Day 13

Meals:

Breakfast
4 slices Turkey bacon (1 red)
Steel Cut Oatmeal (1 yellow)
Mixed berries (1 purple)

Lunch
Chicken Salad (1 green, 2 red)
Toast (1 yellow)

Snack
Mixed Berries (1 purple)
Celery (1 green)

Supper
BLT (1 red, 1 green, 2 yellow)

Post Workout
1 apple (1 purple)
chai tea

Workout
Dirty 30

Again, my meals were pretty rushed today so I don't have any photos for you. I felt very tired before my workout and I think I am needing more substantial protein throughout the day. I am also interested to see how my Shakeology shakes affect me next week. Do any of you use protein shakes? If so, when should I drink them? What works best for you?

Another addition to my meal plan today was Chai Tea. Mom bought the Tazo K-cups for the Keurig. I needed this for a few of the recommended Shakeology shake flavors in the 21 Day Fix Recipe book. I want to try recipes that aren't just the powder and water but I don't want to use any other containers for it. Anyway - Chai Tea also has a lot of health benefits. 7 reasons can be found here.

I also cleaned up my Pinterest boards today while working at Heritage Pointe. I decided to delete all my boards associated with recipes (minus my 21 Day Fix board). I wanted to start fresh with new healthier recipes for the new year! 

On a scale from 1 - 10, I would say I'm about a 5 on the motivation scale right now. I really, really didn't want to work out tonight and I was annoyed when trying to make something for supper. I think I definitely need to make more structured meal plans similar to the first week because I felt better and fuller. I'm almost 2/3 of the way through this fix, so I know I can finish I just hope I find motivation to keep going after it's over. I also haven't decided if I am going to participate in the Doubles Workout week next week. It'll be tight getting two workouts in some days, but I figure any extra would be helpful so I will have to see.

This post is really random, but I have one last thing for the night. I have a few new recipes planned for supper tomorrow night while watching the Superbowl! I will be sure to post about how they turn out and the links to the recipes. 

Here's some motivation to end this rambling nonsense! 

Day 12

Meals:

Breakfast
2 Turkey bacon slices + 1 fried egg (1 red)
Mixed Fruit (1 purple)
Cooked steel cut oatmeal (1 yellow)
green tea

Lunch
1 Lasagna roll up (same as yesterday)
Carrots (1 green)

Supper 
Homemade Vegetable Soup (21 Day Fix book says use the green container and count as 1 yellow and 1 green)
Open-face Almond Butter bread (1 yellow, 4 tsp)
Celery (1 green)
Banana Parfait (1 red, 1 purple)

Post Workout
Apple (1 purple)
green tea

I was excited to try some new things today! Mom made vegetable soup earlier this week and really tried to make it 21 Day Fix approved. I figured it was still healthier than restaurant prepared soup so I'm not concerned. I ate the suggested serving size, I think I'm good. I also found some new goodies at Target. I wanted to try Almond Butter but didn't want to commit to a whole jar - thankfully Target always provides! I am not a huge fan of the Almond Butter - I'll stick to my JIF All-Natural Peanut Butter. I also found some unsweetened water flavor (I also checked the ingredient list - no sugar or substitutes listed!). We also were out of honey so we bought an organic agave variety this time. There wasn't an ingredient list on the back... that's a good thing, right?? 

I was also pleasantly surprised to find my Shakeology Variety pack on the table when I got home from work. I didn't think they were going to be here until tomorrow! I am excited to try these and see if I like protein shakes. I am a little upset that I spent $20 + tax and shipping on these little itty bitty packs, but at least I'll know if it's worth the investment if I end up liking or not liking them. My friend Tori helped me compare the labels for Shakeology and the protein powder she uses, so I might use an alternative brand due to cost. Despite the price... look how cute they are! 

Before I get to my motivation for today, I wanted to share yet another reason why eating healthy and exercising can benefit everyone. I am a member of the American Counseling Association and follow their page on Facebook. Today they shared an article discussing the positive effect healthy eating and exercising can have on MENTAL HEALTH. What?! I didn't read the entire article, but if you want to, you can find it here.

Lastly I want to share motivation that people shared with me today! It's such a great feeling knowing that so many people are following my journey and supporting me!

Cheers to the weekend everyone! 

How I felt today after my Pilates workout! Who knew you had side booty muscles?!?!

Who is ready to make a change?

