The DREADMILL

I wanted to call this post "Why I hate the GYM" but I felt that while I am not the biggest fan of going to the gym, I don't hate it, and it has many wonderful qualities that I just don't take advantage of.

However, for ME the gym is not my favorite place.  When I go I have to make sure I have ALL my crap with me, then I have to bundle up (at least at this time of year), take the time to drive there, put all my stuff somewhere, and THEN I can start my workout.  On top of that I tend to have a very competitive personality so I always want to be doing at least as good at, if not better, than the people around me.  THIS IS MY PROBLEM, and I know not everyone is like that.  But I am, so I have to deal with it every time I go.

The other thing I am not a fan of is having to run on the dreaded treadmill.  Don't get me wrong, there are definitely great things about the treadmill.  I can keep my pace consistent.  I can watch myself and push to go faster for a specific length of time.  I can set it up to do inclines or stay flat, go as long or as short as I want, go a certain distance, etc.
But when you are a slow runner like me, trying to get in a 5k at least 3 times a week (which takes 45-50min), IT IS SO BORING!!!  I don't really want to watch TV while I'm running because it doesn't really help me stay in the zone...not to mention that at my gym the TVs are programmed to have the Audio broadcast through a specific radio station and I haven't figured out (or bothered to try really) how to do that on my phone.  I much prefer to listen to music anyway because it keeps me going.
But the absolute worst part about the treadmill for me is that there is nothing to look at except the TVs, the wall, or out the same window at the same scene for 45 minutes!

ACK!  Seriously, as much as I actually do love winter (for a while) I really can't wait for it to warm up enough so that I don't have to go to the gym and use their treadmill anymore.  I love to run OUTSIDE!  Plus it never hurts to get all that extra Vitamin D.  ;)

So that's my gripe.  It's totally a personal one and I am definitely not saying there is anything wrong with the gym.  For some people having the machines, the free weights, the pool, etc all in one place where they can just go and do their thing and then leave it behind them is great.  Plus I know a LOT of people prefer to workout in the big classes because they like to have all that extra support and camaraderie.  I'd probably like that too (except for the comparing thing...).

For me, I just like being able to get up and go whenever the mood strikes me.

Where do you prefer to workout?

When times get rough...

So I am in the middle of doing the 21 Day Fix with my test group, and suddenly I am spending the last 5 days helping a dear friend deal with the loss of her mom.  Now you may not know me that well through this blog yet, but when I have a friend who is hurting, it's just like if one of my kids was in pain.

I go into mama bear mode.  

Protect. Fix. Nurture.

So the last few days have been a whirlwind of calls and visits and pretty much just being utterly available for my friend.  But, I'm in the middle of doing a program with a group of people who are also depending on me to be a good example.  So what do I do?  Well, I buck up, and get it all in.  I know, that sounds trite.  But it's basically what I did.  I was honest with my group about what was going on, and I let them know that I would be less available than normal.  However, I also told them that I would still check in.  And then I made sure to get my food planned so I wouldn't slip, and I got my workouts in early in the day so that I could be available for the rest of the day.  And of course I also had plenty of help from my husband and my mom (because it's not like I could just abandon my own kids!)

Overall, I did pretty well.  I only missed one workout, and I managed to stick to the nutritional aspect of my program pretty closely too.  I may not have done as well as I would have if life had been normal, but considering how easily I wold have gotten off track in the past I can say I am really proud.  I'm proud of myself for keeping it together, and for being able to make it all work so that I could be the kind of friend that I believe is the only kind of friend to be.

Anyway, that's what has been going on with me the past few days.  I'm very tired from all the efforts I put out, but I can honestly say it was worth it.
And now life goes back to normal.

Super New Program!

What if I told you that I have something that came with the following:

21 Days of workouts for only 30 min/day

7 Color Coded Portion Control Containers 

(If it fits, you can eat it)

1 Coach {ME} to help keep you accountable

1 spot in a Private FB Group <*VIP Status*>

*Dessert and Wine INCLUDED!

Plus the loss of 10+ pounds in only 3 weeks.

Do I have your attention yet?

What if I told you I had a 21 Day Program that would BLOW...YOU...AWAY?

What if I had a plan that includes all of the above AND was the lowest cost program that I offer?

Would I have your interest?

Send me an email here: 

toughmommy2012@gmail.com

 and I'll send you all the details TONIGHT and a shot at being in my Team Tough 21 Day Challenge. Spots are already filling up fast, so contact me today!

Long time, No see!

