Make It Happen

I'm not the biggest fan of New Year's Resolutions.  In reality, January 1st is just another day--the same as the 365 that came before it.  If you want to make a change in your life, do it. Whether it's March 14th, May 3rd, January 4th--do it.

That being said, I have noticed myself falling a bit off course over the past few weeks.  I feel like I am not being the best version of myself--I am not doing things that I know make me happy, I am not pursuing the dreams that are the most important to me.  To put it simply, I have become a pretty huge lazy ass.

So here I sit, on January 4, 2015 ready to make some positive changes in my life.  Here is what I hope to accomplish, not solely because it is a new year, but because I'm tired of sitting around and waiting for things to happen.


A goal without a plan is just a wish.

Really, this line pretty much sums it all up for me.  I constantly fall victim to this: I wish I read more, I wish I wrote more, I wish I was in shape, I wish I lived in a different country, I wish I had job I loved......you get the picture.

Wanting all of this is great, but without action, without a plan, it remains a dream.  This is perhaps the biggest change I hope to make--to take action, to make a plan, to make it happen.

13.1

Miles that is.  The good old half marathon.  I feel like this really encompasses two goals: to get in shape, to accomplish something I set out to do.  Right now, I could painfully bang out a mile or two on the treadmill.  But I would be near my death bed and miserable by the time everything was said and done.  I want to start at the beginning, I want to train every day, I want to look back at where I am now after crossing the finish line.

Respect my body inside and out

It's all well and good to look amazing in a bikini, but really, health and fitness is so much more than that.  For me, this has been a really long journey, one that I have struggled with for pretty much my entire life.  I'm not looking for a quick fix--I want to put in the work, I want to earn the results.  I want to be good to my body.  And yes, I also want to look amazing in a bikini.

Be more organized

Physically and mentally.

Challenge my mind

Because spending the majority of your day wondering which model's ass will sell denim better on a website can sometimes start to rot your mind.  I want to write more, I want to read more, I want to wake up my mind.

Move abroad

A goal I have had for many years.  My husband and I always dream about our life abroad--what apartment we would live in, where we would work, what restaurants we would eat at.  For him, it would be moving back home, returning to the friends and family that he misses on a daily basis.  For me, it would be the adventure of a lifetime.  Starting over in a new place, with new experiences, new people, a completely new life.  Obviously, this is something that requires tons of planning.  The planning starts now.


Don't be afraid to make mistakes

"The greatest mistake we make is living in constant fear that we will make one."

Let go of that fear.

Getting Back On Track

We’ve all been there—you have a late night at work and decide to skip the gym.  You let yourself go because you are on vacation.  You have a long week at work and reward yourself with a Friday night pizza.  And there is absolutely nothing wrong about any of these things.  In fact, sometimes they are absolutely necessary to living a healthy, maintainable, and sane lifestyle.  Where I often find myself struggling is including these indulgences as rarities—to not let skipping the gym on Monday night lead to an entire week without a workout, to not let pizza on Friday night lead to an entire weekend of poor food choices, to not let one less than perfect choice throw off your entire routine.

Yet here I find myself, in a bit of an unhealthy rut.  And the question remains, how do I get back on track?  I’m not sure I know the answer.  But I am going to give it all that I have and start back at the beginning.  I have two sessions with my personal trainer set up for this week.  Here we go.

Any tips for getting back on track?

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Spice Protein Pancakes

Because it's finally fall.  And it's Sunday.  I personally can't think of a better reason to whip up a batch of some chocolate chip pumpkin spice protein pancakes.  Perfect parts indulgent and healthy.  Fairly simple to make and requires minimal ingredients.  Recipe is here (I added chocolate chips, because why the hell not). 

Surviving the Two Week Detox: Week 2

I made it out alive!  I currently write to you from the other side of 14 days of clean eating, and damn it feels good.  Not going to lie, it got pretty tough towards the end.  It wasn't so much the type of food that got to me, it was more the lack of freedom of choice in the plan.  I mean sometimes, the menu for the day just didn't suit my mood, or more accurately my stomach's mood.  Nevertheless, I stayed strong and powered through every last day.  So 14 days later, these are my final thoughts and learnings.

Dinner Tastes Better When Your Husband Prepares It

My husband bakes a mean chickpea.  I mean just look at that!  I am one lucky girl.  Honestly these chickpeas were incredible.  Mixed with veggies, the next day on a salad,  just delicious.  Definitely planning on making these again this week, or rather asking my husband the make them again (the man has a true talent).



Veggie Chili is the Best Chili

I can't say that this was a new revelation.  But I can say that I have a new go to chili recipe.  Actually I guess I can't say that, considering I didn't have an old go to chili recipe and in fact had never once made chili before this two week detox.  I guess what I can say is that I definitely plan on consuming this chili again in the near future.



