Breakfast Smoothies (with Macros)

September is one of those hardest times of the year to have any extra-curricular time, as my job gets exponentially busier at this time. Also sometimes the busiest times of the year also means that it's easier to forget to eat! I've started drinking smoothies in the morning to try to get my body used to having some fuel but also kick start my day, especially before a morning workout.

On the "If It Fits My Macros, I Eat What I Want" belief, things have been working out beautifully. I've been on the program for about a week and a half now, and I'm down four pounds, yet my gains have been explosive. I hit some new PRs this week in Overhead Squat, Full Clean + Thruster, and Power Clean. The program has exposed to me what foods I'm not giving my body enough, so I try to make more informed choices so my body gets the right macros.

Before a workout, my body needs some carbs to work on. As I'm not a breakfast eater, nor do I have the time or ability to make too much sound at 5am - I've started with prepping some smoothies the night before. I've purchased a NutriBullet to help make smaller portions, but also if I'm going to be using any nut butters - this will not contaminate our main blender.

Strawberry Banana Smoothie
- 100g Strawberries
- 1/2 cup Neilson Trutaste 1% milk
- 1/2 banana (roughly around 60-65g)
Macros: Fat 1 - Carbs 29 - Protein 6

Raspberry Banana Smoothie
- 100g Raspberry
- 1/2 cup Neilson Trutaste 1% milk
- 1/2 banana (roughly around 60-65g)
Macros: Fat 2 - Carbs 32- Protein 6

Blueberry Banana Smoothie
- 100g Blueberry
- 1/2 cup Neilson Trutaste 1% milk
- 1/2 banana (roughly around 60-65g)
Macros: Fat 2 - Carbs 34 - Protein 6

Funky Monkey Smoothie
- 1 banana (roughly around 126g)
- 1/2 cup Neilson Trustaste 1% milk
- 1 scoop JaktRx Chocolate Milkshake Protein Powder
- 1 Tblsp President's Choice Just Peanuts Peanut Butter
- Optional: water to top up
Macros: Fat 12 - Carbs 38 - Protein 33
Without Peanut Butter: Macros: Fat 4 - Carbs 35 - Protein 30

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Eat What You Want, Lift What You Want

I wanted to share that I've joined Working Against Gravity's "Eat What You Want, Lift What You Want" Team.

This is coming from the quest I've set upon myself to find the right and manageable diet for myself, based on my needs. There's definitely an accountability aspect that came with joining the team and I'm looking forward to the support I'm going to be receiving for figuring out my nutrition. My hope is that I can also be a good role model at the end of this to show that you can eat what you want, and lift the way you want. I'll get started this Friday/Saturday officially, but already I'm impressed with the service I'm getting.

So basically I continue my training with CrossFit Vortex, and I work with Team WAG on my nutrition making adjustments as we go. I feel that this will enforce better and healthier changes in my daily routine, especially when it comes down to preparing lunch the night before. I know a big fault of mine is definitely not preparing the right food at home for lunch while I'm at work. I'm looking forward to this newer challenge of eating and preparing food to accomplish my fitness and overall health goals.

I'm looking at my new way of a nutrition of somewhat of a mash-up between Paleo and whatever I want (providing I'm meeting my macros). As in, I'm staying away from wheat products. Starches will be in my diet, but reduced. Refined sugar, will try to avoid it - but won't feel that terrible if I have something sugary - as long as it fits my macros. This will require measuring so we will see how it goes!

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Sweet Potato Hash

I'm not a big breakfast person, but on the weekend when I'm not rushing to go places - I don't mind spending the time to eat breakfast. Eating no wheat can limit your options, and there are only so many times I can eat eggs just the way they are.

So I bring you my version of Sweet Potato Hash!

Ingredients:
- 1-2 sweet potato
- 2-3 eggs
- mushrooms, sliced
- 1/2 red pepper, diced
- 1/4 red onion, chopped
- paprika, pepper, chili pepper to taste
- avocado (half)

Directions:

1. Chop up all of your vegetables (mushrooms, red pepper, red onion), heat over a pan lightly greased and sautee for 5-8 minutes.

2. While your vegetables are cooking, send your sweet potato through the spiralizer. I recommend the one with the smallest holes. You could also use a julienne peeler, but the sprializer is the quickest.

3. Add sweet potato "ribbons" to the pan and cook for 2-4 minutes until they are soft. You can cook for longer if you perhaps want a crispier potato! Remove sweet potato and vegetables from pan.

4.  Time to make your eggs. As the picture above, I made my eggs scrambled. I've also done this with sunny side up! Totally up to you how you want to make your eggs. Top with avocado slices when you are done!

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