What I Ate This Week: Fresh, Healthy & Easy Meals

Breakfast

This week I prepared two of my go-to breakfasts. Depending on what I am feeling like they both are great options to keep me full and satisfied, while also being healthy and easy to make.

This go-to option for breakfast is a quick egg scramble with spinach and tomato. Once the veggies are sauteed, I crack 1-2 eggs (depending on my hunger level), scramble everything up with salt and pepper and serve.

Breakfast option number two is on the sweeter side, with these whole wheat protein pancakes, smothered in berries and a tablespoon of pure maple syrup.

You can find these in the freezer department at Aldi (I am not making fresh waffles during the week, these babies pop right in the toaster for a few minutes.) Rylee loves them too and she is a huge fan of berries so this is one of her favorite breakfasts in the morning as well. Two waffles is 12 grams of protein and only 220 calories.

Lunch

Lunch this week did work around some leftovers I had in the fridge from the weekend. I cooked salmon and used that for two days this week. I served one lunch with some leftover green beans and a homemade Greek chickpea salad.

I used the other piece of salmon on another day, with a salad filled with fresh veggies we had in the fridge like spinach and Italian mixed lettuces, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, red/orange peppers, topped with sunflower seeds for crunch and an olive oil and vinegar dressing.

One of my new go-to lunches are these Greek “lettuce pita” gyros. I used leftover lemon-pepper, oregano seasoned chicken and filled them into these butter lettuce cups, added tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, feta cheese and Aldi’s pre-made tzatziki sauce which is incredible.

They are delicious and really filling too.

Dinner

Dinners included a normal Greek Pita, filled with chicken and all the veggies, and of course that tzatziki sauce.

We also had our typical Taco Tuesday night. I served my tacos on corn tortillas and made three little tacos. I like to preheat the corn tortillas in the air fry for a few minutes before topping them to make them a bit more sturdy and easier to eat. I like the texture better that way, too.

Not pictured was also one night of our go-to seasoned chicken thighs with a side of vegetables. It’s such an easy dinner to make and so satisfying when we can’t think of anything else. You bake the chicken thighs until they are cooked through and have good color on them and then serve it with whatever sides you can think of. Mac and cheese, rice, veggies, salad are all good options.

Sunday night dinners are always our go to spaghetti and sauce. Rylee actually made it this week, and I served mine over whole wheat pasta while the rest of the fam enjoyed Angel Hair. And to add some veggies to the mix, a salad on the side. There’s always something really comforting about ending the weekend with a delicious spaghetti dinner.

Dessert / Snacks

For snacks this week, I reached for my go to pantry staples. One morning I was rushing out the door to get to the office and grabbed this protein shake for breakfast. Which, with 30 grams of protein, was really helpful to have and filled me up until lunch. That day we ordered in soup and salad from Olive Garden, so I was able to stay on my healthy track (skipping the breadsticks of course, which I don’t really love that much anyways, so it worked for me!)

And in the afternoons if I needed a snack, I reached for one of these Maxx bars from Aldi. I love that they are not too sweet, which a lot of protein/snack bars are, and it has simple ingredients.

I still can’t help just a tiny bit of sweet as a nightcap at the end of the day. So I’ve been steering towards these babies for 1-2 little sweet treats at the end of the day. They are so good and can be addictive, but usually 2 little berries does the trick as they are pretty sweet.

And that is what I ate this week: fresh, healthy & easy meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks!

Let me know what you think and if any of these are similar to your go to meals or if they have inspired your menu planning for next week!

The post What I Ate This Week: Fresh, Healthy & Easy Meals appeared first on Jane Erica.

Friday Night in Indian Rocks Beach

We arrived Friday night, later than everyone because Rylee had her dance team class that night and she can’t miss it, but the drive to Indian Rocks Beach, where we rented an Airbnb right on the water, was a quick and easy ride. There was a bar and restaurant right in the complex where we met up with everyone for a bit before heading to the condo.

The views from the Harbourside condos were so beautiful, it was really nice to sit out on the balcony and watch the water.

