Destination Alaska, Part 1

I've landed in Anchorage.  No snow in town, but the sights coming in were quite the spectacle!  The days are already up to about 18 hours of sunlight, I truly thought I was sleeping in, but the clock said 7:00 am and my mind was telling me it was at least 9:35 am.  Welcome to summer in Alaska!  My visit began with a wildly wet bike ride through the town's trail system. Gloriously drenched by the dripping rain, the ride was beautiful and I can't wait for a clear day!

Finding Motivation

I woke this morning to a puppy joyfully bouncing onto my bed and then slowly crawling up to rest his head on my pillow.  As his beautiful golden eyes looked into mine, his mouth opened–as if he was smiling–then he smirked, popped me on my nose and jumped into a play stance.  Sleep time was over, and play time begins. 

Sometimes, I can use that little spark of motivation.  

Yes Franky (our new family puppy) it is 7:12 am, an hour earlier than I was going to get up, but you gotta go pee, I can tell by the way your squirming around, and I? I may as well put on my running clothes and get a head start to the hot Montana day.

But the motivation isn't just about getting up earlier to get going, but to have the courage to do exactly what you would like to do and step out the door and do it.  The difference between 'I want' and 'I am doing'.  So here is my motivation page (mostly for myself, I admit, but little pick-me-ups are always good right?). Enjoy :)

Today is the day. . .  no more 'I will start this tomorrow' do 'this' right now. . .

Wake your senses, gather your thoughts, and direct your mind to your new resolution.

 

Dream big.

Enjoy the process, and the beauty of every moment.

Learn from those who have traveled before you.

And  love yourself, and all the magic that surrounds us.

 Make this day yours :)

peace and love,

mel

Cleanse it up!

The funny thing about Montana spring is you never really know what tomorrow will bring.  A day ago I was running high with spring fever, and today, well, I shoveled a good nine inches of heavy wet snow off of the driveway.

On the bright side, that bike ride to work is now an adventure ride through slushy cold hail snow! Now that's fun–best be digging out my winter gear again.  Many layers have never let me down.

Just as the snow fell, I finished my last days of the 28 day cleanse that turned into a 35 day cleanse with a reboot juice day added onto the end of it.  My take? Well, for one, it was fun to go ALL IN on something new in my life.  I moaned and groaned at the beginning as I still salivated at the smell of bagels.  But give me a drum roll pleassseee, because I feel great!  My cravings are of fruits, veggies, and almond butter (which I love dearly).  My energy is steady, I don't crash after eating, and I feel like I could run forever.  And you know, in the end I've tried so many deliciously new recipes that I just want to continue this eating adventure!

I recommend everyone to try out this cleanse.  The objective is simple, some recipes I've found to be outside of there dedicated week, but all are really delicious!  Incorporating juices are not only tasty but give ya some variety of nutrients to feed your body.

If your living with other people, see if they want to join in on the cleanse.  If your living alone, reach out to people at work that might be up for a challenge, even if they just try it for a week you will not be alone.  Nothing is wrong with asking, they may think your a hippie health nut, but whatever, this is a gooood challenge and your body will thank you!

 Live with the mantra,"If it has been done before by anyone it can be done!"
 

Simple Roasted Sweet Potato Fries

1 Sweet potato sliced in party-style strips
1 Handful of chopped parsley
Some olive oil

Heat the oven to 350F, toss all ingredients together in a bowl till well covered.  Pour onto baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes.  When done they should be tender in the inside and slightly crispy on the outside. Yum!

*Carrots work well too.
*Or if your into a roasted mix try some sliced red bell peppers, zucchini, asparagus, and garlic cloves tossed in a olive oil and balsamic dressing.


Sometimes life gives you changes (nine inches of snow!) and sometimes you have control of what changes you can make in your life. But I say make the changes that will let you enjoy life to it's fullest extent, and to me that means good health.

So whats the big deal about plant based diets?  It's all about feeding your body the micro and macro nutrients that allow your body to function.  And getting a variety of these nutrients can be done by eating plants.  Research is definitely showing that the consumption of less processed foods and animal products, and more plant-based whole foods can reduce the risk of many common aliments, heart diseases, and even cancer. 

So, live it up!!!  Enjoy your veggies! Try out some great juice concoctions with beets, carrots, ginger, oranges, and apples.  Fresh is the best!

luv your life,
mellie




Want more info?

Check it out:
Forks Over Knives
The China Study
Fat Sick and Nearly Dead
American Institute for Cancer Research
(I'll try to get more sources soon!)

Spring Quinoa & Puddles for Patties Day

Well it seems 'winter' has finally stepped aside for spring, well a Montana spring.  Today, I woke up  to a shocking 64ºF sunny clear-sky day.  Only a gentle cold breeze reminded me that the winter still reigned.

