Hey friends!
Here we are in week 2. This week's focus (besides continuing the diet) - workouts! Unfortunately today, because of the fact that my boyfriend and I share a car and our schedules for the day, I could not make it to the gym. However, did I let that keep me from moving and burning extra calories? You best believe it did NOT!
This morning I had my first experience with the Austin area metro bus system. I took the bus to work like a true city dweller! Because I took the bus, I had to walk from my place to the bus stop, and then from the bus drop off stop to my work place. Overall, that added an extra 30 minutes or so of walking to my day. I still took my 30 minute walk at lunch, so between the two of them, I still burned more calories than I would in a "regular" day. And I can tell you now that I was hungrier than usual between lunch and dinner. I still ate a very filling lunch and had my usual shake for breakfast. But because I burned some extra calories, my body processed that food faster. I wasn't famished, but it was a good little indicator that I did a little extra work today. So let me restate AGAIN for all you who don't have a gym membership but want to make a change - every little bit helps. I promise!
Tomorrow I plan to put in a good sweat session at the gym!
Here's the food log for today:
7:30am - Chocolate Banana Protein Shake (see below for recipe)
20 minutes walking from home to bus
10 minutes walking from bus to work
12:00pm - Leftover Shrimp Cakes and Roasted Vegetables (see Day 7 post for recipes)
30 minute walking break at work
3:00pm - Blueberries, Almonds
7:00pm - Homemade Chili (see below for recipe)
9:00pm - Homemade Cucumber Chips (see Day 2 post for recipe)
Chocolate Banana Protein Shake - 1 serving protein powder, 2/3 cup coconut milk, 1/3 cup cold pressed black coffee (this is a coffee concentrate, if you use regular coffee use 1 cup), 1/2 a sliced banana, 1 tsp of cocoa powder. Add stevia if needed. We REALLY like this shake. It has a great sweetness and covers up the flavor of the protein powder really well.
Homemade Chili - 2 lbs. ground beef (93% lean), Carroll Shelby's Chili Kit, 14 oz. can diced tomatoes, 8 oz. can tomato sauce. Put in crock pot on high and cook for 3 hours or until desired taste. **Important to note that we left out the masa flour from the chili kit. This chili kit has all its spices separated into bags so you can choose to leave the flour out or not. Very handy! This made about 4.5 servings, and we topped it with freshly sliced onions. Super delicious! If you want to get creative, add some other freshly cut veggies like tomatoes or bell peppers. The best way to keep from getting bored is to get creative with your recipes!
That's all for today. If you have ANYTHING you specifically WANT me to blog about, please let me know! Leave a comment below, hit me up on facebook or shoot me a text. Til tomorrow - love, health & harmony to you!
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Monday, November 11, 2013
Clean Eating - Day 7
Welcome back!
We are just about in week 2 of this little challenge. I'm 1/3 of the way through! That seems insane to me. I had some very real doubts in my head when I first started this thing. I thought I might make it 2 days. But shockingly, it has not been that hard.
About a year and a half ago, I tried the paleo diet to begin to prepare for my sister's wedding. For those of you that don't know, the paleo diet is based on our paleolithic ancestors. They ate foods that naturally exist without chemical additives. Basically, meat, vegetables, fruit, and nuts. So, it is basically what I am doing right now. However, the paleo diet is designed for long term sustainability. It allows things like honey, soy sauce, and wine in moderation. When I tried this diet, I would go about 4-5 days sticking to it, and then the weekend would hit and I would fall off the wagon. Mostly because of alcohol. Let me explain - it's not as though I would drink a ridiculous amount. BUT I would drink enough to make me think, "These potato chips are ok, right?!" And then it just went downhill from there. I really enjoyed the paleo diet. But the "in moderation" allowances just lead me down the wrong path. Which is why I decided to set strict guidelines for myself this time. Those of you that know me know how much I LOVE my wine. Don't think for a minute I am going to give it up forever!! But I definitely need to limit my intake, especially while I'm trying to lose weight. Once I get to a goal weight, maintaining it will be easier than losing (not easy, mind you, but easiER). Strict guidelines are what I need right now.
So anyway, when I was doing this paleo thing, I came across a bunch of delicious recipes. We've been using a lot of them already (turkey sausage & spinach scramble, sweet potato hash, chick fajita salad, chicken curry, crock pot pork loin). That has made it SO much easier to stay on plan. We're not eating baked chicken and broccoli every day. Who could do that every day? We are eating delicious things and we don't feel like we're depriving ourselves. That is always the secret to a diet that works. That's why so many people enjoy Weight Watchers! It allows you to make smart decisions and treat yourself in different ways. (Weight Watchers is something I have been successful on in the past. If you don't think this paleo diet will work for you, I highly suggest Weight Watchers.)
Now, on to the food log for the day:
7:00am - Wake Up
7:45am - Apple Cinnamon Protein Shake. Water.
11:30am - Larabar. Iced tea sweetened with stevia.
12-1pm - "Hiking" outside (I use the term hiking loosely. It was definitely hilly with rocky terrain. But there wasn't a mountain involved. As an east Tennessean, I feel like I must mention this.) Because of the hills, I got some interval training in this workout. Make sure you do something to get your heart rate spiking every few minutes when you're working out. A stagnant heartrate is not the most time efficient way to get your heart healthy or to burn calories. I'm ALL about time efficiency in the gym - who has 2 hours a day to spend??
1:30pm - Leftover meatballs and marinara sauce over spaghetti squash (see Day 5-6 post for recipe). Water.
6:30pm - Shrimp cakes & roasted vegetables. (See below for recipe). Water with lime wedges.
11:00pm - Bedtime
Shrimp cakes - This recipe is DELICIOUS. I highly recommend it. The more seafood you can eat on this diet, the better, because it's lower in fat and still amazing. It's kind of long to type out, so please check it out here: http://www.paleoplan.com/2009/12-31/shrimp-cakes/ (This is a great online paleo cookbook resource, by the way!)
Roasted Vegetables - Chop mushrooms. Mince 1 clove of garlic. Saute in pan with olive oil over medium heat until mushrooms start to soften. Add 1 diced red or yellow bell pepper and 1 sliced zucchini. Saute until soft. Remove from heat, toss in chopped basil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Serve hot. (Feel free to use whatever vegetables you want! These are just suggestions.)
Starting today, I will be adding gym visits or walks/runs to my daily routine as much as possible. I'm shooting for at least 4 days per week. I'll be posting Keep checking back and stay tuned to what I'm doing!
That's all for today! Love health & harmony to you!
We are just about in week 2 of this little challenge. I'm 1/3 of the way through! That seems insane to me. I had some very real doubts in my head when I first started this thing. I thought I might make it 2 days. But shockingly, it has not been that hard.
