Whole Foods Pictures

<3 Jayna'

Getting over Illnessa and Ready for Summer

I'm baaaaaccccckkkkk.

I have been mentioning that I was sick. Well, guess what? I was REALLY sick. I had no clue...I wound up in the hospital for an afternoon with really bad bronchitis, walking pneumonia and a really bad sinus infection. It was terrible. I missed a few weeks of work....took my first set of antibiotics in almost 9 years and a load of steroids. The steroids are making me sick and really bloated... but they worked!

I am finally feeling better. After I am done with the steroids, I hope to really be moving towards my Summer fit body! I have a focus like no other and I want to chronicle my entire journey right here!

So my first steps are:

1. Eat 100% whole foods
2. Drink juice first thing in the morning
3. Drink a green smoothie per day as breakfast
4. Stop eating by 6 or 7 pm
5. Drink 3L of water per day
6. Walk after dinner

My lungs are weird so working out for long amounts of time are a no-go right now. But, I have designed some 10 minute morning bursts.
 (this is cute)

My whole foods diet will look like this:

• Morning when I first wake up: water (16-32 oz)
• Green smoothie (loaded with fruit, greens, almond milk, chia seeds) as my first real meal of the day
• Oats loaded with raisins, almond milk, flaxseeds, apples, walnuts
• Lots of loaded salads (lettuce, tomato, cucumber, beans or legumes, balsamic vinaigrette and more
• Beans/soups/ etc. I pulled out my favorite cookbook and one I got from the library recently. 

I will try to document in pics day by day (someone requested this) my diet and the quick exercises. I'm excited to finally be getting better, steroids or not. And I am super motivated to get in amazing shape!!! I have my work cut out for me, but I can do it.

Anyone else ready to get amazing lean shape for Summer? 7 weeks until Summer! Let's go!!!!!!!!  

Days 7-12: The Raw vs Cooked Dilemma

Okay. I started thinking about cooked food for the past two days. I haven't had any, but I think it's because work has been overwhelming and my natural recourse is to grab salty, or fluffy snacks.

Of course what happens is my mind starts to trick me by saying things like, "A little cooked at dinner won't hurt you. You don't need to be so serious with all of this. There are plenty of really healthy people who eat cooked food" etc.

Truth is, I know this already, but these 30 days are as much for spiritual clarity as they are physical clarity. If I allow myself to fall right back into old patterns then nothing has changed.


I have been eating large meals. Mainly:
Breakfast: 5-8 bananas blended with almond milk, spinach, and about 5 dates

Lunch: similar or 10 oranges

Dinner: same as breakfast or a HUGE salad with 1/2 or 1 small avocado, lemon juice, tomatoes, few hempseeds.

What I am learning is that yes I do miss raw food. I fell into my 60% cooked diet as a result of this crazy harsh cold East Coast winter. I sincerely do miss raw food. In particular greens and how vibrant and alive they make me feel. I have a bday coming up in 2 1/2 months and I want to feel amazing.

And I will.......

So... I need to work on

• getting enough water. because I drive around so much, I find myself drinking less so that I don't have to pee all day
• rest. doing better with that these past few days
• stress. doing better with that--journal, journal, journal
• not eating late.

Okay I'm off for a long day at work! And Kennedy starts state testing today....nervousssssssssssssssssss
 

Day 6 of 30: Making Green Juice HELLA FAST

With the exception of working being a pain in my ass, all is well in my world. Can't seem to get up to workout, so evening walks and yoga have been my thing. It's all good because it was actually snowing here today= zero motivation to wake up early.

Tomorrow evening I'll be training someone at the gym (as well as Friday) so I know that I'll get a solid workout in then.

