6:15am: Start gym workout by warming up on the eliptical for 5 to 7 minutes. Then work in intervals of 30 seconds hard and one minute recovery. I vary this to make it more interesting for myself. So sometimes it means a higher incline, longer time at a higher heart rate or slowing down. I'll mix up my cardio on any machine from the stairs to rowing to cycling and running. I consider my first hour of exercise time I must get in and the rest of my workout is the body making time that will really have the long lasting changes. So for me that means I want to accomplish an hour of cardio, free weights for 10 to 20 minutes 3 days a week, and about 5 minutes of abs most days.

I have my first appointment with a new trainer tomorrow. He better not give me any grief about being vegan! And I'm excited to learn what I'm missing at the gym!

8:15am: I've already made a smoothie for myself the night before so I'm able to walk into my house, grab and drink! Brendan Brazier's Thrive book taught me about the recovery window after exercise. Brazier says you need something to eat this is easily and quickly assimilated by the body right after exercise. By doing this you are keeping your blood flowing to recover your hard working muscle extremities from your workout and not rushing your blood to your belly for digestion. One hour after your recovery meal you can have your plate of food because your body is ready and able and needs it!

The remainder of my day is not so structured:
I eat about every 2 1/2 hours, play, have internet time, games, meals for my son, classes for him as well and Andy (husband) hides away in his home office to work.

I eat a lot of raw food. Some of my favs are zucchini pasta, raw desserts, smoothies, raw tacos, salads and more! Lately I've been loving a sprouted wheat bagel with Tofutti Cream Cheese, cucumbers and ground black pepper. Yum! I also love Quinoa pasta  with sauce or just tossed with a little extra virgin olive oil and nutritional yeast. I make raw hemp milk in a high speed blender and enjoy raw cereals from One Lucky Duck and Lydia's Organics. I eat apples and a little almond butter, bananas, pears, big bowls of steamed broccoli, kale, chard, and loads of spinach! I make green lemonade with greens, lemon, water and an apple. Oh my I could go on for days about food, I take E3 Live every day, and rotate protein powders like hemp, the Ultimate meal, Vega, and anything that's vegan without soy is fair game! I do eat soy products but I'm trying not to overdo the processed foods. One of my personal food rules is to not drink anything 30 minutes before or after a meal. I find it's helpful with overall digestion.

When I eat this way I feel light and energized, grounded and strong.

I like to watch a little Oprah at night and go to bed because I looooovvvvve sleep and am in bed by about 9:30p. I believe the body needs plenty of rest for recovery and energy. I have an amazing support system in my husband who encourages me to try whatever I fancy and my little boy, Eliot wants to run races with me!