A Week of Food. Clean Food. Good. Clean. Food.

This post is for the emails, texts, and calls I get asking about food. I am NOT a professional. Not a doctor. Not pointing fingers. Just Carley. :)



 ** You should always do what works for you. I like to listen to others, then read, read, read, research, and read some more... then do what works for this house. By "this house" I mean I have to buy food that we will eat. Both of us. Coach included. On a budget.
So, this is NOT going to be perfect. I slip daily. It is impossible to be perfect.I don't want to be perfect. (I know I have a friend and husband out there that doesn't believe that.)  So, when you see something on here that may not be BY THE BOOKS... keep it to yourself. Your emails won't get answered. I think I have shown that with some Negative Nancy emails being ignored. The rule here: Be positive.

Oh, and this is MY blog. If blogs aren't your thing: Close now. No hard feelings.

Still around? Good: Here is a smile for you:


Over the past few months our nutrition was slipping. I was lazy. Practice, schedules, and games were running my schedule. I was also running weekly 15 mile+ runs and when you do that you tend to develop a "Wait, I ran for 4 hours... I can eat this huge plate of nachos!" way of thinking. So, nutrition went down.... gut grew. No good. I felt horrible. Gassy, sluggish, just not good. I would eat, then feel like I was about to burst. Worst. Feeling. Ever.

I saw on Instagram a few things about Whole30 and the science behind it. I ordered the book in October. It made a TON of great points. Then I sat the book on the shelf and enjoyed the Holidays. Including a trip to Mexico where I again ate my weight in nachos.

I have a FULL HEART for Advocare. They are hosting the All In Challenge at the start of January. I LOVE the 24 Day Challenge. I love the nutrition Advocare offers. So, with all of this going on, and the NEED to reset my gut, I re-read It All Starts With Food and the journey began. I needed the science behind what food can do for you. I am 100% passionate about ENERGY and feeling AMAZING ALL the time. Gah, I LOVE being 99mph all the time. So WHOLE30 to me didn't go against anything I was already passionate about. It confirmed: clean diet, exercise, amazing supplements = 99 mph. All. Day. Every. Day.

Here I am sitting on Day 8 and I have learned SO MUCH. Here goes:

1. When you SIT down to eat and enjoy your food, you won't snack between meals.
THIS was huge. I am famous for eating my Ezekiel bread and pbutter on my way to school. No more. You gotta get up. Get out of bed. Take the time to MAKE a good breakfast. Sit down and enjoy it. (With someone you  adore. Maybe a Weimaraner too.) More on being a morning person later.

2. The first three days of clean eating is HARD.
I wanted a brownie. So. SO. SOOO. Bad.

3. People will roll their eyes and crinkle their noses at your food.
It is unknown to them. It ain't chicken tenders and fries my friend. You are eating some REAL food. People are mean. They will hurt your feelings. Oh well. You'll survive. <---- that is a reminder to me.

4. Parties, dinners, celebrations will happen. You don't HAVE to have that cupcake/ cookie/ cake. Again: You'll survive.

5. Every 5 days doesn't need a "cheat day."
(He knows who I'm talking to....)

6. You can go out to eat. However, cooks and waitresses will hate you. True story.

7. Invest in some good food storage. Leftovers will be your BFF for lunch. If not, you'll be cooking allll the time.

8. Eat some veggies. No one cares to hear an adult say, "But I don't like vegetables!"
Are you five? 

9. Your groceries are going to be $$$. That's fine. Good cakes from good bakeries are $$$ too...... you pick.

10. It is going to take some time to meal plan and grocery shop. However, I PROMISE it can be done.
(Insert my favorite insult ever: But YOU don't have KIDS.)

That's all I have for now. Oh wait, how about some pictures of some food?    

Forget about what you usually have for breakfast. Tomatoes go with any meal. 

When your friends go to lunch on a planning day: You eat leftovers at your desk. 

Berries are great for every meal too. 

Fresh organic salsa: I put that junk on everything. 

This Greek Chicken was SOOOOO good. 

Just throw random things on a plate. It's a meal. Oh, and yes.... those are olives. I LOVE OLIVES! 

fresh picco goes on everyyyyything too! 

Stuffed peppers are ahhhhmazing. I had them for lunch too. I needed a spinach salad, but I was not feeling too hot this night. I went to bed at 8pm. 

The test of alllllllll rules: We didn't get home until 8pm. Thank goodness for a crockpot. And that Coach can't tell a difference between potatoes and cauliflower. 

Wait, cooking on a Friday night can really happen? First time in 5 years I do believe. #NotKidding

Best. Lunch. Ever. Burnt burger. (Turkey/ chicken/ beef) picco, avocado, and my lovely cherry tomatoes. 

That gallon of milk is the battle in this house. Coach won't give up a glass of milk. No matter how many rants I go on. 

Eggs with spinach and mushrooms. Organic Canadian bacon. Strawberries. 

Fave after a run snack: Banana, almond butter, and coconut flakes. The real kind. 

