And here we are

Wow.
I remember when I was a waitress, after a busy Saturday evening or Sunday brunch rush, looking around the restaurant, after we had closed, at all of the empty tables.  Exhausted, my mind still buzzing from balancing the demands 4, 5, 6 different tables.  It was hard to believe everyone had gone home.  I could relax and not worry who had hot coffee, who needed more bread, and could stop looking out of the corner of my eye to see if food was up in the window.
I very much have this same feeling today.
After a fall and winter filled with continuing my education in many different ways, I am finished.  For now.

A quick break down of where I have been:

• September - Teaching 7 days a week to make myself a little more known in the community and raise funds for my Level III Pilates training.  Also a 4 day trip to Austin, TX for training.  While in Austin I hosted my first #poweredbybits Twitter Chat as part of being a brand ambassador for Energy Bits.  If you have never taken part in or hosted a Twitter chat, try it.  You learn a lot and it is a whirlwind of fun.  I had so much activity that I got put in "Twitter Jail" which is technically a great thing!
• October - Teaching 7 days a week STILL!  Every Sunday in October I had the pleasure of teaching Piloxing at the Kansas City Athleta store SO fun!
• November - 3 day trip to Austin, TX for my second weekend of training.  No more Sunday classes, but picked up quite a few Saturday Reformer students.
• December - Studying for and taking my Peak Pilates Comprehensive exam.  This was about a 7 hour day filled with practical and written assessments.  This was also another 3 day trip to Austin, TX.  Oh, and the holidays!  I also had the pleasure of writing a small piece about the Studio On Main for a local publication.
• January - Began the 5 week FastTrac course for New Venture small business owners.  This class met once a week for 5 weeks from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.  Because the class fell on a Tuesday, I would go straight from class to work, working with clients from 5:30 pm until 8:30 pm.  A three hour work day doesn't sound too bad, until you add that to the fact that my brain was on extreme overload from all of the great information in the FastTrac course!
• February - completed the FastTrac course!

And, here I am today.  With "just" my regular work week in front of me.  Don't get me wrong, graduating from FastTrac and becoming comprehensively trained are actually just the very beginning of a brand new chapter in my life and career.  BUT for now, I am going to take just a few days, maybe weeks, to breathe.  And do laundry!  It feels great to be able to sit here at home, enjoy a cup of coffee, blog, dust my mantle and scrub the bathroom.

Keep scrolling to check out some of my favorite pictures from the past few months!

Stay tuned, dear readers.  I am hoping to fill the pages of this blog once more with workouts, recipes and wellness tips just like before.  

What have you been up to so far in 2014?

Did you read about how we almost were zapped into smithereens overnight?  It is always fascinating to sit back and really think about how we are just floating along in space.

xo

Sally

Day one of my Level III training!

Hill Country, I miss you!

Walking near the UT campus.

Powered by Bits at 30,000 feet!

Piloxing fun at Athleta, KC!

Finished my Level III exam and took a short climb to the top of Mt. Bonnell.

Barton Springs Creek

FastTrac!

Glitter folders let them know you mean business.

Matching socks for business partners. Happy accident!

Goin' Uptown

I can't help it, I love all photos having to do with airplanes, airports, etc.

Powered By Bits!

If you are reading this post it hopefully means that you took part in the Energy Bits Powered By Bits Twitter Chat.  If you are just stumbling upon this post on your own, that's fine, too! Welcome!

The topic of my chat was How To Eat Healthy With a Busy Schedule.
Questions about eating healthy are some of the most asked by my students and friends, so it only made sense to chat about it on Twitter.
I work 30-40 hours each week, managing a fitness studio and teaching about 20 classes per week.  This means I am on the go every day and rarely have time to sit down to a traditional one hour lunch break.  Even if I do get a lunch hour, I still like to keep it healthy.  So here, today, I would like to re-post the questions from Twitter and go a little more in-depth with my answers
To check out the Twitter feed simply search #poweredbybits and you can read through all of the questions and wonderful answers!

Question 1:
How do you eat healthy at work?
Answer 1:
I pack fresh cut veggies and fruits, nuts and whole grain crackers. I never head to work or an event without packing a lunch/snack. 
Great re-usable containers are a must.  I love bento-style containers!
My favorite packable meal:
Sliced celery
Carrot sticks
Cherry tomatoes (yellow are my favorite!)
1 Babybel cheese
A scoop of nuts ( I LOVE the Wasabi mix from Trader Joe's!)
Grapes or a Cutie Orange
Multi-grain chips (I love Food Should Taste Good brand)
Sometimes I eat this as my lunch or dinner, all at one sitting, but typically I pick a few to eat throughout my day.