About a year and a half ago, I tried the paleo diet to begin to prepare for my sister's wedding. For those of you that don't know, the paleo diet is based on our paleolithic ancestors. They ate foods that naturally exist without chemical additives. Basically, meat, vegetables, fruit, and nuts. So, it is basically what I am doing right now. However, the paleo diet is designed for long term sustainability. It allows things like honey, soy sauce, and wine in moderation. When I tried this diet, I would go about 4-5 days sticking to it, and then the weekend would hit and I would fall off the wagon. Mostly because of alcohol. Let me explain - it's not as though I would drink a ridiculous amount. BUT I would drink enough to make me think, "These potato chips are ok, right?!" And then it just went downhill from there. I really enjoyed the paleo diet. But the "in moderation" allowances just lead me down the wrong path. Which is why I decided to set strict guidelines for myself this time. Those of you that know me know how much I LOVE my wine. Don't think for a minute I am going to give it up forever!! But I definitely need to limit my intake, especially while I'm trying to lose weight. Once I get to a goal weight, maintaining it will be easier than losing (not easy, mind you, but easiER). Strict guidelines are what I need right now.
So anyway, when I was doing this paleo thing, I came across a bunch of delicious recipes. We've been using a lot of them already (turkey sausage & spinach scramble, sweet potato hash, chick fajita salad, chicken curry, crock pot pork loin). That has made it SO much easier to stay on plan. We're not eating baked chicken and broccoli every day. Who could do that every day? We are eating delicious things and we don't feel like we're depriving ourselves. That is always the secret to a diet that works. That's why so many people enjoy Weight Watchers! It allows you to make smart decisions and treat yourself in different ways. (Weight Watchers is something I have been successful on in the past. If you don't think this paleo diet will work for you, I highly suggest Weight Watchers.)
Now, on to the food log for the day:
7:00am - Wake Up
7:45am - Apple Cinnamon Protein Shake. Water.
11:30am - Larabar. Iced tea sweetened with stevia.
12-1pm - "Hiking" outside (I use the term hiking loosely. It was definitely hilly with rocky terrain. But there wasn't a mountain involved. As an east Tennessean, I feel like I must mention this.) Because of the hills, I got some interval training in this workout. Make sure you do something to get your heart rate spiking every few minutes when you're working out. A stagnant heartrate is not the most time efficient way to get your heart healthy or to burn calories. I'm ALL about time efficiency in the gym - who has 2 hours a day to spend??
1:30pm - Leftover meatballs and marinara sauce over spaghetti squash (see Day 5-6 post for recipe). Water.
6:30pm - Shrimp cakes & roasted vegetables. (See below for recipe). Water with lime wedges.
11:00pm - Bedtime
Shrimp cakes - This recipe is DELICIOUS. I highly recommend it. The more seafood you can eat on this diet, the better, because it's lower in fat and still amazing. It's kind of long to type out, so please check it out here: http://www.paleoplan.com/2009/12-31/shrimp-cakes/ (This is a great online paleo cookbook resource, by the way!)
Roasted Vegetables - Chop mushrooms. Mince 1 clove of garlic. Saute in pan with olive oil over medium heat until mushrooms start to soften. Add 1 diced red or yellow bell pepper and 1 sliced zucchini. Saute until soft. Remove from heat, toss in chopped basil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Serve hot. (Feel free to use whatever vegetables you want! These are just suggestions.)
Starting today, I will be adding gym visits or walks/runs to my daily routine as much as possible. I'm shooting for at least 4 days per week. I'll be posting Keep checking back and stay tuned to what I'm doing!
That's all for today! Love health & harmony to you!
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Clean Eating - Days 5 & 6
Hello everyone!! First - sorry for the extra long post today. Because of the weekend, I'm doubling up!
I have extremely exciting news!
I decided to get on the scale Friday morning and see how things have been going. I've been resisting the urge all week long, but since it was Friday, I thought it would be a nice treat for myself UNrelated to food. (More about this in a minute.)
On Sunday evening (November 3rd), before I started this challenge, I weighed 225.0 lbs.
On Friday morning (November 8th), after 4 complete days, I weighed 217.6 lbs.
For those of you who might be too much in shock to do the math (I know I was), that's 7.4 lbs in 5 days. WHAAAA??? I am completely flabbergasted and EXTREMELY motivated to continue this challenge now!! I was feeling so great before, I was honestly a little nervous to step on the scale. Those of you that have dieted before know what I mean - you're feeling great, following your diet exactly, you're excited to get on the scale . . .and you've lost like .6 lbs. But not today! I'm sure that the next two weeks may not be as drastic (though I do plan to add workouts next week), but it doesn't matter. Seeing those kind of results completely validates for me that this was absolutely the right thing for me to do.
In fact, it proves 2 things to me. #1 - I was even more unhealthy than I allowed myself to believe. #2 - We, as Americans, have been lied to (and are lying to ourselves) about what healthy food really is. I say this because - so many people believe "healthy food" = low calorie/low fat food. NOOOOOO. I have had plenty of high calorie/high fat things in the past week. Red meat, avocados, coconut milk, olive oil everywhere, raw nuts. Just because they are high in calories or fat doesn't mean you can't eat them! And additionally - healthy food is not the prepackaged protein shakes, diet meals, or meal replacement energy bars that you see in the health aisle at your grocery store. (Check the ingredients on these if you doubt me. I think you'll be surprised.) Healthy food is what exists in nature NATURALLY. That is what your body is designed to consume. Anything that has ingredients you can't pronounce or you've never heard of - is UNHEALTHY for your body no matter what this week's celebrity says. I'm not saying don't eat them ever - I'm saying be aware.
On to ways to treat yourself. (Cue Parks 'n Rec quotes.) I used to treat myself with food and rinks at the end of a good week, but this would often undo all of my hard work. When you're on a diet as strict as this, you have to find ways to reward yourself that are not tied to unhealthy foods. Even better, not tied to food at all! This week, since Ryan and I have done such a great job sticking to our diet and we are REALLY seeing results (Ryan has lost 9.5 lbs so far. GO RYAN!!), we decided to go to the movies. We went to Whole Foods, got healthy snacks so we wouldn't be tempted by popcorn, and brought in a sparkling water so we didn't get soda. (Yes, we snuck in food. Don't tattle on us!) Ryan got plantain chips with no added sugar. They were good! I went a little less healthy, but still following the diet. I was SUPER impressed with this product: Bearitos Veggie Puffs.
These are organic corn puffs, flavored with oil, salt, parsley and spinach. Are they the most nutrient-dense thing in the world? No. Are they better than movie theater popcorn or cheeto puffs? Most definitely. If you need a snack like this, check out your local Whole Foods/Central Market/Earth Fare or organic grocery store for healthy options that make you feel like you're cheating without actually doing so.
Here's my food log for Friday and Saturday:
Friday 11/8/13
7:30am - Wake Up!
8:15am - Apple Cinnamon Protein Shake (see day 2 for recipe). Coffee with cinnamon sprinkles.
12:00pm - Crock Pot Chicken Curry leftovers (see day 4 for recipe). 1 medium orange. Water.
3:00pm - Blueberry Muffin Larabar. (see day 1 for more on larabars). Sparkling water with lemon & lime slices.
7:00pm - oven roasted sweet potato hash with red onions and peppers, 2 eggs.
9:30pm - Veggie Puffs. Sparkling water.
12:00pm - Bedtime!
Saturday 11/9/13
9:45am - Wake Up!
10:30am - Berry Blast Shake (see below for recipe).
