Paleo Pancakes

This recipe can now be found at: 

Healthy Food Fit Family

Week 1 Becoming Extraordinary Review

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Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Valentines Day!

Ive been working on a chocolate cake (PaleoNONPaleo) and today I created something pretty close to what id consider successful! The whipped cream topping was amazing! Im still trying to get the flavor right but Ill be sure to post it as soon as I get it perfect...Heres a sneak peak!

Paleo Cream Sauce

This recipe can now be found at:

Chicken Cutlet Parmesan

In our house, Sundays are all about Italian food. My husband spends hours (not exaggerating) in the kitchen cooking some amazing, classic italian dishes! Eggplant parmesan, meatballs, sauce, bread... and my all time favorite- chicken cutlet parmesan! I LOVE it and could eat it all day....erry day.
Today I decided to keep it as clean as possible. I was hoping for Paleo but that will take some more time to figure out. This is seriously the easiest recipe ever.
*We make so much sauce, we use it all week. In the recipe below Im adding a shortened version of our family recipe (cant give any secrets away!)

Chicken Cutlet Parmesan

2 Servings

4 Chicken breast fillets- defrosted
1C Almond flour
2 C Sauce (homemade or store bought)
Grated Parmesan

Sauce
1Tomato sauce (no high fructose corn syrup)
2Tomato paste (no HFCS)
1C water
1 clove garlic chopped
Basil and oregano to cover
Extra virgin olive oil

Sauce: Sauté Garlic in oil until soft. Add tomato cans and water. Add seasoning to cover sauce. Stir and simmer for 10 min.

Preheat oven to 350.
Coat chicken in almond flour
Bake 15 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Cover with sauce
Sprinkle with a bit of Parm.
Bake for 10 minutes.
Enjoy!

Twice baked

Today was a long, yet fun day! It was a rest day so we headed to the dog park with Misty and Marley! They had a blast running around! After a bit of groceries we headed out to  the beach for some fun in the sun! The water was crystal clear and the sand was nice and warm. Ate a little Poke and spent some time relaxing with friends. 

Once the sun had worn us out we headed home for dinner with friends. On the menu tonight :

Twice baked Acorn Squash adapted from PaleOmg and sweet potato fries. 

Twice Baked Squash
4 servings

2 Acorn Squash
1lb Ground Sausage
1 Onion, diced
3 cloves garlic minced
4 eggs

Preheat oven to 375.
Cut open acorn squash and clean out seeds, Bake cut side down for 20 minutes.
Brown sausage, garlic and onion.
Scoop out cooked acorn squash (leaving about 1/4in inside squash for sturdiness). Careful not to break through skin.
Add insides to sausage and onion, mix to combine.
Refill the squash with mixture and leave a small pit. Crack egg here. Pepper if desired.
Place on baking sheet.
Bake 15 minutes or until egg is cooked!

For sweet potato fries CLICK HERE!

Want to see what we had for dessert?.......

Nuun Review

A couple months back I was talking with a friend about my love of water...but I wanted something that was refreshing but good for my body. One thing led to another and the word Nuun came up. I did a bit of research, a couple of emails and it was at my door! I was so excited I opened the box up right away.

First the packaging. I am a sucker for gorgeous marketing. The canisters are compact and the design is gorgeous! There were so many goodies in the box.

So what is Nuun?

"ELECTROLYTE ENHANCED DRINK TABS DESIGNED TO KEEP YOU OPTIMALLY HYDRATED WHEREVER YOUR ACTIVE LIFESTYLE TAKES YOU."

"Sugary and caffeinated drinks take you on a roller coaster ride during the day, but with zero sugar, under 8 calories per tab, and an all-natural blend of 17 vitamins and minerals, Nuun All Day keeps you going."

I popped one open and dropped one tablet into my bottle of water. It started to fizz! So I called my son in to come check it out ....."COOL MOM!" and thats all it took! We both couldn't wait to try it! In just a minute or so it had dissolved and filled my bottle with a rose colored hue. 

