Catching Up and Weekly Check-In

1-12-15 Eats:
Breakfast- leftover salmon and eggs
Lunch- leftover chicken legs
Dinner- fried oysters (made with coconut flour) and sweet potato fries

1-13-15 Eats:
Breakfast- smoked salmon, avocado, and fried eggs
Lunch- turkey, avocado, remoulade' lettuce sub
Dinner- Cracklin' Chicken, steamed veggies and half a sweet potato

1-14-15 Eats:
Breakfast- bacon and salad eggs with hot sauce
Lunch- turkey, bacon, avocado, remoulade' schmaleo sub
Dinner- Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy with mashed cauliflower
After Dinner Snack- cut up banana, almond butter, toasted coconut flakes

I've really slacked on my water intake the past few days. I've gotten almost all the way once, the other few days I've only drank about half a gallon. I have had my oils in the morning and my ginger shot. And of course on Day 14 of my Whole30 I'm feeling pretty damn awesome.

The kids and I are headed out of town on an impromptu mini-vaca, and I'll be eating out. But lucky me, Northwest Arkansas has plenty of options for finding clean food. Meet you back here in a few days. In the meantime make certain and post your weekly update. The more you participate the more likely you are to win prizes!

#8WTF Days 10 & 11

Whoops! I was so darn tired I totally forgot to post last night.

Yesterday's eats went like this:

Breakfast- prosciutto and egg muffins
Lunch- roast & veggies
Snack- Larabar and banana
Dinner- shrimp and asparagus


Today's grub:

Breakfast- bacon, eggs, leftover salmon with spicy mayo
Lunch- more leftover salmon with spicy mayo
Dinner- Hot wings and sweet potato fries with spicy mayo

Hmm...lots of spicy mayo, very little veggies. I'll have to fix that tomorrow.

I've reached my water goal for the day but didn't get my oils in or my ginger shot.



I know most of you aren't doing the Whole30 but I thought I would write a little bit about how I go about it. Almost everyone will tell you to prep, prep, prep! Take Sunday or whatever and cook up a storm, slice up all your veggies, pack lunches. Some easy things to prep are frittatas, chicken thighs, seasoned ground beef, chicken legs, chili, paleo mayo, and deviled eggs. These are regular go to things for our family. But honestly I don't do a whole lot of prep. I am home all day most days of the week so I have plenty of time to cook our three meals. I just make sure and cook more than we need so there are lots of leftovers for those hungry people who wander in the kitchen and stare into the fridge as if it holds the answers to all life's questions. Since my husband is participating in this Whole30, I make extra sure these leftovers are available.

Let's take a look into my Whole30 fridge. Mind you I just went shopping today so its pretty packed. And of course you will see a lot of non-Whole30 food and a lot of non-Paleo food. My kids still have to eat. They mostly eat what we eat but there are times in between meals or when I'm not hungry myself and don't want to cook, but they still want to eat. Just overlook those items. I'm sure I've missed a few things but what I've listed is my most often used items.

#8WTF Day 4

What are you doing to track your goals? And I say goals because none of us are rarely easy on ourselves and just pick one goal. We must do this and this and also this. In order to not beat myself up on the days that fall a bit short, I keep a log. It reminds me of the big picture. The long term. Progress not perfection.

As you can see the last few days I've fallen short on my water intake. And today I didn't get my oils or my ginger shot. No excuses. I'll do better tomorrow. Hopefully at the end of the month I can say I drank a gallon of water 25/30 days. A few days here and there are nothing to stress about. The Whole30 goal isn't flexible though. Whole30 requires strict adherence to produce results. It requires research, planning, and commitment. I made cupcakes with frosting for my daughter and had to remember really hard not to lick any wayward frosting. Yay for me!


#8WTF links from around the web (basically good stuff to know):

8 Reasons You're Not Losing Weight

What 2000 Calories Looks Like

Whole30 Recipes and Tips

My 8WTF Goals

Today is the last day to sign up and declare your goals for the 8 Weeks To Fit program! Tomorrow is the big day! I'm beyond excited! Like using an exclamation point for everything excited. You are just lucky i'm not talking in all caps!

Before I post the roster of participants and their goals, I thought I would lay my own out for you. You didn't think I wasn't going to join in did you? I am a constant work in progress. My diet has gotten way off track in the past few months and I have some fitness goals that I really want to accomplish.

For January, I am taking on a Whole30. If you are new to the Whole30 go ahead and click on the link to read about it. Basically it means no grains, no added sugar, no dairy, and no alcohol for 30 days. Bummer. But oh so good for your system. I also plan on drinking a gallon of water a day, and taking shots of the following: Slim & Sassy infused water, wheatgrass, and  a ginger cayenne lemon concoction.

The thing about setting goals is that if you don't have a plan, you are much more likely to not reach them. This is my arsenal of tools to reach my January nutrition goal. I've got It Starts With Food, the book that originally detailed the Whole30. My Whole30 folder, compiled of internet printouts and recipes. A BPA free plastic gallon jug for my water with appropriate reminders about how far along I should be in my water drinking during the day. A bottle of Slim & Sassy from doTerra to curb sugar cravings. Wheatgrass shots made fresh by a local gentleman. And finally a big box of ginger ready to go in the juicer to be made into shots.

