Eat to Evolve

Eat to Evolve CR8TIVE for 20% off new customers 

 Since turning 38 and now being over 40 losing weight, dieting and exercise is no longer what it use to be. I started to realize that a healthier lifestyle was more for me about my energy levels, sleeping and how I feel day to day versus being thin or my appearance. Sure I want to look good and honestly for having 2 children, being almost 44, having an auto immune disorder and thyroid issues I think I look great, but I was feeling fatigued. After Covid and being home cooking every day and having dessert cook offs with my girls I won’t lie I had lost close to 40 lbs before spring break 2020 but by winter 2020 most of it had been gained back. 

I decided long ago my diet needed to change I would eat out often especially now that my girls are older and with a husband who works a lot, it was just easier. Then recently I went back to work for fun, and to get more activity going on since my business and design work had stalled some due to Covid, I can say I get way more exercise now then I have in years. My steps from 3-4 shifts at work is like a 4 day trip at Disney lol. I’m not complaining just in 3-4 weeks of starting my job I was down a Jean size and lost close to 12 lbs. 

For me meal preparing isn’t easy, I don’t have the time or patience. I came across this amazing meal deliver company called Eat to Evolve. They have chef prepared meals for keto, paleo and other diet trends as well as the grab and go meals I love for lunches or snacks. I don’t follow an exact diet I’m not one to starve myself or limit myself to what I can eat. I also have to be able to eat foods that I enjoy I’m a foodie, we love to eat out at nice restaurants and enjoy fine meals with appetizers, salad, soup, entrees and maybe even a splurge on dessert. As I have gotten older my tolerance for lactose, dairy and gluten has gotten worse so I try not to indulge often cause it will lead to me feeling worse. 

Quickly to share with you guys my link for the meal service before I get to into my personal diet plan that works good for myself. My workout and what I do from home cause I’m not a huge gym girl. I do love kick boxing, barre and some yoga but I have issues with the gym, it isn’t my spot and I am not great at the different machines but I do love gaining muscle and toning my body. I like curves and embrace my curves over being a tiny little lady with no curves so I wanted to find a way to workout and diet but not lose my shape I have grown to love. 

For the Evolve site the link is: Eat to Evolve CR8TIVE for 20% off new customers 

They have given me the code CR8TIVE which is good for 20% off for new customers and not sure if that will work for existing customers for less off I will find out more. I got my first box today. I tried the trail mix and a cookie then my husband tried the grab and go egg salad which he said was really good. 

Now for my dieting I am watching portion and size, cutting back bread and carbs, then I drink Coca Cola so I cut back to 2 smaller cans a day increasing my water intake to 6-8 water bottles a day. I didn’t drink much water prior was maybe drinking 2 bottles and then cans of soda who knows I didn’t count lol. I grew up with a dad who loved his soda and I don’t drink coffee so it’s my caffeine. Everyone has their Vice. 

I do intermittent fasting Monday - Friday I want from 11-6 and between 6-11 I drink only water no food. I did those times cause of my youngest and her school schedule. I’m bad when I work which is a lot of nights I will have a larger lunch when I break my fast then a snack before work, I usually won’t eat at work but I work Friday Saturday nights and weekends my fasting is either 10-5 or I tend to splurge or cheat on Sunday meaning I will have breakfast around 10 and then lunch also I will have some bread or maybe an extra soda. I don’t want to totally be hard on myself. The goal isn’t to be super thin but to be healthy and feel good. 

For my workouts, I get a lot of exercise at work. It is the most exhausting job ever serving and I don’t stop from the moment I walk into the doors to the moment I leave. If I sit it’s for a second. I am working 2-4 shifts a week from 2-10/10:30 or 3-4 to midnight or later. It is great for my energy I was chaustes before I started and my first week but now I sleep better then I see I have more energy. Also my drive is up and I just feel great. It’s motivated me to get my business back up and going as well as reaching other goals I have had. I work out Monday through Friday at home, I have resistance bands and booty bands that I use along with other items from home that I do workouts that are specifically for women and our bodies to work on the arms, chest, back, legs, booty and abs.  I started these workouts specifically 2 weeks ago almost and I can’t wait to share my before after during pics. I took pics 2 weeks ago and had only begun to see weight loss on my clothing not the scale. Now I’m seeing it in how my cloth f fits and on the scale. I can see how my body is transforming thanks to those photos and this is why I want to share. 

Back when I had my second daughter I struggled to lose the weight I gained during my second pregnancy. I took before pics and started to get serious the fall after she turned 2 I was depressed and so tired all the time. I had always been a size 0-2 maybe a 4 at my largest now I can say I have reached a size 14-16 at my largest but when I was having health issues that made it almost impossible to not gain weight. I had to give myself some grace because finding the issues of the health stuff and getting my body healthy came first but of course that had a mental toll. People telling me omg you use to look so good. What happened? I felt bad deep down and never have I ever been one to be up right about my body. One good thing that came out of the second pregnancy weight loss struggles and the weight gain in my mid thirties was seeing the amazing curves I never knew I had cause I was always so skinny and kind of had a plain shape. I was always larger busted but I had some amazing curves I loved and grew to embrace. 

The new workouts are so fun and I have to admit they hurt I was sore for 2 days after my recent booty and leg workout but I love to be sore cause I know it’s working. I’m excited to share and I’m excited for trying Evolve. The meals are all chef made, fresh never frozen. I will share photos on my IG all week starting tomorrow then my reviews here next week this time of my fave meals and what I like most. I hope you will all come back to check cause if like me you want to eat healthier but don’t have the time to prepare meals every week or say this is amazing. Also the cost isn’t bad I spent 118 with delivery for 5-6 entrees lots of the grab and go lunch or snack meals, then some cookies and the trail mix, I would have spent way more getting the chicken, meats, veggies, fruit etc in the store. Plus it’s all made and ready to go, I can’t wait to try more and share with you guys. The price is so good and the meals all sound so good not to mention they look yummy. 

Let me know if you have any concerns or questions I’m here to help anyway I can. I’m not a dietician nutritionist etc but I have worked with one before and I love to help any way I can to helping others feel great. Turning 40 use to be something I dreaded but honestly I feel great and for almost 44 have people always shocked thinking I’m closer to 28-30 then 40 or above. Again for me it isn’t about how I look as much as it is how I feel. Quality of life is so important as we age and energy is huge for me. 

Have a great weekend coming up and be sure to check out the evolve meals and plans. Don’t forget to use my code CR8TIVE 20% off for new members and the link is below and above. Have some photos and videos saved on IG then will add more next week here.

Eat to Evolve CR8TIVE for 20% off new customers 

Peace love and light always 

Melissa 

Day 5 of 1200 calorie meal plan

Here is day 5 so I'm not behind anymore. Also going to post later the apps I have for tracking my walks/runs and calories. Very helpful.

Breakfast

3/4 cup shredded wheat

1 cup of skim milk

1 melon

Lunch

1 cup of minestrone soup I use healthy choice low fat sodium free and alternate with different ones. Great vegetable and chicken soups.

1 serving Harvest Salad or mixed greens

3 oz fruit sorbet

Snack

1/2 cup of non fat yogurt (doesn't always have to be plain yogurt I get fat free fruit at bottom yogurts which help mix it up.

Dinner

1 serving Pasta with sun-dried tomatoes

1 boneless, skinless small chicken breast

1/2 cup of steamed vegetables

1/2 cup of non fat strawberry/banana ice cream. Some nights I throw this in blender with a sliced up real banana or strawberries and a splash of skim milk to make a milkshake/smoothie. Will share some great smoothie recipe I have come up with while dieting that taste great and you can add supplements to them you need while dieting so you don't taste them:). Lol.

Enjoy and hope everyone is doing good. Below are some photos of me post baby five years ago. I had mentioned I took these Chinese diet pills and went from 189 to 125 in four months. I came across a few of the photos I had blurred out my face cause I used them to sell the diet pills back then. I tried to wear same clothes every photo by end my clothes were so loose I had to hold them up. Lol. I'm not anywhere near the size I was after baby I haven't weighed myself in a couple weeks but was 145 or 143 last time. This week every where I go people tell me wow you have lost weight! Makes me smile cause I know I'm doing it the healthy right way. Trust me I have cheated a lot between diet pills and tried HCG I decided at my age I wanted to be healthy and lose it right way. Glad I did cause I feel so much better all around. Some people say when depressed best help is medication, therapy, God or religion for me it is fitness or exercise works every time:). Even helps with my anxiety.

Day 6 I will post tomorrow then day 7 I mix things up and will allow a cheat either one of meals cause we usually go out to eat. I just walk an extra mile that night and really push myself Monday at gym:).

