Podcast Obsession

Do you ever find something that interests you and all you want to do is learn more about it?

For me, it's usually about nutrition. I love to get hooked on a topic and really explore all it has to offer. I enjoy learning about the body and how food interacts with it because it is so complex and fascinating!

Recently, when trying to learn more about juicing and eating raw foods, I've been turning to podcasts for information. After a simple search in iTunes on my phone I can find loads of podcasts dedicated to food topics. Paleo, vegan, vegetarian, juicing, rawtarian and just plain raw. I didn't even know half of those existed!

I've discovered that I am now obsessed with podcasts! Well, the good ones that is. Some people have some really annoying voices or lack the art of speaking for entertainment. But for the more part, these things are my workday lifesavers!

So far, I really like listening to Yuri Elkaim. He's got a great voice, he speaks clearly and he's got some great information to share! If you're looking for a podcast to get you started, check this guy out for sure! You'll be surprised how much you enjoy learning through a different medium! =)

Day 4 Confessions

The juice detox took a turn for the worse last night. I've been irritable, have headaches and have been extremely sleepy. I've been so tired that I didn't juice on Tuesday night and bought all of my juices yesterday.

But by the time I got off work I was done. Ready to check out and give a big middle finger to the juice detox. I was hungry. I ate handfuls of almonds and walnuts, a big salad and probably two cups of coconut flakes while watching a movie. And I will have you know that I was miserable.

I know, I know, your supposed to break the detox slowly, but man I was so ready to be done. And my poor boyfriend - well let's just say bless his heart.

So today, which is technically day four, I still feel weird. My stomach feels like those few days after having the flu, when you're feeling better but your stomach still feels like a farmer went through and plowed the crap out of it. So, I'm back on juice.

My only problem I'm having with the juice is the sugar. The apples make the juice taste great, but my body is really liking the sugar. I've taken it lighter on the apples today and have decided to eat a salad for dinner, that is, if my stomach is up to it.

Drink green. Train mean. Get lean.

Day 1.

Day one of anything is always the easiest. You're psyched, motivated and determined to accomplish whatever goal you've set your sights on. It's like the first day of school when you were growing up - new kicks, new clothes, new backpack, new teacher. Then you remember you'll be there for the next nine months - not so cool anymore.

My day one of the five-day juice fast was much like day one of anything. Successful, easy, fun. I had no problems drinking the juices and abstaining from food. I forced myself to put some juice down before my workout and felt surprisingly full the rest of the evening.

I went to a juice bar at the Des Moines Public Library, which is right across from where I work. The juice was great and while it tasted like many of the combinations I've made at home, it was nice to have someone else handle the juicing and clean up.

I got my run in at 6 a.m. as well. I have blisters on the arches of my feet and my right hip was killing me after it, but I enjoy running and it felt rewarding to get up and complete my training run for the day. I'm giving tomorrow a shot for the second run of training and hoping that I can loosen up my hip and not be in too much pain.

A must-see documentary

Last week I had a great conversation with a coworker who asked me if I'd seen the documentary Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. I had, in fact, read about the film and knew generally what it was about, but I hadn't actually watched it yet. He highly recommended it and said in addition to it being extremely motivational and inspirational, it was a perfect example of what juicing can do for your health. 

So this morning I ventured onto iTunes and rented the documentary. I curled up in bed with my computer for a relaxing morning and happy watching. In addition to being entertaining, I realized if Joe Cross can juice for 60 days, I can make it AT LEAST five days. Not only that, but he's a wealthy dude, and at just over 300 pounds, I'm sure he was indulging in some pretty tasty foods. Much better than anything I've probably ever had. 

But something struck me when I was watching the many interviews about people's relationships and perceptions about food - society is not only uneducated about nutrition, but extremely ignorant. Several people said they'd rather "die fat and happy" than have to give up the "foods they love." And surprisingly, some young, overweight interviewees ball parked their death age at about 50-55! I have never considered being OK with dying that young!

So I have to question if these people are truly "happy." When I sit down to indulge in a food item I don't eat too often, I tend to overeat and then feel like total crap. Repeat this at every meal and I'm not exactly sure how anyone can be happy with themselves. It's my suspicion that these responses are defense mechanisms to their unhealthy habits. Regardless, I was baffled at the number of people uninterested in adding years to their lives. 