Today I ate:

• BREAKFAST: green smoothie: 7 bananas/10 dates/kale/almond milk/frozen blueberries
• LUNCH: green smoothie: kale/ 5 bananas/6 dates/almond milk and 4 large navel oranges (woulda been five but I gave one to someone who only brought a cheese stick to lunch-gag)a
• DINNER: green smoothie: parsley/romaine/strawberries/frozen pineapple
• huge salad: romaine/grape tomatoes/nutritional yeast/pumpkin seeds/hempseeds/dulse/lemon/pickles/ sauerkraut

April Challenge:

1. Green smoothie: check times three
2. Yoga daily: check tonite before bed
3. Exercise daily: check. 20 minute walk

I started thinking tonite about things missing from my healthy regime...and juice is at the top of that list. I love love love green juice, but rarely make the time to fix it. I will whip up a green smoothie in a heartbeat, but juice? I have been slacking. So what did I do?

I make 4 pints of green juice. I'll consume em tomorrow!

Green Juices (made in a jiffy) (blend/nut milk bag/done)

1. Parsley/lemon/apple
2. Kale/apple/lemon/celery/meyer lemon
3. Cilantro/pineapple/lemon

I am excited to wake up to this juice and I will have to find a way to make juicing a part of my lifestyle again at least 3-5 times per week. I have some organic beets, more celery, more kale...etc so I won't let it go to waste! Juice to the rescue.

Tomorrow will be a long day, but I'm looking forward to my evening in the gym. Off to get some rest, but I promised to work hard to post daily so here I am!!!!

 

Day 5: Why I ALWAYS Go Back to a High Fruit Diet

Happy Monday. I have mentioned here the stress from my job...well, it is time that I look around for another one. I am not used to dealing with this much stress...it is keeping me up at night and that sucks big time. So, I am looking into something different--almost looking anyway.

Day 5 went off without a hitch. Only trouble is my NOT making enough time for exercise. Normally, I wake up without an alarm clock. I have to make breakfast for both me and Kennedy, lunch for us both, go over her schedule (Autism prep time :) and get both of our bags ready. THAT is a lot--trust me. We only have about an hour and fifteen minutes between wake time and leave out of the door time. Phew. Oh and I take the dog out and feed her.

I loathe late nite workouts, but until I can get my stress levels down and my sleep UP, they are what I have to do. Tonight my stomach was out of whack. I think it's from not drinking enough water...some bloating too... so I just opted for a walk. 45 minutes. Slow and steady, but I DID IT. No excuses.

April Challenge:

1. Green smoothie daily--- check. (5 bananas, 10 dates, almond milk, cinnamon) and then I had a kale smoothie later.
2. Yoga daily---- check. 5 minutes on my mat
3. Exercise daily----- check. 45 slow walk

Onto WHY I ALWAYS GO BACK TO A HIGH FRUIT DIET

I have mentioned before that for ME a high fruit diet feels the best in my body. It just does. When I was my leanest and most fit, I ate about 2800-3000 calories a day...mostly fruit. It sounds crazy, but it is so true.

Whenever I am getting back into my swing of things, I want to "feel" good and so fruit becomes first on my list. I know the many questions about fruit (the sugar, weight gain, etc), but I firmly believe that our bodies are meant to run on the sugar from fruit.

Truthfully, whenever I leave lots of cooked food and vegan junk food and I switch back over to fruit...the first two weeks are rough. Rough in the sense that I gain a few pounds (bloated really).

Reasons Why I Love Eating Fruit:

1. It tastes amazing...let's be serious :)
2. My digestion is as smooth as a baby's ass
3. Easy to get full and feel satisfied
4. Super quick to make, crazy easy clean up too
5. I feel healthier and more authentic with my beliefs about food as fuel
6. I don't have to restrict calories

Things I Notice When Eating Cooked Food vs Raw and Fruit NOT Fat

1. When I eat cooked food, I need to restrict my calories in order to lose weight
2. When I eat raw and lots of cooked food, my stomach hurts- my digestion is bothered
3. Cooked low fat is BETTER than raw HIGH fat--- any day
4. Cooking food takes lots of time and prep- especially when I'm making two separate dishes for me and Kay
5. I enjoy plant based low fat cooked food...

