Real Clean

​Perception. Perception is the way a person might look at a situation or in this case, a definition. Everyone’s definition of eating “clean” is different. Each person has their own opinion and what works for them is what works for them. This is my opinion on the subject and the way that I look at the different aspects of eating. I do not count calories. I do not count points. I merely eat what is good for me and indulge in moderation. First and foremost I want to stress the point that clean eating is NOT a diet; it is a lifestyle. It is not a short term fad diet but a way of life. You have to stop thinking of food as a comfort or something to do when you are bored and start to think of food as fuel for your body. Once you have accomplished that goal then you are on your way to a healthier you!

​Clean eating is basically feeding your body the best foods possible so that it can function properly. For example, if you put bad gas into your car you won’t be going very far I’m afraid. But, if you fill up your car with the correct type of gas then you can drive across the whole country! The same goes for your stomach, if you eat greasy fast food or an entire box of Oreos everyday then you aren’t getting the necessary nutrients that your body needs to function properly and keep you feeling good.Some people say if it leaves your plate messy and greasy then it will leave your stomach like that too. One good way at determining if it is clean or not is to read the label. If the label has ingredients that you cannot pronounce then you are better off without it. Clean eating is all about consuming less ingredients and more nutrients. It’s about eating less processed and more natural.

    Eating whole wheat and whole grains is a great place to start but it doesn’t end there. Consuming plenty of fruits and veggies each day is a vital part of your meals each and every day. Knowing I am not the only one who has a hard time, I just want to say that it is not as hard as it seems. I have gone sixteen years refusing to eat anything that was considered a fruit or vegetable but now it is part of every meal. If you are still hesitant, pick one vegetable and one fruit every week and try something new. Especially with veggies there are so many different ways to prepare them so that they taste different. For me, I hardly like anything raw. All my veggies have to be either cooked, steamed or sautéed.

    Just remember this is a big change so take it slow to prevent becoming overwhelmed. Change just a few things each week and choose healthy swaps for certain unhealthy options. Keep an open mind and know that these aren’t restrictions but options for a better, healthier future. So now that I have blabbed enough, I thought I’d show you guys an example of a normal day for me and what foods I take to work for the day. I also want to point out that I do eat 5 to 6 small meals a day instead of 3 larger ones. For breakfast I will always have a banana with something whether it be some whole grain cheerio’s or sometimes I’ll have a whole grain waffle and top it off with a dash of cinnamon. About 3 hours later I’ll have the Special K protein bar, see below, which is absolutely delicious! Then some lunch, which in this case is steamed broccoli and carrots with a chicken salad that is topped off with some all natural cubed cheese. After I get off work I’ll usually have another smaller protein bar as a pre workout snack as well as just to hold me over until dinner. As you can see I am definitely not depriving myself either and I never get so hungry that I think about just grabbing something quick and easy. It is all about preparing your meals ahead of time so you have all those healthy options at your fingertips.

​Moving on to one of my favorite chicken recipes! It’s called Oven Baked Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken. I know, I know, it’s a really long name but it is amazing. I love it because it is super simple even I can make it as well as the sweet element the brown sugar adds to it. So if you have a sweet tooth this is definitely the one to try soon!

OVEN BAKED GARLIC BROWN SUGAR CHICKEN

Ingredients:

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

4 garlic cloves, minced

4 tablespoons brown sugar

3 teaspoons olive oil

Directions:

1.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees and lightly grease a casserole dish

2.

In a small sauté pan, sauté garlic with the oil until tender (or until brown)

3.

Remove from heat and stir in brown sugar

4.

Place chicken breasts in a prepared baking dish and cover with the garlic and brown sugar mixture (it’s a mixture not a glaze but feel free to add some honey if desired)

5.

Add salt and pepper to taste (I never do)

6.

Bake for 25-28 minutes

 

Here is some pictures of how I cooked it!

 

 My sautéed garlic!

Garlic and brown sugar mixture!

 

Make sure to evenly distribute the mixture onto the chicken! I also poke holes in the chicken as well to help the mixture soak in!

