Y'all! Where have I been??

I haven’t really been on here since 2019 which is crazy to me! So much has happened, but the one constant is that I continue to try to live my #bestlife each and every day.

So let’s do a little catch up. I won’t get into the nitty gritty, but I do want to talk a bit about my current situation. For those of you that have been following my health journey for awhile, you know that my weight has been up and down most of my adult life. When COVID hit, and we all went in quarantine, I started and stopped with so many different things and ultimately gained about 20 lbs. Part of this, if I am being honest, had to do with a relationship I wasn’t completely secure in. So……last May I decided that maybe it was time to really think about doing a gastric sleeve surgery. I have gone back and forth on this for years, always going back to this idea that I needed to figure out why I was overweight and change the patterns and behaviors that got me to this point and that a gastric sleeve surgery probably wouldn’t give me the lasting results I wanted unless I really changed these behaviors.

Fast forward to spring of 2021. I made an appointment with one of the best bariatric surgeons in the Miami area and was set to start the process. June 7th was my initial appointment and the office ended up canceling that day. For whatever reason, this pushed me to take action and I decided that the appointment cancelation was a sign. A sign that I had the tools necessary to do the work to overcome unhealthy habits and to finally put my overall health at the forefront for once and for all.

So where am I now? It’s January, about 7 months later, and I can honestly say that I feel healthier than I have in a really long time. In terms of weight loss, I’ve lost about 38 lbs since last June (42 lbs since my January 21 weight) and I am finally looking at my health from a holistic lens. So much of my focus over the last 10-15 years has been on weight loss by way of exercise. I am trying to focus more on the mental and emotional aspect of my health; therapy, journaling, practicing gratitude, etc. I am also working with a health coach, shout out to Tracy Segal, who is helping me to hold myself accountable and dig deep.

I can’t promise that I will keep this blog up and running every week, but my goal is to provide monthly updates and share some things that have worked for me along the way. A few things:

1. Journaling every day. Tracy sent me a Well Journal where I record what I eat, exercise, three things I am grateful for, etc.

2. NOT following a diet. I’ve done Whole30 (which I loved. It showed me how to love veggies), no gluten, etc. and ultimately they failed. I am now trying to eat in more, and stay away from processed foods as much as possible. That doesn’t mean that I won’t have a cheeseburger and fries or pizza on occasion, but sticking mostly to food that will fuel my body.

3. Accountability. I am working with a health coach, but beyond that I have Apple watch competitions with friends. I started an instagram (@saritaen360, follow me!) to share my journey, gym workout buddies, morning Peloton rides (shout out to HL and Steve!) whatever it takes! My people know that I am on this and that helps to stay on track and provide encouragement.

I am still very much in the building good habits part of my story. That being said, I think I am finally in a space where the anxiety of returning to old habits it dying down. I have taken one step forward, two steps back so many times over the last several years, that when I recommitted to my health back in June, this underlying anxiety and fear of failure was very much present.

If you are still reading, thank you! Thank you for being part of my community. Cheers to a 2022 filled with consistency, growth, and living our #bestlife!

xo

Sara

Day 18: I made it through the half way mark!!! (Day 16 in Whole 30 world)

Happy Monday! Happy MLK Jr. Day! People love a good MLK post today, and tbh, I’m not mad about it. I’ve seen so many of his messages on the interweb…..and as you know, I am ALL ABOUT a good message. One of my favorite quotes of MLK Jr. and that is really resonating with me and my whole health and wellness journey is:

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

I sometimes feel like I am failing at this whole thing we call life, and for much of the last half of 2018, I kind of was. I stopped taking care of myself, both mentally and physically, and while I feel like I am really killing it in the new year, I have this anxiety that comes into play, this fear that I am going to fall off again. These words by MLK remind me that it doesn’t matter how many times you fall, all that matters is that you continue to push forward, and keep picking yourself back up.

Speaking of failing, you are probably all on the edge of your seats wondering how I am doing with Whole 30. Right? In my last post I listed all of the reasons why Melissa Hartwig (aka the Whole 30 queen) would tell me I am failing, and to be honest, this week wasn’t any more “perfect”. But how do I think I’m doing? I think I’m doing pretty freaking good. I have had a few hiccups there and there (I indulged in a vodka soda at a girls night on Saturday, and may or may not have had some BBQ sauce today) but otherwise I am really sticking to it. I took a mini road trip to visit my friends parents yesterday, and that normally calls for some sort of sugary caffeine drink and/or treat from starbucks, or maybe a diet dr. pepper and some candy, but I got myself a water and some mixed nuts and called it a day. Baby steps. I am down 8 lbs., and that is another motivator to keep me going, but I think my biggest motivator with this round of Whole 30, is that I feel like I am actually nourishing my body, and making food choices that fuel my body, instead of giving me instant gratification. I’m slowly crawling into the healthy and happy person I want to be!

xo

Sara

Day 10: I survived my first week of Whole30!