I know I have been gone from this blog for a VERY looooong time.  It has been something that I miss doing, but other priorities have gotten in the way.  I'm not going to whine and complain, just wanted to let you know what's up.

So moving forward.  Since I'm back I wanted to let you know a little bit about what I have been doing lately.
A few month ago I started P90X.  Yes, I did.  And it was HARD, but also really good for improving strength and flexibility.  However, I realized that at this time of year I just don't have the time to commit to doing over an hour of exercise everyday.  (yes, that means that I stopped P90X, but it is something I plan to come back to when I have more time and more motivation - maybe in the summer.)
So I was excited when P90X3 came out right around the New Year.  I have started this program and I AM LOVING IT!  Since it is only 30 minutes a day, it is much easier for me to manage in my busy life.  And I will admit that with the winter blues hitting me as they usually do, it is a lot easier to work myself up to doing a 30 minute workout than anything longer than that.
So now I spend everyday getting my butt whooped by this guy...

Also, I realized that I have just been kind of STUCK.  You know how you can be doing almost everything right and yet something is holding you back?  Well, I turned 40 this December.  And my age is not something I really care about, nor do I think it is holding me back in any way.  HOWEVER, all the celebrating and allowing myself to eat whatever I wanted to because it was my birthday, the holidays, my kids' birthdays, etc.  THAT was holding me back.
So last Wednesday I decided I'd had enough.  I decided to completely detox from sugar (which is my biggest weakness - I'm pretty sure many of you can relate.)  I cut out all processed sugar, all complex carbs, and even natural sugars and fruits for now.  For me any sugar is like a gateway to cravings for MORE, MORE, AND MORE!!!!

Today is Monday.  It has been 5 full days of eating mostly protein and vegetables (but I still drink my Shakeology), and I am down 9 pounds!!!  I know a lot of that was water weight in the first few days, but I can already tell that some of this is also fat.  YAY!!  Bye-bye FAT!  See you never!  Also I am not craving anything the same way that I used to.  In fact I am better able to listen to my body and "hear" when it is actually HUNGRY.  I am no longer eating just because I feel like it, or I'm bored, or I want that.

Anyway, that is where I am at.  And this is HUGE for me because as mentioned this is a really hard time of year for me mentally.  But I am really proud of myself for making these changes now and not waiting until Spring is already here.

What changes are you making that you are proud of?

Healthy Chocolate! Wait...What????

Hey all!  It's been a little while, but I have an awesome recipe I wanted to share with you.  If you are anything like me, then even when you are trying to eat healthy CHOCOLATE is definitely one of the major food groups.
I generally spend some time on Pinterest looking for different recipes, but I also tend to browse the Web when looking for healthy desserts.  And I have found one that I think is the ultimate healthy dessert!

Chocolate Cookie Dough Brownies!!!

So I found the original recipe on this great site called "Living Healthy with Chocolate."  The woman who runs that page has a ton of great recipes that incorporate chocolate into a healthier lifestyle, but this one is my absolute favorite so far.
I tinkered with this recipe a little bit because I like the brownie part on the bottom to be a little more chocolatey, and I also made my own chocolate to use as chips.  I also doubled the recipe to fit in a normal brownie pan.

Here's how I make it...
Ingredients:

Brownie:

• 2/3 cup raw pecans
• 1 cup almond flour
• 9 tbs raw cacao powder
• 11 pitted medjool dates (if you are short on dates you can add 1 tsp of raw honey per date, but this only works if you are short by 1-2.)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbs coconut oil

Cookie Dough:

• 3/4 cup coconut oil, melted
• 6 tbs coconut milk
• 3 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbs + 2 tsp raw honey
• 3 cups almond flour
• 6 oz chocolate chips, add more or less as desired (I use Enjoy Life brand chips or make my own)

Directions:

1.  Line the bottom and sides of a brownie pan with parchment or plastic wrap.  

2.  Using a food processor or a blender grind the pecans into medium/course meal. (Sometimes I grind it finer, but just don't let it turn into nut butter!) 

3.  Remove pits from dates, add to the food processor, and process it into a paste with the nuts.

4.  Add almond flour, cacao powder, vanilla extract and coconut oil.  Mix on medium.  (You may have to stop periodically to scrape the sides back into the middle.)

5.  Pour brownie mixture into the brownie pan and press evenly.

6.  In a separate bowl, whisk together the coconut oil, coconut milk, vanilla extract and honey.

7.  Add almond flour and mix just until all ingredients are combined.

8.  Add in chocolate chips and mix gently.

9.  Pour mixture over the brownie and spread evenly.  You can even sprinkle a few chip over the top to make it look pretty! 

