The Fame of Health and Fitness

Long flight ahead so I’m boarding with a few treats! #chicago #cheat #popcorn #driedmango #chobani @chobani #diet #asf2013 #doesnthappenoftenbutitdoes

I ‘might’ have bought this. #guilty #chocolate #moderation #balance #cheat #guiltfree #sharing @fatikusch @mari_quite_contrary @fitleslie365

And the ‘love’ begins! Eat it? Just a few…? Or ‘No thank you!’ …? #valentines #whitesugar #dirty #cheat #willpower #thoughts #opinion #eat #foodporn #artificial

True story: Not often but I sometimes eat a quality burger. Tonight was one of those nights. Pure DELISH! I had the Moonstruck Blue (Salt spring Island blue cheese with Fraser valley smoked bacon). #foodporn #balance #food #burger #cheat #blessedbodies365

Let the birthday and @oxygenmagazine celebrations begin! #foodporn #sushi #friends #dinner #goodtimes #cheat

More holiday ‘stay-on’track tips’ from one of my very first fitness inspirations, Elaine Goodlad.

“PORTION CONTROL IS KEY” I really like the idea of enjoying little things throughout the day as oppose to indulging all at once. From my past experience, eating my treats all in one sitting have not resulted in a good feeling post dinner.

[Source: Oxygen magazine, December 2012 issue]

“No thank you” pizza! You smell good but my goals are better than you!

For Halloween this year we went as a SUGAR SKULL CANDY couple (thanks @angies-life for the idea)

I am happy to report that I kept last night’s #ipromise

• #ipromise to not drink any alcohol: I drank Perrier
• #ipromise to eat clean: I did not eat any unclean snacks at the party, although the chocolate chip cookies tried to slip their number in my pocket, I threw it away.

However, I did break one #ipromise…

• #ipromise to eat only with my competition meal plan: This is my second week of not having a guilt-free meal and I was feeling extremely munchy and wanting dessert. I did not eat anything ‘dirty’ but I did have more healthy fats than I was suppose to. I had more peanut butter and coconut butter. It’s not a huge problem, but I do need to be honest if I broke a promise to myself, which I did. I know why I did and I think it’s time to plan a guilt-free meal this week.

On a side note, tomorrow we are purchasing our first VITAMIX blender!!!! I am beyond excited! I can’t wait to experiment with different recipes especially making CLEAN ICE CREAM!!! I know this will be helpful in the next few months to come.

TONIGHT: Unplanned ‘Guilt-free meal’

Usually I plan my guilt-free meals but the last half of this week has been chaotic and I did not plan as wisely as I usually do. 

With that being said, I always enjoy a quality burger and beer and I don’t feel guilty. It was actually a great date night and some great discussion came from tonight which has led me to finalize the #ipromise challenge that I will present to you shortly. 

Everything happens for a reason and I was just waiting for some sense to come of what has been happening and tonight I realized why.

SOMETIMES IT’S HARD…

Last week was my girlfriend’s birthday and before we went to her party I ate a meal (like I usually do) and we did a pit stop at COSTCO. While I was there I picked up some vegetables (to bring home) and a veggie tray to bring to the party to ensure I had something to snack on. Normally I would have my one guilt-free meal per week to work with but I’m preparing for some upcoming opportunities so having cake was not an option. But if I did have that one guilt-free meal then I would have used it to enjoy some homemade birthday cake.

The cake was tempting, looked delicious, and smelled even better. It was a homemade EARL GREY tea cake and I know it was delicious based on the moaning and eye-rolling in the room. I wanted to have a piece but like I said I couldn’t. For me personally it is a lot easier to say “No thank you” when there is incentive or a goal I am aiming for. My “No thank you” will make more sense soon and my friends who hosted the party know what’s ahead and completely support my journey and even went ahead and froze a piece for me to have in the Fall! How sweet and thoughtful!

Nothing replaces people genuinely supporting your journey and lifestyle! I’m grateful.

76 Days Out: GUILT-FREE MEAL

Happy Easter to me! This Easter The Original Cupcakes created a very special Easter cupcake with Mini Eggs on top!!! You know I love chocolate and especially Mini Eggs so how could I not incorporate this guilt-free meal?

I put in a special order for my fiance: peanut butter icing on chocolate cupcake. For myself, I ordered chocolate icing on a RED VELVET cupcake!

PURE HEAVEN!!! I always enjoy and appreciate my guilt-free meals!

GUILT-FREE MEAL: I usually don’t choose a ‘burger and fries’ for my guilt-free meals but I’m far out enough from my competition that I know something this large won’t have that much of an impact on me. During my first competition prep I only used my guilt-free meals on dessert but this time around I am going for entrees. I think it might have to do with the fact that I have learned how to make some clean desserts that fit into my program.

Meal: diet coke (2 weeks with no alcohol so far), Man’s Man Burger (Thick-sliced applewood bacon, local creamery amber ale cheddar, onion strings, smoked alder salts, vine-ripened tomato, whole grain mustard),and shared yam fries.

All from my favourite place: Romer’s Burger Bar.

In case you’re wondering, yes, I do feel ‘heavier’ today but I am not concerned. The feeling will soon subside and I know how my body reacts to meals like this. Sure, I will most likely weigh 1-3lbs more on Monday but that’s okay because as long as I continue with my training and clean eating, those few pounds will be gone by Wednesday or Thursday. My competition prep has taught me to not be so concerned with the number on the scale and more concerned with how I feel and how my clothes fit. It’s more important to me that I feel and look leaner as oppose to the number on the scale. Also, this competition prep specifically I will be weighing in heavier on-stage because I am working on building more muscle and this too I am okay with. I need to look and feel great, the number on the scale will not reflect that. Getting to this place took practice and time and this too is part of the mind games that come with this journey. I was reading in the April issue of Oxygen magazine and I thought it was so interesting that my ‘ABSpiration’, Maggie D, does not have a scale in her home. I love this. True inspiration right there.

Do I feel guilty for my meal last night? NO. Did I enjoy every bite? YES. Did I question if whether I should be eating this burger? NO. It’s such a treat to be able to enjoy something like this once a week if I want. The closer I get to my competition the less these opportunities will arise. Although this is a planned ‘cheat’ I still like to choose quality. I would never use my free meal on Burger King, for example.

You often hear me talk about the “mind games” of competing and having a ‘cheat meal’ is also plays a roll. As easy as it might be for some of you to down a burger, not everyone can do it. If you can eat it, how do you feel before you eat it? During? After? Allowing yourself a reward like this without beating yourself up is part of the journey.

Anyway, it was a great night spent with good friends of ours filled with loads of laughter!

Tonight’s Planned Cheat Meal: CHOCOLATE PECAN PIE with vanilla bean ice cream from my favourite pie shop in the city, Aprodite’s Cafe and Pie Shop. Every bite was a delicious moment.