Q2:
The drive home from work can be dangerous.  What are your tips for avoiding drive-thru and gas station fare?
A2:
I always fill my water bottle before I leave for the commute home.  I goal myself to try and drink most of the 24 ounce container during my 25 minute drive.  This helps me to make sure I am getting plenty of water and keeps me from being tempted to stop for a burger or bag of chips.  When I am starving on the drive home I, like most, fantasize about pulling up to a fast food restaurant or running into a convienience store to grab whatever is nearest the cash register to munch on during the ride home.  What I do to keep this from happening is really think about how this will make me feel after I eat it.  Sure, the gooey bean and cheese burrito will satisfy my craving, but I know that I will feel heavy and full in a not-so-great way after I eat it.  I then think about the healthy meal waiting for me at home and how I will feel full in an energized and healthy way after eating that.  The drive home, with my big cup of water, is a perfect time to take a handful of Energy Bits.  The spirulina algae fills me up, revitalizes me and provides me with protein and so much more!

Q3:
Do you allow yourself a cheat day?
A3:
I feel like labeling a day as a "Cheat Day" can cause problems.  I always envision a cheat day as eating everything in site like Cookie Monster.  Taking in an insane amount of bad calories in one day leaves me feeling yucky, inside and out.  So, rather than giving myself a cheat day, or recommending that to clients, I prefer the 80/20 approach.
80% of the week, lets say Monday-Friday, I eat very healthy.  My fresh foods, lean proteins, etc.
20% of the week, lets say Saturday and Sunday, I take a more liberal approach and may have dinner at a Mexican restaurant, an ice cream cone, or split a bag of movie popcorn with my boys.  Notice I used the word "or" not "and".  I try to remain pretty healthy even on my 20% days, but on the other side of that, I hate feeling deprived.  So, if I want a Cobb salad with blue cheese or a chicken salad sandwich on sourdough, I eat it, but I know that my next meal will be less cheat-like.

Q4:
How do you eat healthy when traveling?
A4:
The first thing I do when I am traveling is head to the market.  I pick up fresh veggies and fruits, single-serving packages of nuts or dried fruit and big bottles of water.  This way I know that I will have healthy options.  I pack my purse/bag the same whether I will be wandering around a big city or hiking wilderness trails.  I also allow myself a few extra fun meals or snacks when traveling.  Why deprive myself of a Whattaburger or Rita's Italian Ice that I can't get in my hometown?  When in Rome, right?

Q5:
What is your favorite on-the-go breakfast?
A5:
Sprouted grain toast topped with nut butter and bananas.  And a sprinkle of cinnamon!  Easy to eat during the commute or while sitting and checking emails.  My true, crazy-busy, no time to spare breakfast would be a banana or a Larabar :)

The point of the Twitter chat was to throw out my questions and receive lots of helpful answers, so, if you haven't already tweeted your answers, please use the comment section below to give your answers and tips!

As the host of the Powered By Bits chat I am lucky to get to host a giveaway!
One winner will receive an Energy Bits travel tin filled with 50 spirulina bits!
I just love Energy Bits and Vitality Bits, the fact that they are organic, just one ingredient (algae) with no fillers, chemicals, sweeteners...nothing but the good stuff.
A raisin is a dried grape, a bit is dried algae.  Simple.

Entering to win is easy!  Just post a comment below with your favorite healthy eating tip to be entered.  To gain an extra entry follow @EnergyBits and @forwardfrmheart (that's me!) on Twitter and let me know you did in the comment section along with your Twitter handle.

Good luck!

All readers can head to BitsOfHealth.com to order their very own bag of bits and use the code HEART to receive 20% off of your order!

5 Reasons I Love Energy Bits!

Thanks to Energy Bits and Vitality Bits I have had spirulina algae and chlorella algae as part of my diet for several months now.
These little bits are not a supplement, they are food.  100% dehydrated organic algae.  No side effects, no chemicals, no filler.  Just great algae.  For more info on bits, click here.

I love adding bits to my diet SO much and I am sure I will continue to share, but for today, here are the top 5 reasons that I love Energy Bits:

1.  I never worry about being hungry.
I deal with low blood sugar and when my blood sugar is low, I start to feel "not real."  This triggers my anxiety and it just isn't a fun situation.  I try to pack healthy snacks and to make sure to eat small snacks throughout the day.  But you and I both know that it is easy to run out the door without grabbing anything or to get stuck at a ball game or in traffic and being starving.  Thanks to my travel tin of bits I know that I will always have a great source of fuel with me.  I will have 10-20 bits when I am hungry but not in a spot to eat a full meal.  The bits fill me up, regulate my blood sugar, and keep me feeling great until meal time!

