Go with the flow

Those who know me really well, know that I have, sometimes, the tendency to be a bit of a perfectionist. I'm searching for the perfect place for everything and tend to make schedules and lists and plans in a great deal of detail. It's gotten more balanced over the last few years and I'm mostly happy with my level of need to have everything as (I think) it should be. 

Photo by Hamed Saber

This week, I've had a few opportunities to try my hand at going with the flow and not being so anal.

I'm in Allergy Denial

Photo by masochismtango

Despite having recently written about dealing with seasonal allergies and having had them for as long as I can remember, I'm still somewhat in denial. I recognize the year-round allergies coming a mile away, but every time the seasonals starts, there's the hope that it's a mild 3-day cold, that will go away never to return. 

If you're having similar denial or uncertainty, check out this handy-dandy page I found. It comes complete with a chart to help you figure if that yucky nose is a result of allergies (which can be more than seasonal) or a cold.  Useful for figuring out what you've got to do about it. Hope this is helpful.

Enjoy the warm weather and live well, 
Charlotte

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Low Impact Exercises for High Intensity Cardio

Photo by o5com

I'm not much of a runner. That is I'm only the fastest one in this room because I happen to be alone at the moment. My ideal times are still a far way off, but I slowly creep towards them and my endurance is still in the works. Despite my shortcomings, I really like running. Until the last little while, I ran a few times a week; nothing to write home about, but it was the majority of my cardio. Last week I was told not to run for 6 weeks, and to slowly build it back up. So it got me thinking- how do you get some high intensity cardio going (and keep fitness goals) with a low impact workout?

Low impact exercises don't involve the jump and  impact that can be difficult for some people. Although you should check with your doctor before beginning an exercise program, this type of exercise can be particularly useful for pregnant women, people with troubles in the lower extremities, joints or bones, or those who are very overweight. And there are lots of ways to make your low-impact workout high intensity...

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1. Move more of your body.

Seasonal allergies are yucky!

Photo by Sandra Lee Schubert

Sunshine is free and, with the nice weather and more free time, I've been capitalizing on it. Like I mentioned in my last post, I'm trying to bring more of my workout (and general enjoyment) into the outdoors. Biking, running on the mountain, and walks have all become nice parts of my week. However, there's one thing about this beautiful weather that gives me a bit of worry. My *GASP* seasonal allergies.

I hate these guys, always mucking up my face, playing with my asthma, and just generally being kind of a jackasses. I want no more of that. But how will I attempt to banish these foul foes? Read on.

Free to Cheap Physical Activity: Spring Edition

This weekend has a few holidays in it- Easter and Passover will be coming in along with those days off. While dreaming of how to make the holiday dinner a bit easier and pondering how to avoid the abundance of candy at the store/ in your house, you might find yourself thinking about the sunshine.

Photo by David Paul Ohmer

Spring is here (kinda, depending on the day) and, with that comes beautiful weather (sometimes) and occasionally a desire to be outside. So, I'm heading out there and taking some of my workout with me. Not only is it free (or cheap), but playing in the great outdoors can provide you with a variety of surfaces, challenges, and settings, give you some fresh air (again, depending on the day), and a dose of sunshine. 

Sustainable Food Friends

Photo by color line

Eating is important, that's obvious. What might not be obvious is that we have resources to get involved with what and how we eat. Over the last few years, I've had a few delightful run-ins with organizations dedicated to sustainable food practices. 

I started with a garden club and learned a thing or two. From there, I found out about all sorts of friendly groups and awesome activities that aim to help the community eat better. What follows are some of the awesome places one can go in Montreal to learn about sustainable food politics and meet some like-minded people.

Clutter: Making a mess of our living space!

Photo by eflon

I'll admit it. I have too much stuff.

I've got stuff from when I was a kid. Stuff I bought 2 years ago that I haven't used. Mountains of music, art, and writing on the floors, walls, and in cabinets. I've got clothes from when I was 15 that I wear a few times a year, old gifts I ought to get rid of, articles I intend to read AND we still haven't finished cleaning out our old family home. Not good.

Clutter: It takes up space, can tie you down, and even burden your finances, emotions, and health. Just the thought of it makes me frustrated, but still, it reigns supreme in my apartment, as it did in my old room, and our old house. Why? It might be the feeling that one day I'll use something or an emotional connection to the object. It's also, likely, partly laziness. 

Whatever the cause, before the spring of old-house cleaning comes around, I want to deal with my apartment. How? Tips? Tricks? Thoughts? Read on.