Happy Sunday to all! I am on day 8 of Whole 30 and I am still going strong! I feel like this time around, it just doesn’t seem as hard. I think the thing I miss most is wine!! Have I been 100% sticking to the (very strict) Whole 30 guidelines? Not at all. I feel like this is my time for confession, so let me just break it down for you and i’ll tell you all of the ways I have “failed” at Whole 30……..1. I had lunch at a friend’s the other day, she knows I am trying to eliminate certain things from my diet, so she made us soup and salad. The salad had just the tiniest bit of feta. Did I pick out the feta? Absolutely not! 2. I bought plantain chips. When I first did Whole 30, plantain chips were good to go, all of a sudden, here I am in my second round thinking I am KILLING Whole 30, when I come across a very disturbing post about how Melissa Hartwig (my frenemy) all of a sudden made them illegal. girl BYE. 3. that GOOD good cauliflower gnocchi, again girl bye. 4. This is probably the biggest offense…….i’ve been weighing myself. You aren’t supposed to weigh yourself for the 30 days. Here is the thing. I love a good data/metrics moment. I usually am seen wearing an apple watch and I LOVE knowing how many calories i’ve burned in a day, or how many steps I’ve taken. The whole weighing myself is a motivator to keep me going. Wow, I feel so much better now that I have gotten that off my chest. Let’s move on. One more thing before moving on…..As I said the other day, you have to make a lifestyle change (whether its a diet or not) work for you. I am doing Whole 30 because, unfortunately, my body doesn’t get down with all things good in the world and I am in serious need of a mind shift in what I consume. Of all the fad diets or trends I’ve tried, this is one that really seems to work for me. If you are out there thinking about whether or not to give Whole 30 a try, I say ABSOLUTELY. Just know that it is hard, and you have to be able to make it work with your current situation.

So what have I noticed since beginning Whole 30? My energy levels are WAY up. Both days this weekend I woke up early and ready to get my day started. It usually takes me a good few hours to get myself to the gym on the weekend, but not on Whole 30! I also feel like I am more focused. I really can’t say I’ve been craving sugar and bread, so that is a huge wine. While not drinking is SOOOOO boring, and I will be honest, I really could have used a cocktail or glass of wine this weekend, I don’t wake up feeling hungover and crazing unhealthy foods. Weight - I’ve lost 5 pounds since starting. Talk about a good motivator! One thing that is not completely Whole 30 related, but in a way, it is….I am gaining my fitness confidence back. Yesterday I ran for a bit (and by bit, I mean bit…..we don’t need to get into the specifics) and today did a spin class. Both of those things I haven’t done in close to 2 months. Don’t count on me doing any marathons anytime soon, but I hope to be doing my Sunday runs again soon. One more thing I do really love about Whole 30 is that is has forced me to start cooking again. Today I made this BOMB Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti Squash dish…..a few modifications, and when I have some time I’ll put the recipe up here, but for now, check it out here……. BOMB A$$ BUFFALO CHICKEN SPAGHETTI SQUASH .

Week 2, let’s do this!

xo

Sara

Day 4: Whole 30 realness

Whole30 has commenced en la casa de Sarita. I forgot just how much meal prepping goes into it! I also forgot how idiotic some of the ‘rules’ of Whole 30 are. I was in Trader Joe’s yesterday, along with 95% of the greater Miami population, when I came across their Cauliflower gnocchi. I thought to myself, this might just be my saving grace over the next 30 days. I LOVE Gnocchi and although I was a bit hesitant about the taste of this magic, I thought, what the heck. I whipped up the batch this morning for my lunch today, threw in some TJ’s grilled chicken and marinara sauce (no sugar, yaasssss!) and packed my little lunch bag and went on my merry little way to my first day back to work.

I’ll just cut to the chase. Lunchtime came, and I heated up my curious lunch (I still wasn’t sure I was going to get down with this fake gnocchi). I went back to my office to dig in……….and after that first succulent bite, I was sold! If you have a Trader Joe’s near you, and love a good gnocchi moment, stop reading this nonsense and go and get yourself a bag or two! As I am sitting in my euphoric post (best Whole30 meal ever) lunch, I think to myself, that $&*@ was so good it must not be allowed. I swiftly pull up my google tab search for my answers. According to Whole30, you are not to eat a recreated baked good or pasta…ie that good good was not allowed.