1:30pm - Baked chicken breast, leftover chicken curry sauce, leftover sweet potato hash. Water.
7:00pm - Homemade meatballs in marinara sauce over spaghetti squash (see below for recipe). Sparkling water with lime & lemon.
9:30pm - strawberries and pineapple slices. Sparkling water with lime & lemon.
11:30pm - Bedtime
Berry Blast Shake Recipe - 1 serving of protein powder, 1 cup mixed frozen berries, 1/3 cup of canned coconut milk, 1/2 cup water.
Meatballs in marinara sauce - Ryan found this recipe for meatballs at www.cindystable.com and they were quite good. Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Place 1 lb. ground veal, 1 lb. ground pork, 3/4 lb. ground beef, 1/2 cup almond flour (or coconut flour), 4 cloves minced garlic, 1 1/2 tsp. of dried basil, 1 1/2 tsp. dried parsley, 1 tsp. dried organo, 2 tsp. sea salt, 1 tsp. fresh ground black pepper, 1 tsp. red pepper flakes & 3 large eggs beaten into a bowl. Combine lightly with fork. Form mixture into golf-ball sized portions with hands. Place on baking sheet and cook for 20 minutes. Add to heated sauce and let marinate for an additional 45-60 minutes. We found an organic marinara sauce with no added sugar, but here's the link to cindy's instructions, which also includes a homemade sauce recipe if you prefer: http://www.cindystable.com/cindys-paleo-italian-meatballs/ Also, we prefer our marinara sauce over spaghetti squash, but there are gluten-free noodle options now. To cook a spaghetti squash, slice in half, deseed, brush with olive oil. Place face down on a baking pan and cook in the oven at 350 for 40 minutes. Scrape squash out with a fork when done (it should come out easily.)
Saturday was a bit of a challenging day. It's football day, and I desperately wanted some beers while watching Tennessee get slaughtered (boo). Then we had some friends come in from out of town, and we made dinner for them while hanging out at the house. Our friends were drinking, and I was sorely tempted to join. BUT Ryan and I both stayed strong and managed to stay on program. YAY! I hope that the next two weekends will get a little easier, but we shall see what they bring. Regardless, if we can do it once, we can do it again.
More to come soon! Love, health & harmony to you all!
I have extremely exciting news!
I decided to get on the scale Friday morning and see how things have been going. I've been resisting the urge all week long, but since it was Friday, I thought it would be a nice treat for myself UNrelated to food. (More about this in a minute.)
On Sunday evening (November 3rd), before I started this challenge, I weighed 225.0 lbs.
On Friday morning (November 8th), after 4 complete days, I weighed 217.6 lbs.
For those of you who might be too much in shock to do the math (I know I was), that's 7.4 lbs in 5 days. WHAAAA??? I am completely flabbergasted and EXTREMELY motivated to continue this challenge now!! I was feeling so great before, I was honestly a little nervous to step on the scale. Those of you that have dieted before know what I mean - you're feeling great, following your diet exactly, you're excited to get on the scale . . .and you've lost like .6 lbs. But not today! I'm sure that the next two weeks may not be as drastic (though I do plan to add workouts next week), but it doesn't matter. Seeing those kind of results completely validates for me that this was absolutely the right thing for me to do.
In fact, it proves 2 things to me. #1 - I was even more unhealthy than I allowed myself to believe. #2 - We, as Americans, have been lied to (and are lying to ourselves) about what healthy food really is. I say this because - so many people believe "healthy food" = low calorie/low fat food. NOOOOOO. I have had plenty of high calorie/high fat things in the past week. Red meat, avocados, coconut milk, olive oil everywhere, raw nuts. Just because they are high in calories or fat doesn't mean you can't eat them! And additionally - healthy food is not the prepackaged protein shakes, diet meals, or meal replacement energy bars that you see in the health aisle at your grocery store. (Check the ingredients on these if you doubt me. I think you'll be surprised.) Healthy food is what exists in nature NATURALLY. That is what your body is designed to consume. Anything that has ingredients you can't pronounce or you've never heard of - is UNHEALTHY for your body no matter what this week's celebrity says. I'm not saying don't eat them ever - I'm saying be aware.
On to ways to treat yourself. (Cue Parks 'n Rec quotes.) I used to treat myself with food and rinks at the end of a good week, but this would often undo all of my hard work. When you're on a diet as strict as this, you have to find ways to reward yourself that are not tied to unhealthy foods. Even better, not tied to food at all! This week, since Ryan and I have done such a great job sticking to our diet and we are REALLY seeing results (Ryan has lost 9.5 lbs so far. GO RYAN!!), we decided to go to the movies. We went to Whole Foods, got healthy snacks so we wouldn't be tempted by popcorn, and brought in a sparkling water so we didn't get soda. (Yes, we snuck in food. Don't tattle on us!) Ryan got plantain chips with no added sugar. They were good! I went a little less healthy, but still following the diet. I was SUPER impressed with this product: Bearitos Veggie Puffs.
Here's my food log for Friday and Saturday:
Friday 11/8/13
7:30am - Wake Up!
8:15am - Apple Cinnamon Protein Shake (see day 2 for recipe). Coffee with cinnamon sprinkles.
12:00pm - Crock Pot Chicken Curry leftovers (see day 4 for recipe). 1 medium orange. Water.
3:00pm - Blueberry Muffin Larabar. (see day 1 for more on larabars). Sparkling water with lemon & lime slices.
7:00pm - oven roasted sweet potato hash with red onions and peppers, 2 eggs.
9:30pm - Veggie Puffs. Sparkling water.
12:00pm - Bedtime!
Saturday 11/9/13
9:45am - Wake Up!
10:30am - Berry Blast Shake (see below for recipe).
1:30pm - Baked chicken breast, leftover chicken curry sauce, leftover sweet potato hash. Water.
7:00pm - Homemade meatballs in marinara sauce over spaghetti squash (see below for recipe). Sparkling water with lime & lemon.
9:30pm - strawberries and pineapple slices. Sparkling water with lime & lemon.
11:30pm - Bedtime
Berry Blast Shake Recipe - 1 serving of protein powder, 1 cup mixed frozen berries, 1/3 cup of canned coconut milk, 1/2 cup water.
Meatballs in marinara sauce - Ryan found this recipe for meatballs at www.cindystable.com and they were quite good. Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Place 1 lb. ground veal, 1 lb. ground pork, 3/4 lb. ground beef, 1/2 cup almond flour (or coconut flour), 4 cloves minced garlic, 1 1/2 tsp. of dried basil, 1 1/2 tsp. dried parsley, 1 tsp. dried organo, 2 tsp. sea salt, 1 tsp. fresh ground black pepper, 1 tsp. red pepper flakes & 3 large eggs beaten into a bowl. Combine lightly with fork. Form mixture into golf-ball sized portions with hands. Place on baking sheet and cook for 20 minutes. Add to heated sauce and let marinate for an additional 45-60 minutes. We found an organic marinara sauce with no added sugar, but here's the link to cindy's instructions, which also includes a homemade sauce recipe if you prefer: http://www.cindystable.com/cindys-paleo-italian-meatballs/ Also, we prefer our marinara sauce over spaghetti squash, but there are gluten-free noodle options now. To cook a spaghetti squash, slice in half, deseed, brush with olive oil. Place face down on a baking pan and cook in the oven at 350 for 40 minutes. Scrape squash out with a fork when done (it should come out easily.)
