Diet/Exercise Tips & Tricks!

Since I'm getting beach ready {Current Countdown: 21 days-eeeek!} I've been working super hard carb cycling, two-a-days, lifting, cardio, etc.


Here are a few tips & tricks {that I find handy} to keep yourself on track!



I love getting my Fitness Magazines in the mail. To me, it's one of the best Women's Fitness Magazines out there. They talk about everything from diets & exercises, to figuring out the men & beauty! It's about $12 a year and it comes in the mail every month. I love opening the mail box and seeing it!

Having supportive friends is important. Ask your friends to go on runs with you or meet you at the gym! I do Insanity sometimes in the morning at a friends house. Sometimes I meet some friends to run. Sometimes I lift weights with a friend at the gym. It's important to have friends that want to swing by Subway vs. swinging by McDonalds. Gross!

Fran is keeping me motivated here, by reminding me that I just ordered my swim suit.
She's a trickster.




FOOD!
{Everyone's fave thing, right?}


Tip one: STAY OFF PINTEREST FOOD & DRINK BOARD
Stay ON the Fitness Board
Tip two: Don't buy junk at the grocery store, if you don't want to be tempted with it in your cabinets and fridge.
Tip three: Have meal plans & prep meals.


Tuna wraps are easy and delicious. You can put anything on them!
Lots of people ask what I put in my tuna.

I have two options...

One:
Tuna
Light Mayo
Relish
Crushed Red Pepper

Two:
Tuna
Cottage Cheese*
Relish
Crushed Red Pepper

*The cottage cheese is a GREAT way to get added nutrition that mayo doesn't provide. You really can't taste it-trust me when I say this, because I'm not a cottage cheese fan.


When doing any type of wrap remember:
Mustard not mayo
Eat the heat {spice}
Add whatever veggies & fruits you want
If you're cutting carbs-use lettuce.



Kabobs. Uh, yum!
What a great way to cookout & stay healthy! It is important to be careful with the spices and marindaes you use. To keep it simple, we always use Mrs. Dash. You can find some at Walmart, but they have a better selection at places like Kroger & Publix!

Our go to's:
Shrimp, steak, chicken, pork chops.
Pineapples, peppers, onions, carrots, etc.

In the photo above, you see some rice. That's a healthy stir fry we made!
Boil some brown rice, microwave some steam fresh veggies.
When both are done throw them in a skillet on olive oil. Fry for 2-3 minutes.
Move everything to one side of the pan and scramble up 2-4 egg whites.
Mix it all together and add a little water and TINY BIT {1 tbsp} soy sauce.
Let it cook for a few minutes and wah-lah! Good and healthy!


Baked chicken is always a good easy meal. Trim the fat, bake the chicken 30 minutes on 350 in seasoning. Add a hard boiled egg and veggies and you got yourself a good meal!

Asparagus is a good veggie too. You can cook in a sauce pan, on the grill, or even broil in the oven. Our go to seasoning for asparagus is Italian Dressing/Balsamic Vinagarette.

This was something I threw together one night. A healthy mexican casserole. I might as well be mexican, because it is my go to. So this was a good way to make it feel like I was cheating. ;)

Boil some cubed chicken.
Sautee peppers and onions.
Layer whole wheat tortillas in the bottom of a casserole dish.
Mix together black beans {drained and rinsed}, salsa, peppers, onions, and chicken-throw in whatever spices you desire.
Bake 350 for 30 minutes.



Prepping meals is SO important.

Instead of baking 2 chicken breasts at a time-throw a whole pack in the oven. Get your containers out and get your meals ready. Go ahead and cook your vegetables & rice, potatoes, whatever you are eating for the week and divvy it out! Then there are no excuses to, 'Ohhh well I don't have anything to eat-I'll grab Sonic.' Uh, no. When I'm pressed for times and don't have a prepped meal I grab a can of tuna, whatever I want to throw in it and improvise with a simple meal like that.



You know that Special K commercial that talks about if you have the late night cravings grab a bowl of their Chocolaty Special K cereal? WRONG. How is drinking milk at 9 o'clock gonna do you any good? At night is when you store the most calories, because you're down for the night {Not moving}. Milk slows down your digestive system and sits on your stomach. I have a rule of thumb-no milk after noon. Many researches have shown that yogurt is a great thing to eat late at night. Especially if you're trying to build muscle. Go for the light, while you're at it! They have {I feel like} MILLIONS of options to choose from. They have everything from fruit tastes to dessert ones! Yum.

At Kroger the other day I found these whips. Wow. They are amazing! It says you can try them frozen, so next time I get them I'm gonna do it!



Just a few things I thought I would share. Got any questions, let me know!