Day 9

Well here's day 9!

Breakfast:

• 1/2 cup Quinoa with bee pollen, flax seed, and wheat germ
  
• Egg whites
  
• Coffee

Mid-morning:

• carrots
• 2.5 oz sweet and spicy tuna
  

Lunch:

• 2 oz sweet and spicy tuna
• steamed green beans
  
• 1/2 sweet potato
  
• carrots
  

Mid-afternoon:

• 1 scoop whey protein blended with ice
  
• 1/2 pear

Why is it that vanilla protein powder taste better when blended with ice?!

Dinner:

• 1 tablespoon of smuckers natural peanut butter
• 3.2 oz chicken breast
  
• steamed green beans
• 1/2 sweet potato

The peanut butter is not apart of cooler 1 (these two weeks), but I decided to cheat anyway. :) Natural nut butter is a "clean food" but it is one of the things to stay away from for now. But whatever! Not the first time I've cheated in the past 9 days. The chicken I made was DELICIOUS! I bought a pound (5 pieces) of thinly sliced chicken breast today at Publix. I seasoned it with salt, tarragon, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Wow, was it good! Idk, maybe its all the fish I've been eating, but I really, really enjoyed the chicken tonight! Tarragon- Who knew?!

Exercise:

• 20 minutes Pilates
• 25 minutes on the elliptical machine
• Ab Ripper X!
  

Day 8

I'm tired tonight! Looking forward to relaxing tomorrow night. Physical therapy has been good. My PT is really stretching the fire out of my Achilles! Maybe I'll be running in a few weeks!

Breakfast:

• 1/2 cup Quinoa with bee pollen, flax seed, and wheat germ
  
• Egg whites
  
• Coffee

You know, you would think breakfast would get old after eating the same thing day after day, but I really have no problem with it!

Mid-morning:

• 4.5 oz tuna
• carrots

Lunch:

• Baby carrots
  
• 1/2 Sweet potato
  
• 4oz ground turkey burger patty
• Spinach
  

Mid-afternoon:

• 1 scoop whey protein
  
• 1 pear

Dinner:

• 4oz ground turkey burger patty
  
• 1/2 sweet potato
• 1 cup steamed green beans
  

Exercise:

• 20 minutes of yoga
• 20 minutes of weights in the gym
  

Day 7- The end of week 1!

Holy cow! I can't believe I made it through an entire week of this! Not like it was hard, but I'm still excited. :) Today seems like a whirlwind.

Breakfast:

• 1/2 cup Quinoa with bee pollen, flax seed, and wheat germ
  
• Egg whites
  
• Coffee

Mid-morning:

• Celery
• 1 scoop whey protein
  

Lunch:

• Baby carrots
  
• 1/2 Sweet potato
  
• 4oz ground turkey burger patty
  

Mid-Afternoon:

• 1 scoop whey protein
  
• 1 pear
  

Dinner:

• Broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot steamer bag- 1 cup
• 4oz ground turkey burger patty
  
• 1/2 sweet potato

Exercise:

• 20 minutes pilates in the morning
• Ab ripper X

Did not have a lot of time for exercise today. Disappointing. Had to go to physical therapy right after school and the played a concert with Tuscaloosa Winds tonight. Hopefully I'll be able to sneak some gym time in tomorrow. We will see!

Day 6

Today has been a great day and I barely left my apartment! I've just been relaxing and getting some work done at home. It was pretty out side today so I took my computer and did some of my work laying in a hammock.

Breakfast:

• 1/2 cup cooked quinoa
  
• egg whites
  
• coffee
  

It was nice to sit around and drink coffee this morning. When I was making the quinoa I accidentally spilt the little grains all over my kitchen!

Mid-morning:

• 4 oz mango chipotle salmon from Starkist
  
• Celery
  

Lunch

• Left over cod from last night!
  
• baked zucchini
  
• 1/2 sweet potato
  

Mid-afternoon:

• Pear
  
• 1 scoop whey protein blended with ice
  

Dinner

• Left over cod from last night!
• baked zucchini
  
• 1/2 sweet potato
  

Exercise:

• 25 minutes on the elliptical machine
  
• 15 minutes of weights
  

Day 5

Today has been a little weird, but definitely great food day. I went to work a fundraiser with the school I'm student teaching with and did not have time to fix every thing the right way. I still followed the plan, just a little differently. I did my grocery shopping for the week today and am really excited about what I have to eat the next week! Obviously I got lots of sweet potatoes and pears, but I also bought some quinoa (which I can't wait to try), wheat germ, and turkey burger patties. I got the turkey burgers cause they are already in 4 oz portions and that will be really easy!

