FRIENDS! I totally did not mean to go MIA. Life has just been full of good things, including down time and quality time with John and Maizey. And sometimes that just doesn’t leave time for blogging. But, I’ve missed you guys! I love reading comments and hearing from y’all.
Lately, I’ve been working to figure out what my body is needing these days because I’ve been feeling a little weak, have been super super snacky and my weight has been a little wonky (big swings in just a couple days).
I first looked at my food. I tracked my calories in My Fitness Pal for a few days and realized I’m not eating nearly enough protein on most days. While I’ve been eating pretty simple meals (e.g. quinoa, beans, greens, pancakes, spaghetti 🙂 ) and I enjoy the simple meals, I think they were too carb focused and not getting enough greens. So I’ve focusing on consuming more protein, particularly after hard workouts and more greens, especially in the AM. I bought some unflavored Plant Fusion protein powder (you can read my review here) which I’ve been mixing with water and chugging after tough workouts or just mixing in with my AM green smoothies. And I’ve been adding protein to either lunch or dinner – just something simple like a can of tuna or extra hemp seeds or grilled chicken,
I also evaluated my workouts. I’ve been running pretty hard lately and am still taking time for yoga, but I also added in one day/week of lower body weight training since my bootay and hamstrings have been feeling weak.
With the increased greens, upped protein and extra strength training, I’m already feeling better after less than a week with these changes. I’m realizing more and more that my body knows what it needs and wants, both from exercise and food, so I just have to listen to it and trust my instinct.
Alright, I’m off to do some dream vacation planning (and perhaps watching an episode of House of Cards) before climbing in bed. I LOVE planning vacations or just looking at potential places for vacations, even if it’s not a remote possibility. I’m just overwhelmed sometimes by how big the world is and how much there is to see and how much beauty there is! I want to see it all! You’ll notice that my “Let’s Go” board on Pinterest probably grows faster than any other board of mine! 🙂 Right now I’m eyeing Costa Rica, St. John and Portugal. (Never mind the issue of my passport still being, ahem, not where I thought it was. Crap.)
Do you like planning vacations or do you prefer someone else figures out the details for you? Where’s your favorite place you’ve visited?
18 Comments
Sara @ LovingOnTheRun
atI love planning vacations but then again we have never gone anywhere crazy. My favorite place we’ve ever been was Charleston, SC where we went for our honeymoon – perfect and relaxing just like we like to have our vacations!
Maria
atIt’s amazing how little tweaks to your diet can make you feel amazing both physically and mentally!
My husband and I are planning an 8 day trip to Alaska for our anniversary and I’m all about him doing the planning. My only jobs: choose our rooms in each B&B and Yelp restaurants. I win 🙂
The most amazing place we’ve been to was Bora Bora for our honeymoon. Cannot even explain that type of beauty or the feeling of sleeping over the water. It was truly a one in a lifetime experience.
Emily G.
atI missed your blogging! So glad you’ve been relaxing and enjoying life 🙂 I’ve been admiring your Pinterest board and totally agree that traveling the world would be wonderful! So glad you’re back!
Brenda Breining
atI Love planning out vacations—hubby has to come up with potential hotels and I take care of everything else. Favorite place ever–South Africa by a MILE. Portugal was fun especially for the port, vinho verde and white port and diet tonics! Gorgeous scenery and delicious food too. And the Pope waved at us one night from the Popemobile–THAT was cool (and I’m not even Catholic). Happy Planning!
christina
atI have to check out your board!
Nancy
atFavourite place I’ve visited has got to be Banff Alberta – the rockies were incredible. The water was a sea-foam green. But I have to say, moving to California (from Canada no less) is pretty spectactular too. It’s AMAZING here. #ILovePalmTrees
Livi
atHaha that’s the worst feeling! Im sure it will turn up soon!
pattie welch
atWe’re off to Costa Rica next week!
Anne @ CandyCrazedrun.wordpress.com
atI am going through the exact same vacation exercise right now! I get extremely stressed out if I don’t have a trip in the works haha.
I realllyyy want to go to Asia, but realistically, next year I am aiming for Peru, and this year, Sante Fe and Durango!
I can’t wait to see where you head!
SuzanneU
atI have not been on a vacation in 3 years. UGH… Way over due. I think a trip to the beach is called for. Any beach, any where….
Erin M
atI went to Portugal last summer. It was AMAZING!!!!!!! So beautiful, not touristy at all, I loved it!!!
Chatelaine
atOMG I LOVE planning vacations. We take a major one every year. You MUST.GO.FIND.YOUR.PASSPORT!!! Albeit, I haven’t traveled much of the US though…….. I figure at some point when we’re older we won’t want to travel to countries that require 12 hour flights, different foods and different languages so we’ll do those now while we love it!
Favorite place? Well we head to Costa Rica for the 3rd time next month so that must be it right? But Macchu Picchu, Great Wall of China, Bali……. those were pretty awesome too!
And I totally agree with you on how your body knows what it wants. It’s my mind that has to stop LOL
Eva
ati love daydreaming about vacations 🙂 since i’m still in school with limited time but mostly limited funds heh, it’s hard for me to do big trips. two summers ago i got the chance to live in germany for two months so i also traveled around a lot while i was there and that was really neat. i planned a lot of small weekend trips which was great because i was mostly on my own, so i could sort of go off and do whatever i wanted. i like general planning overall and then leaving room for flexibility 🙂
Amber
atWe try to take a big vacation every year! 2010 was backpacking through Europe, 2011 was Florida, 2012 we stayed local and went to Tofino, BC, 2013 we did Mexico and now in 2014 we are doing Ireland and Scotland (in 50 sleeps!!! Not that I’m counting…). Costa Rica is HIGH on my list of places to visit as is Japan!
Liz
atWe went to northwest Australia over the summer for our honeymoon and it was amazing! The outback is incredible and seeing kangaroos on the beach was pretty awesome. The food and coffee in Sydney and Melbourne was to die fooorrrrr – I want to go back!
The next trip on our list is trekking through Bhutan!
Ashley
atWe are planning a California Disney trip in the Fall and so I am trying desperately to get into shape. I found a great book that has inspired me to make the change… ” Get Balanced, Get Blissed: Nourishment for Body, Mind, and Soul” by Lynne Goldberg http://liveblissnow.com/. The main change I am making is eating more plant-based diet! Thanks for reminding me to keep my protein up as well, I could find myself getting caught up in the fruit and veggies and lacking in protein.
Elizabeth
atSounds like fun, Ashley! I know what you mean :}. I am trying to make some changes this year as well and will check out your book. Thanks for recommending it.
Ashley
atYou’re welcome Elizabeth! Enjoy!