Day Five: The Real Challenge Begins!!!

OK. It's Friday and it's the start of a long weekend, this is where the real challenge begins! Regularly I find myself each Friday feeling exhausted from a full week of teaching, training and sport. I look forward to the weekend because it usually consists of; lighter trainings, teaching spin classes and socialising. Hence the title of the post, where the real challenge begins. Because I am out of routine work and training wise I have seemed to develop a more relaxed routine with my food intake. I often have 'treat days' which is usually chocolate (also known as the love of my life) and meals out with friends. Although I am pretty good and choose a healthier option it still would not fit the 'Paleo' bracket. This weekend I have a few social outings so stay tuned with tips on how I overcome these barriers. 

To help me get through Friday I made a Paleo Pizza (see recipe in the recipe section)

Todays Food Intake

Breakfast: Left over dinner from last night

Snack: 15 mixed raw nuts, 1 apple

Lunch: 1/4 Cup cooked brown rice, 1 can lemon pepper tuna, 1 cup spinach (easy put together meal as I got home late from netball last night.)

Snack: 1/2 cup of thai chicken curry soup

Dinner: Paleo Pizza with side salad

After dinner I went for a drink with friends and watched the rugby. I would usually have a coke but...this is obviously not Paleo so I had a soda water with fresh lemon :). I enjoyed every minute of it and the best thing was I didn't have to avoid the social occasion.

I survived the day without something sweet!!! This is the first Friday in many months and I feel proud. Tomorrow will be the real challenge as I am going out for dinner with friends. 

Just some snaps to finish todays post with...

Todays WOD (6am CrossFit-always a good start to Friday)

Day Four-Be kind to yourself!!!

Day four has been a challenging one! I usually go to yoga at 6am (ouch-love hate relationship there) but my cold has got worse! Working with kids is not ideal for the immune system. Anyway I found myself feeling rather grumpy this morning and not knowing why, then I realised it's because I missed yoga! I was subconsciously beating myself up about it when I knew that I needed the sleep for my Netball game tonight. This brings me to my focus for day four, we need to learn to be kind to ourselves! If we don't eat well one day, or we miss a training for various reasons don't dwell on it, just pick yourself up and start a new day tomorrow. It's important not to dwell on things as this brings negative thinking followed by negative actions.

Diet today, (let me tell you I had my first craving for sweet stuff! Working with children is challenging in many ways, like being envious of their scrummy lunches)!

Breakfast: 1/2 Cup Porridge (using quinoa flakes), 2 eggs 1/4 avocado

Snack: 15 Almonds, 1 Feijoa

Lunch: Left over stew

Snack: 2 Rice thins, 1 carrot, hot protein shake (Pre Netball Game snack)

Dinner (post netball game): Fresh Salmon fillet, Broccoli, Cauliflower and Zucchini topped with 'Tomato sauce' (see recipe in recipe section).

I would like to finish todays post with a positive quote to get you through tonight! We have choices and you can choose to be awesome, or choose to be well ____________ you finish the sentence! Be the best you that you can be!

What is CrossFit?

Here is a short video of an overview of CrossFit!!! Loved this, explains it perfectly.

Day Three! Tip Preparation

Being in a good routine is one of the keys to diet success. Preparing meals prior and freezing them is really convenient for those moments where you just can't be bothered or if you are super busy. Day Three was one of those days for me. I had work, then physio straight after, followed by a technique session on Snatches with our knowledgeable coach; Jason Hylkema.

Today was a 'rest day' for me training wise however on my rest days I still like to keep moving with the light stuff (hence the technique session). It is important to know when your body needs a rest, because if you over train it can do more harm than good. I don't have set rest days I just know when my body needs it. Due to a minor head cold I have picked up, today I knew I needed a rest.

Despite being tired and craving carbs I had another successful day with my diet. Here it goes...

Breakfast: Steak size of my palm, Fried green veg (1 cup), and 1/4 of an avocado.
Snack: 15 Almonds, 2 Rice thins, 2 Tablespoons cottage cheese.
Lunch: Kumara and Coconut soup (see recipe under the recipe tab), handful of fresh shrimp, and 1 cup of green beans.
Snack: Kiwifruit, 2 tablespoons of stew
Dinner: Steak and Veggie stew (made in the slow cooker this morning). Flavoured with 1 tablespoom cummin, 2 fresh garlic cloves, half a fresh chilli, sweet basil leaves and half a medium kumara.

Here are some photos to share (sorry about the quality of the previous ones, I had been adding them through the blogger App on my phone).

Front squatting yesterday

Frozen soup (Kumara and Coconut and Thai Chicken Curry)

Preparing dinner (took 10mins max this morning-swear by slow cookers).

Just a quote I read this morning-Inspriartional

My Technique buddy working hard!!!! 

Dana working on her technique

Day Two

What can I say about today?...well it was great! Another success, my daily food intake consisted of...

Breakfast: small piece of salmon and a one egg omelette with fried Brussel  sprouts, leeks and spinach.

Snack: apple and handful of almonds

Lunch: leftover chicken and veggie stew!! (Very handy on a cold day I must say)!

Snack: two rice thins with cottage cheese and a handful of fresh shrimp.

Dinner: orange roughy fish fillet half a medium kumara and HEAPS of fried green veg!

Today was D day for getting my fat percentage taken. Now although this is not my main focus for the challenge (STRONG not SKINNY remember) I am happy to say I have lost 2% body fat since I started CrossFitting a month ago. There are many benefits of having more muscle mass. You only have to google it to find out! :)

The WOD was a challenging one strength wise but it was awesome as usual (thanks to our tank of a coach Lauren Graham). 

The thought I am finishing with today is Day two=success!!!

Here are some photos to share

My poor bruised legs (meh it's all worth it)

Bridge the star squatting (sorry Bridge didn't ask for permission) :)

Front squats

 Lunges

The WOD 

Day One

Today was day one of the Paleo challenge and let's just say....it was definitely a challenge! After a massive weekend of cocktails, beautiful food and cutting some good shapes, I was feeling rather tired but I got through it!! This is how it went...

Breakfast: Salmon and fried Brussels, zucchini and leeks (is yummier than it sounds).

Snack: handful of nuts and an apple

Lunch: fresh shrimp and spinach

Snack (pre WOD): can of smoked salmon and a hot protein shake!!! Yum!!!

Dinner: chicken stew made in the slow cooker (flavoured with garlic, chilli, basil, salt and pepper). 

Today's Tip: Start the day off with protein. This will keep your blood sugar levels stable and stop those cravings later in the day. 

During the weekends I will try some new recipes and post them! :) Have a go at following my daily food plan. 

Breakfast

Snatch City for the WOD Today

Todays WOD

Dinner

Beauty In Strength: STRONG not SKINNY

This video inspired me to begin writing this blog. Throughout my life I have always struggled with body image and never being skinny enough, or tall enough. Why? And for who? There is definitely more to life!! Like solely putting focus on achieving fitness goals. 

This YouTube clip is great for motivation! Have a look.