Foodie Friday: Mango Macadamia KIND

I've been gone a lot lately, and I will be gone again next week so finding things to always keep me full while on the "go" is not always the easiest thing. It is even more important, I think, when I'm away from home that I am feeling optimal!

I discovered the KIND Bars when I was in Montana. I was at a Starbucks and they had them. I picked up the Mango Macadamia one and it stated, "Mango Macadamia is delicious, all-natural, gluten-free and dairy free. This healthy snack bar is a rich source of fiber, low in sodium, and contains low GI and no trans fat." 

Runner's World Magazine even lists them as "Road Tested: Energy Bars!" 

Sure, there are a lot of calories and even fat, so it's not a bar that I would eat 4 times a day, but for those days when I'm on the run or just want something new they are perfect! They taste amazing! I love the Mango Macadamia combination - a little sweet mixed with a little salty!

There are many other flavors and types of KIND Bars. You can find them HERE. Go out and get yourself one today!

Speaking of Foodie Friday, I have been feeling Foodie Phenomenal! I have laid off on larger amounts of anything with seeds and nuts, though - even my flax. I believe it's those that cause me my lower stomach bloat. I have cut them for the most part this week and have not had problems. I did have 1/2 of a Mango Macadamia KIND Bar yesterday and no problems. Even when you eat healthy, you still must remember - everything in moderation!

Please forgive me if I'm not around yakking all things health/food and fitness this weekend. I am busy, busy, busy trying to finish my brand new website! The domain has been bought, and I am now just trying to get all the "ducks-in-a-row."

If you (or someone you know) have/has a health/fitness/foodie (or general passion for life) Blog that you want added to my BlogRoll on the new website, please email me, facebook me or tweet at me your link for consideration!

Happy Friday! CHEERS!

The Ugly "D" Word Meets its Match

I was gone from my home in California from July 8 - July 27th. That's an entire 20 days! The night before I left my Mom said to me, '"I can't believe you didn't "cheat" with food once."'

It was at that point when I realized how powerful my mind is.

Every other trip to Minnesota, even if just for a weekend, ALWAYS resulted in a "food mistake," which I told myself was okay because I'd "get back on track once I was back in California."

That old thinking is nothing more than another failed diet. Yes, the ugly, sinful "D" word: DIET. The old thinking says, "I'm on a gluten-free diet when it's convenient for me and so that I can tell all my friends I'm a trendy, gluten-free, intellect."

I never meant to be that way, but looking back that's exactly what I was.

I am proud of what I accomplished! But more than that....I am proud to say I'll never prescribe to the Ugly "D" Word again. And that "unprescribed" kind-of-medicine yields that beautiful, strong mind!

New Heights

As promised from yesterday....highlights from Montana!

Yet another trip with Ryan. 

New places, faces and scenery!

 Because I wasn't bloated and felt amazing, I was able to climb with Ryan to the top of Mount Helena. GORGEOUS!

Mind over matter. If I could do it there - I can do this anywhere!

P90X

Today I took the plunge.

After several weeks of feeling blah, icky, lazy and bloated I am back! I am ready, focused, determined and super excited!


It was Day 2 of GAPS for me, so I felt much better already. I added a few things into the diet today. My diet consisted of: Extra lean turkey, chicken, broth, a small coffee with coconut milk and baked crab legs. I added in the additional probiotics and had my other probiotics, enzymes and multivitamin. Still no carbs, more fats (ie. avocado) or raw almonds. Tomorrow I move into Stage 3 (I can move through the stages faster now that I have already been on the diet and heal faster). Stage 3 means I can add raw egg yolks (though I may cook it), ripe avocado and "pancakes." I will probably only make one egg yolk in the morning and have some avocado. The "pancakes" use flax and veggies, which I'm not ready for yet. I will have a half ripe banana or possibly a full one. Working out a lot with no carbs is not good for you. I don't care what anyone says!


My energy level is way up. It always is when I'm eating the way my body needs to be fed! Thus, I was ready to start full-on with P90X today! For the record, YES, I did my STARTING STATS. I took my weight, did measurements and took pictures. That being said, I'm not sharing those stats. I will wait! I'm so glad I took them all for me, though. It's nice to have a starting place. Starting is the hard part, seeing final results is the best part! 



My workout today was Chest/Back and the Ab Ripper X. Ryan and I bought a pull-up bar last night, some extra weights and bands. Chest and back really equaled push-ups and pull-ups....for 45 minutes! The Ab Ripper X was 15 minutes of abs. 


By the time I was done with the workout, I felt like Jell-O! I haven't been that "shaky" from a workout in a long time. I think I'm in overall fairly good shape. P90X told me differently! But that's the beauty in this program for me. I'm shaking it up. I'm doing something different with my workout. Shaking it Up = Results, and for now I won't accept any thought other than that! 


Tomorrow is the Plyometrics workout. I'm nervous for that one, but it won't stop me from getting it done! I can't wait for all of this!

I'd love to have you join me with all of this. If you currently do P90X, I would love to hear from you! Cheers!