Everyone struggles

So....I've had a black slide...again.  Prompted by not wanting to get out of bed, a new job, and laziness.
Truth. 

And I stopped posting, which doesn't keep me accountable, but also because I'm having technical difficulties.  Firefox isn't liking blogger for some reason for me lately.  So since I can't open it, I can't post, and since I have no good news, I can keep going on...right?

Wrong.  Time to get back.  

The struggle is real for everyone.  Everyone has bad days and good days.   A lot of people have bad weeks and good weeks.  It's life.  Keep working on it.  The only way to have a HEALTHY life is to keep with it.  It can't be a part time thing that you do once a year and you're good.  It's a lifestyle to try to make what you have as good as possible.   Everyday in the office I see diabetics, people with high blood pressure and people with high cholesterol.  They try to look at me like I don't understand their struggle.  I do.  I might not have as far to go, but I have as much on the line.  That's where I'll be if I don't keep with it.  We all have to start somewhere, but you have to START!

So, my measurements today:
Weight- 173 pounds (+5 pounds)
Waist- 36.5 inches (+1.5 inches)
Hips- 42.75 inches (+2.25 inches)
Chest- 38.75 inches (+2.25 inches)
Thigh- 22.75 inches (+1.75 inches)

Yuck.

On to happier things... a few recipes.  Advocare approved (or modifiable)
So the first think is simple.  I tried fried potatoes for breakfast but with sweet potatoes. 
Same recipe you'd use for white potatoes... canola oil, sliced onions and sliced potatoes, cooked until done.
It was good...but actually didn't pair well with over easy eggs.  It was good with toast, but not advocare friendly.  Not the best sweet potato substitution. 

Next is Ella's version of a protein bite.  She mixed raisins, oatmeal, and peanut butter.  She then rolled in ovaltine.  Rolling in the chocolate powder was something I never did, but I could probably do with the meal replacement.  You can add whatever you want- chia, flax seed, coconut flakes, dried cranberries or other dried fruit.  You can substitute sunbutter or almond butter.  Almost endless options.

Back to it.  Till next time!

Breaded Fruity Baked Chicken, Sweet potato chips and continued weight loss

Recipes:

Breaded Fruity Baked Chicken

I took chicken breasts and cut them thin

I then breaded them with corn flakes and a touch of allspice. 

I pan fried them for a few minutes on each side to brown them.

Next, I placed them in a baking dish and put some diced peaches and mangos (I left a little juice with them) on top.

I baked this for about 30 minutes and it was AWESOME!

Yum...moist, tender, sweet chicken breasts!

Nutrition Facts
Servings 6.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 183
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 2 g	4 %
Saturated Fat 1 g	6 %
Monounsaturated Fat 0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 56 mg	19 %
Sodium 322 mg	13 %
Potassium 340 mg	10 %
Total Carbohydrate 16 g	5 %
Dietary Fiber 1 g	3 %
Sugars 11 g
Protein 25 g	49 %
Vitamin A	5 %
Vitamin C	67 %
Calcium	1 %
Iron	9 %
* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA.

Sweet Potato Chips
For our evening snack, we did sweet potato chips!
I sliced the sweet potatoes very thin- I used my mandolin.
You can either bake at 375 for around 20-30 minutes-  this is more labor intensive because you have to watch carefully and turn half way through.  They burn easily and you have to watch carefully.  You coat in a little coconut or similar oil before putting on the baking sheet.
You can fry them in oil- easier to cook evenly and not burn- not as healthier as we're talking about frying.  This is what I did!
After out of oil I did a touch of sea salt and then ate them like I've never ate anything before!  They were so yummy!

Weight loss results:

I'm still watching my diet and exercising daily!  I'm still looking for results!  

My daily supplement regimen includes:  1 Thermoplus, 3 Catalyst and 1 Probiotic 30 minutes before breakfast.  I will also do an occassional fiber drink.

Here's my last weigh in (2/13/15)

Weight- 168 pounds (-2 pounds)

Waist- 35 inches (no change)

Hips- 40.5 inches (-1 inch)

Chest- 36.5 inches (- 0.5 inches)

Thigh- 21 inches (no change)

24 day results and Oatmeal Protein Muffins

The Advocare All-In Challenge is complete and our results are in!

Weight: 170 lbs (-1 pound from last weight in, -7 lbs total for challenge)
Waist- 35 inches (no change from last measurement, - 2 inches for challenge)
Hips- 41.5 inches (no change from last measurement, - 1.25 inches for challenge)
Chest- 37 inches (-1 inch from last measurement, -1.5 inches for challenge)
Thigh- 21 inches (no change from last measurement, - 1.5 inches for challenge)

That's a grand total of 7 POUNDS DOWN and 6.25 INCHES OFF!

Sounds Great to me!  And Looks great too!

Jan 2, 2015

Jan 30, 2015

Jan 2, 2015

Jan 30, 2015

Jan 2, 2015

Jan 30, 2015

I'm happy!  And this is just the start!  I'll be doing a posting on my continued work, workout and maintenance products!

