COFFEE!

Coffee has health benefits.   Yup.  I don't really care what they are.  I just know it is delicious and thank goodness there is something delicious that is GOOD for you!

It gives me energy in the morning and at night I can have a yummy tasting decaf that FEELS like a desert.  Try a flavored version like chocolate macadamia nut!!!

Ok, so some of you like REAL info.  Its loaded LOADED with antioxidants!  It makes you smarter!  It burns fat!  (Seriously, with how much coffee I drink, why am I not a toothpick by now?!?)  It reduces your risk of type 2 diabetes!

Don't believe me?  Check the info HERE YOU COFFEE HATING FREAK!

 

LETS DO THIS!

 

Oof! Its Friday Folks!

So, I've been dealing with a lot of personal issues, Journal.  8)

I cleaned and organized my son's whole bedroom and made him a new chart that allows him to do chores to earn money and adopted a new, less stressful paeenting style.  It has lowered my stress level and my son seems to be responding well to it.  I think he has been struggling with his mom being more active aka away from him and doing her own thing.  Also, it has been an adjustment for him to adapt to the new healthier eating we have been doing.  

So, hopefully,  the new schedule and age appropriate incentives will help everyone adjust.

When you get healthy in one area of your life, you get motivated to be healthy in other ways!

So, I have been busy.   I have been eating well, but neglecting my work outs.

But I am back!!!  Its a friday, and I am bustin my hump!

Week Two - Goodbye to You!

So, I did my weigh in today.   I was a little disappointed as I have only lost one pound this week.   I am now 189. 

I am happy to be in the 190s, but was hoping for a little more than one pound.

I am reminding myself that my GOAL is 1 to 2 lbs a week, and even if it comes off slow, it IS coming off.

I will persevere!!! 

More to come later.  8)

Mud Run! Get Diiiirty!

The name Mud Run is deceptive.  Many people mud walk.   Or mud amble.  At least in the mud runs I have done!  Choose FUN runs to start with.  My first was Foam Fest 2013. 

Mud/Fun runs are awesome because they motivate you to work out BEFORE the run, and they provide a fun nurturing atmosphere where people will laugh WITH you if you struggle, instead of at you. 

Its ok to finish last, just finish.  It will be challenging.   It will test your will power.  But uts a GREAT workout out and blood and sweat aside, not a bad way to spend a day!

Some mud runs allow kids and costumes!

And when your fitness level increases, you can enter the realm of SERIOUS mus racing with timed mud runs and more challenging courses that will test the mettle of even the most seasoned athlete.

Find one in YOUR area NOW!

Dinner Frenzy!

Cookin' like a mad woman!  If you find you don't have time to cook elaborate dinners all week, cook ahead!  I went on a spree not because of future time constraints but honestly...because I was too lazy to separate and freeze the ground turkey I bought.   So...I just used it!

In the front right pot I browned the turkey with salt and pepper, shredded carrot and zucchini with onions for a slow cooking tomato sauce I will use for eggplant parmesean later in the week.  After I cooked and divided the meat mix, I added mushrooms, garlic salt, italian seasoning, basil, a can of diced tomatoes and a can of tomato sauce and covered it to simmer for an hour on low.

In the back left pot I have garlic, more onion, a couple of cans of diced tomato, a can of white and dark kidney beans drained and rinsed and chili powder to which I added the meat mixture and simmered for an hour.

In the back right skillet I have the juice from two limes, a couple of spoon fulls of diced tomatoes, garlic and finely chopped jalapenos.  I added the meat mix and cooked it until browned.  This will be meat mix for burritos later.   I also browned turkey bacon in a pot then added two drained rinsed cans of black beans and a few tablespoons of milk and shredded cheddar cheese, cooked them and mashed them with a potato masher for the same meal. 

In the front right I have Quinoa that I cooked in chicken stock with a can of diced tomatoes in juice.  I added a little diced jalapeno, meat mix, a squeeze of lime and this was the mix I used to stuff my bell peppers.   I halved and seeded the peppers then blanched them for a minute or two in hot water, then stuffed them.   I topped it with a bit of the slow cooking spaghetti sauce and cheese then baked them at 400 for about 20 minutes.

4 Dinners in about an hour.  Now, I can relax!

Ginger is Grate!

Ginger is amazing! 

Nooo, not you!  I'm sure you are wonderful and all and I just want to pinch those freckled cheeks right off of you, but NO.

Again, adorable, but NO!

Yes!!! That's the stuff!  Ginger has long been loved for its medicinal qualities, but did you know it is also delicious?  I use grated ginger in muffins and baked goods, soups, meat marinades, teas, stir frys...

It adds amazing flavor with virtually no calories!  If you need a BETTER reason to try ginger, it has been said that it stimulates everything from metabolism to sexual prowess.  More notably, it is a powerful antioxidant and makes your guts happy.  It has anti nausea and anti inflamatory powers and protects againt butt cancer!  Seriously.  Who wants butt cancer?  

Read more about Ginger here.

The other thing I love about Ginger is how cheap and easy it is to keep fresh ginger on hand (although powdered is great too).

Buy ginger fresh in the produce section, peel it and keep it in a freezer bag in the freezer.  It will stay good virtually forever and grates SUPER easy when it is frozen.  I use a standard box grater to grate mine.

Ginger.  Not just my sister anymore. 

Ginger Carrot Banana Walnut Whole Wheat Muffins

You are GOING to eat sweet treats sometimes.  And, if you are me, you are going to bake.  Because you love to.   So, might as well bake these!  

These tasty temptations are whole wheat, so they contain complex carbs instead of simple refined carbs (meaning the carbs are absorbed more slowly, minimizing blood sugar spikes which contribute to insulin resistance).  I DO currently use white sugar but will soon be experimenting with NATURAL sugar substitutes.  You can use Splenda if you believe in it.   Cancer scares me, so I no longer use it.

These are also a great way to trick your kids into eating fruits AND vegetables AND whole grains all in one evilly good concoction.   Buahaha, buahaha.

I have used 3 ripe bananas to replace most of the oil and sugar in the original recipe.  You could go even further and substitute some egg substitute for one or two of the whole eggs.

Carrot Ginger Banana Nut Muffins

Ingredients:
3 carrots, grated
1 c of nuts, chopped
1 tbsp ground ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp of salt
2 cups of whole wheat flour
3 eggs
1/2 cups of sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 c vegetable oil
lemon zest
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp grated fresh ginger
Any combo of spices you enjoy.  I add some pumpkin pie spice and allspice.
3 ripe bananas, mashed

Preheat oven to 350.

Crack three eggs, add vanilla, lemon zest, grated fresh ginger and vegetable oil. Whisk, and set aside.

For the dry ingredients: Add flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, anything else you like and ground ginger. Mix.

Mash 3 ripe bananas and add them to the wet mix.

Grate 3 carrots and mix the dry, wet, and carrot mixture in one large bowl.

Chop about a cup of pecans (or almonds, or walnuts). Add to muffin batter.

Spray non stick cooking spray onto your muffin tin or use muffin tin liners (I prefer using liners) and bake those little monkeys!

Stick a toothpick into the middle of the muffins about 25 minutes into baking them. If the toothpick comes out clean, they are donesville. If not, leave em in for five more minutes.

YES - I mainly made these to show off my new oddly alien-erotic Kitchenaid stand mixer.  I am in absolute lovelust with this powerful piece of kitchen equipment.  Like a thrumming mechanical dolphin, I cannot stop stroking its sleek head...

I will stop now, because I am making you vaguely uncomfortable.  Talking about it I mean.  The stroking I cannot stop.