Recipes

Garlic Parmesan Red Potatoes

These were a huge hit in our house! Feels like a cheat – but they aren’t!

INGREDIENTS

1 lb red potatoes, chopped in 1 inch pieces (approx 6-7 red potatoes)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp sea salt
3 cloves of garlic
1 tbsp dried parsley
1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
In a large bowl, toss potatoes with olive oil.
Add in garlic, sea salt and parsley.
Place potatoes on parchment paper on a baking sheet.
Cook potatoes for 35-40 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Once potatoes are about 5 minutes from being fully cooked, take out and sprinkle with parmesan and return to oven until done.
Enjoy!

If you are following the 21 day fix, measure your portion with a yellow container. 1 serving is a half of a cup and is counted as 1 yellow, 1/2 a blue and 1 tsp.

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Recipes

21 Day Fix Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken

Who doesn’t LOVE honey mustard?! 😉 This recipe was a hit for us! Healthy grilled chicken that was sweet and tangy with a sauce! Perfect for summertime!

INGREDIENTS

4 thin chicken breast fillets (You can use regular chicken breasts too, we liked the thin ones for this recipe!)
1/2 cup of dijon mustard
1/3 cup of honey
1/2 tbsp of tamari or soy sauce
2 tsp lemon juice
2 tbsp of plain non-fat greek yogurt

DIRECTIONS

Mix together mustard, honey, tamari and lemon juice.
In a freezer bag, add chicken, 3 tbsp of marinade and allow to marinate minimum of 2 hours. We let ours marinate overnight.
Add greek yogurt to remaining marinade mixture and set aside.
Preheat barbecue to medium and grill the chicken for 4 minutes per side, or until chicken is no longer pink inside.
Drizzle chicken with the greek yogurt honey mustard sauce.
Enjoy!

If you are following the 21 day fix, one thin chicken breast fillet is equal to approximately 1 red (each chicken breast varies in size, mine are equal to one red). Use 1 orange container to measure your greek yogurt honey mustard sauce to drizzle over your chicken. Count meal as 1 red and 1 orange.

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Main Dish

Enchilada Tostadas with Avocado Cream Sauce

I think it is no secret that I love Mexican food! I have been in the mood for enchiladas, but wanted a meal with less cheese – which is how I came up with these Enchilada Tostadas! I cooked and prepped the chicken in advance during my meal prep and then assembled and enjoyed the tostadas during the week. I am all for meals that I can prep in advance!

INGREDIENTS

3 chicken breasts, cut in cubes
1 can of red enchilada sauce (I used Las Palmas 19 ounce can because the ingredients were good)
2 avocados
1/2 cup of fat free plain greek yogurt
1/2 tbsp garlic salt
Cheddar cheese, grated
Corn Tortillas
Pam Cooking Spray
Romaine Lettuce, shredded
Tomatoes, chopped

DIRECTIONS

Marinate chicken breast cubes in enchilada sauce for minimum of two hours. I marinated mine overnight.
Once the chicken is done marinating, place the chicken and the sauce in a pan over medium heat and cover, stir every couple of minutes. Cook chicken for 8 minutes, or until no longer pink inside.
Allow chicken to cool and shred chicken in the remaining enchilada sauce. This allows the pieces to be fully covered in the sauce, and then drain the remaining sauce.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
In a small frying pan over medium high heat, coat both sides of your corn tortillas with cooking spray (I used Pam) and toast each side until golden brown.
On a cookie sheet, place your corn tortillas and top with your shredded chicken and cheddar cheese.
Place in the oven for 5 minutes, or until cheese is fully melted.
Top your tostadas with shredded romaine lettuce, tomatoes and avocado cream sauce!
Enjoy!

Avocado Sauce:

Place 2 avocados, 1/2 cup of plain greek yogurt, 3 tbsp of water and 1/2 tbsp of garlic salt in a blender. If you would like yours thinner, add more water.
Use a blue container to measure your portion if you are following the 21 Day Fix.
I put my sauce in a ziploc baggie and cut a hole in the corner to drizzle on top of my tostadas!

