My Inner Shakti

finding strength in everyday things

Five on a Friday

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It’s been a week, y’all! A good week but a tiring one. That’s mostly due to the fact that I got the latest Covid vaccine and the flu shot on Monday. I didn’t end up feeling horrible or anything like that…just worn out. Butttt…glad to be protected!

In other news, Kaiden’s going on his very first field trip today! I’m so excited for him to have all of the experiences I loved as a kid. I can’t wait to see him after school and hear all about it, or whatever I can get out of him at least!

Now, on to my five on a Friday…

ONE – The Book of Joy

I LOVE this book so much! It’s a simple read in many ways, but it’s also so profound. The way the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu break down the concept of joy is honestly…fun to read. If you’re looking for a non-fiction book that makes you think, feel, laugh, all while making you feel more connected to your fellow human beings, this one is for you.

TWO – The One You’re With

In terms of fiction books, this one was a favorite of mine. I honestly can’t pinpoint exactly why, but it just sat well with me if you know what I mean. The characters, the plot, the twists…all of it came together in a way that just made sense. Again, highly recommend this one too!

THREE – Charades for Kid

Kaiden got this game for his birthday, and he played for the first time when my BIL/SIL visited a few weeks ago. EVERYONE, Kaiden + adults in the house, LOVED it. It made us laugh, forced us to be silly and creative, and made time fly! This is also a great game for kids who need to move. Sometimes, I find that the games/activities where K has to sit for a while don’t capture his attention as much. In that sense, this game is perfect for him. Get it, have fun with your family, and thank me later.

FOUR – 100 piece puzzles

Kaiden got a really cool 64 piece puzzle for his birthday that he completed recently. After seeing him working on it, I bought this 3 pack of 100 piece puzzles for an added challenge. It’s also true that I love puzzles, so this is a fun activity for us to do together. For us, puzzles are challenging and engage our problem solving, and they’re also calming and fun.

FIVE – Kaiden’s profound thought

The other morning, Kaiden and I were brushing his teeth, and I said, “Ok K, after we’re done here, let’s head downstairs to eat breakfast and do your homework (he didn’t finish it the night before).” In retort, he said, “Mommy, I can’t do both at once. I need to do one at a time.”

That hit me hard because, even though I know I shouldn’t, I’m a big multitasker. Kaiden is a lot like me in some ways, but this is one way he definitely isn’t. He’s more intentional and slower. And while he’s still working on his ability to focus (especially on homework), he is able to focus on one thing at a time. It’s annoying sometimes when you want him to move along, but it’s something I deeply admire about him.

So profound and he doesn’t even know it!

That’s all I’ve got today! I hope you have a great Friday and weekend.

Postpartum Fitness – Building Strength with Peloton

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While I’ve always known how important strength training is, I now see how I went about incorporating it into my workouts kind of wrong…at least in terms of my goals. I was definitely someone who loved (and sometimes still do) sweaty workouts that leave me 100% breathless (i.e. cardio). But that is changing…

Recently, I’ve been thinking about my long term health goals, and I recognize that strength training definitely needs to take a top spot in my plan. In all honesty, after visiting California to see my grandparents, it hit me that my future would likely include a lot of muscle/joint pain if I don’t get serious about my physical health. My grandmother, mom, and aunts all have some kind of pain, and while they’re strong women overall, they definitely didn’t focus on their fitness over the years, especially not strength training. Something I can learn from and change for myself.

A couple of notes first:

  • I’m almost one year postpartum. I restarted my workouts around week 6 (maybe 8…can’t remember!) with basic total body strength workouts, cycling classes, and lots of walking and general movement (I don’t sit much during the day).
  • I don’t weigh myself regularly. I did for a while after having Mila and up until a few months ago, but I find the scale deceptive. I may jump on every now and then, but I’m not measuring my progress with it at all.
  • I use Peloton to program my workouts, but you can use whatever you want. If you love running, make that your cardio workout. If you want a free way to include strength training in your routine, go check out BodyFit by Amy on YouTube. She’s amazing! My point is you don’t have to do what everyone else is doing. I 100% subscribe to the belief that fitness and health should be simple and affordable.
  • You may find that strength training burns less calories than cardio, and while that may seem to be true from a purely calories burned in the moment perspective, you have to look at what’s happening from a higher level. Check out this article for more information.
  • It took years of hard work to let go of the belief for me that thin is best. I’ll share more another time, but I’m at a point where strength, mobility, and flexibility are absolutely key. If you don’t have those things, life is going to get difficult at some point whether you’re thin or not, so I’m trying my hardest to build a routine that gives me those three things in abundance.

Current Routine

In terms of my current routine, here’s the breakdown of what a typical week looks like for me…

MONDAY: 20 min upper body workout (sometimes arms and shoulders, sometimes chest and back) + 10 min HIIT workout

TUESDAY: 20 min lower body workout + 10 min core workout

WEDNESDAY: 30 minute cycling class (usually something more challenging like HITT + Hills, a climb ride, or a tabata ride) + 5 minute post-ride stretch

THURSDAY: rest

FRIDAY: 30-45 minute total body workout + 5-10 minutes of total body stretching

SATURDAY: 30 minute cycling class (usually something more fun than intense)

SUNDAY: rest

The biggest change with this routine versus what I did in the past is that I split up the upper and lower body workouts and then cap off with total body. I used to do two total body workouts every week, but this allows for more focused strength, and I’m loving the way it makes me feel.

Changes I’ve Seen So Far

I’ve been at this routine since the end of July, and I’m starting to see changes now.

Firstly, my overall strength is increasing. I know this because I’m able to use heavier weights for certain moves that I couldn’t before. Also, my core strength has like tripled. This in no way means I have a six-pack (definitely don’t!), but I can now do core moves that had to be modified before. I can also take a 10 minute class and complete it without any breaks. #smallwins And finally, I am seeing more muscle definition now in my legs and arms, which is so cool. The other day, Vishnu said, “Your triceps look good, Par.” Best compliment ever!

Another change I’ve experienced that’s kind of new to me is that I’m hungrier than ever now. Will talk about my nutrition in a minute, but I’m having to be extra mindful because when that hunger strikes, I’m still eating healthy, but it’s all over the place.

Nutrition plans

This is where I really have a lot of work to do. I eat healthy foods, I make healthy foods, I buy healthy foods, but I eat them in bigger quantities. Sometimes it’s justified I think, but most of the time it’s probably not.

I don’t follow a particular diet (dislike the word itself in that context), but there are a few habits I’m building in to help me be better in this area.

  • Drink 120 ounces of water a day
  • Eat protein forward meals
  • Meal plan (dinner for everyone but every meal for me)
  • Salads for lunch at least 4-5 times a week
  • Practice the pause before eating (am I really hungry or am I bored?)
  • Plating everything (especially for snacks)

Do you strength training regularly? What’s the biggest benefit you’ve seen?

Weekend Roundup – Paw Patrol, Celebrations, Football

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Ok guys, I know I’ve said this before and then left things hanging, but I’m really trying to get better about blogging here. This space used to be my everything, and understandably in the past few years, it’s fallen off my priority list. However, as I was running errands this morning, I was thinking about the things that bring me true joy, and MIS is definitely one of them. And with IG feeling like an abyss right now, good old fashioned blogging sounds so fun and refreshing. Finally, I still LOVE to go back and read old posts. In a way, this space is really my portal into the past, and I want to say that years from now as well.

Anyways, to make an already long idea short…I’m going to try my hardest to be a semi-regular blogger again!

With here’s a roundup of weekend, which ended up feeling both packed and spacious at the same time somehow!

FRIDAY

Friday was a typical weekday, however, I did make some delicious black bean burgers by Vegan Richa that the whole family enjoyed. I ended up making bowls for me and Vishnu with some quinoa, salsa, sour cream and cheese, and for the kids, we did quesadillas (always a fav).

I honestly can’t remember what we did after putting the kids to bed. Vishnu was on call on Saturday, so I’m pretty sure he got in bed a little after me.

SATURDAY

Like I said, Vishnu was on call on Saturday (in his case this means he goes into the hospital for a 7a-4p shift (but usually it’s more like 7a to 5:30/6p)).

Kaiden, Mila and I enjoyed a slow morning. And then around noon, my BIL and SIL came to pick up K and take him on an adventure of a lifetime! My BIL got tickets to the Paw Patrol Live show. You guys have no idea how much fun Kaiden had. He was living out his wildest dreams – Marshall, Chase, Ryder and the gang along with a side of cotton candy!

Later, my dad came over, we ate dinner (one of my favorite chole recipes!), and then after putting the kids to bed, Vishnu and I headed to a close friend’s 40th birthday party.

The party was so fun. We really did luck out with our group of friends. There’s never a shortage of laughter and fun conversation. And the taco bar was on point too – #chipsandquesoforlife!

