How do you see yourself: do you have a set amount of gifts that you were given or can you improve upon your innate talents? If you see yourself as a passive participant in life, you may let opportunities for growth pass by. On the other hand, if you view yourself as an active participant, you are more likely to capitalize on experiences that allow for growth and improvement.
Mindset : Experience Life Magazine.
There are some days where I should have a great run: my legs are fresh, I’m rested, my breathing is clear, and the weather is perfect. Yet, on some of these days, each step is a supreme effort and my body, which was feeling powerful moments before, feels like a car with no power steering.
There are some days where I should have a tough run; my legs are fatigued, I’m tired, I’m wheezy or congested, and the weather is either freezing and windy or hot, humid and still. Yet, on some of these days, I fly through the run, aware of my body executing each step almost effortlessly.
The determining factor in the run is not the physical (rest, fatigue) nor the external (weather). The critical component is my mindset at the outset. If I begin with the thought that the run is something to get through or the fear that I may not make my distance and/or time goal for the day, I struggle with the effort. However, if I go into the run accepting the current state of things and just looking to explore what I am capable of, I often surprise myself with what I can accomplish.
Think about how you approach different challenges or even each day in your life. Are you “getting through” or “exploring what can be”? What is your mindset at the outset?
Inspired by the recent study that supports dessert for breakfast for weight management, I decided to make carrot cake oatmeal for breakfast this week. I released the search engine elves on the task and discovered this recipe, which fit what I was looking for. I tweaked it slightly, adding 3 scoops of vanilla whey protein and 3 tbsp of reduced fat cream cheese. I topped the final result with walnuts. It would also be awesome with brown sugar, raisins, dates, or coconut. It’s the best of both worlds: dessert and a healthy breakfast!
For lunch, I opted for a green and black theme. The main dish is Black Bean, Zucchini, & Olive Tacos from Appetite For Reduction. I love the unexpected kick this gets from the kalmata olives and salsa verde. I serve it with nonfat Greek yogurt for extra protein and raw spinach, because I believe one can never have enough greens. 
My lunches are usually veggies with a side of veggies. For the side, I decided to make one of my favorites: roasted cruciferous veggies. This recipe is best done in the cooler months due to the heat of the oven and the availability of the produce. Since we are in the last few cool weeks of the year, I just had to make this dish.
I combined the following in a large bowl: 
1 lb brussels sprouts, halved
1 head cauliflower, chopped
1/2 onion, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbsp raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
salt and pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
I mixed the ingredients and then baked on a cookie sheet at 400 degrees for around 40 minutes, mixing occasionally. I then topped the veggies with 3 tbsp of shredded parmesan and put back in the oven for an additional 3 minutes. I love the sweet, garlicy goodness of this so much that I end up snacking on it while I pack it into containers for my lunch!
Finally, I am in the mood for some dessert this week. Yes, I know. Carrot cake oatmeal and dessert? Yup.
I made this chocolate chia pudding to complement the strawberries I found on sale. I did not add any sweetener, as I prefer to jsut let the sweetness of the fruit stand alone. A perfect way to end the meal and a way to make me actually look forward to Monday!
As you can see, my dog has mastered the rest day. I, on the other hand, am still learning.
I am most familiar with the concept of a rest day as it relates to exercise; don’t work the same muscle group on consecutive days and build in at least one day a week with little to no vigorous activity to let the body rest and heal. I used to completely ignore this advice. After all, if 5 days in the gym is good, then 7 is better, right? My younger body let me get away with that, but it has now decided to not be so forgiving. If I push too hard for too long without a respite, I get sick. Injured. Anxious. Irritable. Sleepless. And, the progress in the gym or on the running trails stops or even reverses. My body simply throws itself on the ground like a three year in the midst of tantrum and says, “I refuse to go any further.”
Without rest, that is.
The mind needs rest too. It’s protestations can be more subtle than the body’s: general malaise, feeling down, irritability, uncontrolled eating, trouble sleeping. All of those can be signs that you have been pushing too hard for loo long without a respite. Even when in crisis mode, it is critical to take a breather every now and again. Sometimes the most growth occurs when we back off a bit and simply take a rest day.
Lessons From the End of a Marriage 