Good morning, friends! I hope your day is off to a wonderful start. Well, once, again my deep appreciation for Whole Foods is reaffirmed after attending a sneak peek at their new location in Lakeview, where they featured their Allegro Coffee Roasters bar. I have been a long time customer and fan of Whole Foods Market and what they stand for…(even when others have claimed it’s takes my “whole” wallet.) Listen here, I’m going to be perfectly transparent- food is my priority, it is where I choose to invest- I want to fuel my body with the best quality food possible, food that has been grown on sustainable farms, food free of pesticides…I want organic choices, I want to hear about the people behind the companies who create the products I love. I am not saying you can’t get that at other stores, but that is why I choose Whole Foods. I don’t know about you, but I think it’s pretty darn incredible to sit down in the morning with a cup of coffee, smelling that comforting aroma, and know about the farmer who grew the beans to make your cup possible. That is what I learned last night…before my beloved coffee is poured into my own cup, 17 humans have poured their passion and love into creating the best coffee possible.

A bit about the evening…

The entire first floor of the new Whole Foods Lakeview is devoted to Allegro Coffee…a gorgeous coffee bar space, tons of seating with bright lighting…a perfect spot to study, read, day-dream, all while sipping the coffee concoction of your choice.

Our evening started with a couple glasses of wine and treats from West Town Bakery, which were absolutely delicious. My treat of choice twice was the gluten-free chocolate chip cookie, but I also had a small taste of the snicker-doodle cookie as well, so tasty!

After some mingling, it was time for a presentation of how Allegro Coffee is made.

After a slideshow and video presentation that informed of us everything from where exactly Allegro Coffee is grown, to their commitment to sustainability, to coffee tasting terminology…it was time to go into the roasting quarters. Huge bags of coffee beans were lined throughout. Even their method of roasting is done in an environmentally sound way.

We did a quick taste test of 3 different types of coffee: Ethiopia Duromina (washed), Myanmar Susu Lilypad (natural and my favorite), and Java Sunda Hejo (washed/body). All of them were delicious, and I even think would be totally drinkable sans creamer (which for me…is sayin’ something!)

The difference between the coffee beans below is only 11 minutes of roasting. Sam, who is the guru of Allegro Coffee, shared this with us after a cupping demonstration.

After the presentations, we knew we had to try a latte…Justin at the coffee bar made us a gorgeous, perfectly frothy almond milk latte… I know I’ll be back for more!

A big thanks to Whole Foods Chicago for inviting me out to such an awesome event. I know I’ll be swinging into the Lakeview store often, especially to enjoy the cup full of passion, that is, Allegro Coffee.

Question of the day: What is your coffee drink of choice?

 

Happy Monday to you! I hope you are starting the week feeling refreshed from the last few days, or at least, healing from your wounded bracket?!?! 😉 March Madness pretty much dictated plans over here for the weekend. Friday night, after teaching at Pure Barre, Matt and I headed out for a fish fry dinner and a few beers and cocktails to watch the Marquette game.

What a disappointing game…I’m always bummed when I team I love gets booted early on. While I usually prefer wine as my drink of choice, there is something about a nice cold beer while watching a sports game… My beer of choice is always Two Brothers Prairie Path. It is a certified gluten free beer, but I actually just love it for the taste.

Saturday went by in a blur…We were both up early thanks to Matt’s convenient early morning dentist appointment. I spent the day tackling 2 grocery stores and Target, hitting up a pop-up Pure Barre class (barre crazed), and doing chores around the house. I knew I had to be up early Sunday morning to teach, so no crazy plans for Saturday evening.

Sunday I taught two, fun and full classes, then headed home for lunch and blogging! In the afternoon, our group of girlfriends all met together to celebrate our friend’s engagement! Then, it was home for dinner and getting ready for the week ahead. I’m telling you…weekends go by way too fast!

On to the weekly dinner menu! I feel excited for this week in terms of meals, I have no clue why, but I just have a feeling it’s going to be a satisfying dinner week!

