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    Happy Healthy Me

    Shedding the exercise and eating right excuses

    Marci Gilbert
    Oct 1, 2010 | 3:34 pm
    • Just because you're in a spinning class doesn't mean you have to keep up witheveryone else.
    • This smoothie has two cups of spinach in it and you'd never know.
      Photo by Marci Gilbert
    • This zucchini banana loaf can be frozen as slices and you can eat it anytime.Freezing is a good way to take away
      Photo by Marci Gilbert
    • That is just bananas and honey. Not really ice cream.
      Photo by Marci Gilbert

    Getting into a new routine can be daunting. It is intimidating to try a new exercise class when you don’t know the movements, and it’s confusing to try new recipes the first time with foods you haven’t used before.

    For exercise and diet, there are plenty of common excuses that lead us to procrastinating or staying in our shell. Here are a few and my suggestions to nix them.

    1. I don’t know where to start.
    If you belong to a gym or can drive to the Rice loop or Memorial Park, then you’re off to a good start. Remember to get some new tennis shoes, too. Never run before? Walk.

    Eventually, you will find an activity or sport that you enjoy and can build skills. Want to try a spinning class?

    Tell the instructor you’re new, and sit near the back. Watch the people in front of you and modify the intensity. Most classes or activities don’t require fancy gear or props, so just show up and start.

    2. It’s expensive to eat right.
    Organic or fresh produce can be expensive, but processed food doesn’t do the body good, and it’s expensive to eat out. My trick for making sure I don’t waste food is to eat similar foods within a week and then change it.

    For instance, I may buy a larger container of strawberries instead of three different berries. Bananas and apples are cheap, so now you have three fruits in your kitchen. Buying fruits and vegetables in season keeps the price low. And it's cheaper to whirl bananas than buy a pint of ice cream.

    You also can buy meat when it’s on sale and freeze it. Make a list of food for the week and shop once (tips for that here).

    3. I don’t have time to exercise every day.

    No one said you have to exercise every day, and I think fewer quality workouts are better than seven subpar sessions. I am a big advocate of exercising in the morning because it’s over fast, it gets you energized and you don’t have to worry about doing it all day long.

    Regardless of the time of day, outdoor activities are more convenient than driving to a gym, but podcasts (free on iTunes), DVDs and stretching count, too. And those you can do at home.

    4. Healthy foods don’t taste good. I don’t want to try tofu.
    I know this excuse well. It belongs to my husband. I really like tofu, but you don’t have to. It’s all about flavors and pairings. I don’t really like plain Greek yogurt, but adding honey, cinnamon and vanilla makes it taste great. Raw fruits and vegetables are good for you, but they can be boring to eat plain. Make a smoothie, roast or grill vegetables, or use bold flavors to season. Foods don’t have to be raw or bland to be healthy. It just takes some experimenting!

    5. Cooking takes too much time.
    Cooking can be time-consuming if you want it to be, but on weeknights, I’m all about quick, easy and homemade. I prep a lot on Sundays — I hard boil eggs for breakfast, I roast vegetables to last a few days, and I cook chicken or ground turkey to last, too. You also can turn one meal into another — shred leftover chicken for quick fajitas or add it to a canned soup. Breakfast for dinner is one of my favorite fast fixes — easy protein and carbohydrate pairing.

    I also bake cookies, loaves or muffins to keep in the freezer. This is my favorite trick that makes it seem like there is always healthy baked goods for breakfast. And the freezer is also great for store-bought loaves of bread (you won’t nibble if they’re frozen) to defrost two slices at a time.

    Once you get on track with making good decisions, future good decisions come easier. When you see things start to work, the excuses fade away. Take your choices one at a time and make a healthy choice. Then make another healthy choice and you’re on your way.

    Follow Marci Gilbert's quest for a healthier life at www.marcigilbert.com

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    This Week's Hot Headlines

    Houston billionaire ranks among top U.S. landowners and more popular stories

    CultureMap Staff
    Jun 14, 2025 | 11:01 am
    HMNS Great Outdoors Gala 2022 Russell and Glenda Gordy and Red FJ Cruiser
    Photo by Jenny Antill
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    Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Houston news of the week, including a look at one of America's top landowners. Plus, the sad closure of a pioneering steakhouse and a popular pizzeria makes plans for Houston. Get the details on our most popular stories below, then head here to plan your weekend.

    1. Houston oil-and-gas billionaire ranks among America's top 100 landowners. About one-fourth of the country’s mega-owners of private land have ties to Texas, either living here, owning land here, or both. The highest-ranked Houston-based landowner is oil-and-gas billionaire Russell Gordy.

    2. Houston's pioneering South American steakhouse will soon shutter in River Oaks. Sad news for inner loopers who are fans of plantain chips, wood-grilled steaks, and Houston’s best tres leches. The River Oaks location of South American steakhouse Churrascos will close Monday, June 16.

    3. Texas Monthly's BBQ Snob dishes on the magazine's new top 50 list. On this episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn joins CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss the magazine’s new list of the 50 best barbecue joints in Texas.

    4. 'Famous' Bronx-based pizza chain fires up 3 Houston locations. A New York-based pizza chain has big plans for Houston. Called Singas Famous Pizza, the restaurant will soon open three locations in the area.

    Singas PizzaSingas Pizza is coming to Houston.Photo courtesy of Singas

    5. Texas slides down the list of best U.S. state economies for 2025. Texas' robust economy may be showing some cracks. Texas now ranks as the state with the eighth best economy, four spots lower than one year ago, according to a new report.

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