I can’t believe I’ve spent most of this post talking about cauliflower gnocchi, but I guess my point is that I am doing Whole30 to eliminate foods that I really shouldn’t be eating, not to follow some rules that frankly, don’t really apply to my situation. My goal is to build bettter eating habits throughout the year, not just for this next month. If you are thinking of doing Whole 30, or Paleo, or Keto, my suggestion is to really understand the whats and whys first, and don’t beat yourself up if you are not able to follow something to perfection. Remember why you are doing something, and if it is going to stress you out or is simply not realistic, don’t do it.

So what did I have today? Below is a list of my foods:

Breakfast: 1 hard-boiled egg, 1 pink lady apple (my fave) with almond butter

Snack: pistachios and dried apricots

Lunch: Cauliflower gnocchi with grilled chicken and marinara

Pre-work out snack: Blueberry RX Bar

Dinner: garlic chicken sausage with sauteed peppers and onions

Dessert: Half banana with some almond butter

xo

Sara

Day 1: It's not that hard

If you have ever done a round of Whole 30, then you know what I am talking about. The most often quoted line in the Whole 30 program is “It is not hard. Don’t you dare tell us this is hard. Quitting heroin is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Drinking your coffee black. Is. Not. Hard.” I am getting ready to start Whole 30 on Sunday, who is with me!?!?! Don’t worry, for those of you who have been living under a rock, i’ll get into the nitty gritty in a second.

I did Whole 30 for the first time in January of 2017. My friend Carolina was doing it, and she encouraged me to join her. It was AMAZING. Let me explain before you roll your eyes. in the Whole 30 program, they say that by eliminating certain foods, it can often help to improve your sleep, energy levels, mood, attention span, body composition, motivation, self-confidence, self-efficacy, and overall quality of life…..I mean, whats not to like???? They also say that the Whole 30 experience imparts a sense of control, freedom, stability, and confidence, and will ultimately inspire you to take on other personal development goals, both big and small. I don’t know about you, but right now I feel like I need ALL of the above.

So back to me and my first time……..At first it is hard. I’m not going to lie. No more Starbucks Chai Tea Lattes. No more afternoon chocolate. No more pizza (pikza) parties. But honestly, the feeling I had on Whole 30 washes all of those instant good feelings away. So what exactly are the Whole 30 rules? No added sugar, no alcohol (oh hey dryuary), no grains, no legumes, and no dairy. So what exactly do you eat while on Whole 30? Lots of protein, veggies, nuts, and fruit. Honestly, it allowed me to taste the sweetness of real fruit and enjoy the flavor of veggies I generally only eat when I cover them in some sort of not-good-for-you substance.

Since being diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, it is even more important for me to think about the foods I am putting in my body. I also just want to feel good about myself again. The first few days of 2019 have been a bit of a rollercoaster for me. I have been spending a lot of time with my ex-boyfriend, and even though we are trying to work on being friends, it has been hard. I also just haven’t really been feeling like myself lately. I think a lot of it has to do with with my health and weight. In the last few months, I have gained much of the weight back that I had lost in 2017. I blame it on the fact that I have thyroid issues, but the truth is, I just have kind of given up on putting myself first.

Don’t fear, I have already worked out more days than not in 2019…I know I know, its only January 4th, but if there is one quality I have, it is finding a way to put myself back on the right track. I’m really trying to put myself and my health first this year. I’m hoping to use this blog as an outlet to express myself, but also to connect with mi gente (my people for those non Miamians :). One final thing before I say adios tonight. Really trying to hold myself accountable in this health and wellness journey so I took some pics today that I am hoping will inspire me to get it together most days of the week and hit the gym…….and also to one day be featured on one of those People Magazine New Year’s weight loss magazines. Kidding…..Not Kidding?

xo

Sara

Day 360: New Year, Who Dis?

