Weight-ing for Summer!

They did it again.  My spring & summer clothes.  Hung in the closet over the winter and got….er….snug.  Maybe it’s the stillness of the air in the closet during the winter months. … Maybe the proverbial they just don’t make clothes like the proverbial they used to. Wait…I know, the heat,  That’s it!  My middle daughter and I are frightfully cold-natured, so the heat runs all winter…..  Bygawd, that’s what shrinks my clothes.  Every winter. Whew, for a minute there I thought it was too many lattes, bowls of chili, and goodies that begged to be baked (and eaten) during the winter months.
If it weren’t the clothes, and if I had put on a few pounds during the winter….I’d sure be scrambling around trying to get geared up for an intensive get-fit-for-summer program.  After all, I have a reputation to maintain on the tennis courts and miniature golf courses all over the south. My family darn near shakes in their collective shoes when I pick up a golf club.  I own them.

Let’s just pretend for a moment that it is me.  What will I do…I mean, what would I do… to  take that weight off?  What would I do to get ready for sleeveless tops and other non-forgiving summer clothes?

1. I’d start cutting back on empty calories.  I’d buy more fruit and vegetables, especially since they’ll soon be worth having again.  I’d switch to 2 percent milk in my cereal, and cut back on fried foods - all the things we all know we should do anyway.
2. I’d walk twice a day.  Once early to rev the metabolism up, then once in the afternoon to keep it stoked.
3. I’d play tennis at least 3 times a week.  This is one of the best sports in the world for burning calories.  And it’s a heck of a lot of fun, too.
4. I’d convince myself to not sit idle for very long at a time.  If I had sat for an hour writing, blogging, designing websites, or reading - I’d get up and get some sort of activity for 10 - 15 minutes.   (Fortunately, I work from home, so I could do this sort of thing without a invitation into someone’s office.)
5. I’d start drinking more water - lots more water.  After all, every expert in the world recommends 8 glasses of the stuff a day, there must be something to it.

I’m sure I had you fooled, but I can’t lie any more.  I did the winter weight gain.  There I said it!!  At least it wasn’t as bad this year as it was two years ago…. I gained a whole size two winters ago!  But the five changes above took the weight off pretty fast.

Next winter, I WILL have an exercise machine (or two or four…) and save myself from this trauma.

If you’re like me and found more of yourself to love over the winter, take it off now while it’s still within reach and still within reason.  I walked once today, spent an hour working in the yard, and I think I’m up to one more walk before it’s all said and done.  I already feel 100 percent better….tired, but better!

Have a glorious week!

~Joi