Ground turkey, salsa, baked sweet potatoes, and a spinach, mushroom, onion mix that I cooked in a pan with coconut oil. Oh, and my beloved cherry tomatoes. 

A spinach salad is amazing. Mushrooms, zucchini, onion, mushrooms. Cherry tomatoes. Grass-fed beef tips. (THANK YOU KROGER!)

I highly recommend reading some literature on the subject. Take small steps. Research and expose yourself to some awesome products like Ghee. :)

Until next time:

Love Love,
C^2

All In 24 Day Challenge

If you are like me then you said you would stay on track over the holiday season and NOT over eat and eat CRAP foods. If you are like me then you really enjoyed the sweets, croissants, and sweet potatoes a bit too much. Oh, and you sat in a chair near the ocean and only moved to go to the buffet line. Guilty.

So, with the New Year comes the fresh start. January is an amazing month to set some goals, and work towards those goals. As a teacher, I love setting resolutions in August and then resetting them in January. I love January 1st and the amped up feeling I get when I get motivated about something.

Here is something I am passionate about: Feeling amazing and having energy. If you know me then you know that I am full of energy. I pray I never lose this trait. However, thanks to Advocare, I know that I am taking care of my body, and properly fueling it. As well as getting energy the best way possible.

My FAVORITE product that they offer is the 24 Day Challenge. This challenge is designed to reset your body, shed some pounds, kill the sweet tooth, and get that gut functioning properly. HELLOOOOOO..... that is EXACTLY what we need after the months of October, November, and December!

Advocare is an amazing family to be a part of. I have gained so many relationships through Advocare and a GROUP Challenge is amazing when it comes to keeping on track. The company is offering some sweeeet freebies with this group challenge. Check this out:

Here is the deal: To participate in this group challenge, and get the discounts, you will need to order by Wednesday, December 31st. This will assure you get all of you supplies by the start date of January 7th. I always recommend doing a challenge with a group! Plus, this is the whole COUNTRY! When your challenge arrives in the mail, you will be given everything you need to get started. Instructions, helpful tips, and some nice freebies. (Not food, you will need to purchase food.)

If your house is anything like my house then football has been on the TV nonstop. Have you seen the Advocare commercials? I am LOVING that the company is backed by TOP athletes! Be on the look out for some of them!

You will get the wrist band, and blender bottle FREE! I love free!

If you know me at ALL then you know I NEVER start a day without a Spark. Ahhhh... Spark is my absolute FAVORITE gift to give. This keeps me bouncing of the walls each and every day! You will get two boxes with your challenge.


Are you ALL IN? Are you wanting to jump start a better lifestyle? Have more questions?

I am ALWAYS open for questions of info. Please feel free to email me: crgcain@gmail.com, call, or text! 

If You Know Me...

If you know me then... You probably DON'T KNOW this: Adoption is in my prayer book. Yes, starting a family (one day) is in the prayer book as well. However, adoption just REALLY pulls at my heart. Are we totally NOT at the point of 100% "OK, we WILL adopt!" No. In fact, my husband is probably watching the hair raise on his arm as he reads. (Sorry, Coach. I said the blog was about to be 100% ME!) It isn't at all about the feelings I share. It is usually the way I share my feelings. 100% open and on a blog. (For the record.) He believes whatever happens is God's will. I love that about him. He keeps me in check. Even during total meltdowns.  

If you know me then... You probably KNOW this... I often obsess over things once I get my mind on them.

Example:
Running.
Reading.
Literacy.
Being kind.
Healthy Eating.
Being kind. (oh wait, I said that. Take note.)

The reason for this post is to share this:

So, I can't tell a lie when I say this: This Blog. This family. This lady, This baby. 

Read. Cry. Love.

It is what I do daily. I adore this story. My faith just grew this week with her posts. Again, LOVE.

Maybe you needed this story as much as I did.

Faith.

Love love,
C^2

Husband.

(Before I start I should say HI to the man of my dreams that instantly clicked on the link once he saw it pop up on his feed... Not because I titled it HUSBAND... but because he is the #1 reader. It may or may not be to check my grammar.... who knows.)

My fave. 

I am sharing this blog because I am currently loving it. When you are married to a person that is as equally as busy as you, but still find time to discuss the starting five and race times at the dinner table, you do whatever it takes to make sure you are always madly and deeply in love. Which I think that we do a pretty amazing job....

When we were getting ready to say "For Wins and For Losses" or "For Better and For Worse" if you must.... we took the Love Language quiz. Get ready for the shocker: My love language is "Gifts." Insert Gasp. I know. I know.

Well, words of affirmation was not one that I was familiar with. This means one thing: I need to get better. So, here I am sharing my secrets. Coach will now be thinking, "Oh that is why she says, Can I help you do anything today?" Yup... and YOU think I ONLY read junk.... :)

Anyway... I am sharing this blog with hopes that you find something you like. If you agree or disagree with my opinion that marriage is #1 FOR LIFE... (this is me adding a part of my heart without stepping on toes. Maybe I will write about how I pray daily to keep God #1, Coach #2, and the rest #3... One day.... I need thicker skin first.)  I hope you enjoy! You can follow me on Pinterest as well. Just look under my "Coach" board.

