Mangia, Mangia! (Eat, Eat!)

I had someone once tell me her husband was a chef and she hated to eat, she wished she could just take a pill and get her daily needs met.  She was probably a size negative 6 and might as well have told me she just was probed by Aliens.  WHAT?!  How can you have someone making you incredible food and hate eating?!  That simply doesn't compute.  (Obviously or this blog would be about how I hate eating and was probed by Aliens..LOL!)

Point being - eating on plan can't be boring or it won't last.  It can seem restricting because it's no starchy carbs, no grains, no sugar and no dairy.  At first the part I was most OK with was no dairy, until I realized that meant cheese.  To me cheese is it's own food group.  On this plan, not so much =( I almost cried hearing cheese was off the table but it is all about how much you really want to lose - so I agreed.  No Cheese.  (That 2 word sentence has almost the same significance to me as the biblical 2 word sentence - Jesus Wept.)  Although I know he wasn't weeping for my lack of cheese.. 

Anyway, eating on plan really isn't that hard once you get the mind going.  Lean meat, Veggies, Legumes, Berries.. We've been checking labels very carefully if it's something in a can or jar looking for items that have minimal ingredients, no added sugars, making sure the items in the jar are things you can pronouce, etc.. Trying to make sure that we are greatly reducing what processed food we allow in our bodies.  

This plan is easy enough to find things on menu's too that help you stick to a lean meat portion and veggies.  We're pretty excited that 2 of the items we love the most at our Fave Mexican restaurant are totally on plan - just take off the cheese and no rice.  What's left?  Lean meat and veggies cooked in amazing spices.

Here are some of the go to recipes we've been testing on our family that have received 10 thumbs up - 2 adults, a teen and 2 kids under 10.

- Cuban Flank Steak - DELICIOUS!!!  We serve it with Cilantro/Lime Black beans (Add cilantro and lime to some black beans) and top with Avocado & Tomato

- Qdoba Bowls (Our Version) - Start with Black beans, add the Barbacoa Beef (Used a grass fed roast), add sautee'd bell peppers and onions, Avocado, tomato and salsa/hot sauce.   You can also add lettuce if you want more of a salad feel.  (Pict is of the meat receipe we used, no tortillas were injured in the making of these bowls)..

- Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa - We cooked Tilapia, seasoned it a bit with some pepper, garlic, onion or whatever you like best.  For the Mango Salsa = Dice 1 Mango, Dice 1 avacado, chop 1/2 red onion, chop 1 deseeded, deveined Jalapeno (leave those in for more spice), juice of 1 lime, few TBSP's of fresh chopped cilantro and stir together.  Serve with Broccoli slaw on Romaine lettuce leaves for the "Taco" effect or chop the lettuce for more of a salad.

- Triple Berry Chicken Salad - One container of Spinach (or power greens or really whatever you like best.. I generally do a dark mix to get the most nutrients), 1 container of raspberries, 1 container of blueberries, 1 container of blackberries, 1 Avocado, Feta (we didn't have but the kids could add), 1 Rotisserie Chicken (or shredded chicken breasts) for the Salad.  Top the spinach with berries, avocado and chicken then drizzle with dressing.  For the Dressing - 3 Tbsp Olive Oil and 2 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar.  Whisk together until blended and then top salad.

-Paleo Pizza Casserole - SO this one is admittedly only a 5 Thumbs up.  The 2 kiddos under 10 were not big fans but I partly blame that on a ratatouille experiment gone bad many years ago.. they are apparently still harboring their dislike towards the squash family.  I liked it, our teenager liked it and my boyfriend gave it one thumbs up (he didn't mind it which is huge given his dislike for squash - so that's like 1.5 thumbs up)  I'd say if you like spaghetti squash, I think this is a good one!  Would be good with chunks of tomatoes, mushrooms, olives, green peppers and extra sauce- anything you put on a pizza to give you a little pizza fix.  I did use a bit of non-dairy cheese, the pepperoni was nitrate/nitrate free and the sauce was organic and natural - no added sugars.   

- Sweet Potato and Egg Hash.. Perfect for the weekend!

