Monday, September 30, 2013

Week 8 in Review + Butternut Soup Recipe


Good Monday Morning!  I hope that you had a great weekend.  We sure did, as I mentioned on Friday we went to visit my brother and sister in law in Cleveland.  We went to a great dinner at an authentic Italian restaurant in Little Italy on Saturday night and then went to the Cleveland Zoo on Sunday, which Ariana loved!  It was a nice visit and we are excited they will be moving back to Michigan after they have the baby.  How was your weekend?  Did you do anything fun or go anywhere exciting?

Before I get to my week 8 in review I wanted to update you on my IIFYM program, or lack thereof.  After 5 days on the plan with a lot of planning, cooking, weighing, and scheduling my meals not to mention too much food (for me at least) I have decided to stop with the IIFYM.  It is not for me.  On Thursday night I ate so much food (mind you it was all healthy food), but I was eating just to reach a number and it hit me that this really isn't going to work for my lifestyle.  It was taking over my whole day, and for me that is not balance.  I have been working on reaching that good balance and the IIFYM was taking me out of that.  I wasn't listening to my body and didn't stop eating when I was satisfied, I was eating just to hit my macro goals.  I am going to return to my normal healthy eating habits and I will track for a few weeks in My Fitness Pal to make sure I am getting the right amounts of food for me.  I think that for the right person IIFYM would work, but in the end I had to do what I felt was right for me and my body and stop before it did damage to all the work I have been doing on creating a healthy lifestyle that I can maintain.

On to my week 8 in review!  I took 3 rest days this weekend, mostly because we were so busy, but also because I was so sore from my heavy lifting week.  Even though I had one week left on my original schedule, I changed up my week a little.  This week will be a new plan with some Jillian added in!  I can't believe that I am moving into weeks 9-12!  I definitely have more definition than when I started, and I am feeling much stronger so I will continue to work toward my goals.  I know that it takes time commitment and consistency to reach my goals, and I know that I have what it takes to get there.  Check back tomorrow and I will share my weeks 9-12 workout plan. 

Monday- Heavy chest/arm day
Tuesday- glutes and abs
Wednesday- Heavy back/shoulders
Thursday- heavy arms and some quads
Friday-Sunday- REST

This week I am going to do 3 days of lifting and 6 days of the Jillian Michaels Ripped in 30.  I did this DVD program before and I love it!  I am going to work it into my week and see how I feel at the end of the week.  The few things that I was doing with IIFYM and will continue are eating a pre-workout snack about an hour to hour and a half before my workout and then 30 minutes before taking half scoop of super pump maxx with creatine on my heavy lifting days.  I feel like these two changes helped with my workouts.  How was your week?  Did you get your workouts in?

 photo credit


Here is a clean eating butternut squash soup recipe that is sure to please even the little ones in your house.  This chilly weather makes me crave warm soups. 

Clean Eating Butternut Squash Soup 
(original recipe here)
 Makes 8-10 servings

Ingredients:
2 tsp unsalted organic butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 large onion, chopped
2 to 2 1/2 lb butternut squash, peeled and chopped
5 1/2 cups low sodium vegetable broth or water
2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cumin
3/4 cups 1% organic milk
sea salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:
1- In a medium stockpot on medium high heat, melt butter and saute garlic and onion for about 5 mins
2- Add squash and broth.  Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and add cinnamon, nutmeg and cumin.  Simmer on low for about 2 hours.
3- Using a handheld blender, puree soup until smooth.  Add milk and blend until combined.  Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and serve with sliced whole-grain bread.

Nutrients per 1 cup serving: Calories: 132, total fat 1g, Carbs 30g, fiber 5g, sugar 6g, protein 3g. 

As for the rest of my menu for the week it will include:
Breakfast: eggs, toast, fruit
Lunch: salad with lots of veggies and a protein (chicken, salmon, etc), Post-workout shakes (meal replacement)
Snacks- almonds, hard boiled egg whites, apples, bananas, mozzarella cheese, kind bars
Dinner- butternut squash soup, and I think I will pull out the crock pot and make some slow cooked meals this week. I will share recipes throughout the week.


What are your workout plans for the week?  Do you try to plan your meals for the week?

11 comments:

  1. This sounds sooooo delicious! I love butternut squash! I was planning a grocery run, and I think I will pick up a squash so I can make this in the next day or 2. Thanks for sharing!

    My workouts are planned around classes I teach. I'm still learning to balance being able to feel like I got a workout vs just instructing. Sometimes I get both, sometimes it has to be one or the other. I do try to plan my meals out, though I tend to get in "meal ruts", so I can't wait to try this soup!

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    1. I went grocery shopping and grabbed one too! I am hoping to make it today or tomorrow. Let me know how yours turns out.

      What kind of classes do you teach? I would like to get into teaching group fitness classes. That may be something I work on this winter.
      Meal ruts are so easy to get in to. I love finding new recipes I can add to the mix!

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  2. I am totally going to try to this soup!! Looks amazing!!! :) And I am in the mood for warm soups too!!! :)

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  3. Good for you for being flexible as you determine what best works for you! Mmm, butternut squash soup sounds perfect right now.

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    1. Thanks Laura! It is hard trying to find that balance, I feel like I am close. The IIFYM was throwing me off that balance and I felt like it consumed my day.
      I know, I can't wait to make it and share how mine turned out.

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  4. This recipe looks amazing, can't wait to try it! Your workout plan just reminded me that I need to add in more heavy training days, my workouts have been pretty lacking in that department. Here's to a great week of fitness!

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    1. It does sound so good!
      I love my heavy days, even though I am sore for like two days after! Sometimes I am just in the mood for a good HIIT workout too. Let me know how your heavy days go, have a great week!

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  5. I'm loving all the soup recipes! Finding what foods work best for you is a process and I've learned that there is not a one size fits all.

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    1. Thanks Jill! You are so right, we each have to decide what is going to fit best into our lives and will make us the happiest and healthiest.

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  6. looks delicious....just mouthwatering!

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