PiYo Meal Planning: Portions, NOT Calories

If you have been following my blog for a while now, you'll know that I have struggled with calorie counting. I decided to give it up a few months back, but have missed the structure of it all. I'm a huge planner and organizer, so when I feel kind of "on my own" about something, I tend to get anxious. While I have dabbled with counting calories again recently, I still stand by the fact that I don't like the effect it has on my brain! I'm not going back there, no matter how much I love to micromanage my life! That's where PiYo comes in.

I'm ending my third week of PiYo workout program and loving every minute of it. I also have LOVED the food plan that it comes with. I tend to follow my own kind of meal plan, but the fact that the PiYo plan counts portions and not calories is huge. The PiYo eating plan places you in a calorie bracket based on your starting weight, but after that, you don't need to count calories. You just tally up how many portions of each food you have for the day. It tells you how much of a certain food counts as a portion, and makes sure you are balanced and well fed throughout the day.

The food choices are endless, and the lists have actually helped me see how many different vegetables, fruits, or proteins I could be eating! I've been looking at my meal plans through this lens lately and it's helped me still have some structure (type A personality anybody?) without getting fixated on the numbers. It's also easy to plan my week by knowing how many portions of each food group I'll need to plan for the day. Usually, I'll plan breakfast, lunch, and snacks, and whatever portions I have left over, I'll have as my dinner. I also don't restrict my vegetable intake. My new mantra: Vegetables make us feel like Wonder Woman....so eat those babies up!

Veggies and berries have been my go-to snacks lately.

I also LOVE that Shakeology counts as a protein. Sometimes, I just can't handle having chicken, turkey, or eggs at every meal. It's just too much protein and chewing, and frankly is not fun 4-5x/day! Shakeology is delicious, chocolately, and jam-packed with nutrients and superfoods, NOT just protein. I usually have this as my mid morning snack (which is 9am for me haha morning person over here!) and it really helps keep me full while allowing me to slurp on delicious chocolate.

As a disclaimer, I am not crazy strict on these portions either. Being too intense about something is not a way to live a lifestyle. I am all for following a plan to a T for a few weeks, but always keep the fact in that back of your mind that you WILL have to go back to normal life, filled with healthy food choices as well as special events and splurges now and then. If I don't have enough protein portions in one day, too many fruits, or a double serving of my gluten-free toast, I don't freak out about it. I just continue with the day and keep on making healthy choices. I just love the framework of the PiYo eating plan and think it is GREAT for people who are trying to get their nutrition in check.

I'll end this post with my meal plan for today, and how I tally up my portions PiYo-style! Again, I'm not being too strict on myself, just trying to see where my portions lie in relation to the recommendations in the eating plan, and use up whatever food I have in the fridge for this week.

Breakfast: Shakeology, blueberries (1 protein, 1 fruit)

Snack: hard boiled eggs, sliced cucumbers (1 protein, 1 veggie)

Lunch: beans and rice salad (2 grains, 2-3 veggies)

Snack: nuts (2 healthy fats)

Dinner: toss up!

Total without dinner: 2 proteins, 2 grains, 1 fruit, 3-4 veggies, 2 healthy fats

I know I have 2 protein portions left for the day, veggies, and fruits! So I will probably try to have a combination of protein and veggies for dinner and eat till fullness, NOT stuff my face with 8oz of steak just to reach my goal. That is why this plan is helpful; you can tally your portions and see where you are for the day, but you DON'T have to ignore fullness or hunger cues. If you want that extra scoop of rice, have it! If you don't feel like having protein yet again, don't worry about it! It's good to be aware, without being too hard on ourselves. As long as our food choices are healthy and mostly vegetables and whole foods, we are well on our way to nourishing our bodies.

