Pizza Night

Pizza night is always the best night - and especially when it is PaleOMG's 5 ingredient pizza. I made this during Whole30 and fell in love and have now been craving it. It's so simple (spaghetti squash, meat, sauce, eggs, onions, spices). No cheese, so of course this is not "pizza." I guess this could be a SWYPO since we're calling it pizza, but it's not, it is a world of it's own and so much better than pizza (that's the Whole30 speaking of course).

I made this for dinner last night with a salad of broccoli and toasted hazelnuts and grape tomatoes. It was so delicious! Ryan even went back for seconds and exclaimed, "I love this pizza." Oh, and he asked if there was enough for lunch - this coming from the man who hates leftovers.

I brought the exact same meal for breakfast Meal 1 this morning. And I got plenty of glares and questions about having broccoli for breakfast. What is wrong with broccoli for breakfast? Breakfast should not be defined by a type of food - bagels, donuts, oatmeal and cereal and milk and eggs...well, since Whole30 I have stopped seeing breakfast as one type of food. Breakfast is a meal, not a category of food. And besides, the pizza had eggs and beef...deconstruct that and you have eggs and bacon.

Tomorrow is my birthday and Ryan is planning to cook coconut chicken and bok choy and I am going to make coconut shrimp. He said he is nervous to make me dinner because I am picky. I said I wasn't picky, just strict. I love food, I eat everything...just not grains, soy, dairy, legumes, etc. So not picky at all!

I had a great workout this morning. 3rd morning  in a row at the SoHo studio. I feel amazing, but so sore.

Monday we did waterski seat, Tuesday was arabesque and today was the ultimate killer - standing seat AND foldover. Nothing like 2 sets of seat to zing you awake on a cold and rainy morning!

I am going to a fundraising event tonight at Hope Lodge with a few Bar Method girls. It is rainy and cold out but I am excited to see these ladies outside of the studio and wearing something other than lululemon...except, of course, I am wearing lululemon leggings today to work! Of course.

Stay warm and dry everyone!

XO

Sex With Your Pants On

Sex With Your Pants On (SWYPO) is referenced a lot during Whole30. It is a term used to describe foods made with Whole30 compliant ingredients but resemble a junk-food. This includes, pancakes, cookies, muffins, cake, pizza - all of the yummy things that we all have trouble saying no to. It's the addicting foods that we "treat" ourselves too. Now SWYPO means it's good and it's almost the real thing, but not quite, and it never will be the real thing. A paleo pizza will never be as good as the dollar pizza on the corner in NYC oozing with cheese and a dough that melts in your mouth and still has a crispy crust.

I have a problem - an addiction - to SWYPO. Even when I was gluten free, it was the idea that I was never full or satisfied until I had "dessert." Every night I would eat an amazing dinner and then a couple of hours later I would run to the kitchen foraging for chocolate. When I started Whole30, I had to fight the urge at 7pm to run to the kitchen for dessert, even if that meant nuts, almond butter or fruit. It was a mental addiction to the "treat." I was addicted to giving myself a prize for eating well all day and my body craved the sugar late at night. I was only hurting myself by indulging in these items and I looked to Whole30 to "cure" my addiction.

The first week of Whole30 I remember my stomach growling at 7pm and having to tell myself "just 5 more minutes and then you can go get a snack...just 10 more minutes and then you can go...just finish this commercial and then you can get a treat." The first few days I remember snacking on nuts and almond butter but as the days progressed, my meals were so satisfying and filling that I never needed anything after dinner.

Sunday's brunch definitely had SWYPO - chocolate walnut banana bread. And yes, I had a piece! It was made with banana, almond butter, eggs, ghee, coconut flour, cocoa powder, cacao nibs, walnuts and spices - All Whole30 compliant ingredients but once I turned those into a batter and put them in a bread pan and baked it and served it after the meal, it became a really good Sex With Your Pants On experience. And I wasn't constantly comparing this to a "real" banana bread because this was real banana bread, this is my new reality, but it was a treat. I was full after lunch but I still ate the bread. I can tell the difference this has on me mentally because now I am finding myself craving the bread. And not particularly this bread, but a treat.

Last night I made a delicious pork chop for dinner. I pan seared it with garlic, shallots, rosemary, orange spice and salt and pepper. It was perfectly cooked, melted in my mouth and had a great sear. I had an artichoke and walnut salad on the side and leftover shrimp & avocado salad.