Happy New Year’s Eve to all! Its been over 150 days since I last posted something, ay ay ay!!!! I started this blog at the beginning of 2018 for a few reasons (see my first post for more information :), but one of the surprising things that has come out of this experience is the amount of support I have been shown throughout the year. Whenever I see people who have kept up with my blog, they always ask “when are you going to post again!?!?!”. I stopped and started a few times this year, with not much success. But I am not giving up on Sarita en 360! 2018 has been an interesting year for me. I have had some of my highest highs and also my lowest lows. There were a few things that I just kind of let fall to the wayside, and this blog was one of them. The other one was my health. I have always been someone who works out pretty regularly, and this fall, when work got crazy, I gave up my regular workouts. I also found out that I have Hashimoto’s disease (sounds scarier than it really is, but something I am learning about and working on). Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune disorder that targets your thyroid, and this fall I had an ultrasound done on my thyroid and found out that my body has essentially been attacking it for awhile. I’m working with my endocrinologist on the proper dosage of medicine and I am also figuring out my diet….more to come on that in 2019! I also ended a 2.5 year relationship this spring, and have been trying to figure out how to keep someone in my life, who I think the world of, but as just a friend. The end of this relationship has also meant that I have started to dabble in the dating scene here in Miami. I may have to dedicate a few blog posts to that in the new year. Not to spoil the ending, but i’m still single.

If you are friends with me, you know that I LOVE the new year. For me it is a time for me to reflect on the last year, and also a time for me to think about the upcoming year and where I see myself. 2018 wasn’t a total bust. I got a new job in March, graduated with my MPA in April, and traveled to some pretty amazing places. I met new friends, and strengthened my relationships with those near and dear to me, and I feel like I am part of a really great community here in Miami. So where does that leave me as I walk into 2019? I just read a really great quote (yes, I also love a good quote!) posted by a friend (hey Vicky Checo!!) and I feel like it SPEAKS to what I am channeling in this new year:

“Your entire life can really change in a year....you just gotta love yourself enough to know you deserve more. Be brave enough to demand more, and disciplined enough to actualy work for more. ”

So in close, Sarita en 360 is not going anywhere. I know there are haters out there (love you all!) that will say let’s see how long it takes for Sara to stop writing, and that might actually happen…..but I’m going into 2019 ready to receive everything I want in this beautiful life. See you all in 2019!!!

xo

Sara

Day 206: Finding my 80/20 balance

I have been failing at this whole life balance business.  You know, the main reason I started this blog.  I feel like the last few months have consisted of me trying to be super strict with my eating only to fall off the wagon and spiral into a pizza coma.  I was planning to start another Whole 30 tomorrow, but after some soul searching, and the friendly reminder that I had this blog, (yes, I know, I never actually had that comeback that I wrote about on Day 144) I decided that I really need to focus on finding balance. 

What does balance mean to me?  That is a tough question, and one that I'm not sure I can really answer right now.  My idea of balance is that I am really living a healthy lifestyle 80% of the time, but with some indulgence here and there.  Let's talk about healthy.  I think most people have their own definition, so for me, when I think of being healthy, I think of someone who carves out time to be active every day.  To me, being healthy means that I have a good relationship with food, and that most of the time I am filling my body with fruits and veggies, lean proteins, and staying away from things like bread and pasta, cookies, and my beloved pizza.    

Yesterday was JeazyE's birthday, and some of his nearest and dearest came to Miami to surprise him for the weekend.  Ashley, who I haven't seen in forever, asked if they could have a cameo on my blog.....I immediately felt guilty about the fact that I have been the WORST blogger in history.  Kathy and I had some great conversations about life and finding our balance in relationships, and within ourselves.  She is embarking on a healthy living lifestyle in this next month, and so I jumped at the chance to join her and have someone hold me accountable.  Spending time with these girls this weekend was a reminder to me that while we are constantly trying to better ourselves, we also have to learn to love who we are, just as we are, right here and right now.  I love that Ashley reads my blog, and it is a reminder that there are so many people out there on similar journeys who I may not hear from everyday.  I won't promise that I will write every day, or even every week for that matter (we have seen how far that has gotten me so far in this journey!), but I will promise that I will remember that I made a commitment to myself on January 5th, and that I am going to continue to TRY to honor that commitment.  

So what exactly am I trying to say?  I am trying to find my balance, but I need my village to support me in my journey!  I have NEVER been a morning person, just ask any of my former roommates (looking at you, Megan Kuhn!!), but I know that working out in the morning is not only a great way to start out the day, it is the only way I can honestly commit to being active everyday.  My life can be crazy, between work, other professional commitments, testing out the dating waters again (awkward first dates galore!), my evenings are pretty unpredictable.  My girl Kathy has committed to calling me at 5:50 AM to make sure my @$% is up (anyone up at that time, please CALL me or send me a guilt text!!!!!).  I am also really trying to evaluate my eating.  But I am going to take this day by day.  I am going to start logging my food again, so I can look at what I am putting in my body, and may have a food diary reveal at the end of the week.  Bottom line, please continue to encourage me.  Please, if you have any words of wisdom, in how you have found your balance in this crazy world, LET ME KNOW!   

