clean eating recipes |

This week was my week to get back on track with training and really life in general. We were done with our road trip and life was going to start to slow down just a bit before it gets crazy with a new school year starting. This means I will be back to work soon and for the first time since having baby. The sadness I feel about this is almost too much. I mean look at how cute he is.

To help ~~distract me from going back to work~~ get both stronger and lose the remaining baby weight I made the decision to start the 21 Day Fix in addition to marathon training. Often marathon training means letting myself eat extra since I ran all those miles. It also usually means not so much cross training. Both of these “marathon habits” are counter productive to my goals so this is where 21 Day Fix comes in.

So far I am loving the 21 Day Fix. I’m not a coach or compensated by the program in any way. I love that it encourages clean and healthy eating without restricting any foods. Of course you can’t eat what you want whenever, but it gives you the control to choose when to treat yourself. A diet plan with no options for wine is just not going to work for me. I also love that the workouts are only 30 minutes. I absolutely have no more time to devote to exercising than what I am already doing. I do not want to cut back on running or my once a week yoga class. 30 minutes is perfect.

I am going to be completing the 30 minute workouts each day while also remembering to enjoy these little baby moments. Some days I may not have time to run and do a 30 minute fix and that is ok. I’m following the eating plan loosely. I moved up a calorie bracket because I’m breastfeeding and also will be eating an additional carb because of the running I’m doing. Maintaining my milk supply is number one. Losing weight and getting stronger is the overall goal, but not at sacrificing more important things.

The workouts are also perfect for all ability levels and include modifications. I’m weaker than I’ve ever been since having baby, and I love that I can do these in my own home and can make the workouts more challenging as I get stronger. I highly recommend 21 Day Fix to others looking to get stronger, lose a few pounds and get back on track with their eating while still having a life. It is also perfect for runners who often struggle to do anything besides run. I never can make myself strength train on my own; this is the motivation I needed.

Here’s what this week looked like:

Week #5

Monday-3.33 mile run and 60 minute Yoga Barre class

Yoga Barre hurt so good and I was sore for days. It was a great feeling.

Tuesday-30 minute Upper Fix

Wednesday-5 mile run and 30 minute Lower Fix

Thursday-30 minute Pilates Fix

Friday-3 mile run and 30 minute Cardio Fix

Saturday-30 minute Dirty 30 workout

Sunday-off (family over all day so moved workouts to Monday)

Monday-7 mile run with little man in stroller and 30 minute Yoga Fix

It was a sweaty workout day Monday, but I swear that it is only sweat. It totally looked like I peed my pants, but I did NOT!

Total Week 5 Miles-18.33

Another perk of starting 21 Day Fix is trying new recipes. Ever since getting pregnant I have not wanted to cook. I’d been lacking motivation in anything to do with preparing meals, grocery shopping and trying new recipes. I had so many food aversions during the first half of my pregnancy and feel like I’m just starting to like some of those foods again. There are a million recipes that are 21 day fix approved on Pinterest which has motivated me to start cooking again. The husband and I enjoyed this Mexican Lasagna last Friday. Regardless of whether you are interested in 21 Day Fix or not give this recipe a try. I look forward to sharing more healthy recipes with all of you.

Happy Training!

Sarah

Do you ever have those moments when you feel like you are so off track? It could be about anything-your exercise routine, eating healthy, getting enough sleep, finding time for yourself, cleaning the house or completing that project before a deadline. With being on the road for literally the past four weeks I’m really feeling the lack of structure in my life.

The last four weeks have been absolutely amazing and I feel so stinkin’ lucky to have gotten to travel all over the country and my home state, but it is time to get back on track. Specifically with eating and getting projects done around the house. Once the school year starts I find very little time to get anything extra done with long work days and coaching.

While during the work week I don’t look forward to Monday’s ever, I currently am seeing today as a fresh start to getting back on track. While being on vacation and on the road for the past month, I did my best to make healthy food choices. While our trip was extremely active (I ran two marathons and we hiked 100 miles of trails), we also did a lot of sitting in the car and eating not so fresh foods. It is hard to take fresh foods into bear country and being miles away from grocery stores is a challenge.

Despite those challenges I tried to balance my foods throughout the past month. When out to eat I ate tilapia, spinach and salads balanced with burgers and french fries. I ate energy bars (Clif bars and Picky bars) balanced with s’mores. Doughnuts balanced with bananas. I think you’re getting the idea, but no matter how much balancing I did it just wasn’t like what I eat when I’m home making my own meals. When I think about the last time I really meal planned and made meals that make me feel good and nourish my workouts, months pass by in my brain. It has been too long. Add in sampling local beers pretty much every night and wedding and college get together weekends, and I’ve had a whole lotta extra liquid calories going in the body.

If I listen and look at what my body is telling me, then it is time for me to make a positive change. I feel better when I eat better. I feel stronger and run better when I eat well. My midsection is telling me this. My pants are telling me this. My overall puffiness is telling me this. Now that I’m not training for any particular races (more on this later) I also need to make sure I’m making healthy food choices.

So today is a fresh start. Pinteresting away while watching my latest obsession, House of Cards, last night I came across a two-week clean eating plan. After reviewing the plan it seems completely doable, manageable and the food looks yummy (most of it). While the plan is identified as a detox plan, I don’t plan to use it for that reason.

Just like Frank Underwood I don’t believe in following rules. I don’t believe in following strict diets or even clean eating all the time. If I want a coffee I will have one. If I want a beer I will have one. The goal is to limit my intake of these things more and get some control back in my eating and drinking. The plan also is low carb which doesn’t really meet the needs of runners the best, so I will add in carbs if I feel I need them. If I want a treat or something that doesn’t adhere to the plan then I will, but then I will get back to the plan after.

Life is too short to never allow yourself the things you truly enjoy. At the same time, life is so much better when we feel good. We can achieve more and feel better doing it. I can’t wait to feel that way again. Plus with this plan sets you up for success in so many ways.

The clean eating plan outlines a grocery list, when to prep the foods with a prep list, and what to make for every meal and snack for two weeks including recipes for each (example of prep and recipes). The biggest attractions to this plan for me were that the hard work of meal planning was already done for you and the meals themselves actually looked tasty and easy to make. The plan even tells you when the meal will make leftovers, what kitchen tools you will need, and when you need to prep something the day before. So helpful!

One of my favorite things is the prep list. It reads like a set of instructions for when and how to prep. How easy is this!

This plan really isn’t a two-week eating plan and then your done. I’m using the two-week plan to get me back on track with meal planning and eating cleaner in general-like the way I used to do when I had routine and structure in my life. I take no credit for creating this plan in any way. I simply thought it seemed easy and yummy and was worth sharing with others.

Are you ready to feel better? Have more energy? Nourish your body? Then take a look at the two-week clean eating plan and join me in getting back on track. You can do this! Your body wants you to do this! I’ll be sharing photos of my eats on Instagram (@sneaksandstilettos) over the next two weeks to hold myself accountable and show that this is really something we all can do.

Happy Monday and Clean Eating!

Sarah

*All credit for meal plan photos goes to Yael Malka for BuzzFeed. Design of photos by Chris Ritter/BuzzFeed. The actual plan was created by nutritionist Dana James, MS, CNS, CDN, of Food Coach NYC, and BuzzFeed Food editors. I take no credit for creating any part of the plan.

Tag Archives: clean eating recipes

{IMM Training-Week #5}

{Getting Back on Track}