My Clean Eating Staple Foods and Other Recipes

Hey all! Sorry I've taken a big of a hiatus from posting.  I've been taking summer classes for the last 4 weeks and my fiance, Alex, left for USMC training this past Saturday, so things have been chaotic to say the least! It's been pretty tough having Alex gone this past week, mostly because I spend all my time with him (so much alone time right now.. aaaaah!) and also when it comes to planning meals for only one person. We have it set up so that Alex makes the food and I do the cleaning. He's an amazing chef so I don't mind! But unfortunately, I have to be able to eat over the next 6 weeks until he gets back, so I'm going to document my healthy eating escapades!

Anyone who knows me knows that I preach three things when it comes to clean eating:

1. Eat loads of lean meats.
2. Have vegetables with every meal.
3. NO PROCESSED FOODS!

Along with those guidelines, I'm trying to stay away from starches and I can't eat dairy anyway because I'm allergic (but if you're not allergic, you just shouldn't eat dairy because it's bad for you). I'll start by telling you my Clean Eating Must-Haves...

1. Almond Milk - because I don't eat dairy products, almond milk has become a life-saver. Any die-hard paleo person will tell you that you should get regular almond milk, but I'm not a die-hard and I like things that taste good so I prefer the sweetness of the vanilla. I use it as a coffee creamer, milk substitute, and it's obviously wonderful on cereal (when I decide to splurge a little and get cereal).

2. Fruit of Any and All Kinds - Fruit is nature's candy!! It's is wonderful to snack on and just tastes delicious. One of my favorite recipes is Paleo PB&J: almond butter, coconut, and your choice of raspberries or blueberries. Awesome snack!

3. Mixed Nuts - fun fact: peanuts are not nuts! They are actually legumes. I generally stay away from legumes because they're a fairly low-quality source of protein and contain a lot of phytic acid which prevents your body from absorbing the nutrients they do offer. Anyway, nuts are also a great snack and follow the paleo regimen, if that's what you're going for. 

4. Red Peppers - With vegetables, I would generally say you should plan out exactly how much you'll need with each meal for the week so that your produce doesn't go to waste. However, I like to get a couple red peppers whether I have them planned with meals or not. As I've said in the last two points, they are great to snack on.

5. Herbs and Spices - You have got to have spices to prevent your meals from being bland! No one wants to eat a piece of chicken totally plain.. that is super blah. Have lots of herbs and spices in your pantry to add some zest to your healthy eating.

6. Mustard - If Alex saw this on my list, he would definitely roll his eyes. I don't know why, but I just love mustard. It's super tangy and delicious; and much like spices, it adds an extra kick to a meal. I can't have pork burgers without mustard.

7. Naked Juice - I don't know if Naked Juice is really as healthy as they say it is, but for all intensive purposes, I'm just going to agree. If you look at the nutrition facts on the side of a bottle of Naked Juice under the "This Product Contains..." part, it always says something along the lines of "Banana, Apple, Orange, etc." No added sugar. No processed crap. Just fruit. LOVE IT! It can be a little pricey, so I try not to get it every week, but it is definitely a favorite of mine.


Now,  I've had an interesting week of cooking, and I've decided on a new favorite recipe that I found on www.stupideasypaleo.com. It's called the Coconut Wild Boar Burger. I've had pork burgers before, but holy crap these are delicious. I did use pork instead of wild boar (you can use either). The unique things about these burgers is the use of ginger and coconut. I never thought those two things would go well together, but it was delicious. I paired the burgers with sweet potato fries and steamed asparagus. It was an amazing dinner! Definitely a repeat. 

I'll be continuing to update you guys on my cooking escapades! If you need tips on clean or paleo eating, feel free to ask :)

Fitness/Dieting Myths

I have a lot of thoughts about health and fitness today, mostly because today was a big PR day for me in regards to weightlifting. As a gym, we did the workout "Nukes" which is 8 minutes to run 1 mile and max rep deadlifts (315/225), 10 minutes to run a mile and max rep power cleans (225/155), and 12 minutes to run a mile and max rep overhead squats (135/95). I had to scale a decent amount because holy crap the weight was heavvvyyy! But I was still proud of how I performed. During Open Gym I ended up PR'ing on my front squat AND my back squat. WOOT WOOT! It was very exciting.

Anyway, I've been thinking a lot about the silly dieting and workout fads that people (especially a lot of females I know) are into recently. Most of it is "Eat Low-Fat Everything" or "30 Days of Crunches" or "The Pill that Helps you Get That Bikini Body!" I am certainly no expert; but as a self-proclaimed fit human and someone who has lost around 70 lbs doing what I've been doing, I feel like my advice holds at least a little weight. I'm not saying that CrossFit and eating paleo is the only way to be healthy, but I think that these standards hold true for health/fitness in general.

Here are some health myths  I've run into that I would like to poke holes in...

