On a separate note, I'm going to write this blog to answer some common questions that I get. If you already know about clean eating, what to buy, where to find it, etc, then this post isn't for you. Everyone else:
If you follow the same workout program I did/do the Jamie Eason 12-week Livefit trainer (http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/jamie-eason-livefit-trainer.html) then you will see there is a menu link on the page as well as recipes. I love the recipes. Some of them are staples in my kitchen. I highly recommend the 3-bean turkey chili, the Monster Meatloaf, and all of the homemade protein bars. I'm currently loving the pumpkin protein bars. The program gives you suggestions for sample meals to eat for all 6 (yes I said 6 meals) for the day. In the beginning, a lot of people tell me they don't feel hungry enough to each that many times per day. Yes yes, I felt that way too. Your metabolism isn't used to it. I recommend eating ALL 6 meals every day, even in the first few weeks when you don't feel hungry. You will find in a couple of weeks your metabolism will have caught up and you will be hungry and ready for your next meal before the time arrives. If you have problems remembering to eat every 3 hours b/c you are busy, set alarm reminders on your phone. Where there is will, there is a way. No excuses.
Next, whey protein. I use all natural (sweetened with Stevia NOT sucralose-the stuff Splenda is made from) whey protein. I have a post-workout protein shake within 30 minutes of working out (cardio or lifting). I also have a protein shake before bed. The program calls for egg whites before bed, but I don't eat eggs. I sometimes make protein whey pudding or ice cream, but lately it has just been a shake before bed. It gives my muscles nutrients to feed off of and recover for those 8 (hopefully) hours of sleep. Also, if I don't consume some sort of protein before bed I wake up in the middle of the night famished. I mix my protein shakes with almond milk. Almond milk has considerably less sugar than regular milk, yes even skim milk. I no longer drink regular milk for this reason. It's all about limiting sugars. I order my whey protein from www.bodybuilding.com b/c they ship crazy fast and usually you get a free gift. Win win!
 |
| I use this protein for my protein bars and my before bed shake. http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/opt/natwhey.html |
 |
| Matt only likes chocolate and is fond of this brand. I like chocolate for my post-workout shakes. I also put a banana, ground flax seed, and raw spinach leaves in my post-workout shakes. http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/mrm/100-percent-all-natural-whey.html |
 |
| Almond Milk |
As stated above, I ALWAYS have homemade protein bars made each week. Usually I eat 4 bars with a bag of raw veggies for meal 2. The protein bars call for oat flour. I buy the really big thing of Old Fashioned Quaker Oats (plain oatmeal) and grind it up in the blender. Oat flour!!!! You can buy it already ground up but 1) I have never found it and 2) this is pretty inexpensive.
I use Stevia to sweeten my coffee and it is called for in most of the protein bar recipes. I buy the little packs and they are found in the same isle where sugar and Splenda are. So why not Splenda, it's cheaper?? Splenda is artificially made. Naturally found products are going to be easier for your system to digest. Plus, no one knows if artificially made products have carcinogens, cause cancer, etc. A lot of people say Splenda causes extra bloat in your belly and here we are trying to slim our bellies down. On occasion if I end up somewhere (say out to eat or a coffee shop) and most don't have Stevia, I will have Splenda. Although I do try to keep a few packs in my purse for this exact reason. I also have a big bag of Stevia in my pantry all the time for cooking. It is substituted equally for sugar.
 |
| Stevia I use in my coffee |
 |
| Stevia I use for cooking. For some reason the commissary doesn't carry this size bag. I find them at Target. |
 |
| I didn't mention this above, but instead of Stevia I like to use Truvia in my yogurt, Chobani plain. I add this and fresh berries. Don't buy the already mixed kinds...the sugar is too high. |
Flax seed can be found in the 'organic' section of the commissary or grocery stores. I buy the whole seeds and grind my myself. I find they stay fresher longer this way. I keep them in a ziplock baggy in the frig and use as needed. I put ground flax seed in my post-workout protein shakes.
I hope this helps. Last but very not least, if you need a workout program to follow and don't know what to do I recommend the one associated with this website. It is dumby proof. On day 1, you will do push ups. If you can't do them yet, try them on your knees and work up. Don't get defeated. Everything is scaled down if you need it to be. Challenge yourself.
 |
| I love pushups. You can take the girl out of the Army, but can't take the Army out of the girl! |
