I'm Back!

Hey y'all!  Sorry it's been so long.  Truth time...I've had a few hiccups the past couple of weeks and I'm embarrassed to say I haven't adhered to my "eat clean" diet the way I should.  I was sick a couple of weeks ago.  Then we had a big snow last week so we were stuck in for a few days.  I mean what else are you going to do but eat when you're stuck inside, especially with 2 little ones?  I like food way too much!  Anyway, I could definitely tell a difference when I wasn't eating as clean.  I didn't feel good at all.  My energy was low and I just felt ick!  

I am back on the wagon, so to speak, this week.  I am not being as strict as I was the first week or so, but am still getting my 2 fruits, 3 veggies, 4 servings of protein (1 whey protein shake included).  I am still avoiding sugar during the week for the most part.  I did indulge in a little bit of ice cream last night though.  The hardest thing for me is the carbs.  According to the book I read, you should only eat 2 servings of whole grains, but I've found I need more to help me get through my day.  I've been eating 3-4 servings a day.  Probably not the best but it helps keep me from starving to death.  

I have started taking the Amino Acid L-Glutamine this week.  It's supposed to help with protein synthesis which in turn helps with performance and building muscle among other things.  I've never taken it before so I'm curious to see if it makes a difference. 

I will leave y'all with a video update...  

xoxo
Sarah Marie

End of Week 2

Hey guys!  Quick update after week 2.  It was kinda a bust.  Not totally but like I said earlier in the week, I got a cold that really threw me off for some reason.  I ate clean Monday but just ate a lot.  I was starving but that was partly due to double gym time.  My next post is going to be about calorie intake and figuring out how many you need to take in.  Tuesday was fine but Wednesday was a disaster.  I was feeling rough and was stuck in the house all day with the boys.  I started feeling sorry for myself because I was sick and wanted some comfort food.  What do I reach for?  Yup sugar!  Unfortunately I had somehow missed throwing away the Toaster Strudels in the freezer.  FAIL!  

I had a major uh oh moment and was pissed at myself after.  It's so not worth it but why do I crave that sugar and comfort food?  Because it's like a drug...really.  I blame the cold this time.  Anyway I was very disappointed in myself but you just pick up where you left off.  Thursday was a little better but I had a carb binge in the afternoon since I didn't eat any with my lunch.  Remember this is about discovering what works best for me because everyone is different.  So I am discovering that I have to eat carbs at lunch especially after a hard workout.  I have found if I don't I end up binging anyway.  Even though I got off track a few days, I still got in my 4 proteins, 2 fruits, 3 veggies, and 2 whole grains.
By the way, I am loving my daily protein smoothies!  

Some of my fave recipes:

1 scoop strawberry protein (yum by the way)

1 cup of unsweetened almond milk

Handful of spinach

Handful of frozen berries (blueberries or strawberries or both!)

2 ice cubes

~

1 scoop chocolate protein

1 tablespoon peanut butter

1 cup of almond milk

1/2 cup of oats (optional)

2 ice cubes

Honestly I haven't felt great this week but that's because I've been sick.  Oh and I have been sleeping terribly!  On the bright side, I did lose another pound.  WHAT?!  I know crazy, right?  I hope it's fat and not muscle.  I have been doing more weights lately so hopefully not.  This weekend I plan to keep it cleaner than I normally would since I already had a cheat sugar meal this week and added in some extra carbs.  I still may indulge in 1 cheat meal.  I'm not sure yet. 

Now it's time to hit the gym!

Hope y'all have a great weekend and stay healthy!!  

xoxo 

Sarah Marie

It's a Struggle

Truth time...it is freaking hard to eat clean.  Everywhere you go we are inundated with crap.  It is shoved in our faces on a daily basis and that makes it extremely hard to make the right choices.  Even when we're thinking we are making "healthy" choices, we may not be.  This is partly why I am researching and experimenting to learn more about nutrition.  What do we really need?  What can we have in moderation and be OK?  Just the other day I walked into a drugstore and I honestly felt a little like a crack addict.  Everywhere I looked there were sugary treats calling my name.  Normally I would cave and pick up that pack of gummy bears but I actually am proud of myself for having the willpower to resist.

After week 1 of clean eating, I have noticed I do have more energy.  I feel better.  I shed 5-6 pounds which I believe is mainly water and maybe a pound of fat?  Like I said before it's not totally about the weight.  I have to keep telling myself that because I have a tendency to be a slave to the scale.  I am still pretty hungry around the clock, but I have been feeding my body nutritious things instead of crap which definitely makes a difference.  I do workout a lot and it takes a lot of energy to keep up with my 2 year old twins and the household, so I'm pretty sure I'm burning a lot of calories.  Still trying to figure out the right amount of calories I need to fuel me through my days.  That's a post for another day though.  I do think I am on the right track.

I'm not going to lie it's HARD!  Eating healthy takes time and preparation and you have to be on your game at all times.  Dinner is still the hardest meal.  We are all exhausted by the end of the day and if we don't have a meal already prepared that we can heat up then it's not happening.  This is where better pre-planning needs to come into play.

I had a little hiccup yesterday but I'm back on track today.

Happy Tuesday y'all!

XOXO

Sarah Marie