It gets easier with every day that passes.

It's crazy how much easier it is getting to just say no. Maybe it is because I want it so badly this time. We bought a boat today so I have something to look forward to and a swimsuit to wear. I found a great saying today and it rings so true!

Diet is the key.

As much as I hate it that's the truth. I have been working out everyday for a week and know that that definitely helps but the keys to success are what we nourious our body with. After 6 days of sacrifice I am down 15 lbs from my heaviest. Maybe it's not such a sacrifice after all since it will give me a much better time with my kids and husband. I can not give up I have to continue down this path that I have started without looking back. Eventually I know I will be able to cheat a little without consequences but as far as now it's just not worth it.

I'm not so sure that sacrifice is what I am doing when dinner looks likes these. They are both equally tasting and super easy.

Turkey Chili

Makes 12 1 cup servings

1 c onion

1 lbs ground turkey

3 cups diced tomatoes (or one 28-oz can diced tomatoes)

1 15-oz can pinto beans

1 15-oz can black beans

1 cup chicken broth

2 tbs chopped garlic

2 tbs chili powder

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp ground mustard

½ c black olives

Spray a large saucepan or Dutch oven with a few sprays of cooking oil spray. Add the onions and saute over medium-high heat until soft and just starting to brown.  Add the ground turkey; cook over med-high heat, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until cooked through, about 6 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil over high heat and then reduce the heat to simmer. Cover and let simmer for 20 minutes.

Herb Roasted Chicken

2 tbs chopped fresh basil (1 tbs dried)

2 tbs chopped fresh parsley

1 tbs chopped fresh oregano (1/2 tbs dried)

1 tsp chopped fresh or dried rosemary

2 tbs extra-virgin olive oil

¾ tsp salt

¼ tsp ground pepper

1 3-4 lbs chicken (discard giblets)

5 garlic cloves, peeled

Preheat the oven to 375. Combine the basil, parsley, oregano, rosemary, oil, salt, and pepper in a bowl.

Rinse the chicken inside and out; pat dry with paper towels. Carefully lift the skin from the chicken breast and thighs and rub the herb mixture evenly outside the chicken, under the skin, and in the cavity, breast side up. Place the garlic in the chicken cavity.

Roast the chicken, basting occasionally with the pan juices, until temp is 180. 1 ¼-1 ½ hours. Transfer chicken to a cutting board and cool for 10 minutes before carving. Remove the skin before eating.

I will continue adding delicious recipes as I go through the weeks. Have a healthy fun weekend.  

Wow, it's been a while

I feel off the bandwagon big time. Gaining all that I had lost plus an additional 20 pounds. After all the hard work last time I had promised myself I would never let myself get to that point again. Not only did I fail I failed badly. I am ready to continue this journey that I started and get to where I know I can go. It's a daily battle and I know that I have a lot of hard days ahead of me but as for now I'll take it one slow step at a time.

Confidence is Everything

Confidence is something you have as a child and somewhere it just disappears. I have recently become a real estate agent and with the dedication it takes to get there gained some of this confidence back. It's crazy how something can make all the difference in the world. I now stand tall with my head held straight. I know I have a ways to go to get to my ultimate weight again and am ready to get going on this journey once more. I found my anchor and friend who goes with me to the gym every single day. I hadn't realized how important it is to have a partner in crime but when you know someone is depending on you you don't sleep in a little longer instead you get up and get your workout clothing on and head out to enjoy your time together. The weight will come off but the confidence that I can succeed is even more important. I am so happy to have regained this state of mind once again. 

Fun days are upon me...

I have started many a post over the last week but have had so much going on that they never made it to the save or post position. 

It's crazy how much better a day can go when you have a more positive outlook on yourself and your surroundings. I am starting to find the me I was a few months ago and really am starting to love myself again. The self-doubt is a toxin that I hope to never allow in my system again. Sugar is my toxin of choice and as it exits my body I feel better physically as well as mentally. Sugar is another white drug it's legal but just as deadly. I know that I am going to extreme and not everyone should so that I just have bad reactions to it, however, the amount of sugar we Americans consume daily is scary. It's in everything and tastes so good, but is it worth all the bad that comes with it? Ask me in a month and hopefully I can say I have been sugar-free for over a month. Slip ups happen and I always get the sugar headache when they do but as long as you make the simple changes things will continue to improve. 