• Monday: Chicken thighs marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, ginger paste (saw this at Trader Joe’s and decided to give it a try), garlic, honey, salt, & pepper, brown rice with broccoli on the side

• Tuesday: Slow cooker meatballs (haven’t decided if we’ll do meatball subs, or have with brown rice pasta; just gotta see how we’re feeling!)
• Wednesday: Lemon garlic chicken breasts baked in the oven with diced sweet potatoes (I will actually be pre-making this meal on Wednesday morning, since I work late Wednesday nights)
• Thursday: Steak stir fry (per Matt’s request)
• Friday: TBD

Badda bing badda boom.

Question of the day: Was your bracket busted this weekend or are you still going strong?

Hello and Happy Saint Patrick’s Day to you! I hope this week has been a good one for you and that you’re excited for the weekend ahead! Not too much on our agenda for the next few days…I’ll be teaching classes tonight and Sunday morning, so most likely, we’ll be taking it easy this weekend. We’re hoping to get to a fish fry tonight, but we’ll see where the night takes us! On a total side note…I REALLY want to see Beauty and the Beast this weekend. Dean from WGN (my-go to for movie reviews) gave it an A which is pretty rare! I loved the original Disney Beauty and the Beast…and that’s saying something because as a little girl, I wasn’t really into animated films. Anyone else itching to see this??! Okay, with that, here are a few faves from the week!

Simple Mills Cookies:

It’s no secret I am a dessert person- maybe it’s not my greatest habit, but I love having something sweet after dinner! I am a big fan of Simple Mills- their Rosemary crackers are incredible, as is their selection of muffin/cake mixes. The ingredients are real and simple and their products are allergy friendly (as far as I can tell, always gluten free). I saw these new cookies at Whole Foods and knew I had to give them a try. I really, really like them! Crunchy, bite sized cinnamon flavored cookies. A perfect little treat with a big glass of almond milk. I was incredibly impressed with how little sugar per serving these have as well (just 4 g). For a cookie that really satisfies my need for something sweet, these really don’t break the sugar bank, if you will! I’m looking forward to trying some of the other flavors next!

Kiss My Face Tropical Coconut Lotion

Recently, I’ve been trying to  green up my beauty routine: transitioning to products that have natural ingredients, free from chemicals. Now, I am nowhere near perfect with this, but it is a conscious effort. I know not everyone thinks using products with natural ingredients is a huge deal, so if you’re wondering why I care to make this transition, here’s why…There are many things in life out of my control (for example, I can’t control the air quality I breathe in everywhere)…what I can control is what I choose to put in and on my body. I appreciate companies who use high quality, chemical free ingredients and I believe I am doing what is best for me and my body. I love Kiss My Face and what they stand for. They recently sent me a bottle of their new Tropical Coconut body lotion and I must say, I’m obsessed (now, I love a good coconut scent, so if you’re not a fan of coconut, you might not love this as much as I do). They carry other lotions as well, and if you’re interested in trying these out, be sure to enter this promo code with your online offer: “32OZKISS.” (You can find these lotions and use the promo at http://kissmyface.com/. Promo is valid until the 24th).

Pacifica Serum Foundation

Along the same lines, there was recently a huge sale on Pacifica makeup at Whole Foods. I waited to share this find with you because I really try to use products for awhile to determine whether or not I love it. In terms of natural “foundations,” this is the best I’ve found so far. I snagged this at an awesome sale price (nearly half-off). A little bit of this serum foundation goes a long way. I will say, I first put my regular lotion on my face first before applying this and I think that helps the foundation go on nice and smooth. I may still test out a few others before committing to this for the long haul, but for now it’s a great find and even better when you can grab it on sale!

