Girl Time

 

I just bought my new camera :) It's pink & red, just in time for valentines day...cheesy I know. Get ready for some delicious healthy looking recipes and learn a little about my passions and goals in life. Fashion, Health & Love.

I am so excited I am headed to my home town this weekend, Waynesville NC

 

All of my best friends still live there so it will be such a great time to see them. When we all get together we turn back into the little high school girls we were when out friendship began. Now the best part of this weekend is I get to meet one of my best friends son for the first time. He is going to be one lucky boy because all of his aunties love him so much and are going to spoil him rotten! (that's the best thing about being an auntie you can play with them and spoil them and send them back)

 



 

This was at her baby shower in October.

 

 

Now another reason I am super ready to go home is because I get to see my fabulous mom and dad. I am also helping my little brother move into his first home. (tear) (he is getting married in June, even bigger tear)

 

My family eats pretty healthy, always have. I grew up not really eating fried chicken or drinking sweet tea, so therefore I don't eat them now. People always make fun, saying a girl from the south has to like fried chicken and sweet tea. (I'd disagree) But when my girlfriends get together it is like a feeding frenzy. Growing up all of our parents could never understand how girls could eat so much and be so loud. Oh we could! :)

 

It is definitely going to be hard to not cheat this weekend but if I just took how far I have come, it will give me the ability to put all those fatty foods down and maybe have some grapes instead!

 

Day 17:

Breakfast: leftover homemade egg & turkey casserole

Snack: almonds

Lunch: 2 veggie burgers ( with mustard & no bread) yeah as you can see it was a little last minute lunch preparation.

Snack: banana and peanut butter

Dinner: my mommas homemade chili

 

 

 

21days

63days.goal.date

 

 



This is a Must

Why it is important to eat breakfast!

Eating breakfast boost weight loss but some think eating breakfast to lose weight seems counter intuitive, but if you monitor what you eat, along with how much you eat, it is possible to maintain or even lose weight. "A rule of thumb is to eat between 300 and 500 calories at breakfast," says O'Connor. "And don't worry about eating breakfast on the go — the most important thing is to just eat it."

What constitutes a good breakfast? High-fiber cereals and fresh fruits are healthy choices that require little preparation. Other options include:

berries

eggs

cottage cheese

oatmeal

peanut butter

smoothies (not the high sugar ones)

whole grain breads

yogurt

homemade casserole (low fat ones)

Increased Metabolism
When a good breakfast is eaten, it boosts the metabolism. If a person goes too long without eating, the body will think that they are not being fed, which will in turn decrease the metabolism. Be sure to include protein and fresh foods with your breakfast, because the protein also will boost the metabolism.
Higher Energy Levels
Skipping breakfast may cause you to feel sluggish and tired and you may have a hard time getting enough energy to make it through the day. Eating a well balanced breakfast in the morning will provide your body the fuel that it needs to convert to energy.
Healthy Eating All Day Long
Remember that breakfast sets the tone for the rest of the day, so planning a healthy breakfast may help you to avoid eating unhealthy treats later on. If you fill your stomach with healthy foods, you will be less likely to have unhealthy cravings.
Better Memory
Studies have shown that children have better performance in school when they start out the day with a healthy breakfast. Eating breakfast provides fuel for the brain, which can help to improve memory and brain functioning.
Starting the Day in the Right Frame of Mind
Taking a quiet moment to sit down and enjoy your breakfast can be a good way to get you in the right frame of mind for the day. Our busy lifestyles have caused many people to forget about the importance of meal times, and breakfast is the best time to take a moment to reflect and plan the rest of your day.    SO GO EAT YOUR BREAKFAST!!

 

 

Day 16:

Breakfast: Homemade casserole: egg, turkey sausage, skim mozzarella cheese, crushed red pepper

Snack: 20 almonds

Lunch: veggie burger  (I buy the morning star, spicy black bean kind) (no bread), shredded broccoli, hummus

Snack: edamame                                                            

Dinner: Applebee's zesty roma chicken & shrimp
substitute the potatoes and had steamed broccoli instead with hot sauce. small slice of turkey sausage.
Dessert: Fudgesicle and handful of almonds

 

 
Trials build patience, make us strong, and teach us that sometimes prayer and truffles do go together.

