Week 5 Hammer and Chisel Meal Plan

Here is my meal plan for week 5 of Hammer and Chisel.  I know that this seems like a lot of food but trust me...

Lunch is usually leftovers from the night before or something I have meal prepped for the week like chicken tenderloins or ground turkey.  This is what works best for me and is easiest for me to pack to take to work with me.  I have found that the easier the better.  One thing that I can't live without is my hot sauce!!  I put it on everything!!

TOMATO, SPINACH & CHICKEN SAUSAGE PASTA TOSS

This recipe is soooo good!!  I made this for dinner last night and I loved it!!  The ingredients for this recipe does include whole wheat pasta.  To be honest I don't eat pasta that much but I did not eat all of my carbs yesterday so it was the perfect opportunity to have some!!  This recipe would also be amazing with spaghetti squash or zoodles for those that do not want to eat the pasta!!

Ingredients:
1 box veggie or whole wheat pasta
1 package chicken sausage, sliced
1-2 container cherry tomatoes, chopped
1 package baby spinach
1-2 tbsp of garlic
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)

Directions:

Cook pasta al dente, strain and set aside. Cook sliced chicken sausage, diced tomatoes, garlic and EVOO on stovetop until tomatoes are tender and sausage is warmed thoroughly. Add spinach last minute as it only takes a minute to cook.  Mix together with pasta and enjoy!!!

Slow Cooker Whole Roasted Chicken

I LOVE this recipe!!! I usually put this in my meal plan every week because there are always leftovers!!! I usually cook this in the crockpot but on occasion I have just put it in the oven for about an hour at 350 degrees. You can even cook it in the oven with the vegetables on the bottom of the pan. The seasonings on this chicken are so good!!!

Slow Cooker Whole Roasted Chicken

Ingredients:

- 4 tsp salt

- 1 tsp cayenne pepper

- 2 tsp paprika

- 1 tsp thyme

- 1 tsp white pepper

- 1/2 tsp black pepper

- 3 Tbsp. minced garlic

- 2.5 lb chicken

- 4 cloves of garlic

- half a lemon

- quarter of an onion

- 2 medium carrots

- 3 ribs of celery

- 1 medium onion

- 1 large potato

Combine salt, cayenne pepper, paprika, thyme, white pepper, black pepper and garlic. Rub the mix all over the chicken. Stuff the chicken cavity with garlic cloves, half a lemon and quarter of an onion.

Place the chopped carrots, celery, onion and potato into the bottom of your slow cooker. Place your seasoned chicken over the chopped vegetables. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours (or high for 4 hours).

Remove chicken and let it rest for 10 minutes before serving. Serve with vegetables.

Week 4 Hammer and Chisel Meal Plan

One of my goals for the new year is not only to get more organized in my life but to be more organized with my nutrition.  
Every Sunday I plan out my meals for the week to that I know exactly what needs to be meal prepped and what groceries I will need (totally helps if you are trying to stick to a budget as well!)

Of course there are always times when a meal changes but for the most part I know exactly what I will be eating at all times and it fits perfectly into whatever exercise program I am doing.  Right now I am on week 4 of The Master's Hammer and Chisel and I am between bracket B and C.  

If you are looking for help or ideas for meal planning I would love to help you!!

Here is my meal plan for the upcoming week!  I hope this gives you some great ideas!!

Garlic Margherita Chicken

Garlic Margherita Chicken

I have had a lot of people asking me about this recipe I recently made.  It was seriously so good and easy to make!!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb chicken breast, or tenders cut into 1″ pieces
• 1 tsp olive, coconut or avocado oil
• 1 large garlic clove, crushed
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• Ground black pepper, to taste

Asparagus (or a veggie of your choice like zucchini or broccoli) & Tomatoes:

• 1lb asparagus, cut into pieces
• 1.5 cups fresh, halved grape tomatoes 
• 1 tsp olive, coconut or avocado oil
• 1 large garlic clove, crushed
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• Ground black pepper, to taste
• Tablespoon of balsamic vinegar (optional-I added this in and loved it!)

