Skating Uphill - May 2019

 
“May is now officially declared ‘Be Good to Yourself Month!’”
– The Uphill Skater –

I love to change the designation of months. I think some of them are silly anyway. I mean, who really knows (or cares) if it is Dairy Month unless one lives in Wisconsin? Also, I get that April showers bring May flowers and all of that, but we can do better. So now we are going to have a special month absolutely dedicated to ourselves. That may or may not sound a bit selfish to you. My hope is “may not.” Think about how little you actually do just for you, We (women) usually give to others first. However, just for this month, may we try some fun experiments meant for you and you alone?

The first one will be the hardest; it was for me, anyway. I have regained five pounds from my goal weight success story of last month. I know a couple of others who are in the same boat, and I don’t necessarily mean YOU. So, let’s just simply forgive ourselves and move on. Gasp! Did I just say that? What I really mean is to NOT give up and go back to being a slacker, even though that has a lot of appeal to me right now. What I mean is to kind of let it go. I stopped and looked at why this weight situation was happening to me, and it was because I had strayed from several things that were working for me.

I usually have the same healthy breakfast, and somehow I lost that habit between Easter Brunch and chocolate eggs. I lost my way in a coop of PEEPS. So now back to 80-calorie yogurt with two teaspoons of mixed nuts and a cup of fresh fruit. I really like that and it is quite filling. I am back to basics with no sacrifice and no regrets. Do little fixes and check out results. Nothing dramatic, alright?
Buy a good book: I love murder mysteries set in cool places. I just finished a series of books set in the time of Richard the III, and have now started a series of murders set in the 1920s about a down and out female aristocrat who goes to London to try to find a job with only a finishing school diploma for a reference. She gets caught up in murders in the best of families at lovely manor houses, and of course, she solves the mystery and keeps the family names from the dreaded scandal that was so much the kiss of death in those days. Good fun, and I really love things set in totally different times. It adds a layer of interest to a good read. Try it.

A Fresh Reward: I love a massage or spa day! Sometimes I go to the spa to fully relax and rejuvenate. Other times, I treat myself to a new personal item—make-up, face moisturizer, perfume, a really good smelling shampoo, a bottle of nail polish in a flashy shade, lunch out, or my personal favorite—fresh flowers. Just a small treat can make a big impact on feeling fresh.

Finally, for absolutely no money at all, take the afternoon off and watch a movie. Take a warm bath, wash your hair, rub lotion on your feet and put on socks, smear cream all over your lovely self, and just fade out for a couple of hours. Book it. Make an appointment with YOU. I did this a couple of days ago and binge watched an old TV series on Netflix and actually nodded off. I have not had an afternoon nap in I can’t remember how long. I woke up feeling smooth and lovely next to my flowers and yogurt mixed with a bit of honey and gave myself a no guilt pedicure. How sinful—NOT!

Remember, May is now Be Kind to Yourself Month, and I honestly think you know what I mean. I bet you could pick three things you would love to do for you right this minute, couldn’t you?  Love, Judith
PS: As you know, I read a lot and some of the new things food wise on the pipeline have to do with oil. We know that olive oil and other natural oils can be ultra-healthy, but have you tried a tuna salad with your own recipe using olive oil instead of mayo? Also, pasta salad with olive oil instead of mayo is way healthy. Finally, I have recently come across several recipes using avocado oil. I am a huge avocado fan (being originally from California) so I was happy to find spray avocado oil at my grocery store. For more food tips check out www.skatinguphill.com. See you next month.

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