Anywhoo, I put on my toe shoes and shorts, and went for a long run with just me, the trail, and that glorious sunshine (no tiny snow patches can stop me!).

One of my favorite salads I've been making on these surprisingly warmer days has been a mixture of Quinoa with dried and fresh fruits and nuts.  Eat it for breakfast, lunch, dessert, or plop it over some field greens and add some balsamic vinegar, Yum!

Spring Quinoa (enough for one)

1/2 cup Quinoa
1 handful strawberries
1/4 cup raisins
1 apple chopped
1 handful walnuts crunched 

olive oil to taste

1 Tblsp sesame oil

The sesame oil is pretty strong and gives the salad a buttery taste, however, it is best to go light then add more! 

Power Smoothie!!!

Approximately, 23 days ago I jumped onto a 28 day cleanse, which I am now extending another week because I feel great (and the movie I want to go see doesn't come out until then, so why not wait and celebrate?).  The rules were simple, no dairy, no gluten, no added sugar, no processed foods (or baked goods), and no caffeine.  I'm vegetarian, so the no meat thing was no problem, I didn't even include it in my rule book.  The first week started with fruits, veggies, and nuts.  The second week added beans, and the third week added eggs and grains. And the following weeks, well, we are just keepin er steady while trying new lunch and dinner recipes. 

What do I eat for breakfast you say?  Well, after waking up with lemon or ginger tea, and sometimes I just drink hot water–silly I know but it warms me up–I start contemplating what to pack in my smoothie.  My heart has fallen in love smoothies, as they are simple, easily digestible, make you feel light and energized, and can be varied quite easily.  Often I gear my smoothie to what I am doing that morning, going to work, engaging in light or intense exercise, or quietly studying while sitting down.

Left side bar: Chia seeds, Bee pollen, Hemp seeds, Ground flax.  Right: My smoothie!! Green with kelp powder! Yum!

It's true good sources of carbohydrates in the two hours after exercise speed recovery. But, while skiing, I developed a savage routine of always looking for that typical carbohydrate filler when I was hungry after a run or before a hard workout. This routine quickly caught the best of me after I stopped the competitive lifestyle.  Hence, I embraced the cleanse as a great way to form new habits and rethink my diet around a non-competitive but active lifestyle. 

I fell in love with the power smoothie. Pack all your nutrients into one cup of joy and get your day started with everything you need!   And above all, I just love my bee pollen!!!


My Power Smoothie

1 banana

1 handful frozen berries

1 spoonful almond butter

2 Tblsp ground flaxseeds

1 Tblsp hemp seed

1 tsp chia seeds soaked in water for ~10min

1 Tblsp Lecithin

Add almond milk or soy milk or orange juice to thin

 Sprinkle some Bee pollen on top and Enjoy!

Other ingredients I've added. . . 

Kelp powder

Vitamin C powder

Coconut milk

Cinnamon

Going for an intense workout? Add in some cooked oatmeal (instant so it's small) or quinoa

I Need Exercise Like a Fish Needs Water, Part 1

During college I spent half of my time reading biochemistry books in the back corner of the library, and the other half enveloped by the training, eating, dreaming, and racing world of collegiate Cross Country Ski racing.  But this last weekend, as I finished college last year, I got to step over to the other side of the fence and watch my teammates push for the podium.  The first day was beautiful, with sunny skies and fast snow–a great combination for short skate races.  The second day (the mass start day) was cloudy, windy, and fluffy snow–a not so ideal classic day.  To top it off, thirty minutes into the boy's mass start, snow started dumping.  Literally, four inches fell before the girls went out in the almost white-out conditions.
Maybe it was my excitement to cheer on the girls race in ugly conditions that made me so zealous to be at every part of the course for them.  Or maybe I knew that cheers here in there may make a difference for them so they know that they are not alone in this struggle.  What resulted from our interaction was not only witnessing them perform their best races yet of the season, but also a re-spark in my own enthusiasm to push my limits.  The following day I was inspired to do running intervals for the first time in four months.

I remembered how I approached skiing and exercise as a junior racer (rather than the mentally full college skier).  Exercise was fun to clear my mind, to unwind, and let the little problems in life disappear.  It's my reset button. That one thing I can always go back to, and feel good after a hard effort.  Exercise allows my heart to open, to taste the world and not let it's beauty pass by.

Seattle Trip

Off to Seattle... we hit up some unique happy hours, chased around some chickens, and I finally got a lesson on Ultimate tactics. 

 

 Indoor Frisbee!  Well, specifically goaltimate. . . fifteen minute games and an extremely fast turnover rate = fun to watch.

 Cheers till next time!

.