Clean Eating Who?

Sh!t is getting so real tomorrow.  I haven’t been eating clean AT ALL.  It’s so weird to go from 100% clean eating to about 5%.  My life feels so out of order, and so does my body.  I feel gross all the time because it’s just not normal for me.  Now I’m finally all unpacked in SF, and will be going grocery shopping tomorrow.  A lot of people ask me what they should buy to begin eating clean, and I thought that since I’m starting from scratch, I’d share my grocery list!

• 99% lean chicken breast (probably at least 2lbs, I’m a poultry freak)
• egg whites
• eggs
• greek yogurt
• cottage cheese
• natural peanut butter
• old fashioned oats
• brown rice
• whole wheat tortillas
• brown rice cakes
• spinach
• bell peppers
• cucumber
• broccoli
• carrots
• celery
• bananas

That should last me about a week!  I better go clip some coupons…

 

🙂

 

 

 

R.A.C.K. to Christmas!

How’s everyone doing with the squat-a-thon? Feelin’ the burn yet?  I know I am, especially on leg days! I’m a sucker for challenges though so I’m loving it.

Another way that I have challenged myself this December is by doing a R.A.C.K (Random Act of Christmas Kindness) every day as a Christmas countdown! Someday they will invent super clean chocolate advent calendars, but until then I’m just going to go out of my way everyday to do something nice.  It’s been a really fun experience, and it can be incredibly fulfilling to just do something that will make another person feel great during the holiday season.

Now I’m going to challenge you to R.A.C.K. your city in these final days before Christmas!

It doesn’t have to be some grand gesture, I’ve realized that it’s the little things that can really make someone’s day. Some ideas are:

-Donate clothes/toys/canned food to those in need

-Volunteer your time at a homeless shelter, or for a fun run in your community, or the SPCA

-Leave an inspiring note on a random car

-Do your roommate’s dishes (without complaining)

-Bake clean Christmas cookies for your neighbors and give them the recipe!

-Offer to help someone with their groceries

These are just a few of the actions that will take you 5 minutes-tops, but will have a lasting effect on others.  So get in to the Christmas spirit, and remember that it isn’t about the new lifting gloves or protein powder that are waiting under the tree.  It’s about the hope that maybe someday we’ll all be on the nice list;)

While you’re going on a Christmas walk to admire the lights, warm up with this clean peppermint cocoa!

Peppermint Cocoa

-1 peppermint tea bag

-1/2 tbs cocoa powder

-2 drops stevia

1. Fill a mug with hot water and prepare the peppermint tea
2. Discard the tea bag and add the cocoa powder and stevia

So simple, but so decadent!

Share your squat progress or R.A.C.K. ideas with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (BBBHealthy)

Guest Post: Weight Loss

I’m in the middle of studying for finals, so I don’t have a ton of time to blog:(  I thought it would be a good time for Valerie Johnston from Healthline.com to drop some knowledge on y’all.

The Health Effects of Those Experiencing Obesity & Weight Loss

Being overweight, or obese, is a label for a range of weight that is greater than the amount that is typically considered to be healthy for any given height. The term obese can also identify the range of weight that is known to increase the likelihood of specific weight related diseases or other health conditions. For adults, obesity ranges are usually determined by taking the individual’s weight along with their height and calculating the two into the BMI (body mass Index) number. The BMI number is used as an effective tool that helps correlate the amount of body fat held by that individual.

BMI Ranges

As an example, any person that has a calculated BMI of between 25 and 29.9 falls into the category of being overweight. Additionally, anyone that has a calculated BMI of 30 or greater is classified as being obese. While BMI ranges work well for adults, children and teens that are known to be above the normal weight for their age, size, and height follow different labels. Calculated into a child’s BMI range is the natural tendency to accumulate body fat at varying ages in both girls and boys.

Obesity & Weight Loss

Weight loss is often considered to have a positive effect on reducing many of the symptoms and conditions associated with being obese. Although a person may be experiencing obesity, weight loss must be acquired correctly, to ensure the health of the individual as they eliminate excess pounds and inches.

