{365} Challenge: Full-Day Meal Planning

This Friday will be 7 months since Baby B was born.  Since she was 3 weeks old I have not dropped a pound.  Not one.  If you have been in my shoes then you can understand how frustrating it is to not fit back into your cute clothes and be around skinny friends (especially other moms!)

I tried eating Paleo, but it didn't have an impact on my weight while breastfeeding so I am heading back to the drawing board.  For me, I need to feel full and satisfied after a meal and have room to enjoy a sweet every now and then.

At the start of my pregnancy, I weighed 173 lbs.  At the end of my pregnancy I was at 210 lbs.  It took 3 weeks to drop to 189 lbs. and that is where I have stayed.  Before this pregnancy, I was fit, active, and fairly pleased with how I looked.  My goal was (and is) to get back down to around 145 lbs. and start doing weightlifting competitions.  Lifting weights makes me happy and it is one of the few times I am truly proud of my accomplishments.  Before my pregnancy I maxed at 210 lbs for back squat; more recently when tested, I squatted 185 lbs.  My goal by the end of this year is 270 lbs.

So to re-cap, my goals:

Get down to 145 lbs.

Squat 270 lbs.

fit back into my cute clothes

-and-

get back into running

For the past 6 months I have been depressed with my looks at it has been effecting how I view myself as well as my relationship with my husband.  It isn't fair to him or me.  This is it.  Last straw.  Last chance.  I have found that eating smaller, more filling meals has been more helpful.  The past few days I have been focusing on snacking healthier and getting in a good breakfast and lunch.  

The tricky is part is two-fold: I am nursing and I am in my 30's with my third child.  The plan is to breastfeed as long as possible, hopefully till at least 2 years, but longer if my body allows it and Baby B wants it.

I am working on a 6-week goal - planning every meal for 6 weeks and trying to keep them clean.  Here is week one.

Monday

Breakfast: 3 scrambled eggs and a banana

Snack: Lara Bar

Lunch:Turkey Wrap (Whole wheat toritilla, 2 tbsp. Red Pepper Hummus, 4 oz. sliced turkey, and spinach leaves)

Snack: String cheese

Dinner: Grilled chicken with pasta and a side salad

Tuesday

Breakfast: 1 slice of whole wheat toast with 2 tbsp. peanut butter

Snack: a handful of raisins

Lunch: Leftover pasta from the night before

Snack: yogurt - I prefer Noosa 

Dinner: Almond Crusted Chicken Fingers with 2 cups broccoli

Wednesday

Breakfast: 2 eggs (scrambled or over-medium) and 3 chicken breakfast sausages from Trader Joe's

Snack: Lara Bar

Lunch: Black bean and cheese burrito (Make several and freeze)

Snack: string cheese and a handful of cashews

Dinner: Veggie Burger with a side salad

Thursday

Breakfast: Breakfast burrito

Snack: Lara Bar

Lunch: Baked sweet potato and a salad

Snack: 1 cup baby carrots and 3 tbsp. Red Pepper Hummus

Dinner: Lemon Chicken with brown rice and asparagus

Friday

Breakfast: Pink Breakfast smoothie

Snack: handful of raisins

Lunch: Spinach wrap with ham (Spinach wrap, 2 slices black forest ham, 2 tbsp. shredded cheese, 1 tbsp. red pepper hummus, and whatever veggies you want to stuff in!)

Snack: yogurt

Dinner: Crock Pot Chana Masala

Saturday

Breakfast: 3 eggs and a banana

Snack: 1 cup baby carrots and 3 tbsp. Red Pepper Hummus

Lunch: Sandwich and an apple (2 slices whole wheat bread, 4 oz. turkey breast, 1/4th avocado, and 1 tbsp deli mustard)

Snack: 1 banana and 1 string cheese

Dinner:Beast Meatloaf and a side salad

Sunday

Breakfast:  1 slice of whole wheat toast with 2 tbsp. peanut butter

Snack: Lara Bar

Lunch: Avocado Egg Salad Wrap

Snack: string cheese

Dinner: Whole wheat penne with chicken in sun-dried tomato sauce


You can catch up on my challenges here.