My February goal is very simple. Complete 10 full body pushups. I was able to do 5 before I had surgery. I'm slowly working my way back to them and my goal is to be able to knock out 10 with no problem by the end of February. I also need to complete an 8 mile run. I haven't done that since before surgery either.

I'll be posting on Instagram and Facebook daily about my progress that day. Remember....progress not perfection! Don't give up because of one bad day. And when you are feeling like you just can't stick to your plans, seek out help. Go to the Facebook page or troll Pinterest for some inspiration. And don't forget to tag all your social media with #8WTF!

Good luck!

8 Weeks To Fit

This is an invitation. A chance to take the promise of a new year with all its resolutions and ride it all the way to the end of February. Use that momentum and motivation and do something with it!

I invite you to start something new, continue on your path, pick back up where you left off. Whatever it means to you. Because that is what this challenge is about. You. I'm not going to tell you what to eat or give you a daily workout. Those are your choices. You are much better equipped to decide your fitness road than I am.

Along with my friend Ashley over at Maniac Mom, I am offering up this challenge (with prizes!!) too you.

Here are the nitty gritty details:

• This is a two month challenge. January will focus on nutrition. February on fitness.
• Participants set their own goals.  In January you will choose a nutrition plan that you have been interested in trying or unable to stick with in the past. It's your choice to count calories, do a sugar detox, eat clean, or try paleo.  In February you will pick a fitness goal. Things like completing your first 5K or setting a new PR. Maybe you goal is to work up to a 10 mile run. Maybe you just want to be able to run a mile! Practice yoga everyday for a month or try crossfit for the first time. The goals are yours and yours alone.
• Prizes will be given at the end of each month. They include a $50 Academy Sports giftcard, a goody bag of running related treats valued at $40, and other things to be announced at a later date. 
• Participants must check in by commenting on a weekly update post here on Ashley In Arkansas.
• In order to be in the running for a prize, you must set a goal and reach that goal. You will also be judged on your level of participation on the Facebook page, the weekly blog check-ins, and you stand a better chance if you volunteer to write guest posts detailing your experience working towards your goals.  E-mail me or leave a comment if you are interested in guest blogging. Also gratuitous hashtagging on social media of #8WTF is a good thing!

Some tips on reaching your goals: 

• Your nutrition plan should be something that is right for you. I personally feel like counting calories is the easiest way to go about it. Sparkpeople is a terrific website for this but there are many others. Check out Sarah Wilson and her I Quit Sugar program if you are most interested in kicking the sugar monster to the curb. Tosca Reno has several books on Eating Clean. Mark's Daily Apple is a great place to get started on primal and paleo plans. And of course for you hard core girls, there is always a Whole30.
• Take it one day, one hour, one minute at a time. Fight cravings with healthy substitutes or just plain walking away. Does the donut shop always tempt you on the way to work? Drive a different route to avoid it. Know you have a problem avoiding your kids treats. Don't buy them for that month. It will be good for your kids too.
• Drink water!!!!
• Drink water!!!!
• I can't say it enough...DRINK WATER!!! Sometimes you think you are hungry and you are really just thirsty.
• Make your fitness goal attainable. If you've never run a mile in your life don't sign up for a 10K. Try a 5K instead. 
• Make fitness a priority. You need this. It's good for your body and your brain.
• If you can't fit it in anytime but first thing in the morning, then get your booty up and get it done. You won't have it looming over you all day and your day will most certainly go better.
• Find a friend! Get your best girlfriend to sign up with you and spark a little healthy competition and accountability. You are less likely to skip a workout when someone is waiting on you.
• Use our Facebook page. Everyone will be struggling through this together. You will find support and solidarity on our group's page. Use it to your advantage.

Ready to sign up?

I'm doing it!

Leave a comment on this post or on the Facebook page outlining your goals for January and February. Make sure you leave an e-mail address you can be reached at. You have until December 31st to do this. If you have a blog, please link to it as well. I will be posting a roster of all participants on January 1st. 

And...if you are one of the first 10 people to sign up you have a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card. Use it for a new cookbook, kitchen gadget, whatever you need to give yourself a leg up on the first part of the challenge. 

Make sure to Like the Facebook page, Ashley In Arkansas on Instagram, Maniac Mom on Instagram and please follow along on Pinterest for inspiration. My favorite boards are Eat All The Food, What To Do When Not Running, and Run Happy. If you are going to document any part of your challenge on social media, please use the hashtag #8WTF so we can find you. 

It's no coincidence that WTF is part of the challenge's acronym. You might be thinking WTF on Day 3 of a sugar detox, or 5 miles into your 10 mile run. Just know that you can do this. Embrace the pain, trust the process, work for that goal. And don't be scared to drop an F-bomb if it helps get you through one more rep. 

Until then...