My ultimate goal is always to be healthy and happy. I enjoy the challenge of eating healthy, staying strong when others are indulging in unhealthy foods and pushing myself physically. At 24 years old, I hope I can maintain this outlook and attitude throughout my entire life. It's never easy to do what the majority of people are not doing, but that makes the journey on the road less traveled worth taking! 

Get your green on... and some red and orange too!

There are some amazing juicing recipes online and in books, but sometimes it's just about finding combos that work for you. Here are a few that I really like:

1 green apple

4-5 carrots

1/4 inch ginger root

1 green apple 

1 beet

1/4 inch ginger root

1 green apple

2 cups spinach 

6-8 kale leaves

1/2 cucumber

4 celery stalks

1/2 lemon

I've been juicing each evening for the next day's meals. It takes me about an hour from start to finish, including clean-up. I think my load will lighten after the first five days, when I will be supplementing my raw meals with the juice instead of consuming only juice. 

Juicing and training

I'm back with a vengeance. Yes, I've been away, with a little soul searching and vacation to Miami, I'm back and ready to embark on a new health endeavor. I plan to train for the IMT Des Moines Half Marathon on October 21 and eat only raw foods and juices during my training.

My time away was extremely productive and much needed. My perfectionist attitude was driving me to binge eat, give up, restart and spend my time constantly search for "the answer." I've done some soul searching and had a much-needed heart-to-heart conversation which has allowed me to shake the binge eating and continue to focus on clean eating, but with a more forgiving mindset.

I enjoyed my vacation with Tyler and allowed myself to eat whatever I wanted. I put myself in a great position to succeed over vacation, but once I had a bite of ice cream, I was hooked on eating desserts every night. Not only that, but I over ate at each dinner. After this experience, I remember how much I hate feeling so full I could burst and how addicting sugar is.

I took a shot at a juice fast when I got back from vacation, but at about 4:00 p.m. I would cave and eat nuts or an avocado, then have a protein shake after workouts. This week, I'm making it my goal to make it through on just juice. I have also blended avocado and coconut milk in my juices to give me a boost of healthy fats.

Throughout the entire training process, I am committing to eating only raw foods and drinking only raw juices and water. I will kick my training off with the 5 day juice fast, then combine both raw juices and foods in my daily eats.

Running a half marathon is something I've always talked about doing, but have never had the guts to do. I've always underestimated my ability and often let me mind determine what I can and cannot do. I'm ready to push myself and see just what I am capable of. Also, I want to be mindful and conscious of what healthful habits and clean eating can really do.

Tomorrow starts my first day of training and I'm ready to take this on in full force. I've got some new running kicks, an armband for my iPhone, I've got some juices whipped up and a wonder blog to log my progress. Wish me luck!

PS-- Check out the new kicks!

Big discoveries and small wins

I've been away for awhile-- away as in mentally checked out. I've been struggling for the past year to find my "adult self" and really discover what it is that makes me happy. Really, truly, over the top, deep down happy. It's been a tough road and I've made a pretty huge discovery thanks to Maximized Living.

Well I guess not all credit goes there, but a lot certainly does. When I started the Advanced Plan I was super excited. Finally an escape from my sugar prison was on the horizon. Plus, I had a fun trip to Vegas planned, who wouldn't be excited for life. But when I got back, reality hit.

I haven't veered far off-plan. In fact, I don't think I've ate sugar or bread ever during this seemingly lost period; however, I was eating far too much. I would eat until I was stuffed. I loved the food we were making and I was finding that I was getting the same emotional satisfaction out of eating-- regardless of the ingredients.

So it was time to take a step back and discover my Max Mind. I have searched and searched and read and read about what it is that keeps me crawling back to this binge eating. And my most important discovery-- it had nothing to do with my environment. Not my workouts, not what I ate, not my relationship and not even work. It was all about me. My perspective sucked.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not quite where I'd like to be, but I am certainly on my way. Here's how:

I started journaling last week after I decided that I had far too much pent-up frustrations AND read in several articles that this often helps us cope with stress and anxiety. So sure, why not. I've done this a million times. My journal is like a default reaction to when I feel stressed or nervous or angry, but it never lasts more than a day. In addition to writing, I also spend time meditating at least 5 minutes a day. Figured hey, I can give that a shot too.