xo

Sara  

Day 144: How Sara got her groove back

Oh hey blog followers.  I'm back!  I am not going to launch into a list of excuses for why I've been away for so long (126 days to be exact).  I could blame it on finishing school (but if that were the case, I should have been back on here 26 days ago (graduation day, duh!).  I could also blame it on the rollercoaster that has been my life for the last few months.....but that is what life is all about, after all.  I've had some really amazing highs over the last 126 days.....travel, a new job, completing my Master's degree.  I've also had some pretty bad lows.......some of which I will talk about here, others you will have to read in my memoir ;).  

The moral of the story is that I am back and ready to really embrace this whole Sarita en 360.  I hope you are still along for the ride, and please continue to call me out (or gently remind me that I made a commitment to myself this year).  I actually had to go back to one of my first posts to read about why I was doing this whole thing.  In case you have also forgotten, there were really three main reasons for (creativity, accountability, and speaking my TRUTH).  You can read Day 5 if you also need that refresh on WHY.  

A quick update on where I am in my health and wellness journey.  I haven't weighed myself today (way too much late night pizza this weekend) to be sure of where I am, but I'm pretty confident that I am about 5 lbs heavier than when I started this blog.  My fitness has been all over the place and my eating habits have been pretty awful the last few months.  I would be lying if I said that this is all going to miraculously change now that I am back, but I am hopeful! 

I'm going to keep this post short, but stay tuned for how I plan to embrace Sarita over the next 216 days.  Less pizza, more kale.  Less late night fiesta, more exploring new workouts.  Less trolling on social media, more working on this whole concept of mindfulness.  Reach out and let me know if there is something I should try, somewhere I should go, anything!  

Before I say good night, I want to give a quick shoutout to the one and only, Mr. Chris "Skip" Wilson.  Your gently prodding to get me to continue what I started is a big reason why I am here tonight.  THANK YOU......and when are you doing a guest spot?????  

I'm going to leave this little quote I came across (thanks JoJo Fletcher) on the interweb the other day.  I have no idea who Jess Adams is/was, but these words ring so true!  

xo

Sara 

Day 18: My wheels are spinning, literally and figuratively

Happy Monday!!!  So I went to a Flywheel class tonight, and it got me thinking about how finding physical activity that you really enjoy is SO important.  On this 360 day journey, fitness is a major aspect of how I am finding balance in this so very insane world we live in.  Everything that the 'experts' say is true about exercise.  When I am regularly doing it, I feel GREAT and generally have way more energy.  I also think, that if you find the right thing, it can be fun, and sometimes even a bit therapeutic.  

I went to my first spin class more than 5 years years ago.  A good friend had been going to this little boutique studio in DC, BikerBarre  and she convinced me to join her one day after work.  I dragged my boss with me, and I think we were both asking ourselves what the hell we were doing the whole way to the studio.  While I consider myself pretty active, I felt way out of my element.  We gave it a try, and the rest is history.  I've been taking spin classes almost every week since.  

Just like with any other fitness fad, although I am not sure spinning is really a fad.......there are tons of different types.  I feel like I've done just about all of them.  Big box gym spin classes, check.  Dusty small gym in Tampa, FL with busted bikes, check.  These days, you can mostly find me at Flywheel if I am going to do a class.  Flywheel is pretty competitive.  There is a scoreboard where you can put your score up and compete with the rest of the class (I came in first for the women today, NBD) and the instructor tells you how much to turn your torq (resistance) and the range where your RPMs should be.  I love it.  It is precise.  It is exact.  You know how much effort you are putting forth, and the music is pretty amazing.  On the flip side, I will also go to Soul Cycle on occasion.  Think a fun dance party, with life coaches thrown in the mix, and candles and darkness and zen.  I also really like Soul Cycle, but am SOOOO uncoordinated and often get lost in the choreography (this is where my friend Skip starts to shake his head....no rhythm!).  Soul Cycle is big on finding your inner strength, leaving everything at the door, and setting your intentions for why you are there.  The last time I went, I definitely started weeping on the bike as I tried to 'set my intentions'.  

So why am I going on about all of this?  It goes back to finding fitness that works for you.  Soul Cycle is not for everyone and neither is Flywheel.  Actually, I know a lot of people who if they hear the words 'Do you want to go to a spin class with me?' would RUN the other way.  I'm trying to find more and different fitness activities to keep things interesting this year, so if you have done something that you ABSOLUTELY LOVED, or maybe just thought was kind of fun, LET ME KNOW!!!   

