gain[z] box

Tips on how to stay hydrated

February 24, 2017


Welcome to another exciting post from Barbells and Boy shorts. On today’s post we’ll be talking about my favorite Apps, how to stay hydrated and people who can’t keep their thoughts to themselves!

(enter theme music here)

So, what theme music did you think of? Mine was very instrumental and almost reminded me of the intro music for Love Connection. Everyone knows about Love Connection, right? The TV dating show? If not, then I’m old and you need to You Tube that ‘ish because it was the best dating show ever!

Let’s talk Apps, shall we? There are sooooooooo many Apps out there It’s overwhelming to say the least. Again, showing my age, remember when your cell phone screen was that weird grey/green color and the phone was only good for texting and calling? Oh! And to text you had to hit the key however many times to get to the letter you needed? What a P.I.T.A. Man technology has skyrocketed. I mean think about it, that was only a few years ago, now we can have a full conversation with our phones. If you ask Siri nicely she’ll even sing to you. But, back to Apps, we have those now and they are great! So many of them help keep us organized, informed and entertained. I wanted to share with you all a few Apps that I particularly LOVE so in case you aren’t familiar with them you can check them out. A little disclaimer, I NEVER pay for Apps so these are all free. If it’s free it’s for me….a mantra to live by.

iHeart Radio-This one is a MUST for me. I have a good size library of music on my phone but when you’re in the gym everyday those songs get old fast! With iHeart Radio I can create play lists, listen to radio stations around the country, listen to playbacks of morning shows I like or my favorite the 24 Hour Cardio Mix. Aww yeah! And right now I’m addicted to the iHeart 90s station, its rad!

My Fitness Pal- This App allows you to track the food you eat each day. There is a ginormous list of foods you can choose from or you can enter your own information. It adds up the calories for you and provides you a pie graph with a breakdown of your macros. This app is great to help you choose the number of calories you should consume daily based on your goal.  It also helps you see what you need to eat more or less of and gives you a place to track your weight. It really helps me stay on track……when I use it….I’ve been slacking.

Body Space- by BodyBuilding.com. This App is your one stop shop for work out routines, supplements, social media, it’s all in this App. Up until recently when I started using a training guide from my girl crush, my American Idol, Dana Linn Bailey, I used this app EVERYDAY. I would pick a fitness regimen and follow it for however many weeks it ran for then choose a new one and do the same. It keeps your workouts fresh. If you participate in the forum you can speak to others through the App that are trying to achieve similar goals and can give you ideas on how to succeed. You can even purchase any supplements you use right from the App.

Digit- This App is pretty new. Digit is an App that helps you save money. I’m horrible at saving, not because I don’t want to or don’t know how. I have lived paycheck to paycheck for so long I don’t ever have money to save. With Digit, it takes money out of my checking every couple of days and saves it for me. It does so in small increments so I don’t even feel it leave my pocket. I have had the App since November 2016 and have already saved $300. That doesn’t seem like a lot but that’s way more than I had.

Do you use any of these? Which one is your favorite? If you use Body Space hit me up on there! We can be workout buddies!

Ok so lets get to the real topic....hydration. If you’re a gym rat like me then you know how important hydration is. I drink water constantly during the day. When the water bottle is empty I fill it right back up. But what if you just don’t like water? What if water is just plain and gross to you? I’ve been there. Heck, I still have times when I am so over water. It’s boring, let’s be honest. Juice or soda (if you’re from the mid-west, Pop) are way more appetizing. But, it is what it is, your body needs water. Being well hydrated provides your body with the resource it needs to maintain your body temperature, remove waste and lubricate your joints to name a few. If you really can’t stomach plain water try adding slices of lemon, orange or cucumber. These items are natural and will add some flavor. Also, try sparkling water. Just make sure you read the labels. Some contain sodium which you do not need excess of. When I’m at home I drink sparkling water because I’m over plain water by the end of the day. Try to avoid using drink mixes. I used to be addicted to Crystal Light. That was my jam! I would drink it by the pitcher full. I truly should have bought stock in the company. Finally, the hubs and I decided no more crystal light. It was an effort to move away from artificial sweeteners. He still says we probably have the crystal light version of the black lung after inhaling the powder while mixing it in our water. YUCK! Some additional tips for staying hydrated for you:

Always keep water with you- whether you refill a water bottle, have an adorable reusable water bottle, use a camel pack, keep it with you. When its empty, fill ‘er up!

