Forget the Iron, Get an Upright Clothing Steamer

My Jiffy Steamer is essential when it comes to taking care of my clothes.  I hate ironing!  The steamer is a perfect alternative. 

For under $200, it is a great investment.  I've had mine for over four years.  I have saved so much money on dry cleaning and my clothing lasts longer.  Compared to dry cleaning, the steamer is more gentle on your clothes, which allows your clothes to last longer.  Just steam the wrinkles out and they are ready to wear again.  Now, I send dry clean items to the cleaner, only when they are stretched out from wear or stained.

Fixtures International in Houston carries the steamer. 

Check it out!

Lite Workouts

When I workout, I like to workout hard!  Sweat dripping off my body and through my clothes.  I want to push myself as hard as I can go.  I like to "ride my edge," as they say.

Recently, I was reminded by my doctor and an exercise physiologist that it is important plan a few lite workouts during the week.  The idea is that if every workout is a hard workout, you are adding more stress to your body. When your body is stressed, no matter what the cause (work, family, or a workout), your body produces cortisol.  Too much cortisol in your body CAN make you susceptible to illness, decreased libido, decrease in bone density, high blood pressure and increased abdominal fat.

Working out VERY hard puts your body in fight-or-flight mode, just like if you were in a life-or-death situation.  Limit these workout to no more than twice a week. 

If you are under a high level of stress, keep your workouts lite.  Your body does not interpret the hard workout as a stress reliever.  Your body interprets the hard workout as another stressor.

For your lite workouts, get your heart rate up (to where you can hear yourself breathe), but don't push yourself to your edge.  Your body will thank you for it.

If you have questions, find an exercise physiologist or doctor that you can consult with. 

Breakfast Ritual

For the past month, I have been waking up 15 minutes earlier than usual and actually eating breakfast at the kitchen table.  Holy cow!  I don't think I have done this since elementary school.  I have to say that I love it!  I was thinking about doing this for years, but just couldn't seem to do it.

I am not a morning person, so the thought of getting up early to eat at the table or get more sleep was a no-brainer. I was going to choose sleep.

In the past, my usual routine was--walk the dogs, get showered/dressed, make the bed, toast waffles with nut butter and banana/berries (to eat in the car) or McD's Egg McMuffin (also eaten in the car).  I ate breakfast, but was in constant motion from the time my feet hit the floor in the morning.

Now, after I walk the dogs and before I shower, I make breakfast and sit down and eat it (on a placemat--extra points).  I admit, that my breakfast is a quick one.  I make eggs and toast, cereal with berries and almond milk, or whole grain toaster waffles with nut butter and bananas/berries (like a sandwich)---and of course, coffee.  It takes about 7 minutes to make, at most.

I do watch The Today Show during breakfast.  (It counts as news, doesn't it?)  The 8 minutes to eat is short, but just enough to make me feel like I am doing some thing for myself before the work day.  I notice that when I get to work, I am less frazzled and more grounded.

I must say that it starts my day off right.  A few minutes of ME time, in the morning does this body good.

I wish I were a morning person, but I accept the fact that it will always be a struggle to wake earlier than 7:00 a.m.  I hope that one day I will make a habit of waking up even 30 minutes earlier and meditate before breakfast.  One step at a time, though.  Another aspiration to add to the list!