TA DA!!!! Amazingly yummy SWEET chicken! (ignore the half that's already gone!)

New Replacement November

      Okay you guys time to get down to business! Each month I will post a fitness challenge as well as a food challenge. During that challenge it is your job to focus and to not cheat. If you give it your all you will not be disappointed! Some will be easier than others but nonetheless it is a challenge. There are no excuses and no breaks! Focus on one day at a time and one meal at a time.

      If I have learned anything recently I have learned that healthy eating requires me to plan ahead. It is so much easier to fuel your body with healthy things if you know exactly what you are going to eat and when. Planning ahead also decreases the amount of temptation I might have as I drive past a Whataburger or Sonic. When I know I have something delicious at home waiting for me, it is easy for me to pass those things up. Each week I will also be posting my favorite clean eating meals that go along with our challenges. This food will be fuel for your body and delicious without being bland or boring. Each and every month will be something different and exciting.  

        As I introduce the first set of challenges I don’t want you to completely disregard them knowing that thanksgiving is approaching. You can still stay on track even through the holidays. Just remember to indulge in moderation. Take one step at a time and you will be amazed at where you will be at in a year or even just a few months! Changes don’t happen overnight so once you commit to a challenge pursue it with your whole heart and you will be able to achieve unimaginable things.

​This month the food challenge will be to replace all white rice with brown rice and all white bread to full and 100% whole wheat. On December 1st your pantry should be filled with all whole grain items including flour, bread, tortillas, pasta, pizza crust, cereal and anything else you can find to replace with whole grain or whole wheat. We will call this challenge the New Replacement November.

​Moving on to our fitness part of the challenge, I challenge you to take control of the thoughts in your mind that come up with all the bogus excuses. I challenge you toovercome those obstacles and defeat the voice that says, “I’ll start tomorrow.” I challenge you to pick something or someone to do it for. Pick something that inspires you to do more than you could ever have thought possible. Put your heart and soul into each workout and I promise you that you won’t regret it. Most importantly have fun with it! Find a workout buddy to support and push you even when you don’t feel like working out. The reward lies in knowing that two weeks ago you weren’t able to do what you just did. Progress is your goal no matter how slow or how fast progress is your goal. So here’s to always having a better tomorrow!

Just the Beginning

​As I sit here thinking about what exactly I want this blog to be about and what to include, I can’t help but think about everything that has lead up to this moment. I hope to include all the ups and downs of training as well as my favorite clean food recipes. As I go through this journey to a healthier lifestyle my mind races. It races through all the excitement, all the delicious, nutritional food that is awaiting it’s time in the spotlight, and all the exhilarating miles that lie before me. It races through everything that could become of my life.

​With that being said I would like to share the answer to an overly asked question. Why do I run? Running not only benefits my physical body but also spiritually and emotionally as well. Running is my stress reliever, my go-to on a bad day, my celebration on a good day and my perseverance on a day when I would rather sleep. It symbolizes freedom and hope. It’s a friendly reminder of who is ultimately in control – God. The longer and faster I run the better I feel. The burning of my lungs, the pounding of my shoes as they hit the pavement one after another, my racing heart, and the blaring music that runs through the cords of my headphones…that is what keeps me going. When it gets difficult and I feel like giving up I know that my God will give me strength. He will light up my path. He will carry my load. He will keep me going.

​I run for many different reasons including my sanity but mostly I run for those who are unable. I know all too well what it is like to not have the ability to run but to be honest I wouldn’t take back what happened for anything. Fortunately for me that chapter of my life has passed and gone away and it is now time to improve the future. However, when I say unable I do not, under any circumstance, include the people who don’t WANT to or say they are too BUSY. Those people can suck it up and run. I am talking about the people who wake up in the morning hoping that they have the strength to make it through another long day. I run to support them and to prove to them that there really is a light at the end of the tunnel.

​My adventure has just begun and I can’t wait to see where God will lead me to next. Some people say they have a fear of the unknown but in my opinion life is like a never ending surprise. Forest Gump said it best, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.” So you can either stay in fear or lunge at the challenge that is set forth with a positive attitude and a giving heart.