When left untreated, obesity can create a variety of medical diseases that can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, gallstones, diabetes, and a variety of other chronic conditions. Obesity is often difficult to treat and is known to have a high relapse rate. More than 95% of every individual that loses weight tends to regain it within the next five years.

Although many diets and medications can help, the treatment for obesity requires something more than a short-term “fix”. It must take a lifelong commitment by developing proper diet habits and following an increased level of physical activity including routine workouts and exercise.

The typical goal of any treatment should be the way to achieve and maintain a much healthier weight, and not necessarily a level of weight loss that appears to be “the ideal”. Studies indicate that even modest weight loss of up to 10% of the initial weight along with a long-term maintenance program, can produce significant health benefits by diminishing the risk of heart disease and diabetes and lowering blood pressure.

A Support System

A support system is essential to guarantee that the person that is overweight can continue on their path of eliminating pounds and inches. Many of the long-term successes of weight loss have been enhanced by a strong support system, advice from the doctor, and following a team of professionals including exercise trainers, psychologists, and dietitians.

Defining a level of obesity is typically based on the information one gathers from professionals or on the Internet. In its very essence though, obesity or being overweight can be classified as any weight that is greater than what is generally considered to be healthy. While it is important to use body fat to store energy, as a shock absorber, and for heat insulation, too much weight can cause chronic conditions that are extremely unhealthy to the individual in the long run.

It is known that in the United States alone, the major population has reached epic proportions of obesity with well over two thirds of all adults being obese or overweight. Even more so, obesity in children has significantly increased. The numbers indicate that near 25% of the total of children in the US are either obese or overweight.

Valerie Johnston is a health and fitness writer located in East Texas. With ambitions of one day running a marathon, writing for Healthline.com ensures she keeps up-to-date on all of the latest health and fitness news.

Happy Holiday Squat-athon!

I’m sorry that I’m posting this late, you’re just going to have to catch up on squats!  Usually I am a big fan of the chocolate advent calendars to count down to Christmas, but since those aren’t very clean I had to come up with some other ways to gear up for the holidays.  Though I did love that little piece of chocolate every morning, you know that I love squats so much more!  It’s simple, you just do the set amount of squats for that day until Christmas Day.  Think of it as a way to prepare for all of the holiday treats;)  You can do the squats with our without weight, as long as you get them in each day.  I’ve been doing them without weights so that I can practice my form.  If you haven’t really done squats before, this is a great way to perfect your form. Just remember to:

-Keep your knees aligned with your toes

-not let your knees go over your toes

-keep your back straight and your chest up

-push up from your heels

-and keep your core tight!!

I’ll be sharing my other “advent calendar” with you tomorrow:)

Keep me updated on your squat progress! 

My Secret Weapon

BIC BANDS!

I know, I know, they are just headbands right? SO WRONG!

I heard about these amazing headbands when I took an Xtend Barre workout with my stepmom a few weeks ago.  The magic of them is that they never slip!  Seriously, EVER. They have a velvet lining that keeps them on!  Not only are these headbands just so handy for workouts, but they are sold by a pretty inspiring company.

BIC stands for “Because I Can” and they were created for a run with Team in Training.  Each month they choose a new charity to donate some of their proceeds to.  This month, $1 from each sale will be donated to the victims of Hurricane Sandy.  So go buy some  😉

My stepmom sent me a few, and they have a ton of designs to choose from!  I’m coming up with a challenge for the new year, and am hoping to include some BIC Bands in the prize because I just love their message!

I also have been going a little pancake crazy lately.  I always forget how they can fit perfectly with my macros and still taste delicious!  Here’s a carb-free recipe that I’ve been loving.

