Meal Planning 101(for the financially challenged).

Sweat it Out:
Elliptical 5 minute warm-up
40 minutes weights
1 hour Elliptical

This morning was the first time that I felt a serious amount of progress at the gym.  It was when I did the push-up portion of my wight lifting exercises.  I could tell that my body had a fuller range of motion.  My abs felt engaged, my back felt straight, and I can almost go half way down.  THIS IS HUGE PEOPLE!  When I started the program a month ago, I could barely stay on my knees and when I did I could only hold my body weight down about 2 inches.  I wish I would have taped how I was in the beginning doing this exercise because I know I have come so far!  I didn’t feel like my stomach muscles were going to cave when I was in downward motion (thank you prone jack-knife), and I felt strong.  I am absolutely abuzz with endorphins!

Today was day 13, phase 1, workout a, and the beginning of the last week of phase 1 for “The New Rules of Lifting for Women”.  I am so excited to do the fitness test next week, and then start phase 2 the week after that!  Here is what my workout looked like today:

  • Squats: Warm-up 50 pounds, S1-3 70 pounds, 8 reps.
  • Seated Row: Warm-up 50 pounds, S1 90 pounds, S2-3 8 pounds.
  • Push-ups: Girlie style, 3 Sets of 8 reps (had a HUGE improvement this week!).
  • Step-ups: 22 pound bar, went up one lift on the stepper and felt it A LOT more.
  • Prone Jack Knives: 3 sets, 15 reps.
It was a great workout to start out the week!  *Reminder* September first is measurement day, and it will have been a month since I started NROLFW.  My Hub’s says my butt looks tighter, but he may just be trying to be nice?  We’ll see.
One of the goals I had for this week was to do meal planning.  For our budget and for our health (planning is key!).  I decided that I would look online to help me get some ideas on how to make meal planning easier for me.  I remembered watching this show on the BYU tv network (randomly) called the Food Nanny.  She has devised a fool-proof plan for meal planning and scheduling time for family dinners.  Since we always had dinner as a family growing up, I think it is an important part of being a family.  She has a tool on her site that you can use to create a two-week meal plan.  Remember how I only put down plan to make a half a weeks worth of meals?  Well now I almost have 3 WEEKS!  And they are all different meals (My hub’s likes variety).  The key for me was to narrow down my days by categories (which is what Food Nanny promotes).  Here are my categories:
  • Sunday: Traditional
  • Monday: Italian
  • Tuesday: Mexican
  • Wednesday: Soups
  • Thursday: Breakfast
  • Friday: Asian
  • Saturday: Pizza
After I narrowed it down to those 7 categories, the ideas for meals started flowing!  I put the Calendar on my fridge and every time I think of a new meal that falls under a certain category I add it to the corresponding day and VOILA!  I have almost 3 weeks of meals now!  Finally, an end to the frustration of meal planning! Now, just for funsies, lets look at what this week has in store:
  • Monday: Italian Ground Turkey Meatloaf with roasted broccoli
  • Tuesday: Chicken Taco’s with corn salsa
  • Wednesday: Split Pea Soup
  • Thursday: Protein Pancakes with Strawberries and Blueberries
  • Friday: Chicken Stir-fry
  • Saturday: barbeque Chicken Pizza
  • Sunday: Pork loins baked with Apples and Cinnamon with a roasted veggie from Bountiful Baskets
Recipes to follow!
******UPDATE******* I spent a total of $95.68 at the store and that includes formula!!!  I’m getting better at this!
Do you meal plan?  What kind of system do you use?
What was your workout today?
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3 Comments
by Shrinking Carrie on August 29, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Bountiful Baskets, Budget, Family, Goals, Good Food, Health, Meal Planning, Motivation, The New Rules of Lifting for Women, Workout

Posted by Shrinking Carrie on August 29, 2011

http://shrinkingcarrie.com/2011/08/29/meal-planning-101for-the-financially-challenged/

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3 Comments

  1. Marion

     /  August 29, 2011

    Excellent Carrie! Breakthroughs in the gym are amazing!! Don’t you just feel like Wonder Woman now! Aren’t you just on top of the world! ;-) And there *will* be many more of those breakthroughs to come. You honestly should start keeping an exercise journal–yes a little notebook–of your progress, so that you can see the little inches of hard work turn into huge breakthroughs. I improved every month for 3 years straight! I put little stars in my journal every time I improved. You seem like the type of person who could do that too.

    One complaint–why the boring title on this post? Why not–”Big Gym Breakthrough!!!!” as the title! Toot your own horn when you’re great! We all want to be inspired by you!
    :-) Marion

    Reply

  2. April

     /  August 29, 2011

    carrie im finally getting caught up on your new-new blog! Since we moved I didn’t update your site name and my life was hectic but now Im back! Look your close to 20! I love the tank top!! That is so cool you have it- I know I have it some where too- apereal was on my shirt! You will totally get back there to wear it. Im glad you are doing good- give me a holla if you come to AZ!

    Reply

  3. janetha

     /  August 30, 2011

    Great workout AND great meal plan! I love it all!!

    Reply

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