Friday, June 21, 2013

Nothing Beats a Fresh Salad

False

I absolutely love this motivational quote. I have to keep myself motivated everyday to keep on track. This is the longest I have ever really stuck to my healthy living lifestyle. I have never been able to give up soda, unhealthy carbs or sweets. But I think I have finally actually kicked them to the curb and ran over them with a bus:). Eating healthy has now become just a normal day for me. I don't have to think anymore it just come natural. It's become a habit for me which my health is very happy about. My skin is better, my energy is better, my hands don't shake from all of the caffeine I was drinking, all in all I am just a healthier person. The best part is when I go into my closet now I don't have to pick out clothes that fit that aren't too tight, now I have to pick out clothes that fit that aren't too big. For example I have a pair of jeans that I have not been able to pull over my hips in 3 1/2 years and this morning I wanted to try them out and nowwww they are too big in the waist. Yeah believe me at 7 in the am that is a good feeling. It's hard work at the beginning but honestly anyone can do it. It just takes motivation everyday. Take one step at a time.


Whenever I got home last night I was exhausted. I didn't feel like cooking anything that would take a long time or go out to eat. I wanted to put comfy clothes on and watch a movie. So I decided that I would make a salad for dinner. Now salads can be quite blah but they can also be pretty fantastic. So I wanted to share everything that I put on my fantastic salad. It will definitely be one I make weekly. It's quick, easy, and I had everything already in my fridge.
 
What you will need
romaine lettuce
red and green peppers
1/3 avocado
1 Stuffed Sun Dried Tomato Spinach Turkey Burger
Parmesan cheese
Dressing: 1 tablespoon low fat yogurt Cesar dressing, 1 tablespoon low fat ginger dressing and as much sriracha hot sauce as you want
 
 

Start by sauteing your veggies,
 


 
while they are cooking make your dressing,


 
and cut your turkey burger into small pieces.

 
Once your veggies are ready, add your turkey burger but just to warm it up because it is already cooked.
 
 


 
Then add everything together including your fresh avocado and your parm cheese.

 
Then add your dressing and your masterpiece is complete. This was the best thing I have had all week. Which is so funny because I have never been a salad person. But if you add all your favorites it can become  a healthy, flavorful, delicious meal.
 
What is your favorite salad?
 
 
 
Now as my alarm clock went off this morning I went to sit up and I was sore from head to toe and still just exhausted. So I decided to sleep in this morning. (if you call getting up at 7 am sleeping in ha) Now I normally would have just forced myself to the gym but I am staying in town this weekend and I am going to try out a few of the gym's classes. So I am pretty pumped about that. Another thing I am extremely excited about is on Saturday the bf and I are going to a petting zoo. Now that is one thing I will never get too old for. I am an animal lover for sure. I guess it is because I was always around animals growing up. I wouldn't say we lived on a farm but we always had some kind of animal running around. From goats, chickens, ducks, bunnies, horses, dogs, birds, a hedgehog, a snake, I could go on and on. So I can't wait to share my time with you at the petting zoo and how my workout classes go on Monday. So make sure you check it out and have a
HAPPY FRIDAY:)
 
 
Day 128:
Breakfast: smoothie (blueberries, spinach, 1 1/2 tbsp of pb, 1 banana, flax seed, light soy milk, and 2 ice cubes
Snack: 2 eggs with 1 tsp of sugar free syrup and parm cheese
Lunch: Belly Shrinkin Mexican Casserole
Snack: fresh pear and edameme
Dinner: 
 
77 days no diet mountain dew- 31 days no soda
 
60 days till final goal



Thursday, June 20, 2013

Spicy Wasabi Edamame & Stuffed Sundried Spinach Turkey Burger

I want to start off by sharing maybe the best snack I have ever had.
 
Spicy Washabi Dry Roasted Edamame
 

This stuff is amazing and it is even amazing for you. You can buy it at many grocery stores like Earth Fair, Whole Food, Fresh Market etc. (it's not expensive either)
 
Per serving: 1/4 cup
Calories: 130
Total Fat: 4.5g
Carbs: 9 g
Dietary Fiber: 7g
Soy protein: 14 g

Last night I was craving a turkey burger. (it is funny how your taste buds and cravings change once you change your eating habits.) So I went over to the grocery story to pick up everything I needed for a tasty, juicy turkey burger. After getting everything I needed, I saw these beauties and just knew I had to get them. Nothing beats fresh flowers in the house. Wouldn't you agree? (it also helped they were only $1.97)


 
I then got all my ingredients ready to make what I think was the best turkey burger ever. I might be a little biased of course:)
 
What you will need
ground turkey
spinach
sun dried tomatoes
garlic salt
Italian seasoning

 
Start by chopping up your spinach and sun dried tomatoes
 
Then stuff your ground turkey.

