21 Day Challenge!

This cold has knocked me flat and I’m not just talking about just being sick.  For those who know me, know I’m active.  I love to run, play tennis, workout etc. but it seems like everything has been against me since before Christmas.  What with pulled muscles, colds, slipped discs, general nonchalance and now since this cold I feel like its time to make a change.  A challenge as it were!

So here’s my challenge. 

My plan for the next 21 days is to just get back to normal i.e. eating healthy and getting active again.  It’s kind of of a large challenge since I write a dessert blog for a living.  Being elbow deep in sugar, butter and chocolate most days as well as trying to think up new treats certainly doesn’t help.  So I decided to put it out there for all to see and to recruit your help.  I need a cheering squad and in return will throw a 21 day challenge party at the end with lots of prizes.

Now why would I give stuff away for you to cheer me on?  I’m all about motivation and accountability.  It doesn’t work for a lot of people, but it works for me.  So in 21 days, on March 8th, Trilogy Edibles will be throwing a shin-dig and giveaway!

Over the next 3 weeks I plan to increase the amount of protein and decrease the amounts of whites (sugar, starch etc).  I will cheat, I won’t pretend that I won’t and I will own up to it!  I’ll post my menu’s at the beginning of each week along with my activity plans. 

Disclaimer, this is NOT about weight.  Sure losing a few pounds is always a plus, but there is no scale in my house.  I have no idea how much I weigh just an idea.  It’s all about how the clothes fit and how I feel.  I stopped caring about the number 20 years ago when it almost ruined my life.

If you’d like to join in, please tell me.  It’s always easier to do stuff like this when you have friends doing it with you.

Here is the next seven days plan:  I found this online and have adapted quite a bit.  Protein means any lean meat (chicken, beef, pork or fish), it’s more about the quantity.  If you don’t have a scale, the size of your meat portion should be no bigger than your fist.  The calories, fat, carbs and protein numbers are approximates.  This menu is pretty basic, feel free to mix it up with different veggies.  It’s also fairly bland, we’ll get a bit more exciting next week.  We will add back some sugar by week 3.  I’m all about a balanced diet and that includes sweets.  Also, if 1500 calories isn’t enough for you, add some more, just don’t go less because going less won’t help.  You NEED to eat to be healthy.

So start with meal 1 and then space out every couple hours and don’t eat after 7pm.  Also include 20-30 minutes of activity each day.  For example, walk the dog!  That’s what I’ll be doing until my ribs no longer hurt.

Day 1

Meal 1  2 Egg whites + 1 whole egg scrambled with cooking spray, and 1 package Quaker Oatmeal
Meal 2  1 can of tuna mixed with fat free mayo + 1/2 cup of brown rice.
Meal 3 1 cup of lean turkey + 1/2 cup of brown rice.
Meal 4  100 grams of protein + 2 cups of broccoli (drizzled with olive oil)
Meal 5  1 cup 1-2% cottage cheese + 1 tbsp peanut butter
Calories 1566, Fat 41g, Carb 119g, Protein 178g

Day 2

Meal 1  2/3 cup Yogurt with 1 cup of skim milk (yes...skim)
Meal 2 1 cup of lean turkey + 1/2 cup of beans.
Meal 3  Tuna melt sandwich (1 can of tuna with cheese slice and 2 slices of whole wheat bread)
Meal 4 100 grams of protein with 1/2 cup of 1% cottage cheese and 2 cups of broccoli
Meal 5 8:00pm - 1 cup 1-2% cottage cheese + 1 tbsp peanut butter
Calories 1493, Fat 37g, Carbs 124g, Protein 167g

Day 3

Meal 1  Omellette (4 egg whites+1 whole) with 2 whole wheat toast
Meal 2 1 can of tuna mixed with fat free mayo + 1/2 cup of brown rice.
Meal 3 100g of protein + 2 cups of broccoli + 1/2 cup of brown rice
Meal 4 1 scoop whey protein (mix as per container directions)
Meal 5  100g of protein + 1/2 cup of brown rice + 1 cup of green beans
Meal 6 1 scoop whey protein + 1tbsp peanut butter
Calories 1481, Fat 41g, Carb 112g, Protein 170g

Day 4

Meal 1  4 white/1 whole egg scrambled with cooking spray, and 1 package Quaker Oatmeal
Meal 2  1 can of tuna mixed with fat free mayo + 1 cup of brown rice + 2 cups of broccoli.
Meal 3 1 scoop of whey protein
Meal 4 100g protein + 1/2 cup of 1% cottage cheese + 1/2 cup of brown rice
Meal 5 100g protein + 2 cups of green beans + 1/2 cup of brown rice
Meal 6  1 cup of 1% cottage cheese + 1 tbsp peanut butter
Calories 1554, Fat 31g, Carbs 159g, Protein 162g

Day 5

Meal 1 Breakfast Fajita (4 egg whites+1 whole egg with a slice cheese and flour tortilla)
Meal 2 100g of protein + 1 cup of brown rice + 2 cups of green beans
Meal 3 1 scoop of whey protein
Meal 4 100g of protein + 2 cups of broccoli + 1 cup of brown rice
Meal 5 100g of protein + 2 cups of green beans + 1 cup of brown rice
Meal 6 1 cup of 1% cottage cheese + 1 tbsp natural peanut butter
Calories 1457, Fats 30g, Carbs 132g, Protein 167g

Day 6

Meal 1 2 sunny side up eggs with 2 whole wheat toast and 1/2 a tomato
Meal 2 1 scoop whey protein + 1 package of Quaker Oatmeal
Meal 3 100g of protein + 1/3 cup mashed potatoes + 1/3 cup 1% cottage cheese + 1 cup lettuce w/ zesty italian dressing
Meal 4 100 g protein with 1 cup of salad
Meal 5  3 hard boiled eggs (2 whole, 4 whites) + 1 tbsp natural peanut butter
Calories 1613, Fats 61g, Carbs 106g, Proteins 164g

Day 7

Meal 1 4 white/1 whole egg scrambled with cooking spray, and 1 package Quaker Oatmeal
Meal 2 Ham sandwich (100g of ham+ 2 slices of whole wheat bread)
Meal 3 100g of protein + 2 cups of broccoli + 1/3 cup of brown rice + 1/2 cup cottage cheese
Meal 4  1 can of tuna + 2 cups of broccoli
Meal 5  1 cup of 1% cottage cheese + 1 tbsp of natural peanut butter
Calories 1511, Fats 50g, Carbs 111g, Protein 162g

 

So that’s my challenge.  Wish me luck, I’ll post again next Thursday and tell you how it’s going!

Also, if you’d like to help me with my celebration party, that would be awesome too!

Let’s get healthy!