My snacks today

I have been a rockstar with following the meal plan this week.  I am so proud of myself for sticking to my containers and keeping myself accountable and on track.   The eating is always what slips me up because I have one slip up and then it's just a downhill spiral of extra containers until I am totally not even following the meal plan.

Today I made two snacks to keep on hand for the rest of the week.  One was deviled eggs and the other was Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Shakeology balls <- Yes! You read that right..Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough!  ON THE FIX!  

I am so much better at staying on track when it's ready and in the fridge so I can grab and go.  That's why meal prep really makes this so much easier for me to succeed at keeping my nutrition in check.

Here are the recipes

Deviled Eggs

6 hard boiled eggs

2 tbsp mustard

2 tbsp greek yogurt

Hot sauce

Paprika

1.Empty Yolks into a bowl and add mustard, greek yogurt,(as much of both to get the consistency you prefer), a few dashed of hot sauce. 

2. Combine all together and put into plastic baggie to use as piping bag.

3.Use baggie to fill egg halves up, the sprinkle with paprika. 

Fix Portions | 1 red

Makes 3 servings, serving size 4 halves

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Shakeology Balls 

½ cup all-natural almond butter
¼ cup raw honey
½ cup finely chopped raw almonds
2 ½ scoops Vanilla Shakeology
2 Tbsp. mini semi-sweet (or dark chocolate) chocolate chips

1. Combine almond butter, honey, almonds, Shakeology, and chocolate chips in a medium bowl; mix well.
2. Roll into thirteen balls, about 1-inch in diameter each.

Fix Portions | 1 Yellow + 1 tsp.

Makes 13 servings, serving size 1 bite (ball) 

Time to get serious!! Back on the 21 Day Fix

September was sort of a crap shoot.  I had good intentions of staying on track but after finished Country Heat in August, I thought I would just wing it in September and that didn't work at all.

My eating was more like 50/50 instead of 80/20 and my workouts were less than impressive.  So tomorrow Jason and I are cracking down and starting the 21 Day Fix and we are hitting it HARD.  I have our meal plan ready for the week, the food is prepped and in the fridge and I am ready to feel better, stronger and healthier.  I struggle so much with having one bad day and then it turns into a bad week, then a bad month and so on.  So we are doing this together, plus my support group starting October 10th will be even more accountability.

Meal Plan for the week

I do better when I keep it really simple, so I stick with what works.  I figure out our dinners and then I eat very basic the rest of the day.  I always have my Shakeology for breakfast because that is my one non-negotiable for the day but sometimes lunch is light and then I have a snack mid afternoon.  I really just listen to my body and eat when it tells me I am hungry.

Going back the 21 Day Fix is actually really exciting for me.  It's the program that started it all and it's so easy to follow that I know it will help me get back on track and drop the few pounds of "fluff" I have put on over the summer.   

Do you need accountability also?  Let's do it together!  I have a group starting October 10th and I will help you reach your goals and stay on track with your workouts and nutrition.   Plus, I am entering everyone who joins by October 3rd into a raffle for a FIXATE cookbook which is loaded with recipes that are ALL approved to eat on the program.  Shoot me an email if you want more information or fill out this form.

When you really want Beef & Broccoli and don't have most of the ingredients...

I was at the store wandering the aisles (which I always advise NOT to do) but I saw thinly sliced stir fry steak in the meat section and instantly thought BEEF & BROCCOLI and I have been craving if for days.   I was at a Health Fair all days and really didn't feel like cooking when I went home but my options were Shakeology and listen to Jason mention repeatedly that we had no food in the house OR I could make Beef & Broccoli - which still could get complaints because Jason doesn't eat broccoli.  I am pleased to announce that he eat it AND said it was good.  I'm going to call that a WINNER WINNER STIR FRY DINNER (ha ha get it?)   