Mint Chocolate RX Bar

Yum, yum, yum! Ugh, guys, I have a bar addiction and right now RX Bars are my JAM. I am loving this mint chocolate option. Here’s the thing though, I know I can make something pretty close to this (I shared a recipe for minty dessert bites awhile back)  so I need to get out of the habit of buying these so much. I think I gravitate toward a good bar because it’s such an easy thing to throw into my bag as I run out the door to teach. It’s also just a quick, mess-less snack to have between classes when I don’t have a lot of time. (Realistically, I am not going to whip out hard boiled eggs between teaching). So for now, I’m embracing the obsession, knowing that soon enough, I’ll have to ease up since these aren’t a cheap option. Wondering, what kind of bars are your favorite??

Pure Barre March Madness Challenge

Okay, both as a teacher and as a client, I am LOVING the PB challenge craze right now. For those not familiar with this challenge, anyone participating aims to complete 20 classes in 31 days. It’s been so fun watching clients get into this challenge and show up day after day ready to give it everything they’ve got! I’m not doing too shabby myself- it can be tricky taking and teaching in the same day, but I am coasting along and hoping I finish this strong!

Alright! There you have it! Be sure to let me know what you’re loving this week- or if you found any new products/foods you want to share!

*Disclaimer: I received lotion from Kiss my Face to try and honestly review. All opinions are my own. None of the other products are sponsored. Thank you for your support.

Happy Tuesday everyone! Today, I’m coming atcha on this snowy afternoon with the weekly dinner plan (I know it’s Tuesday…just “simmmma down now!” Come on, anyone remember Nadeen from SNL?? If not, you best look it up so you understand)

Anyway, I haven’t been totally on point with my dinner menus, so it’s my goal to get back on track! I just have a quick thought to share with you first because I think it’s important to tap into how our bodies our feeling regularly…about 2 weeks ago, my sleep starting feeling really “off.” Now, I’ve been down that path before…I struggled for a few years with some pretty major sleep issues, but recently that hasn’t been a problem at all, so I was feeling frustrated to say the least. I was waking up with headaches, my eyes felt heavy, just not my usual self. I thought maybe I’m just getting a little cold…well, after mini experiments here and there, it dawned me I was having more gluten than usual. I used to steer of gluten more so, but started incorporating it back in. Lo and behold…mid-week last week and into this week, I cut out gluten once again, and big shocker, I feel way better. Now, I’m no doctor, but I know ME. I know when something feels “off” or when I have less energy than normal, and I’m not afraid dig deep and figure out why. I’m also not saying that is the ONLY factor here, but I do know I’m feeling more myself…why do I share this little side story? Because I’m a firm believer in stepping back, listening to your body, evaluating your energy levels, and figuring out what helps your body function optimally.

Okay, and with that, here is the weekly dinner menu (and you’ll notice it’s g-free this week):

• Monday: Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs & Potatoes in the slow cooker – guys, this is about the easiest thing ever. A combo of honey, garlic, ketchup, soy sauce, parsley, salt, & pepper creates a flavorful “set it and forget it” meal. I am a big fan of chicken thighs (which shocks the socks off my husband), but I just find them to be much more flavorful and moist than chicken breasts.
• Tuesday: Once again, slow cooker to the rescue…easy beef stew (a pretty traditional stew, but with gluten-free flour, sweet potatoes rather than regular potatoes, and I added in some bacon because I love my husband a whole lot and that’s his jam) I opted for a beef stew when I saw Whole Foods stew beef was on sale 😉
• Wednesday: Feta, tomato, & spinach frittata (I will make this ahead of time since I work late Wednesdays)
• Thursday: My fun meal for the week: Chicken Carbonara from Juli Bauer’s Paleo Cookbook
• Friday: TBD You know the drill…I play Friday by ear

Okay, I’ll see you back here later in the week! Stay safe out there if you’re also working with snowy conditions!

Question of the day: What’s on your weekly dinner menu?

