The "Clean Eating" Band Wagon.....

........I am officially on it. :)  It's been a really great week.  One thing that made it super easy was preparing all my food for the week last Saturday.  I prepared turkey muffins, salsa chicken, crock pot oatmeal, a lot of fruits and veggies easy to grab, boiled eggs, brown rice, barley, black beans, other things like unsweetened almond milk, greek yogurt, cottage cheese, etc.  I made everything last weekend. I now understand the importance of preparing your meals ahead of time, picking a day before the coming week and just doing it.  It helped so much and kept me on track all week.  I did have a cookie on Wednesday, eh, but what the heck.  I'm not super perfect! I don't I ever want to be super perfect with it, just pretty good at it. ;) I think a treat every now and again is okay. Once I get more in control and really good at the whole eating clean thing I will probably take a cheat meal once a week.  {My birthday is coming up next week...haha, I might start that whole cheat meal idea sooner than later..haha.} But anyway, I felt so good all week. I've made sure to take a multivitamin every morning and I take omega 3 fish oil supplements at night with dinner. After a workout I also usually have my Perfect fit Protein Shake.  I also drink a lot of water, I can now drink 88 oz pretty easily everyday, sometimes more. It use to be so hard for me to get all those ounces in.

I also started following Jamie Eason's 12 week trainer.  I modified it a little bit, I'm doing it all at home instead of going to the gym.  The gym might work better for others, it sometimes keeps you more motivated, etc.  But, we have a Bowflex that we've hardly used for like 8 years and I figured I could do all or most the exercises with that and my dumb bells. It makes it so easy so I can exercise while the kids play or early in the morning before they wake up.  For the first 4 weeks the program calls for No Cardio.  I was and still am a little worried about that.  I don't want to get behind on my running.  But, I do understand the importance of focusing on building more muscle and then once you start the Cardio again, the fat will hopefully burn off and the muscle you built will show through.  We will see. :)  Week 2 here I come.

I think this Clean Eating approved list is very helpful, I printed my own version out and stuck it on my fridge because sometimes what's clean and what's not can be confusing at first.

A couple helpful sites, if you haven't seen these you should probably check them out if all this clean eating talk interests you.
www.whitneycarlson.com (her personal website, food ideas, etc)
www.heandsheeatclean.com (her combined website with her husband and another couple, very good site, great info and motivation)

For some more motivation watch this transformation video, I love a good transformation story ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkTK5WI5MzM&feature=youtu.be

LiveFit 12-week Program

I've been eyeing Jamie Eason's training for a while now.  I love how her LiveFit 12-week program is set up.  I am starting this tomorrow!!! Yay!! I've stocked my fridge, made most of my meals & snacks for the week so they are fast and easy.  I'm ready to go.  

I love the idea of a new challenge.  I've tried many programs, but don't always do the diet exactly or stick it out to the very end.  So, this time I need to do it all!! Diet and Exercise! Will you please help keep me accountable?!

If you'd like to start it, it would be fun to have somebody to talk to about it.  Let me know :)

I love how it tells you exactly what exercises to do and exactly what to eat.  That's what I need for sure. 

I'm a little worried about the no cardio for a month in the 1st phase.  I don't want any set backs on my running.  We'll see...maybe I'll try and do only 1 run a week or something. 

12 weeks here we go!! 

Have a great Week!

Tracking your Health & Fitness online

Get health and fitness advice at Greatist.com

A Get started guide to Clean Eating!

I love this website.  It's one of my favorites. They always have great info and proves that you can get the body you want by doing what they did with out any gimmicks.  I've been doing pretty well at clean eating.  I'm not super strict with myself.  If I have a slip up, I just get back on the wagon.  But, I love the way I feel when eating clean and exercising.  If you want to lose weight, tone up, and feel more confident,  I believe that eating clean and exercising is the only way to do it!!  I can't wait to have a great result by reaching my ultimate goal.  Are you ready to get healthier, are you ready to reach your ultimate goals with your weight?  Read this quick getting started guide to be well on your way.  I know you and I can do it together.

Keep in touch with my Facebook group for motivation and discussion on all things health and fitness.

Healthy 4th of July Treat

The kids and I put this together real quick today!  Isn't it cute!

Blueberries, Bananas and Strawberries....oh my! 

Dip the bananas in pineapple juice to help them from turning brown.  It adds some yummy flavor too.  Just put them on skewers and you have a fun yummy treat for the 4th! (or anytime)

 We love this fruit dip.  So easy and yummy! 

You need:

Sugar Free & Fat free vanilla instant pudding mix box (1.5 oz)

Dannon Light n fit vanilla yogurt (32 oz)

Fat free whipped topping (or cool whip)

Whisk all ingredients together and you have a pretty healthy fruit dip and it's really good too!

Now you have a fun snack for you and your family or to take to a party!! Yay!

Fruit and fruit dip makes a great snack anytime.  My kids love it!!

Have a Happy 4th!!

Teenage thoughts & body issues!

I've been working with this young girl.  She has major issues with food.  She almost doesn't think she has an eating disorder because she isn't super skinny.  But, she really does.  She can't eat around people, she can hardly eat at all during the day because her body is now use to starvation mode and then she finally starves so long that she binges.  Then, she feels so horrible about herself.    She gets major anxiety when she knows she is going to have to eat in front of people.  She can't do it, she gets so scared and sick.  All these issues stems from her childhood and the things her family says to her.  She thinks starvation mode is the way she can get the body she wants.  But, little does she realize it is the opposite way to do it.  I try to motivate her and help her.  I get many texts through out the day of her struggles.  She should be getting into counseling soon which I am so happy about and I hope it helps her a lot.

It is so sad the way we are sometimes as women, the way we see ourselves, the way we compare ourselves to others, the way we feel not good enough or pretty enough.

This makes me nervous as a mom of girls myself.  How any little thing can change them and make them feel not good about themselves.  I hope I can know what to say, know what to do, know how to give them confidence, confidence to believe in themselves and know they are beautiful no matter what the world says or thinks.

This is what every girl needs to believe

this is what every parent needs to realize

 

Frozen PB & Banana Poppers

Here is a yummy treat for ya......

Slice bananas, put on some Peanut Butter and make them into a little banana sandwich.  Put them on a plate and pop in the freezer for a little while, or keep them in the freezer for a yummy frozen treat whenever you'd like.  These are yummy and the perfect little summer snack. :)

Enjoy!