Spousal Support

Spousal Support


Married 11 years, I know first hand the importance of a supportive spouse. Even if your partner’s healthy resolve leaves much to be desired, with the right approach you can find the support you need and improve your partnership in the process. Consider variations on these four phrases when cultivating the interpersonal support you need to reach your health and fitness goals and bring you closer in the process.

1. “I couldn’t do this without you!”: Let your partner know how important their help and support is to you. Everyone wants to feel needed. There’s nothing more important to your relationship than helping the other person feel like THEY are the center of your universe. Be careful that you don’t spend too much time gushing about all the new people or the new lifestyle you’re discovering. Make your partner understand that that he/she is always most important. Feeling better about yourself happens when you make other people feel important and needed and no where is that more important than with your significant other.

2. “Want to go for a walk with me?” Even if the likelihood of it happening is slim, frequently invite your partner to join you on a walk, a swim, bike ride or a fitness class. Let him or her to pick the workout and you might just get a ‘yes’. Ask often and ask with the intent to spend more time together, not to “change” their habits, even if ultimately that’s what happens. If Sunday morning tradition has been coffee, donuts and the paper, try establishing some new ones. No one wants to feel judged or told what to do. Make sure your first priority is spending time together and that fitness become something you share.

3. “Thank you!”: Express your appreciation for even the smallest gesture that helps you to reach your goal, even if it’s just re-arranging their schedule so you can get to your workouts. Thank your partner for not tempting you with a trip to 31 Flavors, or by eating the one food you cant resist (mine is those pink frosted animal cookies with the little tiny sprinkles) in front of you. Rather than dismissing compliments, thank your partner for noticing even the slightest change. Regularly remind your significant other how much you appreciate their help.

4. “Wanna get busy?”: Even if your partner doesn’t yet share your healthy resolve, you both profit from your commitment. Communicate the mutual benefits of fitness, including improved energy, a boost in self-esteem, a better mood, a tighter body, lower cholesterol, a boost in stamina, better health and yes, better sex!

5. “Let’s make a deal.”: Don’t expect your partner to abruptly change his/her dining habits because you are. No one likes to be forced into doing something. Most of us need to do things on our own terms and when “we” are ready. So, make a deal. Offer to do something nice (or naughty) in exchange for his/her promise to “eat in” for the next 10 days - 30 days..whatever it takes. In exchange for going on a nice long walk with you, promise to assume one of his or her normal household responsibilities.

Bomb Bay of the Day: MIRACLE MEAT TENDERIZER

Gasp! Fitness fashion girl posts kitchen gadget at Bomb Bay of the Day? Pick your jaw off the floor, it's true. And those of you who have been following along know that most all of my recipes are only going to be tested and prepared by my DH. He's a wonderful chef and truly a masterful artiste in the culinary department. (But could care less about the difference between a flat head and a phillips). We all have our strengths!


Meat lovers unite. My apologies to vegans and vegetarians! I love ya and certainly don't want to offend you with
meat talk! As my good friend Jay Blahnik always says, "I don't like to eat things that have eyes or a mother." It's never stopped me from enjoy fresh fish or meat, but it cracks me up every time he says it!

So I discovered this bomb bay through Bret. This little gadget is the Bomb Bay if you enjoy tender, juicy, cut it with a butter knife chicken and beef! I'm not kidding! Even I, the girl who burns toaster waffles, can cook a tender chicken breast with this little tool in my arsenal. Love it!

I bought mine after seeing a demo on QVC. We've had this one for over a year and we give them as gifts to everyone we know. In my search on line today, I found it at several locations all under $20.00, even Amazon.com as low as $16.00. We throw ours in the dishwasher and use it nearly everyday. It's in great condition.

How it works...Basically you just hold on to the top and press or punch it into and all over your piece of meat. I find the more I press it, the tenderer the meat and the less time it takes to cook (probably due to the tiny holes that are created)



As you can see, as the bottom of the device is pressed, the blades (nearly 50 of them) create tiny angled
cuts in your piece of meat.