What Brings You Joy?

Meet Griz!  Griz is a 10 month old golden retriever that I see almost daily, when I take my dogs to the park.  Griz is the funniest dog I have ever met.  I would say that he brings me 80% of my daily belly laughs.

I believe that everyone should have, at the minimum, one good belly laugh a day. A belly laugh is a laugh that comes from the gut.  A laugh that is joyful! We spend too much time being serious.  It is so easy to lose sight of the day to day comedy.  Our lives are hilarious!

Take Griz and his sweet, very patient Momma.  She is trying to teach Griz some manners.  Griz is a bit of a slow learner.  Momma is trying to teach Griz not to jump on people.  She has tried absolutely everything from yelling 'NO' to sprays and now currently a tin pan (dogs don't like the sound).  Griz's mom has become a ninja, trying to get there in plenty of time when Griz wants to jump up to say hello.

Of course we are all bad enforcers.  Griz is just so stinkin cute that you kinda want him to jump up and say hello.  I mean seriously, look at that face?  He is a happy dog!  Griz's antics can get a laugh from me everytime.  I am so grateful for Griz and his Momma.

What gives you a belly laugh?  Are you laughing every day?  Give it a try, it is good for your health!   

MMMMM, Creamy Deliciousness!

I am a complete fool for anything that is creamy.  I love mayonnaise, cream, cream cheese, sour cream, milk, and every cheese ever made.  Ugh!  That list sounds fabulous and horrible at the same time.  My heart does a little dance every time I get to have any or all of the creamy foods.  Unfortunately, creamy foods are not considered the best for your body.  They are loaded with fats and can cause weight gain if you each too much.

One of Nick's daughters is no fan of the creamy.  She can't stand mayo or cream.  Her diet is healthy.  She prefers red sauce to me loving Alfredo.  She likes hummus whereas I prefer ranch dip.  Her dressings are oil and vinegar and mine are ranch and blue cheese.  She is a size 2 and I am not.

I wish I could adopt the healthy Mediterranean diet.  I like the foods and can live on them for awhile, but my joy lies in the fatty foods.  That is just it.  My joy.  In my studies, I have learned to "joy" eat for 10% of your daily intake.  That is everyday.  You must plan your joy eat.  This could be a sweet, alcohol or anything creamy.    A joy eat is anything that brings you joy.  It isn't a food that fuels your body, but something that makes you happy.  My joy eat last night was a margarita.  Tonight it will be a chocolate chip cookie.

I encourage everyone to start planning a joy eat everyday.  Think about it ahead of time and plan it out.  You might notice a positive change in your body.  What will your joy eat be today?