BIG Announcement & Stepping out in Faith

It's so crazy to me how often we fear ourselves. What we are or are not capable of. Our story. How we got to where we are. I was having a phone chat with someone yesterday who encouraged me to "share my story" and not be afraid of it. In the moment, I didn't think much of it and thought "oh yea, sure, I can do that," but the more I thought about it, the more scared I became. I don't like being vulnerable (ask my fiancé, he will attest to that!) so the moment I feel that I am going to put myself out there with the possibility of failing or getting hurt, I run and hide, or I just shut down entirely. Call it a self-protection mechanism, but I am always trying to protect myself. I realized that, while there are always boundaries which how much you share on social media or to the internet world, being real is the most impactful way to inspire and reach those around me. Shutting down or separating myself causes me to remain stagnant, to stay where I am, to cease growing, and to stop being effective.

Action is required to step out of fear and step into faith. I am a follower of Christ, and I believe that I was  made for more than fear and timidity. God calls us to power, not fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 states "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."

So I am going to step out and announce that last week, I officially became a Beach Body coach! AHHHHHH!!! I can honestly say that this decision has been life changing for me, even thought I am in a basics training program at the moment with the awesome Inspire Joy team run by the lovely Anna Locke. I am just getting my hands dirty in all of this, but ever since I signed up to be a coach, I have felt this wave of energy, excitement, and...what's the word...RIGHTNESS. I just feel so RIGHT about this decision, that it is what I was called to do, and that I WILL be able to achieve my goals.

Beach Body has done so much for me over the years. I have done workout programs like P90X and Insanity, and now my current favorite, PiYo. These PiYo workouts have changed my life the past couple of weeks. Not only do I feel myself growing longer and leaner, my posture has improved dramatically, and I have more confidence as an overall person. 3 weeks into it and I am already seeing improvement on many of my yoga poses and sequences. And, it's INTENSE work. I am dripping at the end of each workout and enjoying every second of it.

I can't wait to share my journey with Beach Body as I grow more as a coach and as a person. For the first time in my life, I am stepping out of fear and into faith and following my dreams. Motivating and encouraging people to live a healthy lifestyle is the top reason I became a Registered Dietitian. This new adventure with Beach Body will help me combine my passions of fitness and nutrition, while motivating, encouraging, and inspiring those I connect with. I can't wait to see where God takes me with this journey. I have surrendered my goals to Him, because, as I always say, His hands are the safest place they could be!

If anyone has any questions about Beach Body, please don't hesitate to email me at tveenRD@gmail.com. Also, you can follow my journey on my Instagram: @tveen_RD

Now I am off to do my PiYo workout for the day! Have a happy Tuesday everyone, and try to do one thing today that scares you, by stepping out of fear and stepping out in faith!

March Maddness...Wedding Style

49 days until my wedding and I already know that this month is going to be INSANE. Yesterday was my bridal shower and it was literally the perfect day. I had a tea party with all of my friends and family, and I couldn't have asked for a better time!

Photo credit so my cousin Lara and my friend Jessica!!

It was such a beautiful day and I will never forget it. Now on to the maddness of only having 49 days left! Even though life has been crazy, and is going to continue to be crazy, I've still been doing my best to make my health a priority. I've been working out and feeding my body nourishing, whole foods. I definitely don't want to get sick yet AGAIN (I still have my cough from the bronchitis I had 4 weeks ago), so lately, I've been making yummy green smoothies in the morning.

I've also changed up my workouts completely. Last week, I wrote a post about PiYo, the new workout program I'm doing. I'm loving it SO much, so I decided to discontinue my personal training sessions at the gym, save that money (woohoooo) and do PiYo along with some run/walks outdoors or on the treadmill. I still have my gym membership of course, but I am loving toning my body with PiYo instead of heavy and strenuous weights. And an added perk is that I can just roll out of bed, press play, and call it a day!

I have a few goals set out for March and I really am going to strive to meet them all. Here are some of my tentative ones, but as always, goals grow and change and progress as time goes on!

1. Keep up with my PiYo workout schedule.

2. Complete my special project training program that starts tomorrow! (more info coming soon!)

3. Keep my gluten-free diet going. I have been sticking pretty closely to gluten free except for yesterday at my shower where I had scones and tea sandwiches and other yummies...my tummy is mad at me this morning, but I have no regrets!

