Hi!
My name is April and I am a college student as well as an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse). I currently go to school what is considered “full time- at least 12 hours) as well as work at home for disabled children plus give flu shots in the fall at clinics. I have a passion for health and wellness and am always striving to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I am also an “aspiring figure-girl”- I hope to compete in figure competitions in the near future!
I believe in eating wholesome, natural foods as much as possible. I eat a lot of lean proteins, dairy products, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. I eat a high-protein, moderate carbs, and moderate fat diet (usually 50% protein, 30% carbs, and 20% fat.) My diet helps me maintain my muscle mass as well as control my cravings and keep me full. I also limit the amount of processed foods I get in my diet- I rarely eat things like cereal.. I’d rather eat a sweet potato instead! Although I am a fan of sugar-free syrups.. that can’t be taken away from me! 
I am lactose-intolerant and I also don’t tolerate wheat well, so this plays a part in the foods I choose.
Over the course of a year I dropped my body fat from 22% to 12% (ish) through a diet of high protein and moderate carbohydrate intake (and exercise of course!) And I’ve been able to maintain this body fat percentage with my diet and exercise.
However, I do enjoy the occasional treat! I believe that our bodies do so much for us and in turn deserve to be given the right fuel.
Feel free to email me at foodsofapril@yahoo.com with any questions or comments!
haha i like your blog sister, yeah thats right shes my sister.:)
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Hi! Thanks for commenting on my blog, nice to read about you. Congrats on your accomplishments thus far
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hey girlie! Thanks so much for the comment on my blog.. i look forward to reading yours
! What a sweet smile you have!
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Welcome to the blogging world! I am relatively new, since starting a blog a couple of months ago! Have fun and can’t wait to read more!
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Hi April =) thanks for leaving a comment on my blog! I look forward to reading more about you…
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Hey April! Welcome to the blog world — I’m fairly new at it, too! Keep up the posts — I like your easy meal and snack ideas!
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Hi April, thanks for your comment on my blog. I am looking forward to reading yours. I have only been blogging for a couple of months so it is nice to find someone else who is new to this
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Ay baybay! Whoooah I finally had a chance to check out your blog! I always adore your sweet comments, so it was about time!
Aww I’m such a mush-pie lately, as you and Bryon are adorable!
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Just found your blog….. I just took a trip to NM…. I have family there. LOVE and miss it! Also, I like your “medical tidbits!” Great idea! Hope to read more from you soon!
-A
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Thanks for visiting my blog! I can’t wait to keep reading yours. Stay in touch!
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I like your blog alot. Thanks for the nice comment on mine!
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Hi April! Thanks for commenting on my blog – I’m so excited that people are actually reading it.
I’m also glad to have another blog to read, especially one written by a fellow oatmeal-lover!
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Um wow, you are the sweetest girl ever! And oh yeah, you’re pretty darn gorgeous too!
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Hey, April! Thanks for commenting on my blog! I’m looking forward to reading more of yours!
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Hi April! Thanks so much for taking the time to check out my blog and leave a comment. I really appreciate it! I’m looking forward to reading more of yours..
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i just found your blog & it looks great! i’ll be following!
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I put up my response to your gum question underneath your question. I was out of town, sorry it took so long to email you back!
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Thanks for stopping by my blog. I enjoyed reading about you and look forward to reading your blog.
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enjoying your blog. will def be coming abck!
http://randomlymikey.wordpress.com/
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Hey! Can’t wait to read more
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love your blog. can’t wait to read more. just started my own- check it out
xo, whit
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Hey April!
Thanks for checking out my blog! I’m so looking forward to checking out more of yours!
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Wellll Hello April!! Thanks for the comments
You and your blog are adorable and I’m excited to read more!
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April, you are an inspiration!
I love your blog.
Just curious, how tall are you?
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April Reply:
November 13th, 2009 at 2:25 am
I’m 5’3!
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hey! i just cam across your blog and i found it on pb & jenny’s blog. i just started reading it and i love all of your recipes, they are all great and i can’t wait to make some of them
i would love it if you could check out my blog as well!
jenna
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I am loving your website and your fabulous eating style! Being a huge protein lover, the recipes I’ve come across thus far on your blog fit the bill for my “needs” perfectly! Your story is great, and I’m looking forward to following your blog regularyly for further meal inspiration. Take care, and thankyou for such a lovey blog
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hii April!! so glad you commented on my blog because it brought me to yours
i love your website and philosophy and can’t wait to read more!
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I am loving your blog April! I stumbled across it a few weeks back and have been reading it ever since! I am intrigued by your sweet potatoes with peanut butter and completely inspired by your workout regimen! You have some awesome recipes and I can’t wait to read more!
xoxo, Sarah
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Thanks for stopping by my blog. We sure do have quite a bit in common =)
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Hey April, thanks for reading my blog – I really enjoyed reading about you, and I can’t wait to read more!
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Hello!! I just found your website and it’s fantastic! I’ll be sure to be reading now!
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Hey! Came across your site from a link from the other April’s site, and I’m loving your recipes! Look forward to following you. Best wishes!
