The Woman I Want to Be

“I didn't know what I wanted to do, but I 

always knew the woman I wanted to be.”

 -Diane Von Furstenberg

This quote brought me back to the young girl I once was, setting up miscellaneous groceries in our play room and forcing my siblings to purchase items from me. I specifically remember re-arranging the cans of chicken noodle soup to entice my sister into adding additional cans to her plastic shopping cart. 

While many other children (and parents) saw me as a bossy chubster, all I saw was the woman that I wanted to be: a strong business woman who lead others to finding success.

Many years later, I find myself with a degree in Food and Resource Economics and a career in management for a food delivery service. The best part- the journey is just beginning. 

Whenever I was unsure of myself, my mother would have me write down all the characteristics of who I was right now and all the characteristics of the woman I wanted to be. Images of a strong, powerful business woman would become so clear in my mind as I wrote down all the traits that I thought a strong business woman would have.

Funny story- when I began liking boys, my mom would have me write down a list of characteristics that I wanted in a man to guide me in my dating selections. I still have lists from 15-year-old Karli that include, "captain of the swim team, holds the door open for others, and swings with me". 

I still use this exercise today to understand who I am in this moment and who I want to become (yes, I also use it for dating). I encourage all of you to take a few moments to write a list of who you are now and who you want to be. Then use this to build your future resume. And don't limit yourself.

FDA's Proposed Sugar Label- A Win for Health

Many consumers are not aware of the amount of sugar they are eating. Yes, there are obvious foods that we know contain sugar, like ice cream and cake. The problem sugars are the ones that consumers are not as aware of. For example, did you know that a serving of yogurt can contain 20g of sugar? This is sometimes because of fruit that is added to the product, but they also add extra sugar to give your taste buds a whirl. 

All this added sugar is contributing to our nations obesity levels and is leaving consumers without enough information to make decisions. 

Fabulous news!

FDA has proposed a new label that shows how many added sugars are in the foods that we are eating. The label will also give the consumer an idea of how this food contributes to the recommended amount of sugar intake in a day. For example, if a food has 65g of sugar, it might show 135% of daily recommendation, which is obviously more than the consumer should be having. 

I am hoping this will allow for our consumers to have more knowledge and make better choices about the foods they are consuming. I am also hoping that it sparks concern in individuals to begin reading labels and understanding what they are putting into their body. Nonetheless, I am happy that the FDA is taking ownership in providing the consumers with enough information to make these decisions. 

Thoughts? 

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/07/24/425908798/no-more-hidden-sugar-fda-proposes-new-label-rule

Another interesting article: 

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/slideshow.asp?show=61

What is Health?

A Kick-Start Breakfast

According to Webster's Dictionary, health is described as: 

• the condition of being well or free from disease
• the overall condition of someone's body or mind
• the condition or state of something

There is one word that is used in all three of those definitions: condition. Health is a condition. What is a condition? Webster's Dictionary describes  the state of being conditional as: 

• showing or used to show that something is true or happens only if something else is true or happens

This means that our health, or our state of wellness, happiness, etc..., is only existent if we contribute to it. Health is not only dependent on the 3-day juice cleanse that you did to rid your body of toxins or the diet that you performed for 2 weeks to weigh a few pounds less. It is something that you must contribute to every day. 

How do we contribute to our health? To be blunt, food is a large part of an individual's health. To say it simply, everything you put into your body will provide you with the energy (or feeling) that you have afterwards. Let's make it even simpler-- If you eat something unhealthy, you will feel unhealthy. 

When I first thought of this I had a small panic attack. I was worried that I had to give up chocolate and Thai food for the rest of my life if I wanted to be healthy. But friends, diets are not the answer. Moderation and life changes are the answer. 

My mom was adamant about a couple things while I was growing up. First, she wanted me to treat everyone with kindness. Second, she wanted me to take care of my body. She would say, "Karli, your health is the only thing you truly own in this world."