I have three months to reach my goals and go on my dream 40th birthday trip! Which I will follow with a family cruise in January. I'm excited to have these trips in place where I know I will look good, be healthy, as well as unbelievably happy. 

Until tomorrow, have a fantastic day and know it is not always easy but what in life worth working for is?

T-116 day one done 116 to go...

So fifty pounds is the magic number for weight-loss. I can do this. I will not quit again. I can't afford to quit again, I want my life back. I have had one heck of a headache since yesterday from not having sugar. This is when I tend to give up on the first day. The withdrawal headaches suck and they last for about a week, but I am continuing to remind myself that after it goes away I stop getting them. It so easy to go back to the norm and so hard to reintroduce the good habits. 

This week I am giving up sugar and soda. This is the top of my list of priorities for the first week. I know I can't give up everything at one time so simple (or not so simple) changes added each week. I challenge each of you to pick one thing to change this week and to build on each week. The changes will also be adding things in.

Today for breakfast I ate my egg bread with a slice of turkey bacon. Healthy yummy breakfast sandwich. 

Today I will be doing a simple cardio since my head is still pounding so much. The little changes will make big differences. A lot can happen in 90 days and I can't wait to see the results at the end of these 90 days.

Tonight's dinner:

Crockpot Lasagna

1 1/2 lbs ground beef/turkey

1 onion

1 1/2 c low sugar spaghetti sauce (less than 5g)

1 1/2 c fat-free cottage cheese

1 egg, beaten

1 c grated mozzarella cheese, divide in half

1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

Brown ground beef with onion in skillet. Add spaghetti sauce and mix with meat and onion.

Pour half of meat mixture in slow cooker. Sprayed with nonfat cooking spray.

In a small bowl, mix together the cottage cheese, egg, and Italian seasoning.

Beat we'll with fork.

Spread half of the cheese mixture.

Sprinkle 3/4 c of mozzarella over cheese mixture.

Repeat layers.

Cover and cook on low 4-4 1/2 hours.

T-117 countdown to 40th begins...

... And with it a new resolve to do better. I have turned into the old me the me I promised I would never be again. It's so easy to eat what you want and not worry about working out. Unfortunately, with this comes all the ailments of not working out. The extreme tiredness, the lack of excitement, the feelings of self-loathing, lack of self-esteem and the list can continue to go on and on. Yesterday I purchased my tickets for San Francisco for my fortieth birthday trip which means the day is in sight and it is time for me to reach the goal I had set for me this year. 

Today I am making Egg Bread to make sandwiches on. It tastes yummy and gives you the satisfaction of bread.

Egg Bread

Divide 4 eggs 

In a bowl mix 4 egg yolks, 1/4 c cottage cheese, 3 tbs Parmesan cheese

Mix together the four egg whites until foamy, mix in 1/4 tsp cream of tartar. When peaks from you will fold into yolk mixture.

Cook on cookie sheet with parchment paper or in muffin tin. Makes 6-8. I also like to make it in a loaf pan and then Cut it like bread.

Cook at 300 for 35-40 minutes.

Today I will be making egg salad sandwiches with it. I know it's a lot of egg but I don't do that often and egg salad sounds super yummy to me.

For dinner I will be making sesame chicken with quinoa.

2 boneless chicken breasts

Salt and pepper

1 tbs olive oil

3 coconut aminos

2 tbs rice wine vinegar

2 tbs honey

1 garlic clove

1 tsp cornstarch

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 c thinly sliced green onions

2 tsp sesame oil

1 tsp toasted sesame seeds

Quinoa 1 c dry quinoa 

             2 c chicken broth

Season chicken with salt and pepper

Heat oil add chicken and sauté about 4-6 minutes stirring occasionally until cooked.

While chicken is cooking whisk together aminos, rice wine vinegar, honey, garlic, ginger, and cornstarch until combined. When the chicken is cooked through, add the green onions and aminos mixture to the pan and stir immediately to coat the chicken. The sauce will thicken quickly. Stir in sesame oil, then remove from the heat and serve over the quinoa.

One of our favorites. It is so yummy!