Pantry

Kaizen Protein Pasta, Rice, and Mac+Cheese: Made with lupini bean flour (a legume). Makes this high in protein and high in fiber. The consistency of the past is honestly the closest to real pasta that I have been able to find so far.

Coconut Protein Cult: So this coconut yogurt also has a fair amount of fat from the coconut BUT I swear this jar actually tastes like a slice of cake. Perfect for a little sweet treat without the major guilt at the end of the day

Forager Creamer: Sugar and dairy free creamers, I have been pairing these with my matcha lattes. They have some fun flavors like banana bread and mexican chocolate.

Yough! Frozen Pizza: Dough made with yogurt. Honestly I used to make dough like this for pizza’s myself so I am so glad someone else has gone ahead and made one available to buy frozen. I add some toppings to the pizza myself later depending on if I need more greens or protein.

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August Recap

In this last month of August a few things happened. I took off one whole week for myself which was much needed and I signed up for a fancy new gym membership. The week off was to focus on things that I needed to get done in my personal life after focusing so much on my work and family care. It felt great to sleep in (7am woooo baby steps) and taking my time without the pressure of having a million things floating around on my daily schedule. I got to take my time at the gym and actually enjoy working out.

I also signed up for a new gym membership at Iconix. Not sponsored at all by the way (I wish I was) but it will be lovely to have a gym closer to me with all the machines I could need, not as crowded, and classes to offer because even I like to take the occasional yoga class. Really excited to try all the new machines that the gym offers.

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Pantry

Fiber digestive gummies: Digestion tends to slow down because of meds, less movement, and eating differently than usual. Fiber gummies help things…regular.

Emergen-C immune gummies: an easy way to make sure you’re not missing out on a nutrient that supports normal immune function.

Pukka Triple Ginger tea: Ginger has a long track record for settling an upset stomach and easing nausea. A hot tea also helps with the inflammation of the throat. I also add lemon juice and honey which also provides a great throat coat.

Suja Green juice: Another way to get a few more micronutrients into my diet without having to prepare a bunch of greens.

Fairlife Protein shakes: Helps me keep my protein intake up withouts being too hard on my stomach.

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July Recap

Whelp, nothing like getting a cold at the start of July and then suffering from the worst humidity in Los Angeles that I have seen in quite sometime. Regardless, I still made it to the gym when I could but arguably fell off the meal plan because who among us doesn’t want some ice cream when its hot af out. I did snag some thrifty’s rainbow sherbet and was pleasently surprised at the macros so maybe it was all meant to be. Ending this month with a mandatory “onsite” for work which means my schedule is completely owned by netflix from 7am-9pm most days. Wish me luck

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I’m not gonna lie, I spent most of June working through all the leftovers that I got from hosting a big backyard bbq. We are talking salads, sweets, apps and more. I got very innovative with the amount of dishes that you can make with hamburger buns. Egg sammies, turkey subs, banh mi….. Every June seems to be like this, kicking off the summer with the best snacks and chilling with friends so I am going to be spending July resetting my gut and diet again.

Pantry

Adding some snacks and hacks for the BBQ leftovers I had from June.

• Parm Crisps: I have been curshing these up and using it as a salad topper. It is high in protein and fats so i just drizzle it on where I can add a bit more of a crunch to the salad.

• Trader Joe’s Corn Puffs: Really filling and surprisingly low on fats so you wont hit your macros in a single serving. This was great from the bbq to feel full with a single serving size.

• 0 cal Mustard + Low Fat Mayo: Great for adding some yummy sauces to sandwiches you’re throwing together with leftover buns

• Extra thin sliced Cheese: usually a white cheese like provolone or mozz will be less calories and less fat dense so I tend to go for those. I always find that my sandwiches need some sort of cheese but the standard slice is usually not great for portion control.

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June Recap

June was a month of vibes. Diet-wise, I’d be lying if I said I stayed perfectly dialed in because birthday treats have a way of finding me and I am simply not strong enough to say no to something made with love, so we’ll just count that as a flex in community building. I also had to get super clever with the amount of meal preps I could make with bbq leftovers and my garden produce. On the bright side, my step count was genuinely up this month between the hustle at work and actually getting the family out to do things on weekends. Which felt really good because movement doesn’t always have to look like a gym session and June was a great reminder of that.

Work has been long, the kind of long where you blink and it’s suddenly 9pm, but production has officially wrapped on a few projects so fingers crossed that alleviates some of my late nights. The real MVP of the month though is having the treadmill at home. It has completely changed the time-spend math on my days because instead of commuting to a gym and back, I’m getting my cardio in and then getting to actually be home, which means more time with Boba.

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Apologies for the delay but I was busy getting ready for my BIIIIIRTHDAY. Getting a year older and a reminder that its important for me to have a balanced meal in order to keep aging like a fine wine.

For this month’s prep, I’ve really been enjoying a lot of snacks that I pick up from shops like 99 ranch or Tokyo Central. So please enjoy this mini grab n go pantry entry

Pantry

BCD Tofu Soup Kit: easy to prep and such a comfort. Really filling and about 120 cal per serving with 10g of protein. I usually end up eating two servings for a meal.

Golden Duck Chips: These chips are pringle like and are surpisingly a great source of carbs while not getting way too high in fats like other chips. Beware: it is incredibly easy to eat an entire canister because they are that good. Calories: 125 kcal, Fat: 6.8g, Carbs: 13.2g, Protein: 2.0g

Onigiri: This is usually in any prep food section in the asian market. Now, could you make this at home? Sure. but do i have time and does it ever look as nice as the one at the market? No. No it does not. I opt into the spicy tuna (no mayo if possible) and its honestly a great source of protein and carbs on the go. My nieces love to have these on picnic days.

