Fit Fridays!

Are you currently dating someone?  Do you feel like maybe his or her bad eating habits are now effecting you?  Or maybe you've gotten "too comfortable" in your relationship, and now that you have COMMITTED to getting FIT 2011, you need to have help with this plan, and what better way then to have your partner be with you on this great plan!!

Well here are some great ideas and tools for  
HEALTHY DATING!

Cook Up a Healthy Dinner

Love makes the world go round, but it also has a tendency to make us a little rounder too. Create a cozy and comforting meal together at home and avoid calorie laden restaurant recipes and sauces. Looking for morning after nibbles? Make a healthy brunch. 

Plan an Activity That'll Make You Move

You won't need the heat up to 85 degrees if you hit the dance floor, get sweaty at an indoor trampoline gym, or harness yourself to a climbing wall. Plus, experiential activities will help you bond with your date.

Walk to Dinner

Skip the car and cab, put on your comfy date shoes (and jacket) and grab your partner's hand. A 15-minute walk to dinner will torch about 60 calories — that's 120 calories if you walk home too — and allow you time to scope out the neighborhood and stop to smooch.

Coach and Motivate One Another

Make a date to teach one another a new sport or activity and coach one another to try harder and keep up with your individual fitness goals. Take a tip from Modern Family's Jay Pritchett and be as supportive as possible . . . even if your love has never ridden a bike before.

Don't Order More Than You Can Eat

If you order takeout try to only order the portions you need for dinner. If you over-order, pack away leftovers into your portable lunch container when you're full so you don't graze later.

Walk the Farmers Market

Spend quality time cruising the farmers market together to work off your brunch and shop for healthy veggies. Challenge one another to pick real, unprocessed foods and make your next meal with the groceries you gathered.

Walk, Run, or Cycle Together

Stay in sync as a couple and hit the trail on foot or wheels together. If you don't have a bike, try renting one for the afternoon and exploring a new neighborhood or city.

Have Happy Hour at Home

Skip syrupy and pricey bar cocktails and have a healthier happy hour at home using these recipes. On top of saving dough and calories you'll be able to hear one another talk, free to invite as many friends as you want, and won't have to worry about a designated driver. 

Mulled Wine
original recipe

To make this recipe you will need an empty tea satchel for the spices. As an alternative, whole spices can be substituted for the ground spices. If using whole spices, tie them together in a cheesecloth or use a stainless steel tea infuser.

Ingredients

1.5 liter bottle of dry red wine
Zest from 1 lemon
Zest from 1 orange
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 tablespoon cloves
1/2 tablespoon ginger
1/2 tablespoon nutmeg
Honey, agave nectar, or apple juice to taste
Orange slices or cinnamon sticks for garnish

Directions

1. Pour wine into large saucepan and cook over low heat.
2. Add lemon and orange zest to the wine.
3. Place the spices into an empty tea satchel. Put the satchel into the saucepan and brew the mixture for 30 minutes.
4. Add sweetener of your choice to taste.
5. Pour the wine through a strainer and serve in heatproof glasses. Garnish each glass with a sliced orange or cinnamon stick.

Hopefully these fun ideas will inspire your next date night!  I can say, by my own experience it really is SO much better to commit to be fit with the one your dating!  Whether it's making a yummy meal together or trying a new sporting activity, you can really get to know the other person in an entire new way!

Have a great weekend my dears!  We are currently experiencing even more snow, so I may have to result indoor activities only! (Yoga, by Bethenny!)