Apple Cider Vinegar + Adapting

Apple Cider Vinegar is supposed to be this magical, cure-all liquid but I cannot stand the smell and the taste is also something left to be desired. I’m trying to see if it really works to reduce hunger and cravings, as well as help mellow out my digestive woes. I found I like to drink one teaspoon in chilled green tea, juice from half to one whole lemon, and two tablespoons of tart cherry juice. This is still a new thing in my life so I’ll share my conclusion soon.

I chose the green tea for a caffeine kick, the lemon for its powerful taste and immune boosting properties, and the tart cherry juice to help with muscle recovery. I’m thinking of adding some grated ginger next week.

On Monday I went hard with leg day. I added more weight, and while I felt strong and had a good sweat at the time, I was hurting for the next three days. I’ve been keeping up with foam rolling but on Wednesday I very gingerly did some yoga. I don’t have an injury but I can’t believe how long it took my body to recover. Also, check out the cutest yoga partner.

I’m also super excited because when I got home Tuesday night I had a package waiting for me. I’m a huge fan of MegSquats and because I didn’t purchase her t-shirt the first time around I knew I had to order the cropped tank top and the shaker bottle. Proud to be a Strong, Strong Friend!

I’ve been counting calories lately but I had to take a break this week. My hormones/PMS was out of control and the more I tried to stay within my 1600-1800 allotment the more I wanted to binge because I felt so hungry and restricted. I rather incorporate a couple of extra snacks and go a little over my calories than binge and go WAY over my calories. I’m trying to still make healthier choices and focus on nutrient dense foods.

Also, I’m on a breakfast-salad kick this week. A handful of spinach, half a cup of cherry tomato, chives, quarter of a cubed avocado (I eat another quarter later in the day), smoked salmon, and two eggs. It looks so much prettier before I try to dice it like a mad-woman with a steak knife and a fork in the bowl.

Have you tried ACV? Any tips for making it more bearable?
Who do you watch/follow on social media?

Heat Warning Weekend + My Introduction to Craft Beer

This weekend was so hot that my boyfriend and I finally went out and bought a patio umbrella so we could sit outside without sweating to death. We had Heat Warnings in effect all weekend, and this morning we had hit 26 degrees at 7AM. However, in six months time I will be complaining about ice, snow, and cold weather so I will cherish this heat with my entire heart. Plus, I can get through anything as long as I have iced coffee.

Michael works a lot of overtime and a lot of weekends so it was nice to spend some time with him this weekend. He's really into craft beer and after months and months of having me "try" his beer he has finally convinced me to start sharing with him. I'm not typically a drinker but I'm starting to really enjoy his craft stuff. Yesterday he gifted me a whole Kolsh.

And today he split one of his special, limited beers with me. Last weekend when we were driving home from Killbear we stopped in at Sawdust City Brewing Co on a whim, and he picked up two of only 2000 bottles.

Then, because he wants me to continue enjoying craft beer with him and he knows I can't resist a social media platform, he convinced me to join Tappd. I'm killing it with FOUR whole check-ins. ;)

Sundays are my favourite days to prepare for the week ahead. Although I've always been one to meal prep I've also started sketching out my workouts for the week, right down to the type of moves for strength training days. If I don't have a plan I get completely lost in the gym. 

Do you prefer hot weather or cold weather?

How do you decide on your workouts? 

From the Stationary Bike

Happy Saturday from my spot on a stationary bike at the gym. Cycling and blogging seems a little a) counterproductive and b) dangerous, but it's only an easy session.

I'm drinking my favourite BCAAs and reflecting on this past week. It was a weird one, requiring a lot of patience an adaptability, but I survived!

Since going camping last weekend I was suffering from tight muscles in my back/ribs and in my glutes and hamstrings. Monday was supposed to be a leg day but I switched to upper body and took it easy.

Then, along with my muscle pain, I had some mental health issues with my depression and anxiety running on high. One of the symptoms I get is really physical and I suffer from extreme nausea. After that I decided to forgo my workout plan and stick to getting my body better with lots of foam rolling and stretching.

I put in some extra hours at work this week and by Friday night I was exhausted. So I decided to celebrate by splitting a large pizza with my best friend. I have zero regrets because I woke up today with my heart feeling full and I'm cycling with a smile on my face.

This week was a week of growth for me by learning to listen to my body and my mind, without completely letting go of my goals. 

I hope you had a good week and an even better weekend is coming your way - Toronto has nothing but sunshine and hot temperatures in the forecast so I'm looking forward to barbequing and trying some craft beer with my boyfriend.

What are your plans this weekend?

What was a point of mental or physical growth for you that stands out in your mind?

Killbear Provincial Park

This weekend my boyfriend, our dog, and I went camping at Killbear Provincial Park. Due to crazy work schedules we only stayed for one night but as someone who is fairly new to camping, sometimes one night is all I need.

The park is located in Nobel, approximately 277 kilometers North of Toronto and just outside of Parry Sound. There are 9 campgrounds and it’s really easy to reserve a spot through Ontario Parks online.