 
After your patties are stuffed add your seasoning to both sides.
Then it is time to grill.

 
Once it was ready to enjoy, I of course added some sriracha hot sauce to the top.
Thank goodness I have 3 more of the babies because they were delicious!!

 
 
Today's Workout
 
Week 3 Workout 3
 
Treadmill 20 mins: 10 mins. incline 15, 3.5 mph - 10 mins 0 incline 4.5 mph
 
70 jumping jacks
60 squats
50 calf raises
40 crunches
30 walking lunges
20 incline crunches
10 glute kick backs
5 time 30 wall sits
3 time 10 push ups
 
10 minutes on bike to cool down
 
Day 128:
Post workout smoothie: 1/2 banana, blueberries, spinach, 1 1/2 tbsp of pb, flax seed, almond milk and 2 ice cubes.
Breakfast: 2 eggs with sun dried tomatoes and green peppers
Snack: spicy washbi edamame and fruit
Lunch: Belly Shrinkin Mexican Casserole
Snack: non fat yogurt
Dinner: Fastastic salad. (see tomorrow)
 
77 days no diet mountain dew- 31 days no soda
 
60 days till final goal
 
 

 
 

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

For All You Bloomin Onion Lovers

I am sure many of you have had the Outback Bloomin Onion. It's pretty fantastic isn't it? But have you really ever thought about what you are really putting in your mouth, the calories, the carbs, the sugar, I could go on but I will let you see for yourself.
 

 
Calories: 326 per serving: Total 1,956
 
 
Carbs: 20 per serving: Total 117
Total Fat: 27g per serving: Total 161 g
Sugars: 5g per serving: Total 28g
Sodium: 684 mg per serving: Total 4102 mg
I received this info from the Outback Official Website.  (This is just some of the nutritional value)
 
So I got to thinking how could I make my own version of the blooming onion? Then I remembered when I made the homemade mozzarella sticks and thought, why wouldn't it work for this?
 
So I got busy in the kitchen and pulled everything out that I needed.
 
What you will need
1 white onion
flax seed
seasonings ( I used garlic salt and italian seasoning)
1 egg
 
 
Preheat oven to 350"
 
Start by chopping your onion into small pieces (sorry look below I am not sure how to describe how to cut them ha)
Then like I did with my mozzarella sticks dip the onion into the beaten egg and then into the flax seed. (make sure you add your seasoning to your flax seed.
Then put on a baking sheet and let cook for 15 to 20  minutes (once again it depends on the oven.)

 
Take out when crispy on the outside.
Then enjoy your healthy  " NON Bloomin Onion". I dipped mine in siraracha hot sauce.

 
Later that evening I got a little hungry and almost went over and got some frozen yogurt but I decided to make me a salad instead. Good choice for me :)

 
 
Today's Workout
 
Week 3 Workout 2
 
Treadmill 20 min. : 5 mins incline 15, 3.5 mph - 5 mins incline 0, speed 5.0 - 5 mins incline 15, 4.0 mph - 3 mins incline 0, 5.5 mph, 1 min 6.0, 1 min (cool down) 3.5
 
Full Body Workout
Arms
30 second bridge
10 tricep dips
10 incline pull ups
5 burpees
Legs
10 squats
20 lunges 10 side lunges
15 cafe raises
5 jump squats
Back
20 bird dogs
30 second superman
30 second bridge
15 second bridge
30 second superman
Core
30 second plank
15 vertical leg crunches
20 oblique crunches
20 second side plank (both sides)
30 second plank
 
10 mins bicycle (cool down)
 
Day 127:
Postworkout smoothie: handful of spinach, 2 tbsp of pb, fresh blueberries, 1/2 banana, flax seed, almond milk and 2 ice cubes.
Breakfast: 2 eggs with onion, spinach, and tsp of parm cheese with hot sauce.
Snack: non fat yogurt
Lunch: Belly Shrinking Mexican Casserole
Snack:  dry roasted edamame spicy wasabi ( going to talk about these tomorrow) then work had a snack buffet today and I had some mixed fruit with celery and hummus. I love when work has healthy snacks :)
Dinner: turkey burger with sriracha hot sauce
 
76 days no diet mountain dew- 30 days no soda
 
61 days till final goal


 

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Belly Shrinkin Mexican Casserole

I am pretty excited to share this recipe with you. Like I have said multiple times I love any kind of Mexican dish but I am pretty sure the scale doesn't. So I wanted to come up with something that would satisfy my Mexican taste buds. So here I go!

 
What you will need
1 pound of ground turkey
 quinoa (judge on how much you want, it is going to be the bottom layer of the casserole)
enchilada sauce
whole no salted, low sodium corn
diced tomatoes
jalapenos
taco seasoning
red and green pepper (I used half of each)
skim mozzarella cheese
 
 
Preheat oven 350'
 
Start by browning your ground turkey.

 
Then begin your quinoa. Make sure the don't over cook it. You cook it just like you would rice

 


 
Chop your veggies :)

 
Once the ground turkey is ready add your taco seasoning and veggies,

 
and let simmer

 
Once your quinioa is ready pour into the bottom of the baking dish.

 
Followed by your layers.
1. ground turkey and veggies
2. corn
3. diced tomatoes




4. skim mozzarella cheese (my favorite part)

 
Then repeat.


Top it off with some yummy jalapenos.

 
Let cook until the edges are browned and the cheese is melted  (about 15 minutes, depending on oven)

 
Then get ready for your Mexican Fiesta. It is delicious and great for leftovers.

 
What's everyone's favorite dish?
 
Make sure you check tomorrow for my Skinny Pimento Cheese Spread!! ( Believe me you will want to try this)
 
Todays' workout
 
Week 3 Workout 1
 
 

Treadmill: 20 minutes (10 minutes incline 15 speed 3.5 - 8 minutes 0 incline speed 5.0 - 2 minutes 0 incline speed 6.0 last 30 seconds 4.5)

 40 jumping jacks
30 crunches
20 squats
10 push ups
All arm weight machines (10 minutes)
 
Bicycle 15 minutes level 1
 
Day 126:
Post workout smoothie: fresh blueberries, 1/2 banana, 1 tablespoon pb, almond milk, 2 ice cubes
Breakfast: 2 eggs with 1 tsp of sugar free syrup
Lunch: Belly Shrinking Mexican Casserole
Snack: non fat yogurt with almonds
Dinner: Belly Shrinking Mexican Casserole (small amount) with my homemade  "NON Bloomin Onion:. Later on I got hungry and made a salad with romaine lettuce, spinach, small amount of parm cheese, mixed low fat yogurt ceaser dressing, ginger and hot sauce. (all low fat)
 
75 days no diet mountain dew -29 days no soda
 
62 days till final goal-no facebook till reached goal :)



 



Monday, June 17, 2013

Father's Day Weekend

This past weekend I went to the bf's house for Father's Day. (my mom forgot to tell me they would be in NC so I had already made plans with the bf or I would have been with my daddy:) ) Anyways when we got there on Friday it was already pretty late so we just sat around and caught up. The next morning I woke up pretty early and was super hungry so I knew I needed to go to the grocery store and pick up some grocery's (like I have said in previous post, they eat very southern if you get what I mean ha). So I went and picked up some foods I knew I could have throughout the day.

 
So when I got back I made me a yummy breakfast.

 
2 veggie patties and non fat Greek yogurt.

 
After everyone woke up and got ready we went to pick of the bf's "niece" to play with all day.

 
And boy did she wear me out. I think that alone was a workout. ( I did workout that morning but I will share that below)

 
She did let me take a 30 minute nap in the sun while she played in the pool. (oh and the bf's mom was out there while I napped so she wasn't unsupervised)

 
The next day was Father's Day so we all went to Church. ( this is me turning into my mom, I had to have a picture with us dressed in our Sunday best)

 
Afterwards all of the bf's family came over for Sunday dinner and to celebrate Father's Day
I had a blast playing with all the kiddos.
 
 
Aren't these the cutest sisters ever :)

 
But then it ended up getting pretty late and it was time to head back. After such a long, wonderful weekend I was defiantly ready to feel my warm comfy bed.
 
What did everyone do on Father's Day? :)
 
Don't forget to check out tomorrow for my step by step Belly Shrinkin Mexican Casserole. So excited to make this tonight!!!
 
 
Week 2 Workout 4
 
Walked (fast) with the bf's mom for 30 minutes around town.
 
3/10 push ups
100 crunches
30 squats
2/25 bicycle crunches
30 lunges
2/20 side crunches
50 reverse crunches
2/20 mason twists
30 scissor kicks


 
Day 123:
Breakfast: 2 veggie patties and non fat Greek yogurt
Lunch: we ate at Western Sizzilan and I had a large salad with light dressing a spoonful of tuna salad, veggies and baked fish.
Snack: peach
Dinner: grilled chicken salad with peppers and onions with a little bit of A1
 
Day 124:
Breakfast: 2 veggie patties and non fat greek yogurt
Lunch: chicken, quinoa and squash
Snack: pickles
Dinner: McDonald's southern grilled chicken salad with light ginger dressing (picked off the chips)
 
Day 125:
Breakfast: smoothie (unsweetened berries, 1/2 banana/ 1 tablespoon of pb, almond milk, flax seed)
Snack: 2 eggs with 2 veggie patties
Lunch: 1 veggie burger with quinoa, hot sauce, and mozzarella cheese.
Dinner: Belly Shrinkin Mexican Casserole 
 
74 days no diet mountain dew - 28 days no soda
 
63 days till final goal.