This year Valentine’s day comes on a Sunday. So what? Well, ladies, this year you have no excuse not to enjoy this day with your the one you love. Forget about chores, housework, children’s homework, shopping and other errands to run… Get those out of the way on Saturday to have free reign this coming Sunday.

If you have children, find someone to take care of them for an evening, a night, a whole day (why not the whole week end even!). Rope in grand-parents, friends or a babysitter… Hang up your Wonder-mom super hero costume for a few precious hours for a  tete a tete that will do you world of good!

Plan a LeBootCamp style active and pampering day with your other half:

1. Wake up your loved one gently with a freshly pressed lemon juice in a glass of room temperature water set on a pretty tray with a handwritten love note. There is no better way to cleanse one’s body and show how much you love him or her!

2. Initiate him to walking on an empty stomach: get out and get some air use the opportunity for an intimate chat: it is a chance to talk about the future, plan a trip together, discuss what parts of the world you would like to discover, the things you enjoy in your life, those you desire… avoid the usual topics of work, the children, family problems… this time together is dedicated to you and your happiness! Don’t forget to walk at a good pace
3. Prepare a special Valentine’s day breakfast together: infinite love in a healthy and energetic body 

4. After a lovely breakfast, let’s get on with a morning activity: treat yourself to a couple massage or go to a spa together: jets, jacuzzi, sauna, hammam, swimming pool… all in a totally relaxing environment.

5. Have a light lunch, If your other half is planning to cook or take you out for a meal tonight, you will then be able to enjoy your Valentine’s dinner without any guilt whatsoever! During lunch, compliment your dearest on three things you appreciate and that really turn you on about him. Encourage him to do the same. Complicity guaranteed!

6. Indulge in a nap together or each to your own, far from the usual daily hustle and bustle, it will make you feel great. Share the yoga breathing techniques you learned at LeBootCamp with your other half. They too suffer from daily stress! In the intimacy of your love nest, you can show how to relax and soften one’s tensions to find calm and serenity.

7. The afternoon could be the occasion for a stroll in a museum, an art gallery or a trip to the movies and as a mark of your affection do let him choose the movie (without a grumble :). You will soon see the benefits of such a simple unconditional gesture. Next time, it will be your turn and so forth :). Prepare your own snacks: beware of the temptations at the movie house, take some almonds, cashew nuts, a punnet of strawberries along, that way you will avoid the munchies and more importantly won’t be desperately ravenous come dinner.

8. A little homemade gift. There really is no need to blow a lot of cash on extravagant presents in order to prove your love for another person. I am an unconditional lover of homemade gifts, even those easy to make that I prepare for Christmas, birthdays, Valentine’s day… or just like that for the pleasure of it! Have a beautiful picture printed and framed, bake heart shaped biscuits, try your hand at homemade chocolates, sprinkle your house with little attention or vouchers for a kiss, a massage… or more… bake his favourite cake, make heart shaped canapes for the aperitif… be creative!

9. Tonight, no watching what we eat, it is romantic dinner time, especially if your other half is cooking or if he is the one who booked the restaurant especially for you! No calorie talk this evening, enjoy, savour, try everything without necessarily having seconds but a glass of wine for sure and enjoy the moment. No one is trying to sabotage your efforts to lose weight, it is only one special meal on a special evening

10. Valentine’s day is a celebration to remind ourselves how good it is to love and be loved in return in a hectic world where most human contact is virtual diluting feelings. Mark this day and remember to put those little attentions into action more often, to create those special moments regularly. Make a note when your lovest and dearest talks about what he likes (a trinket in a shop window…), what he would like to do (a night out with the boys…), what touches him (a love note slipped in his jacket pocket…) etc. That way you can surprise him in the weeks and months to come with things that really matter and you can relish the joy of seeing your loved one’s face brighten at the unexpected treat!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Valérie Orsoni

Your well being and weight loss coach

LeBootCamp