Beachbody 60 Day Challenge: Day 9

Good Afternoon, Challengers! Today is a good day to be getting stronger and healthier!!

I will tell you why. Tuesday is a ministry day for me - I am a part of a Community Bible Study class that meets in my area. I handle a few small duties in the ministry - but it usually requires me to physically carry some heavy items up and down the stairs. I also do A LOT of running around on Tuesdays. Much. Lots. Many steps. It can really wear a girl out!

Today as I was leaving our meeting spot, I had to carry my 11 month old in her car seat, a suit case full of my lap top and all of my supplies, my bag, Baby Girl's bag - down the stairs - in high heels! I was able to carry it all out to my car without help and didn't want to die when I got there. It's never during my exercise that I feel the results of my workouts. It's always in moments out with my kids like today that I can see the difference exercise makes in my body.

I am having a good day menu-wise. I'm feeling much better than I was last week. I have so much more energy and am enjoying my food a lot more. I'm hungrier and find myself craving the veggies and fruits that I am buying - not just getting them down when I really want to eat something else. I'm also feeling more full at night - not so much like snacking.

I hate a GREAT PiYo workout this morning. My lower body is so sore. My core is also very sore. Like shoulders to hips sore. I LOVE how those workouts make my body feel. I really enjoy working muscles in a way I never have. I know I'm going to see changes in my body that I have never seen as a result of working those muscles that I didn't know I had!

Here's what is on my plate today:

Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs, 1 scrambled egg white, 2 cups of zucchini and squash, topped with a campari tomato. I'm out of bacon. Boo.

Lunch: Shakeology with 1 cup of almond milk. Delish!

Snack: Coconut Cream Pie Larabar on my way to pick up Middle 2 from Pre-K. When I got home I was still hungry so I snacked on some broccoli, too.

Dinner: Baked chicken thigh, no skin with roasted sweet potato and roasted butternut squash with another side of broccoli.

How are you feeling in your second week? Are you feeling your results yet?

See you back here tomorrow!

Tricia

Order YOUR PiYo DVD's here! 

Beachbody 60 Day Challenge: Days 6, 7 and 8!

I didn't blog this weekend. I feel shame. That's a lie - I don't feel shame. I didn't even get a chance to remember I didn't write anything up until last night. And that just wasn't going to change until today :-) Between sporting events, church and my husband working all weekend, there just wasn't any time for blogging. I did get all my workouts in - which I was thankful for, though.

I was feeling refreshed on Saturday after having a great rest day on Friday. I woke up before the kiddos and got my PiYo workout in. Just as I was finishing up everyone woke up and I made some breakfast for the masses. Everyone likes something different around here - there was cereal for one, an omelet for another, toast and juice for one guy, and eggs and bacon for the Hubs. Then I jetted off with 2 of my 4 to watch my oldest at his Kung Fu and Sanda classes. Then home to cook dinner and have some whole family time.

Here's what I ate on Saturday:

Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs with spinach and zucchini and one slice of bacon. I love bacon.

Lunch: Subway - spinach salad with double meat chicken and all the veggies. All. The. Veggies.

Dinner: I had Sausage and Peppers again with some roasted veggies. I roasted up a whole mess of sweet potatoes and butternut squash for the week. Me and Baby Girl ate those with our dinner. The husband ordered pizza for dinner because college football = Papa John's. I stopped trying to understand his math a long time ago.

On Sunday, we had church at 9. I woke up early again and got my workout in, then had to have a quick shower and get myself ready so I could get everyone else ready. The Hubs had to work again on Sunday, so I was on my own getting everyone to church, which meant easy breakfasts all around. My kids aren't huge fans of eating a big meal as soon as they wake up, so I was able to get them some yogurt and toast and get them on their way. I still had my eggs - because I love eggs and I LOVE having a big breakfast! It was a rainy morning here in Atlanta, so I made everyone grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch. I had more roasted veggies and sausages. Then for dinner my husband - finally free from his never ending database testing - grilled us up some flank steak for dinner. It was DELICIOUS.

Here's everything all laid out nice and pretty:

Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs with zucchini and yellow squash. And bacon. MMMM... bacon.

Lunch: Sausage with roasted squash and sweet potato.

Dinner: Flank steak, grilled, with broccoli and carrots.

