Scare Off those Halloween Pounds

It is Halloween week, and it's always a week filled with lots of fun, parties, and of course, candy and treats! It's no surprise that this time of year the number on the scale tends to rise.

So the question is, how can I avoid Halloween weight gain without missing out on the fun?

Here are some tips that will help you get through this week.

1. Carry your water bottle with you everywhere. If you are drinking lots of water, you are less likely to eat junk. A good rule is to drink half your body weight in ounces if you are trying to lose weight. 
   
2. Continue eating 5-6 small meals each day. Just because it is a holiday week doesn't mean you should throw all of your basic clean eating principals out the window. When you stick to eating your 5-6 meals, you will avoid reaching the point of being extremely hungry. This will help you from reaching for that candy bowl. 
3. Buy candy you don't like, and buy it late. When you buy candy you love, you are asking for trouble. In the past, we have gone to Costco and bought a big box of pretzels to hand out. That way I am avoiding any temptation for myself. Chocolate is a major weakness for me. Buy the candy late. There is no reason you need to buy the stuff as soon as it hits the store shelves. The less time you have it in your house, the less that means you will have to resist it.
4. Track what you eat. It is so vital to sticking to your goals to track everything you put in your mouth, especially as we are moving into the holidays. It is so easy to not realize what you are eating because we get so busy with all the hustle and bustle that the holidays bring. But one bite here and one bite there, which doesn't seem like a big deal in the moment adds up! This is why when you track what you eat, you ask yourself if that bite size candy bar or that handful of candy corn is really worth it. For me, tracking my food makes all the difference in the world.
5. Exercise. Continue on with your fitness routine. Even though Halloween is this Friday, I still plan to get up that morning, workout to my INSANITY, drink my Shakeology afterwards, and have some healthy snacks during the day. We will go trick-or-treating and then over to our church for our fall festival. I will enjoy the supper they are grilling out for all of us, and maybe a piece of candy or two, but I am not going to throw away the whole day just because it's a day filled with candy and treats. All things in moderation, right?!
   
   
   
6. Keep treats out of sight. Out of sight, out of mind, right? I won't set candy dishes out because I know I would walk by and snack on those endlessly all day. Put the candy up high, in a place you don't visit daily. I have a basket I keep the kids' snacks in and I put it up on the top shelf of our pantry. I can't see what's in there, and it's not at eye level, so it is something that doesn't tempt me.
7. Enjoy healthy alternatives. For me, this includes Shakeology. Others I enjoy include the no-bake Mini Peanut Butter Oat Cups, and Clif bars.

Hope you find these tips helpful to get through this week. 

Question for you:

What tips do you have to survive the Halloween weight gain?

Friday Favorites

Good morning! I am thrilled to see Friday here! This week went fast again. With packing at the forefront of my mind, the days seem to slide by. We don't have too much planned for this weekend. The girls are heading to a friend's tomorrow for a Halloween party; they have really been excited for it.

Last week I had a lot of fun linking up with Erika, Narci, and Andrea for some Friday favorites, so I wanted to join in with them again this week. 

First up, we have our pumpkins picked and plan to carve or paint them this weekend.

Next, today I will be heading over to the new house to go through the 4-hour inspection with the man. One step closer to moving day! :-)

Yesterday my sweet friend sent a text saying she was swinging by with a Vanilla Chai Tea Latte for me. I love her! 

Hand me a spoon and a jar of my favorite P.B. and we will call it good. ;)

Some of the things I have been spying around the web that I love, love, love include this adorable leather hobo bag. Unfortunately it's not available right now on Nordstrom. :(

I also fell in love with these cute and comfy sweatshirts as soon as I saw them. Fall, comfy and sweatshirts?! It all goes together in my mind. Which one would you choose??

Absolutely adoring this top and wishing I had it in my closet right now.

Neon paired with camo?! Yep, totally need this look.

And, last, her hair. Totally in love with it all... color, the way she is wearing it, and the length. Wishing I could pull off long hair.

So there you have it, some of my favorites for the day. It's kind of fun to do a totally random post like this. Happy weekend!

What is one of your "Friday Favorites" today?

What from my list is your favorite?

Hangin' in There

Honestly, how is it Thursday already?! And the end of October?? I don't know where this month has gone. We have been so busy packing so I am sure that is part of it.

I wanted to come over and post the past couple days, but I am not even sure what to put here. My brain is everywhere and I feel like I am drowning in boxes in between trying to remember to carb count and give insulin.

I have been curious if anyone out there is even reading over here. If so, what do you want to see? What do you enjoy about following me and this little 'ol blog?

INSANITY has been leaving me hungry! I have to make sure I am getting enough to eat because month two is harder for sure. This morning I couldn't wait for my workout to end, because I already knew I was going to the kitchen to make a big bowl of oatmeal. I threw in blueberries and P.B. of course. ;)

That's about all I have. I need to get going to try and straighten up this house. Our realtor is bringing someone over to show them the place this evening. That's an adventure in the midst of moving. ;)

Happy Thursday, my friends!