21 Day Fix Counts:

1 corn tortilla = 1/2 yellow
1 red of the chicken mixture
1 green of romaine and tomato
1/2 blue of cheddar cheese
1/2 blue of avocado cream sauce
Total count for 1 = 1/2 yellow, 1 red, 1 green and 1 blue

Hope you enjoy!

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Main Dish

Spicy Pineapple Chicken Kabobs

These are the perfect summer time dinner! I love cooking on the grill and I love kabobs. I decided to spice up my kabobs with a little kick of spice and some pineapple! These were amazing and will definitely become a regular dinner for us!

INGREDIENTS

3 chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 red onion, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 orange pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 yellow pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces
1/2 a pineapple, cut into 1 inch pieces
6 tbsp honey
2 tbsp liquid aminos (this is a healthy gluten free substitute for soy sauce)
2.5 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp sriracha
1.2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp sesame oil
2 tbsp vinegar
3/4 cup pineapple juice
8 wooden skewers, soak 30 minutes

DIRECTIONS

Thread chicken, onion, peppers and pineapple onto each wooden skewer, alternating ingredients. Mine made 8 skewers. Depending on the size of your chicken and veggies, yours may make slightly more or less.
In a saucepan over medium high heat, add all of the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.
Once boiling, turn the head down slightly and stir occasionally. Keep the sauce over the heat for about 10 minutes, or until sauce thickens up and then set aside.
Grill your kabobs for 3 minutes on each side, or until chicken is no longer pink.
Remove your kabobs from the grill and brush with spicy pineapple sauce.
Enjoy!

I counted each skewer as 1 red, 1 green, .5 purple and 1 tsp. These were great served over brown rice!

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Health and Fitness

Hammer and Chisel Round 2

If you saw my latest blog post, then you will know – I successfully completed Hammer and Chisel. I loved it so much that I decided I wanted to do another round…which starts today!

I had incredible results my first round – countless inches and 13.7 lbs lost which helped me hit my goal weight that I set three years ago at the beginning of my journey. I have a feeling round two is going to be a bit more challenging considering we will be moving into our dream house this week and I have a very sick little boy at home! We are living out of boxes right now and Ben has been sick for about a week now. To say I am stressed is a massive understatement right now. But I am reminding myself that this is called a LIFEstyle for a reason. If we only worked out and ate healthy when we felt good, we probably would rarely do it because let’s face it – life for most of us is crazy and hectic.

For this round, my goal is not weight loss, although I do still plan to follow the Lean Out meal plan. My goal is to continue to build muscle and lean out.

We close on our dream home tomorrow and this week will be spent working and then working on our house to prepare to move this weekend. We won’t be home much in the evenings which can make dinner time and meal planning tough. I did my best to think ahead and get a plan together.

Here is my meal plan for this week (following the 1,200-1,400 plan):

Before workout: energize preworkout (free)

Post workout: recover post workout shake (free)

Breakfast: two eggs, banana oat waffles with peanut butter and black coffee (1 red, 1 yellow, 1 purple, 2 tsps)

Mid Morning: fruit (1 purple)

Lunch: mixed green salad with grilled chicken and sweet onion citrus vinaigrette (2 greens, 1 red, 1 orange)

Afternoon: Café Latte shakeology and water (1 red)

Dinner: hasselback chicken (adding in cheese to get 1 full blue) with broccoli and brown rice (1 red, 1 green, 1 blue, 1 yellow)

Water intake goal: 128 ounces

My meal prep this weekend consisted of:

– Making a double batch of the batter for my waffles (Ben eats these too!)

– Grilling 5 servings of chicken for my salads

– Cooking the brown rice for my dinners

– Prepping and cooking 6 servings of my hasselback chicken

– Cooking my husband 10 servings of his own version of burrito bowls (I bulk his up with more chicken and rice and cook it on the stove)

Since our food is almost all cooked for the week, I am hoping it will make it easier for us to stay on track this week while we are on the go!

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Health and Fitness

Hammer and Chisel Results

No matter how often I post progress pictures, I always get so nervous!

DRUM ROLL PLEASE….. wink emoticon

Here are my official Hammer and Chisel results! I am down 13.7 lbs in the 60 days (+ 1 week of vacation in there).