Day 4 of 1200 calorie diet

This is my own meal planned day and what I ate today then will finish off day with

Breakfast

1 cup Special K cereal

1/2 cup skim milk ( I use less not a milk fan)

3-4 slices strawberries or some sliced banana

Lunch

1 whole wheat pita

1/2 cup mixed salad

1 slice of turkey breast or chicken

1 apple

Snack

1 low calorie low fat snack bar I have chocolat brand I believe is how it is spelled got when I did Hcg diet has 35 calories and no sugar lots of flavors. You can find lots of selections at gnc or whole foods.

Dinner

1 serving grilled chicken breast

1/2 cup of grilled veggies like green or red peppers, onion and mushrooms.

I don't eat it but says you can have 1/2 cup brown rice I just eat the chicken and veggies. Only seasoning I use is black pepper and cayenne pepper or apple cider vinegar for dressing or to season chicken before cooking. All great to boost metabolism.

Then for dessert I am having 1/2 cup sliced strawberries dipped in non fat plain yogurt that I froze in freezer delicious. Enjoy and hope diet is helping everyone with ideas. I have been doing this for a few months on and off so now I can pretty much make it up as I go but wanted to share the sheet my trainer gave me and I have a good friend who is taking nutrition courses for her degree.

Also don't forget if you can't go to the gym or take work out classes try to walk for a half and to an hour a day. Just get your heart rate up. I even put music on when I clean and dance or do squats then lunges. Make chores your workout. I walk 2-3 miles alteast a day with half jogging the rest walking, some nights I carry 3lb each hand weights or medicine ball to workout my arms. I also will do lunges as I walk. Then every am I do 100 crunches, then different ab workouts and plank got one minute holding entire minute, 3-5 times after ab workout. Somedays I do insanity videos and then at least three days hit the gym for box fit class. Once I am 5 lbs from my goal weight will do weights daily. Right now most important thing is building core muscles and balancing. I use medicine balls to hold plank or my balance ball to practice balancing.

Enjoy and if anyone else is working out or dieting let me know I love to hear results. I started box fit in Oct the week of Halloween before that I dieted on and off then when I had money did workouts but usually just walked when convenient lost maybe 5-10 lbs but would gain back. Since joining gym and doing box fit from Oct-new year with a slight cut in calories went from 167 to 160. Then since new years cut down to 1200-1300 calories with lots of water, daily walks, and box fit went from 160-145. Goal is 130-135 I'm 5'7-5'8 so that us healthy. I was 117 two years ago and last year was 125 which is very thin for me will post photos below of thin me. I took before and after photos but won't post till done. Also been measuring cause I lose more inches then pounds it seems.

Off to post day 5.

Melissa

Day 3 of 1200 calorie diet

Sorry behind on diet but now you will be able to scan back for ideas going to post day four and five also.

Breakfast

1 Banana Bran Muffin

1/2 Non far yogurt

1/2 cup of fresh fruit

Lunch

1 serving of Shrimp

1 Whole wheat pita

1 cup of fresh salad greens

1 fruit (apple, banana etc)

Snack

1/2 cup of non fat yogurt with fruit

Dinner

1 serving of spinach and ricotta ravioli

1 cup of chilled artichoke with herb dip

1 cup of non fat strawberry ice cream

Day 2 of 1200 calorie diet

Before I head to boxing class wanted to post day 2 of the 1200 calorie diet. Feel free to play with mixing up things and changing snacks for a healthy, same calorie alternative.

Breakfast

1/3 cup of hot oatmeal with cinnamon

1 cup of skim milk

1-2 tsp of Raisons

Lunch

1 serving of chicken salad

1 whole wheat pita

1/2 cup of fresh veggies

Snack

1 piece of fruit

1/2 cup of non fat yogurt

Dinner

3 oz of Beef Medallions with sautéed mushrooms

1 cup of steamed veggies of your choice

2-3 cups of natural popcorn

Drink lots of water and lemonade is also great while dieting without sugar basically lemon water lol. I have been sticking to it and love my pitas. Some days I just have a half a pita with salad in it, other days have Tuna or Chicken salad, or add sliced turkey or chicken breast. The pitas I use are Joseph's Flax Oat Bran & Whole Wheat pitas they are soft and yummy.

Enjoy your week off to gym

Melissa