I blogged a few weeks ago how I was going to focus on strength training as I want to build more muscle. That is still the goal but I do have a few smaller races coming up. At the end of this month, I will do a 5K, which should be easy for me. Next month, there's a 10K race in my hometown. I'm doing these races more for fun and to make sure I still get some running in.

My workout routine has been concentrating on lifting more weights. I'm still doing 5 days a week, but not as much cardio as I had been doing. I still do cardio each day, but less time. I know the more cardio I do, the more weight I'll lose and the less muscle I will build.

In what seems like a desperate attempt to boost sales in a climate that's switching to plant based, Arby's introduced the "Marrot", a meat based vegetable that looks like a carrot. Yeah, you heard that right, a meat based vegetable. What?

This defiant move shows that Arby's is feeling the heat from plant based alternatives at other restaurants. For example, Burger King will soon be offering the Impossible Whopper nationwide and Pizza Hut will offer a vegan pizza in August. Arby's wants to hold on to their backward thinking. As they said in a recent statement, they don't ever intend to work with Impossible Burger.

I love running and it was awesome to complete my first half marathon. I do plan on doing other races in the future and don't plan on stopping. That being said, I feel like I lost some muscle with all the training I did for the half marathon. I want to really focus on building muscle for a while.

All the doctors I consulted with when I did my abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) said that my arms and chest could tighten with more muscle. I'm lucky that my skin isn't as bad in those areas as my belly was the most problematic in terms of excess skin.

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to go to the first ever Plant Based Word Conference & Expo in New York City. I’m so glad that I went because I learned so much and met so many people that I’ve admired since going plant based.

Dr. Scott Stoll started off the conference with a lesson on our food industry and the tactics the meat and processed food industry used so that consumers would keep buying their products. I learned a lot as it was interesting to see how we got to where we are now as a society.

Plant Based World Conference & Expo is coming to New York City this week! Have you got your tickets yet? Link: http://www.plantbasedworldexpo.com/

I'm really looking forward to the expo. Dr. Michael Greger is the one plant based doctor I haven't met yet. I've admired his work and really look forward to his presentation.