We didn’t go to bed until about 1:15 so there’s that…and of course, K was up at 6:20 am. I got him to lay in bed with us until about 6:50 but even that was pushing it!

SUNDAY

So yeah…Sunday started early and with very little sleep!

Regardless, it ended up being a fun (and full) day.

I signed our family up for a local organization that plans cultural events and classes throughout the year, and the first class after signing us up was one about the flavors of India. So Kaiden and I headed there around 10 am. I wish I could tell you he had a blast and warmed up to the experience quickly. Neither of those things happened, but I’m glad we joined because it’s so well run and everyone was so kind. AND, as we’ve learned over the past year, our kid takes time to get used to new things. There’s nothing wrong with that…we just have to help him through it. I’m happy we have ample opportunities to do just that.

After we got home, Kaiden ate a snack and then we headed to our friends Jay and Chitra’s house or lunch and football. It was the Falcons opening game, which they lost…boo! But it was fun and entertaining watching the kids run around and be crazy!

Once we got home, I quickly pulled dinner together, and we got the kids ready for bed. Vishnu and I stayed up a little bit to talk, but I was definitely passed out by 9:30.

Like I said, we had moments of free time and space to just hang out, but the days felt very full in mostly good ways!

Girls Weekend in Asheville

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A couple of weeks ago, I went to Asheville with six of my girlfriends, and it was an absolute blast! We laughed, we talked, we ate, and we slept. Glorious!

In addition to it being a girls’ weekend, we were also celebrating two of our friends 40th birthdays! So this was an extra special trip!

We chose Asheville because it’s a short (ish) drive from Atlanta. There’s great food. And if you’re into it, the hikes and natural beauty of the city and surrounding area are majestic!

Also, and maybe most importantly, the spa at The Omni Grove Park Inn is quite spectacular. We thoroughly enjoyed our half day of hanging out and getting massages.

Where We Stayed

We stayed at The Omni Grove Park Inn because that’s the only way to access the spa right now. The property itself was beautiful and definitely had a lodge feel to it. The grounds are also well kept and really pretty. The rooms were just ok in my opinion. They felt a little outdated, but they were clean and sometimes that’s all you can ask for! I will also say that this hotel has quite a lot of original features – paintings, memorabilia, and even elevators that are manned by someone. It was a fun experience overall!

What We Did

Biltmore Estate – As soon as we arrived in Asheville we had lunch and then. headed straight to the Biltmore Estate for a wine tasting. Priorities! We then drove over to the Biltmore House and walked around the gardens before dinner.

A quick note – if you want to see more of the Estate, plan to spend 6-8 hours on the property. We didn’t have that kind of time, so we chose a couple of things and stuck to those.

A hike – There are so many beautiful hikes of all levels in and around Asheville. We wanted something low key and chill that got us out of the hotel and moving. We hiked Richmond Hill Park and enjoyed it. It’s not the most scenic hike but it was enjoyable. Definitely do your research and get out there if you can.

The Omni Grove Park Inn Spa – This spa experience is what our whole trip revolved around. We checked in around noon on Saturday and left at 5:30-6pm. It was just the medicine each of us need to feel pampered and relaxed. We indulged in most of the spa’s pools and rooms (re: sauna, etc.). We also each got an amazing massage, that if I do say so myself, was the highlight of the trip (well, the whole spa experience)! If you’re staying at the OGPI, definitely don’t skip the spa!

Elaine’s Piano Bar – Elaine’s is located in the OGPI, so it was an easy after dinner activity…and fun too! There was plenty of space, and the two pianists were a blast to watch as they dueled their way through different songs. And while you can put in requests, I will say that most of the music fell on the country side of the spectrum, so don’t expect anything too wild and crazy!

Where We Ate

White Duck Taco Shop – Tacos of all kinds (vegetarian options were plentiful), delicious and refreshing drinks, and lots of fun sides to indulge in too. I especially liked the low-key, fun vibe of this place. 100% felt like we were in Austin (one of my favorite foodie cities!). Definitely time your visit right because the lines can get long at peak times.

Plant – This was one of my favorite meals of the trip. Plant is a vegan restaurant that serves delicious, fresh, and unique dishes that anyone and everyone will love. HIGHLY recommend checking this place out. Oh and don’t skimp on the dessert – it was DELICIOUS!

Curate – I wanted to love Curate but honestly found it mediocre. The menu includes a good number of vegetarian tapas, however, the food was nothing to write home about. It was good but not great. One positive thing – you can’t beat the location – right in the heart of DT Asheville.

