My Meal Plan

Recently quite a few people have been asking me for my meal plan so I thought I would post a blog to avoid typing and re-typing it (which I have already done a number of times). I have followed quite a few meal plans in the past and they have all been effective but this one is one I have been able to stick with for over three months now and I even find myself looking forward to eating my food everyday!! I am the kind of person who has no issues eating the same food everyday, over and over. Especially if I know it is going to work, and so far in three months I am down 18 pounds. Now don't get me wrong I am not one to turn down a shave ice, gelato and CHIPS and SALSA (they are my vice) every now and then. Infact today I had a gelato with the kids... I do feel bad about it right now though so I have written up an at home workout to do tonight once the kids have gone to bed.

Remember this is just what worked for me, it may not work for you but it will give you an idea. I have also been gluten free (fully) for the past 7 months. I was getting severe stomach pains, i went through many tests all inconclusive but after I completely cut out gluten my stomach pain disappeared. I don't eat many 'gluten free' pre-made food because I mostly eat fruit/veggies and protein but when I do indulge I always make sure items are gluten free.

September 22, 2013. For all of September I had been working out like never before but not eating right,(proof that working out with an unhealthy diet will not aid in weight loss) this is the day I decided to start eating healthier foods.

December 30, 2013. Three months later. My pregnancies resulted in permanently split abs and excess skin, which, my doctor says are both fixable after I am finished having children :)

Anyways here we go, my meal plan

Breakfast (around 8:00). Green Smoothie

1 cup of Kale 

1/4 fresh parsley

1/2 an apple

1/2 banana

I mix it with water. The parsley kind of makes this an acquired taste but I love it now. I find the runnier the better so you don't get large chunks of Kale. Every Saturday(after a visit to the farmers market) I make a weeks worth of smoothies and freeze them in ziplocks bags so they are all ready to go for me in the morning.

Each morning after the gym (Around 10:30-11) I have a protein shake

1/2 cup almond milk (30 calories)

3 frozen strawberries

3 frozen pieces of pineapple

Scoop of protein

1/2 banana

ice

I crave my protein shakes....

Around 11:30-12:00 I have fruit an cottage cheese

usually 1 cup or 1.5 cups of Pineapple 

1/2-3/4 cups of cottage cheese

Between 12:30 and 2 (I am a snacker and always like to be eating so I space it all out)

1 Apple

Celery sticks or carrots

Afternoon snack (around 3)

1 greek yogurt cup

 My dinners (always around 5) ALWAYS consist of spaghetti squash. When Kelly is away I make it in a lasagne pan then divide it into three sections, meaning I am good for three dinners (yay for not cooking every night). A few examples.... I make a spaghetti squash tex mex with black beans, ground turkey, spaghetti squash and every veggie you can think of (kale, spinach, cabbage, zucchini, celery etc). Half a spaghetti squash is only 66 calories so when mixed with veggies the servings are fairly large. Another idea is spaghetti squash spaghetti bake. This has veggies, chicken, marinara sauce and spaghetti squash. Another idea is Spaghetti Squash quiche. The Spaghetti squash is the crust, fill with tons of veggies then pour egg whites overtop and bake.These three recipes are all three meals (days) in one!! Tomorrow I might try to make a spaghetti squash pizza crust, I will see how that goes. Another easy recipes is just baked spaghetti squash stiry fry with tons of veggies or veggies and chicken.

 Three dinners in one!

Tonights dinner

Every night while I am 'unwinding' from my day I have a cup of green tea. I Also try to drink at least 8 cups of water a day.

I make a pitcher of this each night, it is a 'recipe' from online which claims to aid in weight loss. I'm not too sure I believe it its weight loss magic (lol) but it is very refreshing! Sometimes drinking plain water is tough, this at least has a refreshing taste. I try to drink a pitcher of this a day plus the regular water I drink at the gym.

One helpful tip that has helped me, Once we return from the gym everyday I pack up our cooler bag with lunch for the kids plus each of my 'meals' so I have them with me all day. This helps me resist temptation of eating out because I have my food with me. 

Anyways there is it, my meal plan. It has worked for me and I am a firm believer that eating right (consistently) and working out (rigorously) is the key to weight loss.