Using Setbacks to Spring Forward

I just experienced my first minor injury. A muscle strain. Nothing dramatic, but enough to stop me in my tracks and force me to step away from the gym for a few weeks.

If you lift, you know what that does to your head. You watch the calendar and you think about lost momentum. You are convinced you can see your hard earned gains slowly disappearing right in front of you. For someone who tracks progress (too) closely and thrives on putting the work in, being told to rest feels like punishment.

But I did not start bodybuilding thinking it was all going to be fun and games. I started because I wanted to play the long game, acquiring strength that lasts, and discipline that shapes character. I wanted to show others the beauty in committing to something that takes years.

But this type of long game, the one that includes pushing yourself to your limits on the regular, also includes knowing when to rest, when to show restraint, when to back off even if everything in you wants to push. It is trusting that doing less today protects more tomorrow. Even though it hardly ever feels that way in the moment.

There is something humbling about realizing your body sets the pace, not your ambition. I cannot outwork biology. I cannot negotiate with tissue that needs time to repair. So instead of chasing progress at the gym, I am choosing to work on something less visible: mental resiliency.

Can I sit with discomfort without spiraling? Can I stay disciplined without the dopamine of a workout? Can I trust that consistency over years matters more than three missed weeks?

The answer has to be yes. Bodybuilding, like any serious pursuit, demands patience and strategy. It demands the maturity to know when pushing harder is actually pushing backward. If I want to build a strong physique at fifty and beyond, I cannot treat my body like it is disposable. I have to treat recovery as part of the training plan, not an annoying interruption of it.

This setback is not the end of momentum. It is a test of whether I truly believe what I say about playing the long game.

I have learned over the years that true strength is often unseen. We can’t see it in the mirror and that makes it harder to prioritize in sports like mine. It is more about what we can quietly endure without losing perspective. What we can embrace uncomfortably at first, then come to realize were are better for having gone through it.

I know progress will come again. It always does for those who stay in the game long enough.

Empathy Isn’t Fragile — It’s Formative

No va solo el que llora,
no os sequéis, ¡por piedad!, lágrimas mías

He who weeps goes not alone,
Keep flowing, I beg of you, my tears!

(Rosalía de Castro)

I used to believe empathy was a liability. So I tried to bury it. I told myself that being less sensitive would make life easier. That if I could rid myself of it, I’d be more functional, more productive, more like everyone else.

It took me years to understand that empathy was not the problem. Avoiding it was.

Over time I began to see empathy as something that formed the deepest and best parts of me. It shaped how I listened, how I chose, and eventually, how I acted. It didn’t make me weaker. It strengthened me.

At some point along the way I decided I wanted a constant reminder that my empathy was not something I wanted to rid myself of. So I tattooed an excerpt on my arm from a poem by Rosalía de Castro, who wrote about grief and the fear of her tears drying up, because without them, she found herself alone. She was speaking about loss, but I read it as something broader.

For me, it became my constant reminder: I don’t want my tears to dry up. Especially those for the injustices of this world. The emotions and empathy were evidence that I was paying attention. Proof that something in me refused to accept injustices as inevitable. If the tears dry up, I risk becoming numb. And numbness has never led to meaningful change.

Honestly, I still struggle with consuming news and media. The world can be unbearably heavy. There are days when turning away feels like self-preservation. But I’ve come to believe that for me, looking away entirely isn’t neutrality, it’s abdication.

So I choose, again and again, to stay present. To take in what I can, when I can. Not to drown in it, but to respond to it.

I don’t believe empathy is meant to end in sorrow. I believe it’s meant to lead to compassion, and then to action. It is often the empaths who feel the cracks in our systems first. The ones who notice who is missing, who is hurting, who is being ignored. And I believe it will be empaths who help repair some of our most fundamental problems as a society.

Empathy isn’t the opposite of strength. It’s fuel for it. And when we pair it with actions, we become unstoppable. So don’t bury yours. Change the world with it.

