True Gift of LOVE for Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is already upon us- what happened to January? Are you still figuring out your New Year's Resolutions, or have you already forgotten the ones you chose? At any rate, we are indeed well into February of 2012, and the onslaught of high calorie holidays continues...with next week's Valentine's chocolates topping the list.

This year, why not show your love in a better way to support your loved one's health? I LOVE chocolate, but why not give a half-dozen chocolate covered strawberries, rather than a whole box of candy? Better yet, meet your sweetheart for a moonlight stroll around the lake (or city, or park). Write him a list of the top ten reasons he makes you smile, or send her a gift card for a pampering manicure!

If your honey is an award-winning athlete and truly heart healthy, knock yourself out sending high calorie treats or splurging on a five course meal. BUT, if you are like the vast majority of Americans, and you and/or your sweetheart really need to increase your overall fitness and decrease your waistline, show you REALLY love your partner by giving them a gift that will improve the quality and length of your lives together!


BOTTOM LINE: Let's support our loved ones and give gifts that spread joy, not waistlines!

My Valentine to YOU!

Happy Valentine's Day! I have decided to give you, my patients, AND myself a special Valentine- a free "do-over" for any New Year's Resolutions that have perhaps fallen to the wayside. Did you promise to head to the gym after work three days per week, but now a heavy snowstorm blocked your way for a few days, and you simply dropped the whole thing after missing a week? What about walking your dog each morning- same excuse? In Austin, we had SNOW on the ground last week, but today it is literally 73* and SUNNY, so we need to head back outside.

How about eating more plants and less processed stuff? If the main GREEN in your diet is a Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookie, it's time to focus on more color. Even if your choice today is a chocolate covered strawberry vs. chocolate truffles, take that step and grab the luscious strawberries.

Whatever derailed YOUR good intentions, please use this "get out of jail free" card to cut yourself some slack, and START OVER TOMORROW (or better yet, TODAY!) And if your sweetheart asks what you'd like for Valentine's Day, ask for something that will promote your health, like new work out shoes or clothes, a pedometer, a heart rate monitor, or even a gym membership or an exercise bike! If you are still deciding what to get YOUR Valentine, and he or she hates the idea of exercising and you think a gift like that would offend them, at least choose a pampering gift that wont undermine their weight loss efforts, such as a gift certificate for a manicure or massage.

BOTTOM LINE: Enjoy this Valentine's Day and refocus on your HEART healthy habits for 2011!