Happy, happy Monday all! I hope your weekend was a relaxing one and your new week is off to a wonderful start! A random find to share with you all before my weekly dinner menu…

I found this new seasoning at Trader Joe’s and it is AWESOME! I shared this photo of “Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend” on Instagram on Saturday…it was quite the hit! I guess I didn’t realize there were so many others out there with an affinity for everything bagels! I loved combining this new Trader Joe’s seasoning with smashed avocado for a healthified version of one my favorite bagels! (Random fact: when I used to run cross country in high school, my dad would take me to Big Apple Bagel at about 6 am before my meets, and I always got an everything bagel with extra garlic cream cheese…um, the thought of running with that in my belly now kind of grosses me out, but hey, I made it work!)  I also used it for a slow-cooker chicken dish I made last week and thought it was delicious in that as well! I wanted to share it here on the blog for those who don’t follow me on Instagram and might be interested!

Okay and now, getting back into the swing of things over here with the weekly dinner menu! Last week felt a little all over the place with meals, so I’m really trying to get back to planning and stickin’ to it the best I can! I picked some of our meals based on what was on sale this week…for example, there was a great deal on shrimp, hence the shrimp dish this week! Here’s a peek at my grocery cart from yesterday’s haul…

Mostly everything I grabbed that wasn’t a “basic” was on sale! I love when my favorites are discounted…It always feels like such a little victory. Here’s what I’ve got planned…

• Monday: Taco bowls: layers of organic re-fried beans, brown rice, organic ground beef, lettuce, veggies, and salsa.
• Tuesday: Cajun salmon over sweet potato noodles
• Wednesday: Rotisserie chicken with potato wedge fries
• Thursday: Baked spaghetti squash (with marinara and crumbled Italian sausage)
• Friday: TBA

What’s on your menu this week?

 

“You cannot open a new door until you have the courage to close the one behind.”

Good morning, friends! I hope you had a fantastic weekend! We definitely took advantage of the unseasonably warm temperatures and sunshine the last few days, spending lots of time outdoors and keeping the windows open while inside. It’s amazing how beautiful weather, especially when it’s unusual for the season, can brighten moods and lift spirits instantly. Although it was a fun, active weekend I am really looking forward to the week ahead. This week is my last week in my 20’s, which doesn’t seem possible…I swear to you I just turned 21! I thought approaching 30 would be a tough pill to swallow, but as it turns out, I am just itching to see what my 30’s have in store.

I LOVED my 20’s…some of my fondest memories (and of course some tough ones as well) occurred during this decade…partying with my college girlfriends, dating Matt, graduating from Marquette, landing my first teaching job, moving into my first apartment with girlfriends, recovering from a major jaw surgery, getting engaged to my best friend, MARRYING my best friend, grad school, discovering new passions, leaving a familiar career and diving into fitness full-time…holy shizz. It’s been a journey. And while I’ll always hold my 20’s in my heart as that crazy time where I felt wild and free, it was also a critical time of discovery. So 20’s, thanks for being the roller coaster of a decade you’ve been. I may be closing the door on you, 20’s, but I promise I’ll take all your lessons and keep growing better and better. Time to open a new door…

I just had to give that nod to my 20’s before diving into a weekend recap here. Ironically, we found this wall art out and about on our weekend outing and I just had to tie everything together- it was too fitting. Let’s back it up!

Friday night we had a little taco and game board night at our friend’s house! Delicious tacos, a few cocktails, and some friendly Connect 4 and Trivial Pursuit… what could be better! I was definitely not in winning mode, but I always love whipping out a board game, particularly old classics!

Saturday morning was for coffee and shakes, as per usual around here 😉 Then, I got a quick cardio workout in before we headed out to enjoy the sunshine! I did the Cardio Core Fix workout (which is a new add-on to the original 21 Day Fix program). After a good sweat, I made myself avocado toast and enjoyed it outside, while Matt got his workout in. After showers, we were off to the Logan Square neighborhood for an afternoon of walking, exploring, eating, and soaking in the gorgeous weather!