10.  Place in the refrigerator for at least an hour or until the top layer is firm to the touch.

11.  Cut into squares and EAT!  Ok, but seriously don't eat the whole thing at once.  And if there is any left, keep that in a closed container in the fridge.

So because I am trying to sugar detox right now, those Enjoy Life chips just won't work for me.  But I was determined to find a way to make chocolate that I can eat.  And here's what I found on a site called "Chocolate Covered Kate."  An easy peasy recipe for home-made chocolate.  I used the Agave nectar version and it came out awesome!

Ingredients:
 1/4 cup cocoa powder
 1/4 cup coconut oil
 1 tbsp of Agave Nectar

Melt coconut oil and combine with agave nectar.  Stir, then add the cacao powder. Stir...a lot.  According to the original recipe you are supposed to stir until it gets thick, but mine never did.  So just stir until you can tell that it is all evenly mixed.  Pour into any flat container lined with parchment or plastic wrap. Freeze until solid, and store in the freezer. Once hardened, you can also store it in the fridge.  DO NOT STORE AT ROOM TEMP - it will get soft.

If you'd like to make these into chocolate chips later, you can melt it slightly in a zip lock baggie (or a chocolate bag if you are fancy - and yes, I'm fancy!)  Just melt it until mushy, not liquid.  Snip the bottom corner of the bag and dole out on a cold cookie sheet lined with parchment to make chips.
Sorry, no pic of the chips cuz they went into my brownies right away!  But it tastes super yum!

Also, if you want a sugar free version of the chocolate, you can use liquid Stevia instead, but the ratios are different: 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon cacao or cocoa powder, 4 tablespoons unrefined coconut oil (melted), vanilla stevia drops to taste (yes you get to taste it!)

You can also just make this to eat.  And feel free to play with it by adding extra flavors or textural ingredients!  It's so good!

EXTRA TIP!  If you choose to use these chips in the brownie recipe use them straight out of the freezer, and make sure you let the cookie dough part cool a little before mixing in the chips.  Since the chips are not so stable at room temp, if you aren't careful they will just melt into the cookie dough before you can even pour it onto the brownie.  (Yes, that is what happened to me the first time.)

Anyway, I hope you enjoy these recipes.  Let me know what you think!

Liar! Liar! Pants on Fire!

Ok, so I said I was going to get back on the horse with my blogging and then showed you some yummy foods that I was going to give you recipes for.  Well, LIFE strikes again.  I'm not going to go through all that has been going on, but with the end of the school year, camp starting, my own personal epiphany, and bunch of other stuff (including no air-conditioning for 5 days), I am finally attempting to make my way back to blogging.
So here is my BIG APOLOGY to those of you who are followers. 

Isn't there always some "thing" in the way?  LOL!

Ok, now let's move past that.  I am going to write this blog when I can and when I think there is something worth sharing.  I am still working on "Balancing" my time and right now a lot of it is spent with my kids.  It's summer, we go outside to play, a lot.  We work on the yard, a lot.  AND most importantly, I realized I really need to work on giving myself some "ME" time, a lot!
I tend to put a lot of thought, time and energy into all my posts here and on FB, and I really want to help people by motivating them to make healthy changes in their lives.  But I REALLY want to lead by example, and when I don't spend enough time on myself, I have a tendency to slip.
So no more slipping for me.  No more taking backwards steps.  And no more putting pressure on myself to post as often as I can.  I know this is what I need to do right now to take care of ME, so that I can be a better mom, wife, friend, and health motivator.  Cuz if you can SEE that I'm making the changes and that they are working for me, it might just give you that extra push you need to make the same kinds of healthy changes.

But don't worry, if you've been waiting for those recipes from the last post, they are coming soon...just not today.  I need to go exercise.  :)

I MISSED YOU!

I just wanted to write to all my fans and let you know that I missed you so much!  I have been really busy with Mother's Day and then my daughter's dance recital, and now the end of the school year.  It has left me with having to prioritize my time into other things, but I wanted to let you know that:

I AM BACK!

I have a lot of stories and some great recipes to share with you.  I will start posting about them tomorrow, but just to give you a preview...

Mowing the lawn

New Sandwich ideas!

 

And some yummy Mother's Day recipes:
Sweet potato fries

Veggie Burgers

And Chocolate cookie dough brownies

 

So stay tuned for all the blogging to come!  I can't wait to play catch up with you!

 

What have you been up to lately?