That night, we all got acquainted with the place, watched some football, and tried to calm the kids down enough to go to sleep.

Saturday 5k and 1 Mile Kids Run

The next morning was the 5k and the kids 1 mile run. Brett and our friend Desiree were both running the 5k and all the kids were excited about their 1 miler. We laughed when we saw Brett, who is not a runner, but decided to sign up and then questioned why he did so. Their entire race was over a bridge and back. What a challenge! We were tracking them on the app and they both did so well!

We rewarded them with a Starbucks coffee. And a hug.

Then it was time for the kiddos to start their race. They waited very patiently for the start of the race.

When the horn went off, the race went by so fast! All the kids did so good, it was fun to see them crossing the finish line. One mile is the perfect distance for them. Poor Reece, though, is just like me and got a terrible cramp! But he pushed through and made it. Our friend Easton was the first kid to finish! He is super fast, and we were so proud.

Number 1!

After the race, everyone was pretty hungry and tired and wanted to head back to our place to eat and get ready for the beach. The beach was so close and relaxing. The water was beautiful, nice and calm and refreshing.

It was great therapy for those of us running the next day and the perfect primer for me mentally.

Of course, the boys had to play a few games of football on the beach. We were worried one of the dads were going to break an ankle in Ashton’s hole he was digging!

That night, we all knew we wanted to take it easy and get to bed early. We decided to cook a meal at home and it was perfect. We made a delicious lasagna with cheesy crescent rolls and salad.

After an inspiring convo on the patio with the ladies and a full belly, I decided to hit the hay around 9pm. I started reading our October book club pick to help wind down my mind, it’s an instant attention grabber!

Sunday Half Marathon

Sunday was the big day! I am not going to lie I was very nervous about how it would go down, since I didn’t train very well and it’s been a while since I’ve ran in a race. These speedsters were in the second corral, and I made my way up with them so we could stay together, for a little bit at least.

I am not that fast and typically finish around 2:30 so by mile 2 they were long gone. But I kept up with them for a little bit, especially down the bridge, ha! I was impressed with myself for being above my average pace for the first 6 miles, when the 2:15 mile pacer passed by me. I’ll take it!

I have run in another Rock n Roll Half Marathon in Savannah years ago, and that experience was amazing, but different. The views of the Clearwater race were incredible, even though the best ones were over three giant bridges. And the entertainment was so good! I thought it was much better than Savannah from what I can remember.

After the first bridge that took us over to Clearwater bridge, we ran along the beach and it was so quiet and pretty.

Then it went through a gorgeous neighborhood before taking us over another bridge. Right as I got to this one, the cannons went off on this pirate ship!

I thought it was so cool that there were people dressed like pirates, cheering us on on their microphones. The amount of support throughout this race was really incredible. The people on the sidelines, the encouraging shouts from spectators telling us to keep going, it really felt so good during the race. I especially loved the Hulk Hogans on the trail as we made it to the final 3 miles, giving fist bumps and telling us we’re almost there!

Around mile 10 is where I was really struggling. After making my way through the Biofreeze station, and then again for quick spray down at a medical tent, I thought my legs (my hips and knees especially) were going to give out if I stopped. But I told myself to keep going and that I was so close. Plus in the back of my mind I wanted to stay close to my target time of 2:30.

When I crossed the finish line—at a record time of 2:28!—at the end of the bridge, and made my way down the spiral walkway, I caught a glimpse of Brett and the kids, and the emotion poured out of my heart.

Being exhausted, legs burning, hips aching, mentally and physically fatigued, and then seeing my kids cheering for me at the finish line, was the most incredible feeling I have ever felt.

They gave me the biggest hugs and told me I did a good job, and I couldn’t hold back the tears.

I kept moving with the crowd after my hugs to get my medal, and tried to hold them back. Not sure why I cared if other people saw me crying at the medal awarding. It was a happy cry, and would have felt so good. If I could go back in time I’d let them out. Let them ALL out. I’m getting emotional now thinking about that feeling. It was honestly and truly amazing.