Day 11

Sorry - no pictures of meals today. All of my meals were pretty rushed, but I managed to stay within my limits so I am proud of myself! Here's the breakdown:

Breakfast
4 slices of turkey bacon (1 red)
berry mixture (1 purple)
cooked steel cut oatmeal (1 yellow) (1 tsp honey + cinnamon)

Lunch
Spinach Lasagna roll up (1/2 yellow, 1 green, 1/2 red, 1/2 blue) *I only had one roll up, serving size = 2 roll ups
carrots (1 green)

Supper or DINNER as some people say ;)
PB & Banana Sandwich (2 yellow, 1 purple, 5 teaspoons)
carrots (1 green)

Post-Workout 
berry mixture (1 purple)
yogurt (1 red)
10 pistachios (1/2 blue)

I will continue to have a cup of green tea with breakfast and before bed. I also wanted to comment on the outcome of my cooked steel cut oatmeal. It was really tasty! I added just a bit of water to warm it up in the microwave and added a teaspoon of honey and some cinnamon. I think it would be really, really good if I added bananas or apples to the warm oatmeal. Perhaps tomorrow?

I am really tired tonight. My workout was Pilates Fix, which might be my favorite one. It is intense and I feel my muscles working, but it also has a relaxing component to it. I think I might also be tired because my protein wasn't a lot of meat today so my energy level was low before even working out. 

Two small things I want to comment on today. The first thing is that I gave up drinking pop aka soda cold turkey when I started my 21 Day Fix. I was hesitant to do this for fear of caffeine withdrawal, but I honestly haven't noticed. A classmate was drinking Dr. Pepper tonight in class and I noticed. I was like "Oh wow, I haven't had pop in 11 days." Crazy thing is, I honestly haven't missed it! I think our bodies are incredible knowing the fact that we stop craving things if we stop eating them! Who knew it was so easy?? Second thing - I feel like I'm saving money by meal planning and packing my meals when I have to eat outside of the house. Granted - mom pays for all the groceries so that is super helpful but I'm still not spending the minimum of $5 a week stopping at fast food restaurants or getting snacks from vending machines. The idea of saving money is motivating because I have a lot of exciting events coming up worth saving for - Bachelorette Party in Nashville, moving back to Indy in August and I recently purchased the Klipsch 2015 Country Megaticket! So if you're looking for motivation to start the 21 Day Fix - here are two (from my experience): 

1. Reduce cravings for unhealthy foods and beverages
2. Save money (possibly - depending on your grocery bill) 

Those are just two of the many benefits that adopting a healthier lifestyle can bring you! I say healthier because I believe it can be done in small baby steps. I thought about starting my 21 Day Fix for a few months before I actually started. This allowed me to start making small changes and notice things before committing to the program. I believe that is what helped me be able to stay so committed so far. If you want me to get all counseling/therapy on you, we can look at Prochaska and DiClemente's Stages of Change Model. For the longest time, I was in the Contemplation stage. I have always been concerned with my weight and body image, so Precontemplation was never even in the picture (thanks society!). Preparation is typically the longest and hardest stage for many people, regardless of the behavior you're targeting and looking to change. Action is currently where I am at... I'm practicing these new, desired behaviors. Eventually everyone works towards Maintenance. I hope to reach this stage by the end of 2015. I do not want healthy eating and exercising to be something I'm simply trying out - I want it to be MY lifestyle, for good. 

Well everyone - this post ended up being a lot longer than anticipated. And I'm going to be honest, I'm watching my DVRed Grey's Anatomy premiere from tonight. But have no fear, I will provide some motivation. I always try to include something funny, something regarding food, something about fitness and one overall inspirational quote. I hope you can use at least one of them to start making some changes in your habits! As always, thanks for the continued support! :)

Day 10

Nothing too exciting happening today, except I'm spending all night in the kitchen! 

First - homemade marinara sauce so my tomato sauce doesn't count as a fruit serving. A lot of pre-made sauces are packed with sugar and salt - big NO NO, so I decided to make my own. Although I mis-purchased some items, I am hopeful that it will turn out. You can find the recipe here. 

Second - something to put that homemade sauce on. Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups. Another 21 Day Fix find on Pinterest, the recipe is here. Mom found WG Lasagna at Kroger, so I didn't have to look for an alternative "pasta." We'll be having these roll-ups with our cooked mixed veggie recipe from Sunday. The roll-ups will be 1 yellow, 1 red, 2 green and 1 blue - a very well-rounded, colorful container meal! 

Third - I'm going to prepare some steel cut oats tonight for breakfast tomorrow because I have to be at work a little bit earlier than normal. 

I'm writing this post as my sauce simmers, but I won't be posting it until I can share a photo of my creation. Either way, you'll see the final product! 