Ryan made pork belly tacos. I could have had this with him as a salad and not eaten the tortilla but it was easier to make my own pork. We cooked together and ate together so it was a perfect meal. And I made 3 chops so I have leftovers for lunches and "emergency" dinners.

 

After dinner we went for a walk in the neighborhood. It was beautiful out so we enjoyed spending time together outside. I was so exhausted from not sleeping well the night before so when we got home, I got into bed before the sun was even set. This is where the trouble started. My stomach growled, I found myself telling myself "just once more commercial...just 10 more minutes..." - I was mentally my old self - and you know what I was craving? Chocolate Walnut Banana Bread. I knew it was in the kitchen, I knew it was sitting there waiting to be eaten and I knew there were enough leftovers for me and Ryan for a few days. Ryan was in the shower so I knew I could walk out there and have a piece and he would never know...but I would...I fought the urges and I didn't have the piece. I was very sad going to bed, but I woke up this morning so proud of myself for not having sex with my pants on!

Whole30 gave me tools for everyday living and eating and I was able to refer to these lessons and overcome a difficult situation. For my pre-workout meal today I decided to have a piece of the banana bread and although it tasted good, it wasn't as good as when it first came out of the oven so I knew last night that I made the right decision not having the "dessert" and instead incorporating it into my everyday the next day. It served it's purpose and preworkout fuel but it wasn't as satisfying as a hard boiled egg, nuts, almond butter or a monkey muffin (made with banana and nuts). Even though the banana bread had all of the same ingredients as my normal pre-workout meals, turning it into a bread made it more dangerous to keep in the house, but less appealing in other ways. I found myself hungry halfway through Bar class wheras the day before when I had only a hard boiled egg with a tsp of almond butter, I was full and energized the whole class. So I am glad I indulged this morning, glad I didn't give in to temptation last night and learned I have more self control than I give myself credit for!

Have a great day everyone!

XO

Post Whole30 Week 2

It is week 2 since my Whole30 ended, which technically means I am 14 days into my 2nd Whole30 without realizing it. I won't make it to 30 days though because Saturday is my Birthday Dinner at Delmonico's with my Baked Alaska dessert which I fear and am really excited about! So that means I did a Whole47! I am really proud of myself and it is such an amazing accomplishment to have overcome my sugar addiction, my carb addiction, my lack of meal planning, me constant counting, weighing and measuring and my total lack of self control when it comes to food! I eat real, whole foods, fat, meat, vegetables, fruit in moderation and no added sugars or processed foods. I have stopped microwaving frozen meals and realized that in the time it takes to "peel back the film, microwave for 4-5 minutes, remove film, stir, heat for an additional minute and let stand for 1 minute," I can make a delicious steak with a mixed green salad. It's just as easy and even more delicious and satisfying.

I am planning on having the Baked Alaska at Delmonico's - I have gone back and forth with myself on whether or not I will, but it's my Birthday (not an excuse), it is something Ryan and I planned pre-whole30/paleo, and I am not going to feel guilty about it! It will be my first taste of sugar and dairy in 47 days and I hope my body doesn't hate me. I am expecting some stomach aches, maybe a headache, and I am sure I will feel gross the next morning, but to have this special meal with Ryan is worth it. We could easily change our dinner reservation or not order the baked alaska but I don't want to fear food. I want to be able to have this treat in moderation and be able to control myself while eating it. It will be a true test, but Whole30 has taught me so much and I think that even with a few tastes (with a big spoon), I will come out of this experience happy, healthy and wise! And the next morning go back to my wonderful new eating habits.

I have decided to not begin reintroducing foods to my diet yet like dairy, weight, legumes and sugar (honey and maple syrup) because I love how I look and feel. My body feels amazing, my mind is clear, I am focused, energized and happy. I will eventually begin slowly having honey in recipes if I make something for me and Ryan or dairy on special occasions like my birthday but I really want to not have grains/gluten and beans because I know those will seriously hurt my stomach and it is not worth it! I know how I felt, how I feel and how I want to continue to feel. This is a way of life, not a diet and I choose to live like this!

Ryan has expressed more interest in working towards a primal lifestyle. Similar to paleo but with some dairy and legumes in moderation. This is better for him because the restrictions of paleo are too much and he has already changed his eating habits so much in the last year that a little milk and black beans won't hurt him. He used to have a bagel with cream cheese, cereal and a pastry/muffin every morning for breakfast, a foot long sandwich for lunch, and multiple dinner rolls with his dinner. His mindset has completely changed and his eating habits are so improved that he is on the right track for a primal way of life. He just needs some help and guidance and I think we can do it together and he will be successful.

