12 month character challenge: a journey

Definitely started this blog for cooking and health posts, but, I am officially transforming it into something I need more.

Disclaimer: I am not a writer, I don’t always have eloquent grammar and word pairings, but, here we are.

I have decided, in addition to my fitness goals, to add what I am referring to as my ‘health’ goals. I want to dig a little deeper rather than just being fit and healthy, I want to be a good person and that does take work.

So, I have written a list of 12 words I truly want to embody. I was going to wait and start in 2016, but why wait? I am going to choose a word per month that I want to personify and really focus on that word until I feel like I exemplify that word as often as it is needed.

December’s word is going to be GENUINE.

I started with the definition. What does it literally mean to be genuine?               Source: Meriam Webster online

                truly what something is said to be; authentic.

                (of a person, emotion, or action) sincere.

If you want to follow my journey of a year’s worth of character challenge and building, please do so. I will need to be held accountable. I will need a friendly hand to hold. Some words I have chosen will take me down really tough paths, some will be easier than others. But at the end of a year, I want to be a much better person, a person who understands exactly who they want to be, and strives to be her.

 

Thanks guys,

Date Me

Current obsession: dates

Apparently in middle eastern cultures, a date a day keeps the doctor away - most Muslims eat dates when they come off their fasts, as dates make you feel full so you don't binge eat. Loving the sweetness in my fridge oats or just eating them plain! I want to experiment with adding nuts and cheese into the center of them as well for when I'm feeling extra fancy. 

Stay tuned

Keen K8

Gardening

Totally on board with growing as much of your own produce as you can! And I've recently found out about CSAs or community shared agriculture, where you buy a stake in a local farm and they give you a box of fresh produce each week (so awesome) 

I started small this year with jalapeño and sweet pepper plants, just to get a feel for gardening - my jalapeños are doing amazing! Thinking of adding tomatoes and onions next year 

Now, to find a "clean" stuffed pepper recipe.... 

Xox

Keen K8

Snacking

I love snacks. 

No scale victory: previously I would have put 2-3 almonds in my mouth at a time. Now I mindfully eat one morsel at a time, not only am I practicing mindfulness (so important for all aspects) but I am also letting myself feel fuller longer by taking longer to consume my snacks! 

Huzzah to grazing 

Xox 

Keen k8

The Golden Mean

A bit of a ramble but nevertheless... 

Aristotle called it the golden mean... Buddhists refer to it as the Middle Way... Finding balance between extremes can be precarious but it is so important to a happy life. Balance is one of my main goals in my fitness journey - to be able to enjoy times that call for meals out or drinks - but to be disciplined for the remainder. By nature I become obsessed with things, perfecting them until I have met my goals. It's hard for me to take it slow, enjoy the process, but this is what will be necessary for a sustainable lifelong healthy journey of clean eating and fitness. 

The concept also brings to mind one of my favorite reads, Eat Pray Love - live a balanced life and it will be full, happy and full of love. 

Xox 

Keen K8

Mac&Cheese

Stupid Easy Mac & Cheese from Fit Girls Guide

Literally it's stupid easy and stupid delicious. When (IF!) I ever have kids they will grow up thinking all mac&cheese includes cauliflower. Hopefully by then GMOs and processed foods will be a thing of the past (ha) 

Xox 

Keen K8

Chia Pudding

I'm late to the chia seed party, I know. But I'm glad I tried it! Loving the texture. The recipe I used was a bit bland but that makes for a great blank canvas. 

I'm thinking some chocolate or PB chia pudding is in my future. 

1/2 c lite coconut canned milk

2 Tbp chia seeds

1 tsp honey 

1 splash vanilla