I'm Back!!

Woah! What a crazy month I’ve had in April. Between caring for my sick son, sick husband (migraine + ER trip), softball practice starting, an Easter weekend get-away to Indiana, planning for a 2-year old birthday party, a crazy busy full-time job during the day coupled with an equally busy part-time job in the evening, it's no wonder I made it through the month with all of that stress.

Although because of my crazy chaotic life, I managed to gain 5 lbs back from all of my hard work on the Cinch plan. I’m pretty bummed about that, so today I started all over on the detox Fast Forward phase. As usual, I modify this phase each time, so here is how today shaped up:

BREAKFAST (8:30 am)

Spinach Scramble:

1 cup sautéed spinach + 1 scrambled egg
1 cup Trader Joe’s Very Berry Cherry Blend (blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, and cherries) + 2 TBSP slivered almonds
Dash onion powder for the spinach scramble and dashes of cinnamon & cloves for the berries

LUNCH (12:00 pm)

Smoothie:

1 cup frozen blueberries
6 oz Chobani brand vanilla greek yogurt
2 TBSP Justin’s Maple Almond Butter (on the side scooped with a spoon)
Dashes of cinnamon & cloves for the smoothie

SNACK (4:30 pm)

Parfait:

1 cup Trader Joe’s Very Berry Cherry Blend (blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, and cherries)
6 oz Chobani brand vanilla greek yogurt
2 TBSP slivered almonds
Dashes of cinnamon, nutmeg, & cloves

DINNER (7:00 pm)

Spinach “Mess”:

2 cups sautéed spinach
1 hard-boiled egg
2 TBSP slivered almonds
Dash onion powder

The day was mostly OK until RIGHT NOW! I'm pretty hungry, so I'm going to bed before I can think about going into the kitchen to get food.

Day 14 - I Love Plums!

I tried a plum today for the very first time, and I'm in love. It might be my new favorite fruit. Before the Cinch diet, I was never a huge fruit person. I would usually eat my traditional favorites (bananas, strawberries, apples, pineapple, grapes), but I wouldn't venture out and try new fruits.

Today was pretty good on my diet for the most part. (I had too many chips with dinner.)

BREAKFAST (8:30 am):

Almond Butter Plum Toast with Yogurt:

1 plum, peeled and sliced
1 slice whole grain bread
6 oz. honey vanilla Greek yogurt
1 TBSP Justin’s honey almond butter
Dash nutmeg

This might be my new favorite breakfast. I’ve never tried a plum before, and wow, was it delicious!




LUNCH (1:00 pm)

Spinach Walnut Bleu Cheese Pita:

1 cup fresh spinach and 1 large chopped plum tomato
1/2 whole grain pita
1/4 cup bleu cheese
2 TBSP chopped walnuts
Dash balsamic vinegar

I finally found a portable bottle of balsamic vinegar. It is an aged 10-year vinegar from Trader Joe's. I cannot believe how much of a flavor difference I notice with this vinegar VS a vinegar that isn't aged. It has traveled in my work lunch bag 3 times this week, and twice my co-workers have asked me what it is. :-)




SNACK (4:30 pm)

Almond Butter and Gouda Cheese with Apple Slices:

(I skip the whole grain puzzle piece at each snack.)

1 apple, sliced
1 Babybel Gouda cheese
1 TBSP Justin’s honey almond butter
Dash nutmeg


DINNER (7:00 pm)

Chipotle:

Peppers and onions, lettuce, tomato salsa
Whole grain tortilla chips (had at home) and a little corn salsa
Black beans
Guacamole
Lots of spices in the salsa

Day 12 - Down Another Pound!

Those 3+ pounds are gone, and I'm down another pound. Hoorah! That is now a total loss of 12.5 lbs. I am so excited.

BREAKFAST (8:30 am):

Banana Ricotta Hazelnut Toast:

1 slice whole grain toasted bread, topped with:
¼ cup low fat ricotta cheese
½ banana
2 TBSP whole hazelnuts
Sprinkled with cloves

I had my daily dark chocolate around 11 am. Wow, I didn't make it very long into the day before I had chocolate, huh?

LUNCH (1:00 pm):

Turkey Almond Pita:

½ cup fresh spinach and 1 chopped plum tomato
½ whole grain pita
3 oz roasted turkey breast
1 TBSP raw natural almond butter
Dash balsamic vinegar


SNACK (4:30 pm):

Minneola Almond Twist:

Wedges from 1 medium Minneola
½ cup non-fat cottage cheese
2 TBSP slivered almonds
Dash dried basil


DINNER (8:00 pm):

Avocado Crab Dip with Whole Grain Tortilla Chips:

(I made this one up myself!)

½ cup celery sticks, ½ cup all-natural salsa, 1/4 cup shredded carrots, 1/4 cup sliced red bell pepper, ½ cup chopped cucumber
1 serving whole grain tortilla chips
3 oz lump crab meat
½ of a medium avocado
Lime juice and chopped cilantro