The greatest way to show true love for a cherished one is to care for their health. It says I love you and want to be with you for a very long time. I want you, not your life insurance policy. Let’s refashion Valentine’s Day love.
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Valentine’s Day…the day we are supposed to show the ones we love just how much we love them…….hmmm……..let’s talk about love.
Ok….so the day is about love…not lust, do I have that right? Love is a strong positive emotion, great affection, yes can involve sexual attraction…I think its fair to say if we love someone we want to be with that person. Love is long term, lust is short term. Ask any of us who have been married a long time - love requires a long term commitment- it wouldn’t survive on sexual desire, chemistry and lust alone.
The greatest way to show true love for a cherished one is to care for their health. It says I love you and want to be with you for a very long time. I want you, not your life insurance policy. Let’s refashion Valentine’s Day love.
Just as I told you I am not the Grinch trying to ruin Christmas with all my silly healthful notions, I am neither da kink in Cupid’s arrow. I believe chick flicks rule and happily ever after should always be the story ending. We all know that being a good spouse or a good parent is NOT a popularity contest. Love can be camouflaged amongst caring, nurturing and making wise decisions.
Here is the uncreative, unhealthy, stereotyped, mundane Valentine’s routine:
Valentine’s Day roses (12)……..$30
Valentine’s Day chocolate………$20 (Laden with LDL, empty calories GI 120)
Dinner ……………………….$100 (usually earns a trip to the cardiologist)
Valentine’s Day gift……..$infinity
Total: $ To infinity and beyond.
So how ‘bout this year for dinner…we make a healthy choice. We make a nice romantic dinner:
fresh salmon (Lots of great fresh fish markets in Toronto)
steamed vegetables
Brown rice
A bottle of red wine
You feed each other dark chocolate dipped strawberries
The effort you displayed by putting this healthy, romantic evening together………..PRICELESS!
Sounds like a great, healthy, economical plan.
Here is the best part of my idea. My suggestion for a Valentine’s day card:
“To my One and only love….Showing our love for each other shouldn’t be just one day a year. My gift to us this year is a his and hers gym membership. I want us to grow to a healthy, old age together, so I commit to you that 3 days per week we will go and work out together. There we can encourage each other, get sweaty together, come home together all pumped up and…yadi yadi yada together. Our health and happiness together should be celebrated all year”.
OK….I write fitness articles….not for Hallmark Cards….but you get the idea.
BTW, February is heart health month. With thanks to the Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation let’s review the major risk factors for heart disease:
Smoking, High blood pressure, High blood cholesterol, physical inactivity, excessive alcohol consumption, diabetes, overweight, stress & triglycerides. Note all of these risk factors are drastically reduced by good nutrition and exercise.
Check out their very informative website, but please participate in their advocacy letter to the government asking to regulate the use of trans fats in foods. “Trans fat is the new tobacco.”
Remember how much we love Fido on Valentine’s Day. Hopefully the cold Canadian winter will even warm up so we can all take Fido for an extra long romantic walk.
Remember the DeFranco family from the 70’s…(btw from Port Colborne, Ontario)…..”A heart beat…it’s a love beat”
So keep the thump thump thump in Valentine’s Day & in your heart!
My wish for you, as always….
May you get at least 60 minutes of exercise today!
Shira Litwack
LWMC, CNS, PT
www.fitfan4fun.com Shira@fitfan4fun.com
Toronto Fitness & Nutrition Consultant
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