Body after baby

Good Monday morning to all of you! I hope you had a fabulous weekend and that you’re ready to attack this wonderful Thanksgiving week with enthusiasm!

So it’s been three weeks now that I’ve been consistently working out and eating healthy and I have to say that I’m definitely more consistently happy also! The exercise really helps to reground me and gives me a stress outlet so that it doesn’t consume me and eating healthy makes me feel better and less tired! So cheers to all of that!

So here’s the stats

Last week: 138.2
This week: 137.6

So, not a very major loss this week which was a bit of a bummer, but I’ve definitely had some non scale victories this week so I’ll take it!

Non scale victories:

I fit into one of my pre pregnancy pairs of pants!! I was nervous to try them on but they slid right up and buttoned! They are still a bit too low rise and sit right on my c section incision site which is still tender, but hey! They fit!

I’m starting to get my muscle definition back! Before pregnancy I would have muscle definition contests with my husband in the mirror (yeah we are weird!) and at one point I won on definition! Obviously his are bigger because he’s a man and he lifts but mine were better! Haha! I’m starting to have fun flexing again which is a major victory!

So there it is! I have my battle plan all laid out for the week which includes a 100% Paleo Thanksgiving which I’m super stoked to make! Have an awesome week everyone!

Paleo Beef Stew

It’s Friday!! Hallelujah!! Roarke has been working late most nights this week and you’d better believe that means I’ve had a looooong week with the kiddos and I’m ready for a break!

This morning I needed all the coffee! And it’s so much better in my reindeer mug! It’s almost thanksgiving, time for Christmas stuff!!

B just got this shirt and loved the fact that it had the big pocket in front for his hands! He cracks me up!

Sorry, no good Segway into stew, just try it, it’s tasty!
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Paleo Beef Stew

Ingredients
1.5 pounds stew meat
3 large carrots chopped
1 onion chopped
2 cloves of garlic minced
28oz diced tomatoes
15 oz beef broth
Thyme
Rosemary
Salt and pepper
Olive oil

Instructions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Heat oil in a large sauce pot over medium high heat.
Brown all the stew meat and salt it.
Remove stew meat into an oven proof pot (I use Pyrex, if you just have an oven proof pot big enough to fit your stew that goes on the stove top just use that for the whole process).
Add onion, carrots and garlic and reduce heat to medium.
Sauté veggies until they are soft.
Add tomatoes and beef broth along with seasonings and the stew meat along with all juices that have accumulated.
Bring the stew to a boil.
Transfer back into oven proof dish (or put your oven proof pot directly in the oven) cover it and place it in the oven.
Bake for 3 hours.
Remove and allow to cool a bit before dishing out, then dig in and enjoy!

Hope you have a great Friday and a fantastic weekend!

Paleo Bacon Wrapped Chicken with Cauliflower Mashed “Potatoes”

So last night’s dinner was totally bomb! I really don’t think I can profess my love for the Paleo diet much more! The food I prepare is fantastic and so good for you too! Just knowing that we are putting real quality food into our bodies and not crap makes us feel so much better! But the Paleo diet actually makes you feel better physically too! We both have more energy and generally just have a healthier state of being! The high protein content of the diet is also helping us make gains in our workouts too!

Anyway, I digress. Here’s a super recipe I made last night! Hope you’ll find it equally as tasty!

Paleo Bacon Wrapped Chicken with Cauliflower Mashed “Potatoes”

Ingredients:
For chicken
3 chicken thighs, bone in
Salt and pepper
Garlic powder
Olive oil
6 slices uncured bacon

For cauliflower
1 head cauliflower
2 TBL grass fed butter
Salt and pepper
Garlic powder

Directions:
For chicken
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Lay aluminum foil in a baking dish
Brush chicken with olive oil and season
Bake for one hour or until juice runs clear
Remove from oven and allow to cool until you can safely handle it.
Using 2 slices of bacon per piece of chicken, lay chicken in the center and wrap bacon around so that the ends meet in the center
Place chicken with the bacon ends down on a skillet heated to medium high
Cook until all sides of bacon are done and crispy!