Here is the protocol I like to follow:

1. Breakfast: fruit. Smoothies mainly...duh :) 5-7 bananas, about 10 dates, water/or almond milk, cinnamon, spinach and tons of it. Been adding a cup of frozen blueberries for something kinda cold
2. Lunch: Either same or 8-12 oranges with other fresh fruit. Lately blueberries, strawberries and apple slices. Maybe a handful of organic raisins
3. Dinner: Huge salad. 2 heads romaine, 1 c cherry tomatoes, 1/2 avocado, lemon juice, dulse flakes, sauerkraut sometimes, fermented pickles, nutritional yeast, hempseeds, pumpkin seeds maybe.
4. Dessert- frozen bananas blended into ice cream with dates chopped in or some other concoctions

Low Fat Fruity Raw Vegan Recipes I Want To Try:

1. Smoothies: oranges, strawberries, dates...blend
2. Salad dressing: just blended oranges over my normal salad ingredient base of romaine/cherry tomatoes. Not sure about this one, but will try it
3. Wanna make a zucchini pasta soon
4. Apple/date pie

For me it is all about feeling good. I can lose weight IMMEDIATELY if I chart calories, count them, and restrict certain foods, but I don't feel as good as I do when I eat a lot of fruit. Even though I'm trying to lose a few last pounds, I am more concerned with eating really healthy foods and feeling great than anything else.

Will I ever eat cooked food again? I'm sure I will...but for 30 days it's all a fruity/veggie/low fat dream :)

DO you love fruit?

Days 2-4: 100% Raw.

How's it going this weekend? I am doing great. I'm sorry that I haven't been able to blog as the days go on... I am going to work on that this week, but I worked a ton this week and Friday was spring break for the kids' school and I STILL had to work.

Day 2: 100% raw. It went really well. I felt amazing (duh :) and did a leg workout at home before heading out for work. IT was short, but effective. My butt hurt for a day afterwards.

Day 3: 100% raw. Guess what??? I went to my favorite restaurant and still ate 100% raw. Oh yea... I won't lie. I had that convo with myself that was saying, "You only come here every few months, get your favorite dishes". But, I didn't. I still had a great meal, great time, and great raw dessert. I even did a 10 minute jump rope circuit before I left.

Kennedy and I went to The Great Blacks in Wax Museum in Baltimore. We had a blast. She is so smart, it just blows my mind. We stayed for hours and read every sign. We even went on the part of the tour dedicated to the Middle Passage twice!

Day 4: 100% raw. Today. Rainy and cold. I craved dates all day. And so dates I ate! OMG these are the gooiest, juiciest dates...ever! I truly believe that magic happens when dates, cinnamon, and bananas combine. Pure magic. I did yoga today with Kennedy. It was so good to be back on my mat and in the flow. I felt a definite shift. I also got a jumpstart on my April challenge of: 1 green smoothie and yoga EVERYDAY for the month of April.

It is a busy week as usual. I am trying to factor in how to get my workouts done in an efficient manner and how to minimize stress this entire week.

So how am I feeling about my 30 day raw challenge so far? I am feeling great. Remembering all the reasons I love raw food and love keeping raw food simple. My "mind" is very attached to cooked food...really as a thought. I will say to myself, "What about going to an Indian restaurant?" Even though I don't want any Indian food right now. It's crazy thinking. I don't have any cravings whatsoever right now. I guess I'll keep going with the flow and eating until I am full and repeating at lunch, dinner, and dessert.

Who knows what I may decide at the end of this challenge! Hopefully it will be warm by then!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

Day 1 of 30: 100% Raw Workouts

Wondering how my first day is going? Well, it's after 9 pm and  am just getting in from the gym. Yea go me!!! Raw and feeling good.

Today I ate:

• Green smoothie: spinach, almond milk (ok not technically raw, but you get the point), frozen blueberries, bananas, dates (ran out today...ugh), greener grasses
• Fruit salad (tons of fruit)
• More fruit salad for lunch
• HUGE salad. Mixed organic greens, 1 small avocado, pumpkin seeds, fermented pickles, dulse, hempseeds, lemon juice. So good.
• More fruit salad after the gym

At the gym:

• Upper body workout
• 15 minutes of crazy interval
• It was great to get in the gym just for some stress release. Sometimes it is good to just get out of the house for a bit so that I could get everything off my mind and zone out.