Set a water schedule- pick times throughout the day to purposely drink water and drink it!

Log it- If you use My Fitness Pal App it has an area to log your water for the day. Logging it will help you stay on track and encourage you to reach your goal for the day.

Man, I’m thirsty just writing all of that.

And don’t get discouraged if people question how much water your drinking. Be proud. You’ll have awesome skin and joints when your 83 and they won’t. so, nah!

Which brings me to final topic. People who can’t keep their thoughts to themselves. SMH. Let me tell you, I am all for people who are out spoken. Heck, I wish I could be more like that. I was raised to have a filter but sometimes I wish I could just be straight forward with people. But, I feel there should be a limit. I mean, when I was heavier I was ridiculed for being fat. If I drank a diet coke I was made fun of for being on a diet. Now that I eat clean whole foods, drink lots of water and exercise regularly I am still criticized. Did I miss something? I thought losing weight and eating well would solve all my problems but they are still there, just in a different form. Why do people feel the need to comment on what I eat? Why do they feel the need to comment on how much water I drink or when and how much I exercise? I don’t question them or make comments every time they shove another donut in their mouth or drink tons of soda or eat all the candy. For example, there is this person at work. This person, I still can’t feel them out. One day I feel like we’re getting along and I’m making head way. The next day this person has some snide remark to throw my way, or tells me to be quiet or purposely mispronounces my last name.  Just the other day we we’re having a nice conversation and then out of nowhere this person stated that I don’t eat. This person says “you never eat. I never see you eat. You work out but you don’t eat.” I think it was more how this person said it that really irritated me. I advised this person that I do eat. In fact, I eat all day. I eat several snacks and a lunch, all of which I bring. They wanted to argue, as if they know what happens at my desk. I’m sorry if you don’t see me bringing in fast food every day, or going out to lunch or eating the snacks in the office. That certainly doesn’t mean I don’t eat and if my exercising offends you well….I dunno. And it’s not just this one person. It happens to me a lot.

To be honest, a lot of the time this makes me feel ashamed. Ashamed for eating the way I do, ashamed for working out like I do, ashamed of the amount of water I drink each day. When people continuously comment it feels the same as when I was heavier. Different words but the same affect. I feel like something is wrong with me. Why can’t I be normal? Why can’t I eat normal? I go from 33 back to 13 in a matter of minutes. If people want to know about my lifestyle or want to pick my brain about exercise, meal planning, weight loss, please! Ask away. I want to help others achieve their goals. My dream is to help others meet their physical and nutrition goals. I would love to do that full time even, but if you just want to criticize and scrunch your face at how I live my life well you better shut your mouth when you’re talking to me. I don’t have time for your negative energy.

Growing up my mom always tried to make me feel better by saying things like, “they pick on you because they are jealous.” “They pick on you because they are unhappy with themselves.” “They pick on you because misery loves company.” While all of that may be true, if you are so miserable, jealous or unhappy then make a change in your life. Instead of trying to take a giant dump on mine. Change what makes you feel that way. Only you have the power to improve your quality of life. Being critical of me may feel good for a little while. Seeing my face turn red or tears welling up in my eyes may make you feel less alone for a moment but it won’t change your life, it won’t right any wrongs. Only you can do that by taking the necessary steps to rid your life of whatever is negative and improve upon the positive.

Phew! That was a lot. Can you tell that one has been bothering me? Mini rant, my bad. But do you feel me? Are you picking up what I’m putting down? This happens to other people right? ::Sigh::

So to recap, Apps are cool, drink your water and if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say it at all.

Fun Fact: To burn off 200 calories you could chew gum for 18 hours, apply lip balm 1500 times or sing a song 23 times.

Next week is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week.  So, I’ll be posting about that and how it has affected my life. OOOOO Story time!




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Is Breakfast Really a Big Deal?

