Keep on Moving

Movement – Does the word “exercise” make you cringe? Does it conjure up images of women in leg warmers, a super-fit instructor screaming orders to the jiggly, out-of-shape crowd in front of her, or endless setups and jumping jacks? The good news is that it’s not necessary to incorporate a strenuous and/or difficult exercise program into your life in order to lose weight. However, it IS necessary to incorporate movement into your daily routine. People often avoid exercise because it’s work. Our ancestors didn’t  spend hours doing P90X to get in shape. They got exercise by working in the fields, walking everywhere they went, and doing everything by hand rather than by machines.

In this age of convenience, TV and video games, and jobs that keep us indoors and sitting all day, we’ve become a sedentary society. Therefore, we have to be a bit more creative with our forms of movement. If you’re not used to doing much, start slow. Walk 20-30 minutes a day, take the stairs instead of the elevator (even if you just walk one flight then take the elevator the rest of the way), attend a spin class, Pilates, or a dance class. The key is to try different things until you find what you like, and then start slow so that you don’t burn out before you build up a routine.


One of my favorite types of exercise is playing with my granddaughter.  She is tons of fun and I sure get in a lot of movement time when I am with her. Plus my hubby just bought me a new bike and I am enjoying that.  Doesn't feel like exercise when your having fun.

Keep on Moving

Cool Cucumbers

My daughter has me hooked on drinking Cucumber water.  She is pregnant and doesn’t want to hold onto too much fluid, so she cut back on her sodium intake and started to drink cucumber water.  The cucumber helps flush out any excessive fluid buildup, plus it taste great.  I love it!
I thought I would share a few tips on the good old green cucumber.

Health Benefits of a Cool Cucumber

Acidity: The alkalinity of the minerals in cucumber juice effectively helps in regulating the body's blood pH, neutralizing acidity. The juice is also soothing for the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers.

Blood pressure: This colorless drink can help regulate blood pressure because of its minerals and traces of sodium.

Connective tissues, building: The excellent source of silica contributes to the proper construction of connective tissues in our body as in the bones, muscles, cartilage, ligaments and tendons.

Cooling: During dry and hot weather, drink a glass of cucumber water.  It wonderfully helps to normalize body temperature. It actually cools the body down.

Diuretic: A Cucumber is natures diuretic, encouraging waste removal through urination. This also helps in the dissolution of kidney stones.

Inflammation: We know now that cucumbers can help counter uric acids that are causing inflammation in joints. When cucumber is taken it does its cleaning work at the joints, thus stirring up pain as it eliminates the uric acid. This means it also help other inflamed conditions like arthritis, asthma, and gout.

Puffy eyes: Some people wake up in the morning with puffy eyes, probably due to too much water retention in the body (or having cried to sleep). To reduce the puffiness, lie down and put two slices of cucumber on the eyes for a good ten minutes.

Cucumbers are one of the foods I buy organic. They are not waxed and are grown without pestacides. If you don't buy them organic, make sure you give them a good scrubbing.

If you go to a professional Spa, chances are you will be

offered a cool glass of cucumber water.

I know what I am growing in my garden this year

....a row of cool green cucumbers.