The beef was still cooking - that's why it is so pink ;)

That was a great plan until I looked up recipes and realized the ONLY ingredients I had were the actual beef and broccoli. (insert annoyed face) so I decided I would improvise and hope for the best.  

It turned out SO good, was 21 Day Fix approved and super easy.   If you want to try it out I will post the recipe below. 

Ingredients:

¼ cup reduced-sodium soy sauce or Braggs Liquid Aminos
6 Tbsp. water, divided use
2 Tbsp. flour,
1 Tbsp. Organic honey
1 lb. Raw Top Sirloin Beef - Sliced into ½-inch thick pieces
1 tsp. Coconut oil
4 cups Broccoli florets (i used frozen)
2 Cloves Garlic,minced

1/2 tsp Ginger

1 cup Quinoa/Rice blend, cooked according to package.

Preparation:

1. Combine soy sauce, 4 Tbsp. water, 1 Tbsp. flour, and honey in a small bowl; mix well. Set aside.
2. Combine remaining 1 Tbsp. four and 2 Tbsp. water in a large bowl; mix well. Add beef. Toss gently to coat.
3. Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat.
4. Add beef; cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes, or until cooked through and no longer pink. Remove from skillet, keep warm.
5. Steam broccoli until thawed and cooked but still has a little crunch
6. Add soy sauce mixture to skillet; cook, stirring constantly, over medium-high heat for 30 seconds, or until thickened.
7. Return beef and broccoli mixture to skillet; cook, for 1 to 2 minutes, or until well mixed and heated through. Top quinoa/rice blend with beef and broccoli mixture

SERVE & ENJOY!!! 

Recipe Yields - 4 Serving, 1 Cup Each 

21 Day Fix Container Count: 

1 Red, 1 Yellow, 1 Green 

Wanna try out the 21 Day Fix?  Apply here to join my next upcoming Challenge Group

http://bit.ly/dm87fit

Reeses Smoothie Bowl

I have been watching this "smoothie bowl" phenomenon unfold and they always look so good but they looked so hard to make.   I was challenged to make a smoothie bowl by another coach on our team...and being the competitive person I am...it was GAME ON.  

Tonight for dinner I had this beauty-

It tasted just as delicious and it looks.  And I literally made the recipe up and threw it together.  (LOVE when that happens).

Smoothie Bowl in process :) 

Ingredients:

1 scoop/packet vegan (or regular) Chocolate Shakeology

1 small banana, frozen in chunks

4 oz. almond milk

6 ice cubes

1 tsp. natural peanut butter

Directions:

1. Blend shakeology, frozen banana, almond milk, ice and pb together in blender.  
2. Pour into shallow bowl
3. Top with chopped almonds, dark chocolate and a drizzle of peanut butter

21 Day Fix Counts:

1 PURPLE

1 RED

3 tsp (PB and Toppings)

1/2 YELLOW

Meal Planning Made SIMPLE

Meal planning has never been my strong area.  I didn't understand how people did it, I thought it was something only "fitness competitors who lived on chicken and rice did". Plus it seemed like SOOO MUCH WORK!!  Has anyone else ever been there? 

Let me explain what my weekly grocery store trip looked like "Pre-Beachbody"  -  I would make a list of the normal things I needed for the week like milk, bread and eggs.  Then I would add things we were low and on get the staples like granola bars, snacks and anything else that came to mind.  Then I would go to the store and walk up and down every aisle!  Not shocking, I would get home and have spent twice as much as I planned and have a ton of food.  Most of the time I would think we would eat healthy so I would buy way more produce than we could eat and then I would have to toss it because it would go bad.   (keep in mind I HATE wasting food) 

I just had no game plan, we would get home from the store after spending tons on money and STILL couldn't find anything for dinner because I hadn't actually bought things for meals. 

It was a disaster and this is how I shopped every week!  So embarrassing! 