I made it to the store and bought:

• cilantro- to juice
• kale
• apples
• meyer lemons
• dandelion root- to juice
• oranges
• avocados
• sauerkraut
• fermented pickles

I need to get at Costco's:

• dates xs 2
• frozen pineapple (to defrost and juice with the dandelion and cilantro)

I am feeling good. I will get up in the morning and do an at home lower body workout. I don't want to waste time going to the gym, so even though Kennedy is at her father's I can be completed with my workout in the time it takes me to get there and get dressed!

Anyone else eating more raw? More greens? Or getting ready to workout in preparation for tank top season???

Let's do this!

100% Raw for 30 Days: In Defense of Vegans

It's been a while since I've felt I needed to go "In Defense of Vegans" and I will save the longer speech for a blog I'm writing about "Plant Based Vegan vs Paleo"....so stay tuned for that one. It's funny too! (at least I think so)...

I love being a vegan. I have been one for over 12 years. I can't imagine a day when I won't be. That is MY choice. I've gotten a few messages from people telling me that I need to "reconsider" my vegan lifestyle. I won't. Period. Kennedy has asked to eat eggs and seafood. I made her do research and that started eight months ago. Just this past week she ate her first free range, organic, vegetarian fed eggs. She broke out terribly and was sick as a dog. Missed two days of school. ALLERGY. She asked me to eat them with her and I told her no and explained why.

At her father's house she is a pesco-vegan. She now eats wild caught salmon (well she is supposed to start eating next week), but has already eaten shrimp and lobster with him alongside her normal organic, gluten free fare. I don't want to eat that way...and I won't have it here, but I have told her she is old enough to make up her own mind about food so long as she CONSCIOUSLY consumes. She has to eat wild caught and she has to think about the animal that gave its life for her. I told her NO WAY to chicken and red meat. She agrees.

Point is: I believe in being vegan. I believe in raw food. I believe in carbs. An upcoming post will be about all those things.

So, make your food choices based off what is best for YOU and you alone. What makes sense in YOUR world? For me the thought of consuming animal products of any kind make me want to gag...and cry actually.

Lately, the stress in my life has been making me think of juice feasting. I always lighten my load and after three days, the cravings for food are over and I can cleanse my mind and body. But with this hectic schedule, all juice would be a set up for disaster. So, I am going to do 30 days of 100% raw. I still need to run to the store, but hopefully I can start this weekend. Maybe tomorrow...hmmm

Anyway, no fat gram counting for these 30 days. Just going to dehydrate some flax crackers and eat lots of salads and smoothies with green juice thrown in. I just need to simplify things right now. I feel like my skin has lost its shine, my hair its luster and I am just feeling kinda blah.

I know it is the stress I am under at work and with this potential life changing news I'm facing, but still....

Going to keep things simple (that's the point of this) and to RESET my system.

1. Juice
2. Smoothies (all green of course)
3. Salads with avocados and olives
4. Loads of sauerkraut...been craving it lately
5. Fruit as in between snacks, but will try to minimize snacking so I can get my digestion back on track
6. Detox baths
7. Daily yoga sessions
8. Early nites

That's the plan. Plain and simple. It is still really cold here or I would try to go lighter on the fat. Wish me luck!!! I'm actually really excited. I haven't been this jazzed about my food in a long time. I even got a new refrigerator in time! It came today. It is a bit bigger (not my idea), but it will keep the things fresher and more crisp.

So, I'm off to take a hot bath tonite and get another early nite. Reading this cute novel...it helps me keep my mind light before bed and easily drift off to sleep. Tomorrow after work I will see about going to the store allllll the way across town to get my "raw supplies".

Getting Back on track to Taking Good Care of Myself

There aren't enough words that I could write to explain how stressful my job has been lately and the toll my self-care practices have taken.

