5 Healthy Ways to Indulge Yourself

Being active and healthy means more than getting in your daily run or weight workout. With Valentine's Day around the corner, why not use the holiday as an excuse to treat yourself right?

Here are five ways to indulge in a healthy treat this month:

   1. Play all day. Plan at least one weekend day when you play from sun up to sun down. See how many sports you can fit into one day: jog in the morning, bike ride with your friends or kids, rollerblade through the park and take an easy hike at sunset. If you live in snow country, cross country ski, snowshoe, sled and have a snowball fight, followed by a brisk, late-afternoon walk. You'll sleep great and can use the next day to "recover" and to catch up on all those weekend chores you usually spread over two days.

   2. 'Treat' yourself! All things in moderation, as they say, and if you like dark chocolate, you're in luck: It not only tastes divine, but research shows that it's rich in antioxidants. In fact, a regular-sized bar may contain as many antioxidants as five servings of fruits and vegetables! Of course, fruits and veggies are more nutrient-rich in other areas, but having chocolate in moderation is a happy and healthy indulgence.

   3. Slow it down. Take time out to make at least one nutritious, "slow food" dinner this month. Get fresh, seasonal ingredients from the local farmer's market; find a new healthy recipe to try (Cooking Light, www.cookinglight.com, is an excellent resource) and take time to learn about the foods you're cooking. Then, share your knowledge with your dinner guests over great food and good conversation.

   4. Get bodywork. Whether it's a massage, pedicure, manicure, facial or time at the hair salon (or all of the above!), you'll not only look and feel refreshed, but you'll love having someone take care of YOU.

   5. Go it alone. Spend an afternoon with yourself. Go to a movie only you want to see, spend a few hours browsing at a book store, take a novel to a cozy coffee shop or explore surrounding neighborhoods by bike. Taking time out for yourself allows you to recharge and greet life's little problems with a can-do attitude!

Of course there are many other ways to indulge yourself healthfully. If these ideas don't appeal to you, be creative and generate your own. Plan a girls' night out, do anything that makes you laugh, have your significant other take you to a restaurant you've always wanted to try, or just spend the day napping and reading! Remember, being healthy is about lifestyle; not just managing to fit a workout into each day.