Healthy cooking doesn't have to be painful

Progress!

Today I joined Live Healthy Iowa with my co-workers. We are doing a 10 week fitness challenge to be more active.

I have already lost 2 pounds so that's good!  A huge part of getting healthy and reaching your fitness goals is eating right.  It sounds so elementary, but I underestimated this a lot. Like I said earlier, I never really had to worry about it,  but now I find myself checking labels and trying to substitute things in my head. (ie: instead of eating a chocolate bar I opt for apples and peanut butter). Slowly but surely 

I also tapped into the beauty of Pinterest.  Unlike many women, I never really got into it..but I sure did today.  Thanks to Pinterest I got a simple and quick supper recipe.

Melt in your mouth chicken. 

Instead of using a really fatty sauce base like alfredo sauce, or sour cream, I used Chobani Plain Greek Yogurt.  1 cup = 140 Calories only!

I mixed in some seasonings together to form a paste 

and slapped it on the chicken. Literally -Slapped it on -

This goopy looking mess ended up turning out like this..

TA DA!

The whole thing took less then an hour. Standing time - less then 30 minutes. 

Healthy, quick, colorful, light, tasty and easy!

Here's the recipe!

The strength of my heart

God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. -Psalm 73:26

Being the daughter of a pastor doesn't give you much choice when it comes to going to church on Sundays. Every single Sunday was spent in a church pew. I can admit that sometimes I didn't want to go at all and tried to think of excuses, "I'm sick, I'm tired, I have to practice for my piano recital", but nothing worked. I remember even on prom weekend after getting 2 hours of sleep, low and behold, my parents made sure I was in that pew at 10:30 a.m.

I questioned whether my parents were doing the right thing during those days, because I felt like I wasn't getting much out of it when I wasn't in the mood to be there... but I couldn't thank them enough. It has definitely paid off and made me the woman I am today.

As I continue to grow in age, I am growing spiritually and feel off if I don't go to church on Sundays. It is a place where I am renewed and encouraged. I am reminded of how much God loves me and I am strengthened.

To continue to serve others and be the best I can be I know that I need God. Without God I am nothing.  Time and time again when I am tired and don't know if I could volunteer one more hour, or sit and talk to one more person, or put a smile on, I am reminded that I am called to do it.

I may not want to do it, but I have to do it and am ALWAYS renewed when I do.  What some people may call 'forcing' your children or even 'forcing' yourself...leads to good. It leads to renewal...it leads to good health.

Being spiritually healthy leads to a deep sense of happiness that I can't get anywhere else. And this year I want to continue to grow in my walk with Jesus and serve others.

DAY 2

And the journey to a healthier and happier lifestyle continues...

Yesterday I cooked a healthy meal consisting of chicken sandwich on a foccacia roll and mixed veggies.  It was pretty easy. I got the chicken from Martin Brothers for 15.99, but there's so much in there and I can season it however I please. Buying in bulk is the good way to go! (I will put up pictures next time, promise)

Everyone who knows me knows my love for soda. I used to drink up to 4 a day! Can you believe that? So, this getting rid of it is killing me..but then I realized, I don't have to if I don't want to. So instead of opening up a whole can of pop..I took a couple sips from my friends and it was all I needed. Craving curbed (check)

Then it got interesting...

As I said earlier, I do not want to join a gym.  Now, I will be using the weight room at my workplace, but I am not paying for classes or to run a treadmill. So I busted out my tablet and got onto
Body Rock TV.  It was 12 minutes of grueling exercise, but I felt the burn alright. I love how I can do it in my own home and they yell at me and tell me what to do. That's what works best for me.

I did it one hour after eating (which probably wasn't a good decision) as I was feeling nauseous afterwards. But my legs felt like jelly and I was sweating, great!

Completely enthralled by the amazing resources online I got to searching and decided to do something new.

Never ever have I... done yoga. So I did it!

I did a beginners yoga class on YouTube geared towards weight loss..and maybe I should of gone for the beginners class for beginners. I did what I could, but ended up falling on my butt and laughing hysterically.

I finished my night laying on the floor doing some guided meditation and put on some Ravi Shankar and traditional Japanese music. Coupled with breathing exercises my brain was in its happy place.  I turned the lights down and just let all my muscles relax and mind go (but not wander).  After I was done I felt at peace and relaxed.

TODAY...

I seem to be getting into an eating routine. Protein shake in the morning (which has kept me pretty full), had a lean cuisine pizza thingy for lunch, I am going to eat my multi-vitamins, light snack midday and light dinner tonight. Getting some ideas from http://whatsgabycooking.com/ .  I am feeling good as I work towards progress. I am loving how much money I am saving too!

My mindset is shifting from, ahh I hate this to...I deserve to be healthy and feel good, mind, body and soul. I deserve to be the best woman I can be. So do you. Stay tuned for more

Just got a neat present from Harpreet

Opti-Women Multivitamins

Here's to good health!

Watchout 2013

A change in direction

So....

I did some more thinking and tweaked my 2013 plan a little bit. Instead of pushing myself to try something new twice a week (intentionally) I am aiming a bit higher. I am going to push myself , mind, body and soul, to get healthier and happier.

• I am hoping to lose weight and eat healthier
• Dig deeper into my Christian faith 
• Serve more
• Deepen my relationships with my friends and family
• Save more money
• Become a budget friendly fashionista
• Try new things! 

How's it been going? Pretty well, without thinking TOO hard. 

Life is this interesting balancing act and if you focus too much on one thing or too many things it gets all jumbled. So, I am doing what makes me happy, when I want and how I want...within reason and with goals in mind.

THE HEALTH KICK

I have NEVER been good at exercising, why? Because I really haven't seen the need. I have always been a good size and never put on weight, but I was looking at some pictures and I was not too pleased. I have to admit, self-esteem issues have never really been an issue..its just when you see your dress size going up you have to act on it.

My health goal:

• Lose 10-15 pounds
• Eat better
• Sustain the lifestyle

My action steps:

• Getting rid of my gym membership. Sounds crazy right? I am debating whether I am making the right decision, but ONE- I'm cheap, TWO- I'm cheap, and THREE- I'm trying to be creative
• Working with my employers to help me out. - I spend 80% of my day at work, sitting at a desk and I commute 50 miles each way. The last thing I want to do when I get home is go out in the cold and go to the gym, but we have one at work! So, I asked if I could use it and they have said yes. 
• Looking up some products to help me. I have scoured the internet, looking at diet plans, programs and health products just to find myself confused and exhausted. I talked to some friends and have decided to try Lifesource Vitamin's meal replacement. We'll see how it goes.

I have so much more to tell you, but I have all year to do it. Exciting things are in the making! 

Just jotting down some ideas

2013 is right around the corner and I've been doing some serious brainstorming. So I came up with a list of some things I haven't done (ie: wear crocs in public, watch Forest Gump, milk a cow etc..)

Here's what I came up with: