My little buddy, Chico, is 5 today!
I shop a lot at Chico’s, but I didn’t name my dog after my favorite clothing store! Their sizing, however, is genius! I wear size 1 jeans! … but I digress….
I have been a Pitbull fan for years and considered naming him Pitbull, but it just wasn’t an appropriate name for an adorable Mini Schnauzer.
Pitbull (before he became Mr. Worldwide) used to refer to himself as “Dat lil CHICO, Pitbull!”
My daughter suggested Chico for my puppy’s name and it fit!
I try to make the point in my blogs – often – that more moving allows for ingesting enough calories to ensure excellent nutrition, satisfaction, and a few sugary/fatty treats!
Studies show that a gym membership may not increase physical activity.
It’s not uncommon for people to workout at the gym and then increase their sedentary behavior because they already “worked out today.”
That would be me.
Studies show that 90% of treadmills in the home are still in use five years after purchase.
They’re in use as a clothes rack!
That would be mine.
I don’t know if there are any formal studies looking at how dogs change a sedentary lifestyle, but if my experience is typical then it’s a forgone conclusion.
Dog(s) = lots of physical activity
I don’t have a fenced-in yard. Chico likes to run and play. To keep Chico safe I have to run and play with him.
Running and playing with Chico makes it much easier to balance calories in and out. It takes less attention.
For the most part the balance happens very naturally as long as I pay attention to Chico’s “monkey eyes,” and I continue to pay attention to my satiety and to mindless eating behaviors!
Monkey eyes are when he comes up to me and stares hard and won’t let up at me to let me know he wants to go outside to walk and play. If I try to ignore the monkey eyes he adds trembling to emphasize the urgency!
Today is dedicated to celebrating Chico’s birthday!
I will spend the day doing all the things he loves.
We will take several long walks and I will let him sniff every sniffable thing to his heart’s content. At low tide we will get into the kayak and paddle over to the sandbar where he’s free to dig, run, and chase sea birds.
For dinner I will sprinkle some burger in his kibble!