Tex-Mex Chicken Salad

And again, with the Tex-Mex food. We clearly have an addiction to it.

I found this recipe at Weight Watchers. I did change my version. I never use fat free/reduced fat anything. They seem appealing but they only add in more stuff (typically sugar or sodium) to make the stuff taste decent enough to eat. Just don’t do it, use the real stuff. The original also never mentions exactly how you should eat it. A typical chicken salad you eat on bread. This Tex-Mex chicken salad (which we’ve had twice) is best on a bed of lettuce or salad mix.

Kids loved it, husband loved it and my parents loved it. My brother was on the fence even though he had two helpings. I’ll say it’s a winner.

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100 by 100 Challenge

What’s 100 by 100 Challenge? Well, its very simple. Michelle over at Life on the Horizon is hosting this personal challenge to walk, jog, swim, cycling 100 miles in 100 days.

This will be the 3rd challenge Michelle has facilitated. With each challenge, she has learned more about herself but also about helping and motivating others. The main thing she has learned through these challenges: Just because you don’t meet a goal DOES NOT mean you have failed! She has yet to meet the 100 miles in 100 days, but has become stronger mentally and physically with each one. Michelle has also met some incredible individuals with amazing stories and is so blessed and humbled by their determination!

And y’all, another cool thing about Michelle? She’s a Texas girl!

Why am I posting about this challenge? Well, it’s simple. I’m participating in this challenge and it starts today, May 1. I’ll be walking/jogging/running for this challenge in addition to all the gym time I’ve been putting in. Remember that 50 Days of Fitness challenge we had back in the day? Yeah, I’m still working on it. Maybe I’ll be nice and update my picture because apparently I look much different now according to a lot of people. I love running even though I’m not the greatest at it. I always get some teasing at Pinterest Parties or last year at Haven Conference when I’ve taken the time to go for a run or workout. (And for Haven this year, I’ve already looked online at the gym facilities in the gym. It’s an addiction.)

If you like to walk/jog/run/swim/cycle, you should consider joining in the challenge here. It’s just something to help be encouraged and encourage others.

Taco Turkey Casserole {recipe}

When Heather and I discuss recipe on blogs, we often mention our thoughts on the pictures of the food. People, if the food doesn’t look appetizing, don’t capture it on film, er … Camera Roll/Photo Stream. There are foods that look awesome in pictures. Burgers? Yep. Cupcakes or cakes? Yes sir. Casseroles? OH hell no. They are NEVER pretty. Ever. Just don’t worry about the picture of them.

With that established, there is no picture of this Taco Turkey Casserole but Megan at Honey We’re Home has a picture. It’s a pretty decent picture. I’ve taken her recipe and stepped it up a notch. It’s a simple recipe with 4 ingredients, but my version has 2 more to mix in.

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We clearly like our Mexican food here in Texas. We’ve got a Walking Taco Casserole, Taco Soup, Taco Salad, and Beef Taco Penne Pasta Kickasserole. After reading that list, we clearly need to branch out on the food we eat.

PS. on the kid scale – One had seconds and would have had thirds if he hadn’t been drawn in by M&Ms, another cleaned his plate and I’m just thankful that Savannah eats a meal instead of drinking her way through life these days.

Mediterranean Chicken Pasta

 

I have made this healthy meal twice now and both times I’ve done a “step” wrong (cooked the artichoke hearts wrong or didn’t keep the juice from the artichokes). Guess what? It still tastes excellent. All three children ate it and loved it. Okay, so 2 of them love it and one just moderately likes it and probably just eats it because it is what I served. This is definitely a keeper for our house.

 

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Have y’all tried any of the recipes we’ve shared? I tried Taco Soup Heather’s Way, but I’ll change mine to “Taco Soup Heather’s Way made Tarah’s way” with ground turkey and less tomatoes.

Pin there. Done that. {Breakfast}

There was going to be a “Pin there. Done that.” last week, but I had a family emergency and just didn’t get to it. This week however, it’s on like donkey kong!

I’m sure everyone has done some resolutions or goals (that’s what I call them) for the new year. I have set some expectations for myself, and so far, they seem to be paying off. I typically go to the gym 5 days a week and 4 of those days are in the morning. I always find it difficult to find a good breakfast. I had been doing fruit, greek yogurt and granola. I guess I just got tired of it because I haven’t had it in a while. I needed something new.

Source: theyummylife.com via Tarah on Pinterest

 

 

I made them tonight, so I’ll have the results in the morning if I liked them. I made the Banana Cocoa Oatmeal and the Banana Peanut Butter oatmeal. The little I tasted was delish.

I only made one of each, you know, just in case I don’t like them. The most expensive part of the recipe is the Chia seeds. You can find them in the health food section of a grocery store, or I’m sure you can find them at a specialty store (Trader Joe’s, Sprouts, Whole Foods, Central Market, etc). I was even able to purchase the mason jars at HEB during my grocery trip so I didn’t have to make a trip to another store. I would add that the half pint jars don’t necessarily help the shaking part of mixing. It was a little crowded in the jar.