I woke up early this morning and knocked out my PiYo workout for the day. The power was out where I am when I normally get up, so my workout got off to a late start. It all turned out, though - the power kicked back on just in time for me to get my workout in before I had to get the kiddos up for school. After I got Middle 1 and Oldest off to school, Middle 2, Baby Girl and I hit the zoo. Middle 2 is learning about Safari animals at his preschool, so it was neat to take him to see the animals he has been learning all about. We walked for 3 hours around that place... it was a fun time!

Here's what is on my plate for today:

Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs with bacon, zucchini and yellow squash.

Lunch: Leftover flank steak with roasted squash and sweet potatoes.

Dinner: Homemade chili - with my own seasoning and stuff. I loosely follow this recipe: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/09/frito-chili-pie/

I use grass-fed ground beef instead of ground chuck. The rest of the family does make frito pies with the chili - so I cook it up to adding the beans for myself, then ladle out a cup or two just for me. Then I add the beans and masa as the recipe calls for - I have enough for me without the things I'm eliminating from my diet right now and enough for everyone else. It works out really well!

Going into week 2, I am feeling much better than I was on Friday. I feel like I can see a change in my body already. I am noticing more tone and strength as I'm doing my PiYo workouts. I still can't do a good, full triceps push-up. I'm hoping that changes in the very near future!

I hope you all had a great weekend and are enjoying this challenge as much as I am! Here's to a new YOU in 7 more weeks!!

See you all tomorrow!

Tricia

Beachbody 60 Day Challenge: Day 5

REST DAY!

Yahoo! Today was the BEST day to be a rest day. I had no where to go, nothing to do and was happy to do just that! My three oldest went off to school today and I stayed home with my little Baby Girl and just enjoyed her today. It was looooovely.

Today was a great rest day for another reason: the carb flu has hit full force. Combine this with my allergies and I was feeling less than stellar today. I probably will take a walk this afternoon - but it has been good to focus on drinking lots of water and get all these nasties worked out of my system.

I was feeling particularly discouraged at lunch time today. Feeling rough is no fun. I was very tempted to just call it quits on the diet. I mean, I don't have to be so strict for the next 25 days to get to my goals. I could probably eat a little off-plan and  not do that much harm.

So I cracked open my all time favorite book on nutrition, It Starts With Food. Dallas and Melissa Hartwig do a great job explaining why our brains react the way they do to food. I went straight to the end, right to the part I knew I needed. An excerpt from the book reads as follows:

"Please don't tell us this program is hard. Quitting heroin is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Birthing a baby is hard. Drinking your coffee black. Is. Not. Hard. you have no excuse not to complete the program as written. It's only thirty days, and its for the most important health cause on earth - the only physical body you will have in this lifetime."

I was reminded that I feel this poorly because my body is healing. I have damaged it with my poor food choices and now it is regrouping and relearning how to use the food I am providing it. I am only a few days away from feeling better than I have felt in a long time. I am only a few days away from falling asleep more quickly, enjoying a more restorative sleep, and having more energy throughout the day that doesn't have to be fueled by coffee and adrenaline! I also have a better body composition and looking better in my clothes to look forward to!

I'm back on track and - while still feeling pretty TIRED - I'm ready to keep going and hold on for the results!

Here's what's on my plate today:

Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs with one egg white, zucchini and green peppers. I added some bacon and tomato to the top of my egg scramble today. I was hungry :-)

Lunch: Butternut squash soup with grilled chicken. I finished off my soup today. I'm going to be busy this weekend cooking up some of my other veggies for some pre-made goodies to get me through next week.

Snack: Apple with 1 1/2 tsp almond butter.

Dinner: Probably sausage and peppers again with broccoli. It was yummy and I am too tired to get creative tonight :-)

Looking forward to another workout tomorrow and getting on the upside of this detox!

Beachbody 60 Day Challenge: Day 4

Hello, again from Beachbody Challenge Land! I am feeling a little worse for the wear today. It has been a busy week and a hard week to be getting toxins and sugar out of my system. My body has gotten used to a regular dose of sugar and it was DEMANDING it's fix today. I am a constant grazer - I love to munch on little handfuls of things throughout the day. Since I wasn't being very strict with myself these past months, those little handfuls of things had turned into handfuls of marshmallows or and chocolate chips. Or, when I was having a particularly stressful or tiring day, I would get a big  very big scoop of cookie butter straight from the jar and feel sorry for myself while I licked the spoon. Not good eating habits, my friends.

So as of day four, I am feeling it. I was wanting  a Cinnamon Soy Latte from Starbucks so bad today I could literally taste it. I went out to lunch with some of my very good friends and partners in ministry today - we went to Zoe's Kitchen. They have so many healthy options there. But what I really wanted was some pimento cheese and a brownie. A big, honkin' brownie. But I stuck with my side Greek salad with chicken and I feel proud of myself. But I want the brownie no less!

