What I've Been Eating (Weeks 1 & 2)

Spring will soon be here!! :)

As promised, I wanted to share with you what I've been eating lately. A few months ago, after following Heather Fearneyhough's story in First for Women, I began to follow her on Facebook (Heather's FITspiration).  She started a 12-week fitness challenge in January whereas our nutrition would be guided by Eating Clean and we'd be following her weekly exercise plans so that as the fat came off, we'd have beautiful muscles underneath :). I did pay $150 to join the group but thought that was a steal for all of her support and knowledge.  (I just have to mention that she didn't ask me to mention her or her plan and doesn't even know that I have this blog.  I just like to give credit where credit is due).

In a nutshell, at each meal I include a protein as well as a complex carb and I eat 5, sometimes 6, times per day to keep my metabolism revving. I do exercise using strength training at home, which I might add that I did not like doing at first but have grown to love as I see those muscles appearing. I do have a gym membership but haven't used it as I've been able to do everything at home using my dumbells and I use my parent's treadmill next door if I can't get outside to walk. 

I'm not going to lie... I knew that I could commit to this for 12 weeks, seeing what it did for Heather's body, however, I wasn't sure I could eat like this forever. Now, I know, without a doubt, that I can (with an occassional 'splurge' meal once or twice a week)!  There are people that Eat Clean 80% of the time and maintain their weight, however, I can't really do that yet because I'd still like to lose these last 10-15 lbs. and what I've been doing so far has been working. 

Anyways, here is what I ate the first two weeks.  I'll post more weeks soon. I'll figure out the S/C values because, with the exception of the fruit and the Larabars, I bet they are within the BFC S/C ranges. 

Remember, when looking at what I've eaten, I try to eat every 2 1/2 - 3 hours but didn't always remember to bring snacks with me in the car or couldn't fit a snack inbetween two meals that were close together (sometimes I even have to set a timer to remind myself because I want to keep my metabolism running high and if I wait until I'm hungry, I might not have food available or I might be too hungry and overeat).


Week 1 (1/22/13 - 1/27/13)
Day 1 
B: Egg white omelette with spinach & low-fat mozzarella cheese; 2 slices Ezekiel cinnamon raisin bread (plain); green tea
S: 1 small apple with 1T natural peanut butter
L: Turkey burger on a whole wheat muffin (with lettuce, tomato & mustard); 1 orange
S: 1/2 pear & 1 string cheese
D: 5 oz. cod baked with lemon juice, garlic, and parsely; 1/2 cup brown rice; broccoli
S: None

Day 2
B: Homemade Greek yogurt with blueberries, almonds and a sprinkle of Truvia; green tea
S: 1 Larabar, 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
L: Turkey burger on a whole wheat muffin (with lettuce, tomato & dijon mustard), 1 orange
S: 1 banana with 1T almond butter
D: Grilled shrimp (6) with grilled veggies (eggplant, red and green peppers) (ate at Macaroni Grill for a friend's birthday)
S: None

Day 3
B: Kashi cereal with unsweetened almond milk; 1 orange; green tea
S: 1 Larabar; 1/4 c sunflower seeds
L: Turkey burger on a whole wheat muffin (with lettuce, tomato, and dijon mustard); 1 small apple
S: 1 banana with 1/4 c sunflower seeds
D: 1 1/2 c whole wheat pasta with organic marinara sauce & ground turkey; side of steamed spinach
S: None

Day 4
B: 1 cup plain Green yogurt (topped with blueberries, 10 almonds, 1T Kashi cereal & a sprinkle of Truvia); green tea
S: 1 Larabar; 12 raw almonds
L: Turkey burger on a whole wheat muffin (with lettuce, tomato, and dijon mustard); 1 orange (made 4 patties on Monday and have eaten this every day for lunch - love it)!
S: 1 banana; 1/4 cup edamame
D: Grilled flank steak, guacamole, 3 bites of beans - did not eat 1 chip!! (had dinner at a Mexican resturant for a family birthday)
S: 1 Larabar

Day 5
B: Protein Shake (whey protein, almond milk, Greek yogurt, flax, chia seeds, coconut oil, cocoa powder, Truvia, coffee beans); green tea
S: 1 small apple with 1T natural peanut butter
L: Tuna mixed with mustard; 1 stalk celery; 1 1/2 pieces Ezekiel cinnamon raisin bread
S: protein shake following my workout (almond milk, 1T plain Greek yogurt, 1 banana, some frozen berries, vanilla whey protein powder)
D: Chicken quesadilla (Heather's recipe)
S: None

Day 6
B: Protein Shake (whey protein, almond milk, Greek yogurt, flax, chia seeds, coconut oil, cocoa powder, Truvia, coffee beans)' green tea
S: Didn't have this snack since breakfast and lunch were only 3 1/2 hours apart
L: 2 eggs scrambled with red peppers and onions; 1/2 whole wheat English muffin with flax oil on it
S: 1 Larabar; 12 raw almonds
D: Went to Red Robin for another family birthday and had a salad with grilled chicken, avocado, hard-boiled egg, and black olives - no bacon bits or dressing.
S: None

