I originally created this blog to keep myself accountable.  I’ve always found stating my goals in the open helps keep me on track.  However, I’ve found other avenues for this, including Instagram, Fitocracy, and various fitness-focused communities and forums.  I’ve been pretty consistent with working out and focusing on keeping a fairly diet, while not over-restricting myself.

I would love to do a better job of documenting my process here on this blog though!  I love the communities in order to get feedback and positive reinforcement from others, but it’d be nice for myself to have everything documented in one place!  So I’m re-reviving this blog for that purpose!

I have been keeping a gratitude journal all year, and I think it’s really helped me stay focused.  I’ll re-post some of my thoughts on the blog too so that perhaps my thoughts and ideas might reach out and help others as well!

I’ll start off by publishing my October intentions, which of course I wrote at the beginning of the month!  I like starting each month fresh to renew my dedication toward my long-term goals.  So for October, I intend to:

• Continue to be true to my yearly intentions:
  • Focus on #likehowyoumove (inspired by Jill Coleman of JillFit Physiques).  Make sure I’m finding joy in my workouts & movements.  Not only by choosing activities that I enjoy, but also by listening to my body.  I want to make sure I’m not pushing too hard and concentrating on what I think I “should” be doing, but rather move in a way that honors my body and makes it better.
  • Be mindful of nutrition.  Indulge in moderation but keep overall fat loss goals in mind.  Balance enjoyment and life celebrations with choices that still further my body & aesthetic goals.
• For October:  I plan on returning to a more aesthetic-focused program with the intention of using potential nutritional “slip-ups” (surrounding social events) to fueling my workouts. As the weather gets cooler, I’d like to add some outdoor running to the mix.

It’s now halfway through the month, and I still keep my intentions in mind every day with the choices I make.  I still go out drinking with friends but focus on eating my veggies and lean proteins when I do.

In fact, after 8 years as a vegetarian, I started eating meat again this month so that it’s easier for me to eat a protein & veggie based diet while eating out.  I’ve come to realize that due to my lifestyle, I’m never going to be one of those people that cooks every meal.  I eat out often, and staying vegetarian severely limits my choices while eating out.  Oftentimes, the only vegetarian options are high carb and high fat– usually of the pasta/ bread and cheese variety.  That’s not healthy at all!  Better to go for a tossed salad with chicken or steak.

I do still eat a vegetarian diet when I prepare my own meals, but don’t sweat it when I have to eat meat while dining out.  This choice will help me make better food choices overall, and I believe will make it easier for me attain my goal of becoming leaner.

Anyways, I end this post re-committing to keeping up this blog!  I have months worths of thoughts written up in various forums and journal entry, and I’ll try to compile some topics that might be useful to others!

Reflections of Gratitude
I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my thoughts with others.  I’m a member of various online communities full of supportive folks helping each other achieve their goals.  I’m hopeful that by putting out my thoughts and my story on the interwebs, I may perhaps help someone else in return!



The start of a new month always seems to bring along fresh beginnings. One of my New Year’s resolutions for 2015 is to set monthly goals to keep me on track toward my long term goals, which is essentially to lose all the “injury weight” I gained for plantar fasciitis and piriformis syndrome.

For March 2015, my goals for this month are:

1. Continue to lift 3x/week. This month I’ll focus on incorporating yoga and foam rolling in my warm-ups and cool downs. Recovery is just as important as the workouts.
2. Focus on the 10 Habits of Precision Nutrition this month. In February, I focused on counting macros, and quite frankly, I don’t think it’s my style. I think I prefer a more holistic way of eating.
3. Try a new recipe once a week, and post about it here and on my food blog.

I plan on checking in at least once a week to report and evaluate my short term goals to see if they match up with my monthly and quarterly goals.

Reflections of Gratitude

I’m grateful for finally feeling like I’ve found a rhythm and am actually moving toward my long term goals rather than away from them. I’m actually looking forward to continuing training through the spring and summer, adding in tri training once the weather gets nicer. I’m signed up for a tri in August and will probably sign up for another one in September. I’ll plan to keep the distances short this year to support my weight loss goals. It was really the long distances they wrecked my body in the first place.