4. GET MY GREENS! Lately, I've been having way  more veggies than I usually do, and I seriously feel like wonder woman. Increased energy, happiness, and it has even helped my skin. My green smoothies have been so simple too! Spinach, kale, juice of 1 lemon, and ice. And I'll occasionally throw in a few berries. They are so refreshing and delicious, and I want to drink these at least 4x/week, in addition to the other veggies I have.

5. Add more variety to my meals. I wrote a blog post on this a couple weeks ago, and I want to continue with adding more variety to my diet. The restriction of being gluten-free is hard enough, so it is even more important for me to add variety so I don't get bored. I DO have go-to staple meals that I love and rely on, but I've been experimenting with new meals, new breakfasts, new things to pack for work, and adding more spice and flavor to my meals.

6. Continue on with spiritual and personal development. I want to continue my quiet times with Jesus in the mornings no matter how busy I am, because I know that without Him, I am nothing! I also want to finish 2 personal development books I'm reading: "PUSH" by Chalene Johnson and "Girl Boss" by Sophia Amoruso.

7. Continue writing my book! I have been compiling some recipes and things for an eBook coming out soon. That is why I haven't been sharing as many recipes on here lately! It's a work in progress, but I am so excited for this adventure! I have always loved writing, cooking, and all things food, so isn't an eBook the perfect blend of all three? I think yes.

I think that's a pretty good list for the next 31 days! Of course I also have some more personal goals, but that's another blog post for another time. Now off to our brand new apartment to get our furniture and enjoy this rainy SoCal day!! Happy March everyone!

3 Tips for Morning Motivation

Mornings are hard for so many people. It's hard to drag yourself out of bed, get yourself together, and gear up for the day. For me, I've never had a problem with getting out of bed. When I wake up, I hop out of bed and am ready to attack the day. Even on a weekend. This morning (Saturday), I woke up around 6:15 without an alarm and got to work on my day. I had some quiet time with Jesus, and felt so blessed by reading Romans 8. It took me a while to get past even the first verse. God is SO good to us, and we don't even deserve it.

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Wow. NO condemnation, even though Lord knows we deserve it. I felt so free after reading that verse this morning, even though I have read it time and time again. Trusting Christ will never disappoint us, for when we are in Him, we find life and peace. I urge you all to read Romans 8 today. It will bless you as it blessed me this morning.

ANYWAYS, back to being a morning person. After my quiet time, I decided to bake some muffins. These turned out delicious!

Gluten free, high in protein, and SO YUM! :)

Then, I did my PiYo workout of the day (my thoughts on my first week are coming soon to the blog!) Next, I decided to go on a nice stroll outside. First, my fiancé and I went to the farmers market and I got the most delicious looking asparagus, red bell peppers, and broccoli! I can't wait to cook with them this week! I then walked around our neighborhood for about 30 minutes and had some time to reflect. God has been SO good to me. I walked through a park by my house and came across the bench that my fiancé first told me that he loved me, over 3 years ago.

I got nostalgic and had my own giddy girly jumping up and down party that I am getting married to this man in less than 2 months! All alone, in the park, I just felt SO incredibly blessed and happy. God has brought us so far, and I am so thankful that we have reached the point that we have in our relationship to soon become husband and wife.

After my walk, I came home, got ready, and started working on some bridal shower and wedding things. And this is all before noon! I just love being productive and getting things done in the morning. Now, I know that, for most people, this seems impossible. But for people who want to wake up early sometimes to have time to reflect, cook, workout, or just to get errands done, here are some tips for how to become a morning person:

1. See it as a challenge that you CAN conquer.

When you start to challenge yourself to get out of your comfort zone, you begin to grow as a person. I have read so many articles and behavioral papers proving time and time again that morning people are happy and more productive. You get more done in the morning hours than most people get done in the night hours. I'm sure exceptions exist, but I know that for me, I love enjoying my mornings and getting things done! It wasn't too hard for me to get used to being a morning person; it just takes prioritizing yourself and your goals.