Recipe: Oatmeal Protein Muffins

This is a muffin recipe from Pinterest that I changed up based on what I had on my pantry!

• 2 cups of unsweetened applesauce or 4 very ripe bananas smashed (I used applesauce)

• 1 tablespoon of cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon of sea salt

• 3/4 cup of natural peanut butter or almond butter

• 1 chocolate meal replacement shake or 3 scoops of chocolate muscle gain (I used 1 scoop of my husband's vanilla protein powder and a tablespoon of chocolate ovaltine)

• 1/2 cup of chopped pecans (I had walnuts in the pantry)

• 1/2 cup of dried cranberries (I only had a little, so I used raisins too)

• 3 cups of rolled oats

• 2 table spoons of melted coconut oil (I used corn oil since it's what I had)

• 1 tablespoon of ground flax seed (optional, makes them a little bitter)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In large bowl mix: applesauce or smashed bananas, cinnamon, sea salt, nut butter, chocolate meal replacement shake or muscle gain.

Once all mixed fold in: chopped pecans, cranberries, rolled oats, melted coconut oil, flax seed flour.

Place mixture in muffin tin and bake for 30-35min or until golden brown. Let cool and serve! I keep mine in the refrigerator after I bake them.

Very yummy and full of protein! NOT ALLERGY FRIENDLY. Sorry kiddo. :)

NEW INFO!!! I was asked to try to find the calories/fat/carbs etc per serving. I put the recipe in as directed on the website (not what I had laying around) and here's what it spit out! This is if you make 48 muffins from the recipe- which are small. :)

Nutrition Facts
Servings 48.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 60
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 4 g	7 %
Saturated Fat 1 g	5 %
Monounsaturated Fat 0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 1 mg	0 %
Sodium 24 mg	1 %
Potassium 24 mg	1 %
Total Carbohydrate 6 g	2 %
Dietary Fiber 1 g	4 %
Sugars 2 g
Protein 2 g	4 %
Vitamin A	0 %
Vitamin C	0 %
Calcium	2 %
Iron	2 %
* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA.

Until next time....be healthy!

Update and Cauliflower Tortilla/pizza crust

Coming down to the end of the 24 day challenge!  Coming up quick!

Here's my numbers....
Weight- 171 lbs (-1 pound)
Waist- 35 inches (-0.5 inches)
Hips- 41.5 inches (-0.5 inches)
Chest- 38 inches (+0.5 inches)
Thigh- 21 inches (-1.5 inches!)

Jan 2, 2015

Jan 10, 2015

Jan 16, 2015

Jan 24, 2015

I'm seeing results and happy with it.  I'm down over 6 pounds since the first of the year, and down 15 pounds from my heaviest this fall!

Recipe: Cauliflower Tortillas

This is from a fellow Advocare Challenger's facebook site.

Rice 2/3 head of cauliflower and microwave for 2 minutes.  Stir and microwave another 2 minutes.

Carefully (because it's crazy hot) squeeze all the liquid out of the cauliflower. 

Then add salt and pepper to taste and 2 eggs.  

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  On parchment paper make tortillas.

Bake for 10 minutes, then carefully flip over and bake an additional 10 minutes.

Cool on rack. 

This batch didn't turn out well because I tried to make it thinner than last time.  Instead it fell apart, so thicker is better. 

We made little pizzas with this- put on pizza sauce, veggies and meat and a little cheese (except for Eli for allergies)

Here's the "tortilla"- as I said a different batch turned out better but I didn't think about pictures. 

Day 10 results! And Cauliflower Salad Recipe!

So my post is a few days late, but my picture and numbers are from day 10 of the Advocare 24 Day All-In Challenge!

Weight- 172 pounds (-2 pounds)
Waist- 35.5 inches (-1.5 inches!)
Hips- 42 inches (no change)
Chest- 37.5 inches (-0.5 inches)
Thigh- 22.5 inches (+ 0.5 inches)

January 2, 2015

January 10, 2015

January 16, 2015

I see a big difference and I can feel it in my clothes too!  I still have half of the challenge to go and more pounds to loose!  Since January 1st I'm down 5 pounds with hard work and Advocare!

Recipe: Cauliflower Salad

How do you make potato salad a little healthier?  Well I did sweet potatoes once and that was yummy!  But you can also do Cauliflower and Broccoli instead of potatoes!  It was a hit in our house!

I cut up a bunch of cauliflower and a little broccoli.  I steamed and set aside.

I added boiled eggs, Marzetti Slaw dressing, Mayo, pickles and mustard like every other "salad" I do. 

Viola!  Cauliflower Salad

Advocare Meal Replacement Cake!

Okay, so you're on day 8 or 9 and doing well, but you get a chocolate craving!  What do you do?

You Bake a Cake!

A recipe from Pinterest.  Mix one meal replacement shake, 1/4 cup of water and put into a greased mug.  Pop in the microwave for a minute and a half.  Tada!

Now it wasn't my complete favorite because it's mocha, but it was pretty scrumptious when I smeared a tad of PB on top while it was warm.  

