My afternoon exercise coach is a real taskmaster! She doesn't care if I'm tired, if I've had a long day, or what.  There she is waiting impatiently for me to change clothes and lace-up my walking shoes.  Before I can catch my breath, we are out the door and heading for a long walk. So who is this personal trainer?  Why our dog, Miss Maya, of course! She's the cute golden retriever in the picture.  If you notice a tail

Even though I go faithfully to the Shades Valley YMCA every morning before work, I find these afternoon walks with Maya give back more than fitting in extra fitness.  They give me a chance to unwind, relax, and stop and smell the woods (almost 300 acres) that surround our house.  On the weekends, we make a point to walk at least 10 miles.  Sure, there have been afternoons or weekends when I think I really need to stay inside.  But then, sweet Maya looks at me, places a paw on my knee, and I'm done!  She is already racing down the driveway knowing I will be following.

We want to hear from you:

"How does your pet keep you healthy?"

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Related articles:

http://www.southernliving.com/healthy-living/mind-body/pets-place-00400000008324/

http://livehealthy.southernliving.com/2009/06/pet-friendly-hotels-loews-nashville.html

http://www.southernliving.com/healthy-living/mind-body/healthy-eco-friendly-pet-products-00400000052192/

http://www.southernliving.com/healthy-living/mind-body/pick-right-puppy-for-family-00400000008686/

Recently at lunch, my friends and I started talking about our weekend plans. "Anything special?" we asked each other.  No!  Our to-do list (going to soccer games, softball games, grocery shopping, planting a garden, cleaning the house, cooking, etc.) fills up our "supposedly" down-time.  But where's the fun in all this multi-tasking?

Sometimes joy comes in treating ourselves to something decadent.

I try to be good as the Healthy Living Editor.  I get up at 4 every day and go to the gym.  I drink my water, try to watch what I eat, and practice portion control.  But let me let you in on a little secret...every now and then I like to have a Coke (a real Coke) and a bag of potato chips.  It's not all the time, but having an occasional indulgence makes me happy.

We all deserve a little treat sometime.  Tell us about your favorite indulgence in the comments section below.

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We all know beauty is only skin deep, but having great skin is part genetics and part maintenance.  I have a friend who follows certain beauty rituals every day and her skin is flawless.  Personally, I wash my face with a certain soap that my mother recommended and wear sunscreen 365 days a year, rain or shine. That's about it.

What about you? Help us by answering the following question. Your answer could appear in an upcoming issue of Southern Living!

When it comes to keeping your skin beautiful, tell us about the best tip that has been passed on to you.

Please send your tip to healthyliving@southernliving.com.

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A couple of weeks ago, my daughter and I went to the Birmingham Museum of Art to see the exhibition Leonardo da Vinci: Drawings from the Biblioteca Reale in Turin.  I didn’t want to go. Not because I don’t like da Vinci or appreciate art, but it was the opening day of the exhibit and I thought it would be too crowded.  Plus, with my anxiety levels soaring (looming deadlines and upcoming planning), I thought I needed to take advantage of the first hint of fall and go for a walk.  Boy, was I wrong.

Our weekly “surprise” bag filled with local goodies has come to an end. Since May, my husband and I have been the lucky recipients of fresh vegetables and fruit from Jones Valley Urban Farm’s CSA (Community Supported Agriculture).This was our first year to try it and, boy, have we enjoyed it. 

We never planned dinner for Thursdays because that was pickup day. Whatever was in the bag was later on the table.

My husband and I experienced the season through our taste buds, a real treat. And the beauty of eating local is that what we found in the bottom of those brown bags rarely makes it in most food markets: carmello tomatoes, Cajun jewel and burgundy okra, Italian heirloom and ghostbuster eggplants and more. Belonging to JVUF put a real face on our food, and it’s a face we won’t want to miss next year.

If you have a favorite CSA or food co-op, I would love to hear about it.

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Related posts:

• Check out this list of sites for finding your own locally grown food.
• Putting on the Weight: Is the Mediterranean Diet in Trouble?