A few moments to enjoy a latte and journal after a yoga class. These moments make me smile. (yes, my background is a kick-ass picture of me shooting a gun)

Like most people, I've struggled with weight. Even now, I am not satisfied as I continue to push my health to new goals and achievements. But one thing is certain: I love my body and I do a very good job of contributing to it every day. For example, I haven't and never will give up Thai food, but I treat myself to my favorite lamb curry after a long day of hiking. 9.5 times out of 10 I will go home and make a healthy meal instead of eating food that isn't genuine. 

I believe that these are the lifestyle choices that we must make if we want to live life to the fullest. I encourage everyone to own their health. What does this mean? 

• Create a workout that you enjoy doing, and do it regularly
• Experiment new, genuine recipes that make you feel satisfied and alive
• Learn something new that you've wanted to apply to a resume
• Take a moment to be thankful for something in your life. Maybe even share it with someone.
• Live a life that makes you want to jump out of bed every morning! 

I have so much fun taking care of my health. My passion for exercise and healthy eating is what propels me towards many of my adventures. For example, my passion for hiking takes me to different places all over the world. My passion for music straps me  to my piano each weekend, practicing new songs and singing out loud with myself. It is in these moments that I find myself and love the life I am living. 

Here is my challenge to you- choose one thing the rest of July that will contribute to your health. I am training for a race, so my one thing is to run every other day day, even if I only run 100 steps.  

Yoga: What It Means To Me

Hello friends,

I had a compelling conversation about yoga the other day with Jade. It left me feeling on top of the world, so I wanted to share my thoughts with you all. I feel shy about admitting my yoga practice to you all, but it is something that contributes to my every day and I want others to explore this concept. 

I first experienced yoga when I was 15 years old. My first impression was that yoga was full of many self involved individuals who wanted to impress others by performing a headstand while chanting Hindi phrases. Ironically, my second impression of yoga was in college, exploring Italy with a couple students who took pictures of themselves performing headstands at every incredible viewpoint we came across. Again, not a very personal experience.

Not too long afterwards, I began taking the occasional yoga class, but I wasn't completely sold on the idea of the practice. I found myself getting bored and frustrated in the lack of sweat that I was used to in regular workouts. I was also skeptical of the way people would feel so connected to a culture that they didn't really have an understanding of. For example, why was someone calling me a "yogi"? I didn't even know what that meant.

I fell in love with yoga after moving to Seattle. The difference: The Grinning Yogi. I found myself through my practice as I was encouraged by an incredible instructor to use the poses to connect to my body as it was in that exact moment. The Grinning Yogi instructors also play kick-ass music that really allowed me to connect to myself, while the traditional "getting stuck in a rainstorm music" did not. 

These days, my body craves the practice. I practice in a studio a couple times a week, but my real practice comes when I am home alone in front of a mirror. I create my own mix of poses and usually dance to the beat in between. Maybe someday I'll feel compelled to open up about the moments I share with myself, but for now I will just tell you that there is a version of myself that comes alive when I pose in front of my bedroom mirror while my favorite beats guide me to the next motion. (You can find a playlist of some of my favorite yoga songs above the text. I've organized them in an order to begin with intention, provide some warmth and then end with reflection.)

For me, yoga is NOT about relating to another culture or demonstrating my body to another person. I currently do NOT use yoga as my workout for the day. To me, yoga is time dedicated to connecting to myself and finding happiness in my body (which I believe is the actual intent of yoga). Every time I practice yoga, I find myself falling in love with my body over and over again. I feel so proud to look down at my juicy thighs as they support my graceful stance.

At the end of every practice when the instructor guides the class through shavasana, whether I am in a studio or in my home, I close my eyes and pray to God. I thank Him for my body and anything else I feel gratitude towards. I then ask Him to keep my friends and family safe and in good health. Finally, I let my thoughts go and picture myself with flowing hair, running through a field of flowers. I don't know why I always come to this, but this moment allows me to feel happiness about who I am, regardless of anyone else.