1. Eating low-fat is a great way to lose weight.
I hate so much that "fat" in food is called "fat" because it gives lots of negative connotations. There is plenty of healthy fat out there. Also, food with low-fat is going to be full of chemicals and fillers so they can be considered "low-fat." Either way, if something has been chemically altered like that, it's not good for you. The best thing you can stay away from is sugar, especially if you're trying to lose weight.
2. Women who lift weights are bulky.
Not true! Women have to take special supplements and try really really really hard to get huge. Lifting weights means building muscle. And guess what's awesome about muscle? The more muscle you have, the more calories you will burn. Also, being strong is healthy and rocks. And if you're a woman, you'll get toned, not bulky.
3. Eating close to bedtime will make you gain weight.
If you're eating deep fried twinkies and candy, it doesn't matter whether you eat it at 11 pm or 10 am. If it's bad for you, it's unhealthy no matter what time it is.
4. Calories are the best measure of how good a product is for you.
In my experience, calories don't really tell you a whole lot. You have to take a lot of other things into consideration in order to reap any information about a food item. I keep an eye on how much sugar is in something. The more processed sugar there is, the worse it is for you.
5. Doing crunches will give you a six-pack.
A saying I've heard is that "abs are made in the kitchen, not in the gym." We've all got abs, but if there's a layer of fat over them, you won't be able to see them. Stop doing crunches to get abs, and start eating healthy!
6. Being bigger means you're unhealthy/being thin means you're healthy.
I know plenty of people that are bigger than me or weigh more than me who eat incredibly healthy and absolutely thrash me on every workout. I know lots of people who are very small, but eat like crap and can't do a single push-up.  I also know people who are very big who have trouble with eating and exercising and people who are tiny who eat great and are very fit. The point is, the way a person looks does not necessarily determine how healthy or fit they are.
7. Not eating is a great way to lose weight.
I know a lot of people who skip meals to lose weight, especially breakfast. Eating breakfast is a great way to lose weight because it starts your metabolism early so your body is burning fat all day long. Not to mention, skipping meals is very unhealthy for you physically, mentally, and emotionally. As someone who had an eating disorder for 5 years, take it from me! You will get nowhere by not eating or by purging. Fuel your body with healthy food, and allow yourself to splurge on things you love. If you believe you have an eating disorder, please get help. Eating disorders can kill you, seriously.
8. You can "burn fat" on certain parts of your body.
You cannot "spot burn." End of story. It just isn't humanly possible.
9. You just need to have self-control.
Self-control when it comes to dieting is just so hard. If it's in the pantry, you're going to eat it. Do your best to get rid of the processed junk and fill your cabinet with healthy stuff. Then you're not tempted to eat crap because there's no crap in your kitchen!

In conclusion, the best thing you can do for yourself is fuel your body with natural things and stop making excuses when it comes to exercise. Eat lots of meat, veggies, and fruit. I eat a vegetable with every meal and do my best to snack on fruit. Also, I let myself splurge! If you think I could live without Froot Loops or cupcakes, you are so very wrong. I obviously don't eat them every day, but I let myself have a treat often. If you're just starting out trying to be healthy, try to cut out processed foods (stuff like chips, frozen meals, low-fat crap) and start bringing more veggies and lean meats into your diet. And stop making excuses with exercise! I used to think that exercise sucked no matter what, but I just wasn't doing something I enjoyed. Do something you love to get some exercise (running, biking, basketball, wrestling, CrossFit, etc.). Love yourself, take care of your body. It's the only one you'll ever have!!

             me in 2010                          me in 2014

Tulle Skirt

My tulle skirt came in today!! I am so excited about it. I actually got two of them... one in mint and one in this apricot color (apricot, made with real apes..), so I guess you could say I'm obsessed. I'm really excited to start trying different outfits with it! More posts to follow :)

Also, thank you to Paige for the beautiful skirts!! You can go purchase one of your own on her etsy site: https://www.etsy.com/shop/stylethislife and be sure to follow her on instagram @stylethislife! She's got awesome taste!

Work Clothes

Ever since I started my big girl job, I've had some trouble figuring out what is appropriate to wear to work. Slowly, but surely, I've been figuring it out. I did have to raid my friend's closet and try to squeeze into her size 1 slacks (which was quite the struggle), but I think I'm starting to get it! Today's episode of "work clothes" features the turquoise dress. I love this number because I can wear it for a night out, but it doubles as a great work outfit when paired with my nude cardigan. Good thing these shoes go with absolutely everything.

8 Reasons Why Pam Beasley Is My Spirit Animal

Oh Pam Beasley. Where do I even begin to describe my love for Pam Beasley? If you're my friend, neighbor, or random stranger that I've told "I'm not superstitious, but I am a little stitious," you're aware of my enormous, undying love for the Office. While Michael and Dwight are my absolute favorites, I've got to say that I identify with Pam the most. I feel that if Pam were a real person, we would be absolute besties. Here's why:

1. We feel the same about food.

Basically, we'd rather eat than socialize. There's not much more explanation needed here.

