Happy Friday! Even though it is a gloomy mess in NYC and I felt trapped indoors more than I wanted to, it was a blessing to have the time to peruse the web reading some amazing articles on healthy living.
You all inspire and amaze me.
Are you ready for this week’s Breakout Bites? Here we go!
Half Assed, Fully Moronic | Breakfast to Bed
I feel like I lucked out in the friend bank. I have a group of people that surround me that a worthy of bragging about. They make me a better person. Cat talked about surrounding yourself with like-minded people for healthy peer pressure. I couldn’t agree more. There is nothing like a fun night out with friends, but if my gym buddy is waiting for me at the 6:00 a.m. spin class you better believe I’ll be there. Like she said “It’s just that I naturally ended up spending more time with people who share the same passion for health that I have.” We act as our friends act…and I am cool with that! And then she proceeded to tease us with a baked polenta apple which I don’t really think is fair way to start our friendship (aka can I come over RIGHT NOW?).
Why I am Doing #Surviveon35: My Experience with Food Stamps | Mama Dweeb
Ten members of the Fitfluential team are participating in a challenge to survive on $35 of groceries for a week. I am impressed by every single one of them and following their week long journey, but Annie shared an incredibly touching story about why this challenge is important to her. She grew up on food stamps which to her was a normal component of her childhood. Annie shares a bit of insight on what she experienced, how she thinks differently about food and what her mom taught her about living on a food budget that she uses to this day (like buying in bulk and making every ingredient stretch). I can’t thank Annie enough for sharing her story. Could you survive on $35?
Happiness from the Outside In – The Power of the Smile | MyMiBoSo
When you think about living a healthy lifestyle you likely think of your gym pass, eating your fruits and vegetables or drinking your H2O, right? The very insightful Sabrina reminds us that you should pack a smile for your health list too. Sabrina talked about making a conscious effort to let her smile shift her mood because often we fail to smile and don’t realize it’s after effects. Her post impacted me because this week I had a friend tell me I looked grumpy even though I was in a good mood. I instantly took Sabrina’s tips into consideration and felt a burst of goodness flow through my body. Love this: “And since we smile with more than our two lips, I took it a step further and allowed that smile to spread to brighten my eyes, straighten my shoulders, and lift my head just a teensy bit higher.” A smile does wonders for your well-being.
Hidden Agendas – Can they Harm You? | Truth 2 Being Fit
Hiding my problem spots under baggy clothes is a go-to move for me. Who wants to wear tight shirts that highlight your pudgy spots? Jody talked about getting uncomfortable to help lose and maintain weight. Almost all of her points hit home. Part of weight loss is being honest with yourself and pushing past those feelings of being comfortable to make the progress you want. Huge mental boost!
Pumpkin Seed Pesto | The Naked Kitchen
I don’t know about you, but the summer humidity of NYC has me on my hands and knees begging for fall. Besides colored leaves, what says fall better than the flavors of pumpkin? Sarah shared a recipe for pumpkin seed pesto and I am already mentally preparing myself for all the dishes I am going to make with it: veggie pizza, turkey burgers, pesto turkey sandwich and on and on. The addition of such a simple ingredient to change up the entire flavor profile of one of the most versatile sauces is quite genius. Nom, nom, nom.
Who inspired you through their words this week? Any weekend plans? Talk to me below!
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Thank you for the link love! I really want to go read the smiling post. I know a good mood changes an entire day!
Thank you for being so open and honest about the Survive on $35 challenge. It makes me appreciate the food on my table more than ever before. Happy Friday Annie!
Some really great posts. Thanks for rounding them all up for some good reads. Wishing you the best.
Thanks Katie! I hope you enjoy them. There are so many incredibly people and great writing floating around the web so bringing a few together in one post helps! Have a fabulous week.
Talia, you are SO smart, SO generous, and SO all-around awesome!
Thanks for including me in this great line-up, and I loved reading Cat’s post about how friends often help shape our level of activity!
I know that I have booked more hiking and yoga dates than I have dinner dates in the last year, and that’s surely a reflection of how I like to get my body movin’!
Sabrina, you are too kind! Thank you very much for the compliments.
I am honored to include you and your insightful mind in my weekly roundup. You always think of living a healthy lifestyle in a way that pushes past the norm and I love it.
Yoga dates are the best!
aww I’m so touched by Annie’s story! I think so many times we (and I) take for granted what we consider privileges. When in reality, in my opinion, everything we have is a luxury! 🙂 Thank you for sharing girls!
Thanks for sharing these links, great posts! It has been eye opening to watch the whole #surviveon35 project.
I couldn’t agree more! I definitely want to be more cautious of my grocery spending. Knowing they can do it inspires me. Thanks for coming to BSW Courtney!