Happy 2022! It’s been awhile since I’ve done a post. Now with 3 little kids – fitting in workouts and eating healthy has been more of a challenge! But, I feel like I’m finally headed back in the right direction. I will do a post on my weight loss journey soon – but for now I wanted to share what has been working for me so far.
Over the summer I got down to (almost) my goal weight and built more muscle mass. However, I did gain some of that back over the holidays. What I’ve found to be the best strategy for me as a busy mom of kids 8, 5 and 1 is to simplify my workouts (but use heavy weight) and eat a high-protein diet. I will share more some of my workouts soon, including one I just did for Oxygen Magazine. I try to eat about 1g of protein per 1lb of body weight (goal weight not when overweight), so I’m always looking for ways to sneak in extra protein throughout the day.
Why so much protein? Protein fills you up faster and also helps you gain (or keep) lean muscle mass. So, if you plan to up your protein intake – it’s really key to make sure you are doing some sort of strength training (even body weight) during the day so that all that protein can do its job!
Here are my latest favorites (*these my kids like too!):
Ratio Yogurt*: I found this yogurt at my local HEB and it has 25g of protein per serving. It’s actually really tasty without any artificial sweetener taste and the texture is creamy and amazing. I love all the flavors, especially the key lime pie!
Hardboiled Eggs*: This is a super simple one. To save time, sometimes I buy them pre-made or get the little Vital Kitchens pack with seasonings. However, my Dad just gave me this cool egg cooker for Christmas and it makes hardboiled eggs really quickly and easily!
Protein muffin cup: I have tried a few different brands. The FlapJacked one has more protein but is not quite as flavorful as the Kodiak Cakes one.
Barilla Pasta*: This isn’t really a snack – but whenever I make pasta at home for the fam, I use this brand. I will never go back to regular pasta.
Magic Spoon Cereal*: I recently found this and love it. My kids actually really like it too! I got a whole variety pack and my kids ate most of them! The cereals are all super tasty and the best part is that they have less sugar and more protein than similar kids’ cereals. I love the bright colors and cute packaging too!
Whole Foods Protein Bites* I found these at Whole Foods and are a great snack for on-the-go.
Pure Protein Shakes: This has been my go-to shake recently. I get a whole case at Costco. The taste is good and it has low sugar and high protein.
Egg Life Wrap These are at Whole Foods, HEB, Aldi and other grocery stores. They are a great substitute for tortillas or other wrap for sandwiches, snacks and even breakfast burritos.
All opinions above are my own, although I have partnered with Magic Spoon Cereal.