I took a sip and it was amazing! It was by no means sweet, which I loved! A subtle fruit flavor that instantly felt refreshing. I was so glad that it wasn't like any of the other "hydrating" drinks I had tried...It wasn't full of sugars or carbs or other fillers. It was just water, but better! 

I decided to try it out one day before the gym. As many know I live on a very hot and humid island! I also walk to and from the gym everyday and the heat really gets me down. I can literally feel it sucking all my energy. 

Before I left the house I filled up my bottle and dropped one little pink tablet inside and let it bubble! By the time I was out the door it had dissolved and I was ready to go! 

The refreshing, light taste actually made me thirsty! I drank more and by the time I was at the gym I had to fill my bottle back up. I definitely felt hydrated! I was so impressed at the feeling I had; usually I drink my water do some exercises and feel dead dry! I didn't feel anything like that now! In the next few days I enjoyed dropping a tab in and tasting the different flavors. It almost felt like a special treat! 

This is an awesome way to replace the sodas and sugary drinks in your home. My boys and I loved it and cant wait to try out some other flavors! ...Oh and did I mention it was Gluten free? SOLD.

Shop here and dont forget to find out which Nuun is right for you! 

Check them out on Facebook!

Get your food on

YOU CAN REPROGRAM your taste buds!! By replacing your old junky foods with healthier ones you can change the way your brain processes tastes in 1-2 weeks! ALSO, just because you hated something as a child or even last year does not mean you will hate it today! Try new things and try them often! We are setting good examples for our families, spouses, children and friends! 

Keep it up! Healthier changes are being made everyday! Stick with it!

Monday Mommy Transformation

Krisse from Airman Getting Strong is next up to offer inspiration! 

-What was your life like before you started your journey to better health?

I would always just take diet pills to lose weight and I never lifted weights. I was scared of them. Instead I would just b-line to the ellipticals and call it a day.

-What motivated you to make a change?

Pregnancy for sure. Right before I became pregnancy I was thinking that I need to step up my fitness level. But then I was so incredibly sick my first timester that I was barely able to leave the house for a walk. Then my second trimester came around and I got moving and started eating healthier! I started walking every night (still not lifting for some reason). Once I had my baby girl, I made a vow to become healthy and strong for her and myself. 

-How do you involve your family in your journey?

My baby girl is only 7 months old so she can't workout with me... yet. She loves flying baby, so I try to hold her above my head for as long as I can to get that extra burn in for the day. My husband compromises fat and flavor at dinner time. :) But I do my best to change up the meals often and boost the flavor while still remaining healthy.

-What is your biggest accomplishment so far?

Push ups!!! I'm in the Air Force, and part of our physical assessments are push ups. I've always been horrible at them but after I had the baby I couldn't even do one... but 6 months after baby I went for my test and was able to do 37 in one minute!!! One month later I can do 40 now. 

-When your in a slump what do you do to shake it?

That is where I am at now. I lost the 30 pounds I gained during pregnacy plus I lost another 5 but I've been stuck for 6 weeks now. I'm not seeing the muscle that I want. So, I went back to basics. I just started following Jamie Eason's LiveFit Program.

-What future goals do you have for yourself?

I want muscle, muscle, and more muscle. I wouldn't care if I didn't lose another pound, just as long as I had some visible muscle. My triceps bother me the most so that is my main goal for now.

-How did you do it?

3 weeks after giving birth I went straight to the gym. I went to my go to cardio, Mr. elliptical, but this time I would set goals like to burn 800 calories in 45 minutes. I also started lifting and I fell in love. But my work had a different agenda. They wanted us to workout together during work hours. I kept up 2 a days for probably a month. But a guy I work with introduced me to beast workouts. This is not something you can find on the internet, these are just workouts that we created on our own. We would do them outside at work. We used sand bags and chains as weights, a sledge hammer, truck tire, and pretty much anything heavy that we could move around. We realized that we incorported Crossfit into our workouts without even knowing. We also took it to the road and would run... a lot. We would also sprint suicides in between sets. It got me to a 13 minute 1.5 mile (Air Force assessment also). Then we went to our gym on base and took the intro to Crossfit class and fell in love! We do that at least once a week.  

-What is one of your favorite recipes?

