2005 Tip #3:
Between Ash Wednesday
and Heart Day

As we’ve enjoyed the sunny and spring-like days of the past week, the Lent season has started and Valentine’s Day is around the corner.

Each day now, moving forward in the calendar, is about 2 minutes longer than the day before. How will we use the extra daylight time?

Many faiths have special events to prepare for Spring and then to celebrate Spring and the important religious holy days that coincide with the renewal of life and the bursting energies of the warmer Spring days. Ash Wednesday in Christian faiths kicks off the 40 day period known as Lent. The word Lent derives from an old English word meaning Spring and has two Germanic roots going even further back: “langattin” meaning “long” and “tina” meaning “day.” Renewed energy, new life, hope. What will we do with our longer days?

This is another good time to do some personal goal setting. It is helpful to step back, map out where we want to go, and chart the step-by-step plan towards our bigger goals. Some of us use this pre-Spring time to be more aware of bad habits we’d like to give up and new, more positive habits we’d like to establish. What are you “giving up” or aiming at in the weeks ahead?

Since we’ve focused on diet in our idea sharing so far this year, I’ll mention again how good it is to drink lots of water. Starting with a big glass early in the morning when you get up. Sipping from a water bottle throughout the day. Getting up from your desk periodically to walk over to the water cooler. Having some mint tea or other non-caffeine teas during the day.

If we’re drinking fruit juice and also want to shave off a few calories, switch to water and fresh fruits. A front page article in the February 7th Contra Costa Times highlighted a study chronicling the problems with consuming too much juice, especially in the diets of our children: “Sweet drinks are high in calories and low in fiber. Nutritionists believe that calorie-dense, low fiber foods may lead to overeating because those foods are quickly consumed but less filling than foods high in fiber.” The study further noted that “for 3- and 4-year-olds already on the heavy side, drinking something sweet once or twice a day doubled their risk of becoming seriously overweight a year later…One Chicago Head Start program banned juice last year as part of an anti-obesity effort.”

Fresh fruits and even frozen fruits (berries, peaches and mangos, for instance) can provide us with the fiber, minerals and vitamins we need. And a glass of water is great anytime during the day.

Among the several responses from our group to the last Tip – “Is it helping?” was this from Randy:

“Regarding helpings, I learned last year to never finish everything on my plate. I found that I was eating the rest of the food on my plate even when I was full, just to finish it! I began pushing the plate away or having it cleared by a waiter and felt great after meals. Now, instead of wasting the food at home I just take smaller portions. At restaurants I still push it away. Dump most breads and sugar and you’re there.”

And, Mailana shares:

“Before meals I tell myself: A moment on my lips — forever on my hips!”

A few others in our group had good ideas on what to do for our hearts. Stay tuned. The next few messages will get us moving into the finer and finer Spring weather. Longer and longer days are coming – with more time to pursue our goals.