My Whole30 Wrap Up

Today is Day 30 of Whole30 - we are in the final hours so why is the last day the hardest one?! Why do I feel hungrier than I have in weeks?! I think it's because I am beginning to think about what I want to add back into my diet.

The last 30 days felt near impossible that first week, and empowering the last few weeks. I have cooked more this month and for the most part enjoyed it as well the food! I have tried new recipes some of which our keepers and some not to be cooked again. I have loved the variety of vegetables, meats and fruits we have been eating and many foods I have found will stay as staples in our pantry and fridge. I have surprisedly not missed the wine, dairy, sugar and for the most part grains though a slice of pizza sounds amazing right now!

My energy level is high. My workouts are great and I never felt fatigued! A little hangry at times but that was only really the first week.

So what happens tomorrow?  My husband and I are going to step on the scale tomorrow morning and see what (if any) was lost though that was not our primary reason for doing Whole30. We went in this to reset our nutrition and get back on track. My jeans fit perfect, the fluff around my mid-section is gone and I feel so much better then I did on Jan 1! The big question is when and what foods to start reintroducing. We aren't rushing into anything and certainly not planning on going back to old habits! We have decided to live at least a partial Whole30 lifestyle limiting our grains and dairy and sticking with no or very sugar. Enjoying a cocktail or glass of wine but just not daily. :)

 We are going to go out to dinner tomorrow night and toast to what we accomplished. A few months ago I would have and actually did say "no way" to this program.  I wasn't ready or felt I needed it but by year end I felt sluggish, my clothes weren't fitting quite so well and I had some bad eating habits that had resurfaced.  

I think the Whole30 is a great way to reset your nutrition but you have to be all in.  It's not a half way thing.  Is it hard . . . sure at times but change is hard.  :)

Whole30 Update and Recipes

We are on Day 18 and the way we have been eating is beginning to feel like the new norm.  I am curious how I will feel on day 31 and I start to wonder what food will be the first to be added back in my diet but for now I am just really enjoying what I am feeding my body and honestly this past week I have had NO urges for any of the "off-limit" food groups.

I am exercising everyday which I believe is so important to not just your physical being but also your mental being. I feel strong, happy and my jeans are super easy to button.  Let's face it as women when we feel good in our clothes, life is pretty great!!  We stand a little taller, we walk with a skip in our step and our self confidence soars.  It doesn't even matter if the scale didn't move - it becomes how we feel inside when our clothes fit more comfortably.  Men don't get that but we women do! :)

So let's talk more about food choice, ideas and recipes.  I tried all new recipes this week - some were keepers and some my family politely told me I didn't need to make that again (Whole30 Italian meatballs)  LOL

My lunches were mostly salads this week.  It's so easy to do lettuce, veggies and top it with a protein.  I switched it up each day . . . . topped it with turkey burger, grilled shrimp and even egg salad.  I just toss with olive oil and lemon juice . . . I will never buy bottled dressing again!!  :)

So here were my favorite dinners this week and don't worry I am only sharing the family friendly ones!

Cauliflower fried rice . . . my husband was nervous but wasn't pleasantly surprised at how good this tasted.  I am not saying it was like PF Changs but it was pretty tasty option.  I didn't use the vegetables in the recipe I just pulled out the veggies I had in my fridge and used them - carrots, red pepper, mushroom, onion and I tossed in diced chicken as well the egg!  Get creative!

Perfectly Baked Salmon with Yams and Brussels Sprouts!!  I've made this salmon two times so far and it has come out perfect every time . . . it's so fast that this one will be in my weekly lineup! :)

Sloppy Joe's . . . . my family's favorite this week.  I was so sad, no leftovers!!  The secret ingredient were the dates and yes, I did say dates. They give it such a sweet taste.  I served it over yams and gave my kids their's on hamburger buns.  I think I eat yams almost every day! And I am making this again this coming week but doubling the recipe!

It's been chilly and rainy this week so I was looking for a soup recipe . . . . Butternut Squash Soup with Avocado Cream.  I liked it but the rest of the family wasn't wild about it.  The thing that made the soup was the avocado cream and actually my boys liked the avocado cream on quesadillas and it would be good for dipping carrots sticks or pepper slices as a Whole30 snack idea.

So less than 2 weeks to go and I will keep you updated.  I'm no Whole30 expert but I have been educating myself on this whole program and experience is one of the best teachers.  Feel free to email me at marciadeangelis@sbcglobal.net or message me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/marciadeangelisfitness/  any question or if you would like to be part of my FREE Whole30 support group.  :)

Whole30 . . . . the first 10 Days

We are almost done with week 2 of Whole30 and I've been meaning to write about week 1 so here I go with the first week and it will be closely followed up with week 2!  I'll start be saying I feel lighter and I don't necessarily mean in weight (we won't get on scale until the very end).  I feel lighter in my step, my workouts feel great and I feel happy and energized.

