Sharing Moment.....

Well I prepared something for dinner the other night and loved it so much I wanted to share it. So easy but so very good!!!!!! Baked turkey breast filets. Then took an entire package of sliced mushrooms and about 1/2 an onion and sautéed that together. Cooked some rice to go with it. Spooned rice in the bowl and topped with the turkey, mushroom and onion mixture. Let me tell you....it was AWESOME!!!!!! I love the turkey breast filets. It is a great change from chicken all the time. Also I have discovered that on a very pretty day, it is best not to take a nap. I overslept and then had to hurry through my run today. It was great to be outside but I didn't like having to rush. Next time, we run first and then nap......hahahaha. Im having a ball encouraging people on their journey. What a fun thing to do. What do you need encouraging on????? Next step is to stop buying premade desserts and snacks and only do homemade things......we will see how that goes. Loving this challenge!!!!!! Feel free to chime in!!!!

Quick Note!!!!

So THANK YOU Sarah for your encouragement. I love the website. I am really looking and watching what I am preparing. Read a label or two and I am amazed at what is in the prepared stuff. I mean if I can not pronounce it, it is not a natural substance ya know?. Therefore, I have had some multigrain waffles with Cascade (my favorite yogurt) yogurt and a banana for breakfast. Made turkey burgers for dinner and home made chili. I am really going to try and encourage my family. I even bought apples, grapes, pears and bananas for snacking and trying so hard for Kaleb to expand his appetite. We have cheese, pretzels, whole wheat crackers and unsweetened applesauce available. Gentle and easy changes. One step at a time. How about you? Making any adjustments in your home???? Pam

Found a New Blog

My friend Sara has her blog HERE and she had mentioned a while back about this challenge.  I was intrigued by it but didn't have a chance to go back and really read the blog.  Well, the last couple of nights at work, during lunch, I would go and read a page or tab on this blog.  It was incredible and there was so much information and ideas.  It was just incredible.  I have really enjoyed reading it.  I wanted to share it with you here. 
100 Days of Real Food. There are a lot of ideas and the information for me is just what I was looking for.  Now to see if I can act on it is key.  I really like the way she has written it and really makes it do-able.  The key for me will be if I could get my family to go with me.  I don't think I could do it by myself.   Otherwise I would be preparing 2 dinners all the time and that just doesn't work very well. 
I would love to hear some of your thought on this.  There are plenty of recipes on the website as well and I plan on using those.  I'll keep you posted on it!!!!!! 
What are some of your favorite sites for nutrition and health?

Pam

Healthy Talking vs. Fat Talking!!! What do you do?

This post is taken from an article I read in Self Magazine not to long ago.  It was talking about what they called.... "Fat Talk".  Of course the titale  intriged me so I read it.  I was amazed at how guilty I was while reading it.  It was so true of me. It was true of others to I am sure.  It was just amazing and I loved the thoughts and ideas that they posed.  It was for sure something to think about. 

First...
When someone says something to you like......  "You are really looking great!  Have you lost weight?"
Our response is....  "I guess so, but I still have this roll around my bell.  Ugh!!"
Instead, try- Thanks! I feel great.  I've been working our and eating healthfully"
Point- Body bashing reinforces poor body image.  Learn to take a compliment.

Second
When someone says something to you like.... "I am ridiculously ginormous today."
Our response is ..... "I know what you mean.  I'm feeling pretty bloated myself"
Instead, try- "Going to the gym always makes me feel better.  Want to take a hot-yoga class later?"
Point- Fat talk fuels more fat talk, leaving you both feeling insecure or guilty.

Third
When someone says something to you like...."Have you seen Peg lately?  She's gotten huge!"
Our response is ......" I'm not suprised.  She's been stressed and is eating a ton."
Instead, try...." I hope everything's OK with her.  She's usually so healthy."
Point- Beware body gossip: It may leave you worrying what pals say about you.

Fourth
When someone says something to you like...."I'd kill to have Gwyneth's abs."
Our response is...."Me too! She looks amazing.  I wish I could rock a six-pack."
Instead, try...." Hey, if we could afford to have a trainer on speed dial, we'd all have those abs, too."
Point- Comparing yourself with someone slimmer ultimately brings you down.-

This was a GREAT article.  It had a lot of really good points to it.  This was just part of it.  I may share more later when I can. 

