Saturday, January 31, 2015

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
  • 1/2 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 g7 %
Saturated Fat 1 g5 %
Monounsaturated Fat 0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 1 mg0 %
Sodium 24 mg1 %
Potassium 24 mg1 %
Total Carbohydrate 6 g2 %
Dietary Fiber 1 g4 %
Sugars 2 g
Protein 2 g4 %
Vitamin A0 %
Vitamin C0 %
Calcium2 %
Iron2 %
* 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!

Saturday, January 24, 2015

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. 



Sunday, January 18, 2015

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


Thursday, January 15, 2015

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.  :)

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

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.  

Sunday, January 11, 2015

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).

Saturday, January 10, 2015

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!

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

All in Starts Tomorrow! Fight Flushing Soup!

My 24 day challenge is here!  It's time to go "All In!"  Starts Wednesday January 7th Nationwide!  

Success Tip:One tip I shared on Facebook is to wear the armband if you aren't used to wearing arm bands or bracelets to wear it as much as possible.  It's kind of annoying and drives me crazy, but reminds me not to give in to cravings and give up on exercise!

Advocare Friendly Recipe! (Also Allergy Friendly)
Fat Flushing Soup, retrieved from Pinterest/skinnyms blog

Yields: 8 servings | Serving Size: 1 cup | Calories: 137 | Previous Points: 1 | Points Plus: 2 | Total Fat: 1 g | Saturated Fat: 0 g | Trans Fat: 0 g | Cholesterol: 0 mg | Sodium: 75 mg | Carbohydrates: 28 g | Dietary Fiber: 8 g | Sugars: 7 g | Protein: 8 g
Ingredients
  • 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1" cubes (optional, 1 medium zucchini sliced into 1" round pieces)
  • 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 1 stalk celery, diced
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • Kosher or sea salt to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon allspice
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained (optional, the beans are for added protein)
  • 2 cups vegetable broth, low-sodium
  • 1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes (no salt added)
  • 4 cups baby spinach, loosely packed

Directions
Add all ingredients, except spinach, to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low 6 to 8 hours, or until the vegetables are tender. Add spinach, stir and continue cooking just until wilted, approximately 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Tip: If you prefer a thicker stew, after 5 hours of cooking, simply remove 1 cup of soup, along with ingredients, mash ingredients with a fork, return to the slow cooker, stir and continue cooking 1 to 3 hours.
Stovetop Method: Follow the same instructions above for prep, cover, and simmer until veggies are tender, approximately 2 hour. Stir every 15 minutes to prevent sticking. Add spinach at the end of cooking time, remove from heat, cover and allow spinach to wilt before serving.

I forgot to take a picture right after cooking, so this is after refrigeration!  It's a good soup with hearty veggies and protein!  Eli loves it and I liked it to!  I'm a huge fan on soups during Advocare Product use because it's easy to get a tasty, variety of veggies in so I'm always looking for good soup recipes!

Friday, January 2, 2015

All In for the New Year!



My last post was about the Advocare All-In Challenge!  I have heard that for those who want the challenge you can still get the shaker bottle and wristband as supplies last, just no free shipping now.
Order here!  http://www.advocare.com/130346245!   Nationwide challenge starts January 7th!  Myself and a friend are doing it together!

My latest and greatest- I didn't quite meet my goal at my last doctor's appointment to be down 10 lbs, but I was down 7 lbs so that's pretty great!
My current numbers are:
Weight- 177 pounds (+1 lb)
Waist- 37 inches (-0.5 inches)
Chest- 38.5 inches (+0.5 inches)

Mostly maintaining...which is okay.  But now it's time to bust a move!   January 7th I start the 24 day challenge from Advocare!   This is a 24 day nationwide challenge!  I also have a plan for a healthy maintenance of supplements that I will share when I get there!

I plan on sharing recipes at least weekly that are Advocare friendly and also Allergy friendly!  Lots of fruits and veggies and soups (because I love soups!)

My exercise plan, which has been evolving but getting better will including walking/jogging every day for at least 30 minutes.  I will then add strengthening Tabata at least 4 times a week.  This is new for me.  I have been able to exercise 20-30 minutes every morning, and another 20-30 minutes at night.  When I stick to this routine I do my best at sticking to it!  And I strongly feel if I keep up my exercise I do better at eating healthy too!
Meal planning is on, exercise routine is started, and Advocare products have been shipped!  I'm ready to get the last 20 lbs off!  It will happen!

https://www.advocare.com/130346245/default.aspx