Black Bean Soup

Last week one of my girlfriends loaned me her American Diabetes Association Cookbook so that I could pick through it and try out some new recipes with our family. Like I said yesterday, I sat down Friday evening and flipped through it making a plan for our week.

I was totally not expecting the kids to love or even like this first meal I chose. In fact, I thought I would hear much whining and complaining, especially from Little Man who seems to be exercising his independence with food lately. However, I was wrong! The kids devoured this and even asked for seconds, and in my oldest's case, thirds! 

We'll see how things go tonight with the pumpkin pasta that is on the menu. I told My Hunter that was on the plan and he didn't seem the least bit thrilled. I have to admit, I am wondering myself how it will taste. I am not much of a pumpkin fan, unless it's in a dessert. ;)

Anyway, I wanted to share last night's recipe with all of you, and of course, I have to save it here for myself since it was such a hit with everyone here.

Makes: 10 servings

Serving Size: 1 cup

Prep Time: 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 lb 95% fat-free turkey kielbasa, chopped {I subbed this for venison, because it's what we have here, but I am sure the kielbasa was delicious. I will definitely be trying it in there next time.}
• 3 medium onions, coarsely chopped
• 2 medium celery stalks, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 16-ounce cans black beans, rinsed and drained
• 4 cups water
• 1 15-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes {I chopped up fresh tomatoes instead.}
• 1 4-ounce can chopped green chilies
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp dried oregano 
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1/2 tsp salt {optional}
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

DIRECTIONS:

1. Add oil to a large soup pot over high heat. Add kielbasa {or whatever lean meat you choose} and sauté for 4-5 minutes or until beginning to brown.
2. Stir in onions, celery, and garlic. Saute an additional 5 minutes or until onions turn clear.
3. Stir in remaining ingredients except cilantro and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes. 
4. Remove bay leaf and stir in cilantro.

Optional Additions: Serve a dollop of fat-free sour cream and a sprig of fresh cilantro on each serving of soup. Add a dinner roll or cheese muffin to make the meal even better. :-)

Enjoy! As always let me know if you give it a try!

INSANITY // Week 5 Plan & Progress Report

Well, it is officially time to try and get back in a routine over at our house. My mom flew out Saturday morning; we were all very sad to see her go. What a blessing she is! She comes right in and takes over helping with everything that needs to be done. She was an extra special encouragement this time as she helped guide, encourage, and reassure me on learning how to take care of my little man and his diabetes. 

Today starts my second month of INSANITY. I honestly can't believe it. The first month flew by, and I am sure this month will too because...

Yes, that's right, we will be moving in a couple weeks! When we moved here 2 1/2 years ago, our intentions were to buy right away, but life kind of threw us some curve balls with my third pregnancy and looking for houses was put on the back burner. My Hunter and I have been going out with our realtor for the past 6 months looking at house after house. I thought we would never find one, because after owning once before, we now had a better idea of what works and doesn't work for us. But two Fridays ago, we pulled into the driveway of this house, and I instantly knew it was for us! My Hunter fell in love too! Needless to say, between homeschooling and packing... and then unpacking and settling in, this second month of INSANITY will probably slip by. 

Okay, so I did get a chance to lay down Friday evening with my girls during our family movie night and plan out our menu for the week. Here is a peek at what we will be having for supper each night. 

Monday - Black Bean Soup with Cheese Muffins

Tuesday - Pumpkin Pasta

Wednesday - Toasted Almond Chicken Salad Sandwich

Thursday - Vegetarian Stew {My meat-lovin' man will love this one when he finds out. ;) }

Friday - Pizza {Whole-Wheat crust! We found that kept Little Man's numbers lower than the week before when we had white crust.}

Saturday - Chili with Cornbread 

Sunday - Crockpot Chicken Greek Chicken Soup

What does my week look like with working out? 

Today will be tough I am sure. I have done two fits tests so far, and that is a workout in itself. I will be pushing to beat the numbers I had from Fit Test 2, you can bet that. Now that I am on month two, Shaun T is upping the game and adding in Max Interval Circuits too. I'm up for the challenge though! ;)

Challenge yourself this week! Whether in your workouts, fighting to get one more rep or with your job, there is always something to improve.

And, if you are up for a whole new challenge, consider joining my next challenge group where we will be detoxing from Halloween and working towards having more energy as we move into the holidays.

I am linking up with Katie today, because it was such a marvelous weekend with us finding our new home. Stop by and check out some of the other fun blogs.

Have a great Monday, friends!