I headed straight for the expo area to meet up with everyone, grab my delicious well-deserved beer and listen to the entertainment.

And of course take a few photos.

We did it! I’m so proud of all of us for committing to this half marathon and sticking to it! Of course there is such a high when you finish these things, even though we were in pain, one of us said, “When’s the next one?”

Wedding Anniversary Dinner

This was also the weekend of Brett and I’s 12th wedding anniversary. Since Brett’s parents live close by, they met us at the race and took the kids home with them for the evening, so Brett and I could enjoy a nice dinner out. (After a few naps on the condo sofa)

We went to Salt Rock Grill and it was amazing! The view, the company and the food!

We started off with a delicious firecracker tuna appetizer, pictured on the left that was to die for! Looking out the window, with my love, enjoying this food was one of the best anniversaries yet. Our entrees were so good, we decided to share and make our own surf and turf. The fish dish was absolutely divine, and so up my alley, it was amazing!

I loved reflecting back on this amazing weekend with family and friends. It was nice to have a short week, and I decided to fully recover from my race day weekend and skip the gym so I can get back into the groove for the week.

I have to say, I am very excited to not be only running and training and to venture out into other classes and styles of working out. Gotta work on that new routine now!

Thanks for reading about my journey at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in Clearwater, Florida. It was such an amazing experience and I hope you are inspired for your next fitness adventure, just like I am!

The post Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon Clearwater Recap appeared first on Jane Erica.

Happy Monday! I hope you had an amazing weekend! This weekend we had a great time with family. It started on Saturday with two soccer games.

It was Reece’s last game of the season and the team played great! The parents are still getting over the only loss of the season, though. Both Reece and Rylee’s friends invited them over to their houses to play and swim, which was definitely a great distraction for them since they are both so competitive.

It was nice having lunch with the grandparents after the games. We went to First Watch and I got a salad that I housed. Was pretty hungry by then and didn’t have breakfast.

The rest of the day we chilled and did some laundry on our new washer and dryer that we needed desperately, until it was time to pick up the kiddos.

I had plans to go to the Clermont Wine Walk that evening with some girlfriends. It was a lot of fun! Clermont is becoming very cool! I need to take Brett out on the town.

Sunday was a chill day, we spent a lot of time outside in the gorgeous weather, went grocery shopping, did more laundry, and watched the Hunger Game Marathon on TV while folding said laundry.

Breakfast & Lunch

On to today’s meals so far! I had another Cookies & Cream Fab Four Smoothie for breakfast, so good.

And for lunch I whipped up these yummy and easy to make Tuna Cakes and a tartar sauce.

They hit the spot for a warm lunch, which is a nice change form the typical salad.
I hope you have a great week!

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Last night’s dinner was really yummy! Seasoned chicken, skewered and grilled. The recipe called for a homemade tzatziki sauce, but with a hectic week, that’s just one more thing I didn’t feel like creating dishes for or making after a long day of work, soccer practice and dance class. So I got a store bought version from Aldi, and it was really good!

I loved the cucumber salad, but next time I’d use less onion and more cucumber.

This morning’s smoothie was one of my absolute favorite Fab Four Smoothies. It’s the Cookies & Cream smoothie and it literally tastes just like cookies and cream.

It has chocolate protein powder, ground flax seeds, spinach, frozen blueberries, almond butter and almond milk. It’s so tasty!

For lunch, I threw together another salad with items I had on hand.

I am loving the kale and spinach combo now. So yummy and I think the kale is more filling. The dressing technique I’m using is also really easy and it tastes so good. I whisk up 2 tbs. EVOO and 1 tbs. vinegar, salt and pepper in the bottom of the bowl before adding all the veggies, then mix it all up so it’s a more well balanced flavor.

Very yummy!

Tonight it’s TGIF and I’ve had a very busy week, so I’m looking forward to a glass of wine or two and a good meal.

The post TGIF and Meal Roundup appeared first on Jane Erica.

