My 1st attempt at Meal Planning for friends AND YOU!

Welcome to my first email as a "meal planner" - I hope this is helpful for you all!

Now, as a pre-cursor, I use most of my points for dinner. I like to have a good meal to look forward to. My breakfast is usually a smoothie or some fruit- nothing over 2-3 SP. My lunch is usually around 7-10 SP - so this helps me have a bigger dinner. I can even have a small piece of chocolate as a treat :-)

Here's my plan for the week - menu with recipe links (I always do my grocery list ahead of time- most I can buy at Aldi - except for Ginger:

MONDAY:
Massive Turkey Meatball- I'll use some Aldi sauce instead of her recommended sauce- serve over Cremette 150 thin spaghetti - also a salad and maybe a small slice of Italian bread (depends on points I have left - it adds 3 SP)- Total SP Dinner: 13 SP without bread http://www.skinnytaste.com/giant-turkey-meatball-parmesan/

TUESDAY: Honey Teriyaki Chicken Drumsticks (or breasts) - serve with 1/2 cup brown Rice and Roasted Asparagus - Total SP Dinner: 12 http://www.skinnytaste.com/honey-teriyaki-drumsticks-skillet-or-instant-pot/

WEDNESDAY: Crunchy Parmesan Chicken- (Changes to the recipe- 2/3 cup crumbs, 1/2 cup Parmesan, 2 eggs, 3 T. Oil) - Served with Salad and Carrot Sticks, Apples Total SP Dinner:  12 SP
http://www.rachaelraymag.com/Recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-search/dinner-recipes/Crunchy-Parmesan-Chicken

THURSDAY: Greek Chicken Sandwich on Naan Bread with Tzatziki sauce (I can share some Wildtree if you want to make this) No Link - this will be my own recipe :-) Will serve with carrots sticks or fruit - Didn't figure out SP yet. OR I may make pizza for the boys since I have a class- If so, I'd make a sandwich and fruit to take with me.

FRIDAY: Turkey Stuffed Tenderloin http://www.skinnytaste.com/butternut-stuffed-turkey-tenderloin/ - served with Brussels sprouts (on sale at Aldi) - recipe for brussel sprouts - https://weightwatchers.com/us/recipe/roasted-brussels-sprouts-maple-balsamic-drizzle-1/5626a624a6d5b39610700d5e Total SP Dinner: 7 SP   

SATURDAY:
Thai Chicken Peanut noodles- I'll modify slightly for the boys- I'll also steam or roast some broccoli (carrots sticks for the boys)- no sriracha for me Total SP Dinner: 15 SP (it's a huge serving- so I may just half it? OR it's Saturday and I'll just back off lunch)   http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/thai-chicken-peanut-noodles?trkid=soc-skinnyms-rdp

Feel free to call or ask me if you have ?'s- here are 2 more meals I have in my pocket in case I don't want to make one of the above.

Alternatives:

Bangin Good Shrimp over angel hair pasta (150 calorie cremette) with broccoli Total SP Dinner: 8 SP http://www.skinnytaste.com/bangin-good-shrimp/

Chicken Tacos - No recipe, just chicken breasts (3 oz), seasoned and sauteed- then sliced and served with El Rey corn tortillas (3 tortillas) and refried beans (1/2 cup), carrot sticks - Total SP Dinner: 11 SP (Cheese and Sour Cream are 2 SP)

I'd love ideas or stuff you'd like to see- let me know. 

What if I can't do that yet?

I am 2 weeks into T25, it's literally kicking my butt! I can feel the pain, people! Good news is, I already see a difference. My plan is to post after 5 weeks, so you can see it too.

Something I've been wanting to write about was deemed necessary when I ran into someone at work who had also purchased the workout. I was going on and on about how much I loved it, when she told me...She hated it! I was surprised. It got me thinking why it may just not be the right fit for her.

She's in the early stages of her fitness journey and may not have been prepared for the kind of exercise it offers. It reminded after we finished the first routine and my husband asked me is there was some sort of pre-requisite before starting T25? He is doing the program with me and he was dying.

Don't get me wrong, it's extremely hard. BUT I am struggling through- mostly using the modifiers when I have to. Even those moves can be difficult. So, how did I do it? How did I get to the point in my journey when I wanted to tackle this challenge. Let's list what I've done in general over the last 1 and a 1/2 years.

#1. I completely stopped eating fast food. I haven't had it since July 2012.

#2. I cut WAY back on alcohol. Maybe 1-2 drinks per month.

#3. I don't eat past 8 pm. EVER- OK, rarely :-)

#4. I have not stepped foot in a gym. My workouts are ALL done at home(with the exception of 1-9 round excursion).
Work out progression:
25-30 min of  Wii Zumba 2-3 days per week
35-45 min of Wii Zumba or Wii Just Dance 3 days per week
45 min of Zumba or Just Dance 4-5 days per week
45 min of Zumba or Just Dance 3 times per week, Elliptical 2 times per week = 5 times per week
Now: T25 5 days per week- follow each workout with 20-25 min of Just Dance or Zumba

#5. I get up early to do it. In bed by 9:45, up by 5 or 5:15 am

#6. My day for eating go as follows:
6:45: Smoothie (most mornings)
10:00: Popcorn snack
Noon: Lunch (brought from home or something sensible if outside office)
3 pm: Fruit snack (apple, grapes, kiwi, strawberries, etc.)
6:30 or 7:00 pm- Dinner (again at home)
7:50 pm: FINAL treat (piece of chocolate)

Remember- It's taking it one meal at a time. Don't ever blow off a whole day because you ate too much at breakfast. Every minute counts. :-) My first 80 lbs came off with eating alone, exercise came later, so make eating your #1 priority.