Meal prep, ain't nobody got time for dat!

uh, yeah ya do!

I'm always telling myself that there needs to be more hours in a day.  With all of the things that take up our precious time--work, commuting, exercising, cleaning, TRYING to have a social life, it's easy to brush off food shopping and cooking and fall into "take-out" or "fast food" rutt.  Not only is it costly on your bank account, if you don't choose wisely, it can be costly on your waistline as well! Don't get me wrong, I love getting home, putting on the TV (and sweats) and having whatever glorious meal I'm craving arrive after just a few taps of my Seamless app. 

Soooo... while you can't ALWAYS have food in the fridge or the time to cook, you should take advantage of it when you do.  This weekend I spent a few  hours (3-4) food shopping and meal prepping for myself and Mike.  Again, the shopping list contained mostly lean proteins, veggies and some fruits.  Below are photo's of the food and the meals! 

Here's a list of what I made, feel free to reach out for the recipes or if you have any questions!  It's a lot to take on at once in the kitchen, but knowing that all I have to do is open the fridge and pull out a Tupperware for the next few days makes life a whole lot easier ;)

Main dishes:
- Broiled cod with cherry tomatoes, onions & garlic
- Turkey meatloaf with mushroom & onion gravy
- Sautéed chicken with spices

Sides:
- Roasted zucchini
- Roasted sweet potatoes
- Roasted brussels sprouts
- Steamed & sautéed string beans w/ garlic & onions
- Steamed & sautéed broccoli

 

 
 

 

Just for fun, a shot of Mike working hard!

   

Update - Day 5

Good afternoon!  I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving a few extra days off, I know I did :)

 

So while we didn't start taking the Advocare 24 Day Challenge supplements until Saturday morning (original state date was Friday), my boyfriend and I weighed in on Friday (THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING, I SWEAR I DON'T WEIGHT THAT MUCH!), went food shopping, meal prepped, worked out and started eating right. 

 

We bought some lean proteins (ground turkey-93/7, shell steak, chicken breast, cod), lots of veggies (broccoli, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, baby carrots...), eggs, hummus.. you get the idea.  We literally shopped the perimeter of the supermarket which they say is the healthiest way to go.  No sugary snacks, refined foods, sodas and juices.

 

For dinner Friday we had baked cod with tomatoes and onions (topped with fresh lemon) with string beans and brussels sprouts on the side (see picture).  The meal was definitely easy to make, light, filling and satisfying.  Most importantly, it got the boyfriend's approval!

 

Saturday started out with our Fiber Drink in the morning, a meal replacement shake and Spark followed by a solid workout.  I won't lie, I had a lot of trouble with the fiber drink.  While Mike was able to chug it down in probably less than 30 seconds, I let the texture get to me which made it hard to endure.  (Luckily, by day 3, I chugged that drink down like a pro! Mind over matter right?) 

 

I followed the same routine Sunday morning (fiber drink, meal replacement shake & spark) and went to the gym.  I had scrambled eggs with veggies after the gym for lunch and a salad with chicken for dinner.  When I'm hungry I snack on apples, baby carrots or quest bars.

 

Just for fun, we weighed ourselves again on Sunday (they recommend only weighing in every 2 weeks) .  In only two days we both lost 4+ lbs.  Even though that 4lbs represents mostly water weight, it's still the motivation we needed to keep going. 

 

Today is day 5 and I can say that I do feel less bloated and "full".  Eliminating almost all sodium, dairy and sugar from your diet really makes a difference in how you and your stomach feel.  Looking forward to seeing how I feel on day 24!

 

I also just found out one of my brothers friends just started the challenge yesterday.  I'm sure she's going to be pleased with her results.

 

Again, for any information on Advocare or personal training at New York Sports Club,

Contact Mike (Select I already know a distributor, select name and state, type Michael Brizzolara, NJ) OR Mbrizzolara1@gmail.com

 

Have a great week!

Back... on a MISSION!

HI THERE AND HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!

 

It's been too long since I've posted and it's time to get real!  The next 24 days are going to be challenging and I will definitely need an outlet to express my thoughts and possibly frustrations.  What better place than here? 

This Friday, after Thanksgiving, myself and two others will be starting Advocare's 24 Day Challenge!  My boyfriend, Mike, recently became an Advocare distributor and swears by their products.  Being a personal trainer, he understands peoples goals of leading an active and healthy lifestyle.  While exercise is a crucial component in the equation, what you put in your body and do outside of the gym is even more important. 

My weight has fluctuated between 115 and 135 since college. I am guilty of extreme dieting and sometimes exercising in excess.  While I haven't gone to any extremes lately, I must say that I have not been treating my body as well as I should be.  I still workout 3-4x a week, but I have been indulging in less healthy foods and probably a little too much beer and wine.  What can I say?  We are all guilty of overindulging at some point in our lives. 

With that being said, what's a better time to start to get back on track than after Thanksgiving--the holiday built on FOOD!  Andddddddd it'll be over right before Christmas :)  The 24 Day Challenge isn't a "drastic", "unhealthy" or "extreme" program.  The program focuses on vitamins, supplements, meal replacements and an herbal cleanse.  While I have never actually followed a specific program, I am excited to start and have a regime.  I really believe this will get me back in a "rhythm" of being more conscious of what I put in my body and give me a better overall feeling of health and wellness. 

On the program, we will need to eliminate alcohol, dairy (THIS IS GOING TO BE HELL-I LIVE OFF OF CHEESE!!!!), fried fatty foods, refined carbs and sugars amongst other items.  It's not going to be easy, but I've already set a meal plan for the first 10 days (the cleanse phase) so that I don't get off track.  I'll update you on our status every few days.  We're going to be taking before and after photos for accountability also (yikes!). 

While I would like to shed close to 10 pounds, I am not going to get hung up with the number on the scale.  If I see improvement in my before/after photos, feel tighter and more energized after the 24 days, I will consider it a success and keep on working towards my health and fitness goals.  

Sooooo... with all this starting in just 2 days, I'm going out tonight (the biggest drinking night of the year) to celebrate life, love and happiness.. and hopefully not a hangover tomorrow.  I'll have my last few drinks and last huge meal before really buckling down!  It's only 24 days but right now it seems like an eternity!

Comment/Email me if you're interested in seeing what my 10 day meal plan looks like!

Also, if you're looking for advice related to any Advocare products including the 24 Day Challenge, feel free to contact Mike Brizzolara, who's an extremely knowledgeable Distributor and personal trainer who can work with you to achieve your goals.

Contact Mike (Select I already know a distributor, select name and state, type Michael Brizzolara, NJ)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!