Transformation - In Progress

This is my transformation – In Progress story (very condensed version) mile emoticon
Last summer when my youngest daughter Vaunne was 18 months old, I weighed as much as when I gave birth (I had gained 60lbs during each pregnancy). My activity level hit an all-time low. I was always pretty active, even at my heaviest weight, I ran, played baseball, beach volleyball and soccer. That summer, I was nursing a pretty bad sports injury so I was not doing anything. By the time the girls were back in school, I realized that my Caribbean vacation was right around the corner and there was no way I was going to be on the beach looking and feeling like I did. I organized a weight loss challenge at work to help keep me accountable. I got a gym membership, a Fitbit and started keeping track of every single calorie I consumed and burned. It was a full time job, but I was committed and successful. The challenged ended, I won, and went on my trip and felt pretty good. The accountability and support was over, then came the holidays and I gained back a little of the weight.
January and February were challenging times for me (the Winter Blues), I started a new routine and stopped a few times, and steadily gained back some of the weight I worked so hard to lose.
I had had enough, I was tired of how my weight was affecting my mood, my attitude with everyone. I didn’t even want to be around me and my negativity and I certainly was not acting like a very good role model for my 3 impressionable girls. I was done with ‘dieting’, I wanted and needed a complete healthy lifestyle shift.
I had heard of the 21 Day Fix through some infomercials. I started to do the research and actually started out as an amateur. I thought I could do it on my own. That didn’t last long. I reached out to a Beachbody coach. She was wonderful, she supported me and put me into my first Challenge Group! I fell in love. It was so many things…a place to learn, be held accountable, be supported and to support others, to make new friends. There is nothing like a tribe of women (and the occasional man in our group) who are supportive, like minded, really have your back and want you to succeed! The challenge groups played a tremendous role in my success along with:
• The Beachbody workouts (in my case 21 Day Fix, Insanity Max 30 and starting 21 Day Fix Extreme) are incredible. The trainers are inspiring and the workouts are laid out on a schedule which helps take the guess work of what to do and when.
• The nutrition plan on 21 Day Fix. It’s has been my saving grace. I've tried eliminating entire food groups from my diets in the past and had limited success. The balanced portion control plan helps me live a healthy balanced life…with amazingly nutritious foods and room for the occasional not so nutritious food (I am human after all).
• Shakeology. This superfood saves me on a daily basis…so I'm not skipping breakfast, missing on veggies, hitting the drive thru, eating my co-workers donuts and best of all, makes me feel like I'm having a chocolately treat!
All of this made the process simple, fun even. Getting up in the mornings was ‘less hard’ with my accountability partners, eating for fuel and occasionally for pleasure and finally taking the time to make myself a priority in my life, something my soul was craving.
The support and momentum was so inspiring to me, I knew I wanted to help other people feel as incredible as I did (as I do!). I am by no means an expert, or fitness professional, but I've been there deep in the trenches, and I could relate to how others are feeling.
I started putting myself out there on Facebook, it was scary and still is sometimes…posting this terrifies me. But if it can help to motivate or inspire one other person, it’s worth it.
They say that losing weight is rarely about losing weight. I believe that to be true. I have never pushed myself to my limits like this before, and I continue to push myself daily. I am working on my inside (attitude and outlook) through personal development just as much as I'm working on my outside through fitness and nutrition, and that has been helping me get through the challenging times.

So why am I sharing this with you today? Of course, I'm proud of myself and what I've accomplished, but more than that, I am calling out to you…I know you, trust me, I understand how you are feeling. If you don’t know where to start or looking for a sign…this is it!! All you have to do is take the first step - message me and we will get started on this awesome journey!

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Overnight Oats

Overnight Oats are easy, yummy and healthy! The perfect breakfast, snack or lunch!

Ingredients:
1/4 c. old fashioned oats
1/4 c. Greek yogurt, plain
1/3 c. water (or skim milk or almond milk)
1-2 tsp Chia seeds
1 tbsp (or less) honey
1 tbsp (or less) flavour (peanut butter, more honey, maple syrup, cocoa powder)
1/4 c. chopped soft fruit (banana, berries, mango, peaches)

Directions:
Put the first 6 ingredients in a mason jar and shake, stir in the fruit.
Store in fridge overnight for up to 2 days.
Stir and eat cold.