As always,

Love love,
C^2

Do What You Do. Do It Well

Here I am at the old age of  26 years old when something of great meaning hit me: Whatever you do, do it and do it well!

Gah. Such a small thought. Such a HUGE idea. What if we ALL did everything with a smile?

Am I pointing fingers? Oh gosh, I hope not. Basically, I am saying this for me. (and I want my spot on the .com to have a little more of MY heart in it.) So here it is:

Don't complain. Just don't. We ALL have struggles. Some big, some small, but they are ours. I love this:

SO true. I have it written in my Bible I love it so much.


Life can be super overwhelming. In fact, just THIS week: This may or may not be my 2nd bottle of Tums to ease the heartburn...

I worry. I worry. I worry. I am trying to get better... but what is really happening is that I am getting better about not verbalizing my worries, so my husband and BFF think I am getting better at not worrying.

Here is my promise to myself: Whatever it is I am doing:
being a wife
being a friend
being a daughter
being a mom (to Dub, and our sweet "children")
being a teacher
running
Cross County
Basketball
Coach's Wife (this means listening to the prayers. Making chocolate chip muffins to help hurt feelings. Watching film. Missing life because of watching film. And so on...)

I am going to do it. And golly geeze... I am going to smile about it, and be the best at it. I won't complain. What will complaining do? Nothing.

I have this to smile about:

I love this guy. He's my lucky bus driver. We make an amazing team. We do life great together. #CainLife

This is my welcome home every single day. He may or may not have opened the fridge or pantry to eat everything inside... But he's always happy to see me.

Life is tough... but it can be an amazing thing when you smile and go.

#StayPositive
#NoComplainZone


Love love,
C^2

3 Weeks NO Cheats

In the Cain House we eat pretty decent. By decent I mean we don't eat junk from a box (like we did our first year of marriage. Hello 45lbs) I cook most nights, and we always have lean meats and veggies. However, with the months of August- December being our busiest months... we may or may not hit up our fave hamburger place that is literally a mile from our house once a week. Plus, if you know us AT.All. then you know we are football fans. To me nothing quite says football season more than buffalo chicken dip. I may or may not make a batch every.single.week. Oh, and I will be the first to admit my love for cheese. The more, the better. Andddddd..... the pumpkin coffee that came back in my life with the month of October. Wow... when you type out all of your food cheats, it really sounds bad. 

I already take amazing supplements. I love Advocare and everything they stand for. I know I am getting top of the line products with them. I am extremely active. I run daily. I am just about ready to run 26.2 miles. However, due to our crazy-busy schedules, I know the food I eat can be better. It's my fault because I have been lacking on what's important. I am a HUGE believer that you make time for what is important to you.

I have recently found this blog. It is amazing. She is very inspirational... and best thing: She's a teacher too. She made this chart and is inviting others to participate: 3 Weeks NO Cheats. 21 days of ZERO cheats. My cheats are easy... cheese, take out, and quick and easy processed snacks. I will be eliminating them from my gut for 21 days. I'll document as much as possible.

I am going to be researching the Whole 30 and reading this book. I am thinking about kicking this off in November. I need a little fixing in my gut, and I love the idea of dropping my no good very bad dairy and grain problem. More on this to come. I already have this book: and I love love love it! It breaks clean eating down perfectly. Check it out.

So, who's with me? 3 Weeks NO Cheats. If you need a copy of the checkoff sheet, just message me. I will get one to you!

Thursdays Are My Favorite.

Thursday nights are my favorite.  I am sitting in my favorite spot of the house doing my favorite thing while waiting for my favorite person (and well, PEOPLE) to come in the door. Like I said, Thursdays are my favorite.

There is a BIG blog post that is straight from the HEART sitting in my draft box. It is a major one. Some feathers may be ruffled. I have done a pretty amazing job of avoiding all "THOSE" blog posts, and well... the time is up. However, I am not quite ready for it... This weekend. Maybe.

So, I thought I would clean out my phone and share with you the ramblings that I call LIFE. (Or, well... life this week.)

The face that I get when I say, "We are having broccoli- zucchini quinoa muffins for dinner!"

My homework/ lesson planning partner.

My super awesome friends that I made go to school with me. Plus two selfies in one weekend.

The fact that I dressed up as the Tin Man for school one day.

When you miss a UGA game because you are being responsible and junk. Then your family sends you a present... the tickets to the game.....

And a cute sign with a note from D.... "We missed you..."

This kid... that is my bro-in-law. NOT my twin. I'm the nicest person he's ever known.

This picture: a new favorite.

This support system. They love us. We love them.

This is seriously how I make it through life.... :)


Happy Thursday!
Love love,
C^2