Saturday was a bit of a challenging day. It's football day, and I desperately wanted some beers while watching Tennessee get slaughtered (boo). Then we had some friends come in from out of town, and we made dinner for them while hanging out at the house. Our friends were drinking, and I was sorely tempted to join. BUT Ryan and I both stayed strong and managed to stay on program. YAY! I hope that the next two weekends will get a little easier, but we shall see what they bring. Regardless, if we can do it once, we can do it again.
More to come soon! Love, health & harmony to you all!
Friday, November 8, 2013
Clean Eating - Day 4
Greetings readers!
I have to start with saying I am amazed at all the people who have reached out to me because of this blog. It's very flattering that so many of you (over 80 views yesterday!) are paying attention to what I'm doing right now. Thank you a million times!
I've mentioned in one of my previous posts that I have started a workout regimen yet. HOWEVER - I want to say that I have been trying to move more. I think that sometimes, those of us who have a lot of weight to lose, start to think of working out as this HUGE PROJECT that requires hours of commitment and sweat and constant soreness. When really, that's not necessarily the case. Weight loss is all about burning more calories, so anything you can do to get yourself up and moving more is a great step forward. Don't get me wrong - if you have the motivation to go to the gym for 2 hours a day, do it!! (As long as you're not over-exerting yourself or hurting yourself in any way.) But if you, like most people, dread the gym, do what works for you. This week, I have been taking short walks on my lunch break at work. I always bring my lunch to work, to avoid temptation from ordering at restaurants (also I'm broke because I just started this job, so there's that). And I have an hour to eat, which is far more than I need. So, in the first half of my lunch break, I explore the neighborhood around my office for about 20 minutes. Just walk at a normal pace and enjoy the scenery and the weather. Granted, this isn't possible for everyone. I'm lucky to work in a nice, safe, beautiful neighborhood with old houses that is close to the U of Texas campus. I'm also lucky to live in a state where November is a beautiful month to be outside. Plus, I sit at a desk the rest of the day so it's exceptionally great for my state of mine to move around for awhile. So maybe that's not the answer for you. But can you find something outside of the box to get you moving? Maybe you climb the stairs at your house a couple of times in the morning. Maybe you play Wii Fit/Xbox Kinect with your kids and make that a habit to do each day. Maybe you play with your dog or cat for an extra few minutes. Find something that works for you! And don't be overwhelmed by the workout monster!
Here's the food log:
7:15am - Wake up
8:00am - Apple Cinnamon Protein Shake (see Day 2 post for recipe). Coffee sweetened with stevia.
12:00pm - Turkey sausage sauteed with pico de gallo, onions and spinach. Topped with 1/2 an avocado. Water.
4:30pm - Mixed berries, about 20 almonds. Water.
7:00pm - Crock pot Curry Chicken (see below for recipe). Sparkling water with lemon slices.
11:15 - Bedtime!
Crock pot Curry Chicken - If you haven't noticed, I'm a BIG fan of crock pot recipes. I think they are the saving grace for all working people. Just toss stuff in in the morning, set it on low, and let it cook all day! Here's the trick to this recipe - put 1 lb. of chicken (I suggest frozen chicken. This keeps the chicken from drying out but also requires less work! If you use raw chicken, cook it for less time, 4-5 hours max), 1-2 tbsp olive oil, 2-3 tbsp of curry powder and 1/2 can of coconut milk. Set on low and cook for 6-8 hours. Don't worry, it won't be burned over overdone. It also won't be undercooked. I say this because the BF has little trust in crock pots. Everytime he cooks in one he's like "Should I brown the meat first? What about the vegetables?" In our generation of quick fixes and immediate options, I realize crock pots seem strange. But trust in the crock pot. TRUST IN THE CROCK POT!! When you get home from work, add whatever fresh veggies you like, and as much of them as you like. We put green beans, broccoli and onion. Add salt, pepper, red pepper and hot sauce to taste. Cook all this together for about an hour, and voila! You have homemade curry. (You can also put frozen veggies in, if you don't have fresh ones, but they may have to cook a little longer.) I say to add the vegetables later because you want them to absorb the flavor of the curry, but not become mushy. You could put this over a little bit of brown rice if you want, but I like it as is.
Day 4 was a really great day. I had a ton of energy today and hardly ever felt hungry. It's shocking how quickly my body is adjusting to this diet. I noticed that after I ate my fruit I got a sugar rush. My body is already not used to having sugar - even natural sugars from fruit will make me hyper!! That seems insane to me. Before, I could drink a coffee loaded with sugar and hardly notice the affects. No longer! I also expected to be hungry later on in the evening since I ate earlier, but I really didn't at all. Late night snacking was always a huge pitfall of mine so it's amazing that those cravings are starting to disappear.
That's all for today! Looking forward to writing something for you all tomorrow and for the next 17 days!
I have to start with saying I am amazed at all the people who have reached out to me because of this blog. It's very flattering that so many of you (over 80 views yesterday!) are paying attention to what I'm doing right now. Thank you a million times!
I've mentioned in one of my previous posts that I have started a workout regimen yet. HOWEVER - I want to say that I have been trying to move more. I think that sometimes, those of us who have a lot of weight to lose, start to think of working out as this HUGE PROJECT that requires hours of commitment and sweat and constant soreness. When really, that's not necessarily the case. Weight loss is all about burning more calories, so anything you can do to get yourself up and moving more is a great step forward. Don't get me wrong - if you have the motivation to go to the gym for 2 hours a day, do it!! (As long as you're not over-exerting yourself or hurting yourself in any way.) But if you, like most people, dread the gym, do what works for you. This week, I have been taking short walks on my lunch break at work. I always bring my lunch to work, to avoid temptation from ordering at restaurants (also I'm broke because I just started this job, so there's that). And I have an hour to eat, which is far more than I need. So, in the first half of my lunch break, I explore the neighborhood around my office for about 20 minutes. Just walk at a normal pace and enjoy the scenery and the weather. Granted, this isn't possible for everyone. I'm lucky to work in a nice, safe, beautiful neighborhood with old houses that is close to the U of Texas campus. I'm also lucky to live in a state where November is a beautiful month to be outside. Plus, I sit at a desk the rest of the day so it's exceptionally great for my state of mine to move around for awhile. So maybe that's not the answer for you. But can you find something outside of the box to get you moving? Maybe you climb the stairs at your house a couple of times in the morning. Maybe you play Wii Fit/Xbox Kinect with your kids and make that a habit to do each day. Maybe you play with your dog or cat for an extra few minutes. Find something that works for you! And don't be overwhelmed by the workout monster!
Here's the food log:
7:15am - Wake up
8:00am - Apple Cinnamon Protein Shake (see Day 2 post for recipe). Coffee sweetened with stevia.
12:00pm - Turkey sausage sauteed with pico de gallo, onions and spinach. Topped with 1/2 an avocado. Water.
