Awwwww, my sweet hubby outdid himself. I was hoping not to get too much chocolate and well, I got none. So there you go! haha I know you might think I just jumped off the crazy train, but don’t worry, I haven’t, I just know that I have no self control and this LIIFT4 experience has been amazing and I’m not letting anything derail me from feeling less than great…except maybe champagne :)
We hit up Malt, which we visited last year for a date night when we first moved here and it was so delicuious and they were so accommodating, that I was dying to go back. When you’re lactose intolerant and you tell and chef that and he replies, “what does that mean?” you know there’s going to be trouble tonight. Malt has this dialed in and I feel I can rest easy that I won’t be sick all night. And how sweet of them to give us this Champagne split to take home and toast to, with a thougthful anniversary card!
I think you won’t believe this when I tell you, he food was amazing, and I have no pictures to prove it! But, it is true. I was so caught up in conversation with this man and thinking about our journey from san Diego, California, to Houston, Texas (which we never saw coming, but were certain it was our “forever” home till retirement” and now to Brisbane, Australia (which we again, never could have dreamed up!). But life is good and full of adventures and the best part is having someone to grow old with and share all these moments with.
Our anniversary isn’t “officially” till October 8th, but with traffic and late work meetings which happen more requently than I’d like to admit, I was worried we might bump our celebration and I didn’t want that. Travis is withouth a doubt the chef in the family. He enjoys cooking, and even finds it relaxing. Did you read that? R E LA X I N G. Who is this mate? So, he’s always cooked for me, but since he works late through the week, I pulled off Kangaroo, asparagus with parmesan and parsley and I replaced pesto linguini with arugula and cherry tomatoes to stay in line with “veggies most.” Y’all, if you’re not doing it, 2B Mindset is the easiest thing ever. Message me to ask questions. I’m Certified in it now and feel like this is the answer for 99.9% of people! Yes, that means it will work for you too!
Trip to Sydney - Happy 40th to me!
1) Social Brew Cafe - Darling Harbor Sydney - The Deli Plate
It's no secret that I eat clean and I love food. I've been living this "clean" lifestyle for 2+ yrs now and it started all from sleeping issues, depression, anxiety (and being medicated for both) and having gas all the time. it's my blog, I can share my TMI with the world :) I don't have it now so that's what matters right? GI issues run in my family and I never knew how to fix it, so I tried clean eating + Shakeology and couldn't believe the radical changes in ALL OF THE ABOVE! Sleep, energy, digestion, tooting...all way better! But, my husband loves RICH food so that makes it hard when we travel. I've learned how to make choices and what to request so that I'm not hating life all night, and those around me aren't either. Read this article for tips I shared. Given in 2017 I traveled more than I was home, I got in a LOT OF PRACTICE at eating on the road, so these are tried and true recommendations. Plus, back in my CPA days I did business travel 60% of the time so I can say...been there, done that. And gained a lot of weight trying to figure it out! Learn from my mistakes!
Am I going to really tease you with all my photos? NO. I only saved one from each restaurant we frequented, all are mine except the waffles (couldn't be further from clean eating - wait till you see it) and the Kangaroo Filet. That was Tyler and Travis's respectively and I nibbled on the filet, but wasn't crazy about Kangaroo.
1) Social Brew Co. DELICIOUS in every since of the word. The kind of meal that you don't want to talk to anyone, you want to close your eyes and savor every bite and stab anyone that tries to take a sample of your plate. Because I love my family so much, I shared my mushrooms & buffalo cheese with Tyler, BUT he lucked out I was feeling very generous. My plate was empty. I asked them to hold the bread (again, read tips on the article linked above) and wanted to go back again. But, this was the last day, so at lease we went out with a bang! You need to go here, not because you'll miss out if you don't, but because you'll REGRET IT if you don't! But learn from us, bookings are encouraged :) If you forget, they have loaner picnic blankets you can use on the lawn next to them. We didn't realize this till we left or would have gone that route.
2) Fishmongers, Manly Beach - Squid Salad
3) Makoto Sushi, Sydney CBD - Salmon Belly Sashimi
2) Fishmongers. We got off the ferry and headed straight there at some local's recommendations. Yum-O. Kids and hubby had greasy fingers and big smiles so that means it was a hit, right? I went for healthy-ish. Could have done without the teriyaki sauce, it was a little heavy for me and we left here to run around the beach and swim, so it kind of left us feeling like beached whales, but we made do. I think this is a chain because I swear we've eaten at Fishmongers in Byron Bay and I thought the same thing.
