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Showing posts with label dinner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dinner. Show all posts

February 20, 2014

A New Challenge for this New Year.


This week I started another Paleo Challenge at my box. Tons of people keep telling me, "But you don't need to lose weight." Do you have to have a goal of weight loss to want to challenge yourself? This challenge is only for 30 days and requires strict eating with 4 days at the gym per week. Being that I've only been getting in the gym 3 days a week, on a good week, lately I thought that this would be a good way to kick my diet and fitness goals back in to gear. I am on day 4 and am doing good... so far.

Speaking of challenges - A friend from my box mentioned competing in this Tri Fitness competition this June in Florida and wants me to do it, too. I love a challenge, but I'm trying to do as much research as I can to determine if this is something that I can do. It has three parts: a figure competition (yes, you read correctly), an obstacle course and a fitness competition. You can also opt to do a fitness routine, but I think I'll leave my dance skills at home that day. It sounds crazy and like NOTHING that I have ever done. I'm not 100% locked in but I have been doing my research and will be meeting with a coach this week to hash out all of my questions and concerns. YIKES!

For this challenge, my family is attempting to participate by eating Paleo 80/20 for the first time in their lives. So far my baby sister, who is in 7th grade and has a horrid diet, just has a hard time packing her lunch with things that she likes and aren't too difficult to prepare. She asked me on day 1, "Is Ramen Paleo." No, baby girl. My mom is doing well and just came home yesterday talking about how starving she was. She's a teacher and doesn't have the time to eat or drink much throughout the day, so getting in enough calories is going to be tough for her. As for my dad, he may or may not actually be eating Paleo (lol).

My first benchmark WOD was (while having a sinus infection):
  • 5 Rounds of 10 burpess and 10 75# Cleans
    • 8:58
  • Rest 10 Min.
  • Then, Run 1.5 mi. for time
    • 10:20
Those are by far not great times, but I'm not too upset with them either. I felt like crap, had tissues next to my chalk bucket, and my lungs were on fire for the run. But I finished under the time caps and can obviously do nothing but better the next time around!


This week, our favorite household recipe was: Chicken Fajitas

Ingredients:

  • 4-6 Chicken Breasts, sliced into strips
  • 4 Bell Peppers, cut into long strips
  • 2 Onions, chopped OR cut into larger strips
  • Romaine Lettuce (for lettuce wraps)
  • Hot Salsa/Pico de Gallo from Harris Teeter (made fresh)
  • Coconut Oil
  • The juice of 1 lime
  • Garlic
  • Cilantro and guacamole, if you're feeling saucy 
Instructions:
Heat up a skillet with a tablespoon of coconut oil over medium heat. Start by slicing the chicken into long, thin strips. Also cut, or dice depending on your preference, the onions. Once the oil is heated, add in a tablespoon of minced garlic (about 2 cloves) and the diced onions. Once the onions soften up and start to turn translucent, after about 5 minutes, add in the chicken strips and squeeze the juice from one lime over it.

As the chicken is cooking, cut the bell peppers into long strips. I like all of my ingredients to be cut similarly, in long strips like they do at the Mexican restaurants! 

Once the chicken is about halfway complete, after about 15 min., add in the bell peppers. Continue to saute the chicken, onion and peppers until the chicken is done and the peppers have softened up, but still have a slight crunch. 

This can be served in a heap on your plate and topped with some fresh salsa, wrapped in lettuce wraps or on top of a salad. I like to make extras, too, so I can have some the next day for lunch! If you need some more fats, also top it with some guacamole! 


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January 4, 2014

Weekly Meal Prep



Disclaimer- I focus on REAL food. I am not 100% Paleo, but I strive to eat quality ingredients, 100% of the time.

When I am prepping my meals for the week, I start off by sitting down and writing it all out. I write down my weekly schedule so I know if meals or snacks need to be ready for on-the-go or if I'll be eating them at home. I also try to plan out what days I know that I will be eating meals out so that I don't buy too much at the grocery store. So here's a snapshot of my meal plan for this coming week:

Sunday
Breakfast- Green Smoothie
Lunch- Turkey burger patty with a tomato, cucumber and onion salad (make extra for 2 more meals)
Snack- Pate with cucumber slices
Dinner- Crockpot roast, red wine


Monday
B- Smoothie
L- Turkey burger patty with a tomato, cucumber and onion salad
S- Trail mix and a piece of fruit
D- Chicken breast (cook 2 more for future meals), black beans, 1/2 an avocado, wilted spinach, red wine

Tuesday
B- Bacon, eggs and 1/2 an avocado
L- Turkey burger patty with a tomato, cucumber and onion salad
S- Trail mix and a piece of fruit
D- Chicken breast, black beans and broccoli, red wine


Wednesday
B- Smoothie
L- Shrimp cocktail, broccoli and 1/2 sweet potato
S- Trail mix and a piece of fruit
D- Grilled chicken breast salad, red wine


Thursday
B- Smoothie
L- Pack of tuna fish, veggies and guac
S- Trail mix and a piece of fruit
D- Steak stir fry with quiona, red wine


Friday
B- Bacon, eggs and 1/2 an avocado
L- Leftover steak stir fry 
S- Trail mix and a piece of fruit
D- Dinner out


Saturday
B- Smoothie
L- Tuna pack and pate with cucumber slices
S- Lara Bar
D- Dinner out

Once I have each meal planned out, I make a grocery list around it. Then when I go to the store, I'm not buying anything extra that will not get eaten. This is essential when you are only buying fresh, raw foods as they do not last nearly as long as processed foods. Also, make your life easier by preparing as much as you can for a meal ahead of time. For example, if you're cooking a chicken breast for dinner one night, cook a couple extra for lunches or dinners later on in the week! You'll thank yourself later!

Do you meal plan for your weekly meals? Any tips or suggestions to share?



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