4:30pm - Mixed berries, about 20 almonds. Water.
7:00pm - Crock pot Curry Chicken (see below for recipe). Sparkling water with lemon slices.
11:15 - Bedtime!
Crock pot Curry Chicken - If you haven't noticed, I'm a BIG fan of crock pot recipes. I think they are the saving grace for all working people. Just toss stuff in in the morning, set it on low, and let it cook all day! Here's the trick to this recipe - put 1 lb. of chicken (I suggest frozen chicken. This keeps the chicken from drying out but also requires less work! If you use raw chicken, cook it for less time, 4-5 hours max), 1-2 tbsp olive oil, 2-3 tbsp of curry powder and 1/2 can of coconut milk. Set on low and cook for 6-8 hours. Don't worry, it won't be burned over overdone. It also won't be undercooked. I say this because the BF has little trust in crock pots. Everytime he cooks in one he's like "Should I brown the meat first? What about the vegetables?" In our generation of quick fixes and immediate options, I realize crock pots seem strange. But trust in the crock pot. TRUST IN THE CROCK POT!! When you get home from work, add whatever fresh veggies you like, and as much of them as you like. We put green beans, broccoli and onion. Add salt, pepper, red pepper and hot sauce to taste. Cook all this together for about an hour, and voila! You have homemade curry. (You can also put frozen veggies in, if you don't have fresh ones, but they may have to cook a little longer.) I say to add the vegetables later because you want them to absorb the flavor of the curry, but not become mushy. You could put this over a little bit of brown rice if you want, but I like it as is.
Day 4 was a really great day. I had a ton of energy today and hardly ever felt hungry. It's shocking how quickly my body is adjusting to this diet. I noticed that after I ate my fruit I got a sugar rush. My body is already not used to having sugar - even natural sugars from fruit will make me hyper!! That seems insane to me. Before, I could drink a coffee loaded with sugar and hardly notice the affects. No longer! I also expected to be hungry later on in the evening since I ate earlier, but I really didn't at all. Late night snacking was always a huge pitfall of mine so it's amazing that those cravings are starting to disappear.
That's all for today! Looking forward to writing something for you all tomorrow and for the next 17 days!
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Clean Eating - Day 3
Those of you who have been following my blog over the past few days as I documented my "clean eating foods" may be wondering - what made me decide to do this diet?
Quite honestly, it came from me being unemployed, sitting around, and watching too much HuluPlus. HuluPlus, unlike Netflix, has commercials during their shows. I kept seeing this commercial for a website called DailyBurn.com, which was offering a 30 day free trial, so I decided to check it out. This website basically lets you design a workout plan that you can do at home, and gives you a different workout each day so you don't get bored. When you first sign up, you get to choose what kind of workout plan you want, though you can always go back and change it. They have dance, yoga, weights - pretty much everything you could want. Most everything requires minimal to no equipment, so even beginners with no workout equipment in their home can find something to get them moving. Pretty cool, right? I certainly thought so. I signed up for the 30-day free trial pretty quickly. Even after the 30 days, it's only $10 per month which is DEFINITELY less than you would pay at a gym, especially if you are smart and split these workouts with your significant other/roommate/friend. Now, my laziness took over, and I haven't actually used any of their workouts. BUT I would imagine, with so much variety, there's gotta be something that works. Right? I'll get back to you when I know more . . . or post comments if you've tried it and let me know what you think!
That leads us to the diet plan. On DailyBurn.com, there is a nutrition plan that coincides with their workouts. You can add it to your membership for an extra $5 per month. That's where I saw the idea of a 21-day challenge. They call gluten, dairy, soy, added sugar, artificial sugar and alcohol the "Evil 6." At least for the 21-day period. They even say that after that period, you can start adding those things into your diet occasionally. Key word being occasionally. That is where I've been getting my protein shake recipes as well. (They also suggest that you buy their protein powder, which is quite pricey. I'm guessing this is where they make the bulk of their $$. But if you check my Day 2 post you can find a much cheaper version of protein powder that offers the same benefits. Only tradeoff - their powder is flavored chocolate or vanilla, and the other one I found is not. Your choice!)
Why do they choose these 6 things to eliminate? Basically, American diets are extremely heavy with all 6 of these things, and it's caused our bodies to overreact to them. The "evil 6" might once have been healthy things (ex. wheat & milk) but have since been so over-processed or genetically modified because of the high demand level, they now carry very few nutrients. A large amount of these 6 things in any diet often leads to problems such as inflammation, digestive trouble, and extra stress hormones (which nobody wants!). You know that "celiac disease" or "gluten-intolerance" that everyone has been talking about lately? It's developed recently (or at least, started to be recognized by the medical community recently) because so many people are having negative reactions to genetically altered wheat products. Lactose intolerance has been known for a long time. Our bodies are smarter than you think - they figured out "this is bad for us" and tried to fight digesting these foods, making a person sick. Now, things like added sugars & alcohol, we've always known that these weren't "healthy," and limiting your intake of them has always made good sense. It's just not something I've ever had the desire or willpower to do before!
I will willingly admit that I am not a doctor, nutritionist, or even super well researched on this subject, but I CAN say that this makes a lot of sense to me. If you have thoughts or rebuttals to any of these things I've said above, please make a comment below so we can discuss it! Or better yet, try eliminating these foods from your diet for like, 2 days, and tell me you don't feel better. You will have more energy. You won't get tired at 2pm like I used to do EVERY DAY. (It happened so often, I called it my 'sleepytime.') You won't carb crash, because the carbs you're taking in are healthy and you're eating far fewer of them. Your digestive system will be far more regular. You will sleep more soundly and feel well rested in the morning. If you don't - you might be doing it wrong. After just 3 full days of this, I already feel slimmer, more energetic, healthier and generally the way a 27 year old girl should feel. The The crazy thing is? I was SO USED to feeling crappy, bloated and tired that I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT WAS THE WRONG WAY TO FEEL. I thought I was just getting older, or overweight. I still am overweight, but I can tell you I do not feel the same as I did 3 days ago. I didn't know how extensively food can affect your entire well being, because I had been eating this food my whole life. And that's convincing enough for me.
I'm going to hop off the soap box now, but I really mean it when I say - comment if you have thoughts. I wanna hear 'em.
Here's food for day 3:
7:15am - Wake up
8:00am - Apple Cinnamon Protein Shake (see below for recipe). Black coffee.
11:30am - Pot Roast Pork Loin (see Day 2 for recipe), grilled yellow squash with olive oil & seasonings, brown rice (Yes, brown rice is ok to eat sparingly. That means not every day, or even every other day.) Iced tea, unsweetened.
4:30pm - Mixed berries, about 20 almonds. Water.
9:30pm - Egg scramble with turkey sausage, pico de gallo, salsa, bell peppers and avocado. Sparkling water with lime.
11:45 - Bedtime!
For anyone wondering why I ate dinner so late, I had a rehearsal that went until 9, so I wasn't able to eat until about 9:30. I planned on eating a snack before I left my day job at 6, but I wasn't hungry at the time, so I decided not to. This was probably a mistake, but I used to overeat all the time trying to fend off hunger, and I didn't want to make that mistake again. I did survive until 9:30 but I was a bit grumpy. In the future I won't be making this mistake!
