When I need something quick, easy, high-volume, and macro-friendly, this is one of those meals that saves me. Nothing fancy, just using what I already had and making it work. Ingredients: 2 packs kelp noodles — 592 grams total 1 pack Trader Joe’s Garlic Shiitake Green Beans — 301 grams Costco Mediterranean-style chicken skewers — 352 grams Hoisin sauce — 16 grams Fish sauce — 11 ml How I made it: First, I prepped the kelp noodles. I already shared how I prep kelp noodles in my other “Recipes” post, so follow that step first. In a non-stick pan, I stir-fried the 301 grams of Trader Joe’s shiitake green beans with the 592 grams of kelp noodles. I added a little water so the noodles didn’t dry out. If you have chicken broth, use that instead for extra flavor and a little added protein. While that was cooking, I air-fried the Costco Mediterranean chicken skewers, 352 grams total, at 400 degrees for 14 minutes. Once the noodles and green beans were almost done, I added 16 grams of hoisin sauce to the pan. Right before turning off the heat, I added 11 ml of fish sauce, gave everything a good stir, and turned off the fire. Then I cut up the chicken skewers and added them on top. This made 5 servings: Calories 140 Carbs 8 gr Protein 17 gr Fat 3 gr Simple. Fast. Easy. Meal prep friendly. This is one of those meals that reminds me eating on plan doesn’t always have to be complicated. Sometimes it’s just about throwing together easy ingredients, making it taste good, and keeping yourself prepared.

Today didn’t go exactly as “planned,” but I still showed up. Normally Sunday is my full body strength day at 24 Hour Fitness, but after playing racquetball in Sacramento, my shoulders are still feeling the aftermath. Old me probably would have pushed through, ego-lifted, and told myself to just get it done. But current me knows better. I knew if I forced heavy weights today, I could turn a small irritation into an unwanted injury and that would only keep me out of my routine longer. So instead, I went to F45 since today was more of a slow-paced resistance workout. I still had to modify a few shoulder movements because I could feel my body saying, “not today, girl.” 😂 But the win is this: I didn’t quit on myself. I didn’t use discomfort as an excuse to do nothing, but I also didn’t ignore my body just to prove a point. I adjusted, modified, and still got my strength work in a way that made sense for where my body was today. Recovery is not just physical. It’s a mindset shift. Sometimes being thrown out of routine is frustrating, but it is also an opportunity to practice listening, adjusting, and moving smarter. Progress isn’t always about lifting heavier or doing the exact workout written on paper. Sometimes progress is knowing when to pull back so you can keep moving forward. Today’s reminder: modifying is not failing. It’s training with wisdom. 💪✨

Not a fitness related story but I thought I’d share it. Taking walks in nature can be relaxing and beautiful. But with these constant weather changes (rain,hail,heatwave) the insects are going crazy!😜 I got stung on my last walk 🪰 and although I don’t have any allergies my skin reacts pretty badly. When my mom saw me, she told me to walk other ways and stop scratching as it would eventually leave scars behind. My impromptu respond, I will continue to walk that path because it has hills, even if I get stung or end up with scars, at least I will still have sexy, formed legs at 70! 🤣🤣🤣 Remember it’s always a matter of perspectives. A bad situation might be a good one from a different viewpoint!

My oldest son surprised me today and asked me to help him loose weight because he is tired of being fat. He weighs 250 lbs at 17 years old! I told him I would do my best to help him. But he has to really want it and work for it. We have to replace his habits with new ones. He will need to include movements in his day and change skipping meals and snacking late at night. He agreed. 👍 We will start right away. It will be an interesting time. I might have him join Skool so he can get all of your helpful advice and information.

Yesterday during our team meeting at work, we were talking about the weather and one of my coworkers shared that since she lives in Arizona, she doesn’t get out much because of the heat. Then she gave me the sweetest shoutout. She said “Because of LENA who told me about Lifetime Gym she was the one who convinced me to join her dream gym” 🙈. She shared how much she enjoys the facility and said it has been one of the best investments she has made for herself. It may seem small to some people, but for me, I truly took it to heart. The way her eyes and face lit up while she talked about the gym experience made me so happy. She described it as this luxurious wellness space, and my other coworkers were intrigued because it sounded more like a resort than a gym. 😂 This reminded me that sometimes we don’t realize the impact we have on people just by sharing our own journey. I didn’t force her. I didn’t push her. I simply shared what has helped me, and somehow that planted a seed for her to invest in herself too. That is a big win in my heart. Fitness is not just about what we do for ourselves. Sometimes our consistency gives other people permission to start caring for themselves too. 💪✨