RosaBees – Rosa Bees was one of my favorite brunch experiences EVER! It’s a Polynesian restaurant so definitely didn’t know what to expect, but everything we ordered was scrumptious! The egg dishes were perfectly balanced, the biscuits were buttery and so soft, the banana French toast was sweet, dense and dessert like, and the drinks were super refreshing. HIGHLY recommend making a reservation here.

And now I miss my friends and our fun weekend in Asheville! I hope this is helpful if you ever visit the city and need help planning.

What’s Always in Your Kitchen?

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My favorite blog, Cup of Jo, shared a post about the five items that are always stocked in the kitchen. And that got me thinking about my own kitchen and the things you’ll find in it 99.9% of the time.

Before I share, I will say that it’s super interesting to hear other people’s responses and find new ideas. I scrolled through the CoJ’s comment section on this post for a quite a bit and got some great ideas for new foodie items.

Please excuse our unorganized fridge. I actually hate how it’s designed. I need to clean it out and reorganize. One day soon!

Ok, here are the things that come to mind from my own kitchen right now But I’m not stopping at five items. Sharing a more comprehensive list…

  • Bananas (smoothies, baked good, nice cream, and Mila!)
  • Spinach (smoothies, baked goods, salads)
  • Arugula (salads)
  • Apples (snacking)
  • Berries of some kind (blueberries, raspberries, or more commonly, strawberries)
  • Almond milk
  • 2% milk
  • Eggs
  • Earth Balance vegan butter
  • Enjoy Life dairy-free mini chocolate chips
  • Lily’s sugar free dark chocolate chips
  • Crumbled Feta
  • Block of sharp cheddar
  • Sliced cheese, most likely sharp or medium cheddar
  • Bread of some sort (usually Dave’s)
  • Whole milk Greek yogurt (for Mila mainly)
  • Rao’s pasta sauce
  • Some sort of pasta
  • Rice (2-3 varieties)
  • Soy sauce
  • All kinds of vinegars, hot sauces, oils, etc.
  • Almond flour
  • Cocoa
  • Peanut butter and peanut powder
  • Quinoa
  • Bamba puffs (for Mila)
  • Coffee beans
  • Beans of all sorts
  • Canned tomatoes, canned tomato sauce, and tomato paste
  • Coconut milk
  • Oats

I’m probably forgetting a few things, but you get the gist!

Tell me, if I were to walk into your kitchen on two different days, what would I always find?

Currently – June 2022

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Taking it back to really old school blogging with this post! Sharing a few of my current favorite reads, listens, foods, etc.

Currently reading

I just finished Book Lovers and absolutely adored it! I’m currently reading Every Summer After and really enjoying how the story is unfolding. Two great summer reads!

Currently listening to

Podcasts! And lots of them! But my current favorites are Good Inside with Dr. Becky, We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle, and Healthy in Real Life with the Fitnessista.

Currently eating…

Berries – blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries. Can’t get enough!

Yogurt bowls – Full-fat Greek yogurt, cinnamon, peanut butter, mix of berries, and Purely Elizabeth chocolate hazelnut granola. SO SO SO GOOD!

Egg toast – toasted bread, Greek yogurt cream cheese, fried egg, and Sriracha. Could eat this every day and not grow tired of it!

Currently watching

Believe it or not…nothing! This is Us just finished, and we also finished the Ozarks recently. I’m kind of enjoying our TV free nights (and getting to bed earlier!).

Currently looking forward to

Kaiden’s 5th birthday party and his actual birthday! He’s been talking about it for months, and I’m so excited to celebrate my sweet boy! Five really seems to be a turning point for us. He’s a much better listener, he’s able to communicate in a gentler way (most of the time), and he’s just so so affectionate and sweet (especially with me!). And not to mention some of the things he says…just hilarious.

I’m also looking forward to launching a PODCAST! My friend and fellow coach Amy and I are doing the dang thing and starting a new exciting project together. I can’t wait to share more! The trailer will be up in mid-July and the first episode will be ready for your ears at the end of July. AHHH!

Almost 5 years ago! Can’t believe it!

Currently thinking about

Intrusive thoughts! I have so many tools at my disposal to combat and work through unhelpful thoughts, and yet I find intrusive thoughts so hard to get rid of. These are hypothetical thoughts that take me down rabbit holes that are super dark and grim. Not fun at all.

My currently strategy is to remind myself that everything is ok right now and take as many deep breaths as I need. Any and all strategies take practice and repetition, so I’m working on it. It’s definitely better than it was a few months ago, but I’d like to not even go there if at all possible.