Now, lets jump to "Post-Beachbody"...   I was desperate for something, anything that would be a quick fix and help me lose weight because, after all, I was the quick fix queen and then when one didn't work I was on the to the next.    So when my coach repeatedly told me the 21 Day Fix wasn't a "diet" but it was a lifestyle change I was like "ya ya ok, we shall see!" haha sorry April!  

Anyway, meal planning was recommended and talked about OVER and OVER and OVER so I decided that I would give it a try and see exactly what it was all about.  Plus I had these cute little color coded tupperware containers now that would make it easier.  

Did it happen overnight? Hell No! I failed...A LOT, but I failed forward and kept trying and getting better because I was actually seeing results for the first time in FOREVER.   Today, 14 months later I make a meal plan EVERY Sunday and then I meal prep because it's a life saver!  So now when I go grocery shopping I have a plan! 

I look at the sales in my area and then find recipes that use the ingredients on sale,  I use an excel spreadsheet to create a template for my meal plan and fill it out for the whole week.  We eat the same thing for a few days, I'm not about to cook every single night. So once the meal plan is done I make my grocery list and then I stick to only the list at the store.  Instead of buying 10 fruit options have have 2 or 3.  It cuts down on waste and we don't eat that much fruit anyway.   Once I get home it's time to start prepping!  All the fruit and veggies get washed and I use my containers to portion everything into ready to grab snack baggies or tupperware containers.  I get everything ready for the week I can and pre-measure it, I am so much less likely to overeat that way. 

Here is this weeks meal plan:

So today I made the taco meal, sliced peppers, and diced my lettuce, tomato and avocado for the tacos also.  The next two days are ready to go! 

I also made half a dozen hard boiled eggs, washed and portioned out my grapes.  I tend to keep it really simple for my meals also.  I just look through the meal guide and pick a protein, grain and veggie.  Our food has tons of flavor and nutrition so we don't ever feel like we are eating like rabbits.  

I checked on Amazon and found these containers so our whole meal can be ready to go in the fridge, we just heat it up and eat. 

Moral of the story, spending a few hours on Sunday (or whatever day works for your schedule) really does save TONS of time and headache during the week.  Meal planning and prepping is KEY to staying on track and once you get into the routine is super easy.   I make sure my challengers have all the support they need because I have been there and know it can be overwhelming.   SO KEEP IT SIMPLE! 

Do you struggle with nutrition, eating or meal planning?  I would love to help you! We have another boot camp starting on September 5th and I will walk you through everything.   Check out more details here --->  https://www.facebook.com/events/327546750912107/

or check me out LIVE tomorrow at 3 PM EST on Facebook :)  (it will be in the event in the above paragraph <3 ) 

   

Does clean eating really work?

This was a question I always wondered.  My body seems to react much better to my food intake vs. exercise for weight loss.  However, it always seemed like I have to starve myself to get the results I want which we all know isn't healthy.  This past week I participated in a 5 day Clean Eating Challenge.  It was simple - no processed food, no sugar, lots of water and lots of fruits, veggies and lean protein.  

Now, coming off a holiday weekend where I overindulged in margaritas and carb loaded may have helped my results but I was still blown away by how much by body changed in just FIVE days. I didn't get on the scale because I really didn't want to see the number and have it ruin my day or make me feel like I could overindulge so I went by measurements.   In those 5 days I lost a total of 6 inches from my stomach and hips.  Our whole group lost a combined total of 33.5 inches in five days! Most of these results were also with minimal exercise.  

I felt so much better and it was so easy to stick to (for the most part).  I didn't feel starved or deprived, it really made me aware of the choices I was making and the accountability of the group make me want to push through.  

Eating out is always a struggle for me.  I walk in to the restaurant with the best intentions of making healthy choices but it usually goes out the window when I order because I feel it's a "treat" or that I have earned that order of fries.  But, this time I stuck to my guns!  I ordered my usual but opted for no bun and a side of fresh fruit instead of the french fries.  I left feeling full but not that OMG I need to lay down or go jog full (like usual). 

