A Heart-Healthy Valentine's Day

A Heart-Healthy Valentine’s Day

A Heart-Healthy Valentine’s Day can be as fun and stress-free as it is beneficial to your health. February is Heart Health Month, and Monday, February 14th is Valentine's Day.  If you’re all about over-indulging on Valentine’s Day, we're not here to stop you. But if you want to indulge without all the guilt, expense and hassle, we have lots of helpful ideas.

Heart-Healthy Activities

Why not fit in a quick Heart-Healthy Valentine’s Day workout? When couples work out together they feel more in sync and loving towards each other. If you’re in a relationship, exercising together will help you bond. If not, you can still improve the relationship with the most important person in your life: You! And remember there’s no shame in having high standards.

A great way to get your workout in is to take a Better Body Conditioning Class with me, Coach Laura. You can take the class in our Golden Home Fitness studio at 30 School Street in North Andover at 10:30 am on Valentine's Day:  Monday, February 14th.

If you can't make it to the studio, you can go to YouTube and search Golden Home Fitness to take the class. We will be streaming it live. I am working on a special Valentine's Day playlist for Monday. The class will also be held on Wednesday and Saturday at 10:30am. In case you want more, I put together this Tabata workout you can do whenever it fits into your schedule.

Heart-Healthy Valentine’s Day Tabata

All you need is 30 minutes, a timer, a mat (if you have one) and your can-do attitude.

This is a Tabata interval workout. Complete each exercise at your best effort for 20 seconds. Then rest for 10 seconds before completing the second one. You will do the first set of eight exercises back to back and then rest for 1 minute.

Next do the second set of eight exercises back to back and rest for 1 minute.

Then repeat the first set of exercises once more, rest 1 minute, repeat the second set of exercises once more and rest 1 minute.

Make sure to warm up for 5 minutes before, and cool down and stretch afterwards.

Have some fun with it --it’s just a workout, and a quick one at that! What’s better than a little friendly competition with your partner, your kids or your old self.

5 minute Warmup

1. Speed squats

2. Jumping Jacks

3. Pushups

4. High Knees

5. Lunges Right Leg

6. Lunges Left Leg

7. Jump Squats

8. Plank Jacks

One Minute Rest

1. Alternating Side Lunges

2. Butt Kickers

3. Mountain Climbers

4. Speed Skaters

5. Crunches

6. Fast Feet

7. Bridges

8. Faux Jump Rope

One Minute Rest

Repeat the first eight exercises. Rest one minute. Repeat the second set of exercises. Rest  one minute.

5 Minute Cool down and Stretch

Heart-Healthy Valentine’s Day Meal

Sure you could dress up and go to an expensive, over-crowded restaurant for a heavy and caloric meal. But wouldn’t it be more fun to cook a Heart-Healthy Valentine’s Day meal together in the comfort of your own home? You can decide wether to dress formal or casual. Coming up with ingredients that you both like is half the fun.

For a super easy and nutritious meal, try Sonja and Alex Overhiser’s Baked Salmon and Asparagus. This husband and wife team creates recipes based on nutritious whole foods. They encourage preparing meals together with your partner or family. This meal can be prepared in twenty minutes. It pairs well with a side of quinoa or a salad. The recipe is heart-healthy, low calorie and super tasty. The directions for the recipe can be found at acouplecooks.com. If you are more experienced or adventuresome, The Overhisers have many other healthy suggestions.

Finish with fresh strawberries, or Eating Well’s prosecco-soaked chocolate strawberries for a meal that is as nutritious as it is delicious.

Heart-Healthy Valentine’s Day Gifts

You could get your partner (or yourself!) the customary heart-shaped chocolates, flowers or teddy bear. But why not show them that you care about their health, and are committed to your own? A heart-rate monitor, athletic shoes, supplements or equipment are great ways to do that. Another amazing gift would be a Golden Home Fitness Personal Training Gift Certificate for training or classes. Committing to training together would up the ante even more.

Happy Heart-Healthy Valentine’s Day From Golden Home Fitness

If you love yourself and your partner you want to take good care of your heart and theirs. Nothing beats being in good health.  That sense of well-being, of feeling good in your own skin and of being able to do the things you love never gets old. And if you take good care of your heart and fitness, you won’t feel old either.

Whatever you decide to do, we hope you put your heart and soul into it and have a very happy and healthy Valentine’s Day!