Clean Eating Challenge: Day 6

We are so close! I hope you are feeling on top of the world!

Day 6

How are those carb cravings? 

You're so close!

I really wanted a chicken and mushroom mince pie today and when my server came to get my order... I said

"Chicken ceasar salad, please."

It was so difficult but it was done!

Large cappuccino without sugar or flavor added. 

Remember, unless it's sugar free having your favorite coffee item flavored in anyway is adding a ton of sugar to your drink. 

Grape snacks!

 I sauteed mushrooms in white wine and balsamic vinegar before adding them to my caprices salad. 

My joint exercise challenge was-

10 sit ups

3X 5 V-up Crunches

30 squats

  

Clean Eating Challenge: Day 5

Day 5 Guys!

Almost there!

I ended up having extra of yesterdays smoothie left over so I poured the remains into large ice cube trays and froze it. Today I was able to blend up the cubes for a fresh smoothie!

See day 4 for the recipe!

I wasn't incredibly hungry around lunch time so I munched on some nature's candy- grapes!

But then by the time dinner came around I felt like I was starving!

I heated a wild frozen salmon filet and made a stir fry of bean sprouts, spinach, mushrooms and carrots. 

Drizzle a little soy sauce and enjoy!

A friend of mine was also asked to start a 30 day fitness plan. I offered to join and be a support in that way. 

Today was easy enough-

10 sit ups

30 squats

15 bicycle crunches

Get on it!

Clean Eating Challenge: Day 4

What you eat in private, you wear in public.

Day 4

I know it's getting tough, kids!

Hang in there!

Today got started with a berry smoothie!

Frozen raspberries and blueberries were used instead of ice. 

They were mixed with fresh strawberries and blackberries, a good amount of light soy milk, splash of OJ and a couple good spoonfuls of low-fat Greek yogurt. 

Blend for happiness!

Late lunch/early dinner was this gorgeous chicken ceasar salad (no I did not eat the croutons). 

I was at a meeting at Lindore's House and saw this beauty on the menu@

I ended up being so full from this meal that I only had a handful of mixed nuts later that evening. 

Stay strong, my friends! We're almost there!

Clean Eating Challenge: Day 3

How are you feeling foodies?

Just so you guys know I did some  stretching today :) 

Here's the poses I did- hold each for 30 seconds or more. 

Day 3 on the weekly challenge proved difficult but we'll get there. For now let me say that the morning consisted of a non-sugary cereal with some crushed mixed nuts and skim milk. 

TIP: I've also discovered that not only does low fat soy milk have less calories but it's sweeter than regular milk- GREAT IN COFFEE when you're not wanting to add sugar. 

Lunch was a caprices salad:

Tomateos  

Mozzarella Cheese

Balsamic Vinaigrette 

Here's where that difficult part came in-

I had a speaking engagement and the ladies of the women's group were quite insistent on my joining them for tea and .... apple tart. 

So I opting to not be rude prior to my talk and I partook. 

But I am admitting it here!

It is a good lesson in that you never know what may come up and you can't beat yourself up for it. But it was good that I had fully resisted my all other temptations that day!

Clean Eating Challenge: Day 2

Hello Clean Eaters!

Day 2! How are you doing with those cravings?

I started my day off with a sweet tooth so I opted for a smoothie!

9 STRAWBERRIES

10 BLACKBERRIES

3/4 CUP LIGHT SOY MILK

2 TBSP OJ

1/4 NONFAT PLAIN GREEK YOGURT

Blend Away!

My second meal was smoked haddock, Lightest Cream Cheese (very small amount), and mashed sweet potato! I heated a small sweet potato in the microwave for about 8 minutes after puncturing it several times with a fork. Once it was thoroughly cooked I cut it in half, added a tiny amount of OJ, drizzled some honey and sprinkled with cinnamon.   

And as always, served on a small plate. 

I finished off the day with another helping of yesterdays cereal concoction. See Day 1 of the 1 Week Challenge for that delight!

Day 2, lovelies! Stay Strong!

Clean Eating Challenge: Day 1

Yesterday I presented a challenge. 

1 Week of clean eating. 

Give up those breads and sugars. 

So what does that mean? 

I had to go shopping. 

Fruits, veggies, salmon and haddock!

And lots of smoothie-makin' goodness.

So now that I am all set for the week of YUM (and I hope you are too) this is what Day 1 looked like for me!

Special K 3 grain cereal with chopped up plain mixed nuts and 3 pieces of 80% dark (fair trade) chocolate. And when I say pieces, I mean very small predetermined pieces. 

This starter was accompanied by a latte with no sugar. ZING!

Lunch time was a fair amount of seedless red grape. I cut each one in half so that they would last even longer. :)

Then I drizzled organic honey over the top for a little sweetness. 

A tall glass of cold water made this incredibly refreshing. 

Dinner was a treat! 

One small wild salmon filet with steamed green beans drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette.

Now there is a WONDERFUL hint for healthier eating 

and here it is-

Use a smaller plate when trying to eat smaller portions. Instead of seeing a small meal on a large plate you have an overflowing feast before your eyes. 

Work a little psychology into your health plan ;)

Keep it up, kids!

Fitness Friday: Personal Challenge Week

Hello my gorgeous people!

How has your week been? I hope you've enjoyed it because this week is all about challenging yourself.

That can mean anything from spending less time procrastinating at work, spending some extra time with the kids or running that errand you've been putting off for a while now. 

In the fitness context I am going to challenge you to join me this week in a healthy eating challenge. 

This is not a diet and this is not a lifestyle- It is a challenge and it's only for a week. You can do this. Easily; the question is... will you?

So what are we talking about here? Crazy juice drinks? Protein, protein, protein? Salad, without dressing only?

No. 

It's much simpler than that.

Take one week, just a week, with out taking in breads (or heavy carbs items like rice) or sugars. 

That's it. Real simple. 

Now I know that fruits have sugar in them just as other healthy food items contain carbs. 

But we're talking about the added in products. The unnaturally picked from a tree, plant or raised product. 

Can you pick a cookie off of a tree?

Man imagine the danger if you could! Glorious danger...

Here's what it ultimately boils down to. One week of disciplining yourself. One week of saying that you are stringer then a mere craving. And honestly if you are making it a point to deny your taste buds these item, you will end up craving them more simply because your mind is thinking of them more often. But knowing this ahead of time you will be able to recognize these evil little cravings for what they are. A mind game. 

One week. That is your challenge. No carbs. No sugars. 

Can you do it? 

Can I do it? 

Let's try together.

 And an extra additive on my end is to find a way to work in cardio to my weekly routine. It is now dark when I get home and running is painful for my breathing when it's cold. 

I will be researching alternative cardio options that do not require a gym membership. 

Check back here in a week for those search results!

Happy Eating!

EAT CLEAN, TRAIN DIRTY