Of all my progress pictures, I think these are my favorite ones. Yep – I don’t have a six pack or anything like that, but gosh, I am REALLY proud of this body I have worked so hard for.I made a promise to myself when I had my son that I would get to 140 lbs before trying for another baby. I started my last pregnancy at 165 lbs and I really wanted to be at my ultimate goal weight that I set three years ago before having another baby. I know the scale is just a number, but it was a really important milestone for me. I wanted to finally be able to say “I hit my ultimate goal”. When I was 215 lbs three years ago, I set a goal to be 140 lbs and if I am honest – I never actually thought I would achieve it.

But….I did it. I FREAKING DID IT!!!!!!!

The last two months have been TOUGH. During this time frame I had 4 Christmas celebrations, New Year’s Eve, a week long vacation in Jamaica and we bought a house. Lots of events and stressful situations that I could have used as excuses. Did I struggle? Yes. Did I have cheats? Yep!….but I didn’t quit. I may have had a few cheats at the end of this program, but I NEVER MISSED A WORKOUT. And I gave those workouts everything I had.

Want to know the best part?

I was able to do this AT HOME. I didn’t need to pay for a personal trainer or a gym, I didn’t have to pack up and go to the gym after work, I didn’t have to sacrifice time from my family to workout – I was able to fit this into my already jam packed schedule.

These results are from:

– 60 days of Hammer and Chisel
– Drinking Shakeology daily
– Using Energize preworkout before each workouts
– Drinking the Recover postworkout shake after each workout
– Following the portion controlled meal plan

When I was overweight – I had every excuse in the book of why I couldn’t be as successful as the people I followed online. I was fatter, I was busier, I was more tired, I worked more, etc. If you are one of those people, looking at my progress, watching me hit my ultimate goal weight – just know, I was in your shoes too. Sitting at home, scrolling Facebook, WISHING I could have the success others saw. If that is you – just know that you can do this too. The only difference between me and you is that I did something about it. I stopped WISHING and I started DOING. I didn’t wish for my goal weight – I WORKED for it. There is nothing stopping you from working for it too – except you. You are the only person standing in your way of getting to your ultimate goal.

You owe it to YOURSELF to hit your goals. You owe it to yourself to feel happy, confident and healthy. Don’t you deserve that?

Getting healthy changed my entire life and all the sweat and tears – they have been WORTH it, because I AM WORTH IT.

My passion is helping women learn to love themselves and find the same results I have – in the comfort of their own homes. If you want help, please reach out! I would love to help you reach your goals —> mrsdukesfitspo@gmail.com

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Main Dish

21 Day Fix Taco Salad

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If you have looked at the recipes on my site, you probably can tell that I really love Mexican food. Before I had my son, every single Friday night was date night at our favorite Mexican restaurant. Chips, salad and a big fat margarita – with dinner of course! That was how I chose to spend my weekly cheat meal. I have found, the more I give into my weekly cheat meals, the harder time I have getting back on track and staying there. Finding healthy meals that I can eat on my meal plan that satisfy those cravings have been my key to staying on track.

If you follow me on my Facebook page, Putting My Best Foot Forward, then you will know, I like to keep things simple. When cooking for two, it is easy to waste a ton of food with left overs. One of our favorite meals is turkey tacos. Instead of having tacos all week, I have found some simple ways to turn that turkey meat into other meals like nachos, tostadas and now, a taco salad!

INGREDIENTS

99% fat free ground turkey
Your favorite taco seasoning (I use 1 packet of Kroger’s Taco Seasoning)
Corn Tortillas
Shredded lettuce
Tomatoes, chopped
Avocado
Garlic salt
Cooking spray

DIRECTIONS

In a frying pan over medium high heat, cook turkey until no longer pink. Add in taco seasoning packet and 1/4 cup of water. If you have leftover turkey meat from tacos, that will work just fine too! Once cooked, set aside.
In the meantime, slice up corn tortillas into thin strips. If you are following the 21 Day Fix, two corn tortillas count as one serving. Lightly coat with cooking spray. I use Pam Coconut Oil spray.
In a separate frying pan over medium high heat, cook corn tortilla strips and toss every 45 seconds or so. Cook until golden brown and crisp, then remove from heat and set aside.
In a bowl, combine avocado and a tsp of garlic salt. Mash together.
To prepare the salad in a bowl, add lettuce, tomatoes, ground turkey and top with avocado and the crisp corn tortilla strips.