February 17, 2017


Hey there hey! How was your week? Better yet, how was your Valentine’s day? I hope you checked out the blogs Instagram. I made a fun V-Day post. I put together a collage of little workout ideas you could do on your own or with a partner. Soooooo if you haven’t checked it, GO! But wait until you have read this post of course :)

Let me just start off by saying pull ups SUCK! I hate them! Mainly because I have been working on them since November of last year and I have yet to do a single pull up unassisted. Hhhrrumph! I wanted to complete at least one tiny little pull up on my own by my birthday in March but it’s clear that won’t happen. I do pull ups EVERYDAY! I’m so ready to quit this venture again. I mean, my elbows just don’t bend. I won’t give up though because I’m stubborn. It’s a blessing and a curse. At least my back has gotten stronger and I’ve noticed some sort of V going on back there so I just need to take the pros and keep working on the cons.

Speaking of cons, I feel very defeated in the gym lately like I should be lifting heavier. My bench press is pathetic. I know that’s just because I don’t have a spotter. If I had someone to spot me I would have more confidence to push heavier weight. When I’m on my own I fear my arms giving out and being trapped under the bar. I know someone would come help me but that’s embarrassing. I would never be able to go back to that gym again if that happened.  I should also be squatting heavier. What’s with these people that squat like 200lbs +?! I’m squatting like 115lbs and feel like I might blow a knee. Again, I need a spotter. I dunno, I’m very cautious with my squats because I do have knee issues and maxing out on weight is not worth injuring my knee. Maybe that’s just an excuse……I dunno. So, I’m taking applications for gym partners. This position requires being at the gym by 4am Monday- Friday for 1 ½ -2 hours with no breaks, well except when you’re spotting me. Any takers? Please submit your application to barbellsandboyshorts@gmail.com. Thank you.

So, what’s the deal with breakfast. Is it a break or is it fast? Huh? Huh? Please tell me you were reading that in a Jerry Seinfeld voice because that’s how I wrote it! LOL! But really, what is the deal with breakfast? In recent years, I feel there has been a growing debate on breakfast. To eat breakfast or to not eat breakfast is the question. So, I’m here to offer some insight so you can form your own opinion about breakfast and choose the best meal plan for you.

Growing up, all of the Saturday morning cartoons, afterschool specials, and health teachers preached that, say it with me now, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I have always lived as though that was gospel. I can remember when I was in elementary school my mom would sit me in front of the TV to watch Winnie the Pooh while I ate my breakfast. This gave her time to get ready for work and take care of any loose ends prior to leaving the house for the day. Plus, I was a pain in the ass when I was little and that’s how she shut me up for 30 blissful minutes. Then, when I got the, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, speech at school, much to my mother’s dismay I advised her of the same and we started eating breakfast together at the dining room table every morning. This continued all through my school years.  In high school and college I never understood how my friends and classmates could skip breakfast. And why? Who would opt to skip breakfast!? Breakfast is the best! It’s not only the most important meal of the day but my favorite meal of the day. Sometimes I even have breakfast for dinner I love it so much.

Now a days…..yes I sound old right now, breakfast has become an option. With different studies and diets the scale tips back and forth constantly in the fight for or against breakfast. I want to provide you with some of this information so you can form your own opinion about breakfast and what works best for you.

Let’s start with the argument against breakfast. Well, I shouldn’t say that. No one is really telling anyone NOT to eat breakfast. They aren’t saying, eat breakfast and you’ll die! It’s simply up for discussion if breakfast is necessary. Is it as important as it has been made out to be?  

It’s important to first understand the idea behind breakfast. It is exactly as it reads, you are breaking a fast. While you sleep, your body is fasting. When you wake, your body is depleted of nutrients hence why it has been thought for so many years that breakfast is so important.

Per WebMD and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition people who skip breakfast overall still consume a similar or lesser intake of calories throughout the day. There are no positive or negative effects from skipping breakfast. What we eat is more important that when we eat it. By extending your body’s fasting period by skipping breakfast the idea is that you are putting your cells through mild stress which helps them to better adapt to a lower caloric intake. Many people have started gravitating toward this idea that breakfast isn’t necessary whether that is for health purposes or time restraints. While the idea is that following this type of eating will cause less energy and focus there have been numerous articles and posts stating just the opposite.