My car was the one registered to the campsite but I prefer to let Michael drive. I actually spend a lot of time being the passenger in my own car.

I ate: strawberries and smores for snacks; hot dogs for dinner; a bagel for breakfast; sandwiches for lunch. Easy peasy.

I read: half an issue of Women’s Health and started reading Open Heart, Open Mind.

I did: we took a few walks on the main campground trail and the Lighthouse Trail. We went once during the day and then returned again at sunset. Also, for the first time I played a card game with  my boyfriend. He’s super competitive so in five years we have NEVER played any sort of game together.

I slept: badly. It got super windy and cold during the night, making it hard to fall asleep. The last time I checked the clock it was 1:30AM and just after 6AM I finally got up and took Cooper on a walk.

I heard: not much. We were in a quieter, less populated section of the campground. Just birds and the wind.

I wish I had: more blankets. Seriously. Oh, and Benadryl because my seasonal allergies were out of control.

Our dog was actually fairly well-behaved and there are dog-friendly exercise/beach areas to hangout, but it’s really hard to do all of the things you want to do. Our next camping trip is at Arrowhead Park on July 9/10 and Cooper will not be coming with us. As much as I love him it will be nice to get to canoe or kayak, go swimming, and wander around without worrying about him.

On the plus side, all of the things we did do tired him out and he spent most of the drive home sleeping.


Do you like camping?

Are you a car-camper or a backwoods camper?

Do you have any tips and tricks that are essential for camping?

Thoughts on Friday Night

Edit: while writing a new post on Monday I realized this never fully published properly. Annoying.

Currently: lying in bed, watching Chelsea Handler's Netflix show, and realizing I have a blog post on my computer that I meant to post but I am too lazy to open it so I'm typing through my mobile app.

Thoughts and moments from the week:

I wish I had waited just one more day to write my recap because I missed getting to post this gem. He is my favourite.

My heart, mind, and under-eye bags made is clear that iced coffee was super necessary on Wednesday. Midweek slump > midweek 

I have Fridays off so Cooper and I went for a walk before I hit the gym for an upper body workout.

That workout was immediately followed by the best protein cookie in existence. Buff Bake has the most amazing products.

We're leaving tomorrow to go camping for a night but they've been calling for rain. The amount of rain keeps changing but hopefully the latest forecast is correct and it stops in the afternoon.

What are you up to this weekend? 

Would you rather eat one big protein cookie or seven Oreos? I get the argument but these cookies are so soft, chewy, and I like the macros 

Furry Friends 5K

Happy Monday!

Yesterday my dog and I ran the Furry Friends 5K in Whitby. The race benefits our local animal shelter and two other local animal rescues. It was the sixth year it was held but the first that I signed up for it.

Over the last year Cooper has become my favourite running partner. Whether it’s a trail or the roads, Cooper is always ready for an adventure. 

Unfortunately his neck was too big for the bandana he got in his race kit so I put his bow-tie on him instead.

The day was overcast but it was still around 20 degrees and humid. We ran along the Waterfront and the breeze coming off of the lake was necessary. I was sweaty within the first kilometer and we weren’t even running hard.

We kept our pace slow and I stopped at the water stations along the course so Cooper could have a drink. For a “fun run” I was excited to see it was chipped, and Cooper and I ran our 5K in 38:31. Had we not stopped for water breaks I think we would have been on our usual 35-minute 5K time.

I’ve been doing a lot of strength and speed training, and I think it’s really paying off. My body felt strong and I think I could have pushed myself further if I really wanted to, but it just felt good to run among all the other dog lovers/runners in my community.

Cooper and I will definitely be running the Furry Friends 5K again next year.

I am, I am, I am

“I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart: I am, I am, I am.” - Sylvia Plath

It’s been a long time since I’ve posted. In fact, it’s been so long that I tried to create a new blog but the inspiration never stuck.

I say I’m back with cautious optimism; a little like the way I’m approaching many aspects of my life right now.

Running, yoga, reading, dog training, my mental health… all appear to be going well but I’ve always had a tendency to get over excited only to watch these things take a nosedive.

But I am back and as much as I’m the same as ever (dog mom, office job, a race in my future, relationship of five years) I feel like I’ve changed.

I think I’m a little quieter but only to be more pensive. I’m working hard on making the relationships in my life more meaningful and dedicating more time to those relationships. I try to see the value in everything I’m doing and taking classes against to progress my future as I apply and patiently wait for my chance to break back into the marketing world. I still really want to run a marathon eventually and I’m still participating in half marathons, but I’m also focusing on enjoying running above all other distance goals. I try to spend as much time as possible outside having found a new love for hiking and trail running, I’ve booked some camping trips with my boyfriend, and I really want to try SUP this summer.

I feel like I’ve grown as a person and am constantly trying to encourage that growth, and I’ve decided I no longer want to use this blog to pretend I’m an expert as something I’m not - I want to use this blog to try new things, share my experiences, and reflect on all the things that make me who I am.