So what's this Whole30 thing? In a nutshell it's a 30 day nutritional reset program.  It's designed to put an end to unhealthy cravings and habits, restore a healthy metabolism and improve your over all health and body composition. Yes, it is an elimination program!

NO Sugar
NO Dairy
NO Legumes
NO Grains
NO Alcohol

You get to eat fruits, vegetables, protein and healthy fats including nuts, sweet potatoes, white potatoes and dried fruits.  This isn't a diet, there is no counting calories or portion control, you eat if you are hungry but that doesn't mean you eat handfuls of nuts and dried fruit. You still have to make smart choices. Weight loss is a byproduct of the program but not the main goal.

You have to be in the right mindset to get through Whole30.  I first learned of Whole30 this past summer from my sister and at that time I thought it sounded crazy.  No bread, no sugar, no wine!!  But my curiosity was peaked and I started to learn more but the timing and my mindset wasn't ready to commit.  After not really being on point with my nutrition for the last few months and coming off the holidays, January felt like the perfect time to reset! No traveling this month, no big events and let's face it it alway feels good to start the new year on the upswing!!

My husband got on board with me and we are mid way through week 2 and honestly, I don't feel like I'm counting down the days.  I am cooking more and we have been eating some amazing meals! You can go out on the Whole30 but honestly it's so much easier to control your food at home, it's just not worth it.  The upside we will be saving money. :)

So here's how the first 10 days went with some of my favorite meals.

Day 1 I woke up so excited that the first day was easy!  I did my first grocery run and got used to reading labels. :)  I made the most amazing sausage, pepper and potato skillet for dinner.  I prepped some food to be prepared for the week and thought I got this!

Chicken Apple Sausage with Potatoes, Peppers and Onions

Day 2-4 not so easy!  I was so hungry!!  Seriously, I felt like I was eating a ton (more on that further down) and I kept referring back to the book and googling why was I so hungry?!  Well, I am a huge carb girl and carbs filled me up so I learned that increasing my healthy fats would hep satisfy me.  This at first seemed so wrong.  I had been limiting my fats for so long and now I can put avocado on top of everything!!  Also, I tend to eat throughout the day (more like 6 small meals) and on this program they want you to eat 3 large meals and limit snacking.  This is a whole new way of thinking for me and I realized my body was going to take sometime to adjust.

Yams are the best!  I recommend you bake 3-4 at a time and keep them in fridge.  You can cut one in half, dice the potato with spinach and top with eggs.  Or add them to omelet or egg scramble.  Yams really give you that satisfaction of having grains!

Crispy Carnitas was another huge hit with the family.

I bought a spiralizer back in November and barely used it until now.  It's so worth the investment as zoodles are an awesome answer to spaghetti!
Zoodles with Turkey Meatballs in a Red Pepper Sauce

Day 5-6 I felt headachy throughout the weekend, nothing terrible but just a small headache that hung on but Monday woke up feeling great.  I don't have that constant hunger (thank goodness), I lots of energy and I'm happy.  I have no doubt that we can complete the full 30 days!!  It's funny I thought I would be missing my wine and that I would be thinking about breads and treats but I'm not at least yet! LOL

I'm exercising a lot and feel great.  I decided to go old school and go back to Turbo Fire this month.  I wanted a cardio workout program with big calorie burns and this is a great one.  The workouts are longer than I am used to it but knowing that in advance let me plan accordingly!

Lunches have been either big salads topped with chicken or leftovers from dinner the night before.

Sunday night I made my first brisket with potatoes and carrot.  The house smelled great as it cooked all day in the crockpot and it felt like such a hearty Sunday dinner.

Day 7-10:
I find myself going to the store more often and I am sure it is because of all the fresh produce we are eating.  I have also found this program has awoken my love of cooking.  I am enjoying trying new recipes and honestly this is a very doable challenge.  We are a third of the way through and going strong!!

This was one of my favorite meals of the week!
Romesco Sauce with Garlic Shrimp and Zoodles

More great Whole30 recipes coming as well what I miss the most and snack ideas.  :)

If you want more information or have questions feel free to email me at marciadeangelis@sbcglobal.net or message me on Facebook.

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Overnight Banana Chia Pudding

I have never bought chia seeds before.  Heck, I have never eaten chia seeds before and quite honestly didn't know much about the health benefits of chia seeds.  For those of you who are curious chia seeds are a superfood rich in fiber omega-3 fats, protein, vitamins and minerals.

I found this recipe online for Chia Banana Pudding and decided to give it a go.  I've been having a variety of eggs or shakeology (yes, this is the one thing I have modified to fit my whole30 plan) and I'm actually surprised at how creative I've gotten with my eggs but this sounded like such a yummy healthy breakfast option I decided to give it a go.  And I loved that you make it overnight so BAM there it is already in the morning!

The verdict . . . amazing!!!  I topped mine with raspberries, blueberries and almond butter and I made two so tomorrow morning I think I will try raisins, sliced banana and almond butter.  The mashed banana in the pudding is a natural sweetener and the fruit on top just makes it hearty and yummy!!  I was full all morning. No sugar, no grains, no dairy . . . . amazing! :)

Overnight Banana Chia Pudding

• 1/2 banana, mashed
• 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
• ground cinnamon, just a pinch
• salt, just a pinch
• 3 tablespoons Chai seeds

Mash the banana in bowl, add almond milk, cinnamon and salt and mix until combined.  Stir in chia seeds, cover and refrigerator overnight.

In the morning top with your choice of toppings! Enjoy.

***For those doing the Whole30, Chia seed aren't in the same family of seed with grains and legumes so they are allowed but treat them like nuts and consume them in limited quantities.

Chicken Bean & Cheese Burritos . . . in the crockpot!

Hey it's not every night your 14 year old tells you, you hit a home run with dinner! I got this recipe from  dashingdish.com, made a few changes and BAM it was a hit!

My two boy teenagers love to eat (growing boys) so this isn't just a perfect dinner but it's also a great after school or lunchbox option.  They come home from school and it's like a whole other meal in between lunch and dinner . . . more than a snack not quite a full meal but close.  LOL

I would rather they grab something healthy and filling rather sugary and junky.  And you can freeze the burritos and just warm them up in the microwave.

These are great for the whole family. I used regular flour tortillas for the majority of them and also rolled up a few in whole wheat low carb tortillas for me. :)

For those fixers:
1 burrito with ww low carb tortilla = 2 💛, 1 ❤️, 1 💙

Crockpot Chicken, Bean and Cheese Burritos 

• 2 lbs of chicken breasts
• 2 cup chicken broth
• 1 can diced Rotel tomatoes and  green chilis
• 1 can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can low or fat free vegetarian refried beans
• 1 jar salsa verde
• 1 1/2 cup shredded cheese

Place chicken in crockpot with chicken broth and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

Take chicken out of crockpot and shred with forks.  Discard the chicken broth and place chicken back in crockpot and add the rest of ingredients in with the chicken.  Cook on high for 30 minutes and mix everything in crockpot with forks shredding any additional chicken.  Fill tortillas and roll into burritos.

Optional: I like to lightly brown the burritos on a skillet on both sides.

Freeze the burritos in a large freezer ziploc. To thaw, wrap in paper towel and microwave 30 seconds on each side (2 mins total).

Homemade Applesauce . . . Fix Approved

I don't eat enough fruit especially at this time of year.  In the summer fruits are more appealing and refreshing.  There are an abundance of fresh fruit choices . . . berries, melons, peaches, plums!! In the winter I find myself going with bananas or apples and on occasion blueberries or strawberries though there is no guaranteeing the berry quality.

As a kid my grandmother used to make homemade applesauce and the house always smelled so good.  So I decided to give it a go!  This is a great option to add an extra serving of fruit in to your day and it's a great way to curb your sweet cravings with NO added sugar!  This version is 21 Day Fixed approved and super easy!!!  It's all done in the crockpot and you can peel the apples (my preferred method) or leave the skin on!  You will know your applesauce is done when the apples are soft and it all blends to together with a spoon.  It should be roughly the same consistency as store bought applesauce.  I wanted mine a little thicker so I cooked it for an extra 30 minutes with the cover off the crockpot.

Ingredients

• 5-6 medium size apples, any variety  (I used honey crisp); peeled and chopped
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tsp of cinnamon

Combine all the ingredients in the crockpot and cook on high for 4-5 hours.  If you want to thicken you can cook last 30 minutes with cover off.  Stir together and enjoy! :)

Thanksgiving Fix Approved (Healthy) Recipes

Yes, Thanksgiving is a day of eating but that doesn't mean it has to be unhealthy eating!  The Thanksgiving dinner can actually be an easy place to adding some healthy options and I bet few people would even notice.

The good news is a roasted turkey is a pretty healthy option but I know for me I go for everything but the turkey . . . the stuffing, the veggies, the potatoes, the cranberry sauce.

Here are a few of my favorite Fix friendly Thanksgiving day recipes to inspire you to go healthy this year whether you are cooking the entire dinner or bringing a dish for your Thanksgiving! From appetizers (who doesn't LOVE deviled eggs to deserts and all the fixins in between!)

And here is my ONE IMPORTANT TIP . . . Thanksgiving is ONE day NOT the weekend! So enjoy the day, enjoy the food and most importantly enjoy your friends and family!!  AND the day get right back on track and keep moving!


Healthy Deviled Eggs | Happy Detours

Homemade Popcorn | The Food and the Fix

Green Bean Casserole | Beachbody

Lemon Herb Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta | Electic Momsense

Whole Grain Stuffing | The Fixate on Beachbody on Demand

Cranberry Sauce | Beachbody

Smashed Sweet Potatoes | Old House To New Home

Glazed Yams with Cinnamon and Nutmeg | Team Beachbody

Mac & Cheese with Broccoli | The Food and the Fix

Pumpkin Pie with Whole What Crust | Beachbody

Pumpkin Pie Bites | The Butterfly Effect

Apple Crisp | Jennifer Hauck