Breakfast:

• 1/2 cup rolled oats with 1 tablespoon of flax seed and 1/2 tablespoon of bee pollen
• Scrambled egg whites Florentine
  
• Coffee

Nothing really different here!

Mid-morning:

• 1 scoop whey protein powder

All I had time for was the protein shake here because of the fundraiser.

Lunch:

• Spinach salad with 5oz canned tuna.
  
• Broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot steamer bag- 1 cup
• water
  

Mid-afternoon:

• 1 scoop whey protein powder
• 1 gala apple

Had to be quick again because of the fundraiser.

Dinner:

• 1 sweet potato cut and baked into sweet potato fries.
  
• Broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot steamer bag- 1 cup
• 1 piece cod poached in tomato-basil sauce
  

I decided to go ahead and eat a whole sweet potato tonight because I was unable to eat 1/2 of one earlier today. My friend came over and I cooked dinner for us. I cut up two sweet potatoes and brushed them with a little olive oil and sea salt and baked them until they were crispy. I purposely made them early so we could have them as an appetizer. The cod was excellent. I found the recipe on the Whole Foods recipe app on my iphone (just another reason why I love Whole Foods)! I've never poached fish before so I didn't know what to expect, but it was delicious! For the sauce I started with a small sweet onion and then added 1/4 cup wine, diced tomatoes, basil, and fish stock. After that simmered I put in the fish and about 12 minutes later it was done. Quite possibly the flakiest sigh I've ever had. After I took the fish out of the sauce, I squeezed in some fresh juice from an orange and let it simmer for about 10 more minutes in order to thicken up. Wow, it was really good! I put a picture of my plate on here, but the picture does not do it justice! It was delicious! Can't wait to eat the left overs tomorrow! :)

Exercise:

• 25 minutes on the elliptical at the gym
• Ab ripper X
  

Day 4

TGIF! Wow, it really felt nice to not have to leave town today. I came home and relaxed and cleaned my apartment! I cheated again tonight, but I've decided that sometimes you have to cheat for the sake of friendship. One of my friends is moving pretty soon and we all decided to go to Midnight Sushi tonight. I really think it isn't necessarily the cheating, but the choices you make that count the most.

Breakfast:

• 1/2 cup rolled oats with 1 tablespoon of flax seed and 1/2 tablespoon of bee pollen
• Scrambled egg whites
  
• Coffee

There was almost a breakfast disaster this morning! When I went to grab my carton of egg whites from the fridge, I couldn't find them. Turns out, I left them sitting on the counter the day before. What a waste! Luckily I had some fresh eggs in the fridge, so I just cracked them and threw away the yolk.

Mid-morning:

• 2 oz of Sweet and Spicy tuna. Another good one!
  
• Celery
• water

Lunch:

• Spinach salad with celery and 2.5 oz Sweet and Spicy Tuna (The rest of the packet.)
  
• 1/2 sweet potato
• Water

Mid-afternoon:

• 1 scoop whey protein powder
• 1 gala apple

Today, since I finally got to eat this meal at home, I decided to use my blender to blend my protein powder with ice. How bout its my new favorite way! Isn't it funny how texture can really change something like that?

Dinner:

• 3 oz chicken
  
• 1/2 sweet potato
  
• Broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot steamer bag- 1 cup

Snack:

• 2 pieces nigiri tuna
• 2 pieces nigiri salmon
  
• Wakame seaweed Salad

I love sushi. Haven't had it in forever. It was good, but it kinda just made me want to eat more. Another time though! Looking forward to tomorrow!

Exercise:

• 10 minutes of Yoga to wake up in the morning
• 25 minutes on the elliptical at the gym
• 10 minutes free weights
  

Definitely do not feel as sore today as I did the first time I did Ab Ripper X. I guess that's good!

Day 3

Day 3 felt pretty good! I'm looking forward to what the results will be like after a week or 2!

Breakfast

• 1/2 cup rolled oats with 1 tablespoon of flax seed and 1/2 tablespoon of bee pollen
• Scrambled egg whites Florentine
  
• Coffee

This morning I added spinach to my eggs white. Some people may not like the sound of that, but I love it!

Mid-morning:

• 1 scoop whey protein powder
  
• 1 red pear

I really am gonna have to start buying more pears! So yummy!

