I’m sure the world’s most beautiful woman wakes up some mornings feeling “not so pretty”. I have had my share of not so pretty days lately- but I think I found the cause. I had hit the dreaded “plateau”! I was starting to feel totally bummed- after an entire summer of clean eating and working out at least once a day- my body was not looking as I thought it should. I don’t weigh myself- as Sarah says “Your weight is just your relationship with gravity”- but the measuring tape just wasn’t moving either. I was really frustrated. During my frustration, I learned that people aren’t exactly sympathetic or understanding of someone complaining about their body when that someone was a size 14 and now is a size 6. I get it that I look great. I get it that I have totally changed my body…. BUT I wasn’t finished yet. **I know I’m super close to my goal, but losing that last little bit is really HARD!** I was frustrated and frankly getting a little down about it. I was bummed.
But then something happened the other day. I got dressed in my workout clothes and they felt different. My shirt was just a bit looser. My pants were looser. I felt lighter. My problem areas seemed less of a problem.
I would say that this plateau lasted about 4 weeks. It was a long time. It felt like a long time. How do you survive it?
1. Wait it out. Most people seem to hit a plateau at one point or another. Know that it is NORMAL!
2. Go back to basics. Write down what you are eating. I hadn’t gotten to this step yet but I was being more conscious of what I was eating and some of the “liberties” I had taken with my food choices.
3. Trust the process. If you are eating clean and working out and your body isn’t changing- trust that it will. I trusted the workouts I was doing with Sarah and although I have branched out to my own menu planning, I knew I was following her guidelines SO I knew eventually my body would respond.

What not to do: panic! Don’t say “this clean eating thing is shit so I’m going to try… insert crazy diet scheme here!” Also, don’t start cheating because you think it’s not making a difference anyway. A couple times this month I was thinking f*ck it- I’m going to have poutine- what’s the difference- I’m not losing any weight anyway (we’ve all been there right?). But I didn’t- partly because I have been clean eating for long enough that it’s more of a habit AND I didn’t eat crap food because I was honestly thinking what if someone who reads my blog sees me eating poutine! OMG! That would be embarrassing!!! Lol! Thanks for keeping me on track! 🙂

So tonight I’m home alone (well my dog Boyd is here)Pretty cute date! My kids are sleeping over at their cousins and my hubby is working late- really late. The old me would have ordered take-out. I even thought about it briefly tonight how great a donair would be…. celebrate the end of the plateau with a donair and fries. But no- let’s keep this thing I got going on with my body continuing AND I’m not that person anymore. Instead of a donair, I made- wait for it- the most amazing kale salad! It is epically good. It is one of the best things I have eaten- clean eating, crappy eating, everything I have ever eaten- this kale salad is up there! Wow!

I found the recipe on Pinterest. It is called Kale Salad with Feta and Tomatoes and Garlic Panko Crumbs. You will need:

8 cups kale, chopped fine
Salad Dressing
2 tablespoons rice vinegar or red wine vinegar (I used rice vinegar)
4 tablespoons olive oil
Garlic Panko Crumbs**** OMG I WILL SPRINKLE THIS ON EVERYTHING!
2 tablespoons olive oil
4-6 cloves garlic, minced, depending on how garlicky you like it
3/4 cup panko crumbs
sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Toppings
1 large tomato, chopped
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced or 1-2 scallions, chopped
4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (~ 3/4 cup)
16 kalamata olives (I was out of olives but can see how they would be a nice addition)
4 eggs (the recipe called for a fancy slow poach but I just fried mine over easy)
fresh ground pepper, to taste

This recipe makes 4 small serving or 2 dinner sized portions.

The complete directions can be found at http://jeanetteshealthyliving.com/2014/08/kale-salad-with-feta-garlic-panko-crumbs-and-fried-slow-poached-egg.html
My favourite part of the salad is the Panko crumbs.

Boyd’s favourite part of the salad is the Kale. He sure loves kale!

Gosh my subfloor is so awesome! I love renovating!
Here is the finished salad! The egg was a little runny, the Panko was warm and garlicky and the kale tasted amazing with the simple dressing.

This salad made me super happy and it was a great way to celebrate the end of my plateau. Am I allowed to complain that my workout pants are now falling down during squat jumps?

Choose happy 🙂