If I ever become a yoga teacher, I will offer a class that enables others to lose themselves in music to find their inner confidence and see beauty in their body's ability.I encourage you all to practice something that allows you to connect to your body and your mind. Allow for a few moments during the day that contribute to your physical and mental health.

Side note: Ladies, if you read this post and feel compelled to play your favorite tunes and connect to your body, I highly suggest applying a shade of lip stick or a simple braid to your hair to add a touch of confidence. And don't be afraid to shake those hips in between poses or sing out loud! 

Blog Plans

Blog Planning At A Park

Hello!

A few friends have approached me about earning money for blogging. While that is not the direction I wish to go as of now, I have decided to do a few things to give intention to my little bit of cyber space. One of my goals this year is to spread knowledge about food and the effects it has on a person's health.

Starting this coming week, my posts will focus more on my passion for the food industry and the effects of food on health. I will also feature my adventure, hiking, motivation, travel and my lessons in management. The intention is to reach a bigger audience, so please feel free to share posts that you feel connected to.

I am also searching for a new name. If you have any suggestions please let me know. Thanks!

Stay tuned. Things might look a little different next time you visit.

Have a great weekend!

The Journey Continues: Goodbye, Seattle

I'm sitting on the balcony of my now-empty Bellevue apartment enjoying the sunrise and sipping warm coffee. I can't help but be so happy that this is how I am spending my last moments in Seattle. I begin to think of things that I'll miss most about this rainy city.

• Americanos are ordered more than regular coffee
• Everyone says "gal" when they're referring to a lady
• No one uses an umbrella
• All the people unravel from their homes during the summer and spend their days outside
• Coffee is not a beverage, it is a lifestyle
• The sky's lovely overcast shades of grey
• "Hella" and "no worries"
• Ellenos yogurt
• Randomly seeing Mt. Rainier

My mom always told me that she never worried about me finding my way. She said that as a child I would take charge and learn by doing, not by observing. Her favorite story is when I burnt my hand on the stove because I wanted to find out why it was turning a beautiful, bright red color. Now I am in my mid-20's, still placing my hands on beautifully lit stoves. As the years go by, my hands become tougher and more interesting with all the scars from previous burns.

I take this next step by choice, so that I can grow and become more than I am. As the years go by, I realize that my mom was right. I am not someone who will ever be observing. My heart is happiest when I am exploring the unknown and meeting all different kinds of people along the way.

“Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.” 

― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

So friends, stay with me in this journey and let's share wonderful food along the way.

As for The Question of Destiny...

Last night my good friend and I had a meaningful conversation about chasing dreams. I wanted to share my thoughts with you all. Thankfully, this blog allows me to converse with many of my friends about this. I hope that at the end of many of these posts about me chasing my dreams, you find yourself inspired to take a step towards something that makes you glow. 

Recently, someone that we know decided to leave what is considered a very good job to pursue being surrounded by people that inspire him. He explained that he wants a job where he can put in his time during the week to support his family, but allows him to leave work at work to enjoy the things that matter most. 

I don't necessarily agree with this perception of work, as I am still striving towards a career that allows me to live my passion, but it got me thinking. How many of us are going through motions each week that make us miserable? Is it possible to change this and take a step towards our passions? If not, is this just a temporary feeling of misery that will guide you towards a greater goal? 

I think it is very hard for the millennial generation to be patient in careers, and why would we. We are such an efficient generation! For example, if we want to know about a topic we don't go to a library to do research. We simply pick up our phone and type the topic into Google, which provides us with plenty of information on the subject. This is why I think it is hard for us to realize that it might take 5-10 years to achieve our dream career or lifestyle. 

Which brings me to my perspective- if you want something, you have to have a plan towards it and continue to take steps towards your dream. I think that it is okay to have a miserable career if you know that it is what you need to bring you closer to your dream life. I also think that if you have a dream, you should be re-evaluating your plan often enough to grow from the experiences and refocus your direction. 

One of my favorite movies talks about this. In the movie, the main character chases love. While this is not currently my own personal dream, I can't help but relate it to my dream of being a successful and powerful woman in the food industry. One of my favorite quotes is as follows,

"As for the question of destiny... all I know is that even when destiny really wants to accomplish something, it can't do it alone. You still have to go to that restaurant. You still have to show up. You still have to build a bridge... to the one you love."

I translate this quote to say that if you want something, you have to go out and take steps towards it. For example, if I am interested in being a top executive of a food company, then I need to find someone who is currently in this role and build my resume to resemble theirs. If I want to go back to grad school, I need to do something each day to get me closer and closer to that dream. If I want to learn how to make the perfect grilled cheese sandwich, then I need to practice every day! Well, maybe not every day, but you get the point, right?

I am re-evaluating my goals as I transition my professional role. I am also not wasting any time. I will meet with my manager, show him my personal development plan and ask for his support and guidance to achieve these goals.  I am showing up and building a bridge to what I love.

One More Week In Seattle

I took this picture at Kerry Park, Seattle

I am in my last week living in Seattle. All the loose ends are coming together and I find myself taking baby steps towards being ready to move and begin a new chapter in San Francisco. An all too familiar mindset consumes me as I  begin to lose my feeling of comfort and stability. I experienced this when I first moved away from home to Seattle. It took me a while to find a routine that felt like home.

I now move with more experience than before and understand what I need to do to create my own comfort.

First things on my list to explore:

• A reliable grocery store
• A park to run/read at 
• A quaint coffee shop to study at on my off days
• A yoga studio
• A place that sells delicious beer and burgers for my splurge days

I am also excited to explore hiking trails, Napa Valley and experiencing these fine restaurants that everyone keeps talking about.

Park City, Utah

Park City, Utah

A couple weeks ago my friend invited me to join her back home in Utah for the Fourth of July. I had never been there before, so I jumped at the opportunity to see a new place. 

I was pleasantly surprised by the beauty that resides in the state of Utah. I believe we only ate one meal inside, otherwise we were on her relaxing dock, enjoying a lovely meal with her family and watching the light shine through the clouds onto the mountains. 

Being at home with another family made me miss mine incredibly. I feel so lucky that my siblings and I get along so well. I constantly brag about them and their accomplishments to the people I meet in Seattle. Thankfully, this family was so kind and I got to feel close to home for a weekend. 

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend. Now, back to work! 

So glad we didn't fall off

Skull Candy

Local Parade

Family Hiking

Those clouds! 

The BEST Night

4th party in the mountains

Motivation

My friends and I have been discussing motivation and what it means to each of us. It is amazing how often people don't achieve goals due to a fear. According to Google.com, motivation is described as, "the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way." This is the thing I think we as humans don't follow through with. We forget that we have to create new behaviors if we want to achieve new dreams. This means having the courage and strength to be able to change at any moment to conquer your dreams. 

This theme was brought up again when I attended a special yoga event (pictured above). The studio I attend in Seattle hosted a yoga class at a local night club with a live DJ spinning tracks as we prospered through our vinyasa flow. The teacher of the class spoke about how if you want something, then you need to be it. You need to bring it into your every day and really own the process.

This idea couldn't have come to me at a better time. As I take this step out of Seattle and into San Francisco, I find myself wanting to develop myself and the reflection I give to the world. Change is hard, but it inspires growth. We need to evaluate what fears we have that are holding us back. We must then stand tall and tackle these fears, incorporating our new behaviors into our life to really strive for the life we are dreaming of.

So for July, I am going to take one moment each morning to remind myself of a one goal that I am working on. I'll hang a picture of it on my bathroom mirror and look at it each morning so that it is in the back of my mind as I live each day. Let's see what happens! 