Lunch:

• Spinach salad with chicken breast
  
• Cucumbers
  
• 1/2 sweet potato
• Water

Afternoon:

• 3 oz chicken
  
• Cucumbers
• Water

Dinner:

• 3 oz chicken
  
• 1/2 sweet potato
  
• Broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot steamer bag- 1 cup
  

Snack:

• One small slice of homemade margarita pizza

Okay, okay! So I cheated today. But it was kind of a planned cheat, if you know what I mean. My friend made pizza and I didn't feel bad about eating it. Now this definitely won't be a re-occurring thing, but I refuse to beat myself up about it happening once. :) Besides, it was good!

Exercise:

• 15 minutes of pilates in the morning to wake up
• 25 minutes of the elliptical at the gym
• 20 minutes of weight lifting (arms/back)
  
• 15 minutes of Ab Ripper X (from P90X)

This is the second time I have done the Ab Ripper workout. Man! I think it is worse the second time!

Day 2

Today was just as easy as yesterday! It is such a different feeling eating all day. I feel like all I do during the day is eat!

Breakfast

• 1/2 cup rolled oats with 1 tablespoon of flax seed and 1/2 tablespoon of bee pollen
• Scrambled egg whites
• Coffee

This morning I added some pumpkin spice to my rolled oats for a little change in flavor. I think I might try it again tomorrow! :) I also added dried basil and garlic to my egg whites. Delicious!

Mid-morning:

• 3 oz Tuna
  
• Celery
  
• Cucumbers
• Water
  

Lunch:

• Spinach salad with 3 oz tuna
• Celery
• Cucumbers
  
• 1/2 sweet potato
• Water

I really struggled with finishing my lunch today. I was just really full, but ate it all anyway!

Afternoon:

• 1 scoop whey protein powder
• 1 gala apple
  

Dinner:

• 3 oz fillet of wild Cod
  
• 2 cups steamed green beans
• 1/2 sweet potato
  
• Unsweetened iced tea

Leftovers from last night.

Exercise:

• 10 minutes of yoga in the morning to wake up
  
• 10 minutes pilates in the morning
  
• 27 minutes of cycling at the gym
• 20 minutes of weight lifting (arms/back)

My abs were definitely burning from the Ab Ripper X yesterday. I went to physical therapy for my ankle for the second time today, so I'm hoping I will be running again in just a few short weeks! See ya tomorrow!

Day 1

Well I think I have done it. I've finally found a "diet" that I can live with and follow day to day. Over my Spring Break, in Washington D.C., my friend Jennifer introduced me to The Eat Clean Diet. The Eat Clean Diet was created by Tosca Reno. A trip to www.eatcleandiet.com is definitely worth your time. I would explain the whole process here, but Tosca does it way better then me! The main purpose of this blog is to keep me honest! I'm going to keep a journal of everything I eat here and any exercise I do during the day...starting right now!

Breakfast:

• 1/2 cup rolled oats with 1 tablespoon of flax seed and 1/2 tablespoon of bee pollen
  
• Scrambled egg whites
  
• Coffee
  

Turns out rolled organic oats are super cheap! I was a little nervous about just eating egg whites, but they were pretty good. This meal was definitely satisfying. I did not feel hungry at all the entire morning.

Mid-morning:

• 3 oz Herb and Garlic Tuna (You know, those little packets they sale that come in different flavors. The are awesome!)
  
• Celery
  
• Water
  

My biggest concern here was having enough time to eat this meal in between changing classes at school, but it was no problem at all. The biggest thing for me was that I was not hungry at this meal, but chose to eat anyway. I need to get my metabolism going, and I think Tosca knows best!

Lunch:

• Spinach salad with celery and 3 oz Herb and Garlic Tuna (The rest of the packet.)
  
• 1/2 sweet potato
• Water
  

No complaints here at all! Very filling, and I just love sweet potatoes anyway.

Mid-afternoon:

• 1 scoop whey protein powder
  
• 1 red pear

I have not had a fresh pear in a really long time. It was so good!

Dinner:

• 3 oz fillet of wild Cod
  
• 2 cups steamed green beans
• 1/2 sweet potato
  
• Unsweetened iced tea
  

This was a great dinner. I was not sure if I would like the cod, but I really enjoyed it! 3 oz might not sound like much, but it was a good sized fillet.

Exercise:

• 15 minutes of pilates in the morning to wake up
• 25 minutes of cycling at the gym
• 20 minutes of weight lifting (arms/back)
  
• 15 minutes of Ab Ripper X (from P90X)

So my roommate, Jason, bought P90X. I do not plan on doing the program, but I have no problems doing the ab workout a couple of times a week. It completely kicked my tail! I'm sure I will be plenty sore in the morning!