 

22days
64days.goal.date


 

S's Birthday

All I can say is wow, I had my share of crab legs last night and they were absolutely amazing. Although me and my boyfriend shared entrees so it was basically a race with him so he didn't eat everything. Mid dinner I looked over at him and his sister and said "crab leg eating with S is giving me anxiety" I then learned to get the meat out of the shell first and eat it all at once when they were all gone. Yes I have to have a strategy when sharing meals with my boyfriend. Dudleys is definitely one you should try if you have never been. (Spartanburg, SC).




Day 15:
Breakfast: 2 plain scrambled eggs
Snack: edamame
Lunch: grilled chicken baked with marinara and mozzarella cheese. side salad with small amount of feta and hummus
Snack:edamame. They had ice cream at work today believe me it was very tough to "just say no" :)
Dinner: veggie burger (no bread) with side salad with skim mozzarella cheese and hummus as dressing and I tried a small square of my fabulous breakfast casserole.
Dessert: no sugar added fudgesicle

I have become absolutely obsessed with hummus, I literally could eat it on anything, well maybe not yogurt:). So here are the health benefits and different ways to eat hummus. enjoy!

1. Health Benefits of Chickpeas
The nutritional benefits of hummus can be rooted down from each of its ingredients. For one, chickpeas are very healthy because they do not contain any cholesterol or saturated fats. They are also rich in protein. This makes hummus a favorite among vegetarians. Chickpeas are also known to be effective in preventing build up of cholesterol in the blood vessels. Apart from that, it can maintain correct blood sugar levels.
2. Nutritional Value of Tahini
Tahini, meanwhile, is full of fat and calories. However, the fact that it is used sparingly in most hummus recipes and that it mostly contains unsaturated fat means there is not much to worry about. Like chickpeas, tahini is also high in protein. Apart from that, it is a great source of calcium.
3.Healthy Ingredients in Olive Oil
Another healthy ingredient found in hummus is olive oil. As most people know, olive oil is a healthy fat. It has high monounsaturated fat content but low in saturated fat. This oil can thus help regulate cholesterol and protect the heart from various diseases.
4. Health Benefits of Garlic and Lemon Juice
Garlic and lemon juice, meanwhile, are filled with antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress in the body. They also work to improve immune functions and fight of bacteria and viruses.
5. General Health Benefits of Hummus
Hummus as a whole contains plenty of Omega 3 fatty acids, which are great for improving intelligence and maintaining a healthy heart. On top of it all, this dish also has iron, vitamin B6, manganese, copper, folic acid, and amino acids. Tryptophan, phenylalanine, and tyrosine are the amino acids found in hummus that can promote good quality sleep and uplift one’s mood.
Humus is loaded with nutrients that can contribute to a healthy lifestyle. Include this in your diet by using it as spread on sandwiches and wraps, as dressing to your salad or pasta, as dip for raw vegetables, or as side dish for main courses.


23days
65days.goal.date

No Longer Crabby

I am feeling much better today, after a good nights sleep and waking up and realizing that today is a new and beautiful day.

Tonight I plan on taking my boyfriend to dinner to Dudleys, a delicious fresh seafood restaurant, start spring cleaning my apartment,  taking a good long bath, putting on fuzzy warm pajamas, watching my show I am addicted to, Dance Moms (Don't Judge).So I am ready to get through this workday and having a wonderful evening in my cozy little apartment.

I have been adding pictures of the things that I eat but they are not the actual pictures. I have broken my camera and will be getting a new very soon. So when I do  I will post pictures of the actual yummy delights that I cook :)

Day 14:
Breakfast: low fat yogurt
Snack: pistachios
Lunch: grilled chicken and low fat bean dip
Snack: dry roasted edamame
Dinner: I am going with my boyfriend to Dudleys a nice restaurant in my little town. We shared crab legs and I had a small piece of corn and two very small pieces of sausage ( from part of in low country boil). I also had a side cesar salad with just lettuce, mozzarella cheese and tomato balsamic vinaigrette


24days
66days.goal.date

A Little Crabby

Day 13:
Breakfast: 2 eggs & beef jerky
Lunch: I forgot my lunch and a grilled chicken wrap (wheat) was my only option
Snack: pistachios
Dinner: It is my boyfriends birthday so I am taking him to dinner at our favorite restaurant Thai Taste. I will get what I normally get chicken and veggies and just not eat the rice. When I got home later I ate some of my low fat bean dip and a no sugar added fudgesicle

It has been a long and not so wonderful day, I will be back to my blogging self tomorrow:)