, but health in our senior years has to start now. It seems so worth it. I think everyone who chooses a career in fitness on some level really wants to inspire others to be healthy too. But everyone is inspired in different ways.

I’m inspired by being able to be active, hiking a mountain like Mt. Washington, being involved in team sports, feeling good, looking good, being outdoors, competition, having fun while working out, and the calm I find exercise provides me. I’m inspired by watching someone really passionate like the video of Lalanne in the above link or reading Joe Pilates. The picture above even inspires me, but probably only becaue I know who Jack Lalanne […]

Jack Lalanne’s InspirationMaggie Downie2017-10-25T14:30:12-04:00

Healthy Lifestyle Slow Going

My healthy lifestyle has been progressing slowly. I’m the same weight and same measurements–135 pounds. And at this point I’ve got less than two months before I’m 30. I think I have to make February no dessert month or something.

The problem is, that isn’t realistic. I’m not going to cut desserts out forever. However, I really would like to lose five pounds because I think my four physical challenges that I’m preparing for this year will be easier if I do. And I think my knees will thank me a little bit, especially when I run and hike. And, I think I’ll just feel better in my own skin.

Alright–that’s it. I’ve decide this very second:no dessert for Maggie in the month of February. It’s the shortest month of the year, so I should be able to do it. Anyone want to join me? When we feel like having chocolate cake we can convince each other that plain yogurt is just as good.

My only exception: if we get more good snow storms and I shovel or sled, afterward I […]

Healthy Lifestyle Slow GoingMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:32:00-04:00

Real Inspiration

Yesterday while driving home from the gym I heard and ad on the radio that frustrated me. It was targeting women and trying to sell some kind of weight loss pill. It announced that scientists have said that women over 40 need to workout one hour a day just to maintain their weight, not even lose weight, so obviously everyone should start popping their pills to get skinnier.

It annoyed me that it was targeting women. It annoyed me that it was targeting women over 40. It annoyed me that is was claiming to have an easy fix to weight loss. It annoyed me that it was using what we know about the body against us.

I wished that there were ads that highlighted and inspired people via real life stories of individuals—men and women of all ages—who used diet and exercise to change their weight if needed. I thought of a very close family friend who in her mid fifties lost 50 pounds using weight watchers as a tool. She looks fabulous. I’d argue that she actually looks 30. It’s amazing. Another family friend lost weight by adding a morning exercise routine. Both of these women have […]

Real InspirationMaggie Downie2017-10-25T14:30:13-04:00

Pasta! Pasta! Pasta!

If it were up to my taste buds I would each pasta for every meal of every day, occasionally swapping out breakfast for a waffle, cereal, toast, or oatmeal. I love the stuff. And frequently when I was in high school and college I would eat pasta for a least one meal a day. It must be the Italian genes because while I like corned beef and cabbage, I seem just fine with an annual fix of the stuff.

But back to pasta. Are you sensing a carb theme here? That’s really what it is–pasta is my favorite carb–but I love all carbs. Right now I can’t think of a carbohydrate that I don’t like. I believe my dad once told me that he didn’t feel satisfied from a meal lacking in meat. Well I don’t feel satisfied from a meal lacking in carbs. And while carbs have gotten a bad wrap lately, in moderation they aren’t worse than anything else.

But moderation has always been my problem, until recently. Carbs are still what I want, but […]

Pasta! Pasta! Pasta!Maggie Downie2017-09-12T19:32:00-04:00

Snow Day Food

I usually grocery shop on Tuesdays. So last week when Matt and I made a list on Monday night, knowing that an impending storm was coming, he suggested I get some good snow-day food. “Good idea,” I said, “except I’m now on a healthy lifestyle.” I didn’t want to add a bunch of junk food to the list. And I’m pretty sure that is what good snow-day food is.

I added cider to the list for Matt and whole milk to the list for me so that I could make some good hot chocolate. I never drink whole milk except with hot chocolate, which I make from Dutch cocoa and sugar.

But then when I got the grocery store I kept seeing foods—dark chocolate covered marshmallows, cakes and pastries, cheesy quiches, scones, and breads—that would make good snow-day treats. Matt and I had already agreed that lunch would be grilled cheese with tomato and tomato soup. So there I was in the middle of the grocery store wanting all these good foods and being frustrated by my […]

Snow Day FoodMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:32:01-04:00