No Time! No Time! No Time!

So things have been super crazilicious around here lately.  I feel like I have absolutely no time to get anything done, and I have so much to get done!  In fact the last few days have felt kind of like a big blur!  Do you ever have days like that?

Lately, if I'm not online checking in with groups, or on Team Beachbody, or reading other blogs, I'm cleaning up my house (it has gotten quite messy over the last few months), working out, making food to eat later or RIGHT NOW CUZ I'M HUNGRY, taking kids to classes and concerts and open house, cleaning up dead fish and shopping for new ones, looking into getting either a hamster or guinea pig for my daughter (BIG MAYBE ON THAT - AND WE ALREADY HAVE 2 DOGS AND 2 CATS), squeezing in time to catch up with friends, and trying to plan Mother's Day lunch at my house.

Let me give you an example of what this week has been like.
Tuesday:
-Get up
-Get kids dressed
-Feed kids
-Chug water
-Eat breakfast
-Take kids to school (although my awesome husband usually does that)
-Check in on my FB groups and post on my FB page
-Workout (lately with hubby)
-Chug more water
-Eat a mid morning snack
-Check in on FB again and check Team Beachbody, all my emails, and read some blogs, and comment on some blogs,
-Walk the dogs (this is a real walk, not some sissy take them out to do their thing kind of walk)
-Chug more water
-Pick up kids from school
-Make a late lunch for me
-Have kids do their homework
-Have son take a shower (they had a school thing that night)
-Get daughter ready for tap and ballet
-Chug some water
-Take daughter to dance classes
-Come home and shower
-Get dressed and start make-up
-Chug some more water
-Go back and pick up daughter with wet hair and almost no make-up on
-Get both children dressed for their Open House/Spring Concert thing
-Blow-dry my hair and finish make-up
-Go downstairs and wait while husband comes home lets out the dogs, feeds them and locks them up, then leave for the Open House/Concert
-Find seats in the gym, and then take daughter to her classroom
-Watch daughter's class sing (and during the last song my husband takes my son to his classroom and then waits to pick up my daughter from hers)
-Watch son's class sing (oh and I videotaped all of this with my phone - my arms were very tired)
-Go pick up son in his room, say hello to the teacher, look at all the stuff there is to see in his room and take a picture of him with his teacher
-Head back down to my daughter's classroom to say hello to the teacher, look at all the stuff there is to see in her room and take a picture of her with her teacher
-Finally go home
-Take the kids up to get them ready for bed (pajamas, tooth-brushing, washing hands, and snuggles)
-Change into pajamas
-Come back downstairs and eat something and collapse on the couch!
-Enjoy some decaf green tea, a very small and healthy treat, and some TV time with my hubby
-Chug some more water
-Go to bed.

You will notice that while I was this busy, I still took time to exercise, eat regularly and drink plenty of water.  Although I left out all the times I peed.  I didn't think you needed to know each and every time that happened (but it was a lot).
And all I have to show for this are some videos on my phone and these great pictures of my kids.  :)

So this is why I haven't been blogging as much lately, but I will continue to make the effort to be here more often for those of you who like to read what I have to say...even when it's crazy!  But after Mother's day I plan on being much more consistent.  And I'll have a much cleaner house too!  LOL!

Do you have a good story about a crazy week?  Or even just a super crazy day?  I'd love to hear about it.

Shopping Therapy

So I meant to post this last Friday, but life got in the way...again.  What else is new?  LOL! 

ANYWAY...  I was having a real slump of a day last week and I just couldn't seem to get over the hump.  I woke up with a really bad headache.  One of those that is all over your head.  Bleh.  I took some meds and that seemed to help, but I was still kind of blah.  So I did my workout, I showered, I read part of a book, but nothing seemed to be helping.  I even cleaned up part of my kitchen hoping that the accomplishment would make me feel better.  Nope!

Later in the day I'd finally had it.  I had promised my daughter we would go get her new shoes after we took her brother to his class.  We went to the store, and not only did she get shoes, but she got a new wallet and a hat to boot!  Now shopping with my daughter is always fun because she is such a fashionista (and I could kind of care less)!  But once we were done with her, we wandered into the women's section and it occurred to me that maybe what I need is something to look forward to, like maybe some new workout clothes!  Oh yeah, that was totally what I needed!  Here's what I got:

I know it may seem boring to buy new workout clothes, but when you also need to get them in a smaller size, then it's extra fun!

