Every now and then, we feel we need some time to recharge our batteries and indulge in an affordable treat. Nowadays, shopping is no longer merely functional but it can be a beautiful experience.
People are spending more and more time in the shopping malls; it is a place to meet and socialize. The malls in the Saudi Arabia are dynamic and customer-friendly. As life becomes busier and there are more demands on our time, we need time out, a little treat, or as many like to call it, retail therapy. I am certainly not against retail therapy; it certainly does have the feel-good factor, but as a therapy, it cannot really be considered a cure for anything!
Let me suggest another therapy which is equally indulgent, but for which the feel-good factor is life long.
For many years, I had been trying to persuade a good friend of the benefits of exercise and of joining a health club. Fatma is a teacher and mother, and has a weight problem, but for years, she had told me that she did not like exercise and that a gym looked like a torture chamber. Shopping, she claimed, was her only luxury and her only exercise. A week ago, she telephoned me with the exciting news that she had joined a health club. She was amazed at how nice everyone was to her, and a gentle programme had been worked out for her in the gym. She then spent half an hour in the spa pool, and finally she swam a few lengths of the swimming pool. A shower followed and she went home feeling delighted with herself. Fatma now looks forward to going to the health club; she can go alone any time she is free and she leaves feeling healthy and relaxed. The good news is that when she worked out the cost each month, it only meant giving up one shopping trip.
Get Fit & Healthy
Boost Your Calcium Intake
Why? Everyone needs calcium to build strong bones, but most of us are not getting enough. Young girls in particular need to develop good habits to prevent osteoporosis in old age.
How? The best sources of calcium are low fat milk, yoghurt and low fat cheese. Have milk on your cereal at breakfast, have yoghurt and fruit for dessert, and have low fat cheese with salad.
Recipe of the Week
Baja Shrimp Salad
Serves 6
Ingredients
680 g cooked shrimp, thawed and drained
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and thinly sliced
18 radishes, thinly sliced
6 scallions, sliced
180 ml white wine vinegar
1 tbsp sugar
Method
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and toss well. Chill before serving.
Exercise Tip
Don’t Skip on Exercise
Exercising feels great, but once you stop a regular routine it is often very hard to get back on track. If you find that you do not have time for your regular exercise routine on a given day, do not skip exercising altogether. While you don’t have to perform your full routine, dedicate at least a few minutes to exercising so that you don’t lose your pace. This tip holds true even when you are on vacation.
Ask Alva
I am 15 years old, I am 144 cm tall and my weight is 34 kilos. I have calculated my BMI and it states that I am under weight. What can I do to increase my weight and
height? Please help me. Sarah
At 15 years old, you are still growing, and so there is still time for you to become taller. Unfortunately there is little that I can tell you that will help you to grow taller, except for you to ensure that you always follow a healthy diet with plenty of fresh vegetables and a good mix of protein, carbohydrates and a little fat. Ideally, carbohydrates should make up around one third of your diet. As you say, according to your BMI you are underweight, but it may be that you are naturally disposed to being slim. Are your parents both slim? As long as you are healthy and follow a healthy diet, that is the most important thing for you. E-mail me at [email protected] and I will send you a free copy of my Healthy Eating Guide. Alva
For all your weight concerns and questions e-mail Alva Carpenter at:
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