On the menu!

Today is a low-carb day for me (insert sad face). I have less than 5 weeks until I compete so the carbs are decreasing and the cardio is increasing! :) now, with my carbs being so low, it is still important that I get in my daily recommended fiber, so you will notice that in some of my carb choices.

Breakfast:
Pumpkin Protein Pancakes
I used 1/3c canned pumpkin
2.5T oats
1/2 scoop Iso 100
4 egg whites
vanilla, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and stevia
So good!!!

Post-workout:
1 scoop of Iso 100
1/3c strawberries as a smoothie
1/2 of a Joseph's Lavash Flatbread baked into chips
2T low sodium black beans mixed with garlic and water for dip

Lunch:
1/2 of a Joseph's Lavash Flatbread
4oz homeade buffalo chicken
Spinach
1T Plain fat free Greek yogurt and low fat feta

Dinner:
4oz flank steak
Spinach salad with 1/2 Roma tomato
1T Walden Farms Ginger Soy vinegarette
1T flax seed

Snack:
1/2 scoop Iso 100
3 egg whites
1tsp coconut oil
Or I may have chicken with some olive oil here instead.

That's it! Not alot of carbs, but I make sure to get in a nice big green salad at some point in the day. If you are considering dropping carbs, make sure you get adequate fiber. 15g is the recommended daily MINIMUM. I suggest you aim a little higher. I even add fiber supplements on days I can't seem to get in a lot of fiber. It's so important.
Low carb isn't easy. There are days when I want nothing more than CARBS!!! But I remind myself of my goals and push through. It's not easy, but if you want something bad enough, you have to make the sacrifices that come along with it. I've even moved my vision board to my kitchen! Lol.

So 4+ weeks to go. It's right around the corner!!

Good Rest

Monday morning. :)  We've all been there.  The alarm goes off, you roll out of bed, go through the motions of getting ready, get out the door and and the week begins.  My Mondays usually start with a 5am workout session followed by 5-7 training sessions, and finally some cardio.  Busy busy days indeed.  I, like most people in the world, rarely WANT to go the gym at 5am on a Monday morning.  I always seem to make it though.  Most mornings I am tired, but I get out of bed.  I get ready, have my breakfast, have my devotional time, then head out the door.  If I'm feeling tired or sluggish, I tell myself  "Just drive to the gym, if you're still this tired when you get there, you can go back home."  I am always awake and ready for my workout by the time I get there.  This morning, however, was a different story.  I did my morning routine, and gave myself my little pep talk on the way to the gym, and when I pulled in the parking lot, I WAS STILL EXHAUSTED!  So I had to make a decision.  I could go ahead and go in and risk just having a so-so workout, or I could turn around and drive home, go back to bed for a couple hours and workout after work - risking the temptation to not want to workout, or be tired from a days work.  I sat in the parking lot for a few minutes and really tried to pump myself up - but it just wasn't there.  So I decided to go home.  I got my 2 extra hours of sleep, had a very energetic day at work and had a great workout at the end of the day.  So what's the moral of the story??
Even if you don't really want to workout in the morning, just drive yourself there at least.  99% of the time, you will be ready to workout by the time you get to the gym.  On the rare occasion (like I had today) that you are still tired when you get there, then go back home and rest!  You probably need it!  In my case this morning, I needed those 2 extra hours of sleep.  I went to bed later than normal and tried to take on the day with very  little sleep - not only would I have probably had a not-so-great workout, I probably would have been dragging at work too. 
Rest is so important - especially if you are trying to live a healty lifestyle - get the rest you need so you can make the best out of your days!  On that note, I'm going to bed! ;)


Photo from:  http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/sleep-problems-and-sleep-solutions