So that was pretty much all I would have told you about if I had posted this last Friday.  But I'm happy to say there is now more to the story.  :)

This weekend I had a chance to spend time with some dear friends.  And believe it or not, we went shopping!  I don't know if you know this, but I am also pretty crafty.  I like to make a lot of my own stuff.  I don't mean clothes, but jewelry, purses, etc.  That kind of stuff.  Anyway, my friends have some projects they wanted to work on and they wanted my help.  So I went down to the city (Chicago) to visit and we ended up running over to Michael's Craft Store while I was there.  Now, this can be very dangerous for me.  Every time I go there I find more stuff that I HAVE to have.  And NO!  It can not wait.  I must have it now!  (And if you saw all the stuff I already have, you'd wonder what the heck is wrong with me. I think it's an addiction.) 
So we went to get them some extra beads and some stuff to string them on, and of course I ended up with some beads of my own, some new string, earring hooks, and a few other things to make said earrings.
We went back to their apartment and since they needed so much help I ended up not making anything!  LOL!  (Guess I didn't NEED to buy that stuff after all, huh?)  But it was still so much fun.  And I DID end up making something this morning before I posted this, and I'm really excited about it.  It's not much, but, well, you'll see in a minute.

So this week I am trying very hard to be aware of my water intake.  I mean I usually get my 64 oz. minimum, but this week I want to make sure I get MORE!  I'm holding water again and I really want to flush it out.  So this is what I made this morning as a constant reminder to keep drinking the H2O!

I plan to wear this everyday for the next week or 2.  And I am not alone in this either.  I'm having a bunch of my friends track their daily water with me.
Anyway, all I can say is that by doing some shopping therapy, and getting out my normal rut, I was able to find my mojo again and keep going.

So what do you do when you find yourself in a slump?

Milk and Cookies! Oh Yeah!

Well, I took a week off of blogging.  Oops!  It happens.  Last week was rough, so this just dropped lower on my priority list.  But I'm back and as a thanks for still being a follower I've got a sweet treat for you!  And it's all clean!  (ok, well mostly  =D  )

So I've decided that it is more economical to make my own Almond Milk since I am using it every day now.  There are a TON of different recipes out there for this, but I kind of found a few and then adjusted to my own liking.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup of plain almonds
16 oz hot water
24 oz filtered water (cold)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Directions:
Take the almonds and soak them overnight in the hot water.  You can leave them out or throw them in the fridge once the water cools.  (If you are in a serious rush, you CAN soak them for only an hour-it comes out almost the same.)  Once you are done soaking, rinse the almonds well and place in a blender with 24 oz filtered water, vanilla, and cinnamon (in reality I probably shake the cinnamon in and use about 3-4 shakes, but thought you'd like an actual measurement.)

Blend on the highest setting for about 2-3 minutes.  Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer or use a nut bag (I need to get one of these!)  Make sure to press or squeeze out all the moisture.  And "Ta-Da!"  You now have almond milk.  Just pour it into a container and store it in the refrigerator.
By the way, you can make it plain too or add any other seasonings to it when mixing to create different flavors.

Now before you throw away all that great nut pulp, here are some things you can do with it so you don't waste it!  You can toast it and use it as a topping on yogurt, you can mix it in with granola or cereal, you can dry it out and grind it up more and use it as almond flour, or you can store it in the fridge or freezer as is and use it in this next recipe...for COOKIES!

A friend of mine recently posted about finding some easy and quick to make cookies that were totally clean and healthy for you.  So of course I had to try them... I LOVE COOKIES!!!!  They really are totally easy, and they are pretty good too.

The basic recipe is:
2 ripe bananas
1 cup quick oats
(and then add anything you want, I used cinnamon, raisins, and some vanilla extract).

The second time I made these I changed it a little because I thought my first batch was a little too gooey.  So here is my revamped version of this easy cookie.  And of course this time I made them chocolate chip!

Ingredients:
2 ripe bananas
1 1/4 cups quick oats
2 tbsp. flax seeds
almond pulp (from making almond milk - it's around 1/2 cup)
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
1/2 - 1 cup Enjoy Life brand semi-sweet mini chips (depends how much chocolate you want!)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mash the bananas until they are basically like baby food.  (I just mash them up with a fork - I get a good arm workout that way - LOL!)  Add in oats, vanilla, flax seeds, and almond pulp.  Stir all ingredients together by hand until well blended.  Add in the chocolate chips (or whatever you decide to use).  Spoon mixture onto a parchment lined baking sheet (I make them about 1 1/2 inch diameter).  I usually get about 8 on each sheet.  Bake for 15-17 minutes.  Let cool on the sheet for about 1-2 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack.
Then EAT!  Just don't eat the whole batch!
I seriously have to watch how many of these I eat each day.  When someone tells you that there is a cookie out there that you can eat while staying healthy, it can be pretty hard to stop.  But I limit myself to 3 max per day (if I can!)  I also added dried cherries to part of this batch, but the plain chocolate chip ones were my favorite.  Kind of like chocolate chip banana bread...YUM!  But there is so much you can do with this recipe.  That's one of the reasons I love it.  I think next time I'm going to try them with chopped up apple.  Maybe I'll be able to control myself better that way!  LOL!