- Roasted Cauliflower - This was probably one of the biggest surprises.  My boyfriend likes raw cauliflower, I don't but like cooked.  We'd heard a lot of ravings about roasting it and I was really wanting to test it.  AH-MAZEBALLS.  Chop a head of cauliflower into florets or however you want to eat them on a cookie sheet, drizzle lightly with olive oil and toss with salt/pepper.  Roast in the oven at 400 degrees for about 20/25 min - until tender and browning.  I drizzle mine with some balsamic but none is really needed.  The first time we tried it, the kids ate almost half of what we cooked and they asked for it the next night.  It was that good =)



I have about a million more things I'm really anxious to try on my Pinterest board - it's been fun trying new things and VERY flavorful!!  

Here's a link to my "Recipe Bucket List" Some things on plan, some not (gasp.. I know) but look fun to try - http://www.pinterest.com/LMN0691/recipe-bucket-list/

Here's a link to my "Tried and True" board of things both on plan (and off - So ignore those..lol) that were hits!
http://www.pinterest.com/LMN0691/eat-drink-and-be-merry/

Mangia, Mangia - Hands in the air, 2 Claps..  GET THAT BONZA BOOTY BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh what a Beautiful Morning, Oh what a Beautiful Day...

Every time I hear those words - the sound of my mom's voice singing them, while waking me up in the morning, resounds in my head.  I wasn't *exactly* what you'd call a morning person and hearing that song while she opened up the blinds in my room to let the sun stream in was about the worst way to wake me up back then.  Probably why I occasionally do that to my kids now ;)  They need to enjoy that tradition..lol.  If you know me, you know how much I love Broadway musicals.  The love of Broadway was passed down to my brother and I through my parents, mainly my mom but my dad enjoyed them too. Hearing him sing "I was born under a wand'rin' star" is still one of the most cherished sounds I've ever heard.  It's the crazy little things that we remember about those we miss.  I remember how jelly would come through his teeth when he bit into toast, I remember loving to hear the way my mom's high heels clicked on the floor, I remember his deep laugh and how soft his hair looked when he left it natural, I remember how she loved to shock with her sense of humor and that incredible sparkle that never left her eyes.  

I lost my dad when I was 13, my mom when I was 36.  This is why my desire to become healthy is so strong.  I want to grow very old and enjoy life with those I love but I've also gone through losing both my parents by the age of 36, so I know it's not a given.  I want to experience so much with my kids and see the way they take on the world - they are huge in my motivation to get into a healthy lifestyle and mindset.  I want them to grow up with a healthy attitude when it comes to body image, food, fitness and have something REAL to reference in the world of Photoshop and fad diets.  

My two precious babes running freely and without abandon - LOVE THEM! =)
Cathy Walters Photography

I consider myself a healthy person in general meaning rarely sick, etc.. but I realize that under that facade - I'm really not.  At the start of this challenge, I was about 70 lbs over where I want to be.  I didn't exercise regularly  at all and I indulged in way too much of "taking care of me" that wasn't healthy: relaxing at the end of the day with a glass of wine and TV/Book, Glass of wine and a bath, slept in vs getting up to work out, "Treated" myself to Starbucks or something I knew wasn't healthy when I'd had a rough day/was tired/had a lot to do/name the excuse (and yes I'm beginning to realize I may need Starbucks anonymous..lol).  Point being - I wasn't taking care of me.  I was finding ways to bury my head in the sand and pretend that I had no control over what was happening.  I call Bullshit.  (Excuse the language - but.. lets be real).  Yes, people go through hard times, yes, shitty things happen in life, yes, it's stressful, yes, you can't find motivation when you're tired and yes you get depressed. Crazy since I consider myself happy most of the time, but seriously looking back to the moments I truly let myself feel - I felt sucked down and depressed.  I felt like there was no way out.  The hill was too steep to crawl up.  The hole I created was too deep and what better way to deal with it than continue to wallow in the self-loathing pit I was cowering in.  Forget about feeling reality, indulge to make yourself temporarily feel better.  (Disclaimer - I also went to counseling for almost 2 years to help me deal with a lot of the issues that were holding me down and realize being honest - deeply, painfully honest and revealing to myself was possible.  So I'm not discounting any personal depression, struggles, etc.. Just explaining my retreat and how I justified it until I got tired of being there and decided to find my way out..)  I also needed to believe in me. Being open about why I chose to do this challenge, asking my partner to do it with me and letting him see my insecurities, allowing myself to verbalize struggles, thoughts, impressions also gave them less power. There's a part of me that didn't want to open up, that didn't want to blog and express how bad I want this change - because what if I fail and am judged?  You know what??  That fear of failure is what kept me burying my head in the sand, pretending for far too long, it's what gave that unhealthy lifestyle power and it's what gave those negative thoughts in my head a voice.  No one is perfect, everyone has struggles, being real is what's unique. Opening up and trying is what feels powerful.  Admitting to my Bonza buddy I'd really love something off plan in a moment of weakness is what helps keep me from indulging and lets me dismiss that craving vs letting it linger in my thoughts. Will there be learning curves or roadblocks?  Absolutely but I feel more empowered to deal with them.  