My comfort food is my favorite recipe! I sprinkle a raw tuna steak with seseme seeds and sear it on all sides with a cast iron skillet. I steam a little bit of jasmine rice and I make a dipping sauce made from rice vinegar, Mirin (sweet rice seasoning), and low sodium soy sauce. I also steam zuchini and squash to complete my perfect meal. 

Krisse can be found on Facebook HERE. Check her out and like her page!

Monday Mommy Transformation

This week Im featuring Jessica's journey! Ive been following her on facebook for quite a while so when I heard she was a Sweat Pink Ambassador I jumped at the chance to share her story! Enjoy!!

What was your life like before you started your journey to better health? 

Before I started my journey to health & fitness I was depressed. I had no self esteem, self worth or confidence in myself. I didn't know anything about being healthy or how to eat clean. I always thought "eat less, weigh less" and I tried ever diet pill, extreme diet etc you can think of! I would lose weight a lot of the time but gain it right back & usually double.

What motivated you to make a change? Well, I started my journey in September 2010 for the first time at the weight of 181 ...and I admit back then it was for the wrong reasons..I just wanted to get skinny then. I didn't even consider fit. By December 2010 I was down 29 lbs but in January 2011 found out I was pregnant with twins. While pregnant I changed my whole outlook. I researched fitness & healthy eating..I was very motivated to get it right this time. After I had my twins August 19th, 2011 I walked out of the hospital at 183. I was motivated bigger than life!! I had 6 weeks of C-section recovery time and it was HARD to keep myself recovering! Haha. Having my daughters changed everything for me. I wanted to get healthy for them..I wanted to set an example for them. I never wanted to be too out of shape to keep up with them! So..this time..I did it for the right reasons..my daughters!

How do you involve your family in your journey? I have a jogging stroller & on the weekends I will take the girls out on a run with me. Or my husband, me & the kids will take long walks on this gorgeous trail we have where we live. Also, I love doing races so my family is always on the sidelines cheering me on :) 

What is your biggest accomplishment so far? This one if tough for me because everything I have accomplished so far is far beyond my wildest expectations!! But, I used to hate running so knowing I found a passion in that..is a great accomplishment in my eyes. 

Who inspires you? My daughters mostly! And other moms who set aside excuses & make it happen!

When your in a slump what do you do to shake it? Remind myself where I started. I never want to be that unhealthy person again so giving up is not an option!

-What future goals do you have for yourself? I have SO many! I love strength training so really challenging myself in the weight room is one. Also, I  have been training for a marathon that I will take on in 2013. In a few years when my daughters are older I really want to train & compete in a bikini competition..my reason for waiting on that is my daughters. They are only babies once & I do not want to miss one minute of them growing up!! But, I WILL do it someday!! For now, my goals are just to keep up in the gym 5 days a week, get my long runs in on Sundays and be healthy, happy, eat clean & train mean!

How did you do it? No excuses!!! I don't always have the time to workout or eat clean, I mean my whole journey has been while my daughters were infants...but it's important to me so I do it!! I get up at 4 am before my husband or the babies are up and I get my butt in the gym. I prep my food daily and journal everything. I don't let myself have excuses because when I do that's when things crumble!

What is one of your favorite recipes? Jamie Eason's turkey muffins...I'm obsessed :)

Click HERE to check her out on Facebook!
Instagram: jessicansmith12 

Thankful Thursdays

During the month of November Ill be doing my Thankful Thursday Link up with some other blogs. This is a way to really keep my heart and head where it belongs and remember what is important.

• This week I am thankful for the safety of my family. As many of you know my husband, mother and sister were all visiting family in NY and NJ this past weekend and their trips took a horrible turn with the arrival of Sandy. Every single person Im related to (minus my brother and father) were affected by Sandy. I feel for all the families that have lost things they hold dear. {Red cross donations can be made HERE}
• I am thankful for my children. For the first time I am a mom to 2 boys and taking care of them alone has been quite the learning lesson! I am reminded to be patient and understanding. 
• Im thankful for will power! Halloween has been a true test to that! With many pounds of candy sitting on my table (and my son constantly looking over it) I am tempted by the smells of chocolate and sour treats. I've stayed strong and avoided eating any!
• Im thankful for the Navy. The men and women on this base have kept us safe through the bomb threats made earlier this week. As frustrating as some of it may be, I feel safer knowing we are protective by brave men and women on a daily basis. 
• I am so thankful for my friends. I have an amazing group of ladies doing a Paleo challenge that started this week! Even though I may not actually know many of them, Im glad to have their support and support them on a daily basis! Keeps me honest and ready for more!