If you are following the 21 Day Fix meal plan:

1.5 green of lettuce
.5 green of chopped tomatoes
1 red of ground turkey
1 blue of mashed avocado
2 corn tortillas for 1 yellow

Total container count for this salad is 2 green, 1 red, 1 blue and 1 yellow!

Enjoy!

Jess

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Recipes

21 Day Fix NACHOS!

Let’s be honest…who doesn’t love nachos? These were SO good and are perfect when you are craving something salty and crunchy!

INGREDIENTS

99% fat free ground turkey
Your favorite taco seasoning (I use 1 packet of Kroger’s Taco Seasoning)
Corn Tortillas
Tomatoes, chopped
Avocado
Garlic salt
Shredded cheddar cheese
Cooking spray

DIRECTIONS

In a frying pan over medium high heat, cook turkey until no longer pink. Add in taco seasoning packet and 1/4 cup of water. If you have leftover turkey meat from tacos, that will work just fine too! Once cooked, set aside.
In the meantime, slice up corn tortillas into triangles like chips. If you are following the 21 Day Fix, two corn tortillas count as one serving. Lightly coat with cooking spray. I use Pam Coconut Oil spray.
In a separate frying pan over medium high heat, cook corn tortilla strips and toss every 45 seconds or so. Cook until golden brown and crisp, then remove from heat and set aside.
In a bowl, combine avocado and a tsp of garlic salt. Mash together.
To prepare the nachos, combine crisp corn tortillas, cheese, ground turkey together and top with avocado.

If you are following the 21 Day Fix meal plan:

2 corn tortillas for 1 yellow
1 red of ground turkey
1/2 blue of cheese
1/2 blue of avocado
1/2 green of tomatoes

Total container count for this salad is .5 green, 1 red, 1 blue and 1 yellow!

Enjoy!

Jess

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Health and Fitness

Day 16: Seeing Progress

Hello day 16! Woke up today feeling really lean so I decided to step on the scale. 146.2 pounds. YAY! I have been bloated for the last five days, so it feels good to see abs this morning!

This morning’s workout was Chisel Agility. I won’t lie, this is my least favorite workout of the program so far – not because it is a bad workout, but because I REALLY miss lifting weights. This is the only workout in the program that uses no equipment. Thankfully, this time around, I knew what to expect so I could prepare myself for a high impact cardio workout. I found myself wanting to quit about halfway through the workout. This is the downside of at home workouts – you have to be self-motivated. When you are in a group fitness class, if you stop or walk out early, everyone sees you. When you are at home though, no one knows. If you shut off the workout 5 minutes early, no one knows. If you decide to lay on the couch while your least favorite move finishes up, no one knows. I am guilty of doing both of those in the past! Right when I wanted to quit, Autumn said something that really resignation with me. She said, this workout is really hard, but you know what else is hard? Living life in a body you don’t like.

How true is that?! One of my favorite quotes is, “Being fat is hard, losing weight is hard, maintaining weight is hard. Choose YOUR hard”. It is all hard. Before I ever gained my weight, I used to think that being overweight was taking the easy way out. They didn’t have to workout, they could eat whatever they wanted, etc. But, once I became overweight, I realized how wrong I was. I would argue that being overweight is harder than losing weight and harder than maintaining weight. It is really freaking hard to live in a body that you hate, to look in the mirror and not even recognize yourself, to lose your breath walking up a flight of stairs, to rip your jeans because you gained weight, to not be able to find clothes that fit, to be self-conscious, etc. That right there is harder than any workout. A workout is hard for 30-60 minutes or so. Living in a body you hate? Well, that is hard every second of every day. Personally, I will gladly sacrifice those 30-60 minutes a day to live my life in a body I love.

