Pumped!

How's your week??

I am having a great week!  I've been sticking to my meal plan, enjoying "clean cheats", and going hard at the gym!!

Meal Plan:
Apparently, the first time I tried this meal plan I skipped a couple of the recipes.  I'm happy to have discovered the Ninja Nut Bread recipe, among others, this time around!  I think last time I went through the meal plan I skipped this particular recipe because I still had a bunch of left-over home-made protein bars.  Anyhow, it was interesting having some Bread that didn't contain any flour, milk, or sugar. It was definitely not the sweetest bread I've ever had but it pairs well with almond milk or coffee and is surely way better for me than regular bread.  Here's the Ninja Nut Bread hanging out in my little loaf pans:

Today's dinner will be lasagna.  I made this the first time I went through the meal plan and loved it!  Instead of using pasta between layers, this recipe calls for zucchini between the layers.  It's awesome being able to eat lasagna without the icky feelings in my tummy afterwards!  Here is the lasagna right before I put it in the oven:

Clean Cheats:
Clean cheats aren't strictly on my meal plan but contain lots of nutrients & health benefits. A Cheetos chip for example, would NOT be a clean cheat - that's just a cheat because there is so little in it that is good for you; but a dessert that is prepared to provide maximum nutrients and that has no added sugar or dairy but that still tastes delish might be a clean cheat! Here are some photos of a prior clean cheat I prepared:

I think my favorite clean cheat of all time might be steak.  If I keep my portion size right and prepare the steak the right way it isn't a cheat at all...but sometimes there's just an extra bit of butter or something else delectable about the steak that makes it fall into the clean cheat category.  So yummy! So yummy! I had a really delicious steak on Sunday that absolutely made my day!  I wish I had a good photo to share but the restaurant was dimly lit.  It's probably better that way...

Gym:
Go hard or go home! I am always trying to make progress with my workouts but sometimes I get complacent and do what I've done a dozen times before.  I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that - doing the same routine is a heck of a lot better than no exercise at all - but my goal right now is PROGRESS.  I can't expect different results if I'm doing the same workout I've always done. This week has been all about trying new exercises, pushing harder at familiar exercises, and ensuring that every workout is worth the time spent at the gym. Yes, it's exhausting.  Yes, I'm sore.  Yes, my food intake is more important than ever.  But it is so worth it.  I love how I feel right now.  I feel strong.  I feel energized.  I feel like my goals are not just thoughts in my head but instead are a reality that I'm closer to each and every day.  Here's me at the gym working on my stems:

Did y'all know that Ryan's 4 week weigh-in is this Thursday??  I am super excited to share his progress with y'all!! Expect an update soon!