Apple Cinnamon Protein Shake Recipe (I like this one better than the chocolate one I had the previous day!) - 2 scoops (or 1 serving) of protein powder, 1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce, 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 cup water.
I think that's it for today! THANK YOU for reading and supporting me in this journey!
Quite honestly, it came from me being unemployed, sitting around, and watching too much HuluPlus. HuluPlus, unlike Netflix, has commercials during their shows. I kept seeing this commercial for a website called DailyBurn.com, which was offering a 30 day free trial, so I decided to check it out. This website basically lets you design a workout plan that you can do at home, and gives you a different workout each day so you don't get bored. When you first sign up, you get to choose what kind of workout plan you want, though you can always go back and change it. They have dance, yoga, weights - pretty much everything you could want. Most everything requires minimal to no equipment, so even beginners with no workout equipment in their home can find something to get them moving. Pretty cool, right? I certainly thought so. I signed up for the 30-day free trial pretty quickly. Even after the 30 days, it's only $10 per month which is DEFINITELY less than you would pay at a gym, especially if you are smart and split these workouts with your significant other/roommate/friend. Now, my laziness took over, and I haven't actually used any of their workouts. BUT I would imagine, with so much variety, there's gotta be something that works. Right? I'll get back to you when I know more . . . or post comments if you've tried it and let me know what you think!
That leads us to the diet plan. On DailyBurn.com, there is a nutrition plan that coincides with their workouts. You can add it to your membership for an extra $5 per month. That's where I saw the idea of a 21-day challenge. They call gluten, dairy, soy, added sugar, artificial sugar and alcohol the "Evil 6." At least for the 21-day period. They even say that after that period, you can start adding those things into your diet occasionally. Key word being occasionally. That is where I've been getting my protein shake recipes as well. (They also suggest that you buy their protein powder, which is quite pricey. I'm guessing this is where they make the bulk of their $$. But if you check my Day 2 post you can find a much cheaper version of protein powder that offers the same benefits. Only tradeoff - their powder is flavored chocolate or vanilla, and the other one I found is not. Your choice!)
Why do they choose these 6 things to eliminate? Basically, American diets are extremely heavy with all 6 of these things, and it's caused our bodies to overreact to them. The "evil 6" might once have been healthy things (ex. wheat & milk) but have since been so over-processed or genetically modified because of the high demand level, they now carry very few nutrients. A large amount of these 6 things in any diet often leads to problems such as inflammation, digestive trouble, and extra stress hormones (which nobody wants!). You know that "celiac disease" or "gluten-intolerance" that everyone has been talking about lately? It's developed recently (or at least, started to be recognized by the medical community recently) because so many people are having negative reactions to genetically altered wheat products. Lactose intolerance has been known for a long time. Our bodies are smarter than you think - they figured out "this is bad for us" and tried to fight digesting these foods, making a person sick. Now, things like added sugars & alcohol, we've always known that these weren't "healthy," and limiting your intake of them has always made good sense. It's just not something I've ever had the desire or willpower to do before!
I will willingly admit that I am not a doctor, nutritionist, or even super well researched on this subject, but I CAN say that this makes a lot of sense to me. If you have thoughts or rebuttals to any of these things I've said above, please make a comment below so we can discuss it! Or better yet, try eliminating these foods from your diet for like, 2 days, and tell me you don't feel better. You will have more energy. You won't get tired at 2pm like I used to do EVERY DAY. (It happened so often, I called it my 'sleepytime.') You won't carb crash, because the carbs you're taking in are healthy and you're eating far fewer of them. Your digestive system will be far more regular. You will sleep more soundly and feel well rested in the morning. If you don't - you might be doing it wrong. After just 3 full days of this, I already feel slimmer, more energetic, healthier and generally the way a 27 year old girl should feel. The The crazy thing is? I was SO USED to feeling crappy, bloated and tired that I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT WAS THE WRONG WAY TO FEEL. I thought I was just getting older, or overweight. I still am overweight, but I can tell you I do not feel the same as I did 3 days ago. I didn't know how extensively food can affect your entire well being, because I had been eating this food my whole life. And that's convincing enough for me.
I'm going to hop off the soap box now, but I really mean it when I say - comment if you have thoughts. I wanna hear 'em.
Here's food for day 3:
7:15am - Wake up
8:00am - Apple Cinnamon Protein Shake (see below for recipe). Black coffee.
11:30am - Pot Roast Pork Loin (see Day 2 for recipe), grilled yellow squash with olive oil & seasonings, brown rice (Yes, brown rice is ok to eat sparingly. That means not every day, or even every other day.) Iced tea, unsweetened.
4:30pm - Mixed berries, about 20 almonds. Water.
9:30pm - Egg scramble with turkey sausage, pico de gallo, salsa, bell peppers and avocado. Sparkling water with lime.
11:45 - Bedtime!
For anyone wondering why I ate dinner so late, I had a rehearsal that went until 9, so I wasn't able to eat until about 9:30. I planned on eating a snack before I left my day job at 6, but I wasn't hungry at the time, so I decided not to. This was probably a mistake, but I used to overeat all the time trying to fend off hunger, and I didn't want to make that mistake again. I did survive until 9:30 but I was a bit grumpy. In the future I won't be making this mistake!
Apple Cinnamon Protein Shake Recipe (I like this one better than the chocolate one I had the previous day!) - 2 scoops (or 1 serving) of protein powder, 1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce, 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 cup water.
I think that's it for today! THANK YOU for reading and supporting me in this journey!
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Clean Eating - Day 2
Welcome!
Before I go into my food list for Day 2, I want to talk a little bit about why I haven't mentioned a work out plan for this diet. First of all, it's completely fine if you do work out. This diet is not about limiting your calorie intake, so you can work out as thoroughly as you like. Just make sure you are taking in some nutrients both before and after your workout to refuel your body. Ryan and I both very much want to get to the gym. But, we decided to just focus on our food intake this week. It's such a drastic change for us, we really wanted to give the diet a week to settle in before we added the complication of pre and post workout food. That was just our decision - you do what's best for you!
I'm also including my wake-up/bedtimes because the diet suggests you eat within 60 minutes of waking up, and finish eating 3 hours before you go to bed. And make sure you're getting 8 hours in between. I'm cutting it close in all of those aspects, which is something I need to work on!
3:30pm - about 20 almonds, grapes, blueberries. Water.
Cucumber Chips: This is a brand new recipe I tried today and I was VERY impressed. Skin a cucumber, and slice into thin rounds. Be careful how thick/thin your slices are - thicker slices will take longer to cook but will hold up better if you want to use them for dips. Thinner slices will take less time to cook, but you'll have to eat them solo. Also, you run the risk of burning them, so be careful. Coat the cucumber chips in olive oil and salt to your liking. Place on a baking sheet and cook at 200 for at least an hour. Here's where the thickness of your slices come into play - my thicker slices took 2.5 hours, thinner slices about an hour. If you have a food dehydrator, you can also use that.
