Meal Planning
One of the most important things I learned is that no matter how much I exercise, if my diet is not on point, then there is no chance that I will lose weight. In order to stay in check, I have to plan and in order to plan, I use a few tools. The first is a very simple pad that lives on our refrigerator:
Made by the genius minds over at Knock Knock, this guy helps me plan our dinners for each night of the week. When I have a few free minutes, I look through my recipe clippings from magazines, newspapers, etc. and my many, many cookbooks (I seriously have an addiction) and make a plan for the week. While I'm doing it, I keep a running grocery list in my notebook or on Peapod (aka lifesaver!) so that I have all the necessary ingredients for each meal. Having a plan takes major stress out of weeknight dinners when evenings are already cramped and rushed.
And speaking of recipes, I was just introduced to a website that has literally rocked my world. Go check out www.plantoeat.com.
Go ahead...I'll wait.
It is an AMAZING website that organizes your recipes and helps with menu planning. It even puts together a shopping list when you tell it what you plan to eat for the week! It really helped me get more organized with the hundreds of recipes that were piling up on my counter:
They have a little tool that you place on your browser - similar to the "Pin It" button for Pinterest. When you are on a website and want to add a recipe, you click the "Plan To Eat" button and it is loaded to your site. You can also manually enter or do a bulk import. World ROCKED! I do have to admit that I am still a loser and write my grocery list down on paper, but otherwise, I have fully embraced this awesome tool.
Exercise
As I mentioned last week I am all about the 21 Day Fix as a nutrition and exercise regiment. I recently finished my 2nd round and once again found success. I have since been introduced to a new exercise program called CIZE: The End of Exercise. It is a danced based program so if you like Zumba or just dancing in general, you will like this. I'm 1 week into a 4 week program and I am LOVING it! It does come with an eating program that essentially mirrors that of the 21 Day Fix, so I'm essentially doing the 21 Day Fix nutrition for 30 days with CIZE fitness. #BeachbodyMashUp. Oh and I found a 21 Day Fix app making it that much easier to track my containers. Score!
Now, there may or may not be video of me doing one or more of these CIZE routines, but the chances of them being posted to the world wide web are slim to NEVER GONNA HAPPEN!!! I thought I had rhythm until I saw myself. Uh - can you say AkWaRd?!! And apparently I didn't get the memo on "facials" when dancing. I should have paid more attention to my Precisionette friends in high school. At least I get my sweat on and have fun doing it.
Shakeology
I like to eat. I like to eat and chew my food. My problem is that I tend to do it too often which is why I am in this mess in the first place! I have never really been of fan of the meal replacement shakes or the cleanses, but I decided that if I was going to embrace these new Beachbody programs, I would go all in which means adding Shakeology to my daily meal plan. Touted as the "healthiest meal of the day", this protein shake is packed with all kinds of superfoods that help curb cravings and make you feel energized. My go to flavor is chocolate to which I add a banana and peanut butter and it is my tasty treat of the day. It's a bonus that this yummy "milkshake" is also good for me!! It's not cheap by any means and with 2 kids in daycare and a mortgage to pay it may not be a part of my daily diet forever, but for now, I am making it work and enjoying every chew-free sip.
Love & Support
This weight loss journey would not be possible without the love and support of the men in my life. James and Andrew are completely oblivious - as they should be. I am their Mommy and they don't care what I look like. As long as I am there to kiss their boo boos, sing them their songs before bed and tickle them until they pee in their pants, they are good. Their love is unconditional no matter what my size. I have to remind myself of this fact whenever I get down in the dumps about my body. Their little faces inspire me to keep at it so that I am healthy and here with them for a long, long time. And let's not forget my Ed. This man has always been my rock and encourages me every step of the way. Does it kill me that he can eat an entire pint of ice cream and not gain an ounce? Of course! But I love him anyway. :) Without my boys, this journey would be a lot, lot harder.
So tell me - what tools do you use to keep on track? I'm always open to new ideas to keep this journey fresh and successful!!
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