Tennis Tuesdays

Hi Guys - long time no talk!

My best friend got married over the weekend so things have been just short of crazy. I'd really, really love to say that things are finally slowing down for the summer, but I've got another friend getting married in the next 3 weeks, and somewhere in between all of those wedding events, I need to move out of my apartment and into a new one (duh)

Oh, and I left my camera cord at my parent's house in Cincinnati... so I'm mildly upset that I don't have any pictures to accompany this blog post, but the show must go on with or without pictures of my sister's picture perfect backhand...

So a few months ago my little sister graduated from college and got a big girl job here in Columbus.... she seems quite busy during the day (so she says) but it's during the evening, starting around 6:00, that I get constant text messages on how she is "sooooooo bored."

While I can't help her out on Mondays and Wednesdays, I decided to take the situation into my own hands, and establish Tuesday evenings for tennis. We both played in high school and since both of us are free on Tuesdays, AND have free courts just a short walk away from my apartment, it only made sense. Plus, after complaining to me that she was sore from dancing at the wedding reception on Saturday, I figured this girl could use some sort of regular physical activity in her life.

What I love about tennis is that basically anyone can play - I've seen 2 year old tennis prodigies playing and I've seen 85 year old tennis veterans playing. I recently read an article online that describes 5 benefits to playing tennis:

5 Health Benefits of Playing Tennis 

• Decreases Risk of Heart Disease
• Enhance Flexibility, Coordination and Balance
• Boost Brain Power
• Improve Bone Health
• Lose Weight

You can read each benefit in detail on the link above, but I'm sure if you go out and play, you can experience the benefits without having to read them. Don't worry about being good or what you look like while playing - it's usually the people who are terrible that get the best workout (running all over the court getting balls). 

I played in college for 4 years, and we weren't by any stretch of imagination .... good .....at all, however, it was a great stress reliever, I got to spend a lot of time with some great people and while I didn't necessarily lose weight, it did keep my beer gut from reaching obnoxious proportions. 

It's a great week for evening tennis... go out and hit a few balls!

Stay Healthy, 

I NEED ICE CREAM, STAT!!!

Hello! How is everyone? Good? Great? Grand?

Perfect! Let's jump right into things this beautiful Wednesday afternoon, shall we?

Emotional Eating. 

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Blech. 

To say I've been stressed out lately might be the understatement of the year. In the past 2 weeks, I have gotten my bike stolen, lost my wallet, and destroyed my Macbook - all while trying to prepare for multiple friends' weddings, write a maid of honor speech and find an apartment to move into in less than 3 weeks. AHHH!

Before my ankle surgery, my solution to any kind of stress I've dealt with was to throw on my running shoes and hit the pavement for a good 7 or 8 mile run.... double digits once the weekend came. But since that is obviously not in the cards this summer, I found myself resorting to the next best thing - food.

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It took about 2 weeks and a minor panic attack due to yet another pair of clothing not fitting, to realize what I had been doing.... emotional eating.

"I'm so stressed out, I need a cookie."

"Happy hour drink? Please. My week has been a nightmare."

"My water bottle leaked all over my computer, I need ice cream STAT." 

With two impending weddings and just wanting to feel better about myself, I sat down and took a couple of minutes to assess the situation and address the following questions - what can I do differently and how can I change the situation. 

The solution was simple - don't buy the junk that promotes emotional eating. That bag of dark chocolate that you think you can have one morsel and stop after dinner. That bag of sweet potato Pop Chips that let's face it, can be downed in one sitting.... don't buy them. If they're there, they will be eaten. If they're not there, you can't eat them!

Some other things that can help when you've hit your max and all you want is a gallon of ice cream:

• Call up a friend and chat. 
• Ask yourself why you're eating. Are you hungry? Are you bored? Are you going to feel any better after chugging that milkshake?
• Go for a run or a walk.
• Read a chapter in a good book. 
• Write in a journal. 
• Keep a food journal. 

I found the below picture on Pinterest. It's a pretty decent flow chart on what to do when you feel like you need something. 

Now I know all this is a lot easier said than done. But next when you feel like you just need that cookie, or you deserve that self-serve frozen yogurt, take a minute and ask yourself why you're eating it. 

Emotional eating happens to the best of us. 

Don't let it control you. 

Stay Healthy,