Motivation

The last 2 weeks, I have gained a little weight, honestly I am sure it's to much sugar. I never knew how much sugar I actual consumed, until I started tracking my food on myfitnesspal, again. It's way more then I'd like to admit. Gaining weight was such a disappointment! For 2 months I've stayed around 138. It was a huge surprise to see the 140's again on the scale! It got me so depressed, I cried.

This week I'm changing. I want to my Abs!!! Because I am not making progress I know it's time to up my game! I'm going to add an extra hour of cardio. I'm only giving myself one true rest day. This week I'm going to try lots of new recipes. I am setting a personal goal of no fast food, even if it is a salad!

I found some motivational pins on pinterest! Hope they motivate me and you!

Ham and Bean Soup

We got our first snowfall yesterday. I knew it was a day to make soup for dinner! I had a lot of ham left over from Sunday dinner and knew exactly what I was going to do with it! Ham and Bean soup. This recipe is a family favorite and I thought "this is healthy why not share the recipe?" so here you go! 

Ham and Bean Soup

1 Ham Bone

1 Cup Diced Ham (if you want a little extra)

1 1/2 Cups Chicken Broth

10 Cups Water

2 Cans Great Northern Beans

1 Cup Chopped Celery 

1 Cup Diced Carrots 

1 Diced Onion

1 Can Tomato Sauce

Salt and Pepper to taste 

Boil Ham Bone, Diced Ham and Onion for 1 Hour in Water. Till the meat is soft and falls off bone. 

Add Chicken Broth, Celery, Beans, Carrots, and Tomato Sauce. Boil until veggies are cooked. Add Salt and Pepper. 

Enjoy! 

Healthy Brownies - No Sugar!!!

I found a recipe for brownies that looked AMAZING, but they were full of sugar and and had a lot of butter in them. Not for me!

I altered the recipe and came up with my own NEW amazing brownies! My kids LOVED them and had no idea they were good for you. My husband who is my biggest critic could not tell they were healthy. That is really a good thing, because usually he can always tell, he has "healthy food radar" and won't eat anything too good for him :) These brownies were a nice fluffy cake like brownie and is now my new go to treat recipe! Easy and no sugar . . . PERFECT!!!


Recipe for Healthy Brownies 

3/4 Cup Flour
1/2 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa
3/4 Cup Honey
1/2 TSP Salt
1/2 TSP Baking Soda
4 TBS Coconut Butter (softened)
3 Medium Eggs
1 TSP Vanilla
1/2 Cup Plain Greek Yogurt
1/4 Cup Chocolate Chips

Preheat Oven to 350 Degrees.

Mix all ingredients (except Chocolate Chips) VERY WELL.  Continue to scrape sides of bowel.

Add in Chocolate Chips, mix on slow speed.

Bake for about 30 Minutes in a 9x9 Pan.

ENJOY!!! 

Today's Pinterest Abs

I found this pin on pinterest! This was a great Ab workout. It was not as easy as I thought it would be. I added some squats and lunges and some dumbbells for arms and had an awesome 30 minute workout!

My workout with kids!

Today I worked out at home. After about 20 minutes, my boys were driving me crazy! So I made them part of my work out. I held my 25 pound son, and did sit ups and crunches, holding him on my lap and chest. Not only did it make him happy but it was an excellent workout for me. I did squats holding him. He thought it was hilarious and my legs and bum definitely felt the burn! I got a great 30 minute workout and spent time with my kids! They were great motivators and he kept telling me to keep going!
Later we walked to the park. I played with them I went up and down the slide, I did pull-ups on the monkey bars and I pushed a stroller weighing 50 pounds!
It was not the best nor the hardest workout that I've done but I exercised today, I didn't make any excuses. I feel like I also helped my kids with getting them out and active.

My Motivation Monday

This weekend I had a lot of fun parties and craft night! With treats. I'm not trying to loose any more weight. I don't care about the number on scale like I used to. My biggest goal is to be fit and healthy.
I'm on week 3 of my challenge that I have with my gym. Still no sugar! Which is not to bad, I know that I eat healthy. On Saturday, I gave myself a cheat day for out Football party, I did not even want sugar, but I ate it and then CRAVED it! So I just kept snacking! Not a ton, but way more then I normally eat. :(
Today I paid for it in the gym! I always can tell when I am not eating healthy, I am not as strong as I normally am. My workouts are harder. I'm not as alert! I hate this feeling. I don't need sugar, I don't need to give into my cravings, I don't ever want to feel sluggish again!

Even though I felt weak, I really tried to push through it and give it my all today! I had to make up for my crazy weekend. Today, I looked in the mirror and could see that I'm so much stronger then I was six months ago. I like the way I look. I don't know the last time or if I have ever felt like this.
I feel strong. I like it! Haha!!!
Today I found a couple motivational pins from Pinterst.

Off Track

The last couple days, I have kinda gotten off track! I had a HUGE mint milk shake :( and yesterday I did not really workout like I normally do. I did not push myself! This morning I woke up and feel like crap. I love what good food and exercise does for me but I can't seem to make that my motivation. I'm still doing my points contest with my gym, I'm not losing, but not winning. I have time to make it up! I can do this.
I found a couple pictures on pinterest that are great for motivation! I need more motivation. I have goals and one day I'm going to be there! By Christmas I will have my six pack abs!!!

Healthy chicken noodle soup

This was the perfect Fall dinner. I used what I had harvested in my garden. It was perfect for a cold day!

You Need-
1 Box Vegetable pasta
6 Cups Water
2 TBSP Seasoning Salt
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped Carrots
1 cup cut green beans
1/2 Cup diced onion
2 cups diced cooked chicken

In large pan heat chicken and onions.
Add water and noodles. Boil for about 10 minute. Turn to low heat and add vegetables. Leave on low heat and cover for 30 minutes or until vegetables Are cooked!

That's it, sooooo easy!

Its time for an update!

This week has been crazy! I started school and got 100% on my first quiz! I am so excited to be going back to school, even if it is just for personal training certification. It's giving me motivation to continue to work out and eat healthy! My goal is to have a six pack by Christmas, and to finish my certification!
A group at my gym has started a competition for the month of October, we get points for doing things like eating certain amount of fruits and vegetables, drinking eight glasses of water and no sugar. So far I'm doing really well At the Challenge! I went four days with no sugar! The funny thing is after the first day I don't even want sugar anymore at all. I feel better, I feel healthier, even after just five days on a no sugar diet, and I lost a pound! This week I also got called skinny a couple times! That has never happened to me. And it was a good feeling.
I want to win my challenge not for the money, just for the fact that I know that I ate healthier and I can stay on a healthy lifestyle and have a Goal in mind. I really do want to compete in a bikini competition, and has started training hard for that. I make sure I don't miss a workout, and when I work out I give it my all!
I want to be a personal trainer because I want to help others feel as good as I have, throughout this process of losing weight and gaining a healthy lifestyle. I want people to know that if I can do it anyone can do it! I am proud of myself at how far I've come in a short amount of time. I know that I will never go back to my old eating habits and my lazy lifestyle. I love the way I feel, I love the way I work, and I love how happy I am. I like being asked the question of how I did it and what I did to lose weight! It gives me motivation to continue and know that I'm on the right track of becoming a personal trainer. I know that this is what I want to focus my life on and help other people with the same problems.
My biggest challenge that I've overcome is an eating disorder. It feels so good to know that I've lost weight the healthy way and I can continue my healthy lifestyle without going to those bad habits. I'm grateful for the support, of my sisters and my husband. I've always felt that they have been there along the way encouraging me and challenging me to stay on track and become the person that I want to be. I'm so grateful for their support.

Two weeks ago we found out that our youngest son celiac disease. My goal for this week, is to find the yummiest recipes that are gluten/wheat free. I'm not just changing his diet I'm changing our family's diet. Finding out about his celiac disease has made me even more grateful that I started cleaning eating months ago, it's not been such a huge challenge getting used to switching our diets!
Thanks for reading!