30-Day Clean Eating Challenge: Day 8

[shadesofgold]

Calling cali, teraiin, ugaqueencity
, jewel441, PepperPottsJ, kayladawn91, potter713, @pennygirl2013, @ismellbooks
, @justjudy, hydrangea1019, RaeLynn28, renbee, jennykat, ihatepizza, twocents6708, emilie, adorebel, titania, azurestar, mosdub, awkwardturtle, fem, pibblemom, ironbaby, lovetruly2015, LovesMeSomeCake, ghostmonkey, 27alex, samanthasays, kateisoptimistic and anyone else I missed.


One week down! Here is your official check-in for the GKU 30-Day Clean Eating Challenge based on the Reality of You blog. Get daily advice on clean eating, meal plans, grocery lists, and other helpful tips here.


Here are the rules but remember to make it your own, whether you're going full paleo or just easing into this whole clean eating thing.






Even though there have surely been some tough moments and stumbles this week, you deserve a standing ovation for giving this a shot. (I'm sitting silently at my desk giving you a standing ovation in my mind.)


Weekly challenge check-in (to supplement the Wednesday Healthy Living check-in):

How is it going?

Remind us what modifications/additions were you making for the challenge:

What was your biggest temptation this week?

What was one of the easiest meals you made in the last week?

Game plan for the week ahead?

[twocents6708]

I didn't do too bad. I did follow the 80/20'ruke and had a couple
Of things that weren't clean but it was easy to get back in track. I lost 4 lbs this week.

Modification that I made was eating some good quality dark chocolate, which is technically processed but it helped combat my sweet tooth.

The hardest thing was eating on the go and meal planning. I got a late start but prepped a couple of meals on Wednesday to finish out the week strong.

I am finding that shopping at the Farmers market helps me to try new things and I have taken to Pinterest for recipes. The easiest recipe that I made was roast chicken in the crockpot. The tastiest one was Zucchini Boats.

[shadesofgold]

How is it going? Actually quite well! I haven't had any refined sugar or sweetener all week. I have only had a couple teaspoons of honey over the course of the week, added to my plain Greek yogurt in the morning. I have successfully avoided white bread and flour, except for 2 little pieces of bread from the basket of a nice dinner out with friends.

Remind us what modifications/additions were you making for the challenge: I am allowing myself alcohol, so I've had some wine and beer. Not cutting dairy or whole grains, which makes this all much more doable.

What was your biggest temptation this week? The Oreos MH kept leaving on the counter. But I have been surprised that it is getting easier, not harder, to avoid sweets. However, I went to brunch yesterday and they brought cinnamon rolls for the table instead of a bread basket. (WHAaaaa?) I was so proud of myself to avoiding that, and sticking to a challenge-friendly egg dish.

What was one of the easiest meals you made in the last week? Probably scrambled eggs with cheese and salsa. Didn't cook for myself as much the last week as would have been ideal.

Game plan for the week ahead? Stay the course! I don't have much on the calendar this week, so I should have proper time for meal prep and cooking. One exception ahead: I am making cupcakes for the office tonight (it is my one-year work anniversary tomorrow!) and I'm allowing myself to taste the batter and eat one cupcake.

[titania]

How is it going? I am pretty proud of myself this week! I went away to the lake with friends this past weekend and ate surprisingly well! There were so many desserts, but I limited myself to just two small things all weekend.

Remind us what modifications/additions were you making for the challenge: I am eating Greek yogurt for breakfast, so I am still eating dairy and allowing myself alcohol once a week

What was your biggest temptation this week? There were a lot of unhealthy things out this weekend (sodas/cookies/chips), but I did my best to eat fruit instead.

What was one of the easiest meals you made in the last week? Roasted squash

Game plan for the week ahead? I have a low key week, so I can cook a lot! I am actually enjoying cooking

[kateisoptimistic]

How is it going? Pretty good! I was traveling for work for 4 days which made things challenging, I did ok but not 100%.

Remind us what modifications/additions were you making for the challenge: I'm eating Tofu and tempeh, allowing some drinks when i have business dinners etc.

What was your biggest temptation this week? Wine.

What was one of the easiest meals you made in the last week? I made zucchini boats on the grill with mushrooms onions and tempeh and it was amazing and so easy.

Game plan for the week ahead? I'm home all week so ready to keep focused. I need to go grocery shopping tonight and prep a few meals, but im feeling good.

[ghostmonkey]

How is it going? I knew dinner was going to be my stumbling block, and it was rather stumbly this last week. Hoping for better before we head out for family time this weekend.

Remind us what modifications/additions were you making for the challenge: Not eating out, limiting sugars and processed foods

What was your biggest temptation this week? Being lazy and ordering stuff.

What was one of the easiest meals you made in the last week? All of them? I pre-make most things, so it's pretty simple.

Game plan for the week ahead? Breakfast casserole is made, roasted some sweet potatoes to go with it, have chicken made for lunches. Again, only dinner might prove problematic.