2. Sleep, sleep, and SLEEP. If you want to start waking up earlier, you HAVE to start sleeping earlier. You don't have to get into bed at 7 or 8pm, but at least my 10pm, I start winding down and getting ready for bed. I change into my PJ's (but most of the time I do this the minute I get home from work...sooo yea...), do my nighttime routine (taking off make up, putting on face lotions, teeth brushing, etc), and get into bed without any distractions. I used to play with my phone in bed, and that really activated my mind and kept me up. So I've eliminated all distractions, and I've been sleeping way better! This helps me be ready and energetic the next morning.

3. Lastly, and this is especially for those wanting to workout in the mornings, lay out your workout clothes before going to bed. When I wake up, I see what I am going to wear lying on the chair next to my bed. This motivates me to get up, get changed, and get moving. I also look forward to my workouts (you shouldn't do workouts your dread by the way...but that's another post for another time) so the excitement gets me out of bed too! Plan something exciting to do the minute you get out of bed, so you will be ready to jump out of bed with enthusiasm. And even if it isn't your workout clothes, even laying out what you plan on wearing for the day will help you get out of bed and be more productive.

As a disclaimer, there are some days that I just want to stay in bed, and I do. There is nothing wrong with that! But I also do love being able to get things done earlier in the day and having the rest of the day to work without thinking of all the things I have to get done when I get home. Hopefully these tips will motivate and help someone out there who wants to start become more of a "morning person."

Have a great rest of the weekend everyone!

Adding Variety to Meal Planning

I've heard it said time and time again that the more simple you keep your meals, the higher the chances that you will stick to your healthy eating goals. While I agree with this to some extent, I do think there are a few exceptions to this piece of advice. Keeping meals simple helps us when we are planning because we don't have to overthink what we want to eat. I know that I do this from time to time, especially during busy weeks. If I have some of my beloved frozen turkey burgers from Trader Joe's in my freezer, BOOM, meals for the week. If I have some sausage and sweet potatoes, I whip up a casserole and call it a day. But sometimes, especially when you are finding yourself eating out of boredom and dreading your next meal, it's time to rethink the mundane simplicity of your every day, go-to meals.

I've been feeling this kind of boredom lately. And I am a big lover of food, so when I don't look forward to my next meal...it's a problem. I realized that all I've been eating are salads with the same dressing, and some kind of protein, usually my turkey burgers. I love those turkey burgers, but sometimes, a girl needs some variety! These past few weeks, I have been giving myself so many more options when it comes to my meals. My only "rules" are gluten free (I started sneaking that pesky bugger in during and after the holidays...not a good idea), and minimal sugars, processed carbs, and processed foods in general. All else is totally game.

Let's start with breakfast. Usually, I eat veggie scrambles. Every. Single. Day. And while I love eggs, eggs every day can get a tad bit repetitive. Last week, I made some protein pancakes instead. I hadn't made pancakes in FOREVER, and I decided that I would make them again. They don't take that long to make, and are still healthy when you pack them with some protein (I used Jaime Eason's Lean Body for Her Vanilla Whey; best whey I've ever tasted!). These turned out great and added some nice variety to my morning.

I also hadn't had oats in what felt like a very long time, so yesterday morning, I microwaved my oats (short-on-time syndrome) and topped them with some chopped walnuts and blueberries. This kept me full for a WHILE and I thoroughly enjoyed my warm mushy breakfast.

And speaking of blueberries, I've just been having them as a snack lately too! On Saturday, I was pretty hungry in the mid morning, but it was almost lunch time and I didn't want too much to fill me up. So I opted for a nice bowl of bloobs and they hit the spot!

Lastly, last night, I decided to have a vegetarian dinner. I am a huge, HUGE, meat eater. I was actually vegetarian a few years back in grad school, but because of some of the health problems I experienced, I decided to add meat back into my life, and I have never looked back. But as much as I love meat, having it at every single meal can get annoying and kind of gross. Last night, I heated up a can of Amy's Organic low sodium lentil vegetable soup. I added a WHOLE lot of spinach to the pot to make it more vegetable-y (yes, it's a word), and the spinach of course shrank. Then, I added a bag of Trader Joe's frozen brown rice. The whole meal was ready in about 5 minutes, made two servings so I am all set for lunch today, and is the perfect winter stew!

