No More Holding Back

When I was trying out new running shoes last night the salesman said, “Take this the right way. You are a fast runner. There is no way it should have taken you five hours to run a marathon.” I was looking for a sign to no longer hold myself back, and I don’t think it could have come any clearer. I felt every ounce of pain during the last seven miles of that marathon, but deep down I knew he was right. I just didn’t see it until he said it.

I, like many other women, tend to hold myself back. No matter how confident I want to feel in my decision or my ability, there’s always a piece of me that wants to put myself down.

When I heard his comment about my running I thought about the fears I had while training for that race. I had never run a marathon before, and was certain it would take me hours on end to finish it. I would brag about my brother who is capable of doing the same distance in three and a half hours and then say how amazing he was in wanting to run my pace with me. I never once acknowledged that what I was doing was a big deal and that I was more than capable of it.

Every time I finished a long training run I was amazed at what I had accomplished. I didn’t expect to enjoy a long run or to finish so capably. It was like I surprised myself every time. Not once did I really work to be faster during my long runs. I just wanted to finish, but finishing isn’t what races are for. Challenging yourself and testing your limits are why most people run.

Today I made a decision to stop holding myself back in running and in life. I am going to recognize my strength and truly “run with it.”

How are you going to test your limits today?

Until next time,

Kaycee

P.S. My favorite song today is Hello, My Name Is by Matthew West

What I Learned

What I’ve learned during the Living Well Spending Zero Challenge is I don’t need near as much as I think I do. I don’t need as many conveniences, meals out, and I certainly don’t need more clothes. I realized my previous “cutting back” wasn’t cutting it enough. Although I missed the dinners and the drinks, I felt better about my spending than I had in a long time.

This month I was more aware of every item that went into my cart. I realized I was buying extra tea, when I have a mound of it in my cabinet. I realized how many times I pick up a random DVD from Target. I realized how many dinners a month I actually schedule with friends. Although none of these things are bad, I just don’t need as much of them. I want a simpler life and these purchases don’t always contribute.

This is what I do “need,” a healthy life, a healthy mind, and a healthy pet. The rest are just details.

Until next time,

Kaycee

P.S. My favorite song today is Little Bit of Everything by Keith Urban

Caving

I caved. I ran eight miles and didn’t pack enough for lunch. Not only did I cave on the Spending Zero Challenge, I also compromised my healthy eating habits by spending $2.14 on fast food.

The thing no one tells you about running is it gives you an insatiable appetite. I personally feel that’s why you see so many runners that are overweight. The calories you burn running don’t necessarily compensate for your crazy appetite later.

When I signed up for the Disney Marathon I was glad it was over eight months before my wedding. Running schedules don’t allow for a lot of cross training, and I’m not always the best at not giving in to my crazy hunger. Although logically I know I’ve eaten enough, I usually keep snacking.

Luckily being a dietitian I know how to prevent unwanted weight gain. For any runners looking to get their weight down I recommend not ignoring your hunger, but instead being very picky about what goes into your body.

After a long hard run it’s super tempting to grab a large cheeseburger to refuel, but that’s not necessarily what your body needs. One thing I commonly notice among runners and other athletes is too much focus on protein and not enough focus on fruits and vegetables. Protein is important, but unless you work out hard five or more hours a day most days a week, protein shouldn’t take over your diet.

My personal diet includes eating plenty of organic fruits and vegetables, chia seeds (my favorite is Mila), quinoa, beans, and organic eggs. I eat minimal meat, dairy, and gluten and can always tell a huge difference when I add in foods that aren’t the best for me. Stay tuned to future posts for healthy tips, whether you run or are just interested in improving your health!

Until next time,

Kaycee

Spending Zero Day 18

I miss brunch. Specifically I miss “eggs on the bayou” with a mimosa from Beach Diner in Atlantic Beach. Not eating out has been my biggest hurdle with the Living Well Spending Zero Challenge. My first obstacle came before the challenge even started. As I was trying to make plans with a friend, I realized our normal going for dinner was out, so I planned a walk on the beach instead.

After that bump the first week itself was a breeze. We had plenty of kale, beans, salad toppings, nut butter and organic whole grain bread and we were happy to eat it. We also didn’t have any specific plans involving food. The rest of the month has not been so easy. I love going out to eat and relaxing. Between date nights with Jimmy and regular outings with friends I know my restaurant habit is causing one of the biggest problems in my budget.

