Staying Healthy Around Temptation

It's been a whole nine days since I have posted, and it's with good reason. I started a new job! Completely abandoning my comfort zone, I have stepped foot into the car industry. After a month and a half of hiking Southern California, being back at a desk is tough. Being around vending machines is tough. Staying fit in this environment will be tough, especially with three months until the wedding. But I know if you are in it with me, I can do it.

Some things I have learned this past week

1. It's okay to say no. Just because the office is having  a potluck and there is cake doesn't mean you have to eat the cake.
2. It's also okay to eat. On the same note, don't alienate yourself because of your diet. If there is a pot luck, find the veggie and load your plate, opt for the healthy option.
3. Stay away from the vending machine.
4. Stay hydrated - on water!! No diet soda, no energy drinks (I am still learning this one)
5. Stand up - can't leave your desk and walk? Stand for a minute or two.
6. Pack wisely - always bring an extra healthy snack. To over pack is better than under packing, because that's what will lead you that devil disguised as a vending machine.
7. Smile.. because I am just feeling the good vibes and all my readers should too!

Trying New Things - Bring on the red meat!

For ten years I stayed away from red meat. In the beginning it was strictly for weight loss purposes, and it slowly turned into nothing but an unnecessary restriction. For months my fiancé has been eating steak in front of me, confused as to why I settled for eggs... again. The truth is I was a little nervous to steer away from my narrowed diet for fear of weight gain. How stupid is that? 

Now, am I advocating steak and cheeseburgers for dinner every night? Absolutely not. I do have a wedding to rock in a little over a 100 days! I will still stick to a poultry and fish diet mostly, but once a month I will fuel my body some delicious meaty protein.

The benefits of red meat? High in protein, iron, b12, and omegas.
The risk? High in saturated fats that can lead to heart disease.
The solution? Moderation and grass fed if possible (leaner and higher in omega 6 and CLA)

Last night I ate my first steak in a decade and it was DELICIOUS. I made it healthier by sticking to a deck of cards portion size, skipping the mashed potatoes by adding a side of sauerkraut, and staying away from processed, sugary sauces (that means you BBQ and ketchup!)

The first question people asked was "did you get sick?" Nope! I went to bed with a happy stomach, and woke up feeling normal as ever.

Try new things, your body may just thank you.

Summer Lovin Smoothie

Enjoying the sun and hanging in a waterfall. Hiking is my favorite outdoor activity!

It's Memorial Day weekend already! Time is flying. We are four months from our wedding date, and summer is just around the corner. My readers that don't live in San Diego are definitely enjoying the sunshine, so this week's smoothie fits the mood. It's light, refreshing, and packed full of antioxidants to keep your skin glowing for bikini season.

The protein is my protein powder of choice- Vega Vanilla.  It's a plant based whey protein that is low calorie, low sugar, and tastes delicious. It pairs well with almond milk and is ideal for post workout or a light meal.

What makes it that pretty purple? My favorite superfoods. Blueberries and Acai powder (purchased at Vitamin Shoppe.)

1 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk

1 tsp Almond Butter

1 tsp Acai Powder

1 scoop Vega powder

1/2 banana

1 cup blueberries (go crazy!)

Blend, Sip, Relax and enjoy the warm air. Cheers!

Avocado Toast - Believe in the Hype

By now it should be pretty apparent that I am not into fad diets, or diets in general. But the increased amount of avocado toast Instagram posts I can get down with. Living in California, it's easy to find healthy alternatives. I have been posting about avocado toast for years as a substitute for butter, and it's now popping up at brunch spots, cafés, and social media everywhere... and I love it!! My only recommendation is to make it at home for the sole fact that it's silly to spend $8 on a piece of bread with a spread.

My favorite: Sesame Ezekiel bread, mashed avocado with lemon juice, cilantro, and chive.

Scoop out 1/2 an avocado and mash into bowl, squeeze 1/2 lemon, spread on toasted bread, and top with herbs and salt and pepper. It's that easy.

