10 Weeks to Healthy in 2010 - Week 1

The first week of the 10 in 2010 challenge is behind us. It has been a week of adjustments - no wine with dinner (a big one), portioned serving sizes, developing an exercise routine, and, the biggest of all, paying attention to our bodies. It is amazing how much we ignore what our bodies are telling us when we are busy with the activities of everyday living. Or maybe it is just that we have more aches and pains to take care of :).




Our goals for the end of 10 weeks are:

Anne:

• Lose 1lb/week for 10 weeks.
  
• Be able to walk uphill for 6kms in 1 hour. (that is from my sister's home to ours) 

The results

• Lost 5 lbs (this is likely an artificial reaction to drastic diet changes).
• Mary (my sister) and I are now walking 6 km each morning but are only getting half way to my house before we turn downhill and head back.
• I also go to yoga twice a week.
  

Arch:

• Lose 2 lbs a week for 10 weeks.
  
• Reduce upper end blood pressure by 20 points.

The results:

• Lost 5 lbs (in his case probably real as he loses the first 10 lbs really easily.
• He is also walking 5 km per day with Tara, half of it up hill. (they do 2.5 kms in the morning and again in the evening)
  
• We won't have blood pressure results to the end when he goes back to the doctor.
• Arch has joined a local health club and goes for the first time today.
  

 We both walk before breakfast because it seems to work best for us. One of my favourite breakfast items is low fat yogurt (be sure to buy one with no added sugar)with mixed berry compote (recipe below). You can buy the bags of mixed berries to use in this recipe but we spent several days last summer going outside and picking our own so I use those.

Nova Scotia is a major blueberry producer and there are many berry farms where you can pick your own. Our favourite is Between the Bushes. It is well organized and easy to manage with small children. We arrive at their central processing area and hop on a bus that takes us to the berry fields. They provide pails for picking and boxes for the berries (there is a small charge for the boxes). When the bus dropped us off in the berry field the driver told the little ones that they had to eat  berries until their tongue turned blue. Ruby, who loves blueberries, had us check her tongue every few minutes.

Berry Compote

1  tablespoon soft margarine

3  tablespoons  honey

1  tablespoon  fresh lemon juice

Dash of ground cinnamon

1  (12-ounce) bag assorted frozen berries

Melt the margarine in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add honey, juice, cinnamon, and berries; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Store in the refrigerator.