Monday Mommy Transformation

What was your life like before you started your journey to better health? 

My life wasn't terrible. For the most part I enjoyed it and lived very carefree. I had a wonderful husband and two beautiful, healthy children. But there was a lot of self doubt. Wondering if I'd be able to keep up with my kids if I continued in my current state. Wondering if I could ever truly love myself the way I was.

What motivated you to make a change?

I distinctly remember a conversation with a friend upon my husband receiving orders to Guam. "All of the mommies are very into fitness here," she said. Honestly, hearing that was like a terrible nightmare for me. I had visions of sitting on the beach, pale and tired looking, wearing my 'mom suit.' It was then I knew something had to give. I started the Couch to 5K program in May 2011 but didn't pick up weightlifting until November 2011. Though I have not continued to run since completing C25K in July 2011, I credit that as my official 'start.' 

How do you involve your family in your journey? 

Though I do most of my workouts during school hours, there are times I utilize the family fitness room at our gym. My five-year-old son will often stand beside me using the small dumbbells and telling me about his big muscles. He has witnessed my transformation from the start and enjoys looking at my pictures with me and telling me how I'm shrinking. Also, being fairly new to clean eating myself, I am striving to slowly change the eating habits of my children to match my own. There is a lot of trial and error, and they do have the occasional happy meal, but I am looking to help them strike a balance so that they do not struggle with food addiction the way I have. 

What is your biggest accomplishment so far?

As much as I hate to pin numbers on this sort of thing, my biggest accomplishment would have to be the 52 pounds that have vanished from my body. In all my life, I have never lost more than 20 pounds at any given time. Knowing that I have overcome that number hurdle gives me such a satisfying feeling. And knowing that I didn't subsist on carrot sticks and meal replacement shakes(like I had in the past) and that I have ENJOYED this ride means, to me, that I'm doing something right.

Who inspires you?

Many people inspire me but I'd have to say that my two-year-old daughter takes the cake. I look at her, so young and so openminded, and know that I have to set the example for her. It is my job to teach her, and my son, how to find balance so that they can enjoy life while living it in a healthy way .

When you're in a slump what do you do to shake it?

This one is easy! I go into the gym and I pick up, to the pound, how much weight I've lost. Holding that in my hands and feeling the heaviness of it is like a slap in the face! I've also recently taken on a workout partner. I don't need the motivation to actually get to the gym, but she knows how to push my buttons to get me to work harder if I'm slacking off.

What future goals do you have for yourself?

My functional fitness goal is unassisted pull-ups. I would also like to do more cross training to become a more well-rounded athlete. 

How did you do it?

Balance, preparation, hard work and a positive mindset. There is no secret, nor magic pill that will do the work for you.

What is one of your favorite recipes?

I have a lot of favorites but since I prepare my chicken ahead of time, this one only takes five minutes. It's great for a quick lunch!

1 chicken breast, chopped

1 apple, chopped

1 stalk celery, chopped

2 tbsp. plain greek yogurt

Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all of those together to form a delicious chicken salad!

I {heart} BOOBS + Giveaway!

October is breast cancer awareness month but we need to be aware year round!

Growing up my mother made it clear that as I was getting older it was important to do your self breast exam once a month when I was in the shower...at times she even hung up a waterproof card with a boob on it with instructions! 

I never really took it seriously until I was married with kids. I have had lumps found and checked with (thankfully) nothing found...I guess I have lumpy breasts! Regardless I will continue to check and be checked! 
You can say "feel you boobs", "check your chest" and "get a mammy" (mammogram) all you want but if you aren't actually doing these things you are doing yourself and your family a disservice. 