When Autumn said that this morning, it gave me the energy to crush the rest of my workout. The remaining 15 minutes in the workout was worth it to be because I was reminded what I was working towards. I never want to be 215 pound Jess ever again. I was feeling so good after my workout that I decided I wanted my husband to take some progress pictures for me. I have a love/hate relationship with progress pictures. I look in the mirror each day and this sounds so conceited, but I am literally in awe of my body. I may not have six pack abs, but for me, I am in the best shape of my life right now and it blows me away. I see abs, my obliques are getting more toned by the day, my shoulders are getting rounder and my legs are getting tighter. The problem is, I don’t feel like the camera reflects what I see in the mirror. Maybe I have a skewed self-image of myself or something, but I just feel like my progress looks way more impressive when I look in the mirror than when I take a picture.

When I looked at the pictures my husband took and compared them to my before pictures, I won’t lie, I was bummed. I thought my progress would have shown way more than it did. Someone on my Facebook page quickly reminded me that this progress is only two weeks. The changes I am seeing ARE significant for that short of time. I need to be patient with myself. This program isn’t 16 days long, it is 60. If I am feeling this good after 16 days, I have to think about how incredible I am going to feel after 60 days. So, rather than getting down on myself, I am celebrating how incredible I feel and all the little changes that I can see.

I am starting to stress a bit about this upcoming weekend – Christmas Eve, Christmas and then another Christmas celebration two days later. What does this mean? Three days of temptation within a four day period. Food Addicted Jess says – INDULGE! ENJOY! WHO CARES! And In Control Jess says, GIIIIIRL, you have worked WAY TOO HARD to go nuts this weekend! I am sure you all think I am nuts, but these are the internal conversations I have been having with myself all week. I am sure most of you are thinking I should treat myself because a cheat meal won’t kill me. But, if you read my blog yesterday, then you will know that I really struggle with having a little bit of something. I am usually all or nothing. If I go off plan, I don’t just kind of go off plan – I go WAY off plan. I don’t trust myself to have a little. I wish I could, but I have been down this road one too many times before and the outcome is always the same.

I don’t plan on bringing my own food to these get togethers, but I do plan on staying as on plan as I can by finding out the menu ahead of time. That way, I can plan on which containers I need to save for dinner. I will not be sitting at Christmas dinner with my containers and measuring out everything I eat. But, I will be watching my portions the best I can. Once I know what dinner is, I can then plan my day around that to make sure I am not going over too much on anything. All I know is, I need to be really careful so I can stay on track. My husband and I made an agreement that we would not be going out to eat while we are off work until the new year. I am so thankful I have his support and he is willing to do this program with me!

I feel way too good to over indulge right now. I haven’t felt this lean in my entire life and I am not about to let a Holiday ruin that for me! It is possible to celebrate a holiday without gorging myself with food!

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Health and Fitness

Day 15: CHEAT FREE & PROUD

Well, well, well…I made it to day 15 CHEAT FREE. 15 days may not seem like much, but if you know my background, this is a big deal for me.

A little over three years ago, I was 215 pounds. On top of that, I was depressed, I was addicted to food and I really didn’t like anything about myself. Being bloated and exhausted was how I felt all the time, I didn’t know anything else. Every move and every thought was controlled by food. I wouldn’t leave the house without food, I couldn’t make it to a destination without a detour through the McDonald’s drive thru and I couldn’t go a day without binging on junk food. A venti Frappuccino with a breakfast sandwich and an apple fritter was my breakfast. I would be too embarrassed to order two breakfast sandwiches, so I would go to a different starbucks for another. I would bring snacks to work like Cheetos or crackers and dip just to make it to lunch. I went out to lunch daily and the Red Robin near work knew that I wanted a bacon cheeseburger with extra fries, tartar sauce, honey mustard and a diet coke. As if that wasn’t enough, I would then stop by the store before heading back to work for some candy and chips. The rest of the day would be spent thinking about food – what was next. On my way home from work, I would head to the grocery store for some wine, chips, frozen spinach dip and usually a frozen snack like chicken nuggets or fries. When I would get to my car, I would call in Thai food to pick up on my way home. Yep – all that stuff I bought at the store would be for after I ate my Thai food.

