Shrimp, Barley and Veggies with Mojito Lime Seasoning

This was a really great meal using shrimp, barley, veggies and McCormick's Mojito Lime seasoning. I cooked about a cup of barley according to directions with low sodium, low fat chicken broth. I defrosted frozen, cooked shrimp (about half a bag of "medium") and heated a tablespoon of coconut oil. Sautéed the shrimp with the mojito lime seasoning and added the barley. Veggies included radishes, red onion and corn sautéed in coconut oil and a very light sprinkling of seasoning. Roasted bell peppers to top it off (done in the oven, broiled on high and peeled after cooling). It was very good!

Observations

I know it sounds ridiculous, but I actually enjoyed last week's vegan cleanse of juices and smoothies.  I felt lighter, more hydrated and I lost four pounds.  I'm sure they are back this week :)  I added hummus in a few times when I waited too long between juices/smoothies and I went ahead and had some Chick Fil A and popcorn along with my niece, nephew and son as we celebrated end of the summer with lunch, bowling and a movie last Friday. 

I will definitely do it again.  Maybe not for a whole week, unless I prep better for it.  I ended up needing more mason jars and should have juiced a ton in one day, and then froze the juices for easier access.  It wasn't horrible trying to juice every other day, but clean up is...well clean up.

What I've been trying to emphasize through this cleanse is that there is no one magical solution to diet.  True, if you have an allergy or sensitivity, you will need to eliminate foods that cause that inflammation, but otherwise, there is no magic diet to make the pounds melt off.  It's math.  You have to expend energy to make energy.  You have to put nutritious foods in your body to allow it to refuel and recover.  Too much food + not enough energy expended = weight gain.  Not enough food + too much energy expended = weight gain or unhealthy weight loss.  Right amount and type of food + energy expended = healthy body, healthy mind. 

Next up is Tough Mudder training once this pesky injury heals! 

What is your goal???  Set one, sign up, SHOW UP. 

The Plan....

Here is a my plan for next week's juice/smoothie/vegan detox....

Breakfast - Warm (room temp) 8 oz of water as soon as you wake up, followed by Kale and Grapefruit Juice and smoothie 1 hr later

Snack - Juice 2 hrs after smoothie

Lunch - Smoothie 1-2 hours after juice

Snack - Juice 1-2 hours after smoothie

Dinner - Vegan (before 7 p.m.)  Nothing after 8 p.m.

And here's the vegan dinner menu...

Monday - Grilled Corn Polenta and Veggie Kabobs (tomatoes, red onion, mushrooms, red potatoes)

Tuesday - Veggie and Barley Soup in Veg Broth with peas, carrots, celery, yellow onion and sweet potato 

Wednesday - Quinoa Salad with cucumber, dill, zucchini, radishes, olives, spinach with Greek salad dressing

Thursday - Roasted Cauliflower, basil tomato sauce with sautéed zucchini ribbons

Friday - Spicy polenta cakes with corn and bean salsa

Let the cleanse begin!!!  Looking forward to this.  After all, a wise woman once said, your body is your labrotary.  

Confessions of a Personal Trainer and Yogi

I sometimes get sarcastic comments from friends about being healthy and how hard it is or how they just can't do it like I can, etc.  So let me share some secrets with you....I can't always do it either.

Secret #1 - I've put on 5 lbs this year....

I like to think that most of it is muscle and that may very well be true.  But I know that I have also had a running injury that's prevented me from running for 3 weeks prior to a half marathon I just completed and I haven't exactly replaced that cardio with anything.  I've also changed birth control medications and that seems to always make everything swell up.

Secret #2 - I workout about 4 times a week, but sometimes it feels like I phone it in.

I like to be sore after a workout.  A day after, I want to gingerly squat to go potty because my quads and hamstrings are screaming at me.  That hasn't happened a whole lot lately (the screaming, not the potty part).  I also know that when it comes to workouts, I am by far a whole lot better at planning out my client's workouts than my own.  I get an attitude of "well, I know tons of exercises to do, I'm sure something will come to me."  And then end up doing something that doesn't push me enough or I don't move fast enough between workouts like I make my clients.

Secret #3 - I don't practice yoga everyday and I don't meditate.

I've tried.  I really have.  Meditation takes discipline and I always seem to pick the wrong time to do it - like 6 p.m. at night right when husband gets home and I need to "center" before a yoga class and the 5 year old is hungry and whining.  I get to a yoga class (that I don't teach) about once a week.  I get distracted in my own personal practice (which is a reason why people go to class) or I don't find time to do it because the best times to do it, I'm teaching or training.

Secret #4 - I don't always eat healthy.

I do eat healthy a lot, but I don't do it 100% of the time.  I really wish I did.  Not because I am "supposed to" but because I truly feel better when I do.  And I say this after a week of eating nothing but (or it seems like) potatoes, cream and alcohol in Ireland.  And scones.  MMMMMMM....scones.
Sure fatttening food tastes good.  It's supposed to.  It has fat in it.  But fat is supposed to be uesd sparingly as flavor, not as the main ingredient.

So, I am going to start fresh when I arrive back in the states.  It's fun to start fresh.  Even when you start fresh every week.  Or everyday.  I don't look at the above secrets as failures but as areas that I look forward to tackling.  To experimenting with.  I love variety in my workouts and researching new things (new to me or new to a client.  For instance, totally in love with kettlebells right now and TRX).  I'm starting it off with a juice and smoothie cleanse and planning all my workouts out during my week.  Putting the time ON THE CALENDER.  Adding yoga in 3x a week and a daily meditation.  And a daily practice of forgiveness for IF and WHEN....