How is today August 1st ?!

Don't get me wrong ... summer is hot and it's definitely not my favorite time to cook, but I love to eat ... and I really try to consume my usual amount of food no matter what time of the year it is! However, I know a lot of us lose our usual appetite when it's sweltering out!

My go-to easy protein is of course marinating chicken and batch cooking (hoping my hubby is game for the grill). I like to use "Primal Kitchen Greek Dressing & Marinade Avocado Oil." There's no sugar added to this one with a nice oregano punch to kick it up.

I see this grilled chicken as my go-to for lunches primarily, as I'm loving salads in this heat ... I've finally learned it's a win win situation if I just prep the veggies ahead of time in glass containers and literally put it out on the counter like a salad bar when we're ready to eat.

One easy way to figure out a good portion of protein is to use your palm to match the size of your chicken/whatever protein source you're eating. That's usually going to get you to the 30-40 grams you're looking for at each meal. If you can't get that much in, think about rounding it out with some chickpeas, quinoa, nuts/seeds, hard boiled eggs, cheese to top the salad with ... I was dairy free for years and started adding it back with feta cheese and eventually cottage cheese and plain Greek yogurt for my morning bowls. I have no symptoms anymore such as an upset GI!!

Remember, it's not going to cause a weight gain to increase your protein at each meal! Don't be afraid of it! Once you understand the importance of it as a building block to muscle synthesis, you'll see that it's not going to make you fat! Au contraire!! Most women I talk to start to crave less sweets, salty snacks and simple carbs once they commit to increasing protein at each meal and snack.

Protein is essential for building and preserving lean muscle mass. Without muscle mass, you are at risk of facing negative consequences. The loss of muscle mass typically begins in our 30s. Take proactive steps by incorporating resistance training into your routine, even if it's just twice a week!

And if you're loving the Olympics like so many of us ... you'll see that so many women are capable of staying strong and powerful much longer than we grew up to believe!

And if there's one thing I think the younger women are seeing at the Olympics this year, it is STRENGTH OVER SKINNY! So many inspiring women to watch ... and guess what? They come in all sizes ... just like us!

Here's to an amazing month of fueling ourselves as midlife mommas!

And if you're in the turmoil of getting your kiddo ready for college (no matter if a freshman or even grad school!), be sure to take care of yourself during this prep! They are watching and feeding off your energy ... so eat well, make time to move and stay calm ... It's a different experience for everyone, so let the tears flow if you need to, but remember, November will be here before you know it ... and you'll both be stronger and continuing to fly!

xo,

Krista