Almond Pancakes

1/4 cup almond flour (make your own! Just grind almonds in a food processor)

1 tsp baking powder

4 egg whites

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp almond extract (optional)

1. Heat a small pan on medium heat.
2. Combine the almond flour and baking powder together.
3. Whisk the egg whites and extracts.
4. Slowly add the dry mixture to the wet mixture.
5. Cook like regular pancakes! Flipping when the top is fully covered with little bubbles.
6. Top with protein powder frosting (pp powder and water) or a little greek yogurt!

Procrastination is okay if you’re working out right?

Those moments when you’d rather do anything than homework…for me, anything includes lifting, running, stretching, cooking, or eating:)

That’s right about now for me.  I killed my shoulders and abs today, but would do anything to ditch this paper and go for a run!  I haven’t been able to run for a few weeks because I hurt my foot (and because I’m trying to keep my hard earned muscle, not burn it), but am missing it so much.  My runs have been replaced with stairs and speed walking on an incline, woo.

So even though my cardio work at the gym isn’t the most fun, I’m actually enjoying my work in the kitchen.  We all know that the kitchen is where the hardest work goes down.  Sure, I’d love to be able to bench a couple of plates, but I’d much rather have the lifelong strength to PUT DOWN THE COOKIES! So far, I’ve been doing pretty well with it:)  It’s a been a whole week without cheats and I feel awesome.  I love how great eating clean can make you feel.

I’ve been inhaling chicken, brown rice, steamed, veggies, protein powder, and cottage cheese like no other.  Seriously though, I went through 5lbs of chicken this week.  I’m pretty sure that I’m very close to turning in to a chicken, just waiting for that first cluck.  Since I have been trying to spice up my standard diet, I’ve got a new recipe for you!

Pumpkin Spice Latte Shake

-1/2 cup cold coffee

-splash of almond milk

-1 tsp. pumpkin spice

-1 drop of liquid stevia or 1 packet of stevia in the raw

-1 scoop vanilla protein powder (optional)

1. Add ice and blend:)

**If you want to make this a meal on the go, add some pureed pumpkin!

What is one type of exercise that you hope you’ll never have to stop doing?

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and Twitter:

BBBHealthy

@BBBHealthy

Rainy Days Don’t Have to Be Lazy Days!

All I want right now is a cookie.

You know those days that are rainy and cold and make you want to stay inside to watch a movie?  Yesterday was one of those days. Unfortunately living in San Francisco, it is almost always rainy and cold.  So I want to have lazy movie days way too often!  I already got my workout done this morning, but it was killer (I could barely walk out of the gym) so I am just dead tired right now and have no motivation to do anything…which is includes eating clean.

Movie days always include little extras that never seem to add up in our minds.  Hot chocolate to start the day off, popcorn with the movie, baking cookies when you realize you don’t really like the movie you chose, candy to fend off the mid-afternoon nap, wine to make you feel somewhat civilized because your couch has a permanent indent from your a$$.  It’s a seemingly safe activity that can go so wrong, so fast!

Now I’m not suggesting that you give up having a rest day, but I do have some ideas for cleaning it up a bit:)

1. Get your workout done early in the morning because you’ll be more inclined to skip it if it’s later in the day.  Head to the gym or do some yoga at home if it’s rainy.
2. Netflix!! The impulse purchase section at BlockBuster isn’t really an issue anymore (Baby Bottle Pops anyone?), but even heading to the nearest Red Box can take you dangerously close to the snack aisle where you’re probably going to make some bad decisions.
3. Don’t skip meals! Having all of your meals ready for the day will keep you from grazing on sugary snacks all day.
4. Choose air-popped, plain popcorn and add spices such as: chili powder, garlic powder, rosemary, or cocoa powder.  Try pizza popcorn to mix it up! 1 Tbs oregano, 1/2 Tbs basil, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 2 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp fennel, 1tsp thyme, and some red pepper.
5. Ditch the hot chocolate for some chai or peppermint tea.  They both have a little bit of holiday in them, and aren’t loaded with sugar or empty calories.
6. Stretch! Use the time that you’re just sitting there to do some good for your body!  Whether it’s a full stretching routine or your just reach for your toes every few minutes, you’re working those muscles.