Day 7
B: Protein Shake (whey protein, almond milk, Greek yogurt, flax, chia seeds, coconut oil, cocoa powder, Truvia, coffee beans); green tea
S:  Didn't mean to skip. Went to church and forgot to take a snack for the ride home. Will have to remember to bring a snack in the future.
L: Steamed shrimp and broccoli (no sauce); green tea (ate out at a Chinese restaurant)
S: 1 Larabar; 12 almonds
D: Had a late lunch / early dinner at a Chinese Restaurant (see Lunch above) so around dinner time I had more of a snack (see the Snack above) - because I was still full from the shrimp and broccoli I had.
S: None

Week 2 (1/28/13 - 2/3/13)

Day 8
B: Protein Shake (whey protein, almond milk, Greek yogurt, flax seed, chia seed, coconut oil, cocoa powder, Truvia, coffee beans)
S: 3 stalks of celery with 2T almond butter
L: Chocolate, Almond & Banana Protein Smoothie after my workout (unsweetened almond milk, cocoa powder, banana, almond butter, whey protein powder)
S: Carrots & broccoli with 2T hummus; 1 whole wheat crispbread cracker
D: Steak Salad (grilled filet, romaine lettuce, blue cheese cumbles; olive oil & vinegar dressing)

Day 9
B: Protein Shake (whey protein, almond milk, Greek yogurt, flax seed, chia seed, coconut oil, cocoa powder, Truvia, coffee beans)
S: 2 rice cakes (whole wheat brown rice) with natural peanut butter; 1 orange
L: 1/2 whole wheat pita filled with 3 oz. lean, low-sodium roast beef, mustard, and blue cheese crumbles; 1/2 red bell pepper, 10 baby carrot sticks
S: 1 Larabar, 12 almonds
D: Ate dinner right after my workout so I made a protein smoothie (whey protien, unsweetened almond milk, cocoa powder, 2T almond butter, Truvia) and also had 1 chicken soft taco (put Heather's chicken quesidilla filling on a small whole wheat tortilla)

Day 10
B:  Protein Shake (whey protein, almond milk, Greek yogurt, flax seed, chia seed, coconut oil, cocoa powder, Truvia, coffee beans)
S: 1 Larabar, 12 almonds
L: Salad from Qdoba (lettuce, steak, pico de gallo, and cheese)
S: None- ate dinner at my parents at 4:00pm
D: Parents had us over for dinner. Mom always has a salad but not tonight. Only had goulash and bread with butter. Was not prepared. Ate 1 small bowl of goulash.
S:  After getting home from my parents at 7:00pm, where we had goulash for dinner, of course my body was not satisfied so I ate 2 Larabars (I know - NOT a good choice but I am sooo tired and not wanting to cook anything and they were quick). Tomorrow I will be more prepared.

Day 11
B: Protein Shake (whey protein, almond milk, Greek yogurt, flax seed, chia seed, coconut oil, cocoa powder, Truvia, coffee beans)
S: 1 hard-boiled egg; 1/2c plain greek yogurt with 2T homemade granola
L:  Chocolate Banana Smoothie (after working out) - Unsweetened almond milk, whey protein powder, banana, unsweetened baking cocoa, 1T almond butter
S:  Didn't have an afternoon snack today - had lunch (smoothie) at 1:30pm and dinner will be at 5:00pm tonight
D: Hummus with cucumber; string cheese; deli turkey breast; 1 piece Ezekiel cinnamon raisin bread

Day 12
B: Protein Shake (whey protein, almond milk, Greek yogurt, flax seed, chia seed, coconut oil, cocoa powder, Truvia, coffee beans)
S: Did not have this snack. Did not expect to be gone to the DMV for 4 hours. Forgot to take a snack with me. When I got home it was lunch time.
L: 1 multi-grain tortilla filled with 2 eggs and pepper jack cheese (scrambled the eggs in 1 1/2 tsp. of orgainc butter)
S: 1 Larabar; 12 almonds
D:  3 oz. roast beef (low-sodium, low-fat angus); 1/2 red bell pepper; handful of pumpkin seeds; 1 piece Ezekiel cinnamon raisin bread

Day 13
B: Protein Shake (whey protein, almond milk, Greek yogurt, flax seed, chia seed, coconut oil, cocoa powder, Truvia, coffee beans)
S: No am snack today - less than 4 hours between breakfast and lunch
L: Steamed shrimp and broccoli; green tea
S: 1 Larabar; 12 almonds
D: 3 oz roast beef (low-sodium / low-fat); 1 piece Ezekiel cinnamon raisin bread; 3 celery stalks with 1 1/2 tsp. almond butter

Day 14 is missing from the file where we log our food so no way to remember what I ate.