So, if you choose to skip breakfast then what? Well. The idea behind breakfast is that it sets the tone for the remainder of the day. Eat a well-balanced breakfast then the rest of your meals will follow suit. Eat Poptarts and sugar coated cereal you’ll feel hungrier sooner and may gravitate toward other unhealthy choices. If you aren’t having that meal to set your choices for the rest of the day it is important to be mindful of what you’re eating. If skipping breakfast is part of your nutrition lifestyle you may choose to have a specific eating window. This is usually around 4 hours where you get in all of your calories for the day. If this Is the case, you should make sure to include nutrient dense food choices to provide your body with the proper fuel it needs to sustain itself during your extended fasting period. Skipping breakfast gets a bad rap because many people who skip breakfast do so simply because they feel they do not have time for breakfast but then tend to over eat during the remainder of the day. Their fasting isn’t a conscious effort.

Now the argument for breakfast. As I stated earlier, breakfast is an opportunity to replenish your body with nutrients after fasting during sleep. It isn’t necessary to put your body into a forced state of fasting. In fact, forced fasting can cause adverse effects over a prolonged period. When your body goes without food for an extended amount of time it goes into starvation mode in which the body holds on to fat in order to keep a reserve so the body has enough energy to function.  Breakfast is a way to kick start your metabolism which helps you burn calories throughout the day. Eating a well-balanced breakfast is linked to better memory, concentration, lower risk of type 2 diabetes and lower LDL or “bad” cholesterol.

If you are active in the early part of the day breakfast is important for endurance and strength during physical activity.

Much like skipping breakfast if you have breakfast its important what you eat. Having a breakfast that is high in protein slows digestion which makes you feel fuller longer. While, having a breakfast high in sugar can cause the body to store fat. This can make it increasingly difficult to cut calories. It can also lead to overeating later in the day.

So, at this point I know your tired of reading all of this but I wanted to show you both sides of the coin. I, myself, am a breakfast advocate or Pro-Breakfast, if you will. I like to follow the rules and the rule has always been that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I am not closed minded to the fact that there is evidence otherwise. If I said I had never fasted and never considered a fasting type diet regimen I would be lying. It really comes down to what works best for your body. As for myself, I work out at 4:00am Monday- Friday. I complete my workout fasted because I do not have time to eat prior to the gym nor would eating a big meal before working out go over well. I eat my breakfast after the gym, in my truck, on the way to work. It is more of a recovery meal. It isn’t anything fancy but it is Protein dense to help keep me full through the morning. I know my body and I need that fuel in the morning to function. When I have fasted in the past it was difficult for me to concentrate and focus plus I just become hangry and no one wants to be around me when I’m hangry. And finally, I eat breakfast because I no longer want to feel hungry and I fear binge eating which I have had problems with in the past. If I plan my meals my silly mind will not deviate from them. I’m like a mouse in a maze, must get to the cheese, must get to the cheese.

At the end of the day you must do what works the best for your body. Listen to what your body tells you. For mine, it is breakfast all the way. My metabolism is like a snail so any help I can get I’ll take it! Just remember that no matter which route you choose be mindful of what you put into your body. Maybe try meal planning/prepping, I can help with that!

For those of you that feel you just don’t have time for breakfast check out the blogs Instagram. I’ve posted the best choices for breakfast on the go.



Do you have a favorite breakfast but avoid it because it’s not the healthiest of choices? Comment below or e-mail the blog at barbellsandboyshorts@gmail.com and I will recreate a healthier version for you so you can still enjoy your favorites without the guilt!




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Is Cardio killing your gainzzzzzz?

February 10, 2017


Hello! How has your day been so far? I hope it’s been fantastic.

Don’t worry, I’m not going to mention my gym clothes or post any recipes. Based on my blog traffic you all could really care less about what I’m wearing to the gym and what recipes I share. Well, it’s your loss because I actually found some color to add to my gym wardrobe. I also have a chocolate chip cookie recipe that is non-paleo cousin but not really my cousin approved but nope, I’ll keep that to myself as well. So there!

The Super Bowl was this past weekend. Did anyone make my yummy recipes I gave you in my last post? I did! They were a hit! In fact, my entire spread was Paleo. It was fantastic! I did partake in a hard cider and a couple glasses of wine and I was ok. I totally paced myself.  I felt great on Sunday. Monday though was a different story. The hubs and I got some baked wings and the next day my face was swollen along with my abdomen and upper thighs. There must have been something in the seasoning. I have felt miserable this week and it has taken days for me to feel normal again. Blah. It’s REALLY frustrating when you think you’re making a safe food choice and then BAM! Reaction.  I even cut my workout short on Tuesday morning because I felt like such crap! What?! Unacceptable!

