Self-care to me is making good decisions, living a healthy and active lifestyle and spending time with family and friends. This starts with making good food choices, foods that are low in carbs, starches and fat.  Don’t get me wrong, there is definitely some pizza going down but it’s in moderation.

Living an active lifestyle is important. I do group fitness classes with my wife; it’s fun to spend time together and push each other.  I also lift weights and walk for miles wearing a weighted vest. Working out takes my mind off the daily grind, you have to focus on the movement you are doing and not what happened that day or week.

In the winter, I like, nope, love to go snowboarding and there is nothing that brings me to my happy place quite like it. To me, the adrenaline rush is like no other; with my earbuds thumping, it’s full speed ahead and the world seems to fade out. I also get to spend time with my family and friends, we all go together, and it’s great to talk and catch-up on the lift ride back to the top.

In recent years, spending time with my two nephews, who are now 6 and 2 years old, have given me new perspective on making healthy choices. Not only have they brought some of the biggest smiles to my face but have made me gratified by these healthy choices. There are days I don’t feel like going to the gym, days I just want to eat copious amounts of pasta, but I make the healthy choice and push through. Spending time with them; being able to play, pick them up, and run around like crazies; the happiness it brings makes it all worth it.