3) Makoto Sushi. Thank you YELP! This was a win, but also the most money we've spent in the least amount of time at ANY restaurant. We were all hangry and it was the "conveyor belt sushi" style so we could just grab and eat and that's what we did. Over and over again so $140 and 25 minutes later we were leaving the restaurant STUFFED. But, this was worth every penny for 2 reasons. 1) best conveyor belt sushi in my life, and y'all, I've eaten some sushi! 2) most importantly, Tyler gave up sushi for lent which is amazing to me. He's 8 and this is his favorite food in the world. He's asked for it since he was four every year on his birthday and if he died while eating sushi, I think he'd be ok with it. He really really likes it :) So, we wanted to treat him the day after Easter to as much sushi as he wanted. We accomplished that :)
4) Celcius Cafe, Kirribilli - Super Green Breakfast (asked them to hold the bread)
5) Homemade eggs, bacon and rocket in my living room with a view of the Opera House
4) Celcius Cafe. I heart you. This is the cutest dang breakfast joint I ever did see. It's literally on the ferry pier and super small so go early. And by early, I mean get there when they open. Our 1st time we were rookies and didn't know this and showed up at 8:15 when they opened at 8. We waited 30 minutes and then divided and conquered. Matthew and mommy sat together and Tyler and daddy sat at a different table. The option of leaving was no option at all. Not for a second. I got the super green breakfast and asked them to hold the bread. This avocado-lime spread was to. die. for. Everyone else's plate looked delicious too, but I was too full to nibble.
5) Home is where the heart is, right? Especially when you're staying water front across from the Harbor Bridge and Sydney Opera House. We did this 3 mornings to save money, time and calories. These breakfasts were so perfect, but they were huge portions and I was feeling uncomfortably full all day long. I know you are thinking, "well don't finish it all" and all I can say is those are silly and crazy thoughts. If you ate it, you would too!
6) Kirribilli Seafood, Kirribilli - Fried Calamari, Grilled Platter: Baramundi, Scallops, Octopus, Calamari
7) Celcius Cafe, Kirribilii - Waffles (with peanut butter cream, fruit and edible flowers)
6) This was the most memorable dinner. We got seafood takeaway and my first oaky Australian Chardonnay (and it was actually good!) and we had a picnic dinner. I didn't get the scenery in, but we got to have adult conversations while we watched the kids run around, play tag, and wrestle in front of the Opera House while we ate and watched the sunset. This restaurant loans you picnic blankets which was a cool touch. We did have veggies, I promise! We had a Caprese Salad and a Greek Salad, but were a hit!
7) If it's not broke, why fix it, right? On our last day, it was mommy's choice. I mean, we were there for my 40th right? Seems fair. So back to Celsius Cafe for The Vining's! I got the exact same thing because when I like something, I could do that for days! And Tyler got this. How beautiful is this? Belgium waffle covered in fruit and edible flowers and topped with a peanut butter cream. Tyler told me he didn't want that and I told the waitress "oh yes he does." haha When it arrived Tyler as thanking me profusely. All mouths and bellies were happy. Note, I've never seen Matthew eat so much food in one sitting. He. loved. it. all.
8) The Rocks Cafe, Sydney CBD - Kangaroo Filet
9) Street Market Asian Tapas, Kirribilli - Salmon Carpaccio
8) The Rocks Cafe reminded me of Italy a little. We sat outside on the cobblestone street as people walked by and there was history all around. This was Travis's plate as I was so full from previous meals, I got a rocket & parmesan side salad and was perfectly content. It was a little gamey for me, but that plate was clean as a whistle, so that's a thumbs up I think.
9) Our 1st meal when we arrived was at Street Market Asian Tapas. Kids eat free for lunch and dinner, which is cool, but my kids didn't want the "kids options." Somewhere along the road we went wrong and our kids think it's normal to order carpaccio and $20-25 entrees. The salmon and beef were my selections and they were talked into noodles and such. Delicious, but too heavily sauced for me. Only place that didn't sit well for me, but the rest of the family marked this as a favorite.
10) Fitzroy Food Co, Kirribilli Forgot to take pictures, even if you don't believe me and the menu link doesn't work, so you'll have to read and imagine. Watermelon, Goat's Feta, Mint, Red Onion, Pomegranate, Rocket, Balsamic. Did that do it for you? Imagine it? It was mouth watering good and my husband ordered it for himself. He might have gotten 1-2 bites of it and I ate the rest.
How to go on vacation without losing all you've worked for!
Hotel gym post Upper Fix Extreme (30 minutes)
Exercise:
I try to stay on top of exercise when I travel even if it means choosing a shorter program because when you get home, it's much easier to eat right again, but it's harder to get back into an exercise routine. After 3 straight days of no working out, it's hard as heck for me to start again. And I enjoy exercising ;) I find it pretty easy to fit something in, whether it's in my hotel room while kids are napping, showering, while they ask the front desk a question, whatever.