What would you put in them?

In memoriam - 26.2

 

I AM NOT A RUNNER

 

I may not be the fastest

or better than the rest

But I'm going to try my hardest

I'm going to do my best

 

For those that have been harmed

and those that have been lost

I'm putting on my shoes and running

no matter what the cost

 

I'm tying up my laces

making sure they're tight

I have no swag or shirt or colors

but I still think this is right

 

In support of those in Boston

Twenty-six point two I run

I may have to walk, or only go minutes

but I won't stop until I'm done

 

For runners are a community

who hold each other dear

They laugh and cry, rejoice and hurt

and for each other always cheer

 

So today I head out on the path

to do the best I can

because although I'm not a runner

Today I surely am.

~Erica Miller

 



Yum!!!

Well, I'm happy to say that I am doing really well with staying on track with my nutrition.  Ever since this past weekend when I cleaned all the sugar out of my system, I can honestly say that I have not even been craving anything sweet.  Even CHOCOLATE!  Ok, maybe a little, but I just use my Shake for that.  :)

I'm taking more time to cook meals for myself and my family.  I'm including more vegetables and fruits in all of our meals.  Woo HOO!  Here are some of the things I've been eating this past week.

Scrambled eggs with mixed peppers (red, yellow, green, and orange), spinach, onions and a little cheese on top!  So yum!

Caesar-style wrap!  Pre-roasted chicken, sliced.  Romaine lettuce, shredded carrots, a little mozzarella and parmesan cheese, and some light Caesar dressing all wrapped in a whole grain Flat Out wrap.  I know you don't normally add carrots to something like this, but I like them and I wanted the extra veggies!

Stir-fried veggies - broccoli, onion, shredded zucchini, and shredded carrots.  Then I added some chicken, a little whole grain pasta, ad some light soy sauce for flavor.  I don't usually shred my veggies for this, but I was starving and didn't want to wait for them to cook.  I discovered something really funny about this dish when I ate it - it tasted really sweet to me!  And there was NO sugar of any kind added.  I think my taste buds were actually tasting the natural sugars in the pasta and the carrots.  It was weird to realize this, but kind of cool too.

And this has been my Go-To snack all week.  one whole sliced apple with 2 tbsp. of all natural peanut butter with flaxseeds.  It has definitely satisfied what used to be my major sweet tooth!

I hope that some of these meals have inspired you.  I'm planning on making a ground turkey spaghetti sauce next to eat with spaghetti squash.  That will have to wait until tomorrow though.  :)

If you have any great recipes to share please feel free to post them in the comments below.  I love new recipes!

Go Outside and PLAY!

I haven't posted for a few days because I have been trying to keep myself busy and out of the house.  I've been doing this Shakeology Cleanse with my Nutrition bootcamp group for the past 3 days and it can be hard to be around other people's food when you are trying to get clean.  So I spent a lot of time outside with and without my family.
Friday I made sure to take a casual walk with the dogs and my kids after they got home from school to get out of the house.  It was 30 minutes of pure joy because my kids almost never go with me anymore!
I even let them try to walk these crazy dogs.  And I was surprised at how well it went!
Then later in the day my husband and I took the kids to the playground and chased them around on the equipment.  We had so much fun together just playing and laughing!

It was a really great distraction for me so I didn't have to think about FOOD!  Although, don't get me wrong.  Doing the cleanse is not a practice in starving yourself, but you drink a lot of shakes, a few pieces of fruit, and only have one real meal each day.

 

The first few times I've done this cleanse I used to only eat a light salad with some grilled chicken breast, but I wanted to get a little more adventurous this time around.  So I gave up on the salad and made some cooked broccoli slaw and real broccoli instead.  Cooked in a pan with a little olive oil and some onion powder, garlic powder and dried basil and I was all set to go.  And this was way better than a salad!