If you want to add more variety to your meals while still keeping them healthy, I recommend getting started in a few easy steps:

1. Take inventory of what you have at home. I realized I have so much frozen tilapia, chicken, grass fed beef, and a mahi mahi burger that are just waiting to get eaten. You can season these meats up differently every time you cook them and get a different flavor each time.

2. Make a list of all the meals you could make adding and combining these foods. I brainstormed that I could use the chicken as a stir-fry with vegetables and some coconut aminos, I could make it into a vegetable casserole, or I could eat it with some marinara sauce and lentils (such a great combination!) I could make the grass fed beef into taco meat, or into little sausage patties. There are so many things we could create if we actually knew the foods we had on hand!

3. Start today. Start changing up your schedule today. You can still eat healthy foods while adding variety to your meals and not getting stuck in the same patterns every day. For me, getting stuck causes me to reach for variety in the form of not so healthy foods. I'd rather change up my daily meals knowing that they are still healthy and look forward to eating every day of my life!

I hope this helps someone out there who finds themselves in a food rut! What is your go-to meal every day, and what do you think you could do to spice up your meal plan a bit?

Changing Things UP!

Good morning everyone! It really feels like Monday today, even though it is Tuesday, and for that, I am grateful! This long weekend was just what I needed, to not only rest but also get a ton of stuff ready for my bridal shower coming up. I am getting married in 62 days and can't believe all the things that still need to get done. But I know that everything will happen in time, and in a little over two months, I will be in Hawaii with my hubby and we will be beginning a new phase of our lives together. I can't wait! So many things have changed about my food and fitness routine in the past couple weeks. I am really trying to discover what works best for me, my body, and my mind. I've dialed back the intensity of my workouts and have been doing a lot more light walking. I also ordered PiYo, which came in the mail yesterday! It was perfect because it arrived on a Monday, and the program calendar starts on a Monday with their Align fundamentals workout, so I did that yesterday.

I am looking forward to this program because I feel that it is exactly what my body needs at the moment; some hard core toning work without jumping up and down and killing my knees. I've had so much knee soreness and pain lately, even thought I haven't been running nearly as much. My cardio has been walking, elliptical, very SLOW and SHORT runs (like 5.0 mph for 10 minutes or so), walking, and more walking. Did I mention...walking? I've been walking outside, on the treadmill, and on my breaks from work. It's really helped keep me active and motivated with my steps (I bought a Fit Bit a few weeks back and love it!) and it's been easy on my knees. This is me taking a nice sunny walk last week on my 10 minute break at work!

Like I said, I bought a FitBit and it has been really fun to use! I love seeing how many steps I've taken and how active I've been. This morning's workout set me up pretty good, all before 7am! I did a 40 minute elliptical workout and did a slow 12 minute run. I plan on doing the PiYo lower body workout tonight when I get home from work!

Food wise, I've been letting myself have a little too many treats and sweets lately, which is ok in moderation, but not ok every day! I'm trying to move forward and have been keeping things pretty healthy the past few days. My fiancé and I did get Pinkberry this past weekend on Valentine's Day, but hey...we were celebrating!

As many of you know, I've been on a journey of no more calorie counting. I can't help but think that maybe I need that structure back in my life, especially with my wedding coming up and all the stress eating/not eating that tends to happen around this time! I've been playing around with the idea of keeping track of myself again, but I'm not too sure about it yet. But that's another post for another time...

Lastly, I bought this new journaling Bible that I am IN LOVE with. I am a huge margin writer, underliner, and highlighter when it comes to reading my Bible. I love that this Bible leaves room for me to write!