I hope you all enjoy the beginning of the cold and rainy winter season:)  I can’t wait for the holidays (I’m a bit of a Christmas freak) and am excited to show you how clean it can be!  Help me out though:

what Christmas treats would you like to see cleaned up?

Also, I’m working on putting together a contest for December! Look forward to that:)

Happy “No”vember!

Let’s start this month off right!  I have a little challenge for you…

That’s right, I don’t want your crap!  We’re going to make this month our b*tch!  I know everyone waits for the New Year to set their fitness goals and (maybe) start them, but there is no time like the present right?  Let’s get skanky-new-year’s-club-dress-ready together:)  I’d love to make this an official challenge and offer prizes, but I need a little more feedback from y’all first!  Leave me a comment on this post, on Facebook (BBBHealthy), Twitter, or send me a message if you want to see some sort of contest evolve.  I know that some of you are working really hard to reach your goals and I want to reward you for that!

This weekend, I had the amazing opportunity to attend the Exercise & Nutrition Works Fast Start to Success Workshop hosted by Lucho and Lisa Crisalle.  They are two incredibly inspiring fitness experts with over 20 years experience in this industry.  I’m currently studying to become a Certified Fitness Nutrition Specialist through their certification program, and this weekend enhanced my knowledge of how to build up my business!  Hopefully soon I’ll be able to take on some clients and change lives through their meal plans.  I’ll be taking body fat and designing plans like I was born to do it:)

Today, I volunteered to be the case study for the meal plan software demonstration.  Which means I had to get up and get my body fat tested in front of everyone!  I admit, it wasn’t the best experience.  I haven’t been as 100% as I aim to be, and a lot of personal things in my life have set me back.  So it was a bit of a wake up call when I found out that I need to get rid of 15% body fat to be where I want to be!

My new toy!

So now I am heading home SUPER MOTIVATED and ready to stay on track!

Not only did I get to spend the weekend meeting new people and learning from Lucho and Lisa, but I also got to speak with Lisa about competing.  She is an inspiration and started competing later in life, and was extremely successful!  One thing that really made an impression on me was how much support she had.  It made me realize that I need that if I want to reach my goals, I need the support of those close to me.  So this is my request to all of my friends and family reading this (should be everyone right?):

Please,

-support my healthy and fit lifestyle

-encourage me

-don’t ask me to “cheat” with alcohol or food

-keep judgment to yourself when I bring my own food everywhere

-respect my goals (I am NOT going to look manly!!!)

I can’t do this without the support of those whose opinions mean the most to me.  I’m serious about this lifestyle and, someday, competing.  I hope to do that sooner or later, so I want to stay on track:)

Thank you and have a great week!

Helpful tools…and a milkshake!

A few months ago, I received an email from SlimKicker.com about trying out a new product.  The website is an interactive way to track EVERYTHING in your life that is related to fitness.  It makes it easy to stick with your personal fitness plan by having a food, exercise, AND challenge log!  I’ve used a few tracking websites, mostly myfitnesspal.com, but I’ve never had such a simple way to manage all aspects of my fitness.  The layout of everything is pretty easy:

At the top there are links for Nutrition, Body, Challenges, Groups, Friends, and Blog.  So you can also use the site for social media and blogging! I wish I would have known about this earlier because it’s a great way to build a network for your blog.  I don’t usually enter what I eat everyday because I don’t really change my macros.  I just enter everything that I plan to eat for an entire week and use it as a reference.  So once a week, it’s very helpful!  The challenge section is my favorite because you can choose goals that others have submitted or ones that you create yourself.  Right now, my goal is to do a bodyweight exercise a day.  I just started using it, and already I can see that 14% closer to completing my goals! I’ve been doing push-ups like crazy. I even have a little motivational picture to keep me going!  I’m staying strictly clean for the next few months except for 3 or so planned indulgences on holidays.

