A Fresh September

I can't believe September is already here. Only a few months left in this year, which I can easily say has been the craziest year of my life! I got married, became a Beach Body coach (literally two life-changing events), moved to a whole new city, started a new job, and am living with a man for the first time in my life. WHAT? Life has been turned upside down, and I think it's good to sit back and reflect on it a bit. 

September has always been back to school mode for me. Both my parents are teachers, and back to school time was so exciting in our house! New office supplies, new teachers, new clothes, new books; a fresh start. For me, September still feels like the"beginning" of something, even though it isn't technically a new year. With that mindset, I've decided to treat this time like a fresh start. Because why not? This year has been so incredible for me, and I in no means am trying to run away from the past. But I love the idea of a new beginning and setting some awesome goals for this time of year! And with that said...

September Goals!

1. Continue on with the Insanity program, while adding some 21 day fix workouts during the week! My husband and I will be doing some 21 day fix workouts when he gets home from work in the evenings, so I'm really looking forward to doing both these programs and seeing some awesome results!

2. Continue with 21 day fix container system. I stopped counting calories (yet again) in August, but felt that I was relying on too many random food groups to get through the day (toast 3x/day, nuts 3x/day...you get the idea). Doing a program like Insanity (and especially now adding the fix) requires a LOT more fuel, and not just random, empty calories. So I am using the container system to track my food groups and loving it! However, even though I am supposed to be eating the lowest calorie bracket, I've decided to alternate between the first and second bracket since I am doing 2 workout programs. I am building muscle and getting hungrier, so sometimes I'll need the extra fuel! But above all, I will LISTEN to by body by not forcing myself to eat containers, and at the same time, not depriving myself if I need a bit more! :) 

3. Play around with our fancy camera! On our honeymoon, Vasken and I got a nice SLR camera to take pictures, and it's been in our drawer every since coming home from Hawaii...in May. I think it's time I upload the honeymoon pics and start carrying that thing around and enjoying it!

4. Bake more. I LOVE BAKING. There were even times in my life that a goal of mine was to bake LESS because I would bake every day. But this summer has been unfortunately bake-less since it's been SO hot and turning on the oven turns our cozy apartment into a sauna. Well, this month, I want to bake more! I always make my treats healthified (search for recipes on my Joyful Harvest Blog tab!!) and I can't wait to get back into this hobby I have missed. Get ready for pumpkin everything!

5. Plug into a Bible study! Our church offers so many, so I am excited to get back into weekly Bible studies and fellowship with other believers. 

6. Read at least 10 pages/day of a growth book. This new habit in my life has been huge. It's been so motivating to read books that have expanded my mind and built up my confidence. So I definitely want to keep this up! 

7. And lastly...grow out my bangs. Yup, I went there. Can't wait till they are grown and gone! 

What are some of your goals for September? Share in the comments below!

Catching up...Foodie edition!

Hello out there!! I am alive, and I have missed writing to you all! I thought I would just do a catch up edition of my blog posts, since I am home sick today :( I got some kind of stomach bug and it has not been friendly, let me tell you! I have been an absentee blogger, and for that, I apologize! 

But rest assured, life has been pretty awesome lately! I have been getting used to my new job and absolutely love it. I have also been working hard at my side job as a Beach Body Coach! God has been so good to me and has blessed this "hobby" of mine immensely, and for that, I am grateful! I have so much fun working with people and helping them achieve health and vitality. I firmly believe God created me to do this, and I am so excited to see where this all goes! So I am loving work, loving my patients, loving being a beach body coach, and loving this green vest which I have been wearing way too much this summer!

Meals have been on point lately. I'm happy with the way I have been sticking to my goals! I have also had a rude awakening as of late, and since writing helps me think things through, I have decided to share my thoughts and revelations on my blog.

As most of you know, I have been on and off a gluten free diet for a couple years. Per my doctor, I have a severe gluten sensitivity and must stay away from it.

This is the rx my doctor wrote me back in November, when she kindly reminded me that I NEED to be gluten free! I found it this week in my wallet, and realized that I need to start taking care of myself and my body, and treat it the way it needs to be treated. 