I used to never eat out. I felt if I was going to spend money I would rather allot it to something other than food. Then I started working in Key West. Since I flew down for work I expensed my meals. I started small, just eating at my hotel or pick up food somewhere near work, but then I made friends and started to explore the island.

I fell in love with the best food Key West has to offer. From Hogfish Bar and Grill to Louie’s Backyard I knew where to find the best of everything. I loved the time with friends, and my evenings felt like little vacations. The best part was everything went on my company credit card. I never had to actually pay attention to my bill.

When my company found someone who lived closer to the account to cover it, I still craved the fun atmosphere and delicious food I had grown accustomed to. This “craving” lead to more nice meals out at home, and choosing what I wanted to eat with little regard for the price. Initially this wasn’t a bad thing. Jimmy and I went on more dates and I relaxed about spending money. The problem came in when I started caring more about the relaxation than the health of my bank account.

Around the same time I had also become very addicted to the happiness high I got from buying Lilly Pulitzer, and was trying to use my money to invest in continuing education and my new business. Needless to say this became a lethal combination for my finances and I am still working at picking up the pieces.

I got serious about picking them up faster eight months ago. I had stressed over my finances, but not enough to make the drastic changes that needed to occur. As I started to heal mentally and spiritually I stopped relying on outside highs. I began to crave a simpler life and a cleaner living space. I started running more at the beach and stopped buying so many workout DVDs. God became a bigger focus and outside factors weren’t as important in making me happy.

I know with time my cravings for “mini restaurant vacations” will decrease too; it’s just the next step in this journey.

Until next time,

Kaycee

P.S. my favorite song today is How Far We’ve Come by Matchbox Twenty

Photo Credit: http://www.livingwellspendingless.com

Living Well Spending Zero Challenge

Fourteen days ago I started the Living Well Spending Zero Challenge. Yes Zero. Over the past six years I’ve gone from extreme saving, to not spending wisely, to learning to save again. I’m finally getting better at balance, but definitely still feel the repercussions of the between years. Right now Jimmy and I are planning our wedding, paying for regular maintenance on our older cars, and trying to save for a house, which we would love to be near the beach. With so many financial balls in the air there are many days I feel behind. I get frustrated with my spending or lack of resources, and am constantly reworking my goals as unexpected expenses come up.

A few months ago I stumbled on a blog called Living Well Spending Less. I read Ruth’s story and immediately identified with her struggles. When the Living Well Spending Zero Challenge showed up, it fit in perfectly with my happiness project and I was excited for some help and accountability.

The challenge itself is fairly simple, no spending on extras. Extras of course include everything from going out to clothing to prepackaged meals. If you don’t need it to survive, then it’s out. Minimalism is key and the challenge is exactly what I needed to make my “finance month” a success.

My goal with this challenge is to prove to myself that I can save more, live simpler, and want less. I have a nice head start, but I think this is the push I need to keep getting better.

Until next time,

Kaycee

P.S. My favorite song today is Money, Money, Money by ABBA

An Amazing Life

There are two things that make me seriously reconsider how I’m living my day-to-day life, one is a great vacation and the other is death. Last weekend I experienced both. Saturday I returned from Oahu, one of my new favorite places. Several hours later I heard that one of Jimmy’s college roommates died tragically in a car accident. I felt like I had experienced life at its finest while he had the last moments of his. All I could think is what would I do differently if I knew I had only a little time left? If I died tomorrow would I be satisfied with how I lived?

Although there are many goals I haven’t accomplished and places I have yet to visit, this morning I had some clarity. As I sat on the beach watching Jimmy surf I realized my life is amazing. God has blessed me immensely. Yes I have things that I would love to change, but this truly is the life. I have a palm tree out my window, sand on my feet, and somebody that I love. What more do I really need?

Until next time,

Kaycee

P.S. My favorite song today is Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

The Disney Diet

Every time my mom and I go to Disney we lose weight. The weight loss has never been from the hot dogs, fried chicken and other Disney goodies we eat, but instead from the amount of miles we walk in the parks. This time was different. Since I was in the middle of the diet reset program I packed a lot of extra food for my Disney trip. I knew there were certain scheduled meals that would not follow the program, such as drinks at Trader Sam’s and pot roast mac and cheese in Magic Kingdom, but besides my planned “treats” I wanted to adhere to the program as closely as possible. One advantage for this trip was my hotel, the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The restaurants in the hotel serve many African and Indian inspired foods that are vegan and vegetarian. Because of that I was able to have a few extra Disney meals without straying too far from my reset plan.

