My perfect Sunday.

Sundays are my new favorite day of the week. I always wake up with my husband whispering in my ear before he goes to work.When I hear his happy voice in my ear as sleepy and grumpy as I may get, I LONG for that voice in my ear everyday until the day I die. He makes me smile. Once I am up, I usually make myself a nice breakfast and a cup of tea or coffee, sit on one of my bar stools while watching the Today Show on Channel 4 to learn what's going on in the world. The kids are sleeping, of course, what 19 year old and 17 year old are up at 7:30 on a Sunday morning? I am at peace, sipping  my coffee this morning and sinking my teeth into my Ezekiel toast with Almond Butter and sliced banana- AHHH! By at 8:30 it's time to hop in the shower to look presentable while going to Church this morning at 10am.

Wouldn't you know it, As always, I am pretty much the first one in Mass every Sunday. I like it that way, because I get to say my prayers and prepare myself for today's readings. I still don't know all the words to all of the prayers, but I am "THIRSTY" to learn. The other thing I haven't done yet, I guess because I am a wee bit shy, is to sing along with the church choir. I know it's not respectful to NOT sing, but I still feel like a newbie in there, so I just smile as I read the words and listen to everyone else singing.

I left Church this morning cleansed in my soul, with a smile on my face and a positive mind to start the week. I am learning to allow my heart to be opened more by God and to get the anxiety out of my heart and out of my soul.

I think I learned a lesson this time! I learned that my legs especially my very sensitive knees, do NOT like to run 5 straight days in a row. I need to scale back and just run 3 times a week. I was so successful my first race last year with just running 3-4 days a week, and not one injury! I need to tone it down a bit with my ego (yep, we all have one) and get back to the basics of WHAT WORKS FOR ME. I adore running, I love the adrenaline rush it gives and I love that it's JUST me.


Cardio wasn't my plan, but for some reason I felt this energy from within and needed to sweat it out, so off to the gym I went. Phew! 6.5 miles on the bike, 15 minutes on the step mill and then I went into the studio for some stretching and some core... Still smiling! I think my right knee is getting better! I don't have 100% range of motion, where I can bend my knee and get my toes to touch my glutes, but almost! I am also not in severe pain! YA HOO! Does this mean I will race on the 2nd? NOPE! I am no dummy! I need to strengthen and stretch and focus on what I am going to do for the race in June.



As far as my workouts, I have been switching them up like crazy always doing new things, and I must say, I love my shape, my definition and the way my body is changing. my shoulders and arms have definitely changed the most in the past year. My legs look great and I credit the running for this. They are lean, cut and strong. I don't use anything over 20lbs when working my legs. I love long super lean and defined legs...and so my my husband. :O) My abs look great all the time except 2-3 days before my you-know-what!! I looked in the mirror yesterday and thought: "WHAT THE HECK, WHERE DID MY ABS GO"? When I woke up this morning I had an AH HA moment! Get it!?!? That also explains the reason I had to have extra vegan chips and a piece of a chocolate protein brownie that I made.... Yes, I will share the recipe!

Fit Green Goddess Chocolate Protein Brownies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup oats- ground up. I used McCann's QUICK 2 minutes steel cut oats
• 4 egg whites
• 2 sccops ISALEAN PROTEIN 
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 8 oz banana organic baby food
• 3 tbsp. carob powder
• 4 oz water

Preheat oven to 350. Mix dry ingredients in one bowl, and wet ingredients in another. Once mixed well, combine the two bowls for a complete mixing of all ingredients. Spray a Pyrex dish with Olive oil cooking spray, both the bottom and sides so they don't stick. cook 20-25 minutes depending on  your oven.

Makes 15 protein brownies.

Nutrition per two brownies

96 calories

1.4 grams fat

12 grams carbs

10 grams protein

So, all in all I am in a happy place, that I put myself in. I don't rely on my husband, kids or friends to make me happy, they just add to my happiness.  I feel complete now. My family is back together, God has entered into my soul BIG TIME, I love my career, my passion is fitness and cooking and I am happy when I see my friends, and most of all They all love ME- I am one lucky girl!