And I loved how all the dishes came out. Everything was really light and delicious, so I didn’t feel too bad about indulging in two pisco sours!

I made this Lomo Saltado recipe from Tasty and it was really good! Super easy to make too, and the flavors were amazing!

Continuing on my 21 day healthy eating challenge, this morning at 9am was a delicious Creamy Mocha Fab Four Smoothie. My favorite kinds of morning smoothies are the ones with coffee. It was delicious!

For lunch around 1pm, I made a Brainiac Salad, with blueberries, kale, spinach, walnuts, hemp hearts and avocado. And when it said optional soft boiled eggs, I was like yes please!

It’s a really pretty salad! And I loved that it called for ingredients I already had on hand. A lot of plans make you buy all unique ingredients for every single meal, which always seems like such a waste.

That’s all for now!

The post Peruvian Girls Night + Creamy Mocha Smoothie appeared first on Jane Erica.

My parents came over last night to help cook dinner since I had double duty with the kids, golf lessons and soccer practice.

They wanted to cook fish, which just so happen to be on the menu for day two as well so we had two different kinds of fish and brussels sprouts for dinner.

The kids have absolutely grown to love fish.

They both had the same dinner with some rice and gobbled it all down. Even the sprouts!

Today was a push day, which means you eat a little bit later in the day and a little bit earlier at night.

At 11 AM I had another green smoothie, which was delicious.

And lunch was super easy. I just quickly reheated leftovers from dinner last night.

Tonight I am cheating a little bit because we’ve had a girls night planned for the last two months.

It’s Peruvian themed and I’ve been looking forward to making a dish that my brother and his girlfriend recommend.

So I’ll definitely be eating later and a lot more than planned, but that’s what life is all about right!?

Adios!

The post Hump Day 3 appeared first on Jane Erica.

There are so many benefits to working out, but the stress of work, keeping the house sparkling clean, and taking the kids to and from their activities makes it super difficult to fit in a workout.

That’s where this blog post fits in. In this post I’m going to highlight how I approach each week when it comes to working out, why planning ahead is so important, and some workout ideas to help spark some inspiration for you to plan your own week.

How do working moms find time to workout?

It may be a fine line for some between caring for your children and taking time for yourself, but if it’s important to you, than it needs to be prioritized.

But listen, making it a priority and overcommitting then blaming yourself for not achieving your way-too-high goals are two completely different things. There is only so much time in the day, and so much to do, so go easy on yourself and be flexible.

If you’ve read my schedule tips for working out as a working mom post, but want to learn more, here’s what my week of workouts typically looks like.

How do I find time to exercise as a working parent?

Planning

For me, planning is so important. If I don’t think through what my week looks like ahead of time, I’ll just keep telling myself “I’ll go tomorrow.” And when I’m not fully committed to going, any little excuse—especially the “I’m too tired” one, is too easy to give in to. Looking at the calendar and making sure I can fit exercise in, whether it be in the morning, in between meetings or after work on days without activities, gives me the motivation I need to make it to the gym.

Sundays are great planning days. I usually plan my workouts during the same time I plan my meals and prepare my grocery list for the week. (I love my Happy Planner for planning everything. It’s like my own customizable planning notebook!)

Setting Expectations

I’ve learned—through planning—that going to the gym 5 days a week isn’t a realistic goal for me anymore. Nowadays, if I can make it 3 times a week I feel great about it. There are so many things that happen during a typical week when you are working full time and caring for your littles. Not only that, my kids have soccer, golf and dance during the week and between Brett and I splitting the drop-offs, there’s no time to workout and put dinner on the table on some nights.

What my week looks like

It’s been a struggle to find the time and motivation to workout since the very first day I went back to work after my oldest was born. Back then, I was still commuting to work for almost 2 hours a day in traffic. And although Covid changed things significantly, as I am able to work from home, with that comes another struggle. It’s hard to shut work off at the end of the day and it’s easier than ever to jump back in.