Love It!!!!!!!

Today was a very encouraging day!  I saw an interesting article on Fibromyalgia.  I have several friends with this awful disease.  I posted it on my Facebook page and then sent a text to the 2 of them so they could go and see it and read.  So, after a few text, I called Tami.  You can not help but to be encouraged to talk to her.  She was working on the "Couch to 5K" program.   Guess what??  She has decided to take it up a notch.  She is planning on running the Half Marathon in October.  I almost dropped the phone from being so very excited.  I am not sure who was more excited, me or her.  She has it all planned out and how she is going to prepare and get ready.  HOW COOL IS THAT!!!!!!  I can't wait!  It's going to be awesome!!!!  We are gonna be in Ga. over Easter so I am thinking we could go for a run!!  I haven't told her that yet!!

Running and running and running more.  I have rekindled the fire. It is fueled, stoked and ready to go.  I'm loving it every time I go.  I do great going about every other day but more depending on my work schedule.  I have even gone so far as to write out my calendar for long runs.  Building up lots of endurance so I can get this thing done in October.  Then discussing it with Michelle to make sure that I am not over doing the training.  She is such an awesome resource!  The one thing that I do struggle with is when I miss a couple of days and trying to get back into it.  That is just so very difficult and your legs feel like they weigh 100 pounds each!  Just have to be consistant. Make time for a run.  Take the opportunity and feel like a new woman when I'm done.  That is what it is all about!! 

 Do you have any upcoming goals or plans?  My calendar is full of them.  Let us encourage one another!!!!!!! 

Pam

Confession and Praise!!!

Ok, so it was Valentines Day yesterday. It was great but I had to go to work. I was frustrated because we didn't have a lot of time together. I was late leaving for work which culminated in me stopping at McDonalds......OH NO!!!!!!!!!! Yes I did!!!!!! I got chicken nuggets and fries. Oh My Goodness!!!!!! I ate every bit of it. I was completely miserable. I could not believe that I had done such a thing. I did and now what. Well after I beat myself up for a while, I realized that it was a new day. I really considered and thought through what I had done and just confessed it and then realized my pants that I had on are way to big. It's time to get rid of them!!!!!! This was my motivation to get back at it and get rid of the rest. I ate my yogurt and my granola and chose to get it going!!!!!! Have you ever done this? Have you ever thought about it afterwards or did you just say forget it? I've been there. I was literally just there. Just wanted you to know I am not perfect. I a not a trainer(even though I wish I was). Today is a new day!!!!!! Pam

You Asked!!!!!

At my old job, people would laugh and poke fun at what I would eat.  It's funny because I would bring something and they would turn their nose up and the next time they would all want some.  GO FIGURE!!!!  The big joke was that "Pam will eat anything including grass and twigs."  Well, they are partly right.  I love trail mix.  Hear me clearly.......I love what I make as trail mix.  I don't typically buy the kind in the bag.  Yes, there are some really good one's out there.  They typically cost more than I want to pay but making my own is soooo much better.  I get to control what I put in them.  It is never the same twice.  So I thought I would share what would typically go in mine. Nuts- MUST!!!!  Almonds, peanuts, walnuts and even pecans at time. 

Raisins/Dried Fruit - MUST!!!!  Cranberries, golden raisins, dark raisins, cranraisins, cherries, blueberries, apricots, figs and whatever else may look good.

Oats-(optional)-the reason I say optional is that it is a time factor for me.  If I am making a mix with oats, I like to add honey and toast them slowly so that are a little sweet and crunchy.  Eating raw oats is not something I would recommend. 

Seeds- MUST!!!!- Sunflower, pumpkin, and any other kind that you might like.  Typically I get toasted and unsalted.

CHOCOLATE- yes I said chocolate.  That is not an error.  I like that little surprise ever once in a while.  It's a different sweet than the fruits.  Yes, there is a catch.  I buy the ones that are fruit sweetened.  I actually like them better.  You can find them in bulk at Earth Fare and Whole Foods.  They are so worth it. 