I have to say that the BF was a little dubious about this recipe, not being a fan of cucumbers in the first place. But he LOVED them. He literally said I could cook them everyday if I wanted. They really are a great substitute if you're like me and crave salty, crunchy things at night.
Day 2 was a generally good day, although I did experience a pretty sharp headache at around 4pm. I don't think it was a caffeine headache, as I had coffee and tea yesterday. I think it may have been my body going through a slight detox from lack of sugar, but that's just my best guess. It didn't last too long, but it certainly wasn't pleasant. Also, people brought community donuts AND fried chicken into my office today and it took all my willpower to resist. But I did! Protip: When you smell something delicious that you're not allowed to eat, find something healthy to munch on. I dug in to my fruit and almonds a little earlier than usual to keep intense hunger at bay, which kept me from eating badly.
That was Day 2! Check back tomorrow for more updates and thank you for reading! I was completed amazed to see that over 50 people read my last post in less than 24 hours. WOW! I'm so flattered and I hope that all of you get something out of this blog! I know I certainly do. Love & harmony to you!
Before I go into my food list for Day 2, I want to talk a little bit about why I haven't mentioned a work out plan for this diet. First of all, it's completely fine if you do work out. This diet is not about limiting your calorie intake, so you can work out as thoroughly as you like. Just make sure you are taking in some nutrients both before and after your workout to refuel your body. Ryan and I both very much want to get to the gym. But, we decided to just focus on our food intake this week. It's such a drastic change for us, we really wanted to give the diet a week to settle in before we added the complication of pre and post workout food. That was just our decision - you do what's best for you!
I'm also including my wake-up/bedtimes because the diet suggests you eat within 60 minutes of waking up, and finish eating 3 hours before you go to bed. And make sure you're getting 8 hours in between. I'm cutting it close in all of those aspects, which is something I need to work on!
Now, here's the list of my Day 2 foods for your inspection:
November 5, 2013
7:00am - Rise and Shine!
7:00am - Rise and Shine!
8:00am - chocolate protein shake (see below for recipe)
12:00pm - chicken fajita salad (see post on Clean Eating - Day One for recipe) with olive oil & lemon dressing. Iced tea, unsweetened.
3:30pm - about 20 almonds, grapes, blueberries. Water.
7:00pm - slow cooker pork loin (see below for recipe). Sparkling water with lemon slices.
9:30pm - cucumber chips (see below for recipe)
11:30pm - Bedtime
Chocolate Protein Shake Recipe: 2 scoops protein powder of your choice, 1/3 cup coconut milk, 8 oz. coffee, 2 scoops of cocoa powder, 1 stevia. **Important - I had to work pretty hard to find a gluten, dairy and soy free protein powder. I did finally find one By Naturade called "Soy-Free Veg Protein Booster" blend, made from peas & beans mostly. You can find it on AllStarHealth.com if your grocery store doesn't supply it.
Slow Cooker Pork Loin Recipe: This is a great, easy, filling recipe that makes a TON of food. You can eat leftovers for days or freeze a few portions. It's super simple - put about 3 lbs. of pork loin, 4 cups of chopped cauliflower, 2 cups of chopped zucchini, and 12 oz. of tomato sauce in a crock pot. Add some rosemary, thyme, or Italian seasoning (or all 3 if you're feeling particularly spicy). Put on low and cook for 6-7 hours. When it's done, season to your liking. You can put this with brown rice, sliced vegetables, or just eat it by itself with some hot sauce. It's very filling, so just find your favorite spice combination and enjoy!
9:30pm - cucumber chips (see below for recipe)
11:30pm - Bedtime
Chocolate Protein Shake Recipe: 2 scoops protein powder of your choice, 1/3 cup coconut milk, 8 oz. coffee, 2 scoops of cocoa powder, 1 stevia. **Important - I had to work pretty hard to find a gluten, dairy and soy free protein powder. I did finally find one By Naturade called "Soy-Free Veg Protein Booster" blend, made from peas & beans mostly. You can find it on AllStarHealth.com if your grocery store doesn't supply it.
Slow Cooker Pork Loin Recipe: This is a great, easy, filling recipe that makes a TON of food. You can eat leftovers for days or freeze a few portions. It's super simple - put about 3 lbs. of pork loin, 4 cups of chopped cauliflower, 2 cups of chopped zucchini, and 12 oz. of tomato sauce in a crock pot. Add some rosemary, thyme, or Italian seasoning (or all 3 if you're feeling particularly spicy). Put on low and cook for 6-7 hours. When it's done, season to your liking. You can put this with brown rice, sliced vegetables, or just eat it by itself with some hot sauce. It's very filling, so just find your favorite spice combination and enjoy!
Cucumber Chips: This is a brand new recipe I tried today and I was VERY impressed. Skin a cucumber, and slice into thin rounds. Be careful how thick/thin your slices are - thicker slices will take longer to cook but will hold up better if you want to use them for dips. Thinner slices will take less time to cook, but you'll have to eat them solo. Also, you run the risk of burning them, so be careful. Coat the cucumber chips in olive oil and salt to your liking. Place on a baking sheet and cook at 200 for at least an hour. Here's where the thickness of your slices come into play - my thicker slices took 2.5 hours, thinner slices about an hour. If you have a food dehydrator, you can also use that.
I have to say that the BF was a little dubious about this recipe, not being a fan of cucumbers in the first place. But he LOVED them. He literally said I could cook them everyday if I wanted. They really are a great substitute if you're like me and crave salty, crunchy things at night.
Day 2 was a generally good day, although I did experience a pretty sharp headache at around 4pm. I don't think it was a caffeine headache, as I had coffee and tea yesterday. I think it may have been my body going through a slight detox from lack of sugar, but that's just my best guess. It didn't last too long, but it certainly wasn't pleasant. Also, people brought community donuts AND fried chicken into my office today and it took all my willpower to resist. But I did! Protip: When you smell something delicious that you're not allowed to eat, find something healthy to munch on. I dug in to my fruit and almonds a little earlier than usual to keep intense hunger at bay, which kept me from eating badly.
That was Day 2! Check back tomorrow for more updates and thank you for reading! I was completed amazed to see that over 50 people read my last post in less than 24 hours. WOW! I'm so flattered and I hope that all of you get something out of this blog! I know I certainly do. Love & harmony to you!
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Clean Eating - Day 1
Hello friends, followers and fellow bloggers!
I am sad to notice that it has been over a year and a half since my last post. The last time I posted here, I was about to run a half marathon. I'm proud to say I did complete that half marathon, and it was an amazing experience. I didn't do it in an impressive amount of time (it was just shy of 3 hours), but I did finish that race and I'm still very proud of that accomplishment. It's something I will never forget.
On the flip side, I have been in a slump for the last year. I haven't been working out regularly, and I certainly haven't been eating to compensate for that. There are a lot of reasons for this, but they seem like only excuses at this point. I'm disappointed in myself for letting all the hard work that I did to become healthier slip away.
So, I am taking new steps to improve my health and quality of life. Starting yesterday, my sweet boyfriend and I are embarking on a 21-day clean eating challenge. This means: no gluten, no dairy, no soy, no sugar, no artificial sweeteners, and no alcohol. For 3 weeks. We know that it is going to take a lot longer than 3 weeks to get where we want to be, but we want this to be our kick start project.
