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Creating a healthy pantry that you keep stocked is the key to healthy eating for me.  At 58 years old, I never thought I could turn my bad eating habits around but I did with the help of my trainer, Kelly, a membership I now use to the gym and a plan to buy, eat and prepare healthy food.  Down 60 lbs, I now love my new healthy life.

I am on the go all day for work so I keep a cooler of food with me in my car to stay on track.

Here’s what I keep in my house at ALL times (You must keep a list going at all times of things you need to replenish to stay on the plan)

I do NOT count calories, I just eat healthy!

PANTRY GOODS

Everything is organized in zip lock bags (3 sizes) or plastics containers

•Organic Oatmeal quick Oats

•UnSweetened Coconut

•Cacao Powder

•cranberries,walnuts,almonds,cashews

•granola( no more than 4g sugar) or make your own

•Sweet Potatoes

•Red potatoes

•Brown rice, Quinoa

•Peanut Butter /Organic low sugar

•mini chocolate chips

•Canola oil, Coconut oil

•Panko bread crumbs

•Newman’s olive oil &Vinegar

•lemon juice,mustard,honey,ginger

•Black Beans

•Artichoke Hearts

•fat-free refried beans,brown rice, canned chicken and tuna and salmon

•green tea, dark chocolate

•Shakeology /strawberry,chocolate, vanilla,

•Skinny pop popcorn

SPICES:

21 seasoning salute (trader Joes), creole, basil, cinnamon, red pepper flakes, sea salt, pepper, parsley

cold milled ground flax seeds, chia seeds

FRESH

•eggs

•light string cheese

•Greek Yogurt (low sugar)

•Basil Pesto

•chopped garlic, edamame, hummus

•peppers, avocado, spinach, kale, Romaine, broccoli slaw, shredded carrots

•carrots, broccoli, cucumbers, celery, onions, mushrooms, brussels sprouts, lemons, tomatoes, peas

•bananas, strawberries, apples (frozen pineapple, blueberries, mango for smoothies)

•Ground turkey, chicken, chicken sausage

I keep a lot of frozen fish (Salmon, tilapia, halibut, shrimp, scallops) take out in the morning its fine to cook at night.

Here is a sample of my daily meals, I keep all meals simple:

Breakfast is oatmeal with fruit ,nuts and 2 glasses of water

Mid morning snack is yogurt w/ granola and tea , 2 more glasses of water

Lunch is usually a salad with chicken or fish, 2 squares of chocolate, water

Mid afternoon snack apple with peanut butter, hummus carrots or my shakeology shake, water then for

Dinner meat, chicken or fish with veggies & potato or rice

Late snack if I need one popcorn or nuts and tea and water.

Thank you Sheila for sharing how you stay organized with healthy eating. The key to success is being prepared & having healthy foods on hand at all times and by avoiding purchasing unhealthy foods! I would also like to say how proud I am of how far you have come on your journey.

(The Picture on the left was taken a year ago in 2014, and the picture on the right was yesterday!)

You amaze me with your weight loss and fitness success over this past year

You have exceeded so many goals already. Not only have you created a lifestyle change for yourself but you have showed me that you are in this forever and I’m so happy to be a part of your journey! 

I set my own goal on February 4th… to get stronger and fitter by my 30th birthday (Today March 9th). When I asked myself why I wanted to get stronger, the answer was for “myself.” Not for anyone else. I haven’t shared this with anyone, not even Marc. So there you go Marc. There’s my goal and my secret

I asked myself WHY?? Why do I want to get stronger? My main reason was that I wanted to prove to myself that I could finish this program. I know I probably sound super corny when I say this but I was excited for this challenge!!! Every time I began one of the beachbody programs in the past, something happened (injury/pregnancy). I kind of felt like I was jinx.

For the first time in 4 years I have been able to kick my own A$$ without an injury or a pregnancy sidelining me. If you are curious what went on in the past few years, here goes: 4 years ago I had hip surgery… it took a full year to recover. Even after I recovered and I was cleared for everything, I was afraid to push 100% because I was scared of re-injury. Then I got pregnant, and although I exercised I didn’t do intense exercise. 8 weeks after I had Ava I broke my collar-bone. That was a little over a year ago and you know what?? I am the strongest I have been in 5 years. I am so happy I can say that out loud.

In the last month I have seen progress in my core strength and I can see changes in my arms, specifically my triceps. This took all my guts to post these pictures. I am a pretty private person. Yes I have a blog but the purpose of my blog is to help people and motivate people to be healthy besides that, I am shy, reserved and I keep to myself. So basically thank you for letting me share this with you!! I don’t know if you can see the change but I sure do and I feel it.

To be able to share with you my progress is sort of like a weight lifted off of my shoulders because I put myself out there to better myself and to let you know its okay to be vulnerable. It actually feels good.

I’ve reached my 30th Bday today and seeing physical changes and strength gains was ALL I needed to keep pushing forward. I am mentally in this and it feels good. Being a part of a challenge has helped me stay on track and has given me a positive energy that I can’t really explain. You will know the energy I am talking about when you are 100% committed to something.

Sure there have been days when I didn’t want to work out or my energy was low but I looked over some motivational quotes and they helped me to push through and work hard. Even trainers/instructors need a little kick start every once in a while. I think back on the past month and there were several days where I didn’t work out (I was sick or my body said NO and I listened)  but then there were good days when I worked 110% and even did a double workout! I will thank my fitness classes for the doubles!

I have to thank Shakeology for curbing my sweet tooth on numerous occasions. My diet was on point I’d say 90-95% of the time. I treated myself here and there with wine, lava cakes, 1/2 cup of ice cream, or a slice of pizza but I think I have found a great balance! 

You have to enjoy life too right?!??!

What is something about your body you want to change and WHY?

 What can you do to change your mind to focus?