I basically have been eating gluten like there is no tomorrow, even though I know that I feel 100% better in all aspects of my life when I am totally gluten-free. But, my friends...bread is my favorite. Like, I used to live for free bread and butter at restaurants when I was growing up. I believe in honesty, and I believe in sharing my story, which is why I am sharing this all with you today. I have been in denial for a while about my need for a gluten-free diet, and even wrote a post about being in denial back in November. It's been a roller coaster for me really, especially because I do have emotional connections to my favorite foods! And since getting married in April, I have just really enjoyed having a morning toast with my hubby, sandwiches at lunch, pastries at parties, and all things gluten.

SO, I have decided this week (aka yesterday as I was nursing my unhappy tummy), to go back to a gluten-free diet, and I am hoping that you all will keep me accountable! I need to accept that I have an intolerance, and I need to take care of it. 

I realize now that thinking that I can't live without (insert food here), is just giving food too much power. And ain't nobody got time for that when trying to serve the Lord, serve my husband, and serve people in the best way possible! So, yet again, I am going to follow a gluten-free diet, and will post about my journey, in hopes of regaining my health, my clear skin, my happy tummy, and my overall well-being! And, you know, to listen to my doctor too! :) 

And, since this is a catch-up post, foodie edition, here are my eats as of late!

My husband BBQ'd the most perfect chicken for us last Sunday after church. Paired with some rice and yummy kale salad!

Lazy girl meal: chicken, black beans, quinoa, and enchilada sauce

Kale salad yet again, with a lentil, brown rice, and spinach mush!

Last, but not least, SHAKEOLOGY! The superfood shake I never leave home without! :) 

As far as workouts go, I have been doing the 21 day fix program and love it! There is actually a huge sale going on right now on the 21 day fix + shakeology! They are being sold together at an all time low price! If you are interested, I would love to coach you though the program! Please go through the "Contact Me" tab and send me a quick message if you would like some more info. If you order the program through me, I get to be your coach and help you every step of the way! 

I have also been running more lately. I have really and truly missed running. I used to run half-marathons and live for my 7-8 mile daily runs. After busting my knee a couple years ago, I just can't run like I used to. But I am determined to get back into running shape, at least for shorter distances, since it used to be a huge part of my life and I want to bring it back! 

Ok, random ramblings over. I really hope to be more on top of blogging for you all! I have a few posts in mind that I would like to bring to fruition! Stay tuned, and thank you all for following and reading! 

The 5 Daily Habits Challenge!

Hi all! I hope you are having a great week. It's finally Wednesday which means only a couple more days until the weekend! That's cause for a celebration, no? 

I've had this topic on my heart for a while, so I wanted to write out some thoughts about the idea of daily habits. I'm reading through a book titled "The Slight Edge" by Jeff Olson. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to be more disciplined with their life, reach their goals, and develop daily habits that will encourage growth in their lives. 

In his book, Olson states that our daily habits often determine how successful we are at reaching our goals. He also discusses how these habits are usually very easy to do, but also very easy NOT to do. This statement blew. my. mind. I know of some habits that I want to do every day (for example, exercise, sleeping at a decent time, saving a few extra bucks a month, reading 10 pages a day of a book that will help me grow, etc.) but I often miss the mark on these habits. I've convinced myself that these daily habits and goals are just too harddddd, and that's why I can't keep up with them. But reading this book and reflecting on his view of habits has completely changed my way of thinking and has helped me reexamine just how hard these habits actually are. 

1. Waking up 30 minutes earlier to workout is pretty easy. Ignoring my alarm is pretty easy too. 

2. Going to bed early so I CAN fit in that workout is easy. But continuing on the Netflix binge and just watching "one more episode" is pretty easy too. *Side note, my husband and I are working our way through Breaking Bad right now...and OH MY GOSH...it's been so easy to stay up late watching episode after episode.

3. Putting away $50 a week is pretty easy. But, buying that super duper cute top that I just have to have is pretty easy too. 

4. Reading 10 pages of a book will probably take me 10 minutes, which is pretty easy to fit into my day. Spending time on Facebook or Instagram for 10 minutes instead of reading is pretty easy too.  

