7 ways to celebrate a heart-healthy Valentine’s Day
When you hear Valentine’s Day, what comes to your mind? Is it chocolates, a romantic night out, or a party with sugar-fueled children bouncing off the walls? Does it include overindulging in rich food and drink?
Considering Valentine’s Day is a holiday of the heart, and February is American Heart Month, why not celebrate in a way that honors your heart? But how, you ask? Have I got some ideas for you!
7 ways to celebrate a heart-healthy Valentine’s Day
- Replace the chocolates with a beautiful fruit bouquet or basket, preferably one with lots of berries, which are rich in antioxidants, low in fat, and high in fiber. Now if you automatically turned up your nose at that idea, or you’re concerned that your loved one will throw said fruit in your face, how about chocolate-dipped strawberries?
- Skip the crowded, expensive, calorie-dense restaurant for a more intimate romantic dinner at home, perhaps one you cook together. Or if you’re more of a party gal (or guy), invite your friends and ask each to bring their own favorite healthy recipe to share.
- If you can’t imagine Valentine’s Day without raising a glass, make it red wine. Antioxidants in red wine may increase levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) and protect against cholesterol buildup.
- Take a walk with your loved ones (including the furry ones). You’ll have time away from all life’s distractions (assuming you leave the electronic devices behind) to connect with each other, and walking strengthens your heart.
- If staying in is not your idea of a good time on Valentine’s Day, by all means go out. Just bypass the restaurant and candy store, and go dancing instead. A recent study found that moderate intensity dancing is tied to a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. It makes sense, dancing is basically interval training and it creates a social connection—both are good for your heart.
- Dancing’s not your thing? Consider an ice skating, snowshoeing, or tobogganing date. (My friends in the Southern Hemisphere, can swap that out for any summertime sport.) Besides the physical exertion, you benefit from being in the great outdoors.
- Write a love letter to someone you care about. This could be your partner, your child, your parent, your best friend. Open up, allow yourself to be vulnerable, tell them all the reasons you love them. It will do your heart good, as much as theirs.
Now get out there and have some heart-healthy fun this Valentine’s Day! Then come back and tell us all about it.
Transformation Challenge – Week 2
In order to create accountability for myself, I will be giving a weekly update of my efforts and progress in the 8-week Transformation Challenge. If you are not interested in this portion of my blog, please feel free to skip down to the Comments. I’d love to hear from you.
Workouts
I attended three Orangetheory classes this week.
Between Orangetheory workouts, I did one stationary bike ride, power walked on the treadmill, ran two miles, and had one rest day.
Nutrition
I food prepped for the week on Sunday, making kale and spinach smoothies for breakfasts and lean roast, red potatoes, and carrots for lunches (actually Larry cooked the roast). I also purchased some MuscleEgg to naturally supplement my protein intake. These are pasteurized egg whites with a little flavoring added (because who can be expected to drink plain egg whites!).
Goals
Last week’s coach’s goal for the group was to drink at least 60 ounces of water a day. If 60 is good, 90 is better, right?
This week’s coach’s goal is to focus on proper form for a safer and more efficient workout. Of course, proper form is always the goal, but it’s good to be reminded.
Your turn
- What are your Valentine’s Day plans?
- Chocolate–dark, milk, or no thanks?
- What is your health goal this week?
- Share anything else you’d like to share–any topic at all.
I like the idea of writing a love note to someone other than your sweetie (although they deserves one as well). It’s a good excuse to remind someone who might not be expecting it that you care about them.?
Yes, I agree, Cindy. It’s been a while since I’ve done that, but a few years back, I sent detailed thank-you letters, which were basically love letters, to one person a month. I felt so good writing them and got lovely responses back from those that received them. I love you!
Christie – some great ideas. We celebrate our anniversary on Feb 10 so Valentine’s (and other hallmark holidays) aren’t high on our radar. That said – I love fruit but I also enjoy a bit of dark chocolate – it is also rich in antioxidants. I like to make dancing part of my exercise routine. My workout playlists are filled with dance music and I use light weights and a stair-step to get the blood pumping. I’ve not done this in a while but between you and Sue (Fit Feb) I started with it again yesterday. Thanks for the nudges!
I’m with you Janet–a small amount of dark chocolate satisfies the sweet tooth. My husband and I celebrate our anniversary late in January, so we’ve made it a habit to downplay Valentine’s Day as well. I’m glad to hear you have started up your workout routine. I’m doing #FitFabFeb with Sue, and I’m looking forward to the added motivation!
Dark chocolate, YES! The fruit bowl looks yummy and healthy! You’re doing good with your challenge and Orangetheory! Never heard of MuscleEgg, hubby drinks Muscle Milk. Water is one thing I have no trouble with, it’s easy for me to get the recommended amount daily. All good tips ♥
Yeah for dark chocolate! I actually do not struggle getting my water in either, which is why I was such an overachiever on that goal. The MuscleEgg doesn’t taste bad–blended with ice, it’s almost like a milkshake–and I’m getting my protein in. Thanks, as always, for stopping by and sharing your comments.
I wish I could like dark chocolate Christie but alas I can’t – too bitter for me! Those are great tips for Valentines Day. Mine are usually pretty much a non-event I must say. Been married for 34 years and he is not a romantic man LOL Well done on hitting some awesome fitness goals!
