Easy Broccoli Soup

Tonight's Dinner: Broccoli Soup and a Big Hunk of Salmon

After listening to the rain patter on the windows all day long while being stuck inside at work, the weather turned absolutely beautiful right as I was walking out to my car this afternoon.  I quickly chomped on a handful of baby carrots when I got home, and then the hubby and I took a long walk through the nearby neighborhoods.  With a slight breeze and the sun shining, it was a perfect day to get outside and get some fresh air. It gave me the burst of energy I needed to make something tasty, healthy and new for dinner!

We buy giant bags of frozen organic broccoli from Costco ($5.99 for a four pound bag!) on a weekly basis, and I was looking for a new way to eat it tonight. Normally, I just boil some water, throw in the broccoli for about 10 minutes, drain, then serve with salt, pepper and butter. Tonight, though, I was feeling adventurous! Why not blend it up into a liquid palatable not only to people with teeth, but also people without??! Why not, indeed!!

This recipe is ridiculously easy with only six ingredients. And it actually tastes good. If you like broccoli, you're going to like it. BAM!

Broccoli Soup
16 oz frozen broccoli
1 tsp ghee
2-3 cups of bone broth
1 dash of garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste

Add all of the above to a medium sized pan. Bring to a boil. Once the broccoli is tender, transfer to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth, returning to the heat if needed. Add salt and pepper to taste. Makes 3 servings.

Paleo Pumpkin Muffins

So warm and buttery!

So it has been quite a while since I've blogged. Somehow, these past few months have completely flown by. I'm having a hard time believing this weekend is the beginning of June! I've been experimenting A TON for the past few months -- trying new recipes, eating new vegetables (and figuring out how to make them taste good!), and continuing on my fitness journey, hitting the weights and doing pullups (I can do 4 in a row, now, success!!).

After completing Jamie Eason's LiveFit Trainer in January, I had a lot of muscle, but was suffering from a few digestive issues. After experimenting with cutting out grains and gluten from my diet for the past few months, I'm feeling 100%. I eat a ton of vegetables, meat, sweet potatoes, nuts and include coconut oil, butter, eggs and some dairy. I also throw some fruit in there every once in a while. It has been about three months since I made this change, and I can't see going back. The difference is incredible!

Here is one recipe we eat for breakfast on a regular basis. It's not very sweet, so sometimes I put a little Stevia on top if the mood hits me, then add a pat of grass-fed butter. These make a quick, easy snack that keep you full. All I had for breakfast this morning was one of these, and I was set until my mid-morning snack.


Paleo Pumpkin Muffins

1 (15 oz) can pumpkin
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/4 cup almond flour
1/2 cup melted coconut oil
6 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 tbs honey
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp baking powder

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Mix the coconut flour, almond flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and baking powder together. In a separate bowl, mix together the melted coconut oil, eggs, honey and vanilla until blended. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together, then fold in the pumpkin until completely combined. Scoop batter into a a 12 muffin tin and bake for 22 minutes or until a toothpick poked in the center comes out clean.

Jamie Eason's LiveFit Trainer - Completed!!

Before: October 2012

After: January 2013

My goal at the end of 2012 was to complete Jamie Eason's LiveFit Trainer by my 27th birthday. COMPLETED!!!!! I was so excited to take "after" pictures, I decided to take them right after my last work out on the plan today. I also took measurements at the beginning -- I trimmed 1.5'' off my waist and more than .5'' off my thighs. I consider those numbers a huge WIN!

Here's a quick overview of the plan:

The LiveFit Trainer plan is a 12 week plan that consists of three phases:

Phase One: Build Muscle
1) Lift heavy 4 times per week the first two weeks
2) Life heavy 5 times per week the next two weeks
3) Stick to the meal plan, no counting calories
4) No cardio

Phase Two: Maintain Muscle and Lose Fat
1) Lift 6 times per week, 4 days of cardio for the first two weeks
2) Lift 6 times per week, 3 days of cardio for the next two weeks
3) Stick to the meal plan, remove carbs from evening meals, start counting calories in week 7

Phase Three: Lean Out
1) Lift 6 times per week, 4 days of sprints for the first week
2) Lift 6 times per week, 4 days of sprints and carb cycling for the second week
3) Lift 5 times per week, 5 days of cardio and carb cycling for the third and fourth week

My goal was to complete the LiveFit Trainer by my 27th birthday, January 8th, 2013. I had been lifting consistently since earlier in the year (starting in February), but felt like I needed a goal to push myself harder to become stronger and more fit. The LiveFit Trainer provides daily work outs and a specific eating plan that make it impossible to just coast. Exactly what I needed!

It wasn't easy. After getting home from work, some days I just didn't want to go to the gym - but I did. I was spending an hour and a half at the gym in Phase 2. It's a commitment. But I did it.

I didn't miss one work out until week 10, when a knee injury forced me to lighten up on the sprints. Even with an injury, though, I was able to stick to the lifting plan and eating plan. Nothing was going to stop me!

Eating Plan:
Jamie has a very specific list of foods to stick to. Plenty of protein, veggies and complex carbs round out the list, and it also includes protein shakes and a few dairy products (cottage cheese, greek yogurt). The turkey meatloaf and various protein bars (recipes are included in the plan) became weekly staples. I also used my crock pot on a weekly basis to cook up huge amounts of chicken. That was a life saver. After coming home from the gym starving, it was so easy to heat up chicken in the microwave for dinner. My husband also got used to eating this way -- and he should be taking "after" pictures himself! He looks great.

Carb cycling the last three weeks, especially over Christmas, was a challenge. But, luckily, with supportive in-laws and parents, I was able to adjust the Christmas meals to fit into the plan. Substituting spinach and vegetables for cheesy potatoes and casseroles was an easy fix, and with meat or chicken as the main course, it wasn't hard to meet my protein needs. Staying away from desserts took will power, but I just kept the main goal in mind. No dessert was worth forfeiting my "after"!

Conclusion:
After 12 weeks, I feel really, really good. My jeans are looser, I've got visible muscle, and I can do push ups and pull ups! I'm very proud of myself for completing the trainer, as it's something I set my mind to and didn't give up. It's the beginning of a new phase of my life, starting with my 27th birthday. I'm going to keep up the weightlifting and keep eating clean, and will start with Phase 1 again to build up more muscle. I've come this far-- now there's no turning back!!!

Jamie Eason's LiveFit Trainer:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/jamie-eason-livefit-trainer.html