So, this week I want to touch on cardio and the affects it can have on your gainzzzzzzzzzzzz! Eh..hem the affect cardio can have on building muscle.

Let me just start by saying I.LOVE.CARDIO! Love it! I love to sweat. I love pushing myself to the point I can barely breath, recovering and then doing it all again. For many years 90% of my exercise was comprised of cardio. I was so focused on loosing fat I didn’t give too much time to weight training. The only true weight training I did was in the form of some sort of body pump class.  I would spend 1- 1 ½ hours at the gym doing cardio and then about 30 minutes weight training. When I got in to running my weight training went down to only a couple days per week.

When I shifted my focus to weight lifting a few years ago, going to the gym suddenly felt very strange. I didn’t know how to not do cardio. My work outs felt so incomplete.  I went through an inner panic thinking about all the weight I would gain by not doing cardio. I then started following programs on Bodybuilding.com because I had no idea how to create a weight lifting regimen, maybe I was just doing it wrong. The programs I found consisted of a brief cardio warm up and then nothing but weight lifting. These programs even required a 1-2 minute rest in between sets! I was mortified. Rest?! WTF is that? I don’t rest at the gym! I felt so conflicted. Then I came across this one program, I wish I could remember who created it. I want to give credit to Jim Stoppani buuuuuuuuttttt don’t quote me on that. That program included 30secs – 1 minute of cardiovascular activity between sets. Once I started that program I felt much more at ease. I stopped worrying about having to stay later at the gym or doing 2-a-days to get my cardio in. I stuck with it and no matter what program I follow now, I include 20-30secs of cardio activity between each set. Once I enter the gym I don’t stop. But this begs the questions, is my cardio killing my gains?

If cardio is performed too often, to intense or for too long it is not good for muscle growth. This is why rest periods and rest days are so important because this is the time when muscle growth occurs. If you’re looking to gain muscle, ideally, cardio should be done for only about 15-20 minutes on days opposite your weight training days. If you have time available, you could incorporate cardio on the same day but aim to do cardio in the morning and weight training in the evening or vice versa. But who has time for that? I tried it…..no Bueno. There are just not enough hours in the day.

Incorporating cardio with weight training is a delicate balance. One I’m still trying to figure out. Long, low impact cardio is bad for muscle growth and HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) is great for fat loss but lousy for muscle building. And P.S. if you didn’t know I’m a HIIT addict!  Cardio and weight training is all about finding that middle ground. You should do what works for you and your goals. Don’t be afraid to play around with different cardio times, durations and intensities.  Mentally I need cardio in my life. I enjoy the endurance and challenge it provides my body. For me, I need to try to get all my gym time in early in the morning. I try to stick to about 20 minutes of steady state cardio to warm up. Then, while lifting I throw in some cardio movements to keep my heart rate up. Going forward if I want to really work on gaining muscle I need to push past the mental freak out and convince my brain to let me do the bulk of my cardio at the end of my work out as opposed to the beginning so I have my full energy to expend on pushing and pulling weight. Whatever I have left can go toward my cardio. Ahhhh! That's scary to say. I'll let you know how that goes. I may be ok, I may have a break down, I don't know.

So how is your cardio game? Do you cardio daily? Do you split up your cardio and weight training? What do you do for cardio? I always like new ideas. Currently I’m in love with the jump rope!

Hey, check out the blogs Instagram, Instagram.com/barbellsandboyshorts. I’ve posted a video sample of how I train daily. Leave me a comment, let me know what you think!

Fun Fact: No word in the English language rhymes with Month.

Yup…..I know you’re trying to rhyme right now!

Have a great weekend and wonderful week ahead. Come back next week…were talking breakfast.

P.S. Valentine’s day is next week. Don’t forget your sweetie!
For yummy paleo Valentine’s day desserts, you should check out cleaneatingwithadirtymind.com and PaleOMG.com. They have wonderful recipes for dinners for two as well.





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On gym days i wear grey....or black...or navy

February 3, 2017


Hello beautiful people! How are all the things????

If you have been following the blog on Instagram I’ve been trying to post more.

I recently posted a picture of my socks only because they have cookies and milk on them! I mean, they had to be shared. This morning when I hit the gym my socks had squirrels and acorns on them.