Here's some background on why we decided to go this route. I often struggle with making good food choices - in my opinion, it is the hardest thing about losing weight. I find it much easier to go to the gym than to say no to chips or a few beers. In fact, I'm that person that says "I worked out today, so I can eat all this cheese (substitute your favorite guilty pleasure food here)!" So, by making a concrete decision to avoid those foods for awhile, I think it will force me to make good food decisions, and hopefully teach my body (and brain) to crave healthy things instead of unhealthy ones. After these 21 days, it is my personal hope that we can follow this clean eating diet 80% of the time. You cannot go through life denying yourself of everything all the time - it just doesn't work in the long term. But by following the rules most of the time, and indulging yourself on occasion, you can keep a healthy (and sane) lifestyle. There were also MANY things I read about the benefits of clean eating, but I will save those for another blog. BECAUSE ....
Over the next 21 days I will be posting EVERYTHING I EAT RIGHT HERE. I'm doing this for two important reasons. 1 - to hold myself accountable. 2 - to hopefully give someone who might be considering a clean eating diet some food ideas (recipes will be included). At the end of the 21 days, I will also post an update on how my body changed with weight and measurements. Cool? Ok - here we go!
Monday, November 4
7:00am - rise and shine!
8:00am - 2 scrambled eggs with salsa (made fresh by HEB, NOT from a bottle!), salt and pepper. Coffee sweetened with stevia. (If you don't know about stevia, it's a totally natural sweetener that is not sugar, so it is ok to use on this diet! It's awesome!)
11:30am - chicken fajita salad. Grilled chicken with grilled onions & bell peppers, seasoned with cumin, oregano, salt and peper. Serve over lettuce with 1/2 an avocado. Homemade dressing - olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper, dry mustard. Full recipe here: http://localfoods.about.com/od/salads/r/LemonGarlicDres.htm. Water.
3:00pm - Cappuccino larabar. Carbonated water with 2 slices of lime. (Larabars are an amazing invention - they're in the nutrition aisle of your grocery store, most likely, with all the granola bars & protein bars. But they're made of JUST fruit and nuts, sometimes raw chocolate depending on the flavor you choose. Certainly preferable to most protein bars that have a bunch of processed stuff in them. The cappuccino one has the following ingredients: dates, almonds, cashews, fair trade coffee & vanilla extract, for about 200 calories. They are a great easy snack that requires no prep from you. May I also suggest the blueberry muffin, banana bread, and peanut butter cookie flavors.)
6:00pm - grapes, strawberries, about 20 almonds. Water.
9:00pm - 6 ounces of baked salmon, seasoned to your liking. Spaghetti squash. Asparagus with lemon juice and olive oil. Water.
11:30pm - bed!
As a side note - my boyfriend (Ryan) has to work late a few days this week, which is why we had such a late dinner. Ideally, I would like to eat much earlier than this. I also want to state for the record that overall throughout the day I had energy and did not feel excessively hungry. I did get a little tired about 8:00pm, but I think that's due to the fact that we ate later than we normally would.
And that's it! Leave your comments & questions below if you feel so inclined!
I am sad to notice that it has been over a year and a half since my last post. The last time I posted here, I was about to run a half marathon. I'm proud to say I did complete that half marathon, and it was an amazing experience. I didn't do it in an impressive amount of time (it was just shy of 3 hours), but I did finish that race and I'm still very proud of that accomplishment. It's something I will never forget.
On the flip side, I have been in a slump for the last year. I haven't been working out regularly, and I certainly haven't been eating to compensate for that. There are a lot of reasons for this, but they seem like only excuses at this point. I'm disappointed in myself for letting all the hard work that I did to become healthier slip away.
So, I am taking new steps to improve my health and quality of life. Starting yesterday, my sweet boyfriend and I are embarking on a 21-day clean eating challenge. This means: no gluten, no dairy, no soy, no sugar, no artificial sweeteners, and no alcohol. For 3 weeks. We know that it is going to take a lot longer than 3 weeks to get where we want to be, but we want this to be our kick start project.
Here's some background on why we decided to go this route. I often struggle with making good food choices - in my opinion, it is the hardest thing about losing weight. I find it much easier to go to the gym than to say no to chips or a few beers. In fact, I'm that person that says "I worked out today, so I can eat all this cheese (substitute your favorite guilty pleasure food here)!" So, by making a concrete decision to avoid those foods for awhile, I think it will force me to make good food decisions, and hopefully teach my body (and brain) to crave healthy things instead of unhealthy ones. After these 21 days, it is my personal hope that we can follow this clean eating diet 80% of the time. You cannot go through life denying yourself of everything all the time - it just doesn't work in the long term. But by following the rules most of the time, and indulging yourself on occasion, you can keep a healthy (and sane) lifestyle. There were also MANY things I read about the benefits of clean eating, but I will save those for another blog. BECAUSE ....
Over the next 21 days I will be posting EVERYTHING I EAT RIGHT HERE. I'm doing this for two important reasons. 1 - to hold myself accountable. 2 - to hopefully give someone who might be considering a clean eating diet some food ideas (recipes will be included). At the end of the 21 days, I will also post an update on how my body changed with weight and measurements. Cool? Ok - here we go!
Monday, November 4
7:00am - rise and shine!
8:00am - 2 scrambled eggs with salsa (made fresh by HEB, NOT from a bottle!), salt and pepper. Coffee sweetened with stevia. (If you don't know about stevia, it's a totally natural sweetener that is not sugar, so it is ok to use on this diet! It's awesome!)
11:30am - chicken fajita salad. Grilled chicken with grilled onions & bell peppers, seasoned with cumin, oregano, salt and peper. Serve over lettuce with 1/2 an avocado. Homemade dressing - olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper, dry mustard. Full recipe here: http://localfoods.about.com/od/salads/r/LemonGarlicDres.htm. Water.
3:00pm - Cappuccino larabar. Carbonated water with 2 slices of lime. (Larabars are an amazing invention - they're in the nutrition aisle of your grocery store, most likely, with all the granola bars & protein bars. But they're made of JUST fruit and nuts, sometimes raw chocolate depending on the flavor you choose. Certainly preferable to most protein bars that have a bunch of processed stuff in them. The cappuccino one has the following ingredients: dates, almonds, cashews, fair trade coffee & vanilla extract, for about 200 calories. They are a great easy snack that requires no prep from you. May I also suggest the blueberry muffin, banana bread, and peanut butter cookie flavors.)
6:00pm - grapes, strawberries, about 20 almonds. Water.
9:00pm - 6 ounces of baked salmon, seasoned to your liking. Spaghetti squash. Asparagus with lemon juice and olive oil. Water.
11:30pm - bed!
As a side note - my boyfriend (Ryan) has to work late a few days this week, which is why we had such a late dinner. Ideally, I would like to eat much earlier than this. I also want to state for the record that overall throughout the day I had energy and did not feel excessively hungry. I did get a little tired about 8:00pm, but I think that's due to the fact that we ate later than we normally would.
And that's it! Leave your comments & questions below if you feel so inclined!
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