Day 13: Monday Motivation

I know, I know.....it's Wednesday!  It's been almost a week since my last post.  Mil disculpas!  I was battling a cold, had friends in town (hey fanily!) and started my last semester of grad school.  Basically, I have a bunch of excuses for not being dedicated to my commitment of sharing my journey to health and wellness.  I will say that I did spend a lot of time talking about, thinking about, and a little bit of DOING the things I set out to do just a few weeks ago.  

Now that I have that pseudo apology out of the way, let's move on, shall we?  I titled today's post 'Monday Motivation' because I wanted to spend my time tonight talking about my motivational Monday.  Not only was it MLK day, and who isn't motivated and inspired by MLK?  It was also one of my favorite people on this earth's birthday!  None other than Howard Lee Ray III, aka HL.  Not only was it HL's birthday, but he chose to spend it in Miami with yours truly.  #blessed.  

HL and I met when we were studying abroad in Valencia, Spain, and 15 years later (WOWZA!) our friendship is stronger than ever.  I'm hoping to have HL do a few spotlights on the blog throughout this year, so you should probably get to know him!  Not only is he kicking butt living his best life in New York City, but he really embraces everything that I am trying to do this year.  Mind. Body. Spirit.  

So back to Monday.....it was filled with fitness, fun, and friendship!  We started the day with a good sweat session at Flywheel (actually HL started his day with a good hot yoga moment, okay 2 a day!) and then met Alexis (will also be featured this year and is my go-to blog expert) for lunch before toodling about the city.  HL introduced me to one of his go to meals (slow cooker chicken with salsa verde) and a sushi dinner followed by Halo top dessert.  This was honestly the best way to start a new week and having friends like HL, to motivate you along the way, is AMAZING.  I know I am going to have setbacks this year, thats called living.  But being able to not only lean on friends, but be surrounded by strong humans who motivate you to live your best life, and join you in this process, that is what makes this journey so worthwhile.  So it might be a few days late, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HL!!!!! Thank you for supporting me and believing in me!  

HL's famous slow cooker chicken.....YAAAAASSSSS

Day 7: Emergen C

It's only day 7 and I kind of feel like throwing in the towel on this whole blog life.  I'm getting sick and all I want to do is curl under my covers and get after those zzzzzzz's.  Thank G for Sarita en 360!  I'm here, and I'm present.....or at least I think I am.  I usually get a cold a few times a year, and I the older I get, the more I HATE getting sick.  I work in a literal petri dish, so whenever someone in my office is sick, I inevitably will end up getting sick.  Normally, when I get sick, it is an excuse for 1. Not working out, and 2. Eating whatever I want.  So what is different this time?  I feel this weird sense of accountability now that I've put myself out there!  Thanks to everyone reading.......  

So what am I doing to make sure this this little bug doesn't turn into the black plague?  First, I am doing BIG THINGS with Emergen-C.  I started out with an Emergen-C cocktail this morning, another mid-afternoon, and will definitely be getting after another one before I go to bed.  Also, I just read this morning that you should take zinc or have a zinc lozenge when you are trying to fight off a cold.......any Dr's (I'll even take a WebMD expert) out there to confirm?!?!!?  

Instead of tossing in the towel, I decided I would also get a bit of exercise and walk to Starbucks to work on Sarita en 360.  Instead of ordering up a nonfat Chai tea latte, I decided (thanks to the chicas behind me talking about how you aren't supposed to drink caffeine before bed) to order a soothing tea.  So here I am, feeling like I'm actually taking care of myself for once. 

Day 7 means that we have finished our first week of Sarita en 360!  Hip Hip Hooray!!!  Reflecting on this past week, I feel pretty good about how things are going.  My high for this week would be my food.  Was I perfect?  Far from it.  Do I feel like I really stuck to the 80/20 mentality?  Absolutely.  My low for this week?  MINDFULNESS.  I need some serious assistance in this area.  Any helpful tips for entering the world of meditation and mindfulness, send them my way!!!  My other low would be my fitness.  I did at least 30 minutes of exercise each day, and I ran 3 miles on Sunday, but I need to try new activities and really think about getting into a more serious fitness routine.....more to come.   

In other news....check out my new recipe tab.  I'll be adding some stellar Sarita recipes, like the Black Bean Sliders I made this weekend.   

xo

Sara 

Day 5: Why

In my first blog post, I mentioned that I had been talking about doing a blog for awhile, and since the big launch, a few have asked, so why a blog?  Honestly, after this short lived fame in the blogosphere (see, I'm already down with the lingo), I think there are a few reasons for WHY I decided to venture into this new space. 