Not pictured: two over easy eggs and smoked salmon, because let's be real - avocado on toast is not a full meal.

Don't call it a setback.

Beach bum weekend

This post is for all my readers feeling down on themselves for their diet choices this weekend. I would love to only talk about how great my progress is and how proud I am of this bikini photo but the truth is.. I was bad this weekend. The kind of weekend you feel guilt about for a week. The night started with flavored vodka (ugh, sugar!) ended in vegan cookies (12 cookies is too many cookies even if they are made with coconut oil,) followed by a rough day of "all I want is carbs."

How do I combat a set back? By not making it a habit. Don't let your slip ups become a downwards spiral. Pick yourself back up and keep on keeping on. Repeat this like a mantra:

EVERYONE has bad days - no one is perfect.

Drink water, flush it out, and if you are up for it, do some fasted cardio the next day.

Fasted cardio- Cardio without eating beforehand. It is said to help target fat zones, but I only recommend it if your gym is close and you are not lifting heavy.

Top right May 2014

Bottom right May 2015

Left side - present day

These are subtle changes that can change your life. So why not start today?

Smoothie: the lunch gamechanger

Stomach process brought to you by DIET - bring on the good juice

There are millions of recipes, Instagram posts, blogs, tweets, snaps of beautifully crafted smoothies... but for some odd reason, I never jumped on boat. Well, the best thing about weddings (sorry Jared, you're okay too though) is getting gifts and I busted out the food processor for the first time yesterday. It's safe to say I will never go back, even if it's a total pain to clean. Here's my thing about smoothies though... Make them at home! Why waste $10 on a smoothie you can't portion out yourself with additional unknown sugars when you can do it all at home for a small price? There are SO many options to chose from. Kale, blueberries, strawberries, almond butter, coconut milk, raspberries, flax seeds, protein powder, cocoa bits. The list is endless.

So, to stick with this new obsession - I will be posting a new smoothie recipe weekly. This week's I will call "I accidentally used my fiance's year old expired protein powder.. First Day Smoothie"

I promise these photos will improve each week too..

1 scoop GNC Wheybolic Power Protein Powder (check the expiration...)

1 cup Unsweetened Coconut Almond Milk

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

1/2 cup frozen cherries

1 tbsp. almond butter

1/2 cup kale

These smoothies are perfect for lunch haters like me. I am all about the breakfast foods and constantly looking for that mid-day meal that won't overdo it on the carbohydrates. This is the perfect boost to get you through the afternoon slump. Enjoy!

Product ot the week - all about berries

It's been a fantastic week of wedding happiness for me. My dress came in! Anxious, excited, and a little apprehensive I walked into the Dress Theory again to try on my gorgeous gown. I found my Sarah Seven dress the day after Christmas. It was a sample dress and had seen better days, but I knew it was the dress for me. It was way over budget, and the one time I could have been mistaken for a bridezilla. My wonderful parents took a risk in letting me get this dress. So, the pressure was on when it came time to try on that size zero again. When the dress zipped up, I swear it felt like a movie. It fit perfectly. I feel beautiful in it, it needs absolutely no tailoring, and all of my hard work and dedication truly paid off. With that said, it's now time to tone up even more and maintain. I don't need to lose anymore weight but I definitely can't gain. I am focusing on arms and diet. Specifically, a skin friendly diet. Which brings me to my product this week- Goji berries. The snack that keeps me out of the junk food and my skin glowing just right.

• Loaded with beta- carotene (hello, beautiful skin!)
• Boost immune system (no one needs a sick day when planning a wedding)
• Rich in antioxidants
• Low calorie
• Nutrient dense

How do I eat them? Personally, I am not a huge sweets girl. If I was, I'd keep them plain or add them to some dark chocolate for a dessert. Instead, I make my own "trail mix" with cashews, goji berries, almonds, and pumpkin seeds.

Enjoy!