The one thing that has always helped me is scheduling my workouts around class times. Taking a gym class is the ideal workout for me, and that’s because:

• After a long day of work, I don’t have to think about what I am going to do at the gym
• It gives me variety because every class is different and I don’t get bored
• I can pencil them in and make a plan to be there for class time
• I get to try new things, which makes working out exciting for me

When I discovered HitFit, it was even better, because there is no specific class time. You can show up whenever and have a great workout already planned, on your schedule. And it’s an intense workout you can do in only 45 minutes.

Here’s what my typical week looks like:

• Monday – HitFit class after work
• Tuesday – Rylee Soccer, Reece Golf (split duties between Brett and I)
• Wednesday – Rylee Dance – HitFit class while Rylee is in dance from 6-8pm
• Thursday – Reece Soccer (off day, home with Rylee and prepping dinner)
• Friday – HitFit class or a run/walk on the trail if I don’t feel like driving there
• Saturday – Soccer games/off day (on the field almost all day and pooped after from being in the heat. Might do something at home, but typically it’s errands or hanging out with the family)
• Sunday – Walk on the trail or rest day. Plan schedule for the next week

Workout Ideas to add to your schedule

If your curious about trying a new gym with lots of class options, I’d highly recommend something like a Burn Bootcamp, which has times all throughout the day, or my current location, HitFit. The YMCA offers some classes as well, and there are others popping up like Hotworx and OrangeTheory. Check them out, try a free trial and see if any of them work for you and your schedule.

If those are not an option for you, there are also ways to get workouts done on your own. If your in a pinch and need some inspiration on how to keep your workouts fresh, here are some ideas. Add these to your next schedule during planning to mix things and try something new.

Treadmill / Trail Workout

If you have access to a treadmill at home or at the gym or even a trail, an interval sprint workout might be something to add to the mix to keep things interesting.

Sprint Intervals

How to do it:

• Warm up at an easy pace for 10-15 minutes
• Increase the speed to a challenging all-out effort and sprint for 30 seconds
• Recover at a moderate speed for 2-3 minutes
• Repeat these intervals 5 or 6 times
• Finish with a 10-minute cooldown

Cardio-Sprint Pyramid

How to do it:

• Warm up for 10-15 minutes
• Build and taper the workout like this:
  • 30 seconds sprint/30 seconds recover
  • 1 minute sprint/1 minute recover
  • 2 minutes sprint/2 minutes recover
  • 4 minutes sprint/4 minutes recover
  • 2 minutes sprint/2 minutes recover
  • 1 minute sprint/1 minute recover
  • 30 seconds sprint/30 seconds recover
• Finish with a 10-min cool down

Circuit Workouts

Here are some circuit workouts you can pin for later with and without equipment.

I hope this post was helpful and you found some tips to help working moms find time to workout. Everyone has different challenges and every week is completely different. So my best piece of advice is as long as you are taking time for yourself and prioritizing your health then you are on the right track. Your health is just as important as the health of your babies, and you’ll feel and treat them better when you are feeling good and taken care of.

For more on balance and healthy living, check out my Health & Fitness tab!

The post What A Typical Week of Workouts looks like for a Working Mom of Two appeared first on Jane Erica.

I always love a good full body kettlebell cardio workout. It’s a great way to switch things up and make the workout more interesting and dynamic. Using a kettlebell for a full body workout is also super easy, compared to heading to the gym and wondering what machines you should do or where to find them. Machines at the gym can also sometimes be monotonous or intimidating, and not very exciting in my opinion.

What is a Kettlebell?

A kettlebell has one large spherical weight with a thick handle on top, versus a dumbell which has the handle between two weights on either side. They can be used interchangeably, but the great thing about a kettlebell is that they are perfect for explosive, ballistic moves, targeting multiple areas of the body while improving stability and boosting endurance.

Most gyms have plenty of kettlebell weights to choose from, or you can get some for your home, like this colorful set or this Bowflex adjustable kettlebell (super cool, I want one now!), and do this workout from there.

How to choose the right kettlebell weight

Depending on your experience in the gym, it’s important to choose the right weight to get maximum results and stay safe.