I let myself write freely on Monday and got out all the crap I wanted to. Then on Tuesday I decided that was over. If I wanted to move forward I could not fall into a pit of constant complaining. I forced myself to write only positives-- about everything. It took maybe one day for me to see an improvement in my attitude and self-talk. By the end of the week, I was radiating. And the best part, eating is not my priority.

I've gotten into the habit of following the Advanced Plan that my food choices are automatic. So that's easy. I don't constantly talk to myself about what I'm going to eat and when and if I'm hungry or not. Because quite frankly, if I never lose another pound, I'd rather be happy. I've now directed all efforts and focus on just that-- being happy and seeing value in everything that happens.

I'm only a week in, but I am anxious to see how much this effects every aspect of my wellness.

Tyler's Key Lime Squares

Tonight we have a Max Life potluck! Tyler and I debated over what to bring, since we have made some fantastic food items over the past couple weeks. But we decided to go with Tyler's Key Lime Squares. They were fantastic last time he made them! I let him take the reins for tonight's dish as well. We snagged this recipe off the GOOD FOOD blog (She has some amazing recipes on her blog. Check it out!). We are both looking forward to seeing if others enjoy them as much as we do!

Ingredients:

Crust:

1 1/2 cups almond flour

1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Stevia equivalent to 1/2 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Combine all the Crust ingredients and press into an 8" x 8" baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. While the crust is baking, assemble the key lime topping mixture:

Key Lime Topping Mixture:

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

stevia equivalent to 1/2 cup sugar

3 large eggs

the zest of a lime

1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice

Add two drops of green food coloring, but I would not recommend doing this if you do not have high quality, "no-sugar-or-preservatives-added" food coloring.

Combine all the key lime topping mixture ingredients in a blender.

When crust has baked for 15 minutes, pour the topping mixture over the crust and return the crust and topping mixture to the oven to bake at 350 degrees for another 15 minutes. Remove from the oven.

Let the finished product cool in the baking dish for 30 minutes, and then chill it in the refrigerator until chilled through- about another 30 to 45 minutes. Cut into squares.

5 Finds During My Vegas Hiatus

I left last Thursday for my trip to Las Vegas. Between shopping and packing for the trip, I really didn't get very much blogging done. However, the Vegas trip has been extremely beneficial and I've learned a lot about myself and what I need to do to succeed in the Maximized Living Advanced Plan. 

You've got to be questioning how a trip to Vegas could benefit anyone on a strict nutritional plan, but trust me, it was worth it. Here are the 5 finds from my Vegas trip that I will forever benefit from in the future. 

1. Roasted nuts do not count as good fats. I know this seems like a no-brainer. BUT I was downing roasted nuts like crazy during my first week and a half in the Advanced Plan diet. I feel like I knew better, or should have known, but the cottonseed oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil and basically any other oils you might find on a package of roasted peanuts are rancid. PLUS, I was eating far too many nuts as well. While I felt, at times, those roasted nuts were my best option, I now know I will pack ample amounts of raw nuts on future trips. 

2. I love Grey Goose and Club Soda. I was advised that if I were going to drink anything while there, that would have to be it. Add two lime slices to that and I was one happy camper. I only drank one night, but I definitely made it count. At least I know if drinking is a "must" in a particular social setting, I can get by with a couple of these and not be completely miserable. 

3. Too much booze = instant food monster. I hammered down quite a few of those fabulous drinks, and while I was having a great time, I also lose all inhibition to stick to my diet plan. I actually might have left Vegas thinking I successfully managed to eat not a single piece of bread until I brought it up to my friends who immediately informed me I downed at least a quarter of a loaf after the drunken night. Bummer. 

4. Sticking to the Advanced Plan is nearly impossible if you pick a low-quality restaurant. And that is exactly where we ate all weekend. I did my best-- chicken sandwich no bun, salad no dressing, but after awhile you're about to go absolutely crazy. I was almost paranoid about eating at places because I simply could not trust them. ON TOP OF IT, we went to Dick's Bar and Grill, where they actually make fun of you for asking nutritional information and refuse to serve you water unless they bring it in a trough and make you drink it from a straw. So, in the future, investing in a nicer restaurant will always be worth it. 