After walking around some of the main streets, we starting strolling up and down side streets and ended up popping into an open house. We are not quite ready to buy a home, but we do like casually going into open houses, just to get ideas for what type of home we like, what sorts of features are important to us, etc. Following a little open house action, we walked over to Bang, Bang Pie: the most adorable little pie and biscuit restaurant that serves up some seriously delicious assortments of brunch delights!

We knew from a quick Yelp search that there might be a line to wait in, so we weren’t surprised by the long line in front of the little restaurant, especially with the nice weather! Menus were being past up and down the line, so we could at least figure out what we wanted to order while we waited. The line moved quickly and we were in and placing our order before we knew it.

We order the ham biscuit, a daily special (avocado) biscuit, and key lime pie to share…absolutely scrumptious!

The experience was heightened by the outdoor dining option…although Bang, Bang Pie has a few tables inside, it’s really a place I would go to when there’s cooperating weather! They have a big “backyard” with lots of picnic tables and lights…so perfect for Saturday!

Stuffed to the brim, we left Bang, Bang Pie, (vowing to go back) and did a little more walking before stopping into a bar for a quick drink before heading home. Since we spent most of Saturday out and about, we kept the evening low-key…a quick trip to Whole Foods for burgers and sweet potatoes for our dinner.

And finally, a few highlights from Sunday! Chores, breakfast, reading, workouts, comprised our morning.

In the afternoon we met up with our friends for a chilly, but sunny lakefront walk followed by a few brews at a nearby, neighborhood bar.

After chatting over our beers, I walked home and Matt ran over to Trader Joe’s to grab us an organic Sicilian pizza, the fixin’s for a big salad to go with it, and a few staples for the week!

I hope you also had a chance to enjoy the weather and get outside this weekend…I don’t think there’s anything more rejuvenating than fresh air and sunshine!

And now, onto the weekly dinner menu!

• Monday: Vegetarian black bean enchilada casserole
• Tuesday: Brown rice pasta (or spaghetti squash) with homemade meatballs and marinara
• Wednesday: Slow cooker lemon garlic chicken with fingerling potatoes
• Thursday: Teriyaki salmon with brown rice and broccoli
• Friday: TBD

How about you? What are you cooking up this week?

Good morning everyone! Hope you had a fabulous weekend! This was a pretty low-key weekend for me, which I fully enjoyed. Friday evening, I taught two classes at Pure Barre to a wonderful, energetic group of clients. We planned to order a pizza for dinner, so on my way home from Pure Barre, I just grabbed a bottle of red wine to enjoy with our pizza. By the time I arrived home, our food had been delivered, so we dove right in!

I think it’s always important to indulge in your favorite foods every once and awhile, and pizza is definitely a fave of mine! While I eat mostly clean throughout the week, I’m also never one to turn down a scoop of ice cream, or a glass of red wine. I think if I had to use one word to describe how I perceive the term “healthy” it’s balance.

After pizza, we quickly decided to watch Deep Water Horizon, a film based on true events from the April  2010 oil rig catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico. Although the movie definitely kept my attention, it also made me extremely sad, for many, many reasons.

The explosion that occurred became one of the largest environmental disasters in history. I can only hope and pray that we honor those who lost their lives, those who survived, but will forever be affected, and honor our planet, by taking all the necessary precautions to keep our people and our earth as safe as possible.

Saturday morning, I shot up right at 7:15 am (so much for sleeping in!) I got the coffee going, threw in a load of laundry, opened the windows, and sat down to write out a few to-do’s. Once my coffee was done, I sat curled up on the couch, listening to the birds chirping  outside the window…dare I say…it felt like spring! After some peaceful coffee time, I whipped together a berry and banana smoothie, switched out the laundry, and got ready for Pure Barre.

My girlfriend came with me to the studio to take class, and it was bumping…full of energy!

Once I dropped my friend off, I headed home to quickly shower and eat lunch before heading out for an afternoon coffee-shop meeting. After my meeting, I decided I would use up the remainder of a gift card I had for a local nail salon, and get a fun V-Day manicure. I went totally classic with OPI’s Big Apple Red.

