So many people this week have told you - "You are so brave for traveling on your own. I could NEVER do that!" Which is so funny to me because I NEVER used to travel and the thought of airplanes, airports and going it alone was TERRIFYING to me. Yes...here I am. 

But I have to confess. I'm really not that brave. 

I never used to travel. Like...at all. A trip when growing up was car trip with my mom and my dad. I only recall flying ONCE while growing up and I was three years old. So ... honestly I don't remember! We did make a trip to Disney World when I was in third grade and you guessed it - we drove. THREE days. Long days. Please remember that I grew up in Minnesota. Florida isn't exactly a day trip... 

In the past few years I have become much braver - I've been to Nashville, Dallas x 2, Punta Cana, Arizona and now New Orleans - So I'm pretty sure I've traveled more in the past three years than I have in the 20 some years before that! So what has changed...

and no this isn't a post to make you feel bad or shameful for all of those fourth of July treats and cocktails! Because if you know me at all ... you know I love those too!

I've recently been diving into more and more research on brain health and gut health and it amazes me how intertwined they are! I'm making my way through this book by neurologist Dr. David Perlmutter called Brain Maker - and although it's heavily science based...I'm really having  hard time putting it down! He discusses various nutritional and environmental factors that either help or hurt your brain and gut health - I thought I would just mention one common theme found ALL over in the book...Sugar.

It's the season and weekend for all things America! Time for lake time, bbqs and enjoying favorite summer treats and time spent with friends and family. With so many ideas (you can thank Pinterest and Bloglovin' for that) I'm having a hard time deciding! Maybe you can help?

So I totally started this post on Monday - so  the title was appropriate then...but hello Tuesday! haha oh well! Our local diner used to have Shaky Mondays...buy one get one free and all the crazy flavors...even been to Kroll's? Any way - I get asked a LOT about my opinion on nutritional shakes, protein shakes, etc - so hey - why not face it head on?

Eats, Treats, Thoughts, Reads and Activities from the past week!

Highly recommend the book Bullet Proof by Dave Asprey - as I have been reading it and have MORE on the list! Here are a few things I have learned about brain health, gut health and nutrition thus far!

I'm not afraid to admit that I'm totally a perfectionist and STILL working on overcoming it. I always want to be the best, achieve the best, be at the highest of my ability and of course anything SHORT of any of that has to be a failure. Ok. So in real life that just isn't true...but sometimes it definitely still feels that way.

But I'm a fitness coach. Aren't I suppose to be GO GO GO and giving it my all 150% in my workouts each and every day? Aren't I supposed to be "hard core."? Aren't I supposed to be PERFECT in my eating habits too? Am I not supposed to be PUSHING you to go HARDER, GO FASTER, STRONGER?

Maybe that is the style of some coaches. But I'm going to be openly honest with you guys and share something that might be surprising. I do NOT do a workout every day. Whoa. What? and to be honest...I don't know that that is the healthy way for YOU to go about it either... Whoa...say what?

Some weekend randomness in eats, shopping and outdoor adventures!