Well folks, my life is nuts this week!

It’s the last week of school, which I think is mostly awesome.  I’m very grateful summer is here and I’m more than ready for the relaxed schedule, but I’m a little nervous for all of the inevitable chaos that’s about to be heaped upon us!  Auuugh.

I’ve also been busy getting ready for our upcoming relay race this weekend.  I’m excited, but a little nervous!  I’ve mentioned this before, but my first leg of this race is my longest.  I’m happy about that.  It’s over 10 miles though, which is loooooong.  I hope my body cooperates and feels good and strong.

I’m also worried about the lack of sleep; in fact I’m honestly more worried about the sleep deprivation than I am about the running.  My body falls apart when it’s tired.  I’m happy that I’ll be running those 10 miles around 6 AM though.  I won’t be sleep deprived yet and it will be nice and cool outside.  I absolutely implode in the heat and seriously cannot handle it.

Well that’s enough of my whining and complaining!  I’m actually really looking forward to running in the beautiful Wasatch mountains with some awesome people!  It will be fun!  This promotional video gets me pumped up as well…

There’s just something about running in beautiful places surrounded by a bunch of other people that is exhilarating.  I love it!

Well, I went on my last long training run over the weekend.  I ran 10 miles and I actually felt pretty good!  That last mile was tough, but I think the last mile is always tough….no matter how far I run!  I decided to slow it down a bit and kept my pace right around a 10 minute mile.  My right hip started bugging me a bit, which I thought was weird.  I hope it’s a fluky thing and doesn’t end up becoming a legit issue!  Time will tell….

Anyway, the weather was perfect and it felt sooo good to get out and run in the beautiful surroundings while listening to motivating music.  Seriously, I’ve said this a zillion times before, but running is the best therapy.  I just really enjoy getting out there and letting my mind unwind.

I also thought I’d share some of my new exercise duds that I bought recently….

I had Kev take these pictures when I got home from my run and the lighting and quality is horrible.  Sorry ’bout that.  I bought those shorts at TJ Maxx and I really love them.  They are MPG brand.  I’ve found a lot of MPG things at TJ Maxx over the years and I really like that brand.  Everything is so cute and high quality!  I also like that these shorts have spandex underneath.  I see so many ladies wearing itty bitty shorts and I have no idea how they even feel comfortable exercising in them!?!  You bend over and your bum is on display for the world to see.  Ha ha.

I bought that tank on Zulily recently while they were having a Lucy sale.  I really love Lucy brand soooo much too, but they are quite expensive so I’m always looking for a sale.  I love this tank top because it’s lightweight, comfortable, flattering and practical, but I don’t know what I think about the whole “Amazing Strength” thing.  It’s a bit cheesy, IMO.  I’ve still loved this tank though.

I’ve also still been loving going to my gym!  Kev started going with me a couple of months ago and it’s been so much fun to go to classes with him.  I took these pics last night as we were heading home…

 

One of the many things I love about my gym is that the classes are different every time!  We do so many different moves and I love it.  It definitely helps to keep it interesting, but I also think it’s good for the body too!

As much as I love running, I know it’s kind of hard on the body.  That repetitive motion is tough on the joints, bones and muscles.  I still love it, but it definitely takes a bit of a toll on my body.  When I workout at my gym, I know I’m working my muscles and body hard, but it’s definitely not a repetitive motion!  I feel like I’m able to strengthen all parts of my muscles and body without wearing them out.  Does that make sense???  I love it.

Running is definitely so dang good for my mind though!  I haven’t found another form of exercise that even compares to it.  It’s THEE best mental therapy there is!

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Well, the past few weeks I’ve been making more of an effort to eat better and to not eat too much.  I always live a healthy-ish lifestyle, but sometimes I like to dial it in a bit more.  I’ve been staying away from sugary stuff and white flour stuff.  It’s been great.

I’m used to cutting out sugar because I do it quite often, but it’s amazing how many things have white flour in it!  It’s been good for me to be more aware and more accountable in that area.