My gym clothes are pretty bland, as I have notice since I started posting for the blog, so I like to add some fun socks to the mix. It’s just a little something to help me stay motivated to go to the gym. Is it weird I get excited to go to the gym so I can wear my fun socks? Huh? Yes? Maybe? I dunno, who cares. I usually get my fun socks at old navy or target. I pay between .50 and $1.50 per pair. It’s a small little treat for myself. Aren’t they fun!


Back to my gym clothes really quick. They are BORING. I wear so much grey and black and navy. I’m so conservative with my gym attire. In my mind its so I can just kind of blend in and go unnoticed but then I wear loud ass shoes. Doesn’t make sense. So, I’m going to start seeking out gym clothes that fit my personality a little more. I’m pretty out going but my gym attire says, You Can’t See Me. Any suggestions? Obviously, I wear boy clothes to the gym. Do boys wear fun gym attire? Maybe not. Maybe that’s why I gravitate toward black and grey and navy because that’s all I have to choose from. Hmm. Help me out here people. Any guys that read this blog, do you wear colorful gym clothes? If so, where do buy them?

Ok, ok I’m moving on. On Sunday I posted on Instagram about telling yourself every day, one thing you like about your body. This is so important to me, we need to be more body positive. It’s so easy to list the things you don’t like about your body. I spent so many years of my life focusing on what was wrong with my body. I even sacrificed my health and sanity to try to rid my body of what I didn’t like about it. Guess what, I still have problem areas. Being negative toward my body and punishing it for what I felt was wrong with it changed nothing. I still dwell sometimes on what I don’t like but whenever I feel myself being too negative toward my body I make sure to mentally list things I like and appreciate about my body. I make an effort to look in the mirror every day and tell myself one thing I like that day.  This past Sunday it was my quads. When I wear my running shorts to the gym I get to see my quads work. I am able to watch the muscles move and it makes me proud of the work I put in. So, appreciate your bodies people. They do a lot for you, don’t take them for granted.

So real quick I wanna talk Whole 30. A few blog posts ago I mentioned I was participating in the Whole 30 for the month of January. 30 days to reset my eating habits which were slacking for sure. Well, January is over so I want to share what I have learned over the past 30 days.

1.       30 days is a long time. It doesn’t seem that long but around day 5 it starts to seem endless.

2.       I am way too dependent on Almonds and Cashews. I rely on them a lot to get me past cravings and to fill the void between work and dinner time. I am more conscious about the amount of cashews and almonds I eat now.

3.       30 days does not get rid of a sweet tooth. I just love sweets! In particular chocolate. Restricting myself from chocolate has been SUPER difficult. 30 days later and I still crave it. Not that I was eating tons of it all the time but I guess knowing I can’t have it made me crave it more. Now that I have eliminated it from my diet for 30 days I’m not sure if I want to reintroduce it. It may lead to binging and I’m not about that life.

4.       Fruit is not the enemy. I have limited or eliminated fruit from my diet for a long time. Just the thought of how much sugar, natural or not, fruit has always turned my stomach. On the Whole 30 fruit is not eliminated. I mean, you shouldn't eat fruit at every meal but I have introduced some fruit into my diet. Guess what?! I didn’t balloon up. So that’s a win. Same goes for Sweet potatoes. Starchy veggies freak me out. I fear if I eat them I will gain weight. Well, a lot of my sweet cravings I have satisfied by eating some sweet potato. And boy o boy! Its been yummy. I LOVE sweet potatoes. I’ve realized I need to keep some starchy veggies in my diet. It helps rid my cravings for sweets and gives me more energy for my morning workouts.

5.       Alcohol, I could care less. Prior to the Whole 30 I really hadn’t been indulging in adult beverages that often.  During the Whole 30 I still haven’t missed it. I don’t miss feeling lousy the next day. I don’t miss feeling bloated or looking swollen. I certainly don’t miss making a fool of myself when I’ve had too much. I’m not saying I’ll never have another drink again but, to be honest, I could care less if I do have a drink.