As for breakfast and lunch today, I've been under my container limit. My appetite isn't as large as it has been in the past. I'm not sure if that's because I don't want to eat what I have planned or if I'm just not hungry. 

Breakfast:
2 slices turkey bacon + 1 egg (1 red)
1/2 of a WG English muffin (1 yellow)
2 medium kiwi (1 fruit)
green tea

Lunch:
1 WG tortilla (1 yellow)
4 slices low-sodium Turkey slices (1 red) 

Supper:
Spinach Roll-Ups (1 red, 1 yellow, 2 green, 1 blue)
Mixed Veggies (1 green)
Homemade Garlic Bread (1 yellow)

Post-Workout Snack:
Banana Parfait (1 red, 1 purple, 3 tsp- 2 honey, 1 PB)
Green tea (2 tsp honey)

Tonight's Workout: Lower Fix

The Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups were great! Mom said they could have used some meat (typical Carol) but I thought they were delicious. A serving was 2 roll-ups, but I ended up only eating one. I have got lots of leftovers because I made an extra serving! Currently cooking a turkey burger so I'll have another "leftover" for the next two busy days. I have spent over 2 hours in the kitchen tonight - it's safe to say cooking and meal-planning is my new hobby! I am planning on doing my workout around 8:30 so I have the rest of the night to work on homework for tomorrow.

That's all for now, but not without some motivational inspiration! 

Day 9

Meals:

Breakfast
4 slices turkey bacon (1 red)
2 over-easy egg (1 red)
1 slice WG toast (1 yellow)
green grapes (1 purple)
green tea

Lunch
1 serving Greek yogurt (1 red)
1/2 banana (1 purple)
1 tsp honey
2 tsp natural peanut butter
cinnamon 
10 baby carrots (1 green)

Supper
Chicken salad on Wheat Thins 
24 wheat thins (3 yellow)
celery, onion (1 green)
1 hard boiled egg (1/2 red)
1 container of low-sodium canned chicken (1 red)
1/2 serving of Greek yogurt (1/2 red)
5 baby carrots (1/2 green)
20 pistachios (1 blue)
water

Post Workout Snack (as always)
Small apple (1 purple)
cinnamon
green tea + honey (2 tsp)

For the first time since I started my fix, I had an upset stomach today. I am not entirely sure what caused it but I think I've narrowed it down to wheat thins, pistachios or the canned chicken I used for the chicken salad. Those three things were really the only things that have been different from the first week. I think I need to slowly introduce new things in so I can monitor which foods have an adverse effect on me. 

Tomorrow night I was supposed to make lasagna spinach roll-ups but since I did not find whole-grain lasagna noodles I need to either go to a different grocery store or reevaluate. I am going to ask Kim for her expert opinion tomorrow at work to see what she recommends. My friend Tori gave me the idea of using zucchini as the noodles. I only have one small one left, so I could possibly do that and it would count as a green container! I'm excited to try another new recipe. 

Tonight's workout was Upper Fix. I definitely felt some of the exercises, but I think it might be time to invest in a heavier set of weights. I have 3 pound weights now and I think I could challenge myself with a few more pounds since I've been consistently working out. It's starting to look like I'll be headed to town tomorrow after work, which is okay because I always need an excuse to drive to Huntington so I can tan. I know tanning isn't a great reward for myself, but isn't it better than overeating or binge-watching Netflix? I think so! Studies show that light therapy and sunshine have a huge benefit on mood during the summer months. (Please don't ask me to cite that!) 

Since I didn't provide any food pictures today since it was similar to yesterday's meal and honestly, not appetizing in my to-go containers, I'll provide you with extra motivation today! 

Day 8

Posting a little early today since I have the time to while on campus in between classes. I have decided to continue the evening workouts, so I will have to complete tonight's Total Body Cardio once I get home from Psychopathology. Class is scheduled to last until 9:10pm, factor in a 55 minute commute and I don't get home until after 10:00pm. I didn't want to miss posting today, so here I am.

No pictures of my meals today - sorry! But I do want to tell you about a new recipe I tried!

