This time around, we will post once a month for the year of 2019, in tandem with The Pro Player Timeline posts.
Sarah Blomgren is another California-Christian-Volleyball-Crazy who has played in England, Finland, and is currently living and playing in Serbia. Sarah adds a deeper dimension to being a professional athlete abroad with her commitment to maintaining a plant-based diet based on vegan guidelines, developing her professional profile, and growing as an athlete and person.
Sarah and I met through Elite Volley, and we have been a part of Athletes in Action online Bible study groups for professional athletes overseas. It only seemed fitting for us to also share our idea space for 2019 to better equip and encourage our fellow athletes and expats abroad!
Inspiration
I've been coaching volleyball camps this summer with a company called Gold Medal Squared. They send us around the country to different high schools or clubs to put on a camp for a week. One of the unique aspects of traveling for camps is being housed by local families of the girls participating in the camps. I've met some really amazing people staying with host families; one lady in particular impacted my faith. After chatting, we discovered we both are Christians and began to share our stories. She had so much wisdom, it was amazing! She even sent me home with two books that I am starting to go through now. The one I'm reading first is an autobiography of a man named George Muller, an incredible man of God with such a cool story. In regards to this book, one critic, Dr. D. James Kennedy, wrote, "Readers will find their faith strengthened, their prayer life enriched, and their ministry expanded by the life and example of this man of God." I'm so excited to continue reading and discover these gems!
Smoothie Mixmaster
Oreo Cookie Shake
Coconut Cream *pour into ice cube trays and freeze vanilla bean pods or vanilla bean extract
1 date
cacao nibs
blend, freeze, thaw, and serve with vegan chocolate drizzle
Dig Deeper Recommendation
Anyone interested in volleyball (coaching, playing, or simply a fan of the sport) should listen to the Coach Your Brains Out podcast by Gold Medal Squared. They talk all things indoor and beach volleyball with some of the world's best coaches and athletes. Great info and very entertaining!
Stay on-task and motivated throughout the month for FREE!
Plant-Based Meal
Spaghetti Squash Pasta
Poke small holes in your squash, cover with tin foil, and bake for 20-30 minutes until the flesh is soft. Cut in half, then take a fork and scrape out the inside of the squash (will look like spaghetti noodles). Serve with pasta sauce of choice (I like a classic tomato & basil) and any veggies (I typically sauté mushrooms, onions, garlic, and broccoli).
Yoga Move
Mountain Pose or Tadasana
This is the foundation of all standing poses, and is great to have in your tool belt for resting or transitioning between moves or lows. Make sure to lift the heart, stand tall, and relax from the shoulders down, palms forward.
Vegan Snack/Dessert
Chocolate-Peanut Butter-Banana Bites
YUM! These are so good and so easy to make!
Slice banana into small slices, lay on baking sheet, and freeze for 1 hour.
While that's freezing, melt chocolate of choice (I do dark because it is typically vegan), then combine chocolate and coconut oil in a bowl, and microwave for about 20 seconds.
To Assemble: dollop peanut butter on the banana slices and drizzle chocolate over top.
Sprinkle sea salt flakes over each and freeze again.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hey, friends. I'm Sarah. In addition to what Christy mentioned above, I played indoor and beach volleyball in college at The University of South Carolina where I earned my bachelor's degree in Exercise Science. I then went on to get my master's degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology and continued my volleyball career at Northumbria University in Newcastle, England. My first pro season was in Finland, and my second was in Serbia. News on next season's location will be released soon!
Since then I've become 100% plant-based (vegan) and I absolutely love this world of plant-based nutrition. One fun fact about me would be that I have an obsession with doughnuts! No, not like Krispy Kreme; like actual artisan, small-batch, crazy flavor doughnuts! I try to use all my traveling as an excuse to visit doughnut shops around the world. Besides that, I love Jesus and I'm just here to figure this thing called life out the best I can through His eyes.
Connect with Sarah on Facebook, Instagram, and her website.
You can contact her directly via email for more information on Juice Plus+® sarahblomgren[dot]provolleyball[at]gmail[dot]com.
Let us know in the comments below if you try any variations of these delicious recipes, yoga moves, or have the chance to check out Sarah's recommendations!