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Hi April,
Well I recently stumbled upon your web site and when I saw some of your food pics and concoctions, I literally thought you must have a web cam secretly set up in my kitchen! My best friend and I are clean eating fanatics and figure girls-in-training, and we constantly send each other pics and ideas of clean, healthy recipes just like yours! As a matter of fact, we do your same protein “cookie dough” recipe but have been calling it protein “frosting” (I’ve decided that “cookie dough” is more accurate!). Anyway, I LOVE your site and it’s great to know that there are other women out there who are lifting heavy weights, eating clean, and being creative with healthy foods. Please keep posting your wonderful creations and chronicling your healthy living journey!
Thanks,
)
Monica Queen (a.k.a. The Lean Green Protein Queen
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Hi there April!
I just found your site through….ack…I’ve been on the internet waaaay too long today and I can’t even remember now! Oh I remember now…Whole Body Love…anywaaaaay. I’ve been looking around your site and noticing we have similar philosophies.
Your pictures look awesome. Gorgeous shoulders! I competed in two figure competitions last year. It’s not really my thing (I just don’t like being on the stage in a bikini) but I do love the challenge of the prep. I’m sort of thinking about doing another one this year because like I said I enjoy the prep and the focus it brings.
Wanted to say hi and job well done!!! (referring to your health story)
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Awwwwwwww how cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And your adorable!!!!! :-*
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In the third paragraph in “About Me,’ do you mean 20% fat? Love your blog, girl, especially the recipe ideas! Keep it up!
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April Reply:
February 21st, 2010 at 8:38 am
Oh shoot! Thanks for catching that! Yes I meant fat! LOL
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Hi April!
I stumbled upon your blog and love it! I’m also a college student (although not a nursing student) and look forward to reading more!
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Hey girl! I have been reading your blog and I love it! I am totally obsessed with resistance training and healthy protein recipes, too
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Hey! I’m so glad to find another blogger who practices a moderate-carb intake. That seems to be hard to find these days (my diet is higher in fat than yours, though
)
I can’t wait to try your protein bars! They look fluffy and cake-like and DELISH.
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i like your blog and enjoyed reading it
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Hey April!
Congrats on the blog. It looks awesome! You rock!
Gregg
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Hey! I love your blog! Im also a LPN so thats awesome!
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Where’ve you been all my life April? Just added you to Google Reader.
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I am a recent nursing school grad!
and am now an RN…and also have a love for fitness/healthy cooking and learning how to treat my body right! 
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so I’ve made your protein cakes before but I think I might start reading your blog religiously..I’m not a marathon runner but I want to learn to build muscle/weight train.
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Hi there!! Just added your blog to my reader! LOVE it so far! I had actually heard of it before but hadn’t really read much until now. I’ve recently started training with a trainer and am loving what lifting is doing for my body! My child-like upper body is quickly becoming very toned and pretty!
Anyways lots of great tips, recipes, and meals here. Keep it up!
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April Reply:
June 15th, 2010 at 6:33 am
Thank you jessica!
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Hey, a little confused, isn’t 12% really super low body fat for a woman (and 22% very healthy)? Do you use a technique that low balls body fat % (underestimates), or is that precisely what it is? And is that okay for a woman–when is it too low? You look totally healthy so maybe I am remembering wrong.
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April Reply:
June 22nd, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Hi Barb! Yes, 12% is very low for a woman. But like you said, I am very healthy- I have a low body fat because I have a lot of muscle, not because I don’t eat enough
Some women can’t maintain that low, but my body seems to handle it just fine! And I use a caliper which does have a margin of error, so it could be a bit higher.
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Hi April,
I have been following your blog for a few months now and you are very inspirational! I have been a cardio junkie since I was 14 (I am now 22!) and realize that I need to incorporate weight training into my routine to see results, given that cardio, over the course of almost 10 years, really hasn’t done much in terms of increasing muscle mass, helping me lose weight, and improving overall tone. I am 5 foot 5 inches and fluxuate between 130 and 134 lbs. So, I am a normal weight, but I definitely would like to slim down and increase my muscle mass. I am a bit lost when it comes to weights, and I have been doing the gym machine circuits a few times + moves that I researched/know from Jillian Michaels’ No More Trouble Zone DVD. I find myself EXHAUSTED after my weight sessions, to the point where all I want to do is nap and eat lots of carbs! Obviously over-eating and feeling exhausted after weight sessions is counter-productive, so any general weight-lifting advice and fueling advice you could give me would be MUCH appreciated!
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April Reply:
June 24th, 2010 at 11:02 am
Hi Samantha! I will try to remember to do a post on this on Saturday for you!
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Thanks, April! I very much look forward to it!
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Hi April,
Thank you so much for your post about pre and post workout fuel. I was not eating anywhere near enough carbohydrates before my workout! As soon as I started, all of the post-workout symptoms I described disappeared!
I also would like to wish you and your family all of my best. You are a trooper for doing all that you do and your sister is in my thoughts!
I do have another question about weight-training and weight-gain, so if you get a chance to answer it, I would be very appreciative, but I know that you are quite busy these days! So, after a few weeks of circuit training (much more weight training than I have ever done in my life!) I weighed myself and actually GAINED around 5lbs! My diet has not changed so I am quite confused and frustrated! Do you have any idea why this might happen? Is it related to the new weight-training in my workouts? I am very worried and know that I should not get so stressed from a number, but my goal is to lean and firm up, not get bigger! Any advice?! Thank you!!
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