What surprised me the most while eating my “treats” was that I didn’t enjoy the food as much as I normally do. In fact I skipped a few of my typical Disney meals simply because I didn’t want them. The ice cream sundae was too sweet, the mac and cheese was too salty, and the “Disney food” I enjoyed the most was the unsalted pumpkin seeds I purchased in the new sweet shop in Harambe Village.

In two weeks I was able to change my palate and give myself some accountability to stick with the foods I know are the best for me. I have to say I’m quite impressed!

How will you feed your body today?

Until next time,

Kaycee

My Conversation with an Atheist

Last night I had an unexpected conversation about faith and religion with an atheist. What I think is most amazing is multiple times during the conversation he stated, “I wish more people thought like you.” This was profound to me because I never wavered on my faith. Our conversation came up while discussing a bill that recently didn’t pass in Florida regarding the legalization of marijuana. From there it took an interesting turn to religion.

During our discussion I learned he became an atheist because of his frustration with religion and judgmental Christians. He had a significant negative experience during childhood and it started a rebellion against religion and everything that came with it. He did add that he does thoroughly enjoy the views of the current pope, with the exception of his belief in God.

I think what intrigued him the most about me is that we actually agreed on many things. Our main difference came down to he puts his faith in people, where as I put my faith in the God that created those people.

I do understand where he is coming from. I have some similar frustrations with religion, and especially with judgmental people who consider themselves the best of Christians.

I was raised Catholic like my mom, but my dad is Baptist. These two religions regularly bump heads over what is right and what is wrong, but my parents never did. The focus in our household was the importance of our faith, rather than religion. My dad taught me that there are differences in religions, but the core faith is a belief in God. I was raised to never judge others, and taught that your religion does not make you better than other people. This has greatly shaped the person and the Christian I have become.

One of the things we discussed last night were judgments he and I had faced from other Christians. My wonderful parents helped me through these trials when I was young assuring me that anyone that makes me feel bad about my faith is not displaying Christian behavior. He had faced similar experiences, but without the support a child needs when shaping their faith.

My main point in discussing this is not because it was an amazing conversation, but because of the lessons all Christians should learn from it. Love is what changes hearts and minds, not lack of acceptance. I may never know the full impact our conversation had on him. Maybe he will think more about God, maybe he won’t, but I know that for me it was a lesson I will never forget.

Until next time,

Kaycee

P.S. My favorite song today is Do Something by Matthew West

Plants and Margaritas

Today is day three of the diet reset program and I’ve been slacking a little … Yesterday was mine and Jimmy’s anniversary, so although my morning routine was good, I let myself splurge for dinner. We ate at one our favorite restaurants in Atlantic Beach, The Flying Iguana. Their guacamole is amazing, handmade at the table with only the freshest of ingredients! I got my favorite margarita, the garden, and indulged on the delicious dirty south taco! If you are ever in Atlantic Beach and want some Mexican with a twist I highly recommend them!

Back to the reset program … Today has been better. I started with hot water and lemon, cayenne pepper capsules, and my green juice. For lunch I had a Caribbean tempeh wrap from Native Sun, another favorite place of mine, along with plenty of water throughout the day. I always feel better when I eat a plant-based diet. My waistline looks better too, which is definitely a plus! If you are interested in your own diet reset message me or let me know in the comments below!

Until next time,

P.S. My favorite song today is Little Bit of Everything by Keith Urban

Lifestyle Reset

Along with the pool time I mentioned yesterday, this Happiness Project journey has helped make other much needed changes in my life. I have set a goal to go to bed at ten every night, and so far with the exception of my weekend nights I’ve made it there. I have started cleaning at least ten to fifteen minutes everyday, and it’s amazing how much better the apartment can feel. I have also decided this September I will be focusing on my health and in October I will be focusing on my finances. I will be using this lovely blog to regularly document my progress, and hopefully inspire others to improve their lives as well. Today I am starting a fantastic nutrition program by my friend and nutritionist Dawn Hutchins! It’s called the Cleansing Life Diet Reset Program. If you are interested in getting your weight, diet, and lifestyle in check while learning a ton about nutrition along the way, this is the program!