Why Bodybuilding (and Why It Has Everything to Do with Compassion)

People often ask me why I chose bodybuilding at nearly 50, especially as a plant-based competitor. The assumption is that bodybuilding is about vanity, ego, or extremes. For me, it’s the opposite. Bodybuilding is about dedication, self-discipline, and daily practice. I didn’t choose bodybuilding to prove anything. I chose it because I believe strength is built through consistency, restraint, and intention. The daily practice of training teaches me to listen to my body, fuel it thoughtfully, rest regularly, and respect my limits, while considering the impact of my decisions on the world around me.

Why Plant-Based?
A plant-based diet isn’t about deprivation; it’s about compassion and alignment.

Plants fuel my training. Plants support recovery. Plants allow me to build muscle without creating unnecessary suffering. Every meal sends the quiet message that I can nourish myself well without harming someone else.

Compassion as a Performance Advantage
Living compassionately sharpens awareness.

When you practice living compassionately, you start paying attention:

• to how food is grown

• to who is affected by your choices

• to long-term consequences instead of short-term gains

That awareness makes you a better athlete, and a better human.

Why Start Now
At this stage of life, bodybuilding is about honoring longevity.

I want strength that lasts. I want habits that are sustainable. I want proof — especially for other women — that it’s never too late to choose growth.

The Bigger Picture
This journey isn’t just about me.

It’s about showing that compassion is a strength, plants are powerful, and results don’t require harm. Bodybuilding, for me, is not the destination. It’s a daily practice of choosing compassion, in food, movement, and how I show up for others. And if that practice can reduce suffering, support the planet, and help someone else feel empowered to try a different way — then it’s worth being visible.

That’s the heart of Plant & Practice.

Veganuary: A Compassionate Start to the New Year (Simple Tips + Easy Swaps)

Every January, thousands of people take the step toward eating more plant-based foods, out of curiosity, care, and compassion. Whether your goal is to feel better in your body, support the planet, reduce animal suffering, or simply try something new, Veganuary is a beautiful place to begin.

As someone who has been plant-based for more than 30 years (and raised five plant-based kids along the way!), I’ve learned that success doesn’t start with an all-or-nothing overhaul. It starts with small, doable practices—repeated.

So let’s make this month approachable, delicious, and enjoyable.
Here are simple ways to work plants into your day without stress or sacrifice.

Start with One Plant-Based Meal (or snack!) a Day

You don’t have to go all-in overnight. Begin with just one meal or snack per day that’s plant-forward. You can find many of these ready-made if you’re pressed for time!

• Overnight oats or chia pudding for breakfast

• A hearty grain bowl, veggie burrito, or lentil soup for lunch

• Veggie chili, stir-fry, or a meatless burger and sweet potato fries for dinner

If the thought of an entire plant-based meal is overwhelming, here are some easy swaps to get you started:

“This for That” (Easy Swaps You Can Find at Most Grocers)

These are simple one-to-one replacements that make Veganuary easy.

Dairy Swaps

Instead of animal-derived milk, try: oat, almond, soy, cashew, or hemp milk. (These can be found almost anywhere. We generally buy from Costco.)

Instead of animal-derived yogurt, try coconut, cashew, or almond yogurt. (Trader Joes’s is a good place for these!)

Instead of animal-derived butter, try vegan butter or olive oil. (We love Miyoko’s, Earth Balance, and Trader Joe’s)

Instead of animal-derived cheese, try a cashew cheese. (We love Violife, Miyoko’s, and Chao.)

Protein Swaps

Instead of chicken, try chickpeas, tofu (soy or fava bean), tempeh, seitan, or jackfruit.

Instead of ground beef, try lentils, walnut-taco “meat,” Beyond/Impossible, TVP.

Instead of scrambled eggs, try a tofu scramble or Just Egg.