So you see, these habits are easy to do, and just as easy NOT to do. It's that simple. And this realization has totally changed the way I've been viewing my goals and the daily habits I want to develop. 

I am going to stop viewing these disciplines as "hard" and give them the credit they deserve, which is not that much! Doing the things that I want to do is not that difficult. It's not like I want to build a house every day, buy a car every day, or lose 20 lbs in one day. Those big goals come around by implementing these small, seemingly insignificant, but oh so simple daily goals. 

So I am committing to 5 daily habits that will help me reach my greater goals in due time. By putting the work in now, we ensure that we will reach our goals later in life. Would you like to join me? I'd love that! Leave a comment and share the 5 daily habits that you will start doing TODAY! Let's see how long we last. Here are my daily habits! 

1. Spend time with Jesus every morning. Whether it's reading a devotional, praying, journaling, or having an extended quiet time with the Lord, this time is precious to and vital for me. 

2. Workout/drink my Shakeology. 

- Workout because my job is sickeningly sedentary and I NEED to move my body every day. I'm doing the 21 day fix (started another round yesterday) and LOVE it! 

-Shakeology because it is my nutritional powerhouse drink that gives me all the nutrients I need in a day. I haven't been sick once since drinking it, my digestion is pretty perfect (tmi sorry), and my skin is getting clearer by the day! 

** if health and fitness are a difficult area for you, please contact me! Healthy living is a passion of mine and I'd love to be a part of your journey to reach your goals!

3. Read 10 pages a day of a book that will help me grow. I love reading for fun, but I also want to read more on how to grow as a person, how to be financially smart, and how to be a better person overall. 

4. Save $10/day. This could go a long longgggg way! :) 

5. Go to bed by 9:30/10pm on weekdays (and preferably weekends too!) Sleep is so important for our overall health, energy, mood, and quality of life. I am just a miserable person when I don't sleep enough, and I want to give my body the rest it deserves!

Leave a comment with some of the daily habits you would like to commit to! And thank you so much for reading! ;) have a happy day! 

 

The Habit of Fear

The famous Franklin Roosevelt once said "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." This quote has been heard many times and has been requoted, or retweeted nowadays I guess, over the years. Fear is one of the strongest emotions we can experience. It can be paralyzing or exhilarating, it can move us forward or keep us back, or it can actually be a game changer for us and push us to reach our goals. Yes, fear can be motivating, if we decide to make it so. 

I've realized over the past few months that I have an INCREDIBLE amount of fear. It's become a habit for me to look for things that I am afraid of. It makes me sad, but it's so true. On my way to work, I'll be afraid of what the day will look like and if I'll have any difficult clients. When I pay bills, I'm afraid that the money won't actually go through and I'll be late on my payments (which is why I pay things off about 3 weeks before the due date). When I'm talking to someone about nutrition, I'm afraid that they won't care what I have to say and will think I'm silly for encouraging us to eat more vegetables. It's almost natural for me to fear something and have anxiety about a situation. And let me tell you, that is NOT a good habit to have! I've become so used to it, and have embraced it as who I am. It's held me back in the past, but starting now, I am deciding to let it propel me forward instead. I'm deciding to use that fear and let it light a fire under me to prove the fear wrong, push forward, and be the best me I can be. 

Really though, what would you do if you weren't afraid? Would you finally start that business? Would you try that hobby or craft that you've always wanted? Would you pursue that relationship? Would you finally lose the weight? There are so many aspects of our life that we could grow in if fear wasn't stopping us. I refuse to let it hold me back anymore. I was not created to live in fear, so why let it win?

After talking to an amazing friend and mentor yesterday, I've realized that fear is always there, it's always been a part of my life, but now I am deciding to use it as my motivation instead of my detriment. I plan on pursuing my business goals and building what I've always dreamed of. I've decided to not be afraid of what it feels like to actually take care of my body and maintain that kind of health and nourishment. Even if I experience self doubt, and those all too familiar feelings that I actually CAN't build my business and CAN'T pursue my goals, I'm not going to absorb that into my personality. A fearful person is not who I am, and it's not who God created me to be. Now when I feel the fear, I'm not going to become the fear, but rather push passed it, and choose courage instead.

What would you do if you weren't afraid of anything? Comment below!