Healthy Joy for 2008.

I know, I know. You're sick of all the resolution whohaw of the new year. But it really is a good time to reevaluate one's life and set some goals for yourself. My coworker blogged about the BlogHer 2008 Good Health-a-thon (awesome read!), and it got me thinking. So here are mine:

Eat More Fresh, Organic, and Raw
You probably think this should be easy for a vegetarian, but surprisingly enough, its not. Because there are so many yummy processed veggie meals nowadays, its easy to fall into that rut. Like Gardenburger's Riblets. YUM.

So my goal is to eat fresh fruit or vegetables with each meal, either raw or steamed. Also, my mother-in-law bought us a juicer for Christmas, and carrot and apple juice is my new favorite post-workout snack, so I'm hoping this helps me stay on track even more.

Use Organic Beauty Products
So here I am being super cautious as to what I put in my body (no meat, no caffeine, no soda, only organic). But what about what I put on the outside? According to Pharmacopia.net, over 5,000 chemicals are used in personal care products alone. Scary.

The skin, the body's largest organ, is the most typical absorption point of everyday toxins. Up to 60 percent of certain ingredients in body products, such as lotion, cream and bubble bath, will absorb through the skin and into the bloodstream. Then the chemicals will accumulate in target organs, or are metabolized through the system, in some instances over a period of years, according to the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.

Unlike the term "natural," products labeled as "organic" are carefully certified and regulated by the USDA. In organic products, synthetic fertilizers and poisonous pesticides are strictly prohibited.

We were at Whole Foods this weekend (of course), and decided to try some organic shampoo (Mainly because Trip said I need to stop spending hundreds of dollars on bumble and kerastase. Sad.). You could get lost in the beauty section there. I'm sure I will be spending lots of time there in the future.

Go to the Gym at Least Three Days a Week
In my 20s, I was a workout fanatic. But then I got a burnt out, and stopped going to the gym altogether. That was about a year ago. On December 1st, my husband and I rejoined the gym, and so far I have kept up my goal of going at least three times a week (more like barely three times a week). Since my commute is hell, I have been going to the gym before work, which breaks up my commute quite nicely. I run for 30 minutes (3 miles), then I do 30 minutes of weights - one set of each machine, for a total of 17 machines. My husband thinks I should break up my muscles groups and do three sets of each, so I may start doing that. I just have to keep getting up early. That's the tricky part.

Streeeeeeeetch More
I am so bad about stretching. And Lord knows I'm wound up tighter than <something clever goes here>. So one of my resolutions is to stretch after every workout, and every night before I go to bed. I started last night, while I sat in front of the TV watching The Biggest Loser (anyone else totally motivated and inspired by the people that go on that show??). I know I should be doing it in a quiet room, using it is time for reflection, but who has the time for that?

Meditate for at Least 5 Minutes Everyday
So, um ya. Obviously I need to make more time for the quiet time. Lately I have been turning off the radio during my commute home, but that probably isn't the best time to let the mind wander off into a meditative state. So I will spend 5 minutes every night, before I get into bed, to just sit and not do anything or think about anything. This is harder than it sounds. Especially with a TV in the bedroom.

Have More Fun!
Trip and I used to be really good at planning little weekend activities. We would plan little day trips to Monterey, MOMA, or even just a day-long bike ride all the time. But then school and work and this crazy commute of mine kind of took over our lives. So my resolution is to plan at least one "Fun" event a month - just the two of us.

So that's about it, I think. Pretty good list of attainable, healthy, life improving resolutions :) What about you? Are you ready to join the 2008 Good Health-a-thon?