Breakfast
2 slices turkey bacon (1/2 red)
1 over-easy egg (1/2 red)
1 slice WG toast (1 yellow)
mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries) (1 purple)
green tea

Lunch
1 serving Greek yogurt (1 red)
1/2 banana (1 purple)
1 tsp honey
2 tsp natural peanut butter
cinnamon 
**I let it sit in my lunch box for a few hours to somewhat create a parfait. I only ate half of it since I was full, so I'll treat myself to the sweetness as a semi-dessert after supper.
10 baby carrots (1 green)

Supper
Chicken salad on Wheat Thins 
24 wheat thins (3 yellow)
celery, onion (1 green)
1 hard boiled egg (1/2 red)
1 container of low-sodium canned chicken (1 red)
1/2 serving of Greek yogurt (1/2 red)
**I chopped and mixed all these up this morning and added some dill weed and cracked black pepper. I was a little nervous about the yogurt but this recipe turned out AMAZING! I am glad that I prepared enough to last two days. 
**Supper is somewhat progressive since I had a light lunch. I ate half of the chicken salad after class at 4:30. I will eat the rest of it before my night class starts I'm sure. 
10 baby carrots (1 green)
leftover banana parfait 
Sparking Cherry Limeade water

Post Workout Snack (as always)
Small apple (1 purple)
2 tsp natural peanut butter
cinnamon
20 pistachios (1 blue)
green tea

I am under my container limit again today. I did not use my orange container. I also had some protein and vegetable servings leftover. However, that is just according to my plan. If I am hungry when I get home I might have to have some more protein or veggies. 

Sadly I discovered that my Sparking flavored water is sweetened with Splenda. I haven't found anything about the requirements for sweeteners, but I have a feeling Splenda is not allowed. That being said, I'm going to try and find some flavors of Skinny Girl flavor mix for my water since it is made with Stevia. 

It's been a pretty uneventful day when it comes to being a grad student. Just waiting to go to my next class. That being said, I should probably start reading the DSM-V for tonight's lecture. 

There might not be any pictures of my food, but you can always count on some motivational images. I'll throw in a few extra today! 

21 days?? Pssh, I got this Ryan ;) 

Am I right, or am I right?

I really like those last two since they so closely correlate with my future profession. They're so entirely true though! We often times go to food for comfort or as a reward for ourselves, but that's not the purpose of food. Find something else that provides you a reward or comfort that doesn't negatively effect your health!

Day 7

Meals

Breakfast
2 turkey bacon
1 over-easy egg 
1 slice WG bread (toast)
green tea

 Lunch
4 oz. sirloin steak
mixed veggie stir fry (seasoned with Mediterranean 21-Day Seasoning Mix)
brown rice
olive oil (2 tsp)
dressing
flavored Sparkling water (0 calories - so it's 21-Day approved)

Supper
chicken (2 servings)
tomato sauce
WG spaghetti 
low moisture mozzarella cheese
steamed broccoli
flavored Sparkling water 

Post-Workout
apple
cinnamon
PB (2 tsp)
sweet treat - Oatmeal Banana Cookies
green tea

Today's Workout: Yoga Fix

Again, I am under my container allowance for the day but I have felt full and satisfied all day. It's crazy how healthy, whole food can make your body feel so much better! Mom and I went to the grocery again today. We spent just over $120 but everything we bought was fairly healthy. No processed foods or snackies or junk food! While eating healthy is expensive, it has definitely been worth it over the last 7 days. I'm officially 1/3 of the way through the program. I will be posting my progress in pounds and inches tomorrow!

Last night on Pinterest I discovered I could buy a variety pack of the Shakeology flavors. I decided to go ahead and do this so I can see if I like them. If they prove to be worth the $120 for the 30 day supply, I might purchase some to use throughout my next two fixes that I have planned. They are tentatively scheduled for March 9 - 29 and May 11 - 31. I am hoping to continue my workouts and healthy eating even when not "on" the fix, so I might not need to have those dates lined out but I will just in case. They fall between Spring Break and Amy's Bridal Shower, then between the Bachelorette Party and WEDDING! The variety pack should be here by next week so I can incorporate it into my last week of meals. 

I have some new ideas on my menu this week: chicken salad with crackers, BLTs, cauliflower pizza crust, buffalo chicken dip and lasagna roll-ups. However, I couldn't find whole-grain lasagna at Wal-Mart so that recipe might need to be altered somehow. All these mentioned recipes are 21-Day fix approved - Pinterest is AMAZING. Follow me if you need PINspiration. :) Click here for my Pinterest board for the 21 day fix.

Lastly, I have an image with more information about the 21 day fix if you're interested in starting your own journey!

Today's motivation: 

Day 6

Meals:

Breakfast
4 slices turkey bacon (red)
2 scrambled eggs (red)
1 slice whole grain toast (yellow)
green tea

Lunch
greek yogurt (red)
cinnamon FREE
honey (teaspoon)

Dinner
baked chicken breast (red)
potatoes (2 yellow)
broccoli (green)
low-fat cheddar (1/2 blue)

The last thing on my meal plan for today is banana ice cream. It will contain a whole banana which counts as 1 purple container, 2 teaspoons natural peanut butter and 1 teaspoon of chocolate chips. I haven't used any "treats" this week (although I baked some) so the teaspoon of chocolates will be 1 of them. I hope it turns out because I'm really excited for some dessert! Again, I am under my container limit for the day. I am definitely learning the difference between bored and hungry!