This week was wonderful. It was so beautiful out and we had our first brunch outside of the spring/summer season. We went to a cute belgian restaurant near our house - I ordered the tuna nicoise salad which had green beans, tuna, hard boiled egg and fingerling potatoes and Ryan had a roast beef club sandwich (I said working towards primal, not there yet)!

After brunch we went home and I meal prepped a few items for my birthday brunch that we were having Sunday at our apartment with our close friends! I prepped a few dishes Saturday and only a few on Sunday to lessen the stress of hosting brunch. I made all Whole30 approved dishes (no sugar) and everything was paleo (except the croissant I had for a few non-paleo guests and the flourless chocolate cake provided by my mom - but still gluten free), and everything was absolutely delicious.

BIRTHDAY BRUNCH MENU

 

 

Prosciutto Egg Cups (nonnompaleo)

Hidden Vegetable Muffins (Against All Grain)

Tex-Mex Hash Casserole (PaleOMG)

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Zesty Shrimp & Avocado Salad (Skinnytaste)

De-Constructed Salad with tomatoes, peppers, pepperoni, smoked salmon, oven-roasted chicken)

Prosciutto Wrapped Dates

Flourless Chocolate cake
Chocolate - Walnut Banana Bread (Civilized Caveman) - I left out the vanilla and added 2 tbsp of cocoa powder and cacao nibs and walnuts

 
Fruit Salad

Croissants

Everyone loved the meal and there were barely any leftovers, which is great when you're hosting and want everyone to enjoy the food, but sad when you don't have anything for the rest of the week. This was my first event at our apartment that I cooked everything - Passover my mom "catered" and I am so proud of myself. Next time I would love to have fun table settings and dishes but this was a great start and I can't wait to do it again.

Ryan and I were so full from brunch but at 8pm we decided we should eat dinner so that we weren't ravaging the fridge for food at 10pm! Ryan made us both bison burger salads and I topped mine with avocado. It was light, delicious, fatty, juicy - and I was overly full. So full that I went straight to bed after eating.

This past week was really busy and I didn't get to as many Bar Method classes as I would have liked. I didn't go Wednesday or Thursday because I bruised my knee and couldn't move it (bending and stretching is all Bar Method is) but I did go Friday evening and I had a great class. I was so much more flexible and worked a lot harder than the morning class. I always say this after I take an evening class but I would love to do more evening ones - especially now that it is still light out and warmer. Because I was home 3 mornings this week I had breakfast with Ryan before work. We had scrambled eggs with spinach, tomato and chicken sausage. I didn't meal prep or have groceries so I had a lot of mixed green salads for lunch. I also wasn't home after work Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday so I had a few RxBars.

Thursday night Ryan and I made dinner together! We made shrimp scampi with zoodles! Ryan made the zoodles and had so much fun using the spiralizer and the shrimp was cooked in a lot of garlic, shallots and lemon juice. So simple, so easy, and I had some leftovers for lunch on Friday. Friday after Bar Method I made a quick bison burger with avocado.

Zoodles are now my favorite pasta substitute - I bought green and yellow squash this week and hope to make a mixed zoodle dish sometime! We finally went grocery shopping too and got some chicken, pork chops and steak so I think this week I will be more prepared for meals and not have to eat out as much for lunch. I need to save money and buying groceries per dinner and eating lunch out was costing a lot more than buying bulk groceries and prepping at home!

This mornings Meal 1 was leftover prosciutto egg cups, a slice of tex-mex hash and some smoked salmon. I don't have too many leftovers from brunch, but saving money on breakfast after Bar Method helps too! I loved eating at home with Ryan but I missed my morning Bar class and I am happy to be back on track with my routine!

It's also a little easier to go to my morning Bar Method class now that it is light out when I leave in the morning - no more dark commutes which make it feel like the middle of the night!

5:50am Madison Square Park

I am excited to be continuing eating Paleo/Whole30. Cutting out sugar was my biggest change to my diet and I feel incredible. I am trying in the next part of this lifestyle to cut back on nuts too as I know they are fattening and were becoming a snack food rather than a great crunchy addition to meals.

I hope everyone is doing well and having a great day.

XO

1 Week Post Whole30

Well, it's been 1 week since I finished Whole30, but honestly, I am now on day 37. I have not followed the recommended re-introduction schedule yet because I feel too good after 30 days of eliminiation and am nervous to feel "bad" again depending on what bothers me. I am afraid to experience stomach pains, blotchy skin, bloaty, tiredness, all things I do not feel right now. I am too happy and in too good of a place to do that to myself!