Choosing your kettlebell weight can also depend on the type of exercise you are doing, ballistic or grind, defined below.

Ballistic Exercises: These are fast, explosive moves exhibiting high velocities over a short period of time, with a wide range of motion. Because these are usually high-intensity cardio moves, I go with lighter weight, but enough to keep the tension strong.

Grind Exercises: Slower, controlled moves using tension throughout the movement to focus on a specific muscle group. I go heavier on these exercises to challenge myself and build strength.

Learn more about ballistic and grind exercises in this article.

Make sure that you are practicing the proper form as well. Some kettlebell exercises can be bad on the back if they are not performed correctly. (Since I am not a certified personal trainer, make sure you are listening to your body and seeking out professional help at the gym or online if you have any questions before beginning.)

Why I love this kettlebell workout

Kettlebell workouts have so much to love. But the main thing I love about this full body kettlebell workout is that it’s a mix of cardio and strength. The transitions are easy to get from one to the other keeping the supersets quick and intense. And there isn’t a lot of moving around. Whether you’re at the gym, or at home, you can set up in a small space to accomplish this workout. It’s also a great way to switch things up, keep things fun and dynamic, and give you an amazing full-body, cardiovascular workout.

This particular workout is fast-paced, with very little breaks, making each block into a superset. It has a mix of cardio and weight-training exercises to keep your heart rate up throughout the workout.

You can choose the intensity of the workout by going heavier with weights on some of the exercises, or repeating each block 2-3 times. It’s great to do this workout with an assortment of weights so you can keep perfect form while also challenging yourself.

What is a superset?

A superset is a set of two or more exercises that are performed back-to-back without any break. With these kettlebell exercises, it keeps the heart rate high, making it a more intense, sweat breaking workout.

The Workout

During this workout, each block of exercises (or superset) includes 4-5 moves that should be performed one after the next. The only “breaks” being getting into the proper form and choosing the right weight. Block one focuses more on lower body, while block two focuses on upper body, and the final block focuses on core.

Repeat each block at least two times before moving on to the next one.

Block 1

Repeat 2x:

• 12 Kettlebell Swings
• 12 Squat to Shoulder Presses
• 12 Lunge Cross Throughs (alternating)
• 20 Mountain Climbers
• 20 Jumping Jacks

Block 2

Repeat 2x:

• 12 Kettlebell One Arm Snatches (both sides)
• 12 Kettlebell Deadlift + Upright Rows
• 12 Bent Over Row with Tricep Kickbacks (both sides) Tip: Go a bit lighter on this one to start
• 20 High Knees
• 20 Star Jacks

Block 3

Repeat 2x

• 20 Russian Twists with Kettlebell
• 10 Kettlebell Straight Arm Sit Up (both sides)
• 12 Hip Raises with Kettlebell
• 1 Minute Plank

Pin for Later

If you loved this workout….

Check out this 15 Minute HIIT workout, you can do with no equipment.

The post Kettlebell Workout: Challenge yourself with this Full Body Cardio Workout appeared first on Jane Erica.

Last week was so busy because Brett was traveling a few nights, and the kids’ activities started up, too. So that means Soccer field on Tuesday and Thursday, Golf for Reece on Tuesdays, Dance on Wednesday. It’s a lot to juggle.

It means extra pick up days at school.

Less time at the gym.

More time in the kitchen cooking dinner, making lunches and meal prepping.

And hardly any down time.

I’m really thankful for the help when I can get it. And it’s not always easy for me to ask for help. I feel like I can/should do it all.

But we all need to accept it when it’s available or go easier on ourselves when things don’t go to plan. For anyone else who needs a pep talk this week… go easy on yourselves, you are doing just fine!

I needed a pep talk for sure last week to keep me going (Thanks Tricia!) and it helped so much to just hear someone support me and tell me that everything is going to be ok.

Anyways, I’ve had a wonderful weekend and I hope you did too!

We had fun at birthday parties on Saturday.

