Meal Planning 101

Did I just say "free willy" in the Fantastic Friday video? Oh my. Looks like I need to have a conversation with my writers. :)

I wanted to quickly share with you some links and information on the resources I mentioned in the Week 3 Fantastic Friday video on Meal Planning. As mentioned, I have been using a very basic pen and paper method of planning out my meals and find that it works well. I use a simple spreadsheet created in Excel to map out the week and then fill in each blank with what I plan to eat each day. I borrow James' markers to indicate the containers used at each meal so that I can stay on track. It's super simple and actually looks quite nice on the fridge. :)

I usually plan my week on the weekend so that I can hit the grocery store and have everything ready to go during the week. As a busy working Mom, I tend to stick with easy and quick recipes that accommodate the pickiness of a 4 year old and 16 month old. I'm not one that likes to eat the same thing all week so I don't make a huge batch of something and then just eat it everyday. I like variety and since I love to cook, I tend to have a mix of new recipes and oldies but goodies each week for dinner.  As you can see, I am kind of a cookbook hoarder, but I do have my favorites.  

#1 Favorite: Fixate

Written by Autumn Calabrese, creator of the 21 Day Fix, 21 Day Fix Extreme, Country Heat and the super-amazing container system, this cookbook is chock full of recipes that fit within the program. Of course she has ideas for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but she also has some great snacks AND dessert. She even includes some really yummy Shakeology ideas. Each recipe indicates the containers used and has full nutritional information. What's even cooler is that she and her Chef brother are now starring in the Fixate cooking show, airing exclusively on Beachbody On Demand. Definitely grab a copy and get cooking - the healthy way.

#2 Favorite: Skinnytaste 

This one has been a favorite of mine for a while and is one that I HIGHLY recommend you check out. The brain child of Gina Homolka, this book stems from her award-winning blog of the same name - Skinnytaste.com. I discovered this blog a few years ago during my Weight Watcher days and find myself visiting it on a daily basis. She posts a new recipe everyday and if you sign up for her RSS, it lands in your inbox and makes your mouth water. The site is completely searchable and each recipe includes full nutritional information and Weight Watcher Smart Points if you are following that program. Many of her recipes have become go-to's in our family and I really think you should check it out. Go ahead. I can wait. 

So once my dinners are in place for the week, I go ahead and fill in my breakfast each day which is my Shakeology. I have gotten into the habit of working out first thing in the morning, and nothing tastes better or satisfies me more after that workout than Shakeology. Packed with dense nutrients, it not only fuels me with all kinds of vitamins and minerals, it fills me up and keeps me satisfied until lunch. My go to shake includes 1 scoop chocolate Shakeology, 8 oz of unsweetened Almond Milk, a banana, a teaspoon of PB2 and lots of ice. Blend it up in a blender and enjoy!

Lunch is usually leftovers from the night before or a big salad with lots of veggies, a protein and Fix-approved dressing. I then fill in the snack blanks using whatever containers I have left. It's that easy!!

Now I know, you may think I am still part of the dark ages for using good old paper and pen to meal plan, but it works for me. And I encourage you to find the tool that works for you. It could be an App. Or a website. Hell, it could be stone carvings. Whatever! If it means you are going to stick with it and stay on track, then I say go for it. I

And I can't stress this enough - DRINK YOUR WATER!! You are supposed to drink half your body weight in ounces of water each day. For me, that's A LOT of water! But I found that as long as I have my Brita water bottle next to me, I get it done. Unless Andrew steals it and hides it. He has been known to do that. Little stinker. ;)

So that's it. If you have any questions about any of the resources and programs or need advice on how to make meal planning work for you, just let me know. I'm here to help. We are in this together! 

#teamworkmakesthedreamwork

184

This number has been between my toes for far too long.

It is a number that has affected my emotions. My psyche. My self worth.

It is a number that hasn't budged much since my adorable little Andrew joined this world 16 months ago.

184.

Oh how I loathe this number.

Three weeks ago I decided that this number needed to go away. And the only way to make that happen was to make a change. A real change. A permanent change.

It started with Beachbody's 3-Day Refresh followed by a 21 Day Fix/CIZE hybrid program that offered intense cardio and strength training workouts. But exercise alone would not cut it so I used the groundbreaking multi-colored container system to clean up my diet. With a mixture of determination on my part and motivation from an awesome group of ladies, I bid adieu to that number that I hate so much.

A new, more exciting number has replaced it and with some hard work and amazing tools, I hope to continue to see smaller numbers. But more than that - I know that as the numbers get smaller, I will be getting stronger. I will be getting healthier. And that is just awesome.

I know my journey will be long. There will be highs and there most certainly will be lows. But I know I will learn lots of amazing things along the way. With the right support and the right mindset, I will be successful - whether or not the numbers between my toes change. Healthy living is no longer a fleeting thought. It is part of my everyday and luckily,I have some AWESOME programs and tools (21 Day Fix, CIZE, TurboFire & Country Heat) at my fingertips to keep it fun and fresh. I have also decided to join the Beachbody family and become a Coach on an AMAZING team. I will stay motivated if I am helping other people achieve their goals and enjoy healthy, fulfilling lives.

Last week, my 4-year old was home sick so he got a front row seat to my Dirty 30 work out with Autumn Calabrese. He asked me, "Mommy, what are you doing?" I told him that I am doing my exercises so that I can be here with him for a long, long time. He immediately got on the floor and started mimicking me. I asked him what he was doing and he said, "I want to be with YOU a long, long time too." If that is not a good enough reason, then I don't know what is.

Beachbody's mantra these days is STRONGER EVERYDAY. I think I can get behind that.

** If you are interested in joining me on this crazy journey and want to change your lifestyle for the better, shoot me a note. Let's do this together!!