I can say that I am on the cusp of one of the most major important decisions EVER and that coupled with this insanely intense job has left me devoid of my normally peppy, emotionally happy self. I was struggling to get my feet beneath me.

Here are my typical daily self-care practices:

• Waking up early (between 5 and 6 am). This gives me about an hour before Kennedy is up to exercise, do yoga, journal and meditate. Without this hour...my days have seemed totally lost and long

• Have a green juice/smoothie first thing. Lately I've been rushing around (no fun) and having any old thing for breakfast...

• Skin Brushing twice a day- I've been just hopping in and out of the shower or bath. Who has ONE extra minute to skin brush????

• Blogging- I'm sorry. Thanks to a comment by "Anonymous" I was inspired to write again realizing that somewhere...someone is possibly motivated by my shenanigans.

I'm trying to make sense of all that I have going on right now. It is scary. And as I make this next decision (can't wait until it's settled and I care share it with you!), I am terrified. Truly. But I have to find a way (limited time and all) to get back to the things that help me to feel better and more sane.

TODAY RIGHT NOW...as I finish this post I will hop down on my mat and do a few minutes of yoga. Drink a tall glass of water, meditate and write in my journal. Guess I'm back on track now....

TOMORROW MORNING... 5 minutes of fitness and a green smoothie for breakfast.

Quick food stuff. Someone asked me for my "stressed" food plan. It's embarrassing, but hey I'm being honest. The past few weeks have looked like:

• Random green smoothies throughout the day
• Lots of hot gluten free oatmeal with cinnamon and apples with almond milk
• GF pasta with veggies
• Organic chips (yes chips) as I type away after midnite for work
• Random vegan snacks...as I type away after midnite for work
• I have about 2-3 cups of fairtrade coffee per week. I used to be a total coffee addict. Then didn't drink it for like 8 years and every now and then a steamy mug of French press invade my dreams and I oblige.
• So with the exception of the chips, snacks, and dry GF cereal, my diet is always the same: green smoothies/green juices/random (need more) salads, veggies, quinoa/rice with veggies.
• Gained about 6 pounds in the last month. With about zero exercise and LOTS of snacking...in the car between clients, as I type away after midnite (you get the point!)

Any tips that can help me stop being overwhelmed and get back  on track???

Trouble Shaking This Cold and 10 Minute Workout

I am so annoyed that I can't shake this sickness...doesn't matter that the weather sucked big time and I am outside in between clients a lot.

Yesterday I did a 10 minute workout because I am so ready to get my momentum back! Well, now I have a massive headache. It started last nite and has carried over into today. I think that's because of a sinus headache forming...

I Kept it Simple Workout:

• Jumprope 5 min warmup
• squats
• lunges
• calf raises
• Jumprope 5 mins to end

I just needed to step up and just do something to get back on track. Not sure what I can get accomplished today considering that I have this headache and a million things to do today.

I just want to say that no matter what you are going through, unless you are really physically ill, you can recover. You can stand up and say, "This will not defeat me" and then make a plan to move things forward for yourself. If not you, then who?

Right now work is crazy, and I am in a serious personal transition....things can feel overwhelming and I want to make sure that I am still focusing on the important things... taking care of myself IS NOT an option and when I fall away from my daily "take care of myself" rituals...I am out of balance.

So, here I am getting back into the swing of things. Anybody else having trouble right now?

What To Do When You are A Vegan and are Sick

Let me start by saying I hate being sick. But who loves it right? I have an allergy attack type head cold thing. I know rite? WTF is that about? As a vegan I make sure to focus on my plants while I'm sick.

I have been really stressed at work and not exercising daily like I normally do...then my diet began to slip because I was busy and ripping and running...not enough rest and then bam...illness.


Two days no pay...ouch...here's what I've been doing while sick: (and what I normally do)

• Drink lots of juice:
• Green juice: celery, apple, lemon, kale
• Orange juice
• Lots and lots of tea
• Spearmint yerba mate
• Traditional Medicinals Throat Coat with Echinacea
• Lots of water
• When hungry oatmeal with apples and cinnamon
• Hot hot bubble baths with oil
• Take a small container and put about 4 oz of oil in it and add drops of lavender and tea tree oil
• Easing off of exercise

I am hoping to be back to being my real self in a few days. I have to work tomorrow all day and then tons to do all weekend long. I am so ready to move my body and start sweating I literally dreamed I was walking on my treadmill!
!

What do you do to get back healthy when a bug has you down?

Trying to Do the Next BEST Thing

I have been dealing with several disappointments lately. I am too upset to really talk about them, but I think it's important for me to "show up" here and not cower under the covers with a novel for the next few weeks. (please send me some happy vibes)

My job demands have been super strenuous and it has been terribly difficult to find a schedule for myself. Getting up at 5 am has seemed impossible due to my very late nights filled with insurance paperwork. :(

I got up through the night with a sore throat so who knows what today will bring, but I am going to try to take a short walk this afternoon in hopes of getting myself back into the swing of things. Honestly, I have been so emotionally upset that my great planning has gone out of the window.

On a positive note, I have been working around the clock to clear my house of clutter. Now to most standards my home is always neat and tidy, but for me there was just too much stuff. Too many books...too many CDs/DVDs...you get the point. I have an upcoming post about my "uncluttering" way of life.

I apologize that the blog hasn't been motivational as of late, but it's important to be 100% honest about where I am along this journey in hopes that others can encourage me or know that it isn't "perfect" all the time. And I too have trouble staying the course when life is tough.

Here is what I do know...when I am falling (due mostly to stress or being overwhelmed)...the best advice I give myself is "DO THE NEXT BEST THING". Meaning....I really needed water...I have only been drinking about 1.5 liters a day and that is no where near the amount I need. The next best thing is to drink 1 L of water and eat an apple.

So, if you are stuck right now, what's your next best thing?

Me?

• I have lots of juice and a smoothie packed for my work day...
• I woke up early enough to take care of my dishes and pack Kennedy's lunch so as not to have to rush this morning.
• And I will be taking a 45 minute walk after work to get my body moving again and to clear my mind.

Exhale.....

Best Way to Get Started on Raw and 1 Week of Green Smoothies

Good morning cucumbers!

Things have been so busy around here. My workouts have been sparse and I am trying to fit everything in. This new practice is very difficult to get established, but I am trying! I am getting a bit better. Working on getting enough rest and drinking my water. Can't believe for like 2 days I only had a liter of water. WTF? I can't be so busy that I can't drink water.

While driving from client to client, I don't want to have to pee so I try to limit my drinking, but this isn't working for me. So today I have two liters with me and we will see how it goes. LOL

I will be doing my workout tonite (ugh) because Kennedy was off school yesterday and needs extra prep time this morning to get back on track with her school schedule. The wonderful world of Autism :)

Getting Started on Raw....

Enough of that. I've gotten some messages about people feeling overwhelmed about where to start on the raw program. Let me say that just becoming aware of raw food is a great place to start.

I believe that you should start with breakfast.

©      Start with a simple juice (romaine, lemon, apple)

©      Start with a green smoothie (frozen fruit, spinach, banana)

Keep it Simple

©      Don’t feel the need to make complicated juices

©      Don’t feel the need to make complicated green smoothies

©      Don’t feel the need to spend tons of money on superfoods/appliances/etc.

©      What has benefited me most has been the simplest approach to food. When things get too complicated I know that somehow I will get overwhelmed

On Your Raw Journey Consider

©      Are you a mom? A single mom?

©      Do you have lots of money to spend on groceries?

©      Do you have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen cooking?

©      Do you even like doing lots of cooking?

What I Have Learned on My Raw Journey…

©      I don’t want to spend 5 hours a day in the kitchen

©      I don’t have $1200 a month to spend on only my groceries

©      I don’t to spend $400 a month on superfoods.

So What Do I Do Now?

