Code Recipes21

And today, friends, was not a great day.  It was a weird day - I did not feel well in the morning, so I didn't eat anything until the afternoon, at which point I was really hungry and ate too much.  Moving on...

So - in order to squelch my frustration of how today played out, I will post dinner...

I made some seriously good vegan nachos tonight!!!

1/2 bag of salt free, organic Blue Corn tortilla chips
1/3 package of tempeh with flax

1/4 packet Trader Joe's taco seasoning (dry)
1/2 cup water
sliced red onion

sliced yellow & orange peppers
1/2 cup Amy's brand organic refried black beans
2 T Wayfare brand Mexi-Cheddar "cheese" sauce

Today was a FUN day!  There was no school (in-service day for teachers) so the girls and I had a lot of fun.  I started the morning by making "Puffins" for the girls.  Ashelyn named them Puffins because they are pancakes made in muffin molds ("P" for pancake and "uffin" for muffin).  All I did was mix up a double batch of pancake mix, added about 1/3 cup organic pureed pumpkin, a sprinkle of cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice and about 1/4 cup non-dairy mini chocolate chips, then I sprinkled pink decorative sugar on top before baking.  I divided this mixture between a mini muffin pan (made 12 mini muffins) and 9 heart shaped cupcake molds.  Baked the mini muffins at 375 for 12 minutes and the heart shaped muffins at 375 for 25 minutes.  They LOVED them!  We also did a craft, watched a movie, read books, played princesses...it was a fun day - all in our pajamas!

Today was a much needed rest day from Insanity.  I did want to do a little something so I ran up and down the stairs ten times.  Sounds kind of odd - but let me tell you by the 8th time up I was panting and my quads were screaming.  Haha!

Food for the day:

Breakfast: 1/4 cup steel cut oats; sauteed onion, sweet potato. zucchini & kale in evoo with herbs
Snack: Kale crisps

Lunch: tomato & onion salad with Braggs vinaigrette; brown rice wrap with 1/2 cup organic refried black beans, 1T Wayfare "mexi-cheddar cheese", lettuce & sprouts
Snack: kale crisps
Dinner: chopped veggie salad w/Braggs vinaigrette, lentil black olive burger and kale crisp crumbs (yes, I will not waste crumbs so I put them on my salad); bowl of curried cauliflower soup
Snack: Larabar (Carrot Cake)

I love this program because the workouts are **SHORTER** than P90X (I love P90X, don't get me wrong, but I am a busy Mommy and sometimes I need shorter workouts).  Most of the workouts are around 35 minutes or less and the cardio are only slightly longer, but under 45 minutes.

Another thing I really like about this program is that Chalene will have us working our legs and arms at the same time - so we'll do squats while doing a shoulder press or bicep curls.  It's an incredible full body workout which consists of three phases: a Burn circuit, a Puch circuit and a Lean circuit.  There are also cardio workouts that are included in the weekly rotation.  

This entire 90 day fitness program can be completed with a set of resistance bands, or with dumbbells.

The basis of ChaLEAN Extreme is "Muscle Burns Fat".  The more muscle we build (and you *WILL* build muscle with this program), the more fat we burn, the more defined we become, and our metabolism shoots upwards as well. 

Along with the workout programs, you will get:
~ an Audio CD from Chalene which provides her incredible motivational tips
~ a DVD with lots of good kitchen tips
~ a Nutritional guide to help plan meals during the program
~ program Guidebook
~ toning band
~ resistance band
~ body fat tester.

I started recommeding this program to many of my Mommy friends and I have heard many very positive testimonials! 

ChaLEAN Extreme and the deluxe upgrades are on sale until January 31st.  This is the BEST time to take advantage of these workouts as we will likely not see a sale on this program again this year.

To purchase or review ChaLEAN Extreme for $89.95 (instead of $119.95), please click this link: ChaLEAN Extreme Program

Already have ChaLEAN Extreme?  Consider purchasing one of the Deluxe upgrade programs!!

7 Deluxe workouts including: Fat Burn Challenge, Get Lean Intervals, I've Got Abs, Lower Body Extreme Zone, Extreme Core Circuit, Extreme Intervals & Dynamic Flow Yoga.  Click this link for more info: ChaLEAN Deluxe upgrade program ~ 7 additional Extreme workouts

4 Deluxe workouts including: Lower Body Extreme Zone, Extreme Core Circuit, Extreme Intervals & Dynamic Flow Yoga.  Click this link for more info: ChaLEAN Deluxe upgrade program ~ 4 additional Extreme workouts

7 more days?  Really - that's it?  What's next?
Guess you'll have to stay tuned!