[cali]

Thanks for the check in shadesofgold

How is it going? Eh, it was going well until the bachelorette party I went to this weekend, then things went off the rails.

Remind us what modifications/additions were you making for the challenge: probably will have one or two meals out.

What was your biggest temptation this week? Alcohol and I gave in. :-(

What was one of the easiest meals you made in the last week? Chicken taco stuffed avocados. So easy and sooo good.

Game plan for the week ahead? Basically just need to get back on track ASAP. But I have another bachelorette this weekend... Damn all these brides!

[cali]

jennykat they were delish!! Here's the recipe if you're interested.

makethebestofeverything.com/2014/12/chicken-taco-stuffed-avocados.html

[samanthasays]

How is it going? Good! I have definitely been eating more fruits and vegetables, and making most meals from scratch.

Remind us what modifications/additions were you making for the challenge: I am with twocents6708 and have been doing more of an 80/20 thing.

What was your biggest temptation this week? Snacks are always my weakness. I love snacks, sweets, salty, you name it, I want it!

What was one of the easiest meals you made in the last week? I am making it now, basically a ratatouille, I just put an eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, basil, and parsley in the crock pot on low for 6-8 hours. I add sausage to H's, but it is a full meal on its own for me.

Game plan for the week ahead? I just did my grocery shopping, I have plant and protein based meals planned for the rest of the week. Normally processed carbs are my go-to, so this one change alone is a big deal for me

[mosdub]

I should probably be removed from the tag list...


July was an unrealistic month for me given all that has been going on. I'll hop back on the wagon this fall when school starts up and all the people leave and festivals are over.

[ghostmonkey]

Jul 13, 2015 13:28:17 GMT -5 mosdub said:

I should probably be removed from the tag list...


July was an unrealistic month for me given all that has been going on. I'll hop back on the wagon this fall when school starts up and all the people leave and festivals are over.

Going all out might not be an option right now, but is there one area you can focus on? Maybe it's as simple as getting enough water daily, or enough fruits and veggies daily.

[mosdub]

Jul 13, 2015 13:34:50 GMT -5 ghostmonkey said:

Jul 13, 2015 13:28:17 GMT -5 mosdub said:

I should probably be removed from the tag list...


July was an unrealistic month for me given all that has been going on. I'll hop back on the wagon this fall when school starts up and all the people leave and festivals are over.

Going all out might not be an option right now, but is there one area you can focus on? Maybe it's as simple as getting enough water daily, or enough fruits and veggies daily.

Water might be a good place to start for now.  I definitely haven't been drinking enough....well, enough water anyway.    

[ihatepizza]

How is it going? good except for the eating frequent meals part (I feel like I'm eating less frequently as much days get busier)



Remind us what modifications/additions were you making for the challenge: No dairy (I've always been no caffeine, no alcohol... Yah I know I'm boring)

What was your biggest temptation this week? being super stressed at work, needing to eat the ice cream in my fridge

What was one of the easiest meals you made in the last week? I was able to get DH to buy in so I now have my cook back !! (He makes yummy elaborate meals that make my plain quinoa salad look boring)



Game plan for the week ahead? Grocery shopping and meal planning (which has always been my downfall)

[hydrangea1019]

How is it going? I have to be honest, I totally dropped the ball over the weekend. Not very proud of myself, however I am ready to jump right back in. I had a pretty good day today.

Remind us what modifications/additions were you making for the challenge: modifications/additions are greek yogurt and ONE cheat meal a week... I need to stick to just ONE

What was your biggest temptation this week? Oh man, everything over the weekend.

What was one of the easiest meals you made in the last week? We may shredded pork last week for an easy meal. This week we made a balsamic pot roast.

Game plan for the week ahead? Stick to the food we made and not eat out.

[ghostmonkey]

Jul 13, 2015 13:49:55 GMT -5 starbuck27 said:

I don't go here right now. But I'm lurking for inspiration to get my ass in gear.

ghostmonkey can you share your breakfast casserole recipe?

Uh, breakfast sausage, some eggs, a little milk, some cheese and spinach. Bake for 50 minutes at 350.

[mrsm]

How is it going? Will I get flamed if I say on fleek…. lol I kid I kid! But seriously really well. Hard at the start but now it is going much better and dropped some poundage as a perk

Remind us what modifications/additions were you making for the challenge: no caffeine, alcohol, chocolate (cue sad Charlie Brown music) cutting out late night snacks and random picking

What was your biggest temptation this week? Prosecco… I portion controlled and only had half the bottle last night

What was one of the easiest meals you made in the last week? oatmeal

Game plan for the week ahead? Continue what I'm doing and maybe get hubby to jump on

[fem]

How is it going?
Bad. Sent on vacation and ate about the opposite of this challenge. Back to it today though!

Remind us what modifications/additions were you making for the challenge: Allowing maple syrup and some bread.

What was your biggest temptation this week? Sweets!

What was one of the easiest meals you made in the last week? Scrambled eggs with veggies.

Game plan for the week ahead? Stay away from desserts. It's getting out of control.