90 Day Challenge Complete

We completed our 90 day challenge and really enjoyed our trip to Dallas. Feeling confident and healthy! Hit my goal to drop two dress sizes, muscle tone, flatter tummy and increased energy. Totally flat abs still need more time, but very happy with the results. We will continue eating Paleo and working out as this is a lifestyle for us. I hope you have found some encouragement along the way. 

Paleo Challenge 30 Day Count Down

It's hard to believe it's been 60 days into our Paleo food challenge. To my surprise the time has flown by and just 30 days to go. With the help of the Against All Grains cookbook I have been able to keep the menus exciting and delicious. For some sample food ideas see my previous post. 

What I do miss the most is eating out. One reward meal a week definately helps with those cravings. Chocolate is still my weekness and I hope to do much better resisting the temptation of a piece here and there these last 30 days. 

I have lost over 10 lbs of fat, two dress sizes, continue to build muscle and can run under a 10 min mile for 4 miles. My focus is to build muscle. At 5'8 and 130lbs I feel my focus is best served toning muscle and endurance. To my surprise after two kids in a little over two years my core strength is severly lacking. So phase II is from fat loss to strength. Flat abs here I come. :)

Persistence not Perfection! 

Warriors never quit at the end! So 5-6 days at the gym doing yoga, cycling, no limits circuit, and running. Thankfully I have an incredible friend that I workout with that will keep me accountable. 

Keys To Sucess

Food Planning

Precooked Food - I keep the following food prepped in my fridge for snacks and lunches: baked cubed chicken, cooked ground turkey, boiled eggs, steamed carrots and green beans, baked sweet potatoes, turkey lunch meat, and lots of fresh fruit.

Nuts - Nuts are full of protein and healthy fats. Keep some in your car or purse for convenient snacks or an after work out refuel. 

Seasoning - experiment with new seasonings, fresh herbs, olives and other toppings for fish and meats. A nice red wine vinegar is a favorite at our house.

Cook Fruit - Craving something sweet and healthy, try sautéed sliced peaches or banana in butter or coconut oil. Cooking fruit brings out their sweetness.

Keep Your Fridge Stocked - Sounds pretty obvious, but when life gets buy and you don't plan ahead you can walk to the fridge to find their isn't anything to eat and that temptation to go fast food our processed food it there {that Mac n Cheese looks too good}.

Accountability

Giving someone the permission to keep you accountable and encourage you is powerful. I have discovered I don't do well working out alone so I have a friend I workout with and join in group classes.

Positive Environment

What you fill your mind with will come to pass. I choose to listen to positive music, write down powerful and encouraging phrases {Nothing worth doing is ever easy, and It always seems impossible until it's done}. Watch fitness shows or inspirig movies. Keep your mental focus by focusing on your end goal. So if healthy eating and fitness is a goal, hanging out with people that have that do amd lifestyle helps.

Set Realistic Goals

This can be so hard to do. Making them challenging to stretch  you, but not too hard so they are impossible to reach. I have found start with a very short term goal and see if you can reach it the first two weeks, then adjust from there.

Reward Yourself

Aside from the weekly treat meal, we are attending a wedding out of state and the reward is to get all dressed up for the party and enjoy the weekend almost kid free. A healthy body is really the ultimate reward, but a new sexy dress and heals isn't too bad. 

Please note that I am so far from being an expert at this, but thought if I just encouraged one person in their goal then it was worth sharing my experience. 

It's Your Life, Are You Who You Want To Be?

Paleo Food Ideas

It's been almost a month into the Paleo Challenge and feeling great. I have lost one dress size and dropped 8-10 lbs of fat. I incorporated more avocado and sweet potato to my breakfast to help with the low energy I have been experiencing. 

The biggest challenge would be preparing enough food in advance to make it convenient to stay on track. It is easy to get burned out on this diet, which is why I would like to share a couple meal ideas. 

Breakfast

Golden White Sweet Potato with Over Medium Eggs and Avocado

Paleo Eggs Benedict: Poached Eggs on top of some sautéed bacon our ham, sliced tomato and avocado with a splash of pesto or basalmic vinegar and olive oil.

Popeyes Pesto Eggs: sautéed spinach with bacon topped with melted eggs and pesto. A splash of basalmic vinegar is optional. (I love pesto!)

Popeyes Scramble

Dinner

Artichoke and Olive Salmon on Cauliflower Purée with Golden Carrots: Our favorite fish recipe! Baked salmon in a foil pouch topped with Mediterranean flavors. 

Salmon with Roasted Golden Beets, Mushrooms, and Carrots: yummy salmon with root veggies. I brown the veggies in real butter and coconut oil.

Seared Tuna with Creamy Alfredo (Cashew Sauce) Spagetti Squash with Spring Veggies: this recipe is from the Against All Grains cookbook. It's incredible how delicious this sauce is. It has cashews, olive oil, basil, garlic and lemon juice. Purée the ingredients and you have a sauce that tastes so much like a Alfredo sauce. It's our favorite recipe so far. All you do is steam the spaghetti squash and add your favorite veggies. We did peas, mushrooms, and tomatoes. 

Paleo Olive Turkey Meatballs: ground turkey, mushrooms, black and green olives, ham or bacon, and one egg. Bake and serve with steam veggie of your choice!

Gazpacho, Chicken Breast and Avocado and Cucumber Salad

Lettuce Wraps Chicken or Fish: sautee meat then add avocado, tomato and bacon. Drizzle some basalmic vinegar and olive oil. 

Buffalo Chicken Nuggets: cube chicken breasts and sautee in coconut oil. Then toss in your favorite sauce and serve with carrots.

Happy and Healthy Eating! 

Juker 90 Day Challenge

I am delighted to say we have survived the 3 month mark with our new baby girl. It's when babies begin to sleep through the night (or almost), smile from ear to ear, and become more independent. After 9 months of packing on 35 lbs and loosing muscle it's time to melt back down. I have a wedding to attend in Dallas Labor Day weekend which is about 90 days away. Perfect motivation to start the 90 day count down!

THE 90 DAY PLAN

• Paleo Eating/Caveman Diet

• Cardio and Lifting 5 days/wk

• One Reward Meal/wk

THE GOAL

• Muscle Tone and Flat Tummy

• Increase Energy Level

• Drop 2 Dress Sizes

I am excited about this challenge, but a little intimidated by the commitment. Lots of what ifs go through my mind... What if I can't do it? What if I quit before the 90 days is up? The most important question is what if I DO complete the challenge. After delivering two children in the last two years I have lost a little piece of me as an individual. Don't get me wrong I LOVE being a mommy to my blessings from The Lord. Snuggling with them and cheering them on through each new development challenge, but it's easy to pour out everything you have and all of a sudden wake up and wonder who you are besides a mom. I almost feel guilty even saying that, but I want my girls to see that it's important to have balance and be healthy. So here we go... Jake and I are putting our biggest effort into this. Things to remember when taking on a challenge: accountability, realistic expectations and PLANNING.

Meal planning is so important. I will be posting some of my meals here incase you may need some ideas too.

Breakfast this morning: two eggs, some turkey, avocado and a couple olives. It's important with Paleo to eat healthy fats each day which will help you feel full.