For cauliflower
Cut cauliflower into large chunks
Steam until a fork can pierce through
Place cauliflower in a food processor along with butter and seasoning
Process until smooth, the consistency of mashed potatoes
Dish up alongside chicken thighs and dig in!!!

Have a happy Thursday!

Paleo Hot Chocolate

As the days get shorter and colder, you want to snuggle up by the fire with a toasty beverage, I know I do! Here’s a way to enjoy the sweet things in life without having to sacrifice healthy eating.

Paleo Hot Chocolate

Ingredients
2 tablespoons coconut sugar
2 teaspoons cocoa powder
Dash of sea salt
1 cup almond milk

Directions
Combine coconut sugar, cocoa powder and salt in a mug. In a separate microwave safe glass, microwave the milk for about 2:30, varies depending on your microwave. Pour milk over sugar mixture stirring constantly. Continue to stir until all dry ingredients are fully mixed in. Sip and enjoy the warmth!

Have a fantastic Tuesday!!

Weekend Highlights/ Body after Baby

Hey there hi there! How was your weekend? We got Snow!!! I was so excited! B and I played in it so much! He was having a blast!

And then we came in for some Paleo hot cocoa!

And a tasty steak dinner! Roarke was amazing and manned the grill in the blowing snow and wind. Meal planning has its downfalls I suppose!

And our first fire of the season, yes I already have Christmas lights up, don’t judge!

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So it’s Monday again and I weighed in. Here’s the results of the past week

Last Monday: 139.2
This Monday: 138.2

So a pound down for the week, not great, not terrible either. I took 2 rest days and only did yoga one other day so my workouts weren’t as intense. I’m pretty pleased with the progress overall.

Today’s workout was a quick calorie torcher! Only 10 minutes and I felt it everywhere! HIIT workouts are GREAT for busy moms like me!

Hope you’re having a fantastic Monday!

To run or not to run

…that is the question. I’ve always had a love hate relationship with running. For many, running is the first exercise they choose when first attempting to lose weight because it’s a fairly simple self starter (we already know how to run!) and because it’s known to have fairly quick results. All you need to do to increase your fitness is just slap on your shoes and you’re out the door. That first step is so hard though! Knowing that it’s going to suck, knowing that it’s going to hurt, knowing that (in my case now) that you’re going to freeze your ever loving tushy off!

I’ll also admit it, I’m pretty competitive. Not necessarily that I have to win at things, but just that I don’t like to be bad at things. My husband is amazing and can run 8 miles on his lunch break! At this point I’m hugging and puffing after a mile! This is disappointing to me because I don’t like being bad at things! But the only way you get better is to keep lacing up and getting out there!

So I guess what I’m saying is, I don’t know whether I’ll go for a 2 mile run today in the freezing cold temperatures, but I’ll definitely keep working on my running fitness because I feel it’s an important area of well rounded exercise! So if you’re like me and restarting or just starting your running fitness journey, please keep these tips in mind so you can progress and prevent injury!

Hope you have a fantastic Thursday!

Why I make time to workout

Happy Hump day!! How was your Veterans Day? Ours was petty great! Started the day off with a garage workout which froze my fanny off at first but I was definitely toasty by the time I walked out! This is my first real weighted workout and I wanted to take it easy on myself and not get injured. I will definitely be upping either the weight or the number of rounds next time I do this workout but it still felt fantastic!

Then I filled my morning with holiday themed caffeine in the form of Holiday Nog Almond Milk that we found on our trip to Whole Foods. We also found a pumpkin spice coconut milk which is equally as tasty in coffee!

Then we decided to venture out, our first stop was to the mall to let B run out some energy at the little indoor playground because it was 34 degrees outside and I didn’t feel like standing outside with the whipping wind! It was 80 degrees the day before!! B loves to ride the electric car and the carousel so we always make sure to have some spare change with us when we go.