And that night went to Escape Goat, an escape room in Winter Garden, which was super fun. We all put our heads together and finished on hard with 15 mins to spare.

It was worthy of a celebration at Attic Door afterwards for good food and drinks.

Sunday we celebrated my Dad’s birthday with brunch at Cafe Tu Tu Tango, which was definitely lively and fun. After the mimosas were flowing the parents really got into it, ha!

And that night we did our family fantasy football draft. We are ready for another year of competition and a great football season.

This week my mantra is “do what you can, and give yourself a break when you can’t do it all.” I’m hoping to remember this when I just run out of gas at the end of the day and think about all I’ve accomplished instead of everything that I didn’t.

Cheers to a great week!

The post Weekly Reflection & Weekend Update appeared first on Jane Erica.

It’s almost that time of the year again, when we go on our annual family trip to the beach! My family and I always go to Singer Island where my parent’s timeshare is and spend a week there with my parents, and my brother and his girlfriend for the July 4th holiday.

I always want to feel my best on vacation and I like to tone up and pay extra attention to diet beforehand so I feel super bikini-ready for the beach and pool. These are my pre-vacation secrets for getting bikini-ready that I follow to feel and look my best for a sunny trip to the beach.

My Pre-Vacation Secrets for Getting Bikini-Ready

Some detoxes or slimdowns make you change the entire way you eat and think about your days, making them feel super long and giving false hope that you will lose a ridiculous amount of weight. Depending on your goals, you can start incorporating these tips whenever you are ready to start getting bikini-ready or just feeling better in general, with less bloat and more toned muscles. They are really easy to incorporate and start making healthier choices.

Here are my slim down and tone up secrets for getting bikini ready for summer!

Drink Water

The first thing I focus on is drinking plenty of water. My daily goal is 90oz or more. I track my intake in the My Water app, which is free to use and super easy.

It’s like a fun game to play to try and hit my goal each day. Not only is it important to stay hydrated, but it also helps with any urges to snack. And at the end of the night, if I’m tempted to drink a glass of wine and haven’t reached my goal yet, it often encourages me to drink water instead.

Limit Sugar

Staying away from sugar helps keep my blood sugar in balance so that my energy stays high and my body can focus on burning fat, rather than crashing and craving more. I’ll nix all sugary snacks, even my beloved dark chocolate as a small nightcap after dinner, and avoid simple carbs. Instead, I’ll opt for tea with maybe a tad of honey instead if I feel I need something.

No Alcohol

I stay away from alcohol before a beach vacay for a few reasons. Well, we all know it’s not the best for our health, but it also causes a bloating look that I want to avoid before a sizzly beach getaway. And I’ll choose to drink a bit more than normal on vacation, so I’d rather save those indulgences for then.

More Veggies & Protein, Less Carbs

During these bikini prep weeks, I am stricter on myself when it comes to starchy carbs. While I do typically stay away from unhealthy simple carbs like chips and crackers, I’ll pack my meals with more veggies, protein and healthy fats to keep me full.

Breakfast ideas include eggs scrambled with tomatoes and spinach, and a side of avocado. Or a Fab 4 Smoothie.

Lunch is usually a salad, chicken breast or salmon with lots of veggies on the side.

Dinner is the same with a protein and a veggie. I’ll cook cauliflower rice or veggie spirals to help take the place of a carb like rice or pasta.

Workout Everyday

Working out is also a priority. I work out every single day leading up to a vacation. Right now I am doing HiFit, which is a high intensity interval workout. I’ll go there about 2-3 times a week, but I like to feel what my body needs and work around that. If I am feeling too sore for HitFit, I’ll add in a yoga class, or even a good morning stretch. Taking a walk, or riding a bike with the kids is also a great way to add some activity into my day.

These are my pre-vacation secrets for getting bikini-ready and I hope I inspired you to start some healthy habits and feel confident in your skin this summer. See you at the beach!

The post My Pre-Vacation Secrets for Getting Bikini-Ready appeared first on Jane Erica.