Most places you stay will have gyms, walking paths mapped out, but bring your 80 day obsession loops & sliders, resistance bands, jump rope, frisbee, etc. that are easy to pack and get you moving. These can be fun with the kids too. Pack exercise clothes because if you don’t bring it, you definitely won’t do it! None of these ideas take up a lot of space!
The following programs require NO EQUIPMENT so you don't need the hotel gym, your hotel room is sufficient:
- Insanity Max 30 (cardio / body weight)**
- Focus T25 (cardio / body weight)
- PiYo (barre)
- Core De Force (martial arts)
- Cize (dance)
- Country heat (dance)
- most abs (10-15 min)
Dining out / Road trips:
Vacation should be relaxing and restful, but you take the vacation, your diet does not. Of course you won't be perfect, but don't bring desserts, chips, etc. from home which add fuel to the fire. JUST DON'T! I ALWAYS take Energize and Shakeology whenever I leave home; Energize more because I feel sluggish when traveling because I'm not eating my best and need the pick me up (I don't drink coffee, this might not apply to you). I take Shakeology because I believe in it and that it's important for my body every day. I feel worse when I don't eat / drink it, crave more sweets, snack more, I'm not as regular, and it's hard to get enough veggies when traveling so I find it even more important to get those 70 Superfoods in.
If I can drink Shakeology + exercise, I feel like I'm winning; anything else is a bonus. Try to make food a PART of the trip, not the PURPOSE.
Stay on your "3 meals and 2 snacks" plan every day. By doing this you regulate your blood sugar which will help your metabolism. Watch for next months' featured tip on Low vs High GI foods.
If you're driving, pack a cooler with these, if possible: boiled eggs, string cheese, hummus-to-go-packs, cherry tomatoes, celery, cucumbers, carrots, KIND bars, Larabars (STAY TUNED, BEACHBARS LAUNCH IN APRIL), fresh fruit, Greek yogurt tubes (freeze and they double as ice packs), oatmeal balls (pictured), non-buttered popcorn and pumpkin muffins. They are filling and healthy. Invest in a double walled tumbler (Yeti or the like) and your Shakeology will stay cold for hours so you could even pre-blend your shake and have lunch / breakfast / pre-party snack in the car or hotel (lots of hotels will make your Shakeology for you! Their continental breakfast has everything you need for it!). **The 1st ingredient in a snack should never be potatoes. They are just disguising that it’s really a potato chip by calling it “veggie straws” or something. Read the back of the bag, not the front!
When dining out, tell them you don’t need bread or chips. The typical restaurant chip is 25 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. We don’t count calories, but why blow your yellows on that when you could chose wine or other carbs all day long?! If you are starving at a Mexican restaurant, ask for a corn tortilla (~50 calories instead).
Ask concierge or travel agent for healthy restaurants (mention Paleo as a guide, even if you're not). Although 21-day fix is not that restrictive, it’s a pretty healthy alternative and most restaurants know what that means.
Avoid buffets if at all possible, and the free cookies in the lobby (I know they look tasty…reminds me of Otis-Spunkmeyer cookies and I can almost smell them now!)
I try to chose EITHER alcohol OR dessert, and I don't have them every day. I try to omit carbs as much as possible, not because we can't eat them, but they are everywhere so naturally I'll get them in through snacking on kids stuff (yes 😫) or save for an unplanned surprise.
If I order a salad, I ask for Balsamic vinegar on the side, or olive oil, vinegar and lemon wedges. Restaurants typically don't mind modifications! So far, no one has spit in my food (that I know of).
I asked them to replace the Sourdough with veggies. Those tomatoes look way better and I won't crash afterwards from having high GI foods. Portions are always larger at restaurants so make wise choices where you can or split a dish with someone! You save calories and money! They are willing to work with you, but you have to ASK!
Hotel:
Avoid the mini-bar. It will help your wallet and your waist! Ha!
Think about renting a condo, Air Bnb or VRBO and bring food rather than booking a hotel and eating out for every meal. Again, gentle on the wallet and waist and allows you to splurge a little more when you really want.
Flying:
Drink 1 glass of water for every hour of flight to prevent dehydration and jet lag. For every 1-hour of travel you lose 1 pint of water.
Cruises:
Fill your plate with 50% vegetables, salad, etc. and only for back for seconds for steamed veggies.
Ask them to prepare a sack lunch for your day excursions. Boiled eggs and fruit are usually an option.
Ask to order from the Spa Menu, which is smaller portions, and tell them you don’t need to see the dessert menu. (Seeing the choices is all that much more tempting)
Chose a ship that offers lots of activities. The average person gains 15 lbs. on a week cruise. YIKES! Think of coming home to all! All tan and bloated??! No thank you.
If you don't ask, you won't receive. This is your vacation and coming home feeling like crap and sluggish is no fun and harder to get motivated to jump back in. You are paying for it so gain control of some of your daily choices. You'll thank yourself at the end :)