Instead of dairy-based protein shakes, try pea, pumpkin seed, soy, or blended plant proteins (We love Vedge and OWYN)

Try Building Meals Around the Big Three

When in doubt, a simple formula works:

Protein + Grain + Vegetable

Examples:

• Quinoa + roasted broccoli + tempeh + tahini lemon sauce

• Black beans + rice + fajita peppers + avocado/lime

• Lentil or chickpea pasta + marinara + spinach + vegan parm or nutritional yeast

• Oatmeal + chia + hemp seeds + blueberries or bananas

This keeps meals balanced, satisfying, and high-protein — great for energy, strength, and recovery (These are my staples, especially as I train for my first bodybuilding season!).

Tiny Habits That Make Veganuary Easier

Try 1–3 this week — not all at once.

• Add greens to one meal daily (Pro Tip: Mix them in your smoothie if you’re pressed for time or desire to cook them!)

• Make your protein shake plant-based (Try Vedge or OWYN brands)

• Swap dairy milk for oat milk in coffee (Try Oatly or Chobani)

• Try one new plant-based recipe weekly (Try Nora Cooks!)

• Keep fruit or nuts available for snacks so you don’t get hangry (Look out for hidden oils and sugar!)

• Add beans to soups, bowls, and tacos (We love tempeh!)

• Prep vegetables in advance (Try Costco’s new Roasted Root Vegetable Mix or Trader Joe’s chopped veggie mixes)

A Compassionate Month Can Change You

Because every plant-based meal:

-supports your body
-eases pressure on the planet
-reduces animal suffering
-builds your strength & wellbeing

And that is worth celebrating.

I’ll be posting weekly to support your Veganuary journey, and soon with recipes, “This for That” swaps, interviews with plant-based athletes, and sustainable products coming to the Plant & Practice store!

If you’d like support, inspiration, and community, sign up for email updates or follow along on Instagram.
We’ll practice compassion together, one day at a time.

Welcome to Veganuary. Let’s begin. 🌿

Choosing Compassion — One Practice at a Time

Most of the meaningful shifts in my life didn’t come from dramatic declarations or overnight change; they came from practice. Small choices repeated over time. Tiny moments where I paused, listened to my values, and asked myself: What does compassion look like here?

For me, compassion has always been the thread running through my life, in how I eat, how I raised my family, how I move my body, and how I show up for the world. I’ve lived a plant-based lifestyle for over 30 years, and all five of my children were raised on plant-based diets. It’s been a journey of discovery, learning, creativity, and a deepening sense of alignment with what I believe:

Animals deserve to live free of harm. The planet deserves our care. And our bodies thrive when we nourish them with plants.

As I move toward my 50th birthday and prepare for my first season of bodybuilding, I’m building strength not just for sport but for purpose. I want to use that platform to demonstrate something important:

Compassion is not weakness — it’s a superpower.
It builds us. It strengthens us. And it ripples outward.

Plant & Practice was born from that belief.

This space is a home for purposeful shifts, thoughtful choices, and a lifestyle rooted in kindness without judgment. A place to explore what it means to live compassionately through food, movement, intention, and daily practice.

Here’s what you can expect:

This for That posts — simple, approachable swaps to eat more plants
Recipes from my kitchen — practical, flavorful, protein-forward
Interviews with plant-based athletes (real stories, real strength)
Sustainable product highlights that make compassionate living easier
A future Plant & Practice store featuring lifestyle pieces that help you share your values out loud — thoughtfully, proudly, beautifully

I’ll be posting periodically as we build this community together — one choice, one conversation, one compassionate action at a time.

Whether you’re fully plant-based, curious, experimenting, or simply drawn to a kinder way of living — you belong here. Your practice doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to begin.

Thank you for being here. Truly.
I’m excited to grow with you, cook with you, learn with you, and create a place where compassion feels strong, modern, and empowering.

Welcome to Plant & Practice.
Let’s choose compassion — one practice at a time.