Prep

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May Recap

It was so lovely getting to use my gym at home while work ramped up. It really saved me so much time and stress being able to just get my workouts in when I could with such a busy schedule. I also was finally able to order a treadmill to have in the house so no more waiting in lines to use a treadmill at the gym! That also saved me a ton of time in my morning commute to, I can get my cardio done in the morning before heading into work. The only downside is I am pretty sure my dog is going to eventually make me eat rubber because he always seems to want to join.

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Reworked an old recipe after scrolling a few others to see how I could get this pasta dish a bit more creamy and I think I have finally worked out the kinks!

Turkey Mac + Cheese

Servings: 6
Macros: 270 Cal, 11.6g F, 21.7g C, 38g P

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April Recap

I do actually feel like I got a lot accomplished in April. I had a bit of a break in family care and finally some good news in progress for my mom which allowed me to take a bit more time for myself in the gym. My diet was pretty dialed in which really helps with my training (save for the few days I would eat with family to encourage my mom to put back on some weight). Friendly reminder that progress looks different for everyone and while I got a bit more lean in shape but kept my weight up I consider that a huge success.

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Increasing my fiber intake will help me: support better digestion, absorb the nutrients I need, and maintain stable energy levels throughout the day. It also does help (a little) with satiety, so I can feel a bit more full during a cut. So for this pantry and prep I thought I would share some of my fiber snacks/drinks I have added to my diet.

Pantry

My fiber intake has been increased to 40g by my doctor, which is very high. So always consult your physician to see where your ideal intake is at.

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March ended up being a month full of growth for me personally. Finally got my mom’s surgery lined up and also got a promotion at work. The increased work load and additional doctor check ups took a lot out of me and my scheduled and really caused me to take a look at my overall health. So I have made the decision to start a “micro prep” which means getting to my top physical shape so I can handle what the world throws at me. Up until now I really have just been maintaining my physique while increasing my strength.

What does this mean?

• Focused diet

• Regular weigh ins

• Consistent workouts

• Increased intensity in cardio.

Why do this now?

My energy has been low lately and it’s time that I started prioritizing myself in order to care for others. It always seems backwards but for example the picture below was truly when I felt superhuman during my body building prep. I had the most energy, I wasn’t necessarily in a deficit, I was meeting my body’s exact needs on a daily basis which meant I was both physically strong and mentally sharp. I know my work schedule is about to get a bit more demanding and I need to be able to be there physically from my mom so why not make sure I am in tip top shape in order to do so? I will also try and post more check ins via posts here as well to track my improvements or fall backs over the next few weeks.

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I think fruits tend to get a bad rep. They do have a lot of sugar in them but not all fruits are created equal. When i was cutting for a show there were definitely some fruits that helped curb the sweet craving while still remaining low calorie.

Pantry

Strawberries: 33 cals per 100g. High in vitamin c, more filling than other berries.

Blueberries: 57 cals per 100g. High in antioxidants and doubles as a dog treat do your furry friends

Raspberries: 53 cals per 100g. High in fiber. I usually freeze these to snack on later.

Watermelon: 30 cals per 100g. Hydration is in the name! Also filling per serving.

Oranges: 47 cals per 100g. High in vitamin c and also has some calcium and potassium.

Prep

Springtime comes with a lot of potlucks. I’ve been seeing this pickle dip trend and thought i would take a wack at making a healthier version you can bring to share.

High-Protein Pickle Dip

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February Recap

Dare I say February was actually a very hopeful month. It brought Lunar New Year (Tết) which means its the year of the horse! Looking forward to some transformation and hopefully a better year than the last. This month also had a ton of rain which means keeping my workouts indoors and getting steps in between the downpours. I also got to spend a bit more time with loved ones this last month which is always a plus. Caring these vibes into next month!

March Workouts

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Delayed posting this for a day because it just felt a bit tone deaf with everything happening in the news. I know personally I like to channel my frustration into lifting though, so hopefully having the next month’s workout split planned out will let me get to my gym therapy a bit faster.

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Fitness and Politics

It seems so silly to be talking about working out and health in a time like this but I would like to remind myself that the ability to workout, to lift, and to keep my body healthy is a political act in itself:

1. Economic Inequality - The ability to live in a neighborhood that is conducive to an active lifestyle, being able to afford a gym membership, or purchase fresh healthy foods.

2. Healthcare Access - The ability to get the care to maintain your wellness or treat illnesses.

3. Gender Inequality - It is just a plain fact that many of the spaces that are used for fitness are just simply not as safe or made for women.

4. Education - Cuts in funding towards education effect the nutrition and overall health of students on top of passing the burden of this loss directly on the parent or parents.

5. Labor - We do not all have the same 24hrs and some have quite longer work days than others due to their financial situation. This adds to the stress, lack of rest, and physical strain of being able to take care of yourself.

I am very privileged to be able to participate in fitness and to maintain my health and I will continue to use my privilege when I can in order to assist the rest of my community in a way that they may be unable to. There are so many bullies out there these days and I plan on being as strong as I can in order to stand up for those who can’t.

So anyway…onto February’s workout.

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Its been a minute since I did a good ole fashion Costco haul so below are some of my current favorites to always have in the kitchen.

Pantry

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