Something else super fun is that I will be documenting my cut stats here on the blog! Layne is gracious enough to let me share weekly stats, just like I did with the reverse diet charts I made. So stay tuned. It's about to get cray up in this blog.

Love you guys!

- C

WARNING: Do NOT watch if you are easily grossed out! I am the macro "EXPERIMENT" after all ;)!

1. Entire Pint of Ben & Jerry's
2. Most Caloric Krispy Kreme Doughnut (Triple Chocolate)
3. KFC
4. King Size Candy Bar
5. A REAL Coke
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Unless you are an alien from another universe, you probably indulged at least a *little* over this holiday season. I know I did! And guess what, IT'S OKAY! Welcome to the human club, there's about 7 billion of us! I decided before this Christmas that I would not be completely obsessed with hitting my macros to a T or depriving myself like I have done every Christmas before this one. And I'm SO glad I made that decision.

Looking at the picture on the left of me right now, there's no question that I gained some major "fluff" -- water retention caused by a higher carbs and sodium intake than my body is used to -- and yes, some body fat! *gasp* I also know that one week will not screw up my long-term fitness goals.

I don't know what my weight is or my body fat % but my pants definitely feel snug. How am I dealing? I'm going to the gym. I'm lifting with intensity and pushing myself, as I normally do. I am keeping my macros where I left them 130P/62F/260C.

I am *NOT* "cleansing" or "detoxing" (both euphemisms for starving yourself, and we all KNOW it let's just be real). I am not doing a crap ton of cardio to counterbalance excess calories consumed. And neither should YOU! Cutting calories like crazy can do serious damage to your metabolism. If you want to lose fat, make sure your metabolism is where it needs to be first. Then cut the healthy way -- slow and steady. I'll be writing more on fat loss/cutting as I begin my cut for my first show this summer. Until then, I will keep hitting these luxury macros and increasing my volume in the gym.

During the last few weeks with my family, I heard the same thing about 10 times from different family members -- "Cait, you look GOOD, you look HEALTHY!" At first, it freaked me out, I'm not going to lie. It means they like what they see, but it also means I gained weight and it is apparent. I've heard that before years ago and it freaked me out so much, I would make myself lose weight even though my metabolism was screwed at that point (before I started the macro experiment). This time, I was finally able to accept it as it was -- a compliment! I do feel healthy. I feel strong. I feel GOOD!

So how should you deal with holiday weight gain? First of all, LOVE YOURSELF. You deserve it! Don't be so hard on yourself! Again, do not "cleanse", "detox", "skinny tea" or any other word that means starving yourself. Just go back to counting macros (or whatever your norm is) and you will be fine! You are beautiful. You are so much more than a number on a scale, a reflection in a mirror, so much more than an outer shell. Please feel free to email me if you ever need a friend to talk about these things with, seriously! We are all in this together. <3

- C

"For physical training is of some value, but godliness (spiritual training) is of value in everything and in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and for the life to come." - 1 Timothy 4:8

Happy New Year y'all! I felt like making a fun and colorful new recipe to celebrate the beginning of 2016! These are GREAT for any kind of party or celebration. You can also ice them with any kind of icing you'd like, but I kind of like them plain so you can see the pretty rainbow colors on top. I actually ate 6 of them for breakfast this morning. :P

RAINBOW FUNFETTI PROTEIN CUPCAKES
351kcal: 11F/25C/38P (for 6 cupcakes)

Directions:
1. Microwave butter for 15 seconds in mixing bowl and preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Add and mix all other ingredients besides water and food coloring. Then add water until you get a cake batter consistency.
3. Pour mix in even amounts into 3 separate bowls.
4. Add 3-4 drops of food coloring to each bowl. Make sure each bowl only gets 1 color! So there will be a bowl with red batter, a bowl with yellow batter, and a bowl with blue batter. You can use other colors, but I find that the primary colors look the best as they mix to form all the other colors once baked.
5. Spray muffin tin with pam and fill with each of the 3 colors. When I did this, I alternated which colors were on the bottom, middle, and top of the cups.
6. With a toothpick, make 2-3 quick strikes through the 3 mixes in the muffin cups to blend the colors together slightly.
7. Place cupcakes in oven and bake for 8-10 minutes. Keep baking until you can stick a toothpick in the cupcakes and it comes out clean.

Feel free to experiment and use different extract flavors if you want to make alternate flavored versions. Enjoy! :)

- C