Buzzfeed Can't Add
 
Day 10: Use 1/4 of an avocado
Day 11: Use 1/2 of an avocado
Day 12: Use 1/4 of an avocado
Day 13: Use your remaining 1/4 of an avocado

.....??  Why Buzzfeed? Why?



Do Not Fear the Sweet and Savory Omelette

(Also do not fear the above image.  Flipping an apple omelette is damn hard.)
Apples in an omelette.  An unconventional combination indeed.  But surprisingly good. And filling.  Now that is what I like to call a win-win.


Breakfast is Better When It's Purple

Or maybe it's just prettier to look at.  Either way, a smoothie for breakfast is just a great thing.  And those extra 5 minutes I get to spend sipping my morning coffee while scrolling through my Instagram feed are priceless.



It's OK to Have a Small Piece of Ice Cream Cake on your Grandfather's 80th Birthday

That is right Buzzfeed.  I simply could not resist.  Let's just get one thing straight, I will never be the type of girl who turns down a piece of ice cream cake.  Especially on such a momentous occasion.  And no two week detox is ever going to change that.

Surviving the Two Week Detox: Week 1

I have recently found myself on a bit of a fitness/health kick.  However, after 3 months of personal training appointments, spin classes, and gym sessions, I was disappointed to find myself, how should I put it--less ripped than I had anticipated.  I was looking to add something else into my routine, to hopefully start seeing some changes.  Naturally, I turned to everyone's favorite and most reliable health and fitness guru, Buzzfeed.

The plan seemed simple enough: two weeks of clean eating, recipes and shopping lists provided.  What really drew me to the plan was how it incorporated leftovers from each meal into the meals planned for the next day.  Because let's be honest, the last thing I was looking to do at 6AM before work was make a batch of quinoa for lunch.  Buzzfeed really put everything out there, what to prepare the night before, how to modify lunches to take on the go, basically making this thing as user friendly as possible.  I was sold.  (That and the fact that my friend tried it and lost 7 lbs. Not going to lie, that may have been the final push I needed to give this a go.)  

I think ultimately, I was sick of getting home at 7:30PM and having cereal for dinner.  I mean there is only so much Special K Chocolately Delight that one person should have to endure.

So armed with my week one shopping list, my reusable shopping bags (I can't face the judgement of going into Whole Foods without them. Also I love the environment, obviously), and my able bodied husband to help with the heavy lifting, I embarked on my first week of clean eating.  Here is what happened and what I learned (spoiler: I  survived it!)

I Consumed My First Green Smoothie

There is something about consuming kale in the form of a smoothie that has always seemed unappealing to me.  However day one of the detox hits you with the good stuff: liquid kale, the breakfast of champions.  I have to say--it was not what I expected.  I don't know if it was the frozen banana or the almond butter that did it, but I can now safely say that I enjoy drinking kale for breakfast. That is some serious growth right there people.

Shaved Asparagus is the New Lettuce

If you haven't tried shaved asparagus yet you aren't living life.  Maybe that's a bit extreme--I think I just mean that I really liked this salad.  Like a lot.  I can't say that I was exactly the most skilled shaver of asparagus (which is totally a thing).  But the end result was pretty amazing.  If you try nothing else from week one, try this.  You won't regret it.

Who Needs Tortillas When You Can Have Ridiculously Large Leaves of Cabbage?

Mango, chicken, and avocado tucked away in a big ass cabbage leaf.  And it was pretty great.  I must admit, me and cooked meats (I mean I guess also me and raw meats) do not always get along. However, this chicken really took me by surprise.  It did not taste too bird-like (I am the only one who hates when that happens?  Am I the only one who knows what I am talking about?  Most likely yes).  A healthy alternative for when that taco craving kicks in.  I would definitely make this one again.

Scallions Make the Best Omelette Ingredient

I love omelettes.  I could eat them for every meal of the day.  Scallions were an omelette filling that had never really been on my radar in the past.  I was not sure exactly how this combination was going to turn out.  To my surprise, it was delicious.  There was also some feta cheese thrown in there, which is always a good idea.

Fried Eggs & Lentils are a Match Made in Heaven

These lentils were out of this world.  Even my husband liked them--who lists skittles and beer among his favorite foods (what can I say, the guy has good taste).  The lentils were used in three different meals this week, and were fantastic in all of them.  This recipe initially called for salmon instead of fried eggs.  I personally am not the biggest seafood fan.  So I decided to substitute the fish with a protein used in a different meal.  So glad that I did. 

Overnight Oats are My New Best Friend

Easy, effortless, deliciousness in a mason jar. What more could a girl ask for in a breakfast food?

Chia Seeds are Only Intended for the Outrageously Wealthy

$10.99 for a bag?  Is that a joke? (spoiler: no it's not a joke.) 

Week two commences tomorrow.  And I am actually really looking forward to it.