5. If you haven't been on the Advanced Plan for at least 3 weeks, the minute you eat sugar is back to Day 1. So, that's where I am, back and day 1 and not really too disappointed. I had a chance to read the entire Maximized Living Nutrition Plans book and learned that while I thought I was going about things the best way, I was really a little "off." But not all is lost, I did not gain a single pound in Vegas. I did my very best there and it showed. 

I'm ready to get back into action and start applying my new-found knowledge to each day during the plan. My goals for this week:

1. If I eat nuts, the serving size needs to fit in the palm of my hand and that's it! I don't need more than that to feel satisfied and any more than that is mindless eating. Also, no more roasted nuts, ever. 

2. Stick to a meal plan. Three meals and one snack is really all I need in a day. I found I was snacking on nuts outside of those meals often OR eating late night desserts. While they were still Advanced Plan approved, I was eating past dinner time, which is not recommended. 

3. Eat 15-20 grams of protein at meals, maybe less at dinner. I think I was over-eating the protein, which is only going to ultimately turn to sugar. I have a food scale that I would like to start using to get into the habit of identifying what that serving size looks like!

And, a rule for myself from now and forever, LIMIT the amount of times I weigh myself. I need to chill out a bit. This is not a race. I am going to slip up (Vegas) and maybe have to start over, but I cannot keep stepping on the scale to live and die with each number. Once per week. That's it! 

Weekend Warrior

In the past, the weekends have been my collapse - the end-all to any healthy behaviors and efforts until Monday rolled around and I could boldly reclaim my commitment to my diet. This weekend, I feel like things have been very different. While I still felt it challenging to not snack during down time, I stuck to the 5-ingredient, no sugar rule as best as possible.

The difficulties started on Thursday night, with a 6 p.m. conclusion of Max Life rolling right into shower and prep time for our ICubs skybox seats at 7:00. I thought I would have a difficult time getting in a healthful, Advanced Plan approved dinner, but I was able to whip up a protein shake with almond milk, a little peanut butter and some cocoa powder to do the trick.

Next up, Friday, with a lunch scheduled with a friend visiting Des Moines and a dinner date - yikes! To my surprise, with a few requests, I had a fantastic lunch at Centro! Grilled flank steak with caramelized onions and provolone cheese. It was originally on the menu as a sandwich, but I had them hold the bun, mayo and pesto. The meal was fantastic and definitely hit the spot!

A series of unfortunate events landed us at the mall food court for dinner. I grabbed a snack of almonds and my final brownie to ensure I didn't go into dinner starving, and thankfully that move saved the day. I ordered the veggie entrée at Famous Wok. It wasn't a whole lot of food, but I was more than satisfied.

I coached softball Saturday and Sunday. Ballparks always prove to be a challenge, but I equipped myself with snacks during our long stretches of games. I feel like I probably had far too many servings on nuts than desired, on both days, but I know for the future to only take what I need and leave the rest of my money in the car. The ball park is prime for selling nuts, so in addition to my serving of almonds I had a cashews and peanuts.

Tyler and I had breakfast this morning before our busy days started. Our usual Cozy Cafe changed their hours so we were stuck with Perkins. I got their new Mediterranean omelette loaded with spinach, held the hollandaise sauce and stuck with the feta and a couple roasted tomatoes. It was the perfect start to my cold morning!

Lunch was a protein shake with PB, coconut milk and cocoa. I did buy more nuts to have as a snack for the afternoon. I just whipped up my brownies for the week and managed to have a spoonful of almond butter during prep time. Tonight, I plan on browning turkey for taco salads.

I know I have some room for improvement on the weekend, but I feel I did the best for the circumstances and odd meal times with games.

This morning I enjoyed a fantastic four-egg omelette with spinach, mushroom and onion. I decided to make this last night and throw it in the fridge for this morning. It was perfect! I enjoyed waking up to a fantastic breakfast and actually got to eat with at home instead of on-the-go. I definitely foresee myself using this technique more in the future. 

The rest of my day consisted of leftovers and a snack of celery and almond butter. After tomorrow I will be just about done with the leftovers and will give another meal a shot. I did have a brownie this evening for dessert, but stuck to the single serving and still have three servings left, even after sharing!

The Max Life workout was killer today! They don't call it challenge day for nothing. I sweat my butt off, but recorded 136 burpees! Goal was to get at least 100. 

Tomorrow will prove to be a bit of a challenge as Tyler and I will be meeting friends to watch the Iowa Cubs baseball game in the sky box. However, I'm very confident in my plan and how I feel after sticking to it for three days now, so there's not doubt I will be strong. 