Tonight's workout was Dirty 30 which was similar to last night's cardio - I was sweating within a few minutes but I enjoyed it. Each night the 30 minutes seems to go by a little faster!

I started drinking 1 - 2 glasses of green tea per day. There are a ton of health benefits so I thought why not? 

Since I've been feeling so much better lately, I thought I would share some inspiration in regards to what foods you're putting into your body. 

Stay focused and stay strong!

Day 5

Day 5 down, 16 to go!

I survived another day staring at sweet treats. Today was a little more tempting however. I am honestly really surprising myself. My self-control before the 21 day-fix was nonexistent. If I wanted something, I would eat it. I will probably never get rid of my sweet tooth, but hopefully in the future I can learn to eat sweets in moderation and find healthier recipes/alternatives. Speaking of sweets... I made my first batch of 21 Day approved sweet treats tonight. Banana Oatmeal Cookies. Two cookies count as a yellow container and I can have up to 3 of these sweet treats a week. Since I haven't felt a need to substitute in milk, juice or wine... I'll be eating these! It made 8 servings, but Deidre and mom tried one so I have 7 servings - just enough to last me through the fix. I wrapped them individually and froze them so I can thaw them when I need them.

One thing that I have noticed throughout the week is how little my stomach has been upset. For anyone that knows me, my stomach constantly gives me trouble. I've thought at times that I could be lactose intolerant or have IBS, but have never tried to isolate the problem. Pretty much everything I've been eating has been fresh or with little to no preservatives which I'm sure my body appreciates. I also am not over-eating which I'm sure is helpful too. I am nervous for tomorrow because it is pretty much my first "lazy" day since starting the fix. I have a lot of stuff to do around the house, which worries me since I'll have easy access to bad snacks, etc. I am hoping that my to-do list keeps me busy and distracted! 

Tonight's workout: Cardio Fix

Today's Motivation: 

Day 4

Another day is in the books! I just completed my Pilates fix for the night and I am going to have some Greek yogurt mixed with bananas, natural peanut butter, honey and cinnamon. I'm really torn about these night-time workouts. I really enjoy them because I don't typically do anything else productive after 9:00pm and I think they are helping me sleep more soundly throughout the night. However, the nights that I have class make it really hard since I don't get home until after 10:00pm sometimes. I haven't decided if I want to switch to morning workouts or not. 

Nothing too exciting happened today besides the fact that I tried turkey bacon for the first time... I approve! Although I think I overcooked them. I also did not follow my original meal plan that I posted, but I stayed within my container limits. Water intake is still low. I need to start adding some ZING to my water (fruit, mint, etc.) and maybe that will help. 

Keeping it short tonight kids, I'm getting tired!

I know it's tough getting motivated during the cold, dreary months but even doing some Pinterest workouts or TV commercial workouts will get you up and moving throughout the day. Get that blood flowing, it feels good eventually! 

Day 3

Day 3 was another success - so far! I resisted all the delicious temptations at Kim's. For real, if you've never been - check out her website. If that isn't enough to convince you... look at these bad boys.

Seriously - resisting these is a small miracle for me. I was sure to pack snacks and lunch for when I was at work to help reduce my cravings. After work I went to Lancaster to donate blood, but my iron was too low. I was super bummed. Tonight was the first night I felt a "binge" coming on... I just wanted to go into the kitchen and start snacking on everything. Instead I readjusted my dinner idea to include a more flavorful, satisfying supper. Instead of plain chicken breast, quinoa and a salad I created a Mexican-fajita plate.

(2 red, 2 yellow, 1 green)

Tonight's workout is lower-fix. I'm still pretty sore from Monday and Tuesday so I'm nervous for this workout, but hey... just gotta do it! Water intake was low today - whoops! Also, I'm finding that I enjoy posting everyday. So feel free to skip some of my posts if you're getting bored or annoyed!

Here's today's motivation: 

I really like this one because "self-care" is constantly drilled into counselors-in-training heads. I wrote an entire research paper over the importance of it last semester, but still struggle to find something I enjoy doing. While I'm still working to enjoy this new regimen, it's still a form of self-care because I am literally taking care of myself. If you're having trouble fitting in your workouts, simply write it into your schedule. Seeing it as a regular part of your day will make it seem like no big deal, which leads me to one more motivational picture today: