Workouts

I know this blog is all about food but I want it to be more about healthy living than just food. Though food plays a major role in a healthy lifestyle  exercise is also an important key. I must admit I am kind of an exercise junkie. I really enjoy working out and hit the gym most days of the week (on average 6-7 days a week). It didn't use to be that way, I have learned to love the gym. I know in order to lead a healthy lifestyle I have to exercise. I want to keep up with H too, 3 year olds keep ya busy. :)

I thought I would share my typical workouts with you to give you an idea of how I push my body since I already share how I fuel my body. I typically strength train 3 to 4 days a week. I believe in heavy weight, low rep workouts. I also focus on a major muscle group each day, for example Monday arms, Wednesday legs, and Friday abs. I know others focus on even more detailed groups but this is what works for me. While lifting I typically do a circuit doing some sort of cardio move (burpees, mountain climbers, lunge jumps, etc.) in between sets. This keeps my heart rate up and gets my strength training in.

Everyday I do some sort of cardio work. Typically that includes spending sometime with my friend, the stairmaster, running intervals or distance, and on some days the elliptical and bike. I try to get at least 1 hour of cardio in every day. In the evenings I typically do a few 5 minute circuits of things like: jump ups (jump up onto my ottoman and back down), skaters, mountain climbers, squats with punches, squat jumps, plank jacks and so on.

I feel better when I exercise. I have also made exercise my me time and I think it is very important to take some time out for ourselves everyday. How can we provide the best to our family and loved ones if we don't take care of ourselves. Our bodies need fuel and exercise so get out there and find the exercise that is right for you. :)

Meal Plan 3/19-3/25

Monday
Breakfast: Southwest Scramble
Lunch: Turkey Burgers with vegetables
Dinner: Chicken Apple with vegetables
Tuesday
Breakfast: Southwest Scramble
Lunch: Chicken Fajitas
Dinner: Grilled Steak with vegetables
Wednesday
Breakfast: Omelet Muffins
Lunch: Fast Shrimp/Hot Dog (H doesn't like shrimp)
Dinner: Chicken Fajitas
Thursday
Breakfast: Omelet Muffins
Lunch: Fast Shrimp/Peanut Butter and Jelly
Dinner: Taco Salad (this is one of my favorite Paleo recipes)
Friday
Breakfast: Frittata
Lunch: Taco Salad
Dinner: Grilled Pork Chops with vegetables
Saturday
Breakfast: Frittata
Lunch: Grilled Pork Chops with vegetables
Dinner: Turkey Burgers with vegetables
Sunday
Breakfast: Leftovers or bacon and eggs
Lunch: Turkey Burgers
Dinner: Pork Roast

Weekly Check-in

As I mentioned the week before last was not a pretty week for me. I gained a lot of what I had lost back but this week I was back on track. :) 

Here are my weekly measurements:
Weight:145 (.4lbs down from my last check in, 5.8lbs since starting Paleo)

Arms: 10.75" (right) and 11.25" (left)

Chest: 32.75"

Waist: 30.75"

Hips: 38.5"

Thighs: 22.25" (right) and 22" (left)

That is 5" since my last check in! 

Recipe Organization

Since starting Paleo I have found that I need a way to better organize my recipes. I don't like to follow recipes from my computer and I actually prefer to use handwritten recipes. I know I am weird huh? When I find a recipe I sit down and write onto an index card. I use the large index cards so that I can fit the ingredients and directions onto one side. A couple weeks ago I found these neat little half size clipboards for my business but picked up an extra one to hold recipes.

When I do my weekly meal plan I put all of the recipes I plan to use (in order of use) on the clipboard and hang it in my kitchen. This method has worked great but until today I was kind of lost as to what to do with the recipes I wasn't using in a week. I am particular about things and want everything to look nice and neat. S teases me because if my grocery list doesn't look nice I will rewrite it!

Today I was determined to find a solution to my recipe problem once and for all. I had been using a sheet protector to hold the recipes but that was filling up. So while at Target today (sidenote: I spend way too much time and money at Target) I found a small three drawer file that I thought would be perfect for what I needed. I divided the recipes into breakfast, lunch/dinner, and sides/snacks/desserts. I think it is going to work perfectly, at least until I get an excessive amount of recipes as I am sure I will.

This is my recipe file. 

This is my clipboard with my recipes for the week.