2. We hate the idea of anyone having a problem with us.

I live in constant fear that anyone hates me. Although, in the Office, the only person who ever really hates Pam is Karen and the one guy from the warehouse who draws butts on her mural; it still bothers her immensely. I'm sure I have more enemies than her, but I feel the same way.  I hate the idea of anyone hating me!

3. We're both emotional suckers.

Speaking of Pam, I bawl like a baby every time I watch the wedding episode. I don't know what it is about sappy love stories, commercials of suffering animals, or beautiful music, I can't hide my emotions. I always think about that episode when Pam can't stop watching the animal abuse commercial without crying. That is me. And if my fiance says anything sweet to me, forget it. I want to hold on to that moment forever! 

4. We're both total dorks.

Maybe I don't have super hideous glasses like Pam, but from my love of Spongebob to the fact that I have to wear my Wolverine shirt every time I watch an X-men movie proves that we are kindred, dorky spirits.

5. I'm marrying my soul mate.

Unless you've been hiding under a rock, Jim and Pam are the perfect couple. They prove over and over (especially in season 9) that they can weather the storm. They're best friends and take care of each other above all other things. Not to brag, but I like to think my fiance, Alex, and I are the same way. We've been together for about 4 1/2 years and we've been through amazing times as well as the crappiest of times. But we've made it through. It's hard work, but we are unbelievably happy.

'

6. We're the same version of drunk.

I'm not a big partier at all, but when I have had a few drinks, I'm very talkative and an absolute goof. In the episode the Dundies, Pam gets a bit drunk, absolutely yappy, and makes a bit of a fool of herself. I love it when she says that she feels God in the Chili's. Sounds about how I get. Good thing neither of us are big drinkers.

7. We have the same sense of humor.

I have a weird sense of humor that not many people get. Thankfully, Pam gets me. Probably another reason why I think that show is so funny. There's something about the stupid things that people do that's hilarious to me. I love the face she makes at Jim anytime Michael says anything ridiculous. Even better is when she and Jim start playing pranks.

8. We get way too into holidays.

From Halloween to Christmas, you can fully expect myself and my apartment to be fully decked out with all the trimmings of the holiday. I have a giant, super creepy Santa that makes a wonderful centerpiece. And you better believe I'm always dressed up on Halloween. I worked this year on Halloween and came dressed as a Rockette. I wish everyone else had been as enthusastic... I love the episode when Pam dresses up as Charlie Chaplin and no one else dresses up. I feel you, girl.

I love the Office more than basically any other show. And it helps to feel like a fictional character kind of gets me. Silly, yes. But oh well. Here's to Pam Beasley.

My Favorite Fashions This Summer

1. The big ass sun hat.
Nothing says vintage like the biggest beach hat you've ever seen. Paired with a 50's inspired one-piece, or a modern bikini, it's perfect for protecting your skin and looking absolutely fabulous. I haven't snagged one yet, but this is the one I'm hoping for! I found it on Amazon for $10. Pretty good deal.













2. The floral anything.
Dresses, tops, shorts, shoes. Floral is everywhere and it's absolutely adorable. I remember when I was 12, my mom would pick out floral stuff and I would say "Moooooom! I'm not 5 years old!!" Well, now I wish I had listened to her! It's the perfect pop to a bland outfit and looks great on basically any item of clothing. What's not to love about matching everybody's gardens?













3. The high-waited swim suit.
If you're anything like me, you can feel a bit self-conscious about your lower stomach. The best part of high-waisted swim suits is that you can still show off a little tummy, and feel really comfortable. And the polka dots on this one from ModCloth? Love it.

4. The denim vest.
This is my new favorite closet staple to have. Don't wear it with anything that has sleeves and God forbid you wear denim on denim; but it works great with sun dresses, tank tops, flirty skirts, or leggings. I usually pair it with my long, bow tie tank top ($20) and my cropped leggings ($4), both from Charlotte Russe. The jean vest is from American Eagle and was $50. I know, pricey. But the thing with denim jackets/vests is that if you're going to get good quality, you've got to shell out a bit. It's a great investment though!





5. The crop top.

There are a lot of skanky crop tops out there, but there are a lot of cute ones too. This is one of my favorites. I usually pair it with my nude cardigan from Target and high-waisted shorts from American Eagle; then I feel like I'm not showing that much skin (; Although I hate to hide the adorable bow on the back!


























6. The romper

Rompers are the comfiest and cutest fashion trend recently. Whenever I wear a romper, I feel like I'm wearing pj's. I can't remember where I got this daisy one, but I know there are tons of cute ones at H&M, American Eagle, and Charlotte Russe. And they're usually pretty reasonably priced!