I am always conscious of what I put into my body during meals. It is a lot harder for me to keep track of all my snacking... I know it will be worth it in the end! I'm looking forward to being less bloated and having more consistent energy throughout the day. I'm also looking forward to achieving the muscle tone and post-baby body that I'm missing after my fourth pregnancy. I will make it for the next 56 days... and further!

Here's what's on my plate today:

Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs with butternut squash and yellow squash. I cut up a little comprari tomato and added it to the top today. I know it sounds weird, but this is so yummy. The squash takes on the consistency of a potato and it is just so good.

Lunch: Zoe's Kitchen - Side Greek Salad with grilled chicken and onions added. No feta. I fed my pita bread to my 10 month old and we split a side of fruit. Lemon Vinaigrette dressing on the salad. Very delish!

Snack: Apple with 1 1/2 tsp almond butter - I microwave the apple with cinnamon then melt the almond butter on top. This is soooo delicious.

Dinner: Sausage and Peppers with a big side of mixed veggies. I sautee the Adele's Sausage with some sliced bell pepper, then steam my veggies on the side. I'm thinking I'll have broccoli tonight.

I bought some leeks from the Farmer's Market yesterday... I'm trying to decide what I'm going to do with those bad boys. I love leek and potato soup... I'm going to have to figure out a way to make a healthier version. Yay for Google!

See you all tomorrow!

Beachbody 60 Day Challenge - Day 3

Whew! It has been a long day - and it's only 8:30! I'm going to be asleep with the Eunice's of the world today. That's what I call elderly ladies. Eunice. I digress. Blame it on sleep deprivation.

Back to the blog at hand. I had a great day. I got my workout in early, I ate well and much was accomplished. I am feeling even more sore today than yesterday, though. I can feel muscles that I didn't know I had and I'm going to be honest with you - I LOVE it! It is a good pain, but man - it is pain.

I can't wait to see what the results of these workouts and this diet are in 57 more days. I know it is going to be exactly what I was hoping!

Here is what I ate today:

Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs with butternut squash and yellow squash. I was low on veggies this morning and used what I had. Normally, I wouldn't scramble eggs with butternut squash - but it was so yummy. I'm going to have it again tomorrow!

Lunch: Shakeology mixed with one cup of almond milk. It was another busy day. I sucked it down in the car on my way from one place to the next. This chocolate vegan Shakeology is really growing on me!

Snack: Coconut cream pie Larabar. This one is by far my favorite Larabar. I also snacked on some turkey and apple slices later in the afternoon. I was pretty hungry today.

Dinner: Butternut squash soup with baked chicken breast. I was still pretty hungry at dinner so I also had a salad (using my unlimited salad greens) with a homemade lemon garlic vinaigrette.

The family ordered Chinese food for dinner tonight. I'm going to level with you: I wanted an egg roll. Like I would never see another egg roll again and I NEEDED to eat one right then. But I didn't. This is why it always pays off to have something, anything, pre-prepared in the fridge and ready to eat. I was able to have my soup and chicken with my salad without having to spend time cooking while everyone was eating. It also didn't hurt that the food that I was eating was yummy!

I would love to hear how you all are feeling 3 days in. Did you plan appropriately for your diet? Are you feeling sore from your workouts? Are you enjoying the DVD's? Only 57 more days to go!

Beachbody Challenge Day 2

Happy Day 2 to YOU!

I woke up early this morning and knocked out my PiYo workout. Because I was feeling like doing a little more, I added on the bonus 20 minute Turbo Fire HIIT  workout that comes with the PiYo DVD set. Between the PiYo workout and that one, I am feeling my WHOLE body in a new way today. Tuesdays are busy days for me, I do a lot of walking and a lot of moving from sitting to standing. I really was feeling those workouts by lunch time today. Really. A lot. Ouch.

I'm reminded as I sit on my comfortable sofa how good it is to be sore, though. I know I worked my muscles today. I know they are doing something they are not used to and that is helping shape and strengthen my body. And that is a good thing!

Because Tuesdays are so busy, it was a no brainer to add the Shakeology to my diet today. I am, however, a HUGE proponent of eating a real breakfast. Just ask my kids! I absolutely believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It sets you up for success or failure with your diet for the rest of the day. It either gives you the energy you need and fills you up, or it is lacking and sets you off course. So I added the Shakeology at lunch, which makes more sense for my schedule anyway.