I am getting ready to kick off our July bootcamp on Monday and I am more determined than ever to really stick to the meal plan for 21 days.  I mean, I did it for 5 so I can do it for 21 :)   

Your body really does react to what you put in it, Stay tuned for the latest results!!!

My new pasta obsession!

We are big pasta eaters in my house.  It is so easy and affordable and there are a bazillion ways to make it.  A few months ago a challenger told me about these brown rice/quinoa noodles and I was slightly skeptical.  I mean...pasta is pasta! 

I found these at our local Aldi so I decided to give them a try.  I am happy to say they will now be a staple in my pantry at ALL times.  With only two ingredients : Organic Brown Rice and Organic Quinoa they are very clean and actually taste like real noodles. I will be stocking up next time I go to the store and I can't wait to try them in my pasta salad recipe.   I actually feel like I am not as full and heavy like I am after eating pasta.  

The best part is that they still fit into my meal plan!!  I added spaghetti sauce with limited ingredients, some ground turkey and seasoned up the sauce with garlic, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes for extra yum.  I added some shredded mozzarella on top but forgot to take a pic of that (that's what the blue container is for)

Ingredients:
-1 pound ground turkey or ground turkey sausage

-1 jar spaghetti sauce or marinara (try to find one with as little ingredients as possible)

-1 bag of brown rice/quinoa noodles

-shredded mozzarella (optional)

Directions:
1. Brown meat in skillet and drain any fat
2. Add sauce to skillet and heat through
3. Boil pasta according to bag, drain.
4. Mix cooked pasta into skillet with meat sauce and stir.
5. Serve and sprinkle with shredded cheese if desired.

One serving is 1 yellow, 1 purple, 1 red, 1 blue (if using cheese)

Never miss a Monday!

I always do so good when I start a new round of the 21 Day Fix or the 21 Day Fix EXTREME.   I love how much more the extreme workouts challenge me so I try to alternate and mix things up so my body doesn't plateau.    

The first week I am super on the ball with the workouts and the eating but it always seems like sometime during the second week I let myself fall off the wagon and then I can't get back on.  It might start out small as an order of french fries or a margarita (which would be totally fine if that's where it stopped).  I find myself telling me that I earned it so it's fine and that usually turns into another cheat tomorrow and the next day and then a skipped workout here and there.  By the end of the third week I am eating horribly and not working out consistently.  

I have done both programs start to finish at least once consistently and the results are amazing.  The only thing standing in my way is ME and my willpower.  So I am determined to go hard and go strong in July.  It is only 3 weeks and I KNOW I can do it.  I am going to have my challenger keep me super accountable and make sure I check in several times a day with my accountability buddy.    

Wanna do it with us??? 

I will spend the time until July 11th getting myself back on track with other workouts and really watching what I eat.  I know I won't be perfect but as long as I am aware and better than I used to be I will call it a win.  This is a LIFESTYLE and a journey; not a quick fix and a destination.  

Veggies & Dip

I have always liked vegetables for the most part.  I wasn't really ever the kid whose mom had to constantly say "Eat your vegetables before you can get away from the table".  I also wasn't ever the person who craved veggies.   Then I discovered (like most Americans) that everything is better with ranch on it :) so I started always dipping cut up veggies in ranch dressing.  If you are following the 21 Day Fix meal plan though you will soon learn that ranch is NOT AT ALL approved unless you make a homemade version.

I stumbled upon this gem at the grocery store and it has changed my ranch obsession for LIFE.

Greek Yogurt Feta & Dill dressing!  It's the bomb dot com and I put it on EVERYTHING I can now.  I count it as an orange container but it has so much flavor that a tiny bit goes a long way.  Cut of veggies with some of this to dip is now my go-to snack and my green container intake has significantly increased now.  

I found this bottle of OPA at Walmart in the product section (by the guacamole) but I am sure other supermarkets carry it as well.    ENJOY!!!