About 1 in 8 U.S. women (just under 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. Source

What I'm doing (and YOU CAN DO) to reduce the risk of breast cancer:

• I choose to #livepink  everyday and check myself!
• I choose to breastfeed to help prevent breast cancer.
• I choose to stay active to reduce my risk.
• I choose to be alcohol free to help my chances at being cancer free!

Early prevention is key!

Source

Check out my THINK PINK GIVEAWAY!

To weigh or not to weigh

I've been trying to decide whether or not Im going to weigh myself as I get back in shape post baby.

After my first child I weighed in every Friday, sometimes as early as 3am...just so I could say I weighed in on Friday! That was a healthy way of doing it but as the years went by I started weighing in everyday, any chance I got. I even had the scale in my kitchen-this was after trying every hard surface in my house to see where it told me what I wanted to hear. It was driving me insane! I finally decided to toss the scale and not even think about my weight. I started the LiveFit trainer October 2011 and only weighed myself in the beginning and then at the end.
Only a few days later I found out I was pregnant and vowed not to step on a scale.  I loved how my body had changed during the trainer and now with the upcoming weight gain over the next nine months, I didnt want the stress of the number on the scale. I wanted to enjoy being pregnant! So every 4 weeks at my OB appointments I would step on the scale and tell them not to tell me. Some of them remembered me from the time before and others laughed! They had NO IDEA how big of an accomplishment this was for me; it took the one stress of pregnancy away! (My doctor did mention my weight once or twice but never the actual number)
In the end I ended up gaining about 39lbs...I had to look at my record! I am fine with that number, I gained 37 with my first and I had a rough start this second time and gained quite a bit in the beginning. Now that I have had the baby and dropped 20lbs from labor I'm left with 20 to lose and another 30 before my ultimate goal.

Should I weigh myself once Im back to regular workouts or stick with just my measurements?
The number on the scale doesn't reflect any time in the gym or strength I'm adding so it could be detrimental.  I may do my measurements and leave the scale to only monthly weigh ins. At least till I've lost the rest of the baby weight!  Ill be posting all my starting numbers once I am given the OK to return to regular exercise. Hopefully I can get a bit more lean until then
 just from my eating!

Monday Mommy Transformation

 Jodi to our newest Mommy Transformation story.

 She lost 65 pounds and 5 dress sizes! 

          -What was your life like before you started your journey to better health?

It was very unbalanced. I really wasn’t taking any time for ME at all – life just felt like a race to get everything done, and I wasn’t prioritizing myself. Life as a working mom with two kids still feels like a race some days! But, training for a half-marathon has given me a personal goal, time to myself when I run, and a great feeling of accomplishment as I cross the milestones along the way. It has made me a better mom. It has also reinvigorated a very important friendship in my life – my dear friend from university, Alana, has joined me on my journey and we are both training for Disney’s Princess Half-Marathon!

        -What motivated you to make a change?

It was a story I read about a young family that lost their mom. It got me thinking that I needed to do a better job of taking care of myself, for my kids. I had come through a very difficult time in my own life and it was time to redefine myself. I was suddenly very ready to make a change and take control of things. I truly believe that you have to be in the right emotional and mental space to make a physical change.

         -How do you involve your family in your journey?

The end goal is racing at Disney World, so my kids were clearly a key factor in choosing my goal race. But it has become so much more than that – they come with me to races, cheer me on, and have recently started racing themselves. On Canada Day, we celebrated by running the Limestone Mile together as a family – a new tradition. And they now participate in the kids’ races whenever there is one attached to my race days. They like to “train” by running up and down our street and having me time them. They want to beat their personal bests! It really reminds you of the power of parenting when you see your kids model themselves after you. We may not always think so, but they are paying very close attention to everything we do.

         -What is your biggest accomplishment so far?

I started this journey having never raced before – and now, I have completed 5 races and have numerous more on the calendar. I would say just getting myself to the start line was an accomplishment! As I started my running journey, a dear friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. I decided to create a team for her in our local Run for the Cure – our team is now the biggest in the city, with the most dollars raised! It has been so inspiring to rally and recruit people for such an important cause. Suddenly, I am seeing women who have never run training for their first race and taking time for themselves to do so. Some are involving their families. It has grown into something so powerful and I feel we are making a big difference. I am so proud to be involved with this team and to run for my friend, Karen.