Life has been great lately. Things have been good, and I am looking forward to my wedding in just a couple short months! But things have also been stressful. Which is normal when you are going through any exciting time in your life. I've just learned that I can't rely on my own strength to get through. I definitely need Jesus and the people around me. Don't think you have to do things all on your own...we have a God who loves us and wants to strengthen us, as well as a God who puts people around us to help us through our stressful and exciting times!

Well, I am off to work and to conquer this busy day ahead of me. I plan on writing up some meal plans and recipes this week, so I will hopefully make the time for that soon! Happy Tuesday everyone!

Why I Decided Not to Run My 10K

That's right. Yesterday, I decided not to run my 10K. I signed up for this race a few months ago and tried to train as best I could without injuring myself. But after a few weeks of tightness and pain in my knee and hip, as well as being hit by bronchitis last week and coughing nonstop, I decided to not run my race on Sunday. It was hard to come to this decision, and I'm fighting hard to not see this as a failure. But I do know this is better for me long term. Running is a huge part of my life, I absolutely love it. It gives me confidence, strength, and finally showed me that I CAN do what I set out to do. But, my knees are breaking down and my hips are sore. I can't keep pounding on my joints, even though I want to!! I'm crazy I know...

I have to be at peace about this decision. It's just one race, and for the sake of my health, I know I'll be okay if I skip it. I still consider myself as a runner, even if I only run twice a week at very slow paced, which apparently is really healthy according to this article I read!

http://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/well/2015/02/04/slow-runners-come-out-ahead/?ref=nutrition&_r=1&referrer=

I'll still be getting my beloved cardio and toning workouts in, but with more variety and ease. I've also been loving taking my cardio outdoors lately. I went on a two mile walk this morning and it was beautiful!

I think the most important thing is to do what you love while also listening to your body. I love running, but I feel that God is helping me love other, healthier ways of getting my activity in as well. And for that, I am grateful! :)

Just Do You

Just do you. This is a phrase two of my best friends have been using lately and it's really stuck in my mind. Too often, we try to grab hold of things that make us like everyone else. We want to be part of the next big thing, the newest diet or workout program, or whatever it may be. But it all boils down to doing what works for you. Hence the saying, just do you.

Lately, I've been trying to just do me. Last week, I was very sick and home bound for about 3 days. After day one, I was already antsy. But I knew I needed to rest. These days at home gave me so much time to think and reflect. I haven't had a pause in my life for months, and even though I was SO sick and never want to be that sick again, it gave me a much needed opportunity to rest and reflect. As a registered dietitian, I tend to relate things to our health and food/fitness choices. I see it all over the place on Instagram and social media, and I am guilty of it myself. Grabbing on to a new diet or new restrictions because of the promises these programs make, running more and more or lifting heavier and heavier, and even dreading whichever program you are following because it just isn't you.

After much thought, I realized all of that just doesn't work for me, and it probably doesn't work for most people. The running 4-5 times a week doesn't work for me anymore (or my knees, or my hip) as much as I want it to. Eating mounds of animal protein at each meal doesn't work for me. Having eggs for breakfast every single day just doesn't work for me. Now don't get me wrong, I love healthy foods, I love running, and I LOVE eggs. But I also love my sanity. I love waking up feeling rested, and not having sore knees. I have been loving my walks in the sun lately up and down the hills around my house. And sometimes, I just want some oatmeal or whole grain toast for breakfast instead of yet another scramble for the fifth day in a row. You have to find your own kind of healthy, a lifestyle you will stick to. A lifestyle that brings you MORE health, not more anxiety, stress, or insanity.

This is all part of just doing you. You don't have to follow anyone or anything else. You don't have to answer to anyone. Just do what works for you, and enjoy every day that God has blessed you with. Being healthy is part of enjoying this life and being effective in whatever you set out to do.

I've had a burden on my heart to write this post, and I hope these ramblings help someone out there today. So find your "healthy," find whatever workout you'll stick to, find whatever food choices make you healthy and happy, and just do you.

