I tell my clients, students, friends and family all the time that all the hard work that is put into healthy eating and exercise isn’t worth it if you can’t live a little and splurge here and there. I put this into practice all the time.
Take yesterday for example…
My day started with pancakes.
And ended at Nolen Kitchen with a big plate of zucchini chips in front of me at a girl’s night. Yes, I’d already splurged that day but I also rarely get nights with the girls so I didn’t think twice about diving in.
I ordered pork belly tacos for dinner.
And we all shared a trio of sides that included the most amazing roasted cauliflower with pine nuts and an orange beet sauce, Israli couscous and brussels sprouts (that could have used about 5-10 more minutes of cooking time…they were very crunchy).
The night ended at the pub next door where I ordered a vodka soda. I cannot tell you the last time I drank a cocktail at 11 p.m. on a Thursday night (that was soooo the regular in college…we didn’t go out until 11 p.m.!).
I got home from my evening out at midnight feeling happy and grateful to have such great friends…without an ounce of guilt.
This morning I woke up and got back on the bandwagon. I made myself a green smoothie with mango, pineapple, peaches, spinach and lots of coconut water to rehydrate and get some good stuff in me to start the day. I headed to the gym and took the 8:30 a.m. circuit training class which was full of enough burpees to make you sweat like crazy.
Lunch was a salad.
So as we go into the weekend, I encourage all of you to give yourself a break and live a little. Order a glass of wine, eat a cupcake, get a side of fries…you have earned it! 🙂
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July 22, 2026
I am such a creature of habit when it comes to breakfast. 95% of the time I’m craving a breakfast that is on the sweet side. That mostly alternates between smoothies or yogurt bowls with overnight oats, chia pudding or oatmeal occasionally thrown in there. On the rare occasion I go savory – it’s scrambled [...]
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July 19, 2026
I want to bottle up this summer and make it last forever (well, maybe minus the wildly hot and humid weather that makes running a big thumbs down). I mentioned this in my last post…but I am really enjoying the slower pace and the days that feel like they have more space. While I’m trying [...]
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July 10, 2026
Happy Friday! I hope this post finds you well and enjoying the summer. We are in the dog days of it over here in Charlotte – the heat and humidity is off the charts – but it’s something I’ll embrace because I deeply appreciate the massive slow down that summer has brought. A lot of [...]
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June 21, 2026
I recently traveled to Big Bear Lake, California for the inaugural Big Bear Peaks + Pines three-day stage race hosted by TransRockies Running. This was my third TransRockies event in 12 months (see also Colorado + Moab) and I’m here to tell you that they can do no wrong when it comes to race organization [...]
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May 30, 2026
Happy weekend! Another week in the books! I got three runs in (6.5 miles, 5.5 miles, 5.5 miles) and I have a trail run planned for tomorrow. Total weekly mileage will end up around 30-35 miles depending on if I go for 13 or 17 tomorrow! I’m 16 weeks out from the Golden Ultra so [...]
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May 23, 2026
Happy Memorial Day Weekend. It’s a very rainy one here in Charlotte and while I am a little bummed not to be spending the weekend in Florida with the fam or by the pool at our swim club (just opened for the season!), I’m also welcoming a slower pace and time at home. It’s been [...]
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May 3, 2026
Hi and happy May! As we roll into the first full week of a new month, I have almost a month’s worth of lunch ideas for you. It’s a great mix of sandwiches, bowls, salads and wraps. I hope you enjoy and find some inspiration for your midday meal! Open-faced chickpea salad sandwich on toasted [...]
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