Shape Up … Sunday?

Hey y’all!

How YOU doin’? (I love FRIENDS. Its okay to admit it.)

The first week of October I kicked major butt at the gym. We’re doing what’s called the YFL and every minute you workout is equal to a yard, plus they give you bonus yards to earn with questions to answers. Well that week, I scored 301 yards. Yes, yes I did. It was also the first time I’ve EVER gone to the gym 5 days in a row. Last week, sadly wasn’t as awesome. I’m still trying Zumba, using the elliptical and strength training. I’m also going to add that running back into the routine. I actually miss it.

I weighed in last night. It’s the same as last week, and the week before. I’m going to be re-evaluating my food, because that has to be the one MAJOR issue. There were cupcakes and candy involved in eating this last week. I had a child turn 3. I couldn’t NOT eat cupcakes … or that donut on his breakfast morning. 😉 Any healthy recipes you have, I’ll take! We eat only shrimp and chicken, sometimes pork and ground turkey.

I believe Brittaney and Christie are still in the midst of attending Boot Camp. I’m not envious … at all. I was given a trial month for a boot camp style workout once. I showed up to the park, looked at all the people who were there to workout. Seeing they were all tiny and built, I hopped back in my truck and went back home. I’m not ashamed to admit it.

Are you having a hard time dropping the weight? Keeping up with your workouts? Finding the right meals? 

 

Shape it up Sunday + One Day – 50 Days Challenge, week 3

Hey, y’all!  Hope you all had a great weekend!

We had lots of fun visiting with friends and family.  When going to family reunions, birthday parties, or a fish fry, it can be a difficult struggle when you are counting calories!  Who wants to stand next to the girl giving the full discourse about why she can’t have a whole piece of birthday cake?!?  Not me!   I try to stay quiet about it, and have learned in the last few weeks that “just a taste” is often enough!  Treat yourself!  That can do wonders for your motivation.

As far as the scale goes, we are all seeing some results.  Small though they may be…

We are all still using the MyFitnessPal app.  (If you are using it too, we’d love to follow you!!)  I personally am not seeing a big drop on the scale, but I’m noticing a big difference in the way my clothes fit.  DO NOT GET OBSESSED WITH A NUMBER!!  Goals are great to have, but particularly if you are working out, know that building muscle will change your appearance faster than losing “pounds”.  Think about how you feel in your clothes.  Do you feel more comfortable?

Brittaney found this little gem on the Dr. Oz website.

“It takes 4 weeks for you to see your body changing. 8 weeks for friends & family, and 12 weeks for the rest of the world. KEEP GOING!”

By the end of this week, you should start to see your body a little differently.  We are at 21 days!  We can do this for 29 more!!

Shape it Up Sundays – Week 2

I’m sad to report that all three of us flatlined in our quest to whittle our waistlines this week.  We saw no change on the scale, but since I’m a glass half full kind of girl, I’ll choose to believe that it’s better than seeing our weight headed back in the other direction!

One nice thing….I fit into pants a size smaller than I normally wear!  That’s encouraging, I suppose.  We are all a little bummed that results were not more measurable, but we meet week 3 with new resolve!  This week has brought a few setbacks.  Knee injury/inflammation, traveling, and sickness have kept each of us somewhat out of our fitness routine.  We have all worked hard to find our motivation, and even though we hit a stumbling block, we are tough.  Chalk it up to a cruddy week, and we’ll be back on track to achieve fantastic results at the next weigh in.

Follow us on the MyFitnessPal app (available on iPhone & Android)!  This is a fun app that allows you to track the calories you have burned through exercise (it even has a caloric value for housework!!!) and the calories you take in with the foods you eat.  My family has been out to eat quite a few times in the last week, and this helpful tool has helped me to make choices that don’t totally derail my diet  lifestyle change plans.

Our usernames are: Brittaney77, thoova, and Christie0427.

 Here’s a tip:  You’d be amazed at the calories in the things that we drink!  One day last week, I caved and got a large Coke at McD’s.  For 310 calories (Roughly 25% of my recommend daily caloric intake) it better be quite the pick me up!  Change up your routine to include water (lots of it!)  Sodas and some of my favorites at the coffee bar are empty calories that don’t satisfy hunger.  Retrain your taste buds for water!  Check out Pinterest for some fruit infusions that are quite yummy and much more calorie friendly! Instead of a Grande Caramel Macchiato or White Chocolate Mocha, opt for Coffee instead with the flavored creamer.                                        (65 calories vs 420 calories)

How are you faring as we reach day 14 of the 50 days of Fitness challenge?