6.       Get your food right, you get your mind right. Since starting the Whole 30 I feel my diet is more balanced. I feel I listen to my body more and feed it what it needs. It’s not like I lost a ton of weight or anything but I have leaned out. I feel it in my clothes and see it in the mirror. It has been a real confidence booster. Not to mention I have been sleeping so well! I haven’t slept this good in a long time. Sleep Is super important for maintaining healthy weight, dealing with stress, retaining information, the list goes on. I just feel like I’ve gained energy and clarity

The Whole 30 may not be for everyone but I have certainly had a lot of positives come from it. I plan on sticking relatively close to the guidelines of the Whole 30 going forward.  

ALLLLLLLL RIGHT! Now the moment you have all been waiting for! It’s Super Bowl this weekend! Budah Bum Budah Bum!......That’s the NFL song if you didn’t catch that. It’s the Falcons Vs the Patriots. Who are you rooting for? Are you even into football? I feel like the Super Bowl is for everyone, football fan or not. It’s an excuse to eat a lot and drink a lot and hang out with friends. Its great! I am a football fan but unfortunately my team, the DALLAS COWBOYS, missed going to the big show by a hair. My hubby is a Patriots fan so that is who I will be rooting for. The Super Bowl also offers me a great platform to try new appetizer type recipes and desserts. We don’t usually eat in where an appetizer is needed nor do I bake a lot anymore due to the expense of paleo ingredients so when we have a gathering it’s my excuse to bring out the cook books, flip through Pinterest, and put together a nice spread!

I have two recipes In particular that I want to share with you all. They are both paleo and Whole 30 approved! Or if you don’t follow either of those lifestyles, ignore that last sentence. They are both delicious and non-paleo husband approved! I will be making both of these myself on game day.
The first recipe is a buffalo chicken dip. I mean, the Super Bowl would not be complete without buffalo chicken dip. The only difference is, with this recipe you won’t feel gross the next day.


Buffalo Ranch Dip

Ingredients:


13 oz shredded chicken breast
½ cup cashews
½ cup mayo (I use Sir Kinsington)
2 Tblsp ranch seasoning
(For ranch seasoning, combine the following
   ½ cup dried parsley
   2 Tblsp dried dill weed
   3 Tblsp garlic powder
   3 Tblsp onion powder
              3 Tblsp dried onion flakes
               3 Tblsp dried celery
                4 tsp dried chives
               4 tsp sea salt
                2 tsp black pepper)
½ cup hot sauce
½ tsp cayenne pepper
¼ tsp sea salt
1/8 tsp pepper
Directions:
1.    Heat oven to 350 degrees. Boil cashews in two cups of water for 30 minutes with a lid on the pot to avoid burning
2.    While cashews are cooking combine all other ingredients. Once cashews are done, place cashews into a blender with a ¼ cup of cooking liquid from the pot and mix until smooth.
3.       Fold in cashew cream with other ingredients
4.       Place into a small casserole dish
5.       Cook for 20 minutes until top is a little crusty
6.       Serve with celery sticks, carrots or my favorite, plantain chips
And the next recipe is roasted brussels sprouts with a garlic bacon aioli. I know…..brussels sprouts…but they are really delish with the aioli. If you really can’t handle the sprouts you can dip carrots, cucumber, zucchini, plantain chips. The aioli is good on ANYTHING! Trust me!
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic Bacon Aioli
Ingredients:
1 lb Brussels Sprouts
2 Tbsp Olive oil
-Salt and pepper to taste
For Aioli:
1/3 Cup Mayo ( I use Sir Kinsington or you can make your own)
2 tsp lemon juice
1 Tblsp minced garlic
2 strips cooked bacon (finely chopped)
1 tsp horseradish mustard
1 tsp fresh thyme
Instructions:
1. Pre-Heat oven to 350
2. Wash and trim ends of brussels sprouts
3. Cut each sprout in half
4. Place cut sprouts in a bowl, top with olive oil, salt and pepper, mix well
5. Place sprouts on a lined cookie sheet (I use aluminum foil)
6. Roast in the oven for about 30-35 minutes until slightly browned, tossing about every 10 minutes to ensure an even roast.
7. While the brussels sprouts are cooking, combine the aioli ingredients in a small bowl. Mix well.
8. Place aioli in the fridge until sprouts are done
Once the brussels sprouts are done transfer to a serving dish with the aioli
Serve with tooth picks

 FUN FACT: The Monday after the Super Bowl. antacid sales increase by 20%. But if you choose your Super Bowl snacks wisely you won't have to worry about it! :)


Enjoy! And Go Team!




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