• 1. Creativity.  Blogging allows for me to cultivate my ideas regarding healthy living in a fun and thought provoking way.  Even though I feel like I lead a pretty busy life, I still find myself spending WAY too much time on social media.  I am that person that plans to go to bed at 10 and then 11:30 rolls around and I have somehow ended up on my cousin's friend's sister's page.....wait whaaaat?  So why not spend that hour and a half harnessing my creativity and trying to positively contribute to this crazy world of social media?   
• 2. Accountability.  Putting this insane idea on paper was one thing.  Putting it into the world wide web (thanks Al gore) is a completely different thing.  I sometimes forget that when you put something out on social media, there is a good possibility that MOST of your connections are going to see it.  The idea that my friends and family, and acquaintances, and that one random dude I met at Cafe Citron in DC 10 years ago, are going to follow my journey, is a pretty profound thing.  Did it stop me from eating that gluten free cookie tonight?  No.  But did it make me buy a 'healthy option' at the grocery store, I think so.  It definitely pushed me to get some sort of a work out in today (if you remember I was supposed to work out this morning, that DIDN'T happen) and it is making me really think about a balanced life.  
• 3. Speaking my TRUTH.  How fitting that the Golden Globes happened to be right when I was starting this blog.....and that Oprah happened to drop that knowledge bomb about speaking our truth.  If you are like me, you may or may not have needed to google what the hell that meant....don't judge.  So what does speaking your truth really mean?  To me it means that I am finally going to be REAL with myself about my life and my happiness.  It means that its time to get comfortable with the uncomfortable.  I will be the first to say that I live a pretty great life.  I get to wake up each morning and go to a job where I feel like I am really making a difference.  I have an amazing support system near and far.  75% of the time I am #livingmyBESTlife.  But what about the other 25%?  Am I letting that 25% hold me back from being the best version of myself?  I don't know.  But this year we are going to find out, and I can't really believe that I'm letting you all in on this crazy journey, but I am READY! 

xo

Sara 

Cuban Coffee, check!  Cobb Salad, check!  Cheers to Sarita en 360 

Day 3: The New Sunday Funday

In a not-so-distant past, Sundays were for brunching and boozing.  Unlimited mimosas?  Why not!  A quick afternoon dance party with my favorite people?  Yes please.  Sunday Fundays were FUNNNNN, and while I still love a good Sunday Funday here and there, the reality was that Monday was generally a double struggle.  1.  You are already dealing with the fact that you are at work and not twirling about town, but on top of that, 2. you are HUNGOVER!  When I started grad school last year, I went from having two days to leisurely recover from the work week, to one.  Sunday Fundays all of a sudden didn't seem so fun anymore.  

Lately, my Sundays are looking MUCH different, and I'm ok with that.  I generally try to go for a run outside (high five for #livingwhereyouvacation) in the am, and then run errands, get my life together, and work on homework the rest of the day.  The biggest thing I try to do on Sundays, to set me up for success for the rest of the week, is to meal prep.  I try to pick a few meals that I can eat for lunch and dinner throughout the week.  This allows for me to stay on track of eating healthy, and it also forces me to plan out my meals in advance.  I just got a new planner from Erin Condren, who I LOVE, and added a dry erase wellness planner, check it out below.  While things will come up here and there throughout the week, this wellness planner will also help me to stay on track of my fitness activities and makes me think about any meetings/events/activities I have in the evenings.

My meals for the week:

1:  Cobb Salad (I made the bacon and hard boiled eggs tonight)

2:  Spaghetti Squash with Turkey Pesto Meatballs (I made the pesto tonight)

3:  Black bean patties w/Guacamole and Mango/Sundried Tomato relish 

Not only did I do the MOST with meal prepping this evening, but my apartment is free of any remaining articles of Navidad, which is kind of sad, but at the same time, it makes me feel like I am going into the work week, and new year, so fresh and so clean.  Sorry, I'm listening to the Pandora Aaliyah radio station as I type this.....

Check out my pics below from my super Sunday Funday!  

xo

Sara 

My morning run

Breakfast of champions (eggs with spinach, tomatoes and a touch of pesto and turkey maple sausage, oranges and the obligatory la croix.  

Black bean patties with Guacamole and Mango/Sundried Tomato Salsa

Wellness planner....A MUST!