Get ready for a little TMI.  I definitely ate too much yesterday so I am a bit bloated today.  In addition, my stomach feels distressed.  I'll stop there.  I am just really uncomfortable today.  Not sure what other diet changes I should be making in order to alleviate some of the stomach distress - I cut out most pasta last week, aside from brown rice - maybe I had too much rice because I did have several brown rice cakes with nut butter last week, as well as quite a few meals with cooked brown rice.

I need to do some meal planning this week so I can see what I have in front of me - and then find balance by adding in salads and more veggies, both raw and cooked.  If you have any suggestions for me, please send them my way!

I am still working my way through a range of emotions which change day by day.  One day I will feel incredible, happy, positive and energetic.  Other days I feel moody, irritable and somewhat frustrated.  I doubt much of that is related to the cleanse...but it affects the food decisions I make each day.  One more reason for meal planning - to take the thought and emotion out of eating.

Okay - well, that was not the most positive post from me today.
Onto the food for the day...

Breakfast ~ sweet potato mash with chopped apple, raw pecans and cinnamon
Lunch ~ Protein shake: 10 oz unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze, 2T vanilla hemp powder, 1 tsp maca powder, 1/2 cup frozen cherries, large handful raw baby spinach; kale crisps
Snack ~ chopped lettuce topped with chopped veggies, 1/2T vegenaise, 1T raw pumpkin seeds; Brad's raw roasted red pepper chips
Dinner ~ lentil black olive burger served over chopped lettuce with 1/2T Wayfare "cheddar cheese", leftover brussels sprouts with "cheese" sauce, leftover red skinned mashed potatoes
Snack ~ Larabar (carrot cake) Oh how I have missed you!!
Water ~ 100 oz

Workout ~ Insanity Plyometric Cardio Circuit

Pictures of the Lentil & Black Olive burgers:

Today was a tougher day.  Started out great but because I was running errands all morning and into early afternoon, I didn't eat a lot during the day...so, naturally, I was really hungry at night.  Ah well, tomorrow I will work on balance.  Hey, at least I stuck with my goal of not having any Larabars this week!  Although, I did eat after 8 PM a few nights (like tonight).

I took Lexi for a ride out to Wegmans today (LOVE that place!!!)  She was super excited because they were serving cake in the lobby so she got to have a small piece.  We drove out there to meet Brad & Jaime from Brad's Raw Chips.  Brad is the creator of the kale crisps that I talk about nonstop (yes, I do have a love affair with those crisps).  Please visit his site to learn more about him and why he created these raw food snacks.  He's a really great guy and his products ROCK.  Brad's Raw Chips  His products can be found locally at Wegmans, Whole Foods, The Health Concern (Towson) and My Organic Market (Jessup).  It was really nice to talk with Brad & Jaime.  I hope to be able to help them promote their products here in Maryland.

Day 20!  Really?  Already?

Today was more sunshine & butterflies.  I woke up feeling happy, positive and refreshed.  I have been sleeping much better since starting the cleanse.  I heard that might happen and I was skeptical.  One more good reason to keep going!

Everyone was still sleeping when I woke up, so I came downstairs, made the girls' lunch & snacks, had my hot lemon water...and while I was drinking that, I looked out the window and watched the sunrise while reflecting on how blessed I am to have such a wonderful network of family, friends and acquaintances who push me to be a better me.  I have made great strides this month, not just in terms of my nutrition but also personally.  I am calming down, becoming more aware of those around me, becoming more patient, and am appreciating those I love...much more now than I was before.  My girls have noticed a positive change in mommy's attitude too.  It's really an incredible feeling.

When I looked in the mirror this morning, bedhead and all, I was surprised and really very happy with the person I saw looking back at me.  At first, I didn't quite recognize myself.  My skin is looking smoother and my eyes are clearer & brighter.   My body is looking leaner and much less jiggly.  Best of all, though, is I look HAPPIER.  You know when you can look at a person and even though they have a neutral expression on their face, you can still sense their mood?  I could see happiness radiating from me.  This, my friends, is HUGE. 

Not a great eating day.  I was REALLY hungry again (Insanity will do that).  I had too much peanut butter and too many kale crisps so I need to make sure tomorrow is more balanced.

Breakfast: Gluten Free waffle with 1T natural Peanut Butter and 2 sliced strawberries
Snack: Protein shake ~ 10 oz. unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze, 1/2 cup frozen cherries, 2T vanilla hemp powder, 1.5 tsp maca powder, 2 handfuls spinach
Lunch: Chopped veggie salad with 1T Braggs vinaigrette and chick pea burger
Snack: Kale crisps (a lot!)
Dinner: baked sweet potato, plain
Post workout: 8 oz Kombucha
Snack: 2 brown rice cakes w/1.5T natural peanut butter