Side Note: Less than a week until I complete my Whole100! Woohoo!

This chicken recipe is really easy, as long as you have the right ingredients. You will want to find a clean marinara sauce (no added sugar or funky ingredients) or use your own recipe. I usually use this one from Wegmans or this one I found at Costco. 

And then of course, you will need coconut butter. This is not coconut milk, cream, or oil. Just pureed coconut flesh. My favorite brand is Artisana's which I can usually find at TJMAXX. I also like Nutiva's brand, which I'm also able to find at my local Wegmans. 

Trust me - the combination of the marinara and the coconut butter is decadently delicious. While I used the coconut marinara to top chicken in this recipe, it goes amazingly over spaghetti squash or mixed in with ground beef  or pork. Try it and let me know what you think! 

Coconut Marinara Chicken Recipe 

For the Coconut Marinara Sauce

2 cups marinara sauce (no sugar added)

1/2 cup coconut butter 

For the Chicken 

1-1.5 pounds of boneless chicken thighs

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper 

Ghee, for frying 

Toppings:

More coconut butter (because, why not?)

Fresh cilantro 

XOXO, 

SMP

I shared this post on my Instagram account yesterday, but thought I would share here on my blog as well. The difference a year can make, my friends! This time last year, I was sitting on the sidelines, 4 months postpartum, watching my husband compete in the 2014 Crossfit Games Open. I actually felt great that day: I remember the baby taking a nice long nap that afternoon and finally having the ability to take a shower, blow dry my hair and put on some makeup. I wanted to look pretty as I cheered on my very in shape husband and socialized with all of his gym friends. When I saw someone post this picture the next day on Facebook, I remember being embarrassed. Did I really look that big? I didn't feel that big. I've always been a very confident person and think I carry weight pretty well, but I still did not like the way I looked in this photo.

I also remember talking to my husband that day and I thought he was crazy when he told me, "Next year, you will be doing it too!" YEAH OKAY HONEY. I had already started to dabble in some Crossfit workouts, but with a new baby, and my husband's crazy work schedule, it was very hard to commit to a consistent program. Around the end of June, with the help of the Kid Care program at a new Crossfit Box that opened up locally, I was able to commit to Crossfit and workout 3-4 times a week. It was such a game changer and, lo and behold, here I am. One year later, with my Rogue and Reebok gear, head band and thumbs taped ready to take on the first workout in the 2015 Crossfit Games Open.

I have God, my husband, family, friends, Whole30, and Crossfit to thank for my transformation. There's still a long way to go but I'm rejoicing in this milestone.  Wherever you are in your journey, take a moment to pat yourself on the back for every good choice you've made. For getting up early to workout. For trying a new vegetable this week. For resting when your body needed rest. All of these good choices add up and you may not see a difference today or tomorrow, but you will. I'm a different person today than I was in that first picture and I couldn't feel more blessed.

XOXO,
SMP

My past experiences with Whole30 have always been great - I've lost weight, felt less bloated, had clearer skin, slept better, and had more energy. Since my first 30 days back in August 2012, we began incorporating a Paleo lifestyle with our occasional treats for special occasions or if we just felt like having pizza, we had pizza. I maintained my weight loss for the most part, but after having my daughter at the end of October 2013, I had a lot of weight to lose again. I did two Whole30s in 2014 and began to do Crossfit. These all helped me lose about 25 pounds throughout the year, but once the holidays came around, I gained some weight back. I feel as though I completely let loose and negated all of the progress I made throughout the year. I decided to embark on a Whole100 on December 29, 2014 because I really wanted to see what an extended Whole30 program would do for me.

Let me tell you that it has been the best experience so far. Today, I'm on Day 61 and while I lost almost 6 pounds in the first 30 days, I feel as though I'm experiencing the best results now 31 days past the initial program. My body composition is definitely changing. My clothes are fitting WAY better. My bloat is gone. Today I'm actually on my monthly cycle, and I typically gain 5 pounds of water weight and look like I'm 3 months pregnant. But I don't see that in my photo today! I would love to say that I'm sleeping better - but I have an almost 16 month old that has been crazy at night. However, despite the sleep deprivation, I am able to hold it together throughout the day with more energy - so that's still a win!

The funniest part of all of this is that when I weighed myself this morning, I didn't lose one fraction of a pound since Day 30. Maybe it is because I'm on my monthly cycle and I did in fact gain some water weight that is hiding my actual weight loss. Maybe not. Some would say that means the program isn't working, but it clearly is. Look at the difference in that picture above from Day 21 and Day 61! I thank God I have been taking pictures because if I didn't see this physical proof, I probably would be feeling terrible today about not losing any more weight. But I'm not mad, I'm actually feeling great and so motivated to continue on this journey.

In fact, I may never get on the scale again. It truly doesn't tell my whole story. Who cares anyway how much force is exerted on my body by gravity? I just care about how I look and feel, and gosh darnit, I think I'm looking pretty good and feeling even better.

XOXO,
SMP

 

Isabelle tried two new foods this week: wild caught salmon and red beet and cabbage sauerkraut. 

Just last week I decided to start including high quality fish into her diet. First, we tried wild caught tuna and that was a success. Based on some research I did, my plan is to feed her about one ounce, once a week, alternating between types of fish. And even though she has really enjoyed the tuna and salmon, too much in a sitting or in a given week could potentially be a lot of mercury exposure for a little body. The benefits of the healthy and brain boosting omega 3s outweighs the risk though and if we do it once a week, Isabelle should be just fine! However, we are avoiding shellfish since I have an allergy and I don't want to test that out any time soon!

Now in terms of the red beet and cabbage sauerkraut, she wasn't exactly sure if she liked it or not. Isabelle would suck and chew on the pieces and then spit them out. (Check out the video on my Instagram or Facebook page - it's hilarious!) I decided to experiment with this food since healthy bacteria that can be found in high quality fermented foods like sauerkraut can be great for your gut. Yay probiotics! This would be another once every week or two thing. Hopefully she actually eats it next time! 

SOME OF THIS WEEK'S MEALS IN PICTURES

Scrambled eggs, orange slices and avocado

Peaches, pears, and scrambled eggs

Zoodles with a creamy ground beef meat sauce

She doesn't mess around when it comes to chicken drumsticks!

Olives, avocado, chicken, and orange slices. Isabelle loves the little compartments in this repurposed muffin pan!

Beef stew, avocado, and raspberries. She LOVED those beef stew chunks!

Wild caught salmon with a little homemade mayo and cut up grapes. This was a little messy but she housed the salmon. Actually left most of the grapes.

More scrambled eggs, sweet potato rounds, and strawberries with coconut cream

Roasted vegetable soup! Made with butternut squash, carrots, sweet potato, onions, coconut milk, and bone broth.She insisted on feeding herself.

Strawberries, avocado, butternut squash, and red beet and cabbage sauerkraut.

What new food did your child try this week? What was their reaction? Share in the comments below! 

XOXO,
SMP