Currently trying

Daily stretching and a nightly sleep meditation. I use the Peloton app for both and absolutely love all the classes. I could definitely use a bit more zen (see above) and these two (almost) daily practices are helping.

Currently dreading

This heat wave we’re experiencing. It is BRUTAL! I used to go for daily walks with Mila round noon, and now we don’t leave the house. It’s super hot and uncomfortable, and I’d definitely need another shower if I attempted outdoor walks right now.

Currently wearing

Joggers and tees of course! But other than that, I found a few comfy summer dresses at Old Navy (dress 1, dress 2, and dress 3) that I’m loving. And I’m also loving the Lululemon stuff I picked up earlier this year and a few weeks ago. Vishnu got me a sizeable gift card for my 37th birthday, but then I got pregnant and decided to wait before buying anything. I’m not a Lulu shopper, so I stuck with basics like leggings, a sweatshirt (can’t find a link) and these really comfortable back in action tees that feel like butter!

Well, that’s all I’ve got for now! Hope you’re all currently doing well!

June 2022 – Happenings and Goals

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How are we almost half way through 2022? And how we been Georgia residents (again) for almost a year? Craziness!

The year is speeding by for many reasons, mostly because we have two kids I think. It’s like what they say. When you’re in the day to day grind, time slows down a little. Then when you step back and take a more macro view, you can’t believe how fast it’s all going!

June happenings

It’s also probably going quickly because we have so many big things happening (and a few that have already happened). For one, my BIL’s wedding was this past weekend! Ya’ll, this wedding was two years in the making (they pushed it forward because of Covid), so it felt extra special. Great fun was had by all! However, by the end of it, Vishnu and I were both ready to get the kids back to a routine! Exhausted doesn’t even begin to describe how we felt.

And next up, specifically this month, we have my sister’s baby shower, which will be so fun! I’m extra excited because my two aunts (mom’s younger sisters) will be in town for it, and it’s been over two years since we’ve seen them (maybe even longer!). I’m in charge of games for the shower, and I have a few good ones ready to go. I’ll share more after this weekend as to not ruin the surprise for my sister and BIL!

After that, Vishnu and I will be headed to Hilton Head for his med school friend’s wedding/receptions. You guys have no idea how excited I am to have 48 hours to relax and know that my kids will be well taken care of (each set of grandparents is taking a kid). On the flip side, I’m also a little nervous because this will be the first time I’ll be away from Mila for more than a night. The first time was when I landed back in the hospital a week after giving birth. I keep telling myself it’ll all be ok. Vishnu and I need this time!

And THEN…we have the main event for June…my little boy’s 5TH BIRTHDAY PARTY! I can’t believe he’s almost 5! This is the first big party we’re having that he’ll actually remember, so I’m super excited. We’re going with a Paw Patrol theme…I’ll share more afterwards. It’s going to be emotional for sure!

Other than that, I’m still wrapping my head around how hot it is already! It’s 90+ degrees in Atlanta most days of the week now! I’ll take this over a Chicago winter any day though. I always say, it’s so much easier to peel layers off versus pile them on!

June goals

  1. Really delve into mine and Chitra’s next book club book – Influence. I actually read this back in 2009 in business school and have been wanting to reread for a while now. Funny side story – I only realized this was the same book after I finished the first chapter. But it’s all good because this book is a great read from a business perspective.
  2. Read a fiction book. Hoping to dig into something when we go to Hilton Head. Saturday during the day is pretty free, so you bet this mama is going to park her butt on a pool chair (hopefully with a beverage in hand) to read!
  3. Find some summery clothes! I have a VERY minimal summer wardrobe since I was pretty pregnant last summer! Need to find some staple pieces stat!
  4. That being said, this month I want to clean out and declutter every closet in our home. The plan is to donate everything that no longer fits/that we no longer need or want. Wish me luck!
  5. I don’t know if this one will get done this month, but I need new professional photos! I found a local photographer so now I just need to schedule the time. This also means I need to get some new clothes for said pictures. So maybe I need to figure out #3 first! I’m ok with pushing this one back to July/August too. We’ll see…
  6. And of course, I’m still going to continue with my forever goals of moving every day (intentional 4-5 times a week), drinking half my body weight or more in water, cutting back my time on social media, meditating daily, and going to bed by 10 pm.

Phew! That’s all I’ve got for now. I hope your June is equal parts fun and chill. Here’s to being almost halfway through 2022!

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