Now I'm down 6 more pounds and over my sugar cravings!  And I am so thankful to my friends in my nutrition group for going through this with me.  Next up on my list is to start an actual program again and stick to it all the way through.
 

This is what I'm starting today.  Power 90 with Tony Horton.  It's kind of a precursor to P90X which I don't think I'm quite ready for.

If you'd like to join me, let me know!  :)

Time Management

Well, you didn't see me yesterday due in part to time management issues.  While I was actually doing really well with my day, I didn't leave time for unexpected appointments. 

I've gotten a new tool to help me stay focused on what I have to get done, and I've tried to get realistic about what I can accomplish in one day.  I used to make a list of what had to get done and it would be 2 pages long because I would list every single thing I had to do and stay on top of doing to get my house and self exactly where I wanted them to be.  Now I am being more realistic and just trying to get done what I think I can each day.  I tried using a calendar, and I tried using a planner - one that even went hour by hour.  But I'm realizing that I am a very visual person and if I don't walk by it and see it all day long, I will forget to look at it.  So I got myself a dry-erase board at the dollar store and hung it up right where I will see it all day.

(This is actually today's list)

So far it's helping a lot.  And I was feeling really good yesterday when I realized I got everything I needed to done early in the day.  However, I got a call from my son's orthodontist office and there had been a problem with a recent impression that they took and they needed us to come in and do it again.  Unfortunately this was when I had planned on working out.  But now I had to pick up the kids, help them with homework and then go to the ortho.  By the time we got home it was time to plan and make dinner.  After that it was bedtime and then I had a webinar that I had registered to watch last night that was really loooooonnnnggggg.  So yesterday ended up being a rest day, but I'm still going to workout today.
I'm learning that I need to really plan on getting in my workouts earlier in the day, so that they can't get waylaid by the unexpected.
(If you'd like to see what I wrote for my Team Athena Blogpost you can go HERE)

When do you get your workouts in?
What do you use to help you stay on track?

Get the hell off the COUCH!

So I told you that I would be posting more and letting you know how things are going.  Well today's battle was with actually getting my ass off the couch and getting moving.  It was really hard.  It shouldn't be so hard, but I have been spending so much time lately telling myself why I have to do other things first and why I don't have time for exercise that it was really hard to overcome the negative inner dialogue.  I mean, I know I spent the last few days crazily running all over my house cleaning and such, but actually having to put on those shoes and face the fact that I have to move this body that is no longer the body it was a few months ago was not easy. 
So I gave myself a time limit.  If I didn't get all of my "excuses" done by a certain time, I was throwing on those damn shoes and at least going for a walk outside.  My dogs need it, I need it, and the Vitamin D is a BONUS.
Guess what?  I DID IT!  And I was so happy that I did it, that I took some pictures of our path and the nice scenery we get to walk through.

There was one picture that I was really sorry I missed though...and this is way of topic, but I swear every spring I get to see nature in action and I really did not need to see those 2 squirrels going about their business on the side a tree.  No thank you!  Ok, it was kind of funny, but still...

 

At least the dogs had fun!  Ok, me too.  :)

 

See you tomorrow to talk about more moving and maybe some food too.  Now I need to go shower!

 

The Plummet :(

So I haven't blogged in a few weeks.  Basically it's because I've been afraid to come here and admit that I have fallen...so far off course.  I've been blowing off my workouts and basically eating all sorts of stuff that I know I should not eat.

I have mentioned before that I suffer from depression, and that I get SAD in the late winter and early Spring.  For some reason, this year it was just really tough.  And it's been really hard for me to come to terms with it.  I mean, I'm a health and fitness coach, I'm supposed to be the one who knows what to do to get healthy.  I'm supposed to be an example of what I am teaching all the people I work with.  And I was really afraid that if I admitted to what's been going on, that my friends and clients would be disappointed in me.  But Dammit, I am a good coach, I'm just not always good at working on myself.

So this is my confession.  I have not been practicing what I preach.  But that is going to end here and now.  I am starting over from the beginning.  And as I pass each hurdle along the way, I'm going to post about them here on my blog.
The first one I managed to get control over the last few days has actually been my house.  When I fall apart, everything falls apart.  My house has been messy beyond control.  So I spent the last 2 days putting things away where they belong, catching up on laundry, and cleaning, vacuuming, dusting, and washing EVERYTHING.  And I know that a less cluttered home is going to make it easier to feel less cluttered in my head.
I am going to start a new workout program this week, and I am getting back on track with eating.  But really this is where I am for now.

