Are you waning...

Well first of all, Congratulations we've made it this far through a cold dark January, February is just around the corner and you know I am longing for some warmer temperatures. It has been a looong winter here in Toronto, and we still have about 9 weeks to go :-(

By now you've either given up those pesky resolutions or your a champ and are powering through but feeling a little push back, you hear the whisper of those negative thoughts start to seep through and are starting to ask yourself why bother?.

Well, I ask Why not?, if you have taken the time to sit and think, and think some more and over think  the things you want to change in your life on a yearly bases and every January 1st set out to change but fall off the wagon, we need to really remind ourselves and push home that NO ONE is going to do it for US. We have to be that change to make it happen for ourselves. It really is that simple!

I hear you asking what "it" is?
"It" can be anything from taking a dream vacation, working less, get healthy, buying a house, climb Mount Everest, whatever your "it" is the same principles apply. Also to say that you don't need the first of January to start making changes, once you decide to go for it, GO FOR IT!!

After a lot of upheaval over the last couple of years, man those first married years are tough, we set out to get back to our healthier pre-wedding selves. With about 70 pounds to loose between us, we set out on the Clean 9  cleanse program and done well but still had room for improvement, we had family visit, then it was Christmas and all the excuses to be naughty that came with that put us back to square one again. So here we are today, on day 3 of another round of the program, its weigh day and we are excited for our meal tonight. Burrito Bowl I'm looking at you!!!

This time round we've got a few friends together to join us and be accountable to each other, so I've pulled together some meal ideas that fit the program requirements for Days 3 to 9. Or you can check out this post for other ideas from our previous cleanse. Or this one from our very first program!

Simple Salmon Supper - 527 calories

115g salmon, sautéed

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (for frying)

1 medium Sweet Potato, sprinkled with cinnamon

1 portion steamed vegetables (from the free food list)



   Burrito Bowl - 545 calories

1 cup brown rice

1/2 cup cooked black beans 

85g grilled skinless boneless chicken sliced

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/4 cup salsa

1/4 cup diced avocado or guacamole

1 tbsp fresh cilantro

Lime wedge

Layer in a bowl for a quick and easy meal time

Chicken and Rice - 584 calories

140g baked skinless, boneless chicken

3/4 cup brown rice

2 cups mixed veg (from free food list)

15 raw almonds 



Sweet Potato Lasagna - 425 Calories

1 tbsp olive oil

2 thinly sliced sweet potatoes

1 1/2 lbs lean ground pork

1 egg

2 cups cottage cheese

2 1/2 cups marinara sauce

8 mushrooms sliced

1/2 onion diced

2 cloves minced garlic

1/3 cup chopped parsley

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp dried thyme

8 oz mozzarella

Preheat your oven to 375 F. Using a mandolin or a sharp knife slice the sweet potatoes very thin, approx. 1/8of an inch. Combine cottage cheese with the egg and finely chopped parsley. Mix well and then set aside.

Heat olive oil over medium-high heat, add ground pork, oregano, thyme, salt, and black pepper, cooking until well-browned, stirring often. Once the meat is browned, strain the fat, remove from the pan and set aside. 

Add onion to pan, cook over medium-high heat until it become tender. Add the mushrooms and cook for another 4-6 minutes until the mushrooms are tender. Add in minced garlic and cook for another minute. Return the cooked pork and add tomato sauce into the pan, stirring to combine. Once heated through, remove from the heat.

To assemble, make the first layer with the sweet potato slices, overlapping each slice to create an even layer. Place half the meat sauce over the sweet potato slices and spread out evenly. Place half  the cottage cheese over the meat sauce and spread evenly. Repeat with another layer of sweet potato slices, meat sauce, and then cottage cheese. Top with a thin layer of sliced fresh mozzarella and cover with foil. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the sweet potato slices are almost fully tender.

Contrary to popular belief a cleanse program is not about starving yourself, but about resetting the body and mind to ensure you continue on the right path after the 9 days are up. Broken down into two sections, Day 1 and 2 being the toughest and Day 3 to 9 setting the pace, between the shakes, nutritional supplements and free foods (which you can eat at will) we haven't been hungry. It was more a mind over matter thing, you know the  "oh its 11am I should be eating something" or those 3pm sugar cravings that grab you. But staying focused on that end result really helps keep the momentum going.

On that note, I'm gonna sign off here, stay true to yourself and your goals and anything is possible.

 If you wanna keep up with us on the program pop on over to Instagram or if your a facebook lover you can find us here.  Happy hump day all, enjoy the rest of your week.

Michelle xxx

Note: Images courtesy of Dinner at the Zoo, Whole and Heavenly Oven, Lacey Baier. Sweet Potato Lasagna adapted from  A Sweet Pea Chef