Garnish:

• 1/4 cup fresh chopped Basil 
• A sprinkle of Italian (high-quality) cheese such as natural parmesan (optional)                            

Cooking Instructions

Chicken:

     1.  Preheat  skillet on medium heat add oil to coat. 

     2. Add garlic and cook for just 10 seconds. 

     3. Then add chicken, sprinkle with sea salt and pepper to taste. 

     4.  Cook for 8-10 minutes uncovered, stirring occasionally.   

     5.  Transfer to a plate and set aside.

• 
  
  Asparagus and Tomatoes:
  1. Cook the asparagus the same way as Chicken but for 6 minutes, adding tomatoes during the last 3 minutes of cooking time.
  2. Add chicken back to skillet and stir just to warm. 
  3. Remove from heat, sprinkle with fresh Basil.
  4. Refrigerate in a glass airtight container for up to 5 days.
  ENJOY!!
  
  

About Me

     

 I am a 42 year old mother to 1 daughter, Hayley who is 11.  I live in New Jersey and I am also a full time physical education teacher.  This means I am extremely busy with her activities as well as my own and fitting fitness and taking care of myself into my busy schedule used to seem impossible!!  I began my fitness journey just a short time ago.  On December 25, 2013 I saw a post on Facebook about a fitness challenge that included P90X3 and shakeology, which changed my life.   I was looking for a way to get back in shape and shed those unwanted pounds so I decided to use some of my Christmas money to purchase the program and Shakeology and join this challenge which would keep me accountable!

I contacted my now coach, Danielle,  signed up for a free beachbody account that made her my coach, ordered my challenge pack and took before pictures and my measurements.  I was so upset when I first looked at those pictures and measurements.  How did this happen?  Those pictures were definitely my motivation to get in shape!   Once I received the program I was ready to go!! (It is so much easier these days because you have immediate access to your program on demand but we didn't have that when I started!)  This was all so new to me but being in a group with other individuals who had similar goals really helped!  We all started the same day and would post our highs and lows.  This was a judgement free zone which helped me to feel so comfortable sharing my photos and goals with these strangers who became my friends and closest allies!!

After the first 30 days I couldn't believe how much better I felt. I followed the meal plan perfectly (and when 21 day fix was released imagine how much easier it was for me to figure out how much to eat with those amazing portion control containers!!)  I drank my shakeology daily and it helped decrease my cravings for sweets.  I couldn't believe how much better I felt from a shake!   Being a teacher and around all of those lovely germs all year long used to pay a huge toll on my wellness.  I would constantly have colds, sinus infections, and a few bouts of bronchitis.  Now, I am happy to say I have not been sick in 2 years!!!  I loved eating clean, finding new recipes to make and my newest love...meal planning and meal prep!! 

90 days later....I lost 15 pounds and 10 inches!!!  I couldn't even believe my eyes when I compared those before and after pictures which is why they are so important!!


Now, I get up at 4:00 am on weekdays to workout.  I know some of you are like 4:00 a.m???  Yes, I wake up that early because working out is important to me and this is where I am able to find the time to do it.  I leave for work at 6 a.m and 3 days a week I take my daughter to physical therapy after school for an hour and a half due to a knee injury and acl surgery.  In the evenings it is very important to me to have a family dinner and spend time with my family as well as helping my daughter with her homework.   Of course, life happens and sometimes I do work out in the late afternoon or early evening but to tell you the truth I love working out in the morning.  It start my day off right, gives me more energy, and to be honest it is a huge relief to me to know that I got my workout in and it is done for the day!!  I also eat 5-6 small meals a day with Shakeology being one of them.  I feel the best that I have ever felt in my life.  Since completing P90X3, I have also completed 21 day fix, 21 day fix extreme, Piyo, T25, Insanity Max:30, and have done some of Body Beast.  I am no starting a new journey with The Master's Hammer and Chisel and I can't wait to tell you all about it!!  Yes, I have had some issues with my weight over the last year due to some stress in my life but I have recommitted myself to my health and wellness and I am really excited to see what the future holds!!  

I have also became a Beachbody coach because I love the products, have had such amazing results, and I truly believe in the products and the company.  My mission is to help others achieve their health and fitness goals!  I want people to feel the same way that I do and have the same kind of support that I did to be successful.