Tag: sabrinafoley

January New year, new resolutions – Nutrition and Fitness challenge

So here it is, Christmas Day (!!) and I’m perched at the kitchen counter, ultra relaxed, having already indulged in a champagne breakfast and taken my fur-babies out for their Christmas Day excursion in the woods – reflecting on another year (almost gone) and how I can make the next one even better.

January – typically a month where new challenges and resolutions are set, which are inevitably set so high  that we end up failing due to the pure fact that they’re unrealistic and unachievable. Not this year my lovelies – let’s embrace this New Year with a totally different tactic – let’s challenge ourselves to ‘the simple things’, the small changes in our lives that can bring resounding results – let’s set ourselves some ultra realistic ‘Nutrition & Fitness Challenges’ that will make 2018 the best year yet and leave us feeling great about ourselves!

‘How’ – you ask? Let’s start with ‘nutrition’. The one thing so easily overlooked and as equally underestimated, yet so fundamental to fuelling our bodies with the energy and nutrients needed to power through our hectic lifestyles. An easy, no fuss challenge is to try and incorporate one of the following into your daily, weekly routine;

– whether at home or the office, fill a 1 litre bottle with water (add lemon if preferred) and slowly sip throughout the day.

– introduce 1 new whole food to your dietary regime – buckwheat, couscous, millet, quinoa, oats all pair well as wonderful side dishes, warming salads or  bases to your standard smoothie

– add a superfood to the mix -spirulina, maca, açai, hemp, wheatgrass, baobab.. all sit beautifully placed atop your yogurt, morning porridge or preferred daily snack.

Oooooh -is it me or are you getting hungry?!?

Now, lets make use of the overflowing levels of energy and squeeze some heart healthy, mind balancing exercise and fitness into the mix – READY?

Again, let’s take it slow and not overwhelm ourselves. Did you know it only takes 30 minutes a day (a day!) to see and feel the benefits of daily activity? So I ‘challenge’ you… park the car 1 block away from where you need to be. Grab a pooch and go for a walk or better yet, enrol in a group class  – my Luxembourg favs are Clare Marie Pilates and HIITme Health&Fitness | group fitness classes

So there you have it folks – let’s keep it simple, let’s keep it FUN and before you know it, you’ve embarked on a lifestyle change that you’ll never be able to look back on.  Who doesn’t want increased energy, stamina and va-va-voom to do all the things that they LOVE.

Tell me – what is it that you’ll chose to do this New Year?

 

Sabrina Foley – HealthyLux Passionate Contributor

HealthyLux January theme – New year, new resolutions – Nutrition and Fitness challenge

 

Anyone in Lux?

Hello – anybody out there!??!

Summer at long last and suddenly the country seems deserted, don’t you think? For me personally, I cherish this time of year and intentionally schedule my holiday calendar to ensure I get to reap all the benefits of hot summer days (hopefully!), no traffic, and beautifully undisturbed quiet time to just read, relax and kick back !

To be honest though, I didn’t always feel this way. When I first arrived in the summer of 2008, my sentiments and reaction to the quietness of it all was completely different.  Here I was, adventuring into new and unknown territory and was ready to ‘hit the ground running’ as they say.. but oh NO – it was August in this little sleepy hollow town and I couldn’t as much as open a bank account, or arrange to have my phone and internet connected.  You’d simply have to wait for September to roll around before you considered achieving anything like that.  How does the country survive with such a mentality I thought?

Jump forward almost 10 years and here I am relishing in it all, having adopted the more European lifestyle, letting August just roll on by without a care in the world. Want something done – talk to me in September when my brain has reawakened!

But that of course, is on the business front. Lets move on to the more social scene shall we? I’m not one to be hitting the clubs and exploring the night scene, so tell me… is my perception true? Does everyone literally pack up the family and head to greener pastures for ALL of August, just leaving the very few behind to relish in the great expanse of the country all to ourselves? Or are there more people and things to do than one is led to believe?

 

I’ll be sitting on my back porch, swinging in my hammock, waiting for your comments! And while I do – here’s my list of simple things to do for August;

 – Rise & Shine with the sun – get up early and embrace the quiet

 – Read a book in the hammock

 – Cook and eat outside as often as you can – its BBQ time

 – Go for a bike ride

 – Rose S’il Vous Plait

 

Sabrina Foley – HealthyLux Passionate Contributor

HealthyLux August theme – Anyone in Luxembourg?