Shape it up Sundays – Day 7 update

I hope things are going well for you all in your quest for 50 Days of Fitness!!

Boot camp has been, well, humbling.  We have met some fantastic people who have experienced tremendous success, so that fuels my motivation!!  I’m glad so many of you have logged on and are sharing your successes and stumbling blocks.

Let’s get down to the nitty gritty, shall we??

Tarah:

Bust: 55.5″

Biceps: 16″ (-1.5″!!)

Waist: 57″  (I think maybe her hubby wasn’t measuring correctly….)

Hips: 53″ (See comment above)

Quads: 27″ (-1″!!)

Calves: 18.5″ (-.5″)

Weight: 320

Tarah lost a total of 6 inches and 4 pounds!! GO TARAH!!

 

Christie:

Bust: 41″(-1″)

Biceps: 13.5

Waist: 37″ (-1″)

Hips: 46″ (-1.5)

Quads: 23″ (-2.5″)

Calves: 17″

Weight: 199.8

I lost a total of 4.2 lbs and 8.5″.

Brittaney:

Brittaney’s stats are the same.  She has been such an encouragement (Read: Kick in my butt) when I need it during boot camp.  She keeps me laughing and focused on the fact that we are gonna love ourselves when all this  is over!

I hope you are encouraged by our successes during week 1!! I have to tell you that the MyFitnessPal app has been a lot of fun to use and is pretty eye opening when you are snacking throughout the day.  It is SO important to make sure you are eating ENOUGH calories.  If you don’t, your body doesn’t reach its full fat burning potential!   What have your successes been this week?

Join the party! It’s 50 Days of Fitness!

Well, girls, as promised on our Facebook page, we are launching the 50 Days of Fitness challenge!  We would SO love to have you join us!  Three of us (Brittaney, Christie and Tarah) will be leading the charge. And we’re hoping for results the likes of which you haven’t seen since Kirstie Alley.

On Sunday, we will give you a snapshot of the starting line.  In the spirit of keeping it real, we are going to lay it all out there.  You will get “Before” pictures, our weight, our measurements, and our goals.

Why now?  Britt is finally  back in the area.  The kiddies have started school again, and now, I have a partner in crime to push me to get my big behind out of bed every morning.  The texts start coming at about 4:45 AM.  She’s in my driveway by 5:20.  For the last week, we have been meeting up to work out at 5:30 AM. While it was a challenge at first, I’m getting used to it!  Tarah has been working towards this for a while, and we want to join her!

Brittaney and I will be starting fitness boot camp next week.  I’m honestly a little terrified of the prospect!! I know I will be so glad I did it, though.  For 4 weeks, we are prepared to challenge our bodies like never before, and we are poised to see results.  If you want to join us in class, you can check out more information about  Elite Boot Camp Fitness here.   Boot Camp is 3 days a week, and we will alternate on the other days with swimming, walking, and light weight training.

Sadly, Tarah is not on our side of town, so she is working on her own fitness schedule.  She is doing a couch to 5k program.   Mon/Wed/Fri, she will do strength training & cardio; T/Th Cardio only; and then she throws in classes like Zumba for fun.  Oh, and she chases 3 kids around. All. Day. Long.  She’s kinda my hero because her little ones are on such a great schedule.  I could never accomplish that when mine were so small!

Our motivations vary.

I have watched my weight yo-yo for the last 10 years or so.  After 2 pregnancies, I learned that your body doesn’t ever quite go back to the way it was before kids.      Last year, I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus, and the medicines used to treat it have side effects that can far outweigh their benefits (One of them being steroids which make you gain weight and feel like you need to check in to the looney bin).  Also, most of the members of my family became insulin-dependent diabetics by their mid-late 30’s.  I’d like to break that cycle!  Since I have a sweet tooth the size of Texas, that would devastate me!!  I want to try to control my symptoms through exercise and nutrition.

Brittaney has decided that now is the time, since she “hasn’t ever been this heavy not pregnant.”  She has two amazing kids, and they have LOTS going on in their family.  (See her calendar post on our FB page! She does lots of things for other people, and in this season, it’s time for her to take care of herself.

Tarah was diagnosed years ago with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) and has a very sluggish metabolism.  For most of her life, she has struggled with her weight.  Her three children are the world to her, and she wants to set a good example, and be able to have fun with them!!  Their menu includes very little processed food, and LOTS of fresh fruits and veggies.  One of her goals is to go shopping to pick more fun/cute outfits!

Once a week, you’ll get progress pics/weight/measurements from the three of us.  At the end of the challenge, one lucky reader participating in the challenge will receive a $50 gift card.  Buy some new running shoes, some new workout gear, or a really great running bra. (That can make all the difference!!)

So, what’s your motivation?  Why do you want to get fit/lose weight/gain endorphins?  We want you to participate with us.  Get up at the crack of dawn and work it out! Who’s in?