September

August ended on such a good note with our backpacking / hiking through The Enchantments. This trip I got pushed out of my comfort zone on many occasions and was surprised at how I embraced the challenge and pushed myself beyond what I thought I was capable of. I also learned the importance of taking care of your body on this trip. Making sure you are eating enough and being hydrated were crucial.

With September here I want to carry this strength into all the workouts I do and try to push myself a little harder, knowing it will pay off. I haven’t been running since getting back from our trip. I pulled my achilles pretty bad and it’s still taking time to heal. Just walking around Green Lake made it ache/ hurt. It is starting to feel better, but I am nervous to run on it. Instead I have been doing low impact HIIT workouts and focusing on abs and arms.

A quick update on my plant based diet: All is going well! I feel great, I’m not bloated, and I’m always on the prowl for new recipes to try! I am really proud of myself for sticking with this new way of eating. I will admit I do have cheat days / meals. For example, there was one day last week where Alex and I impulsively stopped at Dicks to get burgers and fries. While this definitely wasn’t plant based, I didn’t notice a huge change in how I was feeling after eating it. I didn’t feel bloated or heavy. I don’t eat this kind of food often, but when I do I notice there isn’t a huge consequence. The fact that I’ve cut these foods out of my everyday diet has helped tremendously and in my mind makes these cheat meals okay.

Overall I am feeling healthy and like where I am at both physically and mentally. This is a combo between what I am eating and the workouts I am doing. It feels great to feel this way and I am excited to see what September will bring!