Find out how I stay healthy during vacation

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I’m getting ready for another cabining adventure! I’ll be spending Memorial weekend at Ponca State Park in northeast Nebraska. 

The photo above is me last fall at Platte River State Park in southeast Nebraska. I like to have a little style while I’m in the wilderness. 

This will be my third cabin adventure with the BF and our wonderful group of friends. Cabin trips are becoming my fave vacation. There’s very little planning involved, we get to go hiking, we sit around the campfire, we eat s’mores, we laugh and we relax. 

Our group has a great meal system. Each couple or individual is responsible for one meal during the trip. Since we are staying in a cabin, we have a full kitchen with a refrigerator and stove. We also have a grill and a fire, of course. Everyone comes up with delish meals. Click here to see what we ate during our Platte River State Park trip.

As with all of my vacations, I try to make lots of healthy choices and indulge in a few of my favorite foods and drinks.

I plan to pack some healthy snacks so I’m not tempted to munch on junk food in between meals. The meal the BF and I prepare for everyone will also be healthy and delish.

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Coconut + Chocolate + Coffee = Love!

I made this little concoction this morning and it was delish!

Coco-Choco Coffee Smoothie

1 cup chilled Dunkin Donuts Coconut Coffee, brewed strong

1/2 cup almond milk

1/2 scoop chocolate protein powder

1/2 frozen sliced banana

Place ingredients in a blender and blend until combined.

Enjoy!

 
 

Slimmed Down Memorial Day Cocktails

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There’s just something so wonderful about sitting outside in the sun and enjoying a cold cocktail. 

Besides being able to run, bike, swim and be active outside, having a cold one in the sun is one of my fave things about summer. Hey, I work hard so I can indulge once in awhile!

I do keep my cocktails low-cal though. Calories from alcohol can really add up quickly. Margaritas can have 600 calories or more and mixed drinks can cost you a few hundred calories. 

Luckily, there are plenty of low-cal cocktails that taste delish.

Try some of these drinks this Memorial Day.

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This is a great video about processed food to share with children.

A wonderful way to inform kids about the difference between whole foods and processed foods. 

I love how the food processors are so evil!

 
 

Walk Out on Your Job

Yesterday 2,300 people in Kearney walked out on their jobs.

These employees walked 1.5 miles and ate a healthy lunch as part of Walk Out on Your Job, an event sponsored by Wellness Works.

I’m so excited that I got to be a part of the event this year. As the president of Wellness Works, a local non-profit organization that promotes workplace wellness, I got to help organize this huge event!

Although planning such a major event was a lot of work and quite stressful at times, it was all worth it when I saw all of those people out getting exercise during their lunch breaks.

According to the American Heart Association, walking for as few as 30 minutes a day provides heart health benefits.

For employers, promoting physical activity to employees can have huge cost saving benefits. Employers can save $16 for every $1 they spend on health and wellness, according to the American Heart Association.

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It’s grocery day! I love shopping for food.

Today I purchased lots of fresh produce (as always) - kale, spinach, green beans, organic apples, red pepper, orange pepper, Brussels sprouts, fresh ginger, garlic cloves, zucchini, cucumbers, asparagus, strawberries, grapefruit, avocado, pineapple and limes.

I bought frozen salmon - the best I can do here in Nebraska!

I picked up some tahini to make hummus, organic apple cider vinegar to make detox drinks and some unsweetened coconut.

Did you go grocery shopping this weekend? What did you buy?

 
 

Healthy brunch recipes that will impress your mom

Nothing expresses love better than a healthy, home cooked meal.

Make your mom a delicious brunch this Mother’s Day and she will know how much you appreciate her.

Try some of these healthy and delish recipes:

This Strawberry Fig Salad is perfect for brunch. The sweetness of the strawberries, coconut and figs is just so delicious.

Or serve this light Spring Salad with Poached Eggs. Absolutely amazing!

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What I Eat in a Day: Tuesday, May 7

Tuesdays are my busiest day of the week. I teach three fitness classes - 5:30 a.m. cycle class, 5:30 p.m. deep water aerobics and 6:45 p.m. Piloxing.

What I eat is even more important on days like this because the food I eat helps me recover from my workouts and gives me energy to make it through the 2 hours and 45 minutes I spend exercising on Tuesdays.

I started the day with my cycle class. I don’t eat anything before class. I just don’t get up early enough. But I do drink some water before and during class.

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For breakfast, I had a Protein Pancake. This recipe is from Tone It Up. I’m currently doing the Tone It Up Bikini Series, so I’ve been eating this for breakfast a couple of times a week. Yesterday, I topped my pancake with fresh pineapple, honey and unsweetened coconut. I change my pancake toppings every time I eat it - strawberries and pure maple syrup, blueberries and honey, diced sauteed apples with cinnamon, etc.

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Lincoln Half-Marathon Recap

I survived another half-marathon!

On Sunday, I finished my sixth half-marathon. Crossing the finish line is always such an amazing feeling. Just five years ago, I couldn’t run one mile without stopping to walk. Finishing yet another half-marathon reminds me of how far I have come!

If you missed my live tweets pre- and post-race or my mom’s tweets during the Lincoln Half-Marathon, here is a recap of the race in photos.

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The BF and I stopped at the Embassy Suites Saturday to pick up our race packets and race T-shirts. This is always when I start to feel a little nervous because I realize the race is actually happening!

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