I’ve been eating very clean, but I’ve been allowing myself a few healthier indulgences here and there.  Ya know, I’ve tried a bunch of different diet plans and theories over the years and I’ve definitely found that I get a lot better, long-term results if I’m not over-the-top, crazy-lady strict.  I can’t cut out every single piece of goodness in my diet or I implode and just don’t enjoy life.

However, with that being said, I’m also well aware of the foods out there (namely the chocolate and baked goods variety) that cause me to get way off track.  I know I have to be careful because if I eat too much of them or eat them too often, I actually get addicted to them, my cravings go through the roof and a vicious cycle ensues.

Sooooo, that’s why I like to cut out sugary stuff from my diet from time to time.  I actually enjoy the challenge and It really helps in the self discipline department.  I’ve also discovered a lot of healthier sweet things that satisfy the sweet tooth.   I love them because I don’t feel deprived and I still stay on track and get the results I’m lookin’ for!  Win, win.

Sooooo, I’ve been making protein balls lately….

Oh how I love them!  I can eat one and be satisfied.  My kiddos also love them too!  I feel much better about the kids reaching for one of these instead of other junk food.  Soooo, I usually triple the recipe and keep a bag of them in the freezer.

I have several different protein ball recipes in the recipe section of my blog.  My favorite is the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip one.  Kev loves the Coconut Chia Sees ones.  They are both so good!

I’ve also been loving my Chocolate Protein Pancakes lately too.  Actually, I eat them regularly pretty much all the time.  They are a staple in my diet.  I never get sick of them!

However, lately I’ve been adding fresh berries to them!!!

Oh, it makes them soooooo good!  It seriously tastes like Strawberry Shortcake.  I used to add fruit to my pancakes all the time, but after I started counting macros, I pretty much cut most fruit out of my diet.

Well, I recently decided that I’m not going to be “afraid” of fruit anymore!  Ha ha.

I still like to live a “macro conscious” diet (make sure to get enough protein in and don’t go crazy with the carbs and fat), but I just think fruit is good for the body and mind….no matter how many carbs are in it!  I also think eating fruit really helps me to stick to a healthy diet for the long haul.  It’s nature’s dessert and it helps to keep me from pounding cookies and cake! 🙂

Also, recently Kev was telling me about a guy he works with that is doing Weight Watchers.  He told Kev that the “new revised” program lets you eat as many fruits or veggies as you like!  They are all ZERO points!  I thought that was interesting.

It just made me realize that veggies AND fruit are full of so many good things and so much nutrition.  You really can’t find a more natural food out there…..so I’m now eating fruit freely.  I think it’s a good thing!

Ya know, healthy living is really all about tweaking things and finding that nice balance that works for YOU!  I really think it’s vital to find a lifestyle that you can stick with for the long haul, that doesn’t feel like a “diet” and that will help you live a long, healthy life….physically and mentally!

I love what my gym posted on their Instagram this week….

 

I agree with it 100%!!!

I know that what works for one person might not work for another.  I really think the best way to find that healthy lifestyle and balance for yourself is to try different things!  Experiment with different diet plans, discover new recipes, find healthy meals and food that you enjoy and then just eat those same things often!

I also think it’s important to remember that there will be times when you are less than stellar in your healthy living and that’s okay.  It’s life.  I actually learn a lot about myself when I’m in a rut.  It also usually gives me just the motivation I need to get back to work and back to healthy living.

Oh, and speaking of finding that balance…Kev and I went on a quick date to Cubby’s over the weekend.  I love Cubby’s because it’s delicious and their food is made from high quality ingredients.

Since I’m not eating white flour stuff, I decided to get myself their Apple Pecan Chicken salad (soooo good!) and a side of sweet potato fries.  Super yum.  Oh and Kev got the Tri Tip Steak salad.

It was such a nice indulgence, yet it didn’t make me want to cave and quit my healthy goals.  It was just perfect.

Well folks, I gotta hit the hay.  It’s getting late and I will be getting very crappy sleep the next few nights.  Eeeeee.  I will definitely be posting pictures and things from our race on my Facebook page and on Instagram.  I’ll also be sharing a lot of Insta-stories, I’m sure.  I really love Insta-stories because throughout the day I always seem to have random thoughts…and I love to share them!  Ha.

I hope you all have a great night! xoxo