Yum.  You're welcome.  :)

Egg "muffins"

So we tried a new recipe for the challenge for breakfasts for all of us!  Super easy and can be changed easily for those with allergies (except against eggs).

Egg Muffins!

 

You put all the ingredients you would normally put in an omelet and put it in the bottom of greased muffin tins.

  

You mix up eggs and pour over to fill the tins up.

Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Tada!  Breakfast!

We put in green peppers, onions, spinach, broccoli, mushrooms and turkey sausage.  

We refrigerated these and just popped in the microwave for about 30 seconds in the morning when we were ready to eat.  

Pictures and Collard Greens Recipe!

Two posts in two days!  Crazy for me.  But I promised yesterday and I retrieved my phone from my minecraft obsessed child.

First is the before and after pictures so far.  The first was on January 2rd and the second on January 10th.  I have exercised a minimum of daily every day and 4 times I have done Tabata/strengthening as part of the routine.  I am spreading out the Tabata so I let my muscles that I'm trying to build rest, but I still at least walk or jog between strengthening.

Jan 2, 2015

Jan 10 2015

As per my measurements I listed yesterday, bust line is smaller, hips are smaller, waist is about the same but love handles aren't as bad.  :)  

For those who think you can't run, I need to let you know that I couldn't either the first time I went to loose weight.  But the pounds start coming off, you get more energy and all the sudden (at least for me) one day you try and you can run a block or a minute.  That's when the junkie in you kicks in and you start pushing yourself!  You don't think it will happen, but it will.   You might never be a marathon runner or be able to do it daily, but you'll run one block and the next day wonder if you can do two...then three....then a half mile...then a mile...then a 5K.   I know several people people that it's been just like that!  Start with walking, then walk faster and longer and you'll see a huge difference.  

Dinner last night was a collard greens recipe.  I was not raised with any kind of Southern types of foods so I've never had these before!  I got some fresh, local produce from a patient and collard greens were included.  I guess it was time to learn.  I pulled a crockpot recipe off the internet (honestly, I googled something and don't remember where) and I kind of threw things together based on their ingredients.  So here it goes. 

*This recipe is Allergy and Advocare Friendly*

I put some turkey smoked sausage cut up in a crockpot.

I cleaned and tore up the greens into large bite sized pieces.

I put onions and garlic in a skillet with a little EVOO and let it soften.   I then added some chicken stock and let it boil. 

Then a little at a time I added the greens to let them start wilting (the recipe said that they wouldn't fit in the crockpot non wilted, but I bet it would have at least for our family of 4)

After they were all wet and wilted in the boiling stock/onion/garlic I turned off the heat and added some red wine vinegar (it said apple cider but I didn't have any), sugar and red pepper flakes (it said to use cayenne pepper, once again I didn't have any!).  I also added some salt and pepper.  

Throw that in the crock pot and turn on low.  The recipe said 5-6 hours on low, but it was ready in less than 4 and I turned it to warm so it didn't dry out.  

TADA!  My first collard greens made!

I served with mashed potatoes for the hubby and daughter (not allergy friendly because it was boxed) and fried potatoes for me and my boy (Allergy friendly and mostly Advocare friendly *I try to avoid white starches because they don't help with as good of weight loss results, but I didn't have many calories all day yesterday*)

It was pretty yummy!  The flavor was better than cooked spinach to me, which I don't care for!  We saved calories and fat by doing turkey sausage instead of a pork product (the recipe calls for ham or bacon).

All-In with Advocare! Chicken Nuggets!

Here I am, ALL-IN and killing it!

Day 4 of 24 day challenge and I have my (kind of) weekly stats!

Weight- 174 pounds (-3 lbs!)

Waist- 37 inches (no change)

Hips- 42 inches (-0.25 inches)

Chest- 38 inches (-0.5 inches!)

Thigh- 22 inches (-0.5 inches!)

Wow!  If you look back I've been on a downward trend but occasionally floating up in some measurements!  Now don't think I'm saying the challenge is an easy out, it's not!   I've been following the diet to a T (except a slice of bread yesterday) and working out to burn a minimum of 300 calories a day (running, jogging, walking and Tabata strengthening)

Getting healthy isn't for wimps!

I have before and after pictures too, but my child is hogging my phone, so I'll put them up tomorrow to see if there's a visible side by side difference.   I'm also making a super healthy collard greens dinner tonight so I'll put that recipe up tomorrow. 

Today I have a recipe that's allergy friendly/kid friendly and can be Advocare friendly.  It's super simple but some people don't think about how easy it is to make some things that people by processed to "save time"!  It's the same cooking time but I know exactly what my kids and I are eating!  

Take chicken breasts.   Cut them up.  Bread or season however you want (put seasoning in a plastic bag, add some chicken pieces and shake).  Bake at 350 degrees until done.  

That's it.  Done.  The End.  

I'm having chicken seasoned with curry, while the kids are coated in corn flakes (allergy friendly).  We dip 'em, eat 'em and love 'em!

Breaded chicken nugget

Curry Chicken Nugget

That's it for today!  See you later!