So. Freaking. Ridiculous. I had no time to workout because any time I was home, I was eating. Eating literally all night until I went to bed. It was sick – I was sick. I know saying I have a food addiction seems dramatic – but, I am most definitely a food addict. My life was controlled by food. I would actually get upset when I felt full because my mind was still telling me to eat, even though my body had enough.

Throughout my journey, I have always allowed myself cheat meals. If I am completely honest, cheat meals taste incredible – but they FUEL my food addiction. I don’t think I will ever NOT be a food addict. It will always be there. Most days I win, but I still have days where I lose. Cheat meals to a food addict are like giving an alcoholic just one drink. Sometimes I can do it and keep that cheat meal at just one meal. Most of the time however, that cheat meal turns into a binge weekend where I undo ALL of the hard work I put in during the week. There is nothing more painful than waking up on Monday morning beating yourself up for going off track. I have gone off track more times than I can count and every time I do it – I ask myself – was that cheat meal really work it? There has never been a time where I say yes. No meal is worth feeling guilty over.

Before I get the rude comments about how cheat meals are healthy – please remember where I come from. There is nothing wrong with ONE cheat meal. But, when a cheat meal causes you to spiral out of control for a day, a weekend or even a week – then you may want to rethink them.

My goal after having Ben was to be 140 before I get pregnant with baby #2. I started my last pregnancy at 165 pounds. Now, being 15 months postpartum, I am kicking myself for not being more strict sooner. I am 6 pounds away from my goal – but those last pounds are the toughest to get off. It is never too late to turn things around and buckle down. So that is exactly what I am doing.

This is why I am proud of my 15 days completely cheat free. I have measured every single thing I have ate. I have pushed myself so hard in every workout – lifting the most I can during each workout, doing every single rep and giving it my all. This month, I have watched most of my challenge group have cheat meals – something that is completely fine. I caught myself seeing others having a glass of wine or eating a Christmas cookie or two – and thinking, well, if they are doing it, it would probably be ok if I do too. It is so easy to see others making progress and still allowing cheats, and to think that I can do that too. This time, I didn’t use that as an excuse. Just because others do something, doesn’t mean I have to as well. I know that one glass of wine usually turns into a binge on junk food. I know that one cookie would turn into a whole plate. I know ME! This is my food addiction just trying to lure me in!

NO! NO! NO!!!!

Not this time. If I am going to go off my meal plan, it is going to be on Christmas. Not on a weekend where I am just lounging at home. Even on Christmas, I am going to do everything in my power to not go off plan. I don’t kill myself in my workouts just to trash my body with food and alcohol. Plus, I want to prove to myself that I can stay on track during the most tempting time of the year. I will never conquer this food addiction if I am constantly fueling it each weekend.

So, there you go. 15 days cheat free. 15 days cheese free. I feel on top of the world. My body is bloated thanks to that time of the month, but even at my most bloated, I STILL feel awesome. No matter what the scale says right now, it cannot take away how proud I feel. I battled some cravings this weekend and right now, I am thanking myself for stay strong. It WAS worth it.

This week is a little different because I am only going to the office two days this week, then working from home one day and then I am off work for about a week and a half. Being off work is going to be like a massively long, tempting, weekend. I have to really plan ahead and get my mind in the right place so I can come off of my break being on track and feeling good.

This week, I am having the same breakfast and lunch that I have been having, then switching up my dinners with turkey tacos.

Here is to an incredible week and seeing ABS once this bloat goes away! YAY!

Having tea on my Saturday night rather than the wine I wanted

Sunday's workout - Hammer Conditioning — Sunday’s workout – Hammer Conditioning

Friday's burger and fries! All clean and meal plan approved! — Friday’s burger and fries! All clean and meal plan approved!

Monday's workout - Hammer Total Body — Monday’s workout – Hammer Total Body

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Health and Fitness

Day 11: Hammer and Chisel

I have made it to day 11 of Hammer and Chisel – CHEAT FREE. Not going to lie, I feel pretty ridiculously proud. The first week on a program is the toughest for me. It is when I am still working on making the meal plan a habit and when I am trying to figure out my routine. Last week, I was really hungry. My body was adjusting to my new meal plan and also to the workouts. This week is totally different. Maybe it is because I have a cold, but I feel completely satisfied by all of my meals and usually have to force myself to finish them. It feels good to be satisfied.