After my relaxing mani, I ran home to get through a few chores, before heading out to Whole Foods to find myself a dinner for 1 😉 Matt had a guys’ dinner planned, so I was flying solo and figured I’d hit up the Whole Foods salad bar. While I was there, I picked up ingredients for Sunday night’s dinner, along with a few things I needed for our Valentine’s Day brunch on Sunday morning.

I opted for a random, yet delicious mess of greens and various salads, then finished it off with avocado, hummus, and feta from home! I savored this salad along with a glass of red wine, while watching old episodes of Friends (which still makes me laugh out loud uncontrollably). Then, I decided to get a jump on my second book for our February book club, 3 Wishes by Liane Moriarty.

That was pretty much the gist of my Saturday evening!

Sunday started a little slower than Saturday, but I’m always okay with that! My favorite part of our Sunday was having a little brunch at home with a nice little spread: a feta omelette made by yours truly, some turkey bacon, avocado, and of course, mimosas!

After our brunch, we got ready then made our way over to the Home Deport (so cliche I know) to pick out a house plant…I’ve been researching a bit, and settled on a Snake plant since it seemed low-maintenance, has a good height, and has health benefits (such as removing toxins from the air.)

The rest of Sunday was spent cleaning, planning out my weekly dinner menu, and Grammy’s Red Carpet watching! For dinner, I whipped up a Mexican lasagna- basically layers of corn tortillas, re-fried beans, seasoned ground turkey breast, organic cheese, and veggies. It definitely hit the spot!

And now…for the weekly dinner menu- things have to be simple this week, since I’ll be working late 2 nights.

• Monday: Cobb Salads (Vegetarian Cobb for me, Matt will add turkey bacon)
• Tuesday: Taking advantage of Whole Food’s V-Day special and doing a meal of steak for Matt, lobster tails for both of us, served with roasted veggies & a salad
• Wednesday: Rotisserie chicken with sweet potatoes and a Gorgonzola-pear salad.
• Thursday: Off duty! We’ve got evening plans and will probably be eating out!
• Friday: TBD

Have a fantastic start to the week!

Hey there! Happy Friday! I’m looking forward to the weekend ahead…some warmer temperatures, some down time to read and relax, and a few fun plans! Today, I have a couple new finds, along with reoccurring favorites to share with you!

Siggi’s Yogurt on sale at Whole Foods 

It’s no shocker I love Siggi’s yogurt, that being said, I am also very aware of our grocery budget each week and will usually snag a brand on sale, or wait it out. So when I took a trip to Whole Foods this week and saw these babies were for 4/$5, I grabbed a bunch. This was a new-to-me flavor, and I really enjoyed it! Topped with coconut flakes, banana, and cashews, it’s the perfect breakfast! 

Knock-Knock Book- What I Love About You 

Valentine’s Day is just a few days away (if you haven’t read my post of V-Day date ideas, check it out) and I found myself reading through this book I put together for Matt last year. I ordered it on Amazon, but I have seen these Knock Knock books available at little boutiques and shops. This is such a fun, inexpensive, yet meaningful gift for a loved one and something you can always look back through. In this particular book, the writer fills in the blanks to 50 different prompts about their significant other. Such as, “My favorite place to go with you is…” Just a sweet something to give your Valentine!

Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides 

Collagen has been all the rage this last year, and I’ve definitely jumped on the bandwagon. When I received an Amazon gift-card over the holidays, I decided I would try out Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides, since I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews. While I can’t particularly say I’ve seen a difference in my nails, skin, or hair, I do appreciate the added protein a scoop of collagen peptides provides to a morning smoothie or mug of coffee.

My husband and I typically drink Shakeology daily for protein, vitamins, and minerals, but since we share a bag each month, we often run out before the month is through. Collagen peptides add a punch of protein to my smoothies, when I don’t have any Shake-o left. Just another way to stay fuller a bit longer!