Day 2: GOALZZZZZ

First, I want to say a big GRACIAS to everyone that has reached out with words of encouragement as I step into this wide world of blogging.  Hearing from everyone has made this journey that I am embarking on that more REAL, and in a way, you will all hold me accountable!  I will most likely not be blogging every day (sorry Alexis McBride!) but I do plan to post as much as possible, and please reach out if I go MIA.  

Ok, so let's get down to business.  Tonight's blog post is all about my goals.  I want to talk about where I am right now and where I hope to be in 358 days.  I had my good friend Josh Elmassian (ig:  @jeazye) take some 'before' photos of me today that I will use as the year goes on.  These will help me to see any progress made.  Check out the photos at the bottom of this post.  

So every year, my job has a health fair.  I go each year, review my stats, and leave saying I need to get it together!  For my height (5'7) I am considered obese.....YIKES!  In order to just be considered overweight (baby steps, people!) I need to weigh 191 lbs.  In the next 358 days, my goal is to lose 44 lbs. You can do the math on that one to calculate my current weight.  

Sara, HOW DO YOU PLAN TO DO THIS?  If you recall from my first post (aheemmmmmm did you actually read it?!?!?!) I am trying to live a life of balance this year.  I don't want to completely eliminate all of the fun (bread, cake, cookies, brownies, wine, chips, crackers, cheese, ice cream....get the picture????) but really need to understand what I am putting in my body and if it is contributing to the BEST version of Sarita.  If you also recall from yesterday, I did Whole 30 twice last year.  If you have been living under a rock and haven't heard of it, check out this link:  WHOLE 30 .  I am going to follow a lot of the 'RULES' of the program, like no dairy, or grains, but also understand that I want to continue to live my life, and in the words of my good friend Honora Javier, I want to be present, and not completely restrict my lifestyle. 

In terms of fitness and physical activity, I want to try new things and push my limits.  This may involve some sort of race, TBD.  Mostly, in this area, I want to make sure that I am doing something every day.  That may mean a morning walk before work, or something bigger, like a 10k (hush to all of you marathon runners out there, an 8k is the most I've ever done!).  

Finally, while food and fitness are SUPER important on this adventure, I need that HEALTHY mind as well.  I am going to attempt to do some sort of meditation each day.  This may be the hardest part, as I am NOT good with sitting with my thoughts.  You know what they say, a healthy mind is a healthy, wait, I actually don't know what they say about that......

xo

Sara 

January 6, 2018

Day 1: Here we go!

Today is the day......aka shit is getting real.  Are you allowed to swear on a blog?  Probably best not to do it in the first sentence.  Ewwwwwps......ok let's move on. 

Why am I doing this?  I've been talking about doing a blog for FOREVER.  My friends have begun to roll their eyes and tune me out when I start to talk about it.  I figure now is the time!  I am 34 years old, living in Miami, Florida, and for the most part, I really am #livingmybestlife.  I have a great job and I feel like I am pretty solid contributor to society.  I am also getting my MPA (casual, I know) in my spare time.  Every year I try to evaluate my life and think about how I can continue to grow.  Last year I started grad school, and faced my fear of the dentist (seriously....thanks Dr. Herrera at Gateway Dental!).  I also did two rounds of Whole 30 (I'll get into that later) which I really loved.  As 2018 inched closer, I thought about what I could do this year to really pull out all of the stops.  I mean, when I go big, I like to go BIG!  So I thought about my life, and where I want to be in a year.  I have a great job, my teeth are no longer crumbling out of my mouth, WHAT is next? 

I have struggled with my weight for most of my life.  I am a pretty active person and try to work out more days than not. I eat healthy most of the time, but am still considered obese by my doctors standards.  I say all of this to say, that this year, 2018, I am embarking on 360 days of health and wellness.  Does that mean I am swearing off gluten?  No.  Does that mean I am swearing off alcohol?  No.  What does it mean?  It means that I am going to consciously choose to live a healthier life, physically, emotionally, and mentally.  But Sara, what is the point?  Do you have a goal?  My goal is to adopt a lifestyle that works for me.  I want to be able to go out with friends for wine night, or have a pizza party here and there, but I want to make sure that I am living in moderation and really sticking to that whole 80/20 mantra.  So Sara, why the hell would I follow your blog?  I'll be sharing those good good healthy recipes, talking about new fitness activities, and also sharing how I am able to be #funSara in a world of moderation.  Also, I'll have a few friends join me along the way to share their #bestlife inspirations.  Are you hooked yet?  

Stay tuned as I set some #goals and share my plan for how I plan to tackle this next year of LIVING.  

xo

Sara