By the way, does anyone have a photo of Channing Tatum that I can borrow? ;-)

Most of you know that Mt. Rainier inspires me. Here are some beautiful shots that I took recently.

Rainier in the distance

Rainier, like a cloud of hope

And just because-

Awesome cat mug

Oh, the places you'll go

Grow Well Missouri

Wonderful things are happening in terms of food and community. One of my passions in life is teaching people how to grow their own food, especially people who might be trying to preserve their finances. Grow Well Missouri is a program that was created to do just that!

Grow Well Missouri is giving away starter plants in tote bags with a bit of education on how to care for and harvest the veggies. They are gaining participation with each addition of different vegetable and are beginning to teach many people how to grow high quality food for themselves. According to the article, the participants are enjoying this activity with their children.

I cannot tell you how happy this makes me. I have a very strong desire for wanting more individuals to be eating fresh foods. There are so many horrible eating habits that are being passed to our next generations. What does it mean for our future if our childhood obesity rate continues to increase (we are over 1/3 of children being obese)? Is our nation able to step up and take responsibility for the health of its citizens?

Obviously I could write all day about how angry I am with the health status of the country I live in. There are many reasons that we are in this situation and I really hope that at some point we can turn the obesity rate around. Grow Well Missouri is beginning a great trend that will hopefully give rise to other programs that can provide people with a better quality of food. At this point, we all need to evaluate our health and strive towards better choices. In my opinion it is not the fault of the food companies. Consumers are giving money towards the growth of these companies. We need to re-evaluate these choices and stop giving so much growth to companies who aren't producing genuine food.

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/06/26/417725619/missouri-food-pantries-help-clients-grow-their-own-produce

Also, is this real? If is it, is that considered child abuse?
http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/australia-600-pound-woman-gives-birth-to-40-pound-baby/

Summit Lake And Memories

Yesterday I went on the most incredible hike to Summit Lake with my good friend, Ranee. Located in Rainier territory, this hike is a low-key, relaxing hike with incredible views. I loved spotting Rainier poking his head out of the clouds as we drove up to the trail head. Unfortunately, it was too overcast by the time we climbed the mountain, so we didn't get a good view of him at the top.

While hiking, I thought about the incredible journeys I've had so far and how many more are yet to come. I thought about friends I've made, relationships I've had and how I miss many of them terribly. I felt moments of sadness and regret, but smiled with my memories. There are people who will stay in my heart forever. It is hard not having these people in my everyday life, but I am glad that I have these moments of brightness to think back on. My mom taught me that you can learn something from every single person that you meet. This has always held true and I feel so lucky to have learned so much from so many different kinds of people.

The future is not clear, but I do know that I continue to glow because of the ones I've met along my adventure. Enjoy these photos. They make me smile.

She is such a bright light

Rainier is behind those clouds. 

My Seattle Sunlight

I've always been very fortunate to have close friendships throughout my life. Do any of you remember my post about my best friend in college, Jade. We live 3000 miles apart and we still talk almost every day. Isn't that amazing?

As years build, so does the amount of amazing people I meet. My Seattle Sunlight is such an inspiring young woman who will definitely change this world for the better. Lisbeth and I first became friends when I invited her to my brunch club. After brunch we went on a hike and spoke about our aspirations in life. It was instantly clear that we would be great friends. And we have been. This spunky chick has been part of all my best memories of Seattle, from spending all day hiking to cutting loose on the dance floor. Saying goodbye to someone who constantly inspires me will be the hardest part of leaving this place.

Thank you, Lisbeth, for all that you are.

If You're Going To San Francisco, Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair

Dear Friends,

I am moving to from Seattle to San Francisco to take a step forward in my career. This process started earlier this year when someone asked me what my 5 year plan was. I didn't have one at the time, but that question got me thinking and I quickly mapped out the next few years.

