Daily Manna: a day of eats on Hammer & Chisel!

I thought it would be fun to do another daily manna post on what I eat in a typical day while I do my new workout program, Hammer & Chisel! I've been eating a LOT more during this program because lifting heavy works those muscles, and those muscles need FOOD! It's been so nice and freeing to trust my body and eat what nourishes and fuels it, as well as what tastes just plain GOOD. I feel more energized and nourished, which is an awesome feeling. So, here is a typical day of eats!

Typically, after my morning workout, I have my chocolate shakeology! I blend it with coconut milk, ice, water, and sometimes a handful of spinach. It's delicious and the perfect, refreshing fuel after a tough workout! And because this day was an extra hungry day, I had a banana with peanut butter as well! Gotta feed the beast!

Around 9am, my coworker and I make coffee and have a mid-morning snack. I had my apple and a peanut butter cookie Larabar...so addicted to these! They are delicious and really fill me up till lunch time! For lunch, I almost always pack a lunch, but on this day, we decided to order from our favorite Mediterranean place! I got a veggie plate which contained falafel, hummus, mutabel (an eggplant dip), tabbouleh, grape leaves, tons of salad, and pita! And I had some carrots on the side too!

This lunch definitely filled me up and kept me satisfied for a while. I came home and got the baking itch, so I decided to whip up a healthified version of white chocolate macadamia nut cookies! Click here for the recipe!

I thoroughly enjoyed one of these fresh from the oven while doing my book club reading! We are reading Emma and I am so engrossed in this novel! I'm reading about 5 books right now...#bookwormprobs...but this is one I cannot put down! Oh Jane Austen, your writing is addictive! 

Dinner was a hit, especially with the hubby! As he was eating he literally said..."oh my goodness, I'm so glad I married you." Umm yea, lol...good thing I love to cook! So here is my hint: cajun salmon from Trader Joe's! It's pre-seasoned (but super spicy so beware!!!!) I served it up with some steamed veggies and oven-roasted fries! 

We ended the night with some reading and relaxing. It's always nice to have a no-TV night at home, because the TV can totally suck us in! We decided to keep the electronics off last night and read and talk. I highly recommend it! :) 

So as you can see, there are a lot of plants going into this body of mine (veggies, fruits, whole foods) as well as some treats (a cookie!) It's all about balance, and as long as most of your diet consists of those healthy foods, there is room for a treat now and then. I call them "all the time foods" vs. "sometimes foods." Try it sometime :) and especially with a program like Hammer and Chisel, there is NO room for restricting calories or nutrients! This program is SO intense and builds strong and lean muscles, which need food for fuel! So fuel up, girl! And don't be scared of food.

Want to give this program a try too? It's seriously been life-changing! Email me at TveenRD@gmail.com for some more info, or fill out the form below! Have a wonderful rest of your day!

Sore...SO sore...H&C Week 2 in Review!

One word to describe the last two weeks for me...SORE. I'm sore each day, every day, and lemme tell ya...it hurts SO good. I've never done a program like this. We hit different muscle groups each day and I wake up every morning sore in different places, and feeling stronger than ever. I'd say this program is definitely effective.  

Excuse the bed-head ;)  

Week 2 has been just as amazing as week 1. I feel my body getting stronger and more toned. The workouts have been different daily which is a nice change and keeps me on my toes. There is always a balance of cardio and intense lifting/toning. I just love the Autumn + Sagi combo too! Overall, I'm just loving this program!

My favorite workouts of the week were definitely Chisel Agility and Total Body Hammer.  Chisel agility was with Autumn and reminded me SO much of insanity workouts! Cardio without weights, and a lot of mental and physical focus! Total Body Hammer hits literally every single muscle group and will leave you shaking and sore. Exactly what I want when I am challenging myself!

Meals have been on point for most of the time, mixed in with some treats. I am practicing intuitive eating after years of calorie counting, restriction, and binging. I feel that the 21 day fix containers have given me SUCH a good template to work off of, so now I am really enjoying trusting myself and my body with my nutritional needs! Thank you 21 day fix for reteaching me how to eat in a balanced way without stressing too much! And of course, my daily shakeology is non-negotiable! 

I bought some delicious blood oranges and strawberries from the Farmer's Market this week, so we've been eating them all week long! So delicious with our Sunday morning breakfast: eggs, taters, veggies, and fruit!

I've just been going plants crazy over here, and I am finding that I feel amazing when eating more of a plant-based diet. I am by NO means labeling myself, I'm just saying when the majority of your diet is fruits/veggies...you feel good! :) 

Most days, I have about 10 servings of fruits and veggies, a TON of healthy fats, healthy plant proteins, and wholesome grains and legumes! My body seems to like it thus far, and I am just feeling good. So I'm rolling with it!

Overall, this program is just what I needed to start this year off on the right track! I started week 3 this morning and still feel challenged and excited every day...and of course...sore! :)