I'm going to be honest with you - I also am not a huge fan of not eating real food. However, the Shakeology came with my PiYo Challenge pack, so I committed to trying it for the duration of our Challenge. Before this, I would not have said that I would drink any of my meals. I just didn't believe that a protein shake would keep me full or provide me with all of the nutrients I need to get through to dinner.

As of 2 hours after drinking my shake for lunch, I will say that I am still pretty full. I haven't had any sudden dips in energy and I don't feel like I want to eat everything in my pantry - so I'm going to call my Shakeology lunch a success! We will look at what kind of results I have over all in the coming weeks.

Here's the rest of what is on my menu for today:

Breakfast: Squash and Asparagus Fritatta (I sauteed a cup of asparagus and squash in coconut oil, then poured two scrambled eggs over the top to cook. I flipped it once and BAM! Fritatta!)

Lunch: Shakeology - chocolate vegan - mixed with one cup of almond milk and a handful of icef

Snack: Pecan Pie Larabar (I count this as 2 fats and one fruit, for those of you following the PiYo Eating Guide)

Dinner: Copy Cat Panera Bread Autumn Squash Soup from Healthy Hungry Girl with one chicken breast chopped and added to the soup.

Overall, my energy is good again today. I did have a headache and was VERY thirsty this morning. Detoxing can be rough the first few days. I'm happy to be getting everything out of my system, though and looking forward to recording my results in 59 days!

See you all tomorrow!

Tricia

60 Day Beachbody Challenge: Day 1

Today is the first day of my Beachbody Get Fit Challenge. I am so ready for this and so glad that I am doing in through most of the holiday season. While I love a good mini candy bar and LOVE pecan pie at Thanksgiving, I am about 1 year post partum. The last thing I need are a million mini candy bars and pecan pie if I want to get back in shape. Round is a shape.... just not the shape I want to be!

So today I woke up bright and early to get my PiYo workout in. Middle 1 wakes up at 6:15 am to get on the school bus by 6:50 am, so I have to get up pretty early to get the workout done before it's time to start waking up the family. It wasn't too bad - I'm sure I will be ready for bed by 9 tonight, though!

I will tell you, I did not feel like the "Align" workout was much of a workout. It was a great explanation of all the moves that I know I'll be doing as the workouts progress - but not a workout. So I took Oldest to school and then headed to the gym with Middle 2. He had a good time playing with his gym friends while I took at HIIT/strength class with mine. It was a GREAT workout.

I'm feeling like this Challenge is getting off to a good start. I feel great physically, I feel fully committed mentally, I feel very positive about the next 59 days!

Here is what is on the menu for me today:

Breakfast: 2 eggs, over medium - cooked in 1 tsp of coconut oil with sauteed kale and yellow squash (about one cup total) with half a banana.

Post Workout Snack: 1/2 cup of egg whites mixed with 1/2 cup of pumpkin - microwaved for 2 minutes with cinnamon to make a little pumpkin pudding :-)

Lunch: One Chicken with pineapple and bacon sausage with about 3 cups of mixed veggies - broccoli, carrots, squash and mushrooms that I steamed and seasoned really well.

Dinner: Making some stuffed bell peppers tonight with lean/grass fed ground beef and no rice in mine. I will make the rest with rice for the family and will add some cheddar cheese to theirs as well.

I have an apple on reserve for the afternoon if my lunch doesn't hold me over.

I am not following the 1200 calorie meal plan because I am not trying to lose weight. I am using the maintenance plan for 1400 calories. I am also planning on avoiding dairy as much as possible, along with any added sweeteners - even the calorie free stuff. No gluten for this girl, either. I am going to keep this up for 30 days, then start to add back in some dairy and some gluten free grains for the final 30. I'm really hoping to jump start the fat loss for this first 30 days with lots of veggies, some fruits and lots of lean meats.

My total calorie break down for the day looks like this (per My Fitness Pal):

Total Fat: 40 grams
Carbs: 115 grams
Protein: 82 grams

I HAVE NOT been eating this clean in a while. Normally I'm cramming chocolate chips and various other things in my face while I'm cooking dinner or making lunch for the kids. I've been taking in more than my allotted amount of lattes lately, as well - not to mention the almost daily trips to Pinkberry. I'm going to be feeling this over the next few days. But I'm really looking forward to getting past this week and into the next week. I know I will have more energy and be feeling more able to take care of myself and my family.

Day one is half way finished! See you again tomorrow!

Tricia