©      EVERY day starts with a green smoothie, or a green juice. Without fail. This is my bullet proof “get health in my cells” plan

©      I pair salads with my meals…big green ones

©      I eat Whole Foods. Plants. Steamed…sautéed…pressure cooked…

©      I drink a ton of water (normally)

©      I eat fruit for snacks

What Does This Look Like?

©      Every day I take apples, oranges, green smoothies with me for snacks.

©      I eat oatmeal after my green smoothie on days when I am really hungry or have a very busy morning or have had a crazy long workout.

©      Days May Look…

o   Water first thing

o   Green juice or Green smoothie (with hempseeds, flaxseeds, chia seeds)

o   Oatmeal with flaxseeds and fruit…made with almond milk (Silk Almond 30cals a cup)

o   Lunch: Depends on if I have to see clients and be out and about…if so….

• §  Brown rice wrap stuffed with tons of romaine and tomato

• §  Fruit

o   Snack: Fruit or green smoothie

o   Dinner:

• §  Salad with whatever veggies I have on hand. Usually cold steamed broccoli, romaine/kale, tomatoes, shredded carrots

• §  Quinoa bowl with lentils or sautéed veggies and tofu

o   Dessert if I desire would be…

• §  Blended frozen bananas

• §  Tea

I will be doing about 7 days of Green smoothies until dinner time. Not sure when I will start. I need enough super ripe bananas and frozen fruit. Maybe I'll start this Friday. Anybody wanna join me?????

Love Yourself Today- Yes I Turned It Around!

I can't believe I turned it around so quickly!!! 5 days! yes :) The old me would take about 1 or 2 months to "get it together" after stress made me fall down.

Yesterday I switched my work schedule so that I could get home 1 hour before Kennedy, do some cardio and 3 very short sets of 3 upper body exercises!!!! The momentum started.


Today there is no better way to love myself than to exercise and eat well. My lunch bag is packed (I work all day) and I woke up at the crack of dawn to get my lower body short circuit done. 28 total minutes....but I am back on track.

You know I believe: CONSISTENCY and PROGRESS. Perfection does not exist in my world. I'm a very busy single mom of a kiddo with special needs!

I just want to remind everyone to love themselves today. Kennedy and I will be having our annual candlelight dinner and a movie (and studying for a test for her). When she is asleep I'll be working and then taking a luxurious, steaming hot bubble bath with a cup of tea. The loving relationship that I have built with myself is one of the most important to me.

So, what are you doing to love yourself today???

I Am Struggling This Week- I Will Turn It Around

I always like to be 100% honest on this blog. This week I am struggling. Work is swamping all around me and I have been so stressed. I haven't worked out in 4 or 5 days and my eating hasn't been the best either...

I am trying to get a firm handle on my therapy practice, but I keep finding myself overly stressed on a daily basis. I think part of it is because I am so empathic...I find myself thinking about certain family situations even in my sleep. This has to stop. Don't worry I am working on ways to STOP doing this and to not take it home with me. And oh the paperwork...pause

I know that when things are tough it is MOST important to follow the steps I have laid out for myself that keep me focused and sane, but that is the time I feel like doing them the least! I focus a lot on self-care, but when I am pushed to my limits is when I practice my self-care rituals the least amount of time. What's that about?

Well, last nite I had enough. I wasn't proud of the dinner I ate (although I had healthy options in the fridge) and I decided to tidy up some paperwork that my supervisor made me redo and then take a hot bath, read a  novel, and get in bed by 11pm.

This morning I was adamant about getting up by 6:30am rather than getting out of the bed at 7:10 and rushing all around (one less stressor right). Now I am going to take a big deep breath, journal, jump on the trampoline and get my head right about making healthy food choices today. As much as I hate evening workouts, I am planning to do one tonite after I get home from work and Kay gets home from school. Full body to get me back on track.

I really want to uncover WHY I don't utilize all the tools in my toolbox when I need them most. This situation reeks of self-sabotage...time to journal and uncover what's going on, but not before I made some tea and set my intention for the day.

Send me some good vibes...I won't let 5 days of bad eating and no exercise turn into 2 weeks!