Remix the Fix (for 21 Day Fix) 

I’m a HUGE fan of the 21 Day Fix  program. From the workouts, to the portion containers…I feel like it’s a program that really works for me. I usually combine these workouts with my Pure Barre workouts, and find it to be the perfect mix for me! If my legs are too sore from a Pure Barre workout, I’ll opt for the Upper Body Fix workout and vice versa. I also love how it incorporates a day for yoga and Pilates. Recently, 2 new workouts were added to the 21 Day Fix on Beach Body On-Demand: Remix the Fix with Cardio Core Fix and Dirty Dozen. I’ve tried both of these new, 30 minute workouts and seriously love them!

Superbowl Salad

I made this salad on Superbowl Sunday last week, and really loved the combo…so, before I forget, I’m telling you what’s in it. Chopped up mixed greens, shredded cabbage, red onion, slivered almonds, chopped apple, dried cranberries, Gorgonzola cheese, and avocado. I didn’t measure anything (big surprise), but it’s easy to eyeball a salad. Serve with a balsamic vinaigrette and you’re ready to go! I think this would also be delicious with some shredded chicken added to make it a bit heartier!

Other things I’m loving:

• Valentine’s Day Champagne Drinks on Pinterest: Matt and I have a bottle of champagne we’ve been waiting to open and Valentine’s Day is going to be the day! I was searching some fun recipes on Pinterest and came across TONS of options. I think I’m going to go for a strawberry & lime champagne drink!

• Cooking Light’s  romantic recipes for 2!

There you have it! Just a few things I’m really appreciating this week! What about you? Anything in particular making you smile this week?

Wishing you a happy, healthy weekend ahead! Off to teach some Pure Barre!

Good morning! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend…the sunshine on Sunday certainly put me in a great mood and got me all sorts of excited for spring…(I know I’m a little ahead of myself). Our weekend was comprised of documentary watching, reading, a trip to Allstate Arena for the DePaul vs. Marquette game, a sushi dinner date, grocery shopping, a Panera lunch date, smoothies and coffees galore (duh!), and of course, SUPERBOWL festivities. How’s that for a quick weekend recap?! I didn’t take many photos this weekend, so two food photos will have to do 😉

As for dinners this week…I’m not quite sure why, but I’m just not feeling meat dishes as much lately. And oddly, Matt felt the same so we’re doing a few meatless days over here. I always find I go through mini-stages in my eating…one week craving something, the next week not so much. Here’s what I’ve got planned for the week:

• Monday: Mediterranean pasta salad with lentil pasta (which is FULL of protein, so even though there’s no meat, this will be a very filling dinner) Pasta salad will include: tomatoes, feta, cucumber, olives, avocado, and garbanzo beans
• Tuesday: Sweet potato & black bean enchilada skillet (doing a little recipe testing with this one- I’ll let you know how it turns out!)
• Wednesday: Slow cooker white bean chicken chili (just using a recipe I found on Pinterest)
• Thursday: Honey garlic salmon with brown rice and veggies
• Friday: TBD

Question: What’s on your meal plan this week?

“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.” – Andy Warhol 

Hey there! Happy Wednesday and Happy February! I love the start of a new month…it’s always a chance to reevaluate your goals, set new ones, and reflect on last month’s progress. Today, as I sat down with my daily planner and looked at the fresh page for February, I realized this month has far more meaning to me than being just another new month.

I got to thinking about where I was just a year ago today, and how now, a full year later, I’ve gone through so many ups and downs to get where I’m at. Let’s back it up…

January of last year… I was probably in the best shape of my life. I was working out consistently and had healthy eating down pat…I’d grown stronger, more muscular, had more endurance and I was proud of how far I’d come. I had just started my online health and fitness coaching and I felt on top of the world, almost unstoppable.