Friday Favorites

Friday always feels like a party to me. The weekend is at the tip of our fingers, and our family has an especially exciting something happening tonight! :-) Follow on my Facebook Page and I hope to share with you all soon! To kick off our Friday morning though, I thought it would be fun to share some of the fitness stuff I have been eyeing lately.

I thought this tank was so fun! Totally what I am aiming for... workin' off that fluff.

This outfit! I love everything about it. The back is super adorable, and I love how the bottom of her capris matches the tank pattern.

Fun, bright colors! I would love these headbands to throw on to keep the hair out of my face during my morning workouts. I don't know if you are like me, but anything as simple and cute as this makes me more excited to workout. 

In my opinion, this product is just pure genius! I can't believe it wasn't thought of earlier. My MIL and I were just talking last week about how when we go walking we have nowhere to put our house key. I am always afraid I will lose it while we are out and be locked out of my house *forever*! ;)

I decided to link-up with Erika, Andrea, and Narci today. I read Erika's blog weekly and love her Friday Favorites post. Join in the fun and check out some of their favorite things. 

Have a great weekend, friends!

{Link}

INSANITY // Recovery Week & Progress Report

It's Thursday and I still haven't gotten around to posting about what my week of INSANITY looks like. That's life, right?! Busier weeks than others at times.

I have officially completed month one of INSANITY. These past four weeks flew by! Honestly, it doesn't even feel like I have been doing this program for that long. I am absolutely loving it and loving the way it is making my body feel.

My meal planning needs to get back on track, that's for certain. I just feel so much more prepared and accomplished when I get that all set-up over the weekend. With things being so hectic here, that has been put on the back burner, but I need and plan to move that to the front of my to-do list this weekend. My evening snacking needs to slow down, my bites here and there that I am not counting need to be fewer and I just want to get back to choosing my veggies and hummus for snack over the Halloween cookies. ;)

What have been some of the meals over here this week?

Monday - Grilled Mozzarella Cheese Sandwiches w/veggies & hummus

Tuesday - Homemade Chicken & Veggie Soup

Wednesday - Leftovers

Tonight - Planning that now!

Tomorrow night we are making homemade pizzas. It is Grandma Laurie's last night with us before she heads home. :-(

This week is my recovery week. Each day I have been doing 35 minutes of Core Cardio and Balance. It feels great to have an easier week and really stretch these sore muscles out. Sunday will be my off day, and then Monday morning starts my second month.

You can continue to follow my progress right here on my blog. I love having you all join me on this journey and hearing about what you are doing in your own life. New recipes will be appearing soon too! We have been trying out more and more and *most* have been hits. ;)

Baked Apple Chips

I love having Laurie here! Last week when she got here, she started helping me search for recipe ideas that would work well for our Little Man's diabetes. These baked apple chips came right off the American Diabetes Association website, they were super easy {well, I am assuming... Laurie did all the work ;) }, and Bucky had some for his bedtime snack. Can't beat that!

INGREDIENTS: 

• Parchment Paper
• Honeycrisp apples
• Cinnamon

DIRECTIONS: 

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees. 
2. Lay parchment paper on two medium baking sheets.
3. Slice apples thin to make round chips. {Discard seeds.}
4. Lay the apple slices on baking sheets without overlapping. Sprinkle cinnamon over apples.
5. Bake for 1 hour. Flip the apples. Bake for another 1-2 hours, flipping occasionally, until the apple slices are no longer moist. 
6. Cool and enjoy!

You could totally do this same recipe with pears or some other fruit. It would be fun to experiment. Let me know if you do and how they turn out.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:

{Serving Size: 1/2 an apple}

Calories - 50

Carbs - 13 g

Sugar - 9 g

Dietary Fiber - 2 g

Stuffed Bell Peppers

My MIL pretty much rocks! Last night she made supper for all of us, and it was A.MAZE.ING! All of us, including the kids gobbled it down. I wanted to share this with you, and I had to save it here for future dinners. Enjoy!!

INGREDIENTS: 

• 6 Bell Peppers
• Olive Oil 
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 lbs venison burger
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• 1/4 cup parsley flakes
• 3/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• sprinkle of red pepper flakes
• 1 cup brown rice or quinoa
• Mozzarella cheese
• 15 oz tomato sauce
• water

DIRECTIONS: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cut off the tops of each pepper and chop up the edible parts from the tops.
3. In a large pot, heat the water and parboil the peppers for 2-3 minutes. Take out the peppers and let dry on paper towels. 
4. In a skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the onion and pepper tops and cook until tender. 
5. Add venison, parsley, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook until meat is browned through.
6. Add rice and tomato sauce, mixing well.
7. Arrange peppers in baking dish and add water until about 1/3-inch thick.
8. Stuff peppers with meat and rice mixture, filling until it is just over the top of the pepper. 
9. Bake 25 minutes or until tender.
10. Sprinkle on mozzarella cheese on the top of each pepper. Bake for 5 more minutes.
11. Remove and let sit for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Basil Pesto Quesadillas

Let's face it, meals in our house the past week have had to be simple and quick as we are figuring out this whole diabetes thing. A couple nights ago I made the kids mozzarella cheese quesadillas, and I had planned on making some avocado ones for my MIL and I. However, my avocados weren't too ripe. Plan B... I pulled out the basil pesto sauce I had in the fridge, and I have to say, I am glad the avocados weren't ripe! ;) This was pure deliciousness!

