Welcome to February Friends!
Can you believe the first month of 2016 has already come and gone?!?!? I think I must have blinked and missed it because I sure can’t! January was full of so many exciting visits, adventures, and exciting career opportunities I can’t imagine how February is even going to compare.
One thing is staying the same though, and that’s our commitment to healthier choices. We made it through one month of more conscious living: eating well, exercising, making healthier decisions, etc… and even though there was indulging, like these amazing desserts from dinner at Delfina when my parent’s visited, we’re both feeling lighter, leener (see what I did there 😉 ), and full or energy!
Week 5
“If you are persistent you will get it. If you are consistent you will keep it!”
Exercise
- Running 1x wk 45-55min
- Cycling 1x wk 45-55min(Bike in the shop until Wednesday 😦 )
- HIIT 1x wk 30min (45on-10rest 6x w/25sec rest btwn rounds)
- Squats
- Mountain Climbers
- Lunges
- High / Forearm Plank Transitions
- Side Step Wide Legged Squats
Dietary Plan
Breakfast: Homemade Chia Bars OR Oatmeal w/banana and nuts
Lunch: Ground Turkey Burrito Bowls OR Mixed Green Salad w/Tuna
Snack: Hummus w/Pita & Cucumbers, Protein Shake, Multigrain Tortilla Chips w/fresh pico, trail mix packs, OR apple w/nut butter
Dinner: Salmon Burgers & Sweet Potato Fries w/ zesty slaw (I know we eat these all the time but they are sooo good, I promise I will get more creative soon), Mixed Mushroom Marinara w/ whole wheat penne, OR 1 of 3 Plated meals being delivered later this week (check out Foodie Friday this week for some delicious meal ideas)
’til next time, keep smiling! 🙂
While my family has been in town we’ve been keeping busy with long walks around the city, bike rides over Golden Gate Bridge, 
We have one more day until Mom & Dad fly home which isn’t keeping us from staying committed to kicking butt and keeping healthy for the 4th of our 16 exceptionally motivated weeks. My day started bright and early with a bike ride, yoga class, and some meditation. Then its a little more family time and crossing my fingers the weather holds out for my parents. I also have to squeeze in some work because there are some great projects in the works this week that I am super excited to share with you…soon!
For now, you’ll have to be satisfied with another week of healthy eats and awesome exercises to stay healthy, motivated and feeling like your best! There is nothing quite like time with family to leave you feeling full of energy and ready to tackle another week!
In the coming weeks there are lots of exciting things happening! Everything to come has to do with growing in my career, so I couldn’t be more excited that I have time with some of my family beforehand; which brings me to today’s Wellness Wednesday topic, balance. 
When I mean balance, I don’t mean the kind I do on my head or in the picture above 😉 I mean happily and effectively managing all the different aspects of life. I used to get this tunnel vision when it came to the different aspects of my life: I would focus on whatever I wasn’t happy about and figure out a way to fix it or make it bend my way. Sometimes I would succeed but most of the time I wouldn’t and I would end up mor
e unhappy than when things started. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I was really able to make a sift…things just were not working. Now, my focus is on finding time for the little things, working smarter, and allowing myself downtime. I know as life continues and children are added to the picture, things will get even more exciting and the challenge of balancing things out might become more tricky but in the end, its ALL doable. Whatever your priorities in life, you’ve got time for all of them and the stuff you want to do too, it just takes a bit of balance. If you’re not sure where to start, begin by taking 5-10 minutes to be silent, alone, and just see what pops up.
I am filled with love and excitement from such an incredible weekend at Yoga Journal Live San Francisco and I can’t wait share everything I absorbed with my students! This week is going to be a little crazy with Phil traveling AGAIN and family visiting but we’re both doing our best to stick with regular exercise and smart dietary choices. 
As a teacher and a student of yoga it is very easy to slip into a routine…just move through a sequence without paying attention, follow the same ques, repeat the same things, etc… I know yoga is supposed to help you be present, focused, and all that jazz but trust me, it happens to the best of us, haha! I really started to feel that way yesterday; as I was teaching the 2nd of 3 classes for the day it felt like I was saying some of my ques just simply out of habit, not necessarily because there was any intention behind it. It occurred to me I didn’t have a focus…I was just showing up. And while that may be enough for some, for me, it just isn’t. So, with a few more classes to teach this week, and a whole lot of 
With my classes I chose to focus on thoracic spine opening, and for myself I am focused on being present, staying motivated, and breathing through the tough stuff. There is much more in life to love than you can possibly imagine…you just have to focus! ❤
It’s official…Phil and I have survived our first Christmas away from family. While there were definitely tears and sadness, we also managed to laugh a ton and have a lot of fun! 
We enjoyed LOTS of champagne and delicious food, as well as fun and shenanigans with friends around the globe. Between FaceTime with the family and yoga challenges with friends in other time zones, the Christmas weekend has been a testament to how technology makes friends and family feel closer. It was great to watch my Godson opening his first Christmas presents, and equally delighting to share holiday fun with my yogi family across the globe – posting videos and photos as part yoga challenges made me feel more connected to the people I love, even though they’re all miles away. 
I loved this amazing year with all the incredible milestones and adventures 2015 has offered. I think the most important take away from 2015 is to live in the moment. Life is a crazy roller coaster of excitement, blessings, heartbreak, happiness, love, sweat, tears, and lessons, AND if you are looking too far ahead or behind you’ll miss what’s happening right in front of your face…life is too precious to miss even a moment! 
I’m making a point to take it all in for 2016…really absorb and appreciate every sunset, hike, bike ride, adventure, restaurant experience, and moment the year has to offer – and if you find me deviating from my mission, please call me out in the comment sections below! 2016 will be the best year for Livingleen yet and I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds and what lessons I’ll learn along the way!
Phil and I celebrated Thanksgiving just the two of us at our place and while I missed the family, it was nice to have a low key holiday. I made a full Thanksgiving spread, including homemade cranberry sauce that isn’t in this picture. There was no actual turkey but I did offer to make one for Phil – he declined because tofurkey is AWESOME!!!
Since the honeymoon neither Phil nor I have been the best about our diet. There was bound to be a little post wedding indulgence but we’re both feeling the results in what I will refer to as ‘love fat.’ Neither of us are all that concerned, just aware and making a plan to hit the ground running in 2016. One of the new additions to livingleen for 2016 is weekly menus and exercise routines every Monday to motivate and start the week off on the right foot!
Livingleen 