Veggie Noodle Bowl

Having a game plan for a weeknight dinner has been so helpful in getting my family fed healthy meals at night. I have to admit I was pretty nervous with this one, something I created tonight. My fingers were crossed, and I got the thumbs up from everyone! Although I don't always please everyone (we are 4 females around here smile emoticon afterall), there is always something everyone likes in every meal, so sometimes I have to deconstruct it!

Ingredients:
2 c. chopped red onion
1 carton low sodium vegetable broth
2-4 c. water
1 c. chopped celery
1 c. chopped carrots
1 c. coloured pepper (I used yellow)
1 can low sodium red kidney beans
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp low sodium soya sauce
salt & pepper
1 package brown rice noodles

Directions:
Put all ingredients (except the rice noodles) in a pot and cook on med-high heat, until the veggies are soft.  Add the rice noodles for the last 3-5 mins.  
I served this in a bowl, piled the noodles and veggies in it first and just used a ladle to put a bit of broth to go with it.

Barley Squash Risotto

My Family has been open to trying out Meatless Mondays. We are meat lovers around here, so I'm really trying to make Monday's meals filling, and yummy.
I found this recipe in Walmart's free magazine 'Live Better'. I put my own 'Clean Eating' spin on it and made a few other changes.

Ingredients:
3 TBSP EVOO
1 onion, diced
5 cups vegetable broth, divided
2 cups pot barley
1 tsp garlic powder
4 cups butternut squash, chopped in small 1/2 inch cubes
3/4 c pecans, chopped, toasted
60 g goat cheese, crumbled

Directions:
Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Heat EVOO in large, deep frying pan. Add onion and cook till soft.  Add barley and stir to coat.  Add 1 cup of broth and bring to a boil.  Add garlic powder, squash and rest of broth.  Bring to a boil. Transfer to a dutch oven (or other oven ready pot with lid).
Bake for 40 mins.
Once done, you can add the pecans and goat cheese to the mixture and serve immediately.  Or put the pecans and goat cheese in separate bowls on the side and they can be added individually.

Spinach and Feta Frittata

My first attempt at a 'frittata' was a success. So much healthier than the usual Sunday morning breakfasts we have! 
Ingredients:
1/2 onion, diced
1/2 red and green pepper, diced
1/2 c chicken broth (can use veggie broth)
6 eggs
1 1/2 c milk
2 oz goat cheese, crumbled
1/2 package frozen spinach (thawed, drained well)
salt
pepper
garlic powder
parm cheese

Directions:
Sautée some onions and peppers in chicken broth (just to soften).  Mix with eggs, milk, goat cheese and frozen spinach (drained well), salt, pepper and garlic powder. Sprinkle with a little parm cheese. Cook at 350. For about 30 mins or until the eggs looks cooked and fluffy.

Quinoa Chili

Quinoa Chili

Chili is one of those things I never make.  Well, I've made it twice or maybe three times and it never worked out.  I'm happy to say the feedback I got from the fam was all good.  They said it was something I should make again!

Ingredients:
2 cups dry black beans (soaked over night in 8-9 cups of water)
1 can kidney beans (low sodium)
1 can corn (no salt)
1 c. quinoa, uncooked
1 can diced tomatoes (low sodium)
1 can ROTEL diced tomatoes with jalapeno pieces
3 c. veggie broth
1-3 c. water
2-3 tsp chili powder
2-3 tsp cumin
optional:
shredded cheese
plain Greek yogurt

Directions:
Once you have rinsed and soaked your beans overnight, put them in the crock-pot with all the other ingredients.  I add some water, just to get it to the right consistency for your taste...less water for a more hearty chili, more water for a more soupy chili.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
Serve with shredded cheese and a dollop of plain Greek yogurt.

I can't have chili without toast, so I added 1 piece of whole grain bread 'rabbit ear's.