BASIL PESTO QUESADILLAS

INGREDIENTS: 

• Basil pesto sauce
• 1 small roma tomato, diced
• 1 green onion, sliced
• Salsa
• Mozzarella cheese
• Whole Wheat Tortillas
• Seasonings of choice - We used:
• Cumin
• Garlic Powder
• Paprika
• Sea Salt

DIRECTIONS:

1. With the tortilla flat, spread an even layer of basil pesto sauce over the entire area. 
2. Layer with diced tomato and green onion.
3. Sprinkle on your seasonings.
4. Put mozzarella cheese on top of all of this.
5. Fold the tortilla in half to close.
6. Spray skillet with cooking spray, and place the quesadilla in the skillet.
7. Brown on both sides.
8. Top with salsa if desired.

Yum, yum, yum! Let me know if you give it a try. :-)

INSANITY // Week 4 Plan & Progress Report

Happy Monday! I hope you are all enjoying a fabulous start to your week. I wanted to update you on my progress with INSANITY. The end of week two and the start of week three went a little different than planned. We ended up in the emergency room with my little guy a week ago this past Saturday. After some blood work and x-rays, it was discovered that he has Type 1 Diabetes. Our world has forever changed in that moment. It has been scary and overwhelming, but at the same time we are finding blessings and trying to focus on some positive. 

We had to spend three days in the hospital, which meant my workouts took a back seat, as they should. My eating has also been so-so. Hospital food? Yep. Dessert? Some. Snacking at night. You bet. Isn't this how it goes at times? We can't all be perfect all the time with our eating and working out. But we don't have to let these moments ruin it all. Get back on track, plan meals, start the workouts back up, and make it go time!

I was ready to start working out again Wednesday morning. I found that pushing myself to the limits really helped with kicking any pity I was starting to feel to the curb. No time for that! I was a sweating machine by the time I was done, and it was sweet to have the encouragement from my oldest daughter as she cheered me on from the couch.

Week three started out with my second fit test. I pulled out the numbers from my first fit test and was determined to beat or at least match those. Here are my week two numbers with week one numbers in parenthesis. 

Move: 

1. Switch Kicks - 57 (48)
2. Power Jacks - 54 (54)
3. Power Knees - 120 (109)
4. Power Jumps - 33 (30)
5. Globe Jumps - 12 (10)
6. Suicide Jumps - 25 (21)
7. Push-Up Jacks - 21 (20)
8. Low Plank Oblique - 38 (38) 

Week four is about to start now. I am sitting here updating and drinking my E&E again. I have been tired in the mornings and have recently been doing my workouts in the afternoons. Getting up to do those 2 AM blood glucose checks on my little man have made me feel like I have a newborn again. I am exhausted. This morning, however, we have a doctor's appointment to get to, so I knew if I wanted to get a workout in, I had to get up anyway. I have goals I want to accomplish so I am just moving things around in my schedule, sleeping in and working out at different times. Here is what week four is going to look like for me: 

Meals have been a bit up in the air and put together the day of. I am trying to redo our meals, just because I now have to count carbs and track those for my little one. We have tried out some new recipes over the weekend and so far they have been given thumbs up from the family. I will definitely be sharing those here on the blog.

Here is a general idea of meals for the upcoming week:
Breakfasts: Shakeology
Lunches: Avocado Quesadillas, Leftovers, Salads
Snacks: Veggies & hummus, Apples w/PB, Nuts and fruit
Suppers: Tacos, Chicken, Chili, Spaghetti

I can't wait to have this whole diabetes thing down a bit more so I can feel prepared for the week. So thankful my MIL is out here helping. Even with her help, our day is super busy and packed as we are adjusting.

How is your week looking? Have you hit some bumps in the road with your fitness and health goals? If so, I challenge you to find some ways this week to work around those and keep moving forward. You can totally do it!

Have a great week, friends!

Pumpkin Pie Shake

First day of October; fall is in the air. This time of year I love everything apple and pumpkin, so after trying this new recipe, I just had to share.

PUMPKIN PIE SHAKE

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 scoop Vanilla Shakeology (Could use Chocolate too!)
• 1 cup rice milk (This is what we use at home, so just use whatever milk you have.)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened can pumpkin
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 5 ice cubes 

DIRECTIONS: 

• Blend and enjoy!

Let me know if you try it out and what you think. :-)