A month ago I was sent to work in our San Francisco site for a couple weeks. I saw opportunity to advance myself and take on a new roll that will guide me towards the finish line of my 5 year plan. I feel proud of my ability to do this, like a little nomad with passion for the unknown.

I'm looking forward to more sunshine, new adventures and the ability to explore a new area.

Have any suggestions for a new blog title?

Karli

Craft Soda Fountain

PepsiCo is brilliant! They have created a soda fountain that will resemble draft beer. There will be exotic flavors featuring agave, tarragon and vanilla. All sodas will be made with cane sugar to entice the rising younger, educated population.

While I am not one to drink a lot of soda, I am very excited to see what this will look and taste like. I'm assuming that they will be featured at bars and restaurants around the country. Has anyone seen one yet?

Have a great day!

Lessons in Management

I have now been managing a team of around 40 associates for over a year. Performing this job will definitely force growth upon an individual. This year has taught me so much about how people want to be motivated. I have become so humble this year as I have continued to grow in my management style.

Yesterday I left work feeling confident in my managerial abilities. I have been with my new team for about 2 weeks and I am already seeing the affects of my leadership. This week we had associates really step out of their comfort zone to take the lead and work hard to inspire their teammates. I also was able to set up development plans for associates who want to actively work towards goals in their career. The team's performance was incredible and I felt so happy to see these results.

I truly feel that everyone needs to have their own managerial style; one that resembles who they are and what they believe. What works for me doesn't necessarily work for someone else. I have spent a lot of time evaluating my style and will never stop trying to learn new techniques that will make me a stronger manager.

Here are some guidelines I follow:

1. I believe that my team is only as strong as I encourage them to be. I set expectations regularly to allow associates to know the standards of the work that I want to have. I also follow up with them to make sure they understand.

2. I never ask someone to do a job that I cannot do myself. I make it a point to learn bits of every process so that I can always answer questions and earn the trust of my associate.

3. Humiliating someone is never the answer- I used to think that people performed better if they were embarrassed in front of their peers. This is probably because that is how I was coached in volleyball. I quickly learned that this is the biggest way to lose trust of an associate.

What I've learned recently:

1. Sometimes associates just need to talk to someone- I am constantly trying to solve everything, but sometimes associates don't need me to solve their problems. Sometimes they just want to vent.

2. Being a leader doesn't mean leading from the front- I've always been called a natural leader because of my ability to corral the troops. I am now realizing that sometimes I lead best when I allow others to take the reigns.

3. I need to take time for myself- I used to go all day without taking any breaks because I wanted to make sure I was there for my associates. A few months ago I started taking regular breaks throughout the day for food, water and breathing. I noticed that my mind works a lot better when I do this.

What I am still trying to figure out:

1. Does having composure mean never showing emotion?- I do a great job of never showing associates when I am upset. Recently a couple associates said that they want to see when I am upset because it will make them know that I care a lot about the work. Hmm?

Inexpensive, Healthy Food?

Hello!

A former President of Trader Joe's is opening a grocery store that will have soon-to-expire foods for a very low price. The article below shows a photo of apples on sale for 49 cents per pound. WOOHOO! I am so happy that consumers will have a very cheap option for buying produce and other healthy food options.

Currently, consumers who don't or can't pay for healthy options find themselves purchasing cheap packages of processed foods or going through the drive thru for dinner on their way home. I am hoping that this store will provide families with an opportunity to not feel threatened by the expensive pricing of healthy food and begin to feed their children with wholesome nutrients.

How important is it to eat natural, nutrient-filled foods? VERY IMPORTANT! Especially for growing children. Today, obesity has struck over 1/3 of the child population in America. A lot of this has to do with the child not having healthy meals at home. Many pantries are filled with processed and sugar-filled foods that are damaging the health of our little ones.

While I believe that every consumer has a choice to purchase whatever they feel, I am so happy that there will be more inexpensive options for wholesome food.

