Fitness, Family and Fun: Back in the Game!

Summers are crazy fun aren't they??

Sun, shorts, sand, and lots and lots of fun!

Like you, our kids have been having a blast. They've been enjoying bike rides, pool time, splash pads, parks, the sprinkler, fun family getaways, soccer games and tournaments, play dates with friends, BBQ's, family fun days and we've been having a blast! Have you gone to the beach yet? We still got to get there, but probably like you, we're running out of weekends! Can't believe it's August already!

I thought summers would have been easier to stick to my meal plans and workouts because of the motivation that we're wearing shorts and tanks and dresses and skirts.... But no! I was completely wrong. I am finding it a struggle to stick to my meal plan the most.

Like you, summers are fun and wonderful and BUSY!!

With all this incredible summer fun, to be honest with you, meal planning has been put to the way side. Workouts are still getting done but it is a struggle to get up in the morning because we've had some pretty late nights lately. If it wasn't for the challenge groups and the ladies in there, I probably would have slowed right down and start to make excuses why I couldn't get my workouts in. But, I've got to be there for them, they are the ones pushing me each and every day to show up and get it done! They are putting in the work and rock it, so I need to as well. That is the beauty of accountability and support groups! It's our own little fit family.

Last week I didn't make a meal plan and left the groceries up to my husband to grab because I had been away for the whole weekend. Guess what happened? YUP, completely fell of track and new habits slowly crept back up.
I didn't have a meal plan and didn't have the foods I needed to eat what I normally would have.
(Thanks hun, but fruit loops are not allowed on the 21 Day Fix Meal plan! Love you lots though ;) )

So guess what I was doing? Going through the Tim Horton's Drive thru for quick breakfasts. Barely eating any lunches because I didn't have time in the morning to figure out what I was going to eat, so I just didn't pack anything, and dinners..... Pancake dinner anyone???

Needless to say I needed to commit to figuring out our meal plan this week so this doesn't happen again. Now this may not be as important for your family, but for us it's crucial for those hectic week days. It may not be necessary for everyone. But if you find yourself getting off track with food by Wednesday, I really encourage you to try this for a week and see how it simplifies your life. It does take me about 45 min to plan, but the pay off is HUGE!! It personally dictates if I'm going to have a successful week or not. Grab that coffee and tea and just enjoy and just know that you are putting in the work now to have a really great, planned out week. I like the quote "To have something you've never had, you've got to do something you've never done"

For me, I lost the weight because I paid more attention to what I was eating. My meals were all planned out and food groups were balanced. I 100% believe this will work for you too!

Are you bored maybe, of the same old dinners and lunches?
That's where I grabbed a couple new cook books too to switch things up a bit. Sometimes you just need a new dinner recipe to get you excited about eating clean again.

After flipping through both of these books below I've been inspired to try some new recipes!

Fixate -- by Autumn Calabrese

You can check it out HERE

Whole 30 -- by Melissa Hartwig and Dallas Hartwig

You can check it out HERE

Fixate has the container breakdown if you are following the Fix. Which is super handy you just plug that into your meal plan spread sheet and you know exactly what containers are in each meal. She's got dinners, lunches, salads, soups, snacks, desserts, Skinny cocktails and Shakeology recipes. This was perfect timing for this book to come out !

Whole 30 has incredible delicious recipes that are made from whole foods. You cannot go wrong with any of the recipes in this book.
I have included some of them in my meal plan for this week and if I've got some time I will share my favourites with you too!

After making some time and really nailing down my meal plan this week I'm excited to try some new things. You can see my meal plan below and follow along if you're interested in switching your meals up too. Breakfast I keep super simple because I'm flying out the door in the morning and I need something pretty easy and consistent all week. Lunches I will prepare and pack ahead of time.