Looking forward to whipping up another dessert for the week on Sunday. Still haven't decided on one yet. Looking forward to something new now that I know the brownies can always be my go-to if needed. =)

My love my Italian... Spinach Soup

Today was an extremely crazy and busy day with Wellmark hosting the Grand Blue Mile. Since I wasn't going to be home in time to make the scheduled Italian Spinach Soup, my lovely Italian boyfriend decided he'd take the reigns on this one. And I must say, he did a fantastic job! 

Here's what he had to say about preparing this recipe:

• Rolling the turkey meatballs was a little tricky, but he managed to get them to stick together when they were about the size of a golf ball.
• The coconut oil smelled like sunscreen on the beach when he fried the meatballs, but he was surprised that they didn't have the slightest taste of coconut when they were fully cooked. 
• He doubled the spinach, broth and parsley after discovering that it didn't seem like enough to cover the meatballs. 

Overall, this recipe was great. The soup was full of flavor and the meatballs were excellent. We have enough left over to reheat for a quick dinner tomorrow night. 

On my way out the door this morning I blended together a smoothie of whey protein, almond milk and ice. While I do not have the organic, grass fed whey protein, I'm hoping to invest in some soon. In the meantime, I used the HyVee brand 100% Whey Protein. 

I packed leftover Asian Turkey Wraps for lunch, but grabbed a serving size of natural almonds and half a brownie on my quick stop home. As I'd mentioned before, I was super excited for pickle wraps, but had a tough time finding pickles. I improvised and wrapped green onion in the cream cheese and turkey. While my breath was less than pleasant, the snack really hit the spot and I was able to get through the timed mile run fully energized. 

Tyler sent me the link to this video today! I envy the person who wrote this script - what talent! If you're in need of some motivation you've got to check this out. No need to even watch the video, just take in the message and feel empowered to be the determined winner you are! 

Holy Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps!

I know it's only my first day and I have many more recipes to dive into, but I'm pretty sure I've found a new fave in the Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps! The flavor was out of this world; even Tyler approved. And the best part - LEFTOVERS! Looks like I'll be excited for lunch tomorrow! Seriously, check these out, they even look amazing! 

My lettuce "wraps" were more like lettuce boats, but they worked nonetheless. This recipe is in the green Maximized Living Nutrition Plan book. I highly recommend checking it out and exploring more recipes in the book. On deck for tomorrow: Italian Spinach Soup! 

So I knew this would happen, but the moment I started my week I knew I needed to adjust my meal plan. Packing lunch for work can be a huge chore - I need to take advantage of leftovers! So, I made a few minor switch-a-roos and think I've got a meal schedule that is a little more flexible. I'm still sticking to the meals I picked in my original plan, with a few substitutes in the lunches so I can use up my leftovers. 

I started my day off with a cup of yogurt and about a half cup of blueberries. I remembered the Advanced Plan says "berries in moderation," so I figured I shouldn't follow up my berry breakfast with berries in my lunch item. I went with a salad of spinach, kale and broccoli with an olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano and parmesan dressing. I added crunch by tossing in some natural almonds and, of course, packed half of a wonderful brownie for dessert. 

I was really looking forward to having pickle wraps for a snack, but had a tough time finding pickles that didn't have crazy additives. So I went with celery and peanut butter for a snack today. I grabbed a few nuts on my way out the door to the Max Life workout. It looked like two cashews, an almond and maybe three peanuts. I was energized and felt great during and after the workout. 

With day one down I'm feeling super confident in this meal plan and excited to explore more recipes. I didn't I realized what I was missing by sticking to the low-fat/no-fat options. I felt much more satisfied after each meal today, which made it easy to stick to my plan. 

I own this plan. I am in control and I WILL succeed! 

Grain free/sugar free brownies

As part of my weekend assignment I needed to find two dessert recipes that were Advanced Plan approved. I found this fantastic brownie recipe and made a few minor adjustments to make it grain free, sugar free and simply divine! I added Hershey's Sugar Free Chocolate Chips (sweetened with Maltitol) and shredded, unsweetened coconut for added flavor and texture.