The past week was a bit difficult and it continues to be this week as well. Ryan and I have been so busy that we have not gone grocery shopping since before Passover which means a lot of thinking of meals last minute and having to grocery shop that evening for that specific meal only - which does become more time consuming and expensive. But we have made some pretty good meals.

One meal that we made with buffalo chicken meatloaf from PaleOMG. It was so quick and easy to make and had so much flavor. It honestly tasted just like buffalo chicken wings, just without the mess! I even served celery and carrots on the side and Ryan and I watched the New York Yankees baseball game. Who needs greasy, fried, battered wings when you have meatloaf!

Another fantastic dinner, which I really have to make again was chicken breast with an almond strawberry topping. The recipe came from civilized caveman and was originally a rolled chicken breast, but ours were way to thick even after Ryan hammered them out for 5 minutes! So we tossed them in the oven with the almond strawberry filling on top and it was so perfect! It actually tasted like a dessert. The marinade of oil and balsamic vinegar coated the chicken beautifully and the strawberries were broken down in the heat and became a sweet sauce. We served it with a side of our favorite roasted brussel sprouts with bacon! I only wish I had made more!

  

 

Saturday, I was in Long Island for a good friends Bridal Shower. Ryan decided to spend the whole day in Atlantic City - and good thing he did!!! He won a good amount of money which will certainly help us with our 2 big trips coming up in a few months! I made a filling breakfast before heading to Long Island of bacon, eggs and a spinach, tomato and almond, strawberry chicken hash with roasted plantains for added crunch!

I had a great time at the shower - got to see some friends from the summer which I don't normally see until June/July/August. It was great catching up and the bride-to-be looked stunning. I stuck to Whole30 and had a salad with roasted vegetables and italian sausage and steered clear of the delicious looking cupcakes, brownies and cookies. I decided to go back to Fire Island to see my parents while Ryan was still in A.C. We had a great dinner of grilled flank steak, sweet potatoes, an avocado, mushroom, and onion pan seared mix and a vegetable puree with carrots and cauliflower and leeks!

And breakfast Sunday morning was a pan seared avocado boat, tomatoes, smoked salmon and a sopresseto, spinach, egg scramble!

I got home too late to do any grocery shopping so Ryan and I ordered BareBurger - I had a 100% grass-fed burger with apple and grilled onions in a lettuce wrap with a side salad. It was so hard to stay away from those delicious sweet potato fries - which are gluten free - but they are cooked in Peanut Oil so definitely a Paleo no-no! It might be more stable for higher heats of cooking, but certainly not good to be eating.

Last night Ryan and I both did an accupuncture session. He did his for his lower back pain and I did mine to help me feel more balanced and well. Despite eating right, feeling energized and happy, I still have times of feeling off, which I'm sure is because of my thryoid and hormonal imbalances. It was a great session and I felt energized and happy afterwards. I don't know if Ryan loves it yet, but I hope he tries at least one more session!

Yesterday and today were Bar Method mornings and it felt great to workout since I had taken the weekend off. Meal 1 this morning was from the Panera Secret Menu! I had the Power Breakfast Egg Bowl with Steak (steak, 2 eggs, tomatoes, avocado). So yummy, but I definitely got weird looks from the cashier when I ordered the bowl instead of the egg and cheese on ciabatta like every other customer!

The weather is warming up, it's beautiful outside and I feel happy.

I hope you all have a great day!

XO

Day 31 Meal Prep and Day 32

Yes I am still following Whole30...no I am not starting re-entry protocol...no I have not lost my mind. I love how I feel, I love how I control food now and I don't want to go back to how I felt 32 days ago! I will eventually reintroduce natural sugar like honey back in to my diet so that I can have Paleo treats and breads occasionally but I honestly want to do my best to keep dairy, soy and gluten and wheat out of my diet as best as I can (with the special Baked Alaska for my Birthday of course)! I don't want to feel deprived or left out so I have to make this work for me and my life and right now this is my choice to continue Whole30...or basically Whole45 until May 3rd dinner.

Last night I think I panicked though. Mentally I knew it was the end of Whole30 which meant no more support daily emails and no more telling people I am on Whole30. Really, I could have opened my freezer and microwaved dinner and had bee done with it, or picked up a delicious dollar slice of pizza on my way home. But instead I decided to meal prep. In 1 hour, I baked 3 things! Dinner...pre-workout snack and post-workout snack. If I can keep some semblance of a routine, especially early in the morning than I think I can have control without the support of Whole30 everyday!

Pre-workout snack was Monkey Muffins again since I was running low. they are such a great treat early in the morning and help me feel full and energized through my commute and Bar workout! They are sugar free and have a lot of nuts (so I have to be careful not to eat too many of them as snacks during the day! The ingredients are 2 cups of cashews, 1/2 cup of walnuts, 2 bananas, 10 dates, cinnamon, salt, 1/2 cup coconut oil. This made 12 perfectly portioned muffins and they're sitting in my freezer waiting for my morning workouts!!

Post-workout I went with my turkey blueberry muffins again (turkey, blueberries, coconut flour, onions, eggs, spice).  Really easy, really simple, easy to commute with, easy to eat in the locker room and filled with great lean protein and carbs for post workout recovery. And they taste a lot sweeter now than they did my first week of Whole30. Everything tastes sweeter now that I have gone a month without sugar!

Because I was meal prepping when I got home last night I had a quick pre-dinner snack. I had a few figs with some cashew cheese. And I was able to control myself and only have 4 figs...32 days ago I would have been pigging out on the sweet treats!!

Dinner was delicious. I made spaghetti squash quiche! Using the spaghetti squash as the crust is such a unique way to use it and it is so different than just having "pasta." This is why it is allowed on Whole30...it is not a replacement for pasta because psychologically in our minds it is not pasta since we use it so many different ways. A brownie is still a brownie and that's why it is not approved! It's all mental! I used PaleOMG's recipe and added spinach and tomatoes for added color and vegetables so I didn't even need a salad on the side! Even Ryan tried some and loved it! This to me is a huge success!!!

I brought some for Meal 1 today with an avocado which was such a great meal after a really intense and wonderful Bar Method workout this morning. Meal 2 was a mixed green salad with tons of vegetables and almonds and leftover salmon from passover. You would think with all of my meal prep yesterday I would know what I am having for Meal 3 tonight, but I don't and I'm a little stressed about it but I'm trying not to worry and to stay in control!

I hope everyone is having a great day!

XO

Whole30 Recap

Well...it's been 30 days and Whole30 has come to an end. That doesn't mean that I won't continue to eat Paleo or follow a modified Whole30 diet, but I have very mixed feelings right now saying that it is over. I have learned so much about myself - my body, my nutrition and my ability to have done this program. I am stronger than I give myself credit for! I honestly don't know if I believed I could do Whole30 - go 30 days without chocolate or sweets or treats? Seriously, do any of you know who I am? But I did it and I have never, ever felt better. My body feels better, my mind is clearer and I feel accomplished. It is a huge satisfaction to have finished Whole30 and I couldn't be prouder!

Whole30 was a great introduction to Paleo for me. 32 days ago when I decided that I wanted to transition to a Paleo lifestyle I knew I could - just make paleo brownies and pancakes, right? Well Whole30 was so restrictive and it helped me focus on whole foods - 30 days of no frozen TV dinners, 30 days of no lunch meeting sandwiches or pizza, 30 days of no late night snacks that I don't think anyone knows about. And Whole30 prepared me for my transition. It will be so much easier to say I eat Paleo now that I understand whole foods, how to feed my body what it needs for energy and realizing that I didn't always need the treats.

I lost 5.2 pounds in 30 days. I started Whole30 at 116 pounds and finish today at 110.8. That is my exact weight that I was on my wedding day! However, the number on the scale doesn't matter to me. It is how my clothes fit and how my body looks and although the number is the same, my body is completely different. When I lost 8 pounds over the course of 6 months for my wedding I lost weight, but I didn't lose fat. I was skinny fat. I knew what and how much to eat in order to keep losing/maintaining but it didn't matter. Weight Watcher taught me how to count points, but it didn't teach my how to eat foods that are good for my body. A bag of chips is 4 points and a brownie was 5 and a subway 6" sandwich was 8 points, but none of those foods were nutritious and giving me energy. I was restricting calories, not food.

Whole30 forces you to eliminate sugar, grains, dairy, soy and legumes. The sugar is so important because our body stores sugar as energy - same as fat. But when we have sugar stored, sugar gets burned off first when we have an increase in activity. This means that fat stored is still being stored and will pile up on top of each other. So all of those early morning Bar method workouts were just burning sugar. I was losing the brownie I ate when no one was looking, but the fat I ate was just there not being touched. Fat does not make us fat! Fat is needed for energy and while doing Whole30, I was working out at my peak because my body started to burn fat instead of sugar. So the weight loss that I had in 30 days is true weight loss because my body was working optimally at its best. All of my parts were functioning the way they should and the food I ate was increasing my bodies ability to perform its best. When I lost weight for my wedding I just lost dress sizes - my bloating was still there, my feelings of guilt when I ate a brownie were still there, my tiredness, soreness and anger were still there.

While doing Whole30 I had an increase in energy, clarity and focus. I also went 30 days without saying "I feel fat," "I feel guilt," "I hate myself for eating that." Everything I ate was planned and everything I ate was good for me. I have never eaten so much fat as I did the past 30 days (coconut oil, olive oil, avocados, nuts) and I feel fabulous. When I was doing Weight Watchers I avoided all fatty things because they were too many points, so essentially I was restricting everything good for me - but I ate the cookie because it was 2 points instead of the nuts because they were 5. I could never go back to living how I was because to me, measuring and weighing is more restrictive than Whole30 ever will be!

I want to stick to my Whole30 habits (limited snacking, now weighing/measuring, 3 large meals a day, limited sugar) but with a few exceptions - because this is my life and every now and then I need a Paleo brownie! I survived Passover, a large family event, and didn't give in so I know I can continue to do that. And I went out to dinner and felt confident enough to ask waiters to modify menu items for me and I cooked meals at home even if I didn't feel like it instead of microwaving a meal! I want to continue "Whole30" for the next couple of weeks and go off track on May 3rd for my birthday dinner with Ryan - I cannot say no to Baked Alaska. So yes, I am essentially crazy because I will have sugar and dairy in one item. I know the risks - the headaches, the itchy, the feeling guilty and nauseous, but it is my decision and that still gives me the control. And maybe I won't eat as much of it as I would have 30 days ago - who knows. This is a new me!

I am excited that I am not letting food control me and my behavior but instead I am controlling it. I decide what and how much to eat. I decide when and why I eat. I am not craving snacks and I am not mindlessly eating. I feel free!

I noticed changes other than my clothes fitting better - I am happier. I am more positive because I am not bombarded and weighed down by feelings of guilt, shame and anger because of what I ate. Also, my skin is cleared (all of my face pimples cleared up and have not returned), and my skin is smoother and glowing (that's what I have heard from friends and family as well). I feel pretty. I like what I see what I look in the mirror. I am confident and happy in my own body!

My Whole30 may not have been perfect - I may have snacked, I may have not slept great every night and not had as much energy one day to the next. But I stuck to my goals of 4 Bar Method classes per week, eating clean, meal prepping, planning ahead and listening to my body and what it needs.

I learned so much about reading labels (remember my coconut milk freakout in the early days) - Less than 2% of any ingredient still means the ingredient is in the product, there is soy in tea and canned tuna and sugar is in EVERYTHING (especially bacon). I never ate off program (at least that I know of) and the decisions I made (I ate 3 pieces of pepperoni with less than 2% dextrose) were my decisions and I did not see a point to start Whole30 over. I did not eat a bag of chips, cookies, a sandwich, pizza, beans, corn, rice, bread....I did not eat a lot and what I did eat is so much more than what I eliminated.

I learned to cook new recipes that have now become household favorites: Brussel sprouts w/bacon, spaghetti squash, zoodles, paleo pad thai, chocolate chili, slow cooked short ribs, ahi tuna, swordfish - EVERYTHING!

So here is my Whole30 recap of my daily menus/activity. And I plan to continue cooking my meals because I saved money and controlled my ingredients and to me it was fun!

Sunday March 16: Day 0
Meal 1: Tomato, spinach & avocado scramble with a spinach & berry nutribullet topped with coconut
Meal 2: Vegetable soup
Meal 3: Grilled salmon with mango & avocado salsa; brussel sprouts with bacon

Monday March 17: Day 1 Bar Method
Meal 1: Tomato & spinach omelet
Meal 2: Port and sweet potato slow cooker stew; mixed green salad
Meal 3: Mixed green salad; vegetable soup

Tuesday March 18: Day 2 Bar Method
Pre-workout: Nuts
Post-workout: Larabar
Meal 1: Vegetable omelet
Meal 2: Mixed green salad with broccoli & avocado
Meal 3: Pork & onion balsamic ragout; cauliflower garlic mash

Wednesday March 19: Day 3
Meal 1: Avocado egg boat topped with bacon; kale chips
Meal 2: Mixed green salad w/balsamic pork ragout
Meal 3: Coconut encrusted tilapia; vegetable soup; steamed broccoli, carrots

Thursday March 20: Day 4 Bar Method
Pre-workout: Nuts
Post-workout: RxBar
Meal 1: Vegetable omelet
Meal 2: Mixed green salad; vegetable soup
Meal 3: Salmon patties; fried eggs; unsweetened applesauce

Friday March 21: Day 5
Meal 1: N'oatmeal w/goji berries, almond butter, coconut
Meal 2: Mixed green salad w/salmon patties
Meal 3: Sashimi; vegetable soup; balsamic pork ragout & vegetable stir-fry

Saturday March 22: Day 6 Bar Method
Meal 1: Fried eggs w/salmon patties & avocado hash
Meal 2: Vegetable soup; baby carrots w/almond butter; 1/2 RxBar
Meal 3: Almond-coconut encrusted chicken; prosciutto wrapped dates; broccoli florets

Sunday March 23: Day 7
Meal 1: Chicken sausage & vegetable omelet
Meal 2: Mixed green salad w/almond-coconut encrusted chicken; baby carrots w/almond butter
Meal 3: Slow cooker coffee chile short ribs; blood orange salad

Monday March 24: Day 8 Bar Method
Pre-workout: N'oatmeal
Post-workout: Larabar
Meal 1: Vegetable omelet
Meal 2: Mixed green salad w/short ribs
Meal 3: Spaghetti squash w/turkey bolognese

Tuesday March 25: Day 9 Bar Method
Pre-workout: Nuts
Post-workout: RxBar
Meal 1: Vegetable omelet
Meal 2: Spaghetti squash w/turkey bolognese
Meal 3: Almond-encrusted chicken w/vegetable stir-fry; cauliflower rice; zucchini fritters; prosciutto wrapped dates

Wednesday March 26: Day 10
Meal 1: Short ribs & vegetable stir-fry; fried eggs; cauliflower tortillas
Meal 2: Spaghetti squash w/turkey bolognese; mixed green salad
Meal 3: Spice-rubbed chicken; butternut squash; steamed mixed vegetables

Thursday March 27: Day 11 Bar Method
Pre-workout: Nuts
Post-workout: Turkey, Blueberry Muffin
Meal 1: Vegetable omelet
Meal 2: Mixed green salad w/spice-rubbed chicken
Meal 3: Spaghetti squash w/shrimp & chicken sausage and almond butter sauce

Friday March 28: Day 12 Bar Method
Pre-workout: Nuts
Post-workout: Turkey, blueberry muffin
Meal 1: Mixed vegetables w/hard boiled eggs
Meal 2: Mixed green salad w/spice rubbed chicken
Meal 3: Apple-dijon buger w/cashew cheese over lettuce; sweet potato fries; brussel sprouts w/bacon

Saturday March 29: Day 13
Meal 1: Apple pie omelet; brussel sprouts
Meal 2: Mixed green salad
Meal 3: Chocolate chili w/avocado & almonds; baked kale & broccoli; prosciutto wrapped dates; cashew cheese topped cucumbers

Sunday March 30: Day 14 Bar Method Level 2
Meal 1: Vegetable omelet w/almond butter & pomegranate seeds
Pre-workout: Monkey muffin
Post-workout: RxBar
Meal 2: Burger over lettuce w/prosciutto
Meal 3: Pistachio encrusted scallops; Asparagus & mushrooms; mixed green salad w/figs & plum dressing

Monday March 31: Day 15 Bar Method
Pre-workout: 1/2 RxBar
Post workout: Turkey, blueberry muffin
Meal 1: Vegetable omelet
Meal 2: Mixed green salad w/eggplant, walnuts & spice rubbed chicken
Meal 3: Pork chops w/pesto; mango & avocado salsa

Tuesday April 1: Day 16
Meal 1: Chocolate chili w/fried eggs & almonds
Meal 2: Mixed green salad; pork chops; mango & avocado salsa
Meal 3: Spaghetti squash pizza; turkey, bruschetta & cashew cheese stuffed mushrooms

Wednesday April 2: Day 17 Bar Method
Pre-workout: Monkey muffin
Post-workout: Larabar
Meal 1: Spaghetti squash pizza; turkey stuffed mushrooms
Meal 2: Sashimi; Mixed green salad w/turkey, blueberry muffin
Meal 3: Zoodle pad thai w/figs & cashews

Thursday April 3: Day 18 Spin
Meal 1: Bruschetta, turkey & avocado omelet; turkey blueberry muffin; plantains
Meal 2: Zoodle pad thai w/figs & cashews; plantains
Pre-workout: Hard boiled eggs; turkey, blueberry muffin
Post-workout: RxBar
Meal 3: Spaghetti squash pizza

Friday April 4: Day 19 Bar Method
Pre-workout: Monkey muffin
Post-workout: Larabar
Meal 1: Spaghetti squash pizza; kale chips
Meal 2: Mixed green salad w/walnuts & hard boiled egg
Meal 3: Cashew encrusted swordfish; brussel sprouts w/bacon

Saturday April 5: Day 20
Meal 1: Pepperoni & avocado omelet
Snack: Plantains w/almond butter
Meal 2: Spaghetti squash pizza; mixed green salad
Snack: Monkey Muffin w/almond butter
Meal 3: (Date Night @ Gyu-Kaku) Zucchini, NY Strip Steak, Salmon, Duck, Asparagus

Sunday April 6: Day 21
Meal 1: Turkey, bruschetta, avocado, vegetable omelet; chicken sausage; zucchini
Meal 2: Mixed green salad w/turkey, blueberry muffin; plantains; kale chips; hazelnuts
Snack: Monkey muffin w/almond butter
Meal 3: NY strip steak; asparagus, mushroom, onion, tomato

Monday April 7: Day 22 Bar Method
Pre-workout: Monkey muffin
Post-workout: 1/2 RxBar
Meal 1: Vegetable omelet
Meal 2: Mixed green salad w/chicken, guacamole, hard-boiled egg, figs
Snack: 1/2 RxBar
Meal 3: (Dinner out) Grass-fed burger over lettuce

Tuesday April 8: Day 23
Meal 1: Asparagus, zucchini, onion w/pesto hash; chicken sausage; omelet (unsweetened applesauce, coconut milk - topped with almond butter, pecans, coconut)
Meal 2: Mixed green salad w/chicken, guacamole, figs
Meal 3: Turkey & spinach stuffed sweet potato; kale chips

Wednesday April 9: Day 24 Bar Method
Pre-workout: Monkey muffin
Post-workout: Oven roasted chicken
Meal 1: Prosciutto egg vegetable cups; mixed green salad
Meal 2: Turkey & spinach stuffed sweet potato
Meal 3: Zoodles w/chicken sausage

Thursday April 10: Day 25 Bar Method
Pre-workout: Monkey Muffin
Post-workout: Oven roasted chicken
Meal 1: Prosciutto wrapped egg vegetable cups; mixed green salad
Meal 2: Zoodles w/turkey & spinach meat sauce
Meal 3: Ribs; brussel sprouts; sweet potato; avocado

Friday April 11: Day 26
Meal 1: Bison egg mcmuffin; zoodles & cabbage w/crushed tomatos, pecans
Meal 2: Mixed green salad w/prosciutto vegetable egg cups
Meal 3: Paleo pad thai; shrimp w/creamy coconut sauce; prosciutto wrapped dates

Saturday April 12: Day 27 Spin
Pre-workout: Monkey muffin
Post-workout: 1/2 RxBar
Meal 1: Beef egg mcmuffin; spinach & tomato
Snack: Plantains
Meal 2: Warm arugula & mushroom salad w/chicken
Snack: Hazelnuts
Meal 3: Paleo pad thai

Sunday April 13: Day 28
Meal 1: Vegetable omelet w/guacamole; monkey muffin
Snack: 1/2 RxBar
Meal 2: Mixed green salad w/pulled chicken
Snack: Plantains w/almond butter & fig/hazelnut spread
Meal 3: Spice encrusted ahi tuna steak; asparagus; avocado; tomatoes topped with artichoke bruschetta

Monday April 14: Day 29 Bar Method
Meal 1: Sweet potato, beef vegetable hash; eggs over easy
Post-workout: Larabar
Meal 2: Paleo pad thai; mixed green salad w/pulled chicken
Meal 3 (Passover): Cashew cheese stuffed dates; cucumbers topped w/cashew cheese; salmon, paleo Moroccan meatballs;  vegetable muffins; spinach & pine nut cake; charoset

Tuesday April 15: DAY 30
Meal 1: Sweet potato, beef, vegetable hash; eggs over easy
Meal 2: Mixed green salad w/shrimp
Meal 3: Sashimi