The other day I announced that I’m starting a new blog series. Make sure you read what it is and why I’m doing it. Seriously – that part is important. It will take you 30 second. Read it now if you haven’t already.
My goal is to see just how amazing I can feel if I do everything as close to “best for me” as possible.
If you’d rather listen to this blog than read it, please click here. Otherwise, keep reading below.
In episode 504 of the Primal Potential podcast, I shared my results from a recent assessment of my microbiome. Based on the makeup of my own microbiome, there are foods I need to avoid, minimize and maximize. Implementing these recommendations is a big part of how I’m pursuing this goal of feeling as amazing as possible. (I’m also sharing how you can get this information for yourself, including a discount code!)
The superfoods that were recommended in my assessment aren’t based on the properties of the foods, they’re based on the population of my microbiome. I think that’s pretty cool. Here are some of mine.
My goal today is to incorporate these. I’m going to have arugula & avocado with my lunch and salmon & broccoli with dinner.
…..
I did NOT sleep well last night. I think it’s because I was hot. I turned off the AC a couple hours before bed and woke up around 2am hot. I got up, used the bathroom and felt wide awake and hungry. I had a small handful of hazelnuts and managed to fall asleep about 90 minutes later.
Do I beat myself up for a handful of nuts in the middle of the night? No. Why not? Because it wouldn’t help. It’s not a pattern or a habit…I woke up, was hungry, ate. The end. No drama.
When my alarm when off at 4:50 this morning, I got up. Why? Because it’s a habit.
I don’t re-negotiate my wake up time with every alarm. The decision is made at night. The promise is kept in the morning. I refuse to start the day by breaking a promise to myself. When I feel super tired upon waking, I get excited about how ready I’ll be for bed that night. Perspective.
5 – 5:30am: Journaling, gratitude, stretching, water
5:30 – 8am: Work!
8 – 9am: Out to breakfast (pictured on Instagram)
- Breakfast bowl with eggs, veggies, bacon and cheese
9am – 1pm: Work!
To give a little insight into my work days: the projects vary. Some days are writing days, other days are podcast days, others are client-work days. Every day includes responding to emails, engaging on social media, interacting with clients in our private Facebook groups and administrative tasks. When I’m working, I practice the discipline of staying off social media and email unless I’m working on social media and email. Minimizing distractions is a key to productivity! This is a huge opportunity for practice!
1pm: Meditate (20 min) and lunch
- Large salad with arugula, cucumber, tomato, romaine lettuce, and hemp hearts. (For more on hemp hearts, don’t miss episode 505 of the podcast!) I didn’t have any salad dressing so I made some on the fly with:
- Frozen avocado from yesterday (thawed)
- Cilantro
- Garlic
- Salt
- Lime juice
- Why no protein in this salad? With the eggs at breakfast and the salmon planned for dinner, I’ve got my protein covered for the day. I often eat only 2 large meals per day (versus 3+) and when I consume 3 meals (like today), I’m mindful to not go overboard on protein.
2 – 3pm: Reading & note taking for my upcoming Masters Club webinar
3:00 – 5pm: Workout!
- Crossover Symmetry
- Shoulder stability
- Foam rolling and lacrosse ball work
- Group warm-up
- Ascending weight back squats 2-2-2-2-2
- 21-18-15-12-9-6-3
- Deadlifts
- Back squats
- Sit-ups
- Crossover Symmetry
5 – 6pm: That workout kicked my butt. It was hot, humid and HARD. Though I had planned to cook broccoli & salmon for dinner, I left the gym not wanting to cook and really craving cold food. Plus, I was exhausted and didn’t want to do any prep. I drove to one of my favorite local restaurants (The Raw Bar) and got a naked lobster roll to go. Naked = no bun = big cup of lobster with very, very, very little mayo/dressing added. I planned to take it home to eat but my girlfriend texted asking if I wanted to get a drink.
YES!
You might be wondering how this ties into feeling amazing:
I want to be the kind of person who spends happy, light hearted, quality time with friends without worrying about food, alcohol or going overboard.
I want to be the kind of person who can sip a great tequila or have a vodka soda (like I did last night) and feel great about it.
I want to be the kind of person who can chat with a friend for hours without snacking or drinking too much and that’s exactly what I did last night. I enjoyed my lobster in the car and talked with my friend for hours over a vodka soda. It was perfect.
I got home around 10pm and went straight to bed, feeling proud and certain that these moments are absolutely part of feeling amazing! It was probably around 11pm that I fell asleep. Here’s to another amazing day (and leftover lobster!)