The verdict: The brownie was rich and satisfying, exactly what my evening sweet tooth is looking for. I was more than satisfied with one brownie- no need to go back for more. They are fairly dense and the coconut provides some texture. I will definitely be enjoying these the rest of the week and will use this recipe in the future! 

Now for the more critical review from my skeptical boyfriend:

Tyler's verdict: "They are good... just different." "It kinda reminds me of carrot cake- I can feel the grainy coconut like the carrots in carrot cake." "It almost tastes like an Almond Joy." 

If you're hesitant about giving up sugar, don't be! These guilt-free brownies will reassure you that you will thrive in a sugar free environment! 

Grain Free/Sugar Free Brownies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chunky almond butter 
• 1/2 cup canned coconut milk (full fat)

• 2 eggs

• 2 t vanilla extract

• 1/4 tsp. salt

• 1/4 cup Truvia
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1/3 cup chocolate chips (Hershey's Sugar Free Chocolate Chips)

• 1/3 cup shredded coconut 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom of 9×9 inch pan.
2. In a medium mixing bowl whisk together almond butter, coconut milk, eggs, vanilla, salt and sugar.
3. Add cocoa and whisk until fully incorporated.
4. Fold in chocolate chips and shredded coconut. 
5. Pour ingredients into prepared pan and bake for 18 minutes, or until center is firm.

3 to-do's and a "big why"

I met with my amazing Max Life Fitness and Nutrition coach Melissa Grandon on Friday to discuss how I am going transform from a carb-scarfer to a fat-burner. She handed me the small, paperback Maximized Living Nutrition Plan book and promised I would find some pretty amazing information in it. After the meeting she sent me important documents to live by and a few "to-dos" for the weekend. She also asked me to identify my "big why" - the reason I want to commit to this journey.

So to kick things off, it's only appropriate to highlight my "big why" (without getting too sappy and drawn-out, of course).

I've been struggling with binge eating for almost a year now. I moved to Des Moines a week after graduating from South Dakota State to take an internship with a prominent health insurance company. They hired me with promise that, based on my performance, there may be a job opportunity after the summer internship. I put a ton of pressure on myself to make sure I met those expectations and to become the best candidate for the position.

The daily stress, change of lifestyle and loneliness in the new location sparked binge eating. At one point in college I'd lost 20 pounds and kept it off for a year, but managed to gain it all back with the binge eating in just over a month. Binge eating became my coping mechanism, and while I still maintained the healthy category on the BMI scale, I am far from healthy.

A few months ago I met an amazing man, Tyler. We feel crazy in love with each other and enjoy spending time together. We joined Max Life together in March after purchasing a LivingSocial coupon. We both loved the workouts and decided we'd buy a membership to continue our great progress we'd made in our first 40 days.

Recently, the stress at my job started getting to me and I have been struggling to suppress the urge to binge eat. When I binge eat, I have extremely low self-esteem and confidence. I am constantly on edge, preoccupied with defeated thoughts and put-downs.

Ok, here it comes, my "big why" for wanting to apply the Maximized Living Advanced Nutrition Plan to my life is to make me the best me I can possibly be in my relationship with Tyler. By eliminating the binge eating, regaining my self-confidence and starting to love myself again, I will become the person I want to be, and the person he is in love with. Now don't get me wrong, I want this so badly for myself, but he is a constant rock and motivator to keep me striving to be the best me.

Alright, now on the to "to-do's" for the weekend.

1. Look at the ingredients list on foods and choose those that only have 5 ingredients or less.
2. Try two new Advanced Plan dessert items. 
3. Plan 3-days worth of meal plans and send them to Melissa to make sure I'm on track.

I plan to clean out the cupboards and donate all food that does not apply to the 5 ingredient rule. As for number two, you better believe I'm all over the desserts! I have at least four recipes to try already! And finally, my food plan is below.

Day 1
Breakfast: Organic Full Fat Greek Yogurt and berries
Lunch: Raspberry Pecan Summer Salad
Snack: Turkey with cream cheese and pickle
Dinner: Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Day 2
Breakfast: Spinach Omelette
Lunch: Italian Spinach Soup
Snack: Celery with Peanut Butter
Dinner: Buffalo Chicken Rolls

Day 3
Breakfast: Mint Choco-nut Dream Smoothie
Lunch: Left-Overs from Day 1 or Day 2 dinner
Snack: Hard-Boiled Eggs stuffed with hummus
Dinner: Taco Salad