Clean Eating.....must include planning ahead!!!

If you don't plan ahead you probably won't have clean meals on hand when meal/snack time comes around....especially if you have a full time job and are super busy like most of us are.  One way I plan ahead is by grocery shopping and cooking ahead for the week on Sundays.  I plan all my meals ahead, which keeps calories in check, keeps meals clean and saves time when overtime hours are worked and time is of the essence.

(My fridge full of all the prepared and portioned meals and snacks)

First of all, make sure you have plenty of tupperware, which will allow you to store all your preplanned meals as needed.  My fav tupperware for lunchs and dinners are from Walmart.  They are less than $2 for 3 sets and they have 2 sections for your main entree and then your side dish. They are also a perfect size...not too big, but not too tiny either.  I also like to use garage sale like dot sticks to put the calorie count of each meal on the tupperware, so I can easily track my calories throughout the day.  I also place a little strip of clear tape on top, so the numbers don't fade away.

Once I have my groceries and tupperware, I decide what meals I want to make.  I had my heart set on making chilli and also wanted to re-make the turkey bake receipe i made up last week. 

(Above, Chicken and Black Bean Chilli)

(Turkey bake and carrots)

Then I grilled a pound of chicken on the George Foreman and turned that into a few random but supper yummy meals as well.  I also pulled out the batch of brown rice I had made yesterday to add some heartyness to the meals.

(Cheesy Chicken and Rice with Asparagus)

(Chicken and Potatoes w/ Greek Yogurt on top (tastes like sour cream) and Asparagus)

(Chicken Salad and Bread, to make a sandwhich....had this for dinner tonight)

(Chicken and Mushrooms Over Rice with Guac)

(Marinara Mushroom Chicken and Rice with Asparagus)

I also prepacked my snacks, like these grapes, and tried to keep each snack about 100 cals, these grase are 90cals for 1 and 1/2 cups.....and such a yummy snack!!

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Hope you all enjoyed this little look into how I get ready for the week ahead with clean eating.  If you would like me to share some receipes let me know.  :)  ~Kendra~

What a transformation......

The pic on the left was me in February about to go to the movies with my boyfriend....I didn't realize how overweight and unhealthy I had become.  On the right is me a week or so ago and I have lost a few lbs since then....I'm less than 10lbs away from my goal weight and healthier than I have felt in a long time.  I'm eating clean, exercising regularly and continuing to make strides in my goal to not only lose weight, but to be come a well-rounded health concious person who takes care of their body.  It feels so good to look at the two pictures in comparison.  That person on the left doesn't even feel like me anymore...even though it was merely mths ago....it feels like lifetimes ago...I've changed so much for who I was when that picture was taken and I never want to go back to that place.  So here I am on the brink of my goal weight, discovering clean eating and continue to exercise....it's not always easy for sure, but it is always, ALWAYS worth it!!!!

~Kendra~

Todays a HUGE day for me........

I've hit the 50lbs lost mark......Can you believe it?  I know I can't!!!  I got up this morning, like any normal day, and trudged into the bathroom for my morning routine and weighed myself.  The scale said 144.4....seriously???!!!  I instantly texted my bf and called my mom....I was sooo excited!!!  I decided this was the day to finally clean out my closet off all my clothes that don't fit, which has been super fun, but I don't have many clothes left, so next Friday as soon as I get my next paycheck...it's shopping time for sure!! 

Other exciting news...I get my braces off and my teeth whitened on the 15th.  Yay!!!  I am mega excited about all the exciting things going on right now.  Oh and I have been loving my new job...and have been doing a lot of overtime (by choice) which I totally hated at my old job, but at my new job time flies by and I just love it!!!

Hope everyone else is doing great too!! :)  ~Kendra~

Clean Eating Day 1 Update

Day of clean eating has been awesome....here's a breakdown:

Breakfast:
1cup of All natural cinnamon cereal and 1cup of Silk

Snack 1:
2 cups of purple grapes

Snack 2:
1 cup of dry all natural cinnamon cereal

Lunch:
Baked Chicken Breast and Mized Veggies

Snack 3:
1 Lg Banana (Sliced)

Dinner:
Turkey meatloaf and sweet potatoe fries

Yummy food....even better than the "healthy" processed meals I'd become so accustomed to.  I am also really enjoying cooking and preparing meals...I think it's because this time I made the concious choice to do it....when I do something, because I "have to" I either hate it or don't do it...lol  Bad on my part I know, but the good thing, the empowering thing about this journey to weight loss and overall total health was my choice.  It was something I decided for myself, which gives me the fire and determination to keep going, because it's not something on my checklist I have to get done and wanna rush through, it's something I'm willing to work on and give my 100% effort too.  I am just loving this whole journey. :)  I feel like it was finnaly my time to choose the change needed to succeed.  ~Kendra~