You could be like me, Min, and love all kinds of chocolate! It’s a problem. Valentine’s Day is a non-event here as well, following so close on the heels of our anniversary. Thirty-four years of marriage–you must be doing something right! 🙂
Well done with your Transformation Challenge, Christie! Those 7 tips are great, too. Valentine’s day is too commercial for us. My province has a Family Day holiday on Feb 18 which is non-commercial. We like to make our own meals and relax at home regardless. For this week, I continue with my daily walks, yoga classes 2x, strength workouts 3x, and swimming laps 1x. #MLSTL
I agree on the commercial nature of Valentine’s Day. I love the idea of a Family Day though, and many of these tips could apply to that as well. Nice work on your fitness goals!
Valentines Day gets pretty much ignored at our house. It always seemed a little fake to me… an excuse to sell us stuff. I do like the idea of eating fresh fruit, though… that and milk chocolate (I know dark is better but, for some reason, the taste never appealed to me). I love your focus on your goals – very inspiring!
The ignoring of Valentine’s Day seems to be a theme in the comments to this post. We all seem to have that in common. I actually prefer dark chocolate, but will eat milk chocolate as well. Thanks for the encouragement on my goals!
Valentine’s Day isn’t as big in Australia as it is in your neck of the woods. It’s more a token gesture type of occasion – so no restaurant date for me and maybe a flower from husband (they’re very low cal!) Enjoy your day and I hope you get something lovely that doesn’t add to your waistline x
Thanks for linking up with us at MLST and I’ve shared on my SM 🙂
Flowers are indeed low calorie and they last longer than chocolate (at least at my house)! Valentine’s Day is pretty low key at my house. We’ll exchange cards and a kiss. 🙂
I love your healthy Valentine’s Day suggestions – it’s such a commercial and foodie riddled occasion that for us it has actually lost much of it’s appeal. However, I think it’s important to be romantic and to show how much we love and care for each other on Valentine’s Day, and so your ideas will come in very handy 🙂 #MLSTL
I’m glad you found them helpful, Jo. Enjoy!
Thank you for this creative tips, Christie. They all work for me….especially the love-note idea!
I like the love note idea as well, Donna. A couple years back, I wrote a detailed thank-you note to a different person each month throughout the year. I was surprised at how warm and loving it made me feel writing them, and of course, the response from the recipients was wonderful too.
I’m not a fan of Valentines Day Christie. But I love your alternatives. Great to see your challenge update also #MLSTL Will share
The feeling is mutual, Jennifer. It was fun when the children were young making boxes and helping them address cards, but it’s lost its thrill as I’ve gotten older. Thanks for the encouragement on the challenge.
Testing my new email replies.
This one just came thru for me, a few others have too!
Yeah! I finally hired professional help. 🙂
Husband and I haven’t celebrated Valentines’ day in years. You do have some great ideas. I love the dancing though I am not sure where they dance here in Columbus. We are a college town so everything is geared to the young. lol
How about the young at heart, Victoria? Or just put on music and home and dance your heart out.
HI Christie
I think the heart shaped fruit bowl looks yummy. I think I’ll make it for myself. (l’ll share, of course) I’ll be baking a heart shaped brownie for my husband. He likes his chocolate. I’ve been of sweets for a year.
Thanks for all of the wonderful suggestions. Good luck with your Orangetheroy
Laura
A heart shaped brownie does sound delicious. All things in moderation, right?
Love the “Lovely” suggestions for 2/14…
MLSTL…shared in SM
Thank you Nancy. Happy heart day to you.
I love this Christie because it shows that we can still enjoy the celebrations in life but with a healthier version. Your list gives us some easy and different ideas to try not just for Valentine’s Day but every day. You are doing well with your progress and I am very interested in the OrangeTheory program. I’m actually not a kale fan but perhaps in a smoothie it might be okay. Thank you for sharing your informative post with us at #MLSTL. I love Wednesdays as I can read all of my favourite bloggers in the one place! I’m sharing on social media in my ST60 & Beyond Let’s Thrive FB Group as it is perfect for #FITFABFEB2019.
Thanks Sue. I have discovered that there are some truly enjoyable healthy activities and foods. I’m not a huge kale fan either, but mixed in the smoothie, the fruit flavors seem to dominate. I agree with your assessment of the #MLSTL Wednesday, I find so many great blog posts there. Thanks again for hosting it.
Very interesting Christie, although that’s a whole lot of egg white you have there! A nice list of ways to be healthy on Valentines Day too 🙂 . I always enjoy reading your posts and learn something new each time! #mlstl
Yes, Debbie, it is a whole lot of egg whites. Chocolate omelet anyone?
SALMON is my sexy day food. Then again, it is every day -ha ha ha!
Yes to salmon! I just had some Tuesday night. It is brain food, and that’s what makes a woman sexy–her brain–right? Thanks for stopping by GiGi.
Great tips, but I will be breaking all of them. ha ha! No, seriously, I eat well on normal days, but on holidays, vacations, and such, I enjoy myself. We’re celebrating Valentine’s Day twice this year: this weekend and on the actual day. We plan on lunch and a movie tomorrow, and then on Valentines Day we’ll stay home since it’s a work day and i’m making a pork tenderloin with a banana cream pie desert.
It’s all about balance, Amy. If Valentine’s Day is one of those special days for you, go for it and savor every bite. Pork tenderloin and banana cream pie sound heavenly.
I can’t have anything traditional right so I’m always looking for alternatives to food! Helpful tips, thanks!
I’m glad you found it helpful, Marya. Hapy Valentine’s Day!