So, what I typically do is go to the store that sells all of this in a bulk section.  I get a scoop of this and a scoop of that.  Get home and dump all the bags into a giant bowl and stir it all up.  Then either put it in an air tight container or separate into smaller bags for snacking.  If I am doing the oats I would do the same except for the oats.  They get mixed with about 1/2 cup of honey for every pound to pound and a half of oats.  Spread onto a baking sheet and bake at 325 degrees for a total of 30-40 minutes but you MUST stir/toss every 10 minutes or the edges will burn.  It's a food-of-love thing.  Once it is COMPLETELY cooled, mix in with the other items and there you have it.  Not only is it good for snacking but throw some on top of yogurt in the morning, throw a handful into your salad or even a small handful into tuna or chicken salad ( you might want to pick out the chocolate....I don't, but you can).  It's just good!!!!!!!! Try your hand at it and let me know what you put in yours.  You will just love it!!!!!

SNACKS!!!!!!

Well, I got to go to Earth Fare today.  What an adventure!  They are kind of like a Whole Foods.  A little smaller but they have things in bulk and that is what I was after today. 

I bought.....

raisins

peanuts

almonds

papaya

cranberries

pumpkin seeds

soy nuts

sunflower seeds

oats

dates

walnuts

and a hand full of chocolate chips.

I'm going to be making trail mix.  I am so excited!!!!  It is NEVER the same twice.  That is what I just love about it!!!!!!  My co-worker Amber loves it.  No one in my family eats it except for me so now I can share with her.  It is a GREAT snack to have on hand. 

I also bought some Wheat Waffles.  They were awesome!!!!!!  Got some Cascade Yogurt.  It is wonderful.  It is sweetened with fruit juice and not Aspartame or artificial sweeteners.  LOVE IT!!!!!  It is a whole different taste.  I just love them. 

What are your favorite yogurts and snacks?????

Encouragement!!!!!!

The encouragement just keeps coming.  Got to see Janet this morning and she looks incredible!!!!!!  Got a Facebook message from Tami and she has purchased new shoes.  She is so very excited and I am so very excited for her. 

Yes, SHOES ARE THE KEY!!!!  The right size, the right fit, the right support.  ADDED BONUS IS COLOR.  I'm not picky about the color of my shoes but there are some wild colors and color combinations out there.  Mine are pretty tame normally!!!!!

I have set my sights on October.  Registration will be completed this afternoon.  I'm so pumped I could bust.  Going for a run this afternoon so I can enjoy my Super Bowl munchies.  Some are just plain addictive like Queso Dip (Velvetta and Rotel Tomatoes) and some are pretty good for you like roasted veggies wrapped in a tortillas.  A good run though will be good for me mentally, emotionally and physically. 


How about you?
Got a goal?
Got a place you want to go?

Please jump in!!!!!

Pam

Chocolate

Do you like chocolate? I LOVE chocolate!!!! Anything chocolate is good. After we got our oven the other night, I couldn't wait to bake something. Of course, that would be something chocolate. So I made chocolate cake. Yes, I cheated and used a box. The key is I made it a bit different. They always call for oil. Of course, I was not putting 1/3 cup of oil in my cake. So I used homemade applesauce with no sugar added. They also call for eggs and this one called for 3. I traded for 4 whites. I also used sugar free frosting. Yes, I ate some. I loved it. It was actually better than a cake made the way the directions stated. What are some swaps that you use?????

WhooooHoooo!!!!

So I planned on going to lunch with my friend Tara. She is the sweet friend that calls me Jillian when we go running. Anyway, life happened and we were not able to go. She calls me yesterday and we discuss when we are going to reschedule. Well, guess what?????? She has gone and joined a gym and going before work in the morning!!!!!! I was so encouraged by her. So excited for her and of course thrilled that she was sharing with me so that we can encourage one another. God is so good and so very faithful and assuring that I am doing exactly what I am suppose to. Sooooo very cool!!!!!! Thanks Tara for sharing..you made my day!!!!!! Love you!!!!!!! I've got another one to share to but you will have to wait til tomorrow......tease!!!!!! Go exercise!!! Pam