All right, today I am going to let you off the hook a little bit … just this once – and just a little bit.
I was in Hollywood for a week visiting my sister and my brother-in-law and, I have to admit, maybe it’s their health-conscious focus and knowledge of the latest fitness craze or maybe just the shear size of the city and number of people, but eating clean in Los Angeles is way easier than eating clean here.
I used to laugh when Jillian Michaels would say she tries to limit eating out to five days a week. I don’t know about you, but I don’t eat out five times a month, never mind having to limit it to five times a week.
But in Hollywood we ate out a couple of times a day. It seemed OK, though, because the restaurants we ate at were “local” and “organic”. I have to say, we need a whole-foods organic restaurant in this town. The food was incredibly fresh and tasted amazing.
Also, when we did shop for food, first we went to a “Whole Foods” grocery store where everything is local and fresh and organic and real food (there was no canned Chef Boyardee there), although it was pretty pricey.
Then we went to Trader Joe’s. This store was amazing: organic, natural foods; a huge selection and cheap. Something that costs $17 here, costs $4 there. Not kidding. Same product, same amount.
Yes, I brought a few packaged raw-almond flour bags home. Also, the organic chicken was everywhere. Individually packaged organic, boneless, skinless chicken breast for the same price as what we would pay for a package of boneless, skinless, hormone-injected chicken breast.
Also, of course, they have a much-larger selection of fresh, locally grown foods. When you can walk around your neighbourhood picking lemons and limes, you know you’re in a place where you can buy some inexpensive locally grown produce.
I know what you’re going to say: What about the air quality?
Well, honestly, it wasn’t an issue … where I was, anyway. We went for a lot of hikes and the air quality was great, but I could see the haze in the distance.
Exercising was pretty easy, too. Lots of hills to do long hikes; free yoga classes in the local park, three times a day; lots of fitness clubs of different sizes around every second corner and private, personal-training studios available in every area. You want it, they’ve got it. Like any other type of service, you get what you pay for.
So, I’m giving you a bit of a break, but as we know, it may be hard but it’s not impossible.
Plan ahead; visit local farms; buy what you can, organically grown; buy what you can locally and cook your own food.
Oh yeah … and you want a good workout? I think I know where you can do that, too.
This column is provided by Peak Fitness. Mrs. Lee Randell is an ACE-certified personal trainer. Contact information and past articles are available at www.pkfitness.yk.ca/Clients. Anyone who wants to begin an exercise program should consult their physician first.
This column is provided by Mrs. Lee Randell, independent fitness consultant, who is an ACE certified advanced health and fitness specialist and personal trainer. You can reach her at www.mrsleerandell.com.
