An Antarctic adventure

Hi <<First Name>>

I was a bit remiss and didn't manage to send out a February newsletter with the #2 resolution in my 12 for 2020. Sorry about that, but I had other things on my mind.

I was trying to figure out how to fit both summer and winter clothing into one suitcase. For a woman like me who tends to over-pack I really had to think things through. Space was limited but I needed to pack for 2 very different holiday destinations.

Destination 1 - My father decided that he wanted to take myself + Hubby and my brother + wife on a family holiday. His choice of destination was not what we'd usually experienced as a family holiday. In the past they have all been NZ-based. Growing up we spent pretty much every school holiday in a camping ground in some far-flung corner of NZ. Now that we are all grown-ups and sleeping on the ground isn't the adventure it was when we were younger, Dad decided on luxury. So he took us on an incredible Antarctic adventure.

And then, because we were already in Argentina to transit to and from Antarctica, Hubby and I decided to spend another week away for our 7th wedding anniversary.

Destination 2 - We visited the Iberā Wetlands in the northeastern part of Argentina. Usually when folk travel to Argentina they go to the Iguazū Falls, but because Hubby is a bit of a bird-nerd we chose the wetlands instead. The bird life was amazing!

Now it's back to the real world, and what a crazy, mixed up world it is at the moment. The February and March resolutions are both quite relevant with the current COVID-19 situation. The full resolutions are down towards the end of the email, the following paragraphs are how they fit with COVID-19.

Resolution #2 of 12 for 2020, February - Set boundaries with social media:
There is a lot of misinformation doing the rounds on social media about how to treat/fight COVID-19. Including ways to 'boost' your immune system with certain foods or supplements. The people selling you these "boosters" are peddling snake-oil, cashing in on the anxiety that comes with a health crisis like a pandemic.
Yes, we can 'support' our immune system with general healthy diet, sleep and exercise patterns (e.g. eating plenty of veggies, sleeping 7-9 hrs a night, getting around 30 mins exercise 5x a week). But, sorry to break it to you, there is no one food, or supplement or diet that will magically cure COVID-19, or any other disease for that matter. Food and nutrition supplements don’t act like drugs. Nutrient action is generally a function of consistent intake over time; it's what you do long-term, day in and day out, that makes the difference with nutrients. And getting nutrients from foods over supplements really is the best way (unless you have a deficiency, e.g. anaemia, where you need help returning your iron levels to normal).

Resolution #3 of 12 for 2020, March - Practice joyful movement:
During this time of some people self-isolating, and the potential for more general isolation, it is important to remember that isolation doesn't mean locking yourself away at home, tucked up in bed or on the sofa. Unless that is exactly what you need to do to cope right now.
Getting up and out and moving your body is still really important. Movement is good for body, mind and soul. Movement will help support your immune system, it will help keep your body functioning properly, it will help with sleeping, it can help calm the mind, and when you choose the right sort of movement it can bring joy.
What do I mean by the 'right sort of movement'? I mean something that you actually want to do. I get how that could be tricky at the moment if your joyful movement is going to the gym or doing a yoga class at the town hall. Going to those sorts of places and isolation don't really go hand in hand. But maybe you could come up with some novel ideas on ways you could still do similar workouts at home.

Here are some of my suggestions on how to make movement swaps if you are in isolation:
1) Scheduled classes/workouts, e.g. gym or yoga class - do a YouTube search for videos to follow along with. And if you have a buddy you usually go with to keep you motivated, challenge them to do the videos too, and to find new ones for you both.
2) Walking - you are still allowed to go out for a walk, you just have to keep your distance (2 metres) from anyone else out and about. If you don't want to get out on the streets and potentially come into contact with others, you could walk around inside or outside the house. If you usually have a buddy you walk with, phone them up and chat while you walk.
3) Spring clean - maybe not particularly joyful, but it can be satisfying, and I know cleaning the windows can certainly work up a sweat.
4) Gardening - if you have a garden you could maybe tackle a project you keep meaning to do but never get around to because it seems so big. Break it down into 'workout sessions' so each day you do 20, 30 or 60 minutes and you'll have it done before you know it!
Please let me know your ideas on isolation movement swaps.

For correct, up-to-date COVID-19 information and advice please check in with the Ministry of Health COVID-19 information page.

If you need some support with any food or nutrition based changes you want or need to make, please contact me. However, because I work from home I am closing my office for in-person consultations at this time, to proactively reduce the chance of infection. If you would like an appointment, we can still chat via phone or if you want to see my smiling face, via skype.

Please take care of yourself and those around you.

Kind regards
Nicole

Movement should be fun and enjoyable! Moving your body shouldn’t be about getting ripped, or feeling the burn, or smashing it out. That all sounds dreadfully painful and not something that I want to engage in on a regular basis. And when it comes to moving our bodies it really is more beneficial if we can manage to do something on a regular basis – Ministry of Health guidelines is 2.5 hours per week, or 30 minutes 5 days a week.
Two and a half hours per week?! You are likely wondering when you are supposed to fit that in to your already busy week.
Well, you may have noticed that I haven’t used the word ‘exercise’ but have gone for ‘movement.’ That is because ‘exercise’ is usually thought of as something structured, such as going to the gym, going for a run, playing a sport, going to a yoga class. And these activities usually have a set time. Whereas ‘movement’ incorporates all of those forms of exercise but also takes into account other ways of moving the body that can count towards that 2.5 hours per week. It might be 10 minutes here, 30 minutes there... but it all adds up.
Things such as:
* Walking to work or walking the kids to the bus/school.
* Doing the housework.
* Doing the gardening or mowing the lawns.
* Helping a friend shift house.
* Dancing around the living room after 1 too many wines.
It’s about getting up off your butt and moving about in a fun and joyful way. Not that mowing lawns is something particularly fun but that sense of satisfaction in seeing the yard looking neat and tidy is a type of enjoyment I suppose.