a healthy balance

I’m glad I decided to go I my cousin’s high school graduation! It feels good to have a big group of family greet you =)

Panorama Trail in Yosemite was simply amazing.

Hiking Panoramic Trail to Glacier Point and make to Yosemite Valley. 11 miles round trip, including a grueling and steep 4 miles down hill, peak elevation of 7214 ft. It was an amazing experience with waterfalls, rivers, and some of the best views in the world. But views don’t come easy!

Hey everyone I’m hiking in Yosemite this weekend! Scrambled through an old rock slide yesterday and today my group is doing Nevada Falls, pizza (I hear theres salad and light cheese options) at Camp Curry, and star gazing in the meadows!

My hiking friend Edward, the photographer, artist, student gov member, newspaper editor, all-around-nice guy extraordinaire who helps keep his college running! 

Dry Fall Trail, Death Valley 

This was one of the best parts of my camping trip! My PE instructor (pictured) really changed my perspective towards the outdoors. Before, I would assume that something like this wasn’t doable. But now, I’m always considering what would be cool to explore and what’s just a little further in. I’ve began to look at nature differently and with more excitement. 

I always carry water with me on any run over 4 miles and during all hikes. Your body functions better when it’s hydrated so keep taking in small amounts of water throughout your workout. When I go on long runs (ran 14 miles yesterday), I drink about 1 liter of water and staying hydrating keeps my body and mind going strong. You’ll feel more motivated, refreshed, and stronger if you keep hydrated during any workout (especially if it’s outdoors). I also have a water belt and running water bottle that I’ll post about soon! 

Happy Monday everyone, start the week with vigor! 

P.S. Yeah, I know you’re jealous of my amino acid water bottle ;-) 

I think spending time outdoors is a perfect date. But keep up your cardio so you won’t slow anyone down! One of the perks of being fit is that people want to include you in their physical activities. They’ll invite you hiking, camping, running, play sports, etc. You remember in high school when you felt cool if athletic guys would pick you to be part of their PE team? I don’t. lol. 

This caption is bad. BUT the jist is that keep training and getting stronger so you can go out with people and have a great time! Also, look how cute the college couple I met camping are?!! <333 

Hi everyone, I just wanted to share with you something that makes me smile everyday. This is my favorite tree in the world which I admire everyday on my walk to class. There’s more patches of orange day after day. Seeing this once a day is enough to lift my spirits. Doesn’t take much. 

Sometimes the person we want to be seems so far out of reach. But really, you don’t have to wait at all to be that person. From the minute you wake up, do things that this stronger, healthier version of yourself would do. Then, you already are who you want to be defined as.

Try running at dusk when the sky changes around you. I was even able to see a group of doe on my 5-6ish mile run today =)

Don’t worry so much about a setback or a crappy outcome! I tell myself, “Hey well, you win some, you lose some.” Just get yourself out there, apply for a lot of positions, find out more information, and do your best!

I got bad news from my favorite med school and was a little shaken and discouraged…I was thissss close to skipping working-out. But exercise is the BEST thing (next to talking to your mom) when you’re frustrated or upset. Despite it being late in the day and about to get dark in less than an hour, I decided “The hell with it, I’ll just get it out of my system.” So I did hill repeats to feel alive and energized again! Sprinting hills »> punching a pillow/crying/complaining.

And what do you know?

After I was done, I received an email telling me I got into the other school I LOVED! The very same school that was my screen-saver 4 years ago lol (yes I’m crazy, but I thought you already knew that?)

I just wanted to share with you how exercise helps me cope with life and not just physical appearances =)

One of the best things about being home is all the fruit we buy for special Buddhist days and for our meditation room. Here we see navel oranges, grapefruits, honey tangerines, and of course the crown pineapple! Or in other words…lots of Vitamin C to boost collagen production for healthy, supple, elastic skin!

Mother-daughter bonding moment: harvesting persimmons from our grandpa neighbor’s tree…hehe 

I’ve never had a persimmon before, but lucky for me, my neighbor’s tree branches over to my side of the yard! hehe But wow, do you have to wait a long time for Fuyu persimmons to ripen (hence the patience quote). They have to be jelly soft before you can eat them or else they are too sticky to swallow. 

I know you’ve been working-out hard & trying your best to form healthy habits all month, and it just takes some patience to see definite results! Give yourself a break once in a while. Just strive to do at least one thing better each day! 

So what did you do better today? For me, I had a protein filled breakfast that wasn’t too big. 

Cheers!

~Geraldine