And Roarke wanted to play too

But Merrick had the best seat in the house

Who knew a dollar could make a kid so happy!

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So let’s talk exercise. I think we all know that it’s part of a healthy lifestyle but not everyone knows the specific benefits. Mayo Clinic put together an article spotlighting the 7 main benefits of regular exercise.
Numbers 3 and 4 are really important to me. When I was in my early pregnancy I was really tired and sick. I had no motivation to workout and because I stopped, that trend stayed consistent throughout my pregnancy. I often found myself exhausted and miserable. Since Merrick’s birth I’ve also been finding myself often exhausted and unhappy. Definitely had a case of baby blues in this house. Since I’ve started exercising again I’ve seen immediate improvement in my overall energy levels and mood! I sleep better and feel like I have less of a short fuse. Treat your body right and you’ll feel happy and healthy most of the time and you will be able to fully enjoy life!!

So that’s my ramble for the day. Enjoy your Wednesday!!

Paleo Cookie Brownies

Hey guys! First thing I want to say is Happy Veterans Day to all those who have and are currently serving in our country’s military, we appreciate your sacrifice.

So last night we had some friends over for dinner. Previously, whenever we’ve had people over we buy normal (crappy) food to eat because thats what everyone else wants and we feel bad trying to force our healthy lifestyle onto others. This time I chose not to do that! They asked what they could bring and we said a veggie tray and then I made a Paleo dill dip to use instead of ranch. I bought grass fed burgers at Whole Foods and ate them bunless.
Then it was dessert time! I made a Paleo cookie brownie that turned out fantastic! Chocolate chip cookie on the bottom with a brownie layer on top! You’d never know it was made from real whole food ingredients and good for you! Our friends loved them too! So now I pass the delicious onto you!

Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownie
ingredients:
For cookie:
2 cups almond flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup chocolate chips
2 eggs
2 TBL coconut oil melted
1/2 cup honey
For brownie:
1 1/4 cup almond flour
2 eggs
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 cup melted chocolate chips
1/2 cup honey

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Prep a 9×13 pan with wax or parchment paper
For cookie bottom:
Mix all ingredients. Press into bottom of pan
For brownie top:
Mix all ingredients. Spread on top of cookie dough
Bake for 35 minutes or until the brownie is set and it’s cooked through.
Allow to cool completely
Cut into squares and enjoy!

Body after baby

So last week when I started working out again, I recorded my weight. Although I don’t like to rely on the scale as a measure for fitness and overall health, I figured it can’t hurt to have a goal. So now on Mondays I will continue to take my weight and see how it compares to last week. However, even if the scale doesn’t show me what I want to see, I will take the non scale victories into account too and share them here.

Last Monday: 142.2
This Monday: 138.2

So I broke out of the 140s and into the 130s! This is a big accomplishment since I’ve been kind of stuck in the 140s for a while now! Eating clean and working out has done so much for me this week!

Non scale victories:
Starting my workouts again of course, I’m already seeing improvements in my stamina and strength!

And I ran 2 miles which is way longer than I have since about this time last year, it felt awesome! Slow as dirt but I was still running!

Here’s to more victories both on the scale and off this week!

Weekend Highlights

Hey there! Happy Monday to you all! We are on a fabulous four day weekend but I’ll share highlights from the past few days for all you unlucky’s who didn’t get today off, I am sad for you.

I made a super tasty turkey chili Saturday morning for lunch!

We took the kiddos to the playground so B could get out some energy, he got a new toy elephant from target and wouldn’t put it down! It was pretty funny watching him climb things one handed with that elephant!

And then unwound with some Paleo hard cider, and of course, Darrel Dixon!

Sunday, AKA pancakes and bacon day.

And then a trip to OKC to go to Whole Foods which is an event because it’s so far away and we rarely go.

And we picked up this awesome buffalo steak

And created this amazing dinner with sautéed brussel sprouts, butternut squash, pecans and cranberries in a honey glaze!

Hope your Monday is going well!