When I first started my journey, I thought losing weight meant killing myself in the gym and starving myself. You see, as someone addicted to food, the thought of being hungry legitimately SCARED ME. I would overeat just to be sure I wouldn’t feel hungry. Whenever I do feel hungry, that is when those urges to binge and cheat start creeping in. With this meal plan, I feel satisfied. Of course I get hungry before a meal, but it isn’t like I am starving. Each meal fills me up and I feel good.

Today is my rest day and I also happen to be really sore. So, perfect timing! My hamstrings are so tight from Tuesday’s Hammer Power workout. I feel like my progress has stalled a little this week – which is to be expected. I made a ton of progress week one, there is no way my body would be able to sustain that for all 60 days. I am feeling really good and am still sitting at 146 pounds. Haven’t gained, haven’t lost.

At work today, we are having our Holiday party for our team. Wine, cookies, candy, beer, treats – meaning, nothing on plan. I do not plan on indulging AT ALL. I know I will be the odd one out since I will not be eating and drinking – but that is ok. At the end of the day, I am the one who has to deal with any consequences. Being the odd one out is much better to me than kicking myself tonight when I get home for ruining my 11 day streak. That to me is NOT worth it. I have spent too many days/years feeling guilty about food choices I have made and today isn’t going to be one of them.

Rather than telling people “I can’t eat that”, I tell them, “I don’t eat that”. It isn’t that I can’t have a glass of wine or candy – it’s that I CHOOSE not to. Saying you don’t rather than can’t, gives YOU the power rather than making you feel restricted.

If you have a holiday party, be strong! Remember – those people who give you a hard time about not indulging in the junk with them, they are going to go home and forget all about it. But it is YOU that will have to feel the consequences of giving in!

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Health and Fitness

DAY 9: Hammer and Chisel Progress

Today is Day 9 of Hammer and Chisel. I have to say – this may be the longest I have gone without a cheat or slip up in MONTHS. Crazy, right?! Nine days seems like nothing, yet for me who struggles with a foodaddiction, it feels like an eternity – and I am PROUD!

Today, I am up a pound. Weighed in at 147 pounds. Normally this would make me mad, especially since I have pushed myself to my max on all of my workouts and I haven’t had one cheat on my meal plan. Even though I am up in weight, I am leaner than I have ever been in my ENITRE LIFE. So, how could I be mad about that?! I am coming down with a cold and I always gain a little weight when I get sick. Backwards, right? I have been loading up on my Shakeology, vitamin C, diffusing OnGuard and Breathe, putting OnGuard on the bottoms of my feet and drinking lots of hot tea. Mornings have been the worst for me because I wake up with a raging sore throat and super exhausted. Once I get up and get some liquid in my system, my sore throat turns into more of a scratchy throat. I am really hoping that this cold goes away soon and doesn’t turn into a full blown sickness.

This cold has pretty much eliminated my appetite and although you may be thinking that is a good thing, it is not. I am really determined to stick to my meal plan and eat all of my food every day. Forcing food when you are sick pretty much sucks. So, I am going to remain in denial about getting sick and continue with my workouts and my meals. Speaking of workouts – I didn’t do my workout this morning. I woke up at 3 am and put my feet on the ground and basically hopped right back in bed. Not happening. I decided my body needed another hour of sleep and that I would workout in the evening. Today’s workout is Hammer Power – meaning, power lifting. I have been looking forward to this workout and I really want to give it my all. This morning, I wouldn’t have been able to give it my all because I felt drained. I knew delaying my workout was the best decision.

My meal plan was supposed to be the same as yesterday, but I do not have enough fajita pepper and onions to have more fajita tacos tonight. So, last night I had to come up with a new plan on the fly. Since the fajita tacos are 1 yellow, 1 red and 1 green, I had to find another dinner that met those container counts too. We are going to have grilled chicken tonight with a side of broccoli and sweet potato chips. I am so determined to have a successful day today and to get in all of my water.

I cannot wait to tell you all about how my power lifting session goes tonight!

Progress since the beginning of my journey

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