The link to the article is below. Please read and spread the love.

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/06/04/411777947/trader-joes-ex-president-opens-store-with-aging-food-and-cheap-meals

We Grow

A Recent Hike- This Is Real

I have 5 different posts about exciting food industry news that are ready to be published, but tonight I need to write one just for me. 

I came home after work feeling stressed, afraid and aggravated. I quickly put on some classical music and took a moment to myself. During my moment I read the most genuine post from a blogger that I have been following for over 5 years. And I am so glad that I did! I finished reading the post and something clicked inside of me. I felt so safe and pure. 

This excerpt really sums it up:  "I am not a great writer, so that can be scary to me. When I write longer posts I feel panicky before hitting publish. I would be the first to admit my lack in skill in that area. Especially my grammar! Oh my grammar! I write like a long, run-on train of thought. That’s who I am though. Fear never gets anyone anywhere. Being afraid of sharing, writing or a lack of skill just makes you frozen and stuck. Are there things you feel afraid of that are holding you back? Fear is a crazy, powerful thing that really can suck the life from you doing something you love." - JenLovesKev.com

What are you afraid of? What kind of pressure do we put on ourselves that stops us from feeling humble and being okay with just being where we are in that moment?

Right after I read this post a friend asked me how we respond when there is an obvious conflict. I simply responded by saying, "We grow."

And how do we grow? We need to be humble and confident that we will continue to rise up and push forward. Don't be afraid to be you and shine that onto the world. But also, never stop being modest and genuine towards the people and the Earth around you.

My heart is with all who have stumbled upon this post. Enjoy these pictures. They are moments that I've recently enjoyed by myself. Moments where I have grown.

Rooted Tree

This is where I do push ups at the park

My Bathroom Decor

Karli

Glow From The Inside Out

Hello,

I've always cared a lot about health and was raised by my Mother to understand that whatever I put into my body will affect how my body performs. I've recently been reading up on health that is specific to my body type. My body is insulin resistant, so I try to stay away from simple carbohydrates or foods that are high in sugar. The reason for this is because my body goes through a lot of work to create enough insulin to digest these foods and tends to keep an ongoing record of them on my waist-line.

What we eat EACH day is directly related to how we feel EACH day. I put this theory to the test a couple weeks ago when I only ate what I knew my insulin-resistant body would be able to digest easily. The truth is, eating healthy feels incredible! By the second day I was craving oatmeal with walnuts. Grandma jokes aside, my body knew what it wanted and it wanted something that would give me energy and make me feel alive (side note: I had frozen yogurt 2 times during the week. Being healthy doesn't mean giving up those little moments of pleasure!)

I believe that health begins with what we put into our bodies, but is comprised of so much more.

A few months ago someone asked me what kind of life I wanted to have in 5 years. I started realizing that my daily routine wasn't propelling me towards my end goal. This got me thinking about the life I wanted to have right now.

I've always wanted to live a life full of knowledge, activity, nature, health and friendships. I do a good job of getting outside, spending time with friends and staying active, but I saw that I had lost direction. I had gotten lost in the exhaustion of working long hours and being frustrated about the environment around me. I wasn't proud of myself or my current state. My glow was dimmed.

I am committing to live the lifestyle I have always wanted. I will give my body real nutrients and continue to find workout routines that really push me towards my health goals. I'll sacrifice that hour of sleeping in to wake up and work on skills that will allow me to progress in my career. I'll continue to read books that inspire me to think about things I've never realized before.

I realize how important it is to feel proud of yourself each day. This is the life I dream of. Why wait 5 years to live it? You can follow my progress on Instagram. I'll be periodically updating with the title: Project: Glow From The Inside Out.

How will you glow from the inside out?

Some of my glowing moments:

Little Si Hike

Writing in My Journal at Brunch

Plane Reading

Breakfast

Run At The Park