A list of the second week of fit tips:

bicepsDEC TIP #8: SHOW LOVING-KINDNESS! Pick up street trash, hold open a door, volunteer at a soup kitchen, provide an ear/shoulder to a struggling friend – show loving-kindness whenever possible, esp. on days when your own bandwidth is huge! It’s a win-win. (art by fourth-grade roomie)

DEC TIP #9: BE MIND-BODY FIT! A healthy mind in a healthy body, one doesn’t exist well without the other. Research says everything from Alzheimer’s to happiness is affected by physical fitness. Just do it!

DEC FIT TIP #10: WASTE NOT. Limp greens + left-over brown rice? Don’t throw away: hot veg broth, 2 eggs (egg drop), steamed shrimp, green leaves, crimini mushrooms, hot sauce, fresh basil garnish. Yum on a cold day! 40 grams protein!!! ~500 cals, vitamins + minerals.

DEC FIT TIP #11: READ A BOOK. Incessant, inconsequential chatter + bad sleep? Read a (printed paper) book, slow things down, open up mental spaces, feed the mind, imagination. (pic: littlefreelibrary.org, Capitol Hill).

DEC FIT TIP #12: RESISTANCE TRAINING: Benefits galore: elevated metabolic rate, better body mechanics, improved bone and soft tissue health, improved mood, disease prevention (diabetes, arthritis etc), amazing body composition. Aim for 3 times/wk!
DEC FIT TIP #13. TRADITIONS. Am suspicious of traditions + conventions, often find them gimmicky at best and oppressive at worst. But in my older age have started appreciating a few. Here: Saffron buns (still tweaking recipe) for Luciadagen, Dec 13. (recipe: King Arthur Flour).

DEC FIT TIP #14: COMPLIMENT OTHERS. There is nothing as appealing/sexy as when people support, praise, credit, lift others. Makes the giver and receiver feel equally awesome 🙂