April’s Glisten Girl of the Month happens to be very special to me because she’s actually my twin! Jaclyn exemplifies what it means to be a Glisten Girl, but in her own unique way of course! Always up for an adventure, Jaclyn has biked across the U.S., spear fished in Saipan, scuba dived, won a 50k bike race, and competed in six triathlons, just to name a few.

She graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in Parks and Tourism Administration with an Emphasis in outdoor adventure, go figure! She recently moved to Montana, where we were both born. She is happiest when she is closest to nature so Montana is the perfect place for her to call home. Read her interview below to see how she makes her health a priority.

How do you make your health a priority?

I have an office job now, so staying healthy takes a little more planning and effort than it did when I had more active jobs. I make sure to go for a bike ride when I get home from work. Not only does it make me feel good, but it helps me de-stress from my day of work. If I am short on time I bike hills. I get a great workout in a shorter amount of time. For days where I am just too tired to get outside before it gets dark I use my stationary bike. I can do this in front of the television and it really doesn’t take much effort at all. Having an office isn’t all bad. For one, I love being on a schedule and being in an office in the middle of a ranch in Montana forces me to pack a homemade healthy lunch every day.

Do you have a motto?

I don’t really have a motto, but when I am biking long distance or up a long, steep hill I repeat “longer, harder, faster, stronger” over and over in my head until I reach the top. I have noticed that when I repeat this to myself I stop focusing on how bad my legs hurt and I end up getting a better workout. My motto for food is just “local, fresh, and homemade is best!”

What is your go to song when working out?

I love music, don’t get me wrong, but when I am biking I need to be able to listen to cars and I love the sound of nature so I don’t really listen to music when I am working out. But I love country music and the Pistol Annies can definitely get me amped up!

Do you prefer to workout outside or indoors?

I prefer to workout outside. The fresh air is magical!

If you don’t have time for an adventure, what’s your back up plan?

There’s always time for an adventure, you just have to change your perspective sometimes 😉

Do you have a favorite power-up snack?

LARA BARS!!!

What food do you splurge on?

Coffee…I put chocolate almond milk in it. It’s not your normal splurge, but I know I drink a cup or two too much.

You have an interesting skin care routine. Care to share?

I make my own face wash, deodorant, and toothpaste. I love the way my face and teeth feel and it’s so much cheaper than the commercial brands. Not to mention, it is much more natural and healthier for your body. The toothpaste works just as good (if not better) than commercial toothpaste and my face has never felt better since using my homemade face wash. It consists of mostly coconut oil and tee tree oil. Tea Tree Oil is so good for preventing acne and coconut oil is supposed to help reduce pore size and increases skin elasticity and collagen production. I love my deodorant, too. It is so fun because I can customize the scent. Right now I have a nice lavender scent, but next time I am going to play around with eucalyptus. Oh, and helpful tip: remember to label your homemade healthcare products! I forgot to and one day I accidentally washed my face with toothpaste! At least it felt tingly fresh (laughs). If you want the recipes, see the link below. (Just a note, I (Sam) was skeptical at first but I tried all her products when I visited her last weekend and now I am going to make my own because my teeth and face have never felt better!)

What makes you glisten?

Positivity and plenty of fruits, vegetables, and water.

You’ve recently become vegetarian. Any advice for someone who is thinking about going vegetarian or vegan?

For anyone who wants to go vegetarian or vegan my advice would be to just start changing small things. First eliminate red meat, then pork and chicken, and eventually fish, eggs, and dairy if that is what you want. Just remember, you don’t need to put too much pressure on yourself or adopt too many labels. For instance, I would be vegan except that I occasionally eat eggs and goat cheese. You should just do what makes you feel best and happiest. Also, focus on what you can eat rather than what you can’t. And for those of you who don’t want to go vegetarian that is okay, but going vegetarian once a week may help increase your health and it will also have a positive impact on the environment. A little change goes a long way!

Why do you feel that it is important to challenge yourself everyday?

One day, I rode my bike to a popular hiking trail. After realizing I forgot my bike lock I had two options: forget about my hike and head home or carry my bike up the steep trail on my back. I chose to carry my bike up the mountain and then have an exhilarating ride down. Since then, it has become one of my favorite work outs. I always get a lot of attention and some “are you down right crazy?” stares. One gentleman said, “Do you know that is something Navy Seals have to do?” without hesitation, I said, “Thank you for your concern, sir, I realize how hard this is because I’ve done it before.” He saluted me! Challenging myself daily is a way to prove to myself that I can do things other people don’t think I can. It gives me a sense of accomplishment and reminds me that anything is possible with the right mindset.

We hope Jaclyn’s adventurous spirit has inspired you to not simply seek adventure, but to make your life one BIG adventure!

As always, we send you LOVE and PEACE,

XO, The Glisten Girls

Recipe for toothpaste and other health products made using coconut oil:
http://modernhippiehousewife.com/2014/04/24/homemade-coconut-oil-toothpaste/
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-8352/5-simple-beauty-products-you-can-make-from-coconut-oil.html