I was in the midst of completing my personal trainer course, and was pumped to see where my passion for health and fitness would take me. I daydreamed about personal training, teaching group fitness, reaching new goals of my own (maybe I’d get back into half-marathon training, build more leg muscle, master pull-ups). My motivation seemed endless! Little did I know…my perception of being healthy was about to change drastically.

Toward the end of January, things started to turn. I had gone through a couple weeks with a bad sinus infection, and a round of antibiotics. I wasn’t reacting well to the antibiotics (sparing details…they made sick to my stomach and I wasn’t keeping anything in). I kept drinking water to stay hydrated, since I was losing so much fluid. As February continued, I wasn’t getting better…another trip to a care clinic, and I was put on yet another antibiotic. I knew in my gut something wasn’t right…I felt dizzy, I was forgetting things (like email passwords), things seemed out of focus, and I was weak. I kept putting off taking any further action because everyone around me assured me I would feel back-to-normal in no time.

I knew better…but, in an effort to seem less crazy to others, I pushed aside my intuition. During this time, my perception of being healthy changed…I had reached a roadblock in my journey. Lifting weights, running, pushing play on workout videos…no longer my priority. Resting, sleeping, praying, nourishing my body with good foods became my only concerns. Getting back to normal was my one and only goal.

Soon, it became obvious I couldn’t continue like this. My emotions were out of wack, I was scared to go anywhere alone because I felt off-balance and dizzy. I finally went to see our trusted family friend doctor, who I knew would listen to me, wouldn’t take me for a crazy lady, and would get to the bottom of what was wrong with me. Sure enough, after a series of blood tests, I got a call on my 29th birthday that my sodium levels were too low, and I needed to be admitted to the hospital. The moment I got that phone call, my health priorities changed once again. It was survival mode…get to the hospital, get on an IV, and get yourself well.

Once I was out of the hospital, things didn’t just go back to normal…far from it. In fact, in many ways, that’s when the real challenge began. I no longer felt safe in my body. I was always waiting for something else to happen. My anxiety was through the roof and I couldn’t calm my mind down. I spiraled into a state of fear, constant worry, and anxiety. I found myself on a new road in my health and fitness journey… strengthening my mind and letting go of worry. Day by day, week by week, month by month…I slowly started to feel like myself. I began meditating, going on walks outside (I remember texting my parents saying, “I did it! I went on a walk alone!”), but for me, in that moment of my journey…those were great victories.

I share this with you today because it’s true for all of us…our health and fitness journeys are ongoing. There really isn’t an “end” because our lives are always changing, we are always evolving. Our priorities change based on if we are well, or sick. Our focus depends on where we are in life…if we’ve just endured tragedy, given birth, discovered a food allergy or other health ailment, have an injury…life throws us constant curve balls, it’s how we react to those curve balls that matters.

I am happy to say, today, I feel strong, happy, healthy, and motivated. I grew more in this last year than I ever could have imagined, but I think my growth really happened because I allowed myself to experience every setback that came my way. I’ve found that no matter where I am on my health and fitness journey, it helps to surround yourself with positive people, who believe in you, support you, and want to cheer you on. Those kinds of people make the journey all the better. Now that I’ve come out stronger on the other side, I hope to spread the message to others…wherever you are, it’s okay.

Listen to your body, trust your instincts, recognize when you’re pushing yourself too hard, or not enough. And if you want to surround yourself with positive, uplifting people, who will lovingly push you forward, no matter where you’re at, I encourage you to join my online fitness community…knowing I had a strong community of women to turn to, even during the tougher parts of my journey, made things so much easier for me.

Don’t give up if you’ve had a setback. I repeat. DO NOT GIVE UP. Adjust your priorities as needed, but do not give up. It’s a long, beautiful, confusing, challenging journey to feel healthy and fit, but it’s so worth it. Setbacks come, and then before you know it, they’re nothing but a memory. When you find yourself face to face with a setback, don’t throw in the towel. Change your priorities, change how you view the setback, and sure enough, with time, you too will change.

Much love.