Enjoy Nature

‘And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul’

At long last, it’s time to say good-bye to those long, cold days of winter and embrace the long, hot days of summer. And what better way than in the great outdoors!

Interesting article published recently in the http://uk.businessinsider.com which lists 11 scientific reasons you should spend more time outside. Of course, we’ve all read and heard about it before, but have you actually tried it for yourself and noticed the energy levels increase, the smile stretch across your face and the brain fog… simply disappear? Crazy stuff – it actually works!

I’m fortunate enough to have two adorable fur-kids who live every waking hour of the day not only for food and cuddles, but extended walks in the woods. Even more fortunate, is the vast array of walking, hiking & cycling trails that the Grand Duchy has to offer – no matter where you live!

Funny thing though, I so often hear people remark on how small Luxembourg is and I suppose they’re right (to an extent!) as it is only 2,586 square kilometers (sounds massive to me!) and my response remains the same – ‘have you tried either walking or cycling it’? Behind every corner turned and hill climbed there’s a beautiful new canvas of rock, vineyard or hillside that awaits you. Trust me, if you haven’t already, I strongly encourage you to start exploring and become witness to all the hidden treasures still yet to be discovered. And while you’re exploring, really capture the moment and reflect on how you’re feeling. Did all your worries fade away and make room for happier more pleasant thoughts to flood their way in?

My two personal favorites at the moment are lunchtime strolls through the park and scanning the cow pastures in the evenings for newborn calves. Each one offering me an opportunity to restore my mental energy and reduce any unwanted stress.

But if simply lacing up your shoes and heading outdoors doesn’t work for you; here are my two top picks to help you get started;

  • Rambling-in-Luxembourg – well done to the mastermind behind this FB page as it really does take all the hard work out of finding a place to visit and gives you just enough information to peak the curiosity needed to get you out there
  • Federation Luxembourgeoise de Marche Populaire – this is more structured as it’s organized by a walking club and has markers laid out along the way to keep you on track. For the family conscious out there, there are shorter & longer distances available to choose from and for 2EUR (last time I went) you get refreshments along the way! Win Win 🙂

The great outdoors awaits you – what are you going to do today to stimulate the senses and take charge of your well-being? Share your thoughts & comments below and let us know of your favorite ways to enjoy nature.

Sabrina – HealthyLux Passionate Contributor

HealthyLux June theme – Enjoy Nature

Calm

So, I started on what I call my ‘mindfulness journey’ some weeks ago now.  The intention was to slow down, ‘smell the roses’ kind of thing and so the challenge began. I say ‘challenge’ because I am a girl of pace… always zooming to the next item on my agenda and not forcefully either. My energy supports it so I feel ‘why should I slow down’? The answer was not one that could be conjured up. I had to live it and experience it for myself.  So, one day while out walking my dogs I decided to listen, breath, connect to the earth through my feet. It was amazing! Hearing the leaves rustling under my shoes, birds chirping in the trees, which in itself for December in Luxembourg was a rare treat. It was literally music to my ears! I smiled and meandered on.

 

Days passed and I continued on my journey, ensuring I made a conscious effort to slow down, breath & take in all the sights and sounds that nature has to offer.

 

I took it a step further and decided to make the most of my down time. Instead of aimlessly scrolling through Facebook and Pinterest; creating boards I’ll probably never really look at again, I decided to pick up a book. Yes, an actual book. Not my iPad or Kindle – an actual book.

 

Within days, my mood became lighter. I could actually feel the anxiousness leaving my body. I sleep more soundly. I’m journaling. Picking up old cookbooks and exploring new recipes.  I’m connected to MYSELF and it ROCKS!

 

So in case you’re looking for something new to do, I encourage you to slow down. Breath. Be Present. Connect with your inner self and simply smile at the beauty that surrounds us. The miracle of life and the opportunity to be here today and enjoy it to it’s fullest.
Stop rushing. Where’s better than here – right now.

 

Sabrina – HealthyLux