New shoes, new leggings and a new mug for the aftermath of walking in (still) cold weather. This weekend I divided the usual 'long' distance walking into two days - yesterday trying out the shoes and 5,2 km, today 6,8 km. Not enough but enjoyable for the feet! And it's nice with a protein powder without chemicals. Then I dare to warm it up and drink it as a hot choclate 😋

Update from yesterday’s mountain bike adventure with my partner and Patrick… Good news: Patrick made it out safe and sound! 🙌 After his near “I think I’m passing out” moment on the mountain, recovery mode kicked in: - My partner handed him a Fairlife Elite strawberry protein shake + electrolytes 🥤 - Patrick returned the favor and shared his protein bars 🍫 So the moral of the story… Patrick didn’t become Patrick. 😂 But wait… plot twist… After surviving the ride, these two decided the logical next step was to go bike shopping. 🚲 Apparently my partner is now ready for a bike upgrade, and the boys are already planning another Saturday mountain bike ride. Honestly, I’m happy they have each other for these adventures. It gives them some good “boys time”… …and relieves me from being the nagging gym girlfriend for a day. 🤣 Balance in relationships, right? Fuel up. Hydrate. Bring snacks. Don’t become Patrick. Happy Sunday everyone! 🌞💪

This past week humbled me. I’ve been sick for 7 days straight and my goals definitely took a hit. Protein ❌ Steps ❌ Hydration ❌ I tried the whole pharmacy lineup: OTC severe flu medicine, elderberry, zinc, vitamin C… and nothing worked. To make it better… I lost my voice completely. I can barely talk. When I try to speak from my diaphragm it triggers coughing and almost makes me sob. So now I sound like a broken squeaky toy. Recovery has been slow and miserable. Then Friday afternoon… life said, “Let’s add some spice.” I suddenly hear LOUD buzzing coming from the fireplace. At first I thought my sick brain was hallucinating. Nope. I look inside and see about 15 bees flying around like they just signed a lease in my chimney. Sick Lena + bees = panic mode activated. I told my partner: “Grab the duct tape NOW.” We sealed the fireplace like a crime scene so these mad bees wouldn’t come inside. Brain fog was real so I did what any modern human does… Asked ChatGPT for a bee specialist in Fountain Valley. Bee guy shows up between 3–5pm… and by then the bees had already left. Apparently Bee 101: 🐝 Swarms are usually scouting for a home 🐝 If you catch it early they haven’t built honeycomb yet 🐝 Sometimes they just move on So basically… they were house shopping. Fast forward to today — I finally walked into urgent care. Doctor took one look at me and said: “Yep… antibiotics and 3 days off work.” So recovery continues. Moral of the story: Sometimes the universe forces you to slow down. And sometimes… you get sick, lose your voice, AND host a bee open house in the same week. Happy Sunday everyone. Stay healthy and may your week be protein goals — not bee emergencies. 😆🐝

Today I want to share something about mental health and friendship. Someone very close to me wears many hats in life. A mom, wife, daughter, auntie, and so much more. From the outside she looks strong, put together, and like everything is under control. But sometimes… life hits hard. Behind the smile there can be a lot of weight someone is carrying. Responsibilities, expectations, emotions — things that slowly build up inside. When she does need to release those emotions, she sometimes comes to a couple of us close friends to vent, cry it out, and just be heard. No fixing. No judging. Just listening and support. Another way she takes care of herself is something I truly respect. Every year she does a self-care spa day. It’s her time to disconnect, reflect, cry if she needs to, and give herself personal space. Some years I’ve joined her to celebrate her birthday. Other years she prefers to go alone, and that’s okay too. Because sometimes healing requires quiet space with yourself. It reminded me that people who appear the strongest are often carrying the most quietly. Sometimes the best thing we can do for someone is simply: • Be present • Listen without judgment • Respect their need for space • Remind them they’re not alone Life can punch you in the stomach sometimes. And in those moments, having someone in your corner matters more than we realize. Today’s reminder: Check in on your friends. Be the safe place. You never know what someone might be going through behind the scenes. ❤️

I want to take a moment to talk about @Rayven Maalona ✨ Before joining the BBB 1on1 coaching program, she wanted to: - To be healthy and fit to where I can be active without feeling pain - Walk long distances or uphill without being tired - To not worry about being at risk of any health problems that run in her family - And to be fit enough to help my family if it ever came to them needing assistance. She struggled with knowing the very BASICS. And that's what most people actually need. Just to be pointed in the right direction. And to have real, human support sprinkled into it. The result? You can it hear it for yourself ♥️ We're so proud of you -- and we're thrilled that you're sharing your experiences in this community. Shoutout to coach @Tyler Lo for your unwavering support 💪