2. Plant Protein!
That's right, algae is really high in protein.  All of the bits contain at least 60% protein per serving.  A steak or piece of chicken typically contains 20-30% protein.  So, not only am I getting more bang for my buck, so to speak, I am also getting protein without eating an animal, something that I am always on the fence about.  So, to all of my vegan and vegetarian friends...you need bits in your life!

3.  I have stamina and energy.
When I have a handful of bits between classes or before a workout I feel great.  It isn't a jittery, crazed feeling like energy drinks, etc, provide.  I just feel great.  You know, that feeling that it's your best workout ever, you aren't tired, you just feel good.  And I love that.  As much as I love a good cup of coffee, I hate feeling nervous or overly energized.  EnergyBits are all natural so it's basically like I sat down to a giant salad, not a giant bucket of chemicals.

4.  My hair, skin and nails are so healthy!
I didn't really pay attention to that part when I was gathering information, but after adding bits to my diet I noticed how strong my nails are now.   And how I don't need to put lotion on my hands, that are normally chronically dry.  And my hair is growing faster, it seems...take a look at my roots if you don't believe me :)  It was an unexpected bonus for me and I am really enjoying it!  I noticed the benefits in less than a weeks time.

5.  They come in handy when I am at work.
A typical shift for me looks something like this:  teach a private Pilates session, teach a group Pilates session, teach a cycle class, teach a yoga class, teach a private session.  With less than 3 minutes between each of those it is difficult to grab a bite to eat and I used to end up starving and feeling horrible.  (See #1)  Thanks to bits I can pop 10-15 in my mouth, sip some water, and I am good to go.  It's a meal in astronaut form!  I don't feel very professional, even if my students understand, munching on nuts or carrots during their warm-up.  It is hard for me to talk, spot, etc.  Energy Bits have allowed me to get past this without starving.

Have you tried Energy Bits or any of the bits line?

Do you have questions?  Let me know!  I love talking about bits and the benefits.
Check out the bitsofhealth.com site, also Google away.  I am a googler and before giving them a try wanted to do as much research as possible.  The only negative I can possibly find or think of on my own is that bits taste like fish food.  But you can swallow them whole, so that negative doesn't really count, does it?  :)  

Forward From The Heart readers get 15% off of their order, just use the code HEART at checkout!

Let's Talk About Algae!

I am really excited to announce that I am a Brand Ambassador for the Energy Bits company.  Energy Bits are dehydrated spirulina algae that come in little tabs.  They are NOT a supplement, they are food.  Supplements, like vitamins, are made in a lab.  Algae is grown, then dehydrated and pressed into a tab or "bit."  It is just like dehydrated apples or bananas.

Energy Bits are organic, non-GMO food.  You can chew them, but most prefer to just swallow them with water as they have an ocean-y taste :)

Algae is 60% protein, whereas meat, like steak, is around 25% protein.  Algae provides iron in a fully absorbable form, entering your system within 2-5 minutes of eating. 

I am attaching a little more about spirulina algae if you are interested.  Please feel free to research it yourself, too.  

I know it sounds crazy, but since adding algae to my diet I have more energy, my skin isn't as dry, my nails are stronger and my constant urge to snack is gone.  Algae is great for managing hunger and aiding in weight loss, too.  One tab = 1 calorie so you can take 10-20 as a meal replacement!

I get asked all of the time what a good snack is to have before a workout.  I now have a solid answer to give.  EnergyBits!  I swallow 10 before I run and I am not overly full but am not hungry at all.  Another 10 post-workout with water and I am hydrated and completely nourished. 

Visit BitsOfHealth.com to see the full line of bits.  They also have chlorella algae, which is better at detoxing the system and strengthening the immune system.  I eat both spirulina and chlorella.

Here is the nutritional information.  As you will see, algae offers a full range of vitamins, minerals and amino acids that you can't get anywhere else as easy for your body to digest.

As a Brand Ambassador I do get financially compensated, however, I am not selling Energy Bits in the traditional way.  I don't have my own inventory, you won't give money to me, you will just go to the website and order EnergyBits, RecoveryBits, SkinnyBits or VitalityBits. MAKE SURE TO USE THE CODE HEART at checkout.  This lets the company know that I am the one that sent you that way AND you will receive 15% off your order!  

I don't put anything into my body without triple researching it and feel so safe with my EnergyBits and I feel so much better!

I have so much more information I could share with you about the Bits of Health brand but I know it's not fun to read lengthy posts.  I will be sharing bits here and there to keep you informed.

Algae really is a perfect addition to any diet, it has been shown to lower blood pressure and to help balance blood sugar.  I used to always fret about my blood sugar dropping while I am out and about, but with a tin full of Bits I don't worry anymore because I will always have a balance source of food with me!

Please feel free to come to me with any questions that you have about Spirulina, Chlorella and the Bits of Health products.

I hope you will give being Powered By Bits a try!