This week I am sharing one of my newsletters that I send out to my Body By Zanotti clients. I like to do this every now and again as I think these tips and motivation are important for everyone to hear. I hope you enjoy!
When the weather gets warm, the getting stuck in the doldrums can be a real thing. You've probably heard the term before. It's a phenomenon that happened to ships sailing near the equator (back when wind power was all those big boats had). Intense summer heat near the equator forced hot air up instead of over the surface of the water. Ships could get stuck on the open sea for weeks! Now, we use that term to describe the lazy, listless feeling we sometimes get when it's too darn hot, and we don't feel like doing much of anything.
So, how do we stay out of the doldrums? How do we get out of them if we are feeling stuck? We have to remind ourselves that how we take care of ourselves is a lifestyle choice. Eating right, exercising, and staying in motion is simply something we do rain or shine, whether it's hot or cold. I'm definitely not suggesting you go for a run in the middle of a 90 degree day, but it's always possible to make a little time and space to move.
If it's too hot to trot outside, put a favorite show on while you go through your strength and stretching routine. Or how about swimming a few laps at the pool during Adult Swim? You don't have to have perfect freestyle form, just get in and paddle around! And if you can wait til the sun goes down, take a long post-dinner stroll -- try to catch a couple fireflies while you're at it!
And when it comes to what we eat, summer snacking can be as tempting as anything we might find during the holidays. Just remember your swaps! What's better than a cool slice of watermelon, some fresh summer strawberries, or slices of cucumber or baby carrots and some hummus? Planning a cookout? Break out of the burgers-and-dogs grind with some chicken and veggie kabobs, or some delicious salmon fillets (I love cooking mine in a foil pouch for easy seasoning and cleanup).
Bottom line? Don't let the doldrums drag you down. Break out by staying active indoors and out, and by celebrating great, fresh summer food in the kitchen and on the grill!