And I apologize if this post seems to kind of ramble from one place to another.  Obviously I haven't cleared all the cobwebs out of my brain yet.  But I'm working on it.  So stay tuned...

St. Paddy's Fun!

Just a quicky post today!  I made something that I thought you could have fun with today!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  I hope you enjoy this challenge!

Let me know how many you had to do!  :)

On Special - March Only!!!!

Hey, I know you've heard me talk about Shakeology before.  But this month I'm offering a special deal because I really think it's worth it for you to try it.  I'm willing to give anyone who places an "HD" order of healthy, delicious awesomeness a $25 GIFT CARD.  Why would I give you back pretty much everything I make on selling it?  Because I think it's worth losing the profit to get you to try this and see what it does for your body!  I'm even willing to take a picture of myself with NO MAKE-UP on and a crazy Shakeology mustache just to get you to smile a little while you think about taking me up on my offer.
And why do I tell you to order it "HD?"  Because I also don't think you should have to pay the shipping on it.  When you order Shakeology HD you pay no shipping, and now you get a Gift Card too.  If you don't want Shakeology to show up on your doorstep the next month, just send an email to customer service and cancel the HD.  That's it!
If you want more info on Shakeology or you are ready to place your order just go HERE!
(Keep reading for more specials under the silly picture!)

 

Now, for even more special deals!  These deals come straight from Team Beachbody.  In the picture below you will see some amazing deals on Challenge packs!  What is a challenge pack?  It's a Beachbody program and Shakeology all bundled together with a reduced price just so you can save money when you buy them together.  However, this month Team Beachbody has dropped the prices on some of our BEST Packs!

Have you thought about trying the famous "P90X" or maybe you want to start with something a little less intense like "Slim in 6"  Both of these great programs are reduced, but only for this month.  What else do you get with this great deal?  This is the MOST IMPORTANT PART, so I hope you are paying attention.  You get your program, you get a bag of Shakeology, you get a Nutrition program designed to work with your workouts, you get a full-time Fitness Coach dedicated to helping you get through your program (that's ME!), and you get the support of others going through the experience with you in a group environment.  And you get access to the Team Beachbody website and all the fitness tips and support offered there too...for FREE!  Just think about how different your results can be when you have all this on your side helping you to achieve your goals.
Ready to get your Challenge Pack?  Just go HERE and then click on the Challenge Packs picture on the bottom right of the page.

I can honestly say that this has been what's made a difference for me, why not let make a difference for you too?

Holy Shoveling Batman!

This one is way late due to illness on my part and my kids.  :(  I mean who wants to post all about how they feel queasy for 3 days?!?!  Not me, but there you have it anyway.  And now that we got another 9 inches yesterday, it's still appropriate.  ;)

So last week we had a HUGE snowstorm.  I'm talking sideways-blowing, whiteout conditions here for about 4 hours!  After school activities were cancelled and even the Park District and Library closed early.  I got to school early to pick up my kids, but it still took over 20 minutes of waiting in the "parent car line" to get to my kids.  Must have been all those extra parents picking up that day.  But here's what it looked like outside from my car.

You may not be able to tell from the pictures, but the snow was coming down so fast, and the wind was blowing so hard that the snow was going sideways!

Anyway, why am I telling you all about the snowstorm?  Because it gave me a good excuse to change up my workouts!  I mean shoveling is a serious workout especially when it's the heavy stuff like this was.  You work your arms, back, abs, and even your glutes, quads and hamstrings if you do it right.  A lot of people tend to push the shovel under the snow, lift and throw it.  But if you squat before you lift you will actually protect your back from being strained, and you get a much better workout out of it.  So squat, lift, throw.  Whole body workout right there!  And yeah, I was way sore the next day from this.  But I guess 45 minutes of shoveling 5-6 inches of snow off your driveway (10 inches at the bottom after the plow comes by...) is a fantastic all-over body workout.  Should have had a recovery drink!  LOL!

So what kind of random workouts have you found yourself doing?

BIG APOLOGY!

 

I just wanted to send out a quick apology to my loyal readers!  This last week has been absolutely crazy and I haven't made time to write.  You will see that in the next few posts I will catch you up on what has been going on, but I didn't want you to think I forgot about you! 

Illnesses, snowstorms, and a whole tankful of fish stories!  And let's not forget some health and fitness! 

I will start catching you up tomorrow!  Because I will have lots of time while I am trapped in the house all day - School was cancelled due to the impending storm!  WooHOO!  Say hello to LOTS OF SNOW!

See you tomorrow!

Anyone else home in the snow tomorrow?