         -Who inspires you?

I love the “Run Like a Mother” duo, Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea. They are very relatable and down to earth – and funny! But mainly, I am inspired every time someone asks me what I have done to get healthy or comes to me for tips on starting to run. I love to see that spark of interest because I know that will to make a change is the first step. Motivating others to run, whether it is a slow run around the block or training for a 10K race, is very inspiring in return.

         -When your in a slump what do you do to shake it?

Go for a run! The best thing about running is that you can never predict what will make a good run. You can easily turn a bad day into a good one with a run that surprises you – you may start out feeling sluggish or tired, but quickly find yourself flying along and setting a new personal best. I also find that running helps to shake the blahs out as it so invigorating, and it gives you time to resolve whatever may be nagging at you. It is just you and your thoughts – there is nowhere to hide. When you do have a hard run, the feeling of accomplishment at completing it is that much sweeter. So basically, if you are having a good day – run! If you are having a bad day – run! That is my philosophy.

-How do you reward yourself?

Shopping! I love shopping for new running clothes and gear. One of my biggest purchases was a Garmin watch – now I cannot run without it! It is great if you can reward yourself with things that fuel your love of exercise. When I buy a cute running skirt or funky arm sleeves, I can’t wait to hit the road to try them out.

         -What future goals do you have for yourself?

The goal that I am working towards right now is Disney’s Princess Half Marathon. Running to the Castle in my pink shoes is about more than just a race. It’s about proving something to myself. It’s about setting a goal and achieving it. It’s about being feminine and athletic, not having to choose between the two. It’s about showing my daughters that strong is beautiful. It’s about my sole sister and all of the amazing women who are training with me, on their own journeys to this finish line. It’s about realizing the childhood dream of becoming a princess by making my own dreams come true as an adult. It’s about having faith and trust in myself… and still believing in pixie dust too. I have a lot invested in this race. When it is over, it will be time for a new goal.

         -How did you do it?

I think the big secret is that there is no big secret – people spend so much time looking for shortcuts. If they spent that energy on changing their habits, they would be so much closer to their goals. It takes commitment and discipline. It means working out, hard and regularly. It means making healthy food choices. That’s really all there is to it. The good news is it is not complicated! Anyone can do it if they have the will.

         -What is one of your favorite recipes?

I think more important than recipes is debunking some common myths about food. I hate to see people sabotaging themselves without knowing it. For example, people often assume that eating salad is a healthy choice – but they don’t realize that many dressings are full of fat and empty calories. Another good example would be tuna or egg salad – sounds healthy, but the fattening mayonnaise cancels out the health benefit. You really need to be mindful of everything to make the smart choice. In doing so, I have found that you can still have your favourite dishes if you just learn to make them in a healthier way. One of my favourite guilty pleasures was always nachos with cheese and sour cream. And I refused to give them up! Now I use baked nacho chips and low fat cheese (hold the sour cream  or use a non-fat alternative)…still yummy with no guilt. It’s all about getting creative.

Check out Jodi on her BLOG! 

Breakfast Smoothie Round Up

You would think waking up at 530 every morning would allow me plenty of time to get things done before actually starting my day...I WISH!

Walking & feeding both dogs, getting clothes ready, breakfast for 3 and actually finishing a cup of coffee is hard to squeeze in before my husband is off to work and we head to the gym. This week I've been trying to fix our breakfast so its quick and frees up more time for us to sit and relax...plus its less clean up!

As we go thru the week Ill add the rest we try out!
(Click to enlarge!)

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Fit for 2!

I am now into the 7th month of my pregnancy and since this blog has changed into more of what Im doing while pregnant I figured Id post my workout routine and meal plan. I did a lot of searching online for articles on pregnancy workouts and eating (along with speaking with my doctor) so I knew I was doing the right thing. You really only need and extra 300 calories starting at the 3 month point and that is basically like eating some oats and protein...and not the entire bag of M&Ms!