SlimKicker is planning on launching a physical tracker early next year.  It will be similar to a FitBit and will track activity along with a mobile app to track nutrition.  I’m really excited to receive the tracker, but for now I’ll just utilize the website for all of my fitness needs!  I suggest that you try it out, and add me as a friend, BBBHealthy of course:)

If you follow me on Instagram, @BBBHealthy, then you would have seen my #plantPOWER Chocolate Power Shake!  I love that it’s protein powder free.  It’s perfect for an easy, nutrient-packed snack.

Chocolate Power Shake

-1/2 cup greek yogurt

-1 cup chopped, frozen spinach

-1 tbs. cocoa powder

-1tbs. natural peanut butter

-a couple drops of stevia

-ice

1. Blend everything together and add ice until it’s the desired consistency!
2. Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon or unsweetened coconut

I’ll be posting a dinner recipe tomorrow!

Triumph!

I DID IT!

Not only did I actually complete the Nike Women’s Half Marathon, but I surpassed my goals for myself in doing so!  Like I said in my last post, I was afraid for that run.  Terrified doesn’t even begin to describe how scared I was to overcome those 13.1 miles.  I knew that I could finish it, but I wasn’t sure how much running I’d be able to actually RUN, as opposed to walk:)

I’m proud to say that I did not walk one inch of that course! I told myself that I could make it to mile 4 (because I had done a 7k the week before), but when I got there I was feeling great to I told myself I’d take a walking break at mile 5.  Well when I got to mile 5, Call Me Maybe was playing; and for anyone that knows me, that is my song!  So I just kept going and realized how awesome it would feel if I ran the whole thing.  So I did!  I wish I would have trained because I’m sure that I would have gotten a better time, but for not training at all I’m pretty proud of 2:35:00!  Next year, I’m hitting the pavement hard:)

Heading in to my corral, ready to run!

With my swag at the end:) A Tiffany’s necklace given to me by a very lovely fireman from the SFPD, awesome free stuff, and flowers from my family:)

The necklace!!

What kept me going all day! It’s not about what you do or do not have, it’s about what you’re going to get!

Refueling with ginger quinoa waffles with vanilla agave nectar. I’ve never been so hungry in my life!

Even though my feet, calves, hips, and back hurt, I feel incredible!  Overcoming something that had been looming overhead for so long makes me feel as though I can do anything…like stay up way too late before an 8am class writing a post to inform you about nighttime eating:)

James Wilson’s Body Earned Program introduced me to the bedtime snack and I haven’t looked back!  Sleep is one of the most important aspects of a healthy lifestyle.  Not only to give you energy for the new day, but because it’s powertime for building muscles.  Studies have shown that protein synthesis (muscle building) slows during sleep, and this may be attributed to a decreased amount of amino acids.  I know that I want to utilize as much time as I can to rebuild my muscles so I eat lean protein with a healthy fat about an hour or so before bed.  No more starving yourself after 8pm!! The protein helps repair your muscles and the healthy fat is digested slowly, basically so the protein sticks around:)  My favorite lately has been a cinnamon omelette with natural peanut butter and a little bit of protein frosting.

If you are on Instagram you can follow me at BBBHealthy to see more of my meals!

Cinnamon Omelette

-4 egg whites

-tsp of vanilla extract

-a couple drops of stevia extract

-A LOT of cinnamon (I probably use 2 tbs, but I really love it!)

-1tbs almond milk

-1 tbs natural peanut butter

-Toppings: protein frosting, coconut, nuts, cocoa nibs, whatever you want!

1. Spray a small pan with cooking spray and heat to medium heat
2. In a small bowl, whisk all of the ingredients until combined. Be sure to whip plenty of air in there for fluffy eggs!
3. Pour egg mixture in to the pan and cook, using a spatula to push the edges away from the pan every so often
4. Flip when mostly cooked
5. Place a tbs of natural peanut butter on one side and fold it over
6. Let the peanut butter melt a litte and you’re done!
7. Top with protein frosting (protein powder mixed with almond milk or water) and unsweetened coconut

Do you eat before bed? Share your thoughts!