Fabulous February

I know I'm a little late with this post considering it is already February 3rd, and I despise being late! But I have a pretty good reason, I promise. I have been super sick! I feel like I am always sick, but this one is a really doozy. I have a sinus infection and bronchitis. I've been so out of it the past couple days...but I hope to slowly recover soon! I've basically been a homebody except for a few times I ventured outside to get a little bit of sunlight. I've been eating whatever, barely moving, drinking a ton of tea, and just surviving. Needless to say, fitness has taken a back burner. I've barely walked, let alone worked out. And let's not even talk about food. If it's there and ready to eat, you bet I'm eating it! I've been a lazy bum, but I am hoping this rest and relaxation will lead to a healthier me in a few short days!   Since it's a new month, per The Joyful Harvest's fashion, I have my list of goals and aspirations for this month. Even though this month got off to a rough start with how sick I've been feeling, I am still motivated to make some goals and plans for when I start to feel better! And, to top it all off, my fancy new Erin Condren came today in the mail! I was so excited!    

The planner is A-MAZ-ING. A type A personality person's dream come true (anybody else??) I love to plan and map out basically everything, so I got very excited and motivated when this baby got dropped off at my doorstep! I added all my events for this years so far (including my wedding in 75 days AHHHHHHH!) and am ready to use the planner to its full potential! Did I mention I'm excited? Well, I am! :) Anyways, without further delay, here are my goals and plans for this fabulous month of February!

1. Run my 10K. My 10K race is in 12 days and I am so nervous/excited! I've been following my plan somewhat, with a few more rest days than I had originally planned. But for the most part, I feel ready for the race! My knee hasn't been bothering me too much, just some dull pain. I will admit though, that after this 10K, I may take a break from running longer than 3 miles and do some easier cardio workouts such as the elliptical and walking. Running is such a HUGE stress release and is really a passion of mine, but I would rather not injure myself seriously and especially not before my wedding!

2. Keep up with my Bible Study homework. My church is doing the new Beth Moore study on 1 & 2 Thessalonians and am LOVING it. God is really speaking to me through this study, and I don't want to fall behind! My time with my Savior in the mornings, and throughout the day, is so important, and I get distracted way too easily. I want to keep up with this study as much as possible!

3. Rest day Tuesdays. Yep, you read that right. I am the person that takes NO rest days. I used to wake up as early as I needed to in order to workout. I worked out for 35 days in a row once without a break. Yea, it's a problem. So I am going to start to force myself to take a break on Tuesdays.

4. Go to Yoga once this month. I'm not aiming too high with this one. It's been a goal of mine for a while to get into yoga, and it just hasn't fit into my schedule (or I haven't made an effort to make it fit...hmmm) but i want to be better about it this month. So just ONCE, I want to go to yoga.

5. Spend more time outdoors. I love being outside, but I've realized that with my schedule, I get to work, sit inside for 8 hours, then am home by the time the sun sets. I am never outside! I've been taking walks on my breaks at work and it's been wonderful, so I definitely want to keep that up this month!

I really want to take time this month to rest and relax, as well as workout and push myself. I want to find that sweet spot, that beautiful balance between doing and resting. I pray that God teaches me how to best glorify Him with what I do and the person I aspire to be.

Rest days up ahead

SOOOOO I'm kind of frustrated. But it's ok. I thought I would take really good care of myself and never get sick again. But that was unrealistic. So here I am, shopping for cold meds, and determined to not have to go on antibiotics YET AGAIN. My colds are notorious for turning into full blown sinus infections, and even bronchitis.

I am taking the next few days off of intense workouts. My 10K is in a few weeks and I don't want to make matters worse by pushing too hard. I feel weak, tired, and like knives are going into my throat and ears. Oh and my head is going to explode from the pressure for sure. Not fun.

I'm loading up on greens, fruits, and water. I'm hoping I can nip this in the bud before I feel worse! Anyone have some natural cold remedies they recommend?? Some tips would be greatly appreciated!

I also had an awesome breakfast this morning that I'm hoping will power me through the work day! Egg whites, chicken meatballs, spinach, and arugula, all cooked in yummy coconut oil!

Oh. And thank God it's Friday!! Woohoooo!