For the past couple months Ive been quite motivated to hit the gym and stay on track with my meals. Some weekends I do let go a bit and have the things Im craving but it doesnt last the entire day...mainly dinner and its usually always sushi! 

Workout

Monday - Thursday

• Walk to and from the gym
• Stretching
• Treadmill/ Elliptical 2 miles @ incline
• Followed by either arms/legs (squats, pushups, plank, lunges, rows, etc)

Fridays

• 2-4 mile walk outside
• Lots of stretching

Weekends

• If we aren't doing anything active outside I usually just take periods of time thru out the day to stretch really well and we walk in the evenings with our dogs.

Meal Plan

Breakfast: Coffee (w/ crm and sugar) and 4-5 Egg Whites or Oats
WORKOUT
Snack: Protein/ Fruit/ WW Toast with NPB
Lunch: Chicken, Salad, Brn rice/sweet potato
Snack: Fruit/cheese
Dinner: Chicken/Fish, Brn rice, salad
Snack: Cottage cheese

• I generally drink about 6 shake bottles full of water a day. May be more if Im walking to and from the gym in this crazy heat!
• I always have my water bottle with me so as soon as I see its empty I know to fill it right away. Ive found that my body actually CRAVES the water...Im sure the baby likes it too!
• Right now I am only taking prenatal vitamins and 100% Optimum Nutrition Whey Protein.

New furry friend!

We recently adopted another ridgeback and have been spending time getting her acclimated to her new environment. Her name is Misty and she gets along so well with our other ridgeback Marley.
My workouts have been stretching during the day, light weights and 2 mile walks in the evenings! We take the dogs either to the dog park or the baseball fields to let them play! 2 big dogs need long workouts!
Our dogs are so important to our family. They are like my children and we love getting them out of the house and getting exercise. 

Whats New?

        I rang in the new year feeling strong and in control of everything going on! I had been eating clean and following my training program perfectly. The results were amazing and gave me such a new outlook on what being healthy was. But recently I had lost my appetite and had zero energy. I stopped doing my cardio but stuck to the weights and pushed thru it...I had an idea of what might be going on. 

Lets rewind a bit......

Over the past couple months I’d been struggling with 2 things that I wanted. 

On one hand I had come so far working out and getting in shape. I loved the new me and the energy I had. I loved being in the gym, feeling strong and doing my part in keeping my family healthy. I felt confident at the beach which was something Ive struggled with over the years-I had finally put my fears aside and stopped caring what everyone thought! 

The flip side was that we wanted to add to our family. It took my husband 4 years to get me to even consider having another child because I had everything I wanted- an amazing job, a cute little “house” and such a tight bond as a a family of 3. It had been the three of us for so long I didnt know if I was capable of adding to it! So here we are 8000 miles from where used to call home trying to conceive. 

I knew that once got pregnant I would be putting all my hard work on pause. I was so conflicted and had never struggled with what I wanted so much. 

So back to the reason Im writing this....

        New Years Day we drove up to the other side of the island to purchase a massive weight set, bench and other goods for our home gym we were putting together. I grabbed a test on the way to the checkout....

Later on New Years Day we found out we were having a baby. Every thought about my body, hard work and time spent sweating went out the door. I didn’t even care. All I knew was that I was over the moon and couldn’t wait to start this new journey. ( I wont gross you out with the positive pregnancy test photo!)

         After the news came appointments and moving boxes. During this time I lost all my energy and could barely keep my eyes open! I continued to go to the gym but found I needed to take longer breaks. I started a water boot camp class to try and ease the stress I was having about working out. {I found out that when you want something so bad you do everything you can to keep from losing it}. We moved into our new home and I slowed down even more. Naps were more of a necessity and I changed my workouts to nightly walks and light weights in my house.

 We had a couple issues in the beginning which put me in a crazy place that brought the emotional eater out of me. After I saw the scale at my first check up I was dead set on NEVER knowing how much i was gaining. I had to stay positive no matter what size I got! Thankfully I am still eating pretty well with the occasional cupcake...this is me being honest!