Dawn is a fantastic teacher and I am so excited for some accountability with my healthy eating! After reviewing her program I couldn’t wait to participate. Today is the first day and so far I’ve started with a green smoothie and my usual green tea. If you are interested in a little nutrition help hop over to http://www.floridacoastalcooking.com/cleansinglifeprogram and sign up for her free three-day program or email to join the next twenty-one day challenge!

Until next time,

Kaycee

P.S. My favorite song today is Thrive by Casting Crowns

Pool Time

My apartment complex has a resort worthy pool and I'm going to start using it more than four times a year. In the spirit of my happiness project I have been thinking about the things in life that make me happy. Spending time by the water in the sun rejuvenates me in a way that nothing else can. Forty-five minutes by the ocean or the pool makes me a better person for the rest of the day. I write better, think better, and overall feel better.

I’ve decided while it is warm the pool will be my thinking spot at least three days a week. It’s hard to argue with when you don’t have to drive there and the relaxation makes you more productive.

What will you do for your sanity today?

Until next time,

Kaycee

P.S. My favorite song today is Day One by Matthew West

Loving Failure

Although I have learned failure is a prerequisite to success, I still struggle with the lack of perfection in my life. As usual I want life to go smoothly. I want my apartment to stay clean, to look cute at all times, and to create my version of success without the pain. What started as pathetically wallowing over a hurt foot and frustrating finances slipped into a negative walk down memory lane. Reminding myself of every poor decision I’d recently made was a springboard for everything I’d done wrong in the last three years. I was beating myself up for not taking care of my feet, for spending too much, for not listening to my gut … the list went on and on. Finally I stopped myself long enough to realize without these “failures” I would have never experienced some of the best moments of my life so far. I wouldn’t have become a better nutritionist, friend, or human being in general. Without my failures I couldn’t be the best version of myself.

I gave myself a moment to lick my wounds and then reminded myself that failure is a part of life. The important part isn’t the failure itself, but what you do after that counts. Successful people tend to succeed not in spite of failure, but because of it.

How are you becoming the best version of yourself?

Until next time,

Kaycee

P.S. My favorite song today is Fight Song by Rachel Platten

Relax

This morning my Jesus Calling devotional instructed me to relax and I failed in the first hour. My paycheck didn’t show up, there was a wreck that caused me get to work forty-five minutes late, I went over my self imposed budget for the month, and my car decided to have difficulty starting. Rather than going off the deep end I managed to salvage a little of my sanity by remembering that God told me to relax today. Every time I would tense I would say to myself God is in control and He said to relax.

This evening I decided to continue the thought of relaxation by learning how to be still. I have a beautiful palm tree out my window that I am grateful for everyday, but I don’t take enough time to look at it. This evening I took five minutes to sit on my bed and stare at my tree. Someday the tree won’t be mine and I will regret not spending enough time thanking God for the lovely gift he planted outside my window. Oddly enough the tree makes me feel relaxed.

How will you relax today?

Until next time,

Kaycee

P.S. My favorite song today is Good Life by OneRepublic

My Happiness Project

My maid of honor broke up with me a few weeks ago. This has definitely been the hardest break up of my life, but it has also brought me some clarity. People come and go in your life for different reasons. Every relationship has a purpose, although it may take a while for us to understand it. Margaret and I were friends for thirteen years. That’s a lot of memories, which is the main reason this has been difficult. We don’t usually miss the current relationship, just the good memories we had associated with it. I would like to understand why she decided to cut off our relationship, but at the end of the day it’s not important. Overall our relationship was bringing more stress than joy into my life, and this change has made me want to remove other things that may be causing the same problem.

Over the past few months a book called The Happiness Project has been gnawing at my consciousness. I started it over a year ago on a flight, and then for some reason didn’t get to finish it. It keeps showing up in magazines I read (even though it was published in 2009), Pinterest, and of course on my bookshelf. I have decided not only to take the time to finally read it, but also to work on a happiness project myself. I’m learning life is too short to be miserable for so much of it.

I read a quote recently that I love, “We all have two lives. The second one starts when we realize we only have one.” I think I’m finally ready to start my second one.

Until next time,

Kaycee

P.S. My favorite song today is Right Where I Need to Be by Gary Allan