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Fitness Tip Of The Month: Nurture Yourself

Fitness Tip Of The Month: Nurture Yourself

By Leslie Barker, The Dallas Morning News (TNS)

The symbols of February’s frivolity — hearts, flowers, chocolate — are reminders of necessities as well. Where would we be without not only a beating heart to keep us alive, but without the love it represents to keep us living? Without flowers to revel in the colors and miracles of nature? Without chocolate to nurture our taste buds?

Which brings us to the Tip of the Month for February: Nurture yourself. Make sure you climb some stairs or walk briskly to increase your heart rate. Love deeply. Pick some flowers. Eat a little dark chocolate every day. (It’s good for your heart, you know.)

Before you know it, March will be here, but we’re hard-pressed to think of any reason to stop that nurturing.

Photo: premier-photo.com via Flickr

Fitness Tip Of The Month: Headline Your Goals With ‘I Can’

Fitness Tip Of The Month: Headline Your Goals With ‘I Can’

By Leslie Barker, The Dallas Morning News (TNS)

At the beginning of a new year, many of us tend to be a bit of a martyr in our self-imposed deprivation: No more smoking. No more eating poorly. No more sitting around like a slug.

You can also put a positive spin on resolutions, which leads to this month’s tip: Preface your goals with “I can.”

You can — eat vegetables and fruits with every meal, maybe. Take the stairs today. Venture outside your exercise comfort zone once a week. Do five push-ups before breakfast. Be gentle with yourself.

When you do that, how can your year start out anything but full of hope, full of promise?

Photo: Tyler Blazey rock climbs on Dec. 11, 2014 at Upper Limits gym in St. Louis. (Roberto Rodriguez/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/TNS)