One of the things that always inspires me when I think about my mom? Her resolve. She knew that there were times in her life she had to find a way to make things happen, regardless of how hard it was.  She did it with grace and a smile - and some shocking wit to make those eyes sparkle more.  I feel that resolve within me and am gaining confidence in knowing I can do this!!!!!

My Beautiful mom and I on a vacation, deciding on Henna Tattoos..

There is a healthier, fitter and deeply happier me waiting at the end of this.  I see her gaining strength, courage and becoming fierce in determination to see this through.  I can't wait to be her at the end!!!  And take her shopping!!!!!!! =)

Hands in the air, 2 Claps..  GET THAT BONZA BOOTY BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

15 days.. Do you wanna go to Starbucks?

I love this parody.. Do you wanna go to Starbucks? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SDIc6bGw9w

It's been 15 days and I've made it without my nonfat, no whip Cinnamon Dolce Latte.  I'm going to be hurt if Starbucks doesn't call me by the end of this challenge.  "Excuse us, but your card had been used 3-4 times a week and for 2 months, nothing.. Are you alive?"  YES - surprisingly yes... LOL!  14 days was the longest I'd made it in the past, sad but true. Today I was tired and having a case of the Monday blahs.. A perfect day for something warm with my name misspelled on the cup... BUT I SAID NO.  I have made it a separate goal during this challenge - I will not slide.  I know myself, if I slip once, the next time isn't very hard and then it's easier and easier.  

I am giving my boyfriend and I the "Hands in the Air - 2 Claps" Bonza salute for avoiding temptations and pitfalls this past week.  They say the first week is the hardest as your body goes through Heroin sugar withdrawal (luckily we made it without going through the shakes and sweats;)  However, we both agreed that last week was tougher.  The first week you had the adrenaline rush and excitement from starting, so it was easier to hold fast.  This week brought massive carb and cheese cravings and being in situations you'd normally indulge.  While we probably could have had a bit and counted the calories, we stuck to our goal of clean eating. Not ONE kernel of popcorn passed my lips as I held it in between my kiddos and had to smell it's buttery goodness when we went to see Paddington, not one taste of Orange Marmalade (Thanks Paddington for putting that craving out there), Not one potato, empanada, taquito, slice of brie or bite of flan during a party at our awesome neighbors home.  And while those things looked amazing - we weren't deprived.  We still enjoyed the most amazing Sancocho (Dominican Stew) known to man, just ate the meat, stuck to veggies and spent lots of time talking to great friends. It felt good to be in it together and stick to our goal of becoming healthier.  Don't get me wrong - next year for that gathering, I'll be enjoying some of those things but I'm forcing myself to take this step of figuring out what is really worth it and what is mindless eating.

At some point - I know I will count this as worth it again but not 3-4 times a week and not out of habit.  But for the remainder of these 50 days - we're on a break Starbucks.

All together now - Hands in the air, 2 Claps..  GET THAT BONZA BOOTY BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

50 Day Challenge!

Aloha!!  I'm not Hawaiian and I don't live on an island but if I won the lottery - I swear I would run a hotdog stand/bar on a beach.  I love the ocean and the beach - the memories I've made (and those I want to make) there are so special to me.

So onto why we're here.. I'm getting that Bonza Booty back =).  I started a 50 day challenge just 10 days ago and am feeling Bonza (Awesome in Australian).  << Cue "Everything is awesome" in the background>>  Growing up I NEVER struggled with weight, as I recently relayed, I was called Indiana Bones because I was so skinny.  I could eat whatever I wanted, never really worked out and metabolism apparently just dealt with it.  I still didn't think I had a great body, thought I had too small of a chest, my thighs were too big (I was a size 2) and I recall thinking somewhere in my 20's wow, I've never been in the double digits (going from a size 8 to a 10) - well lets try it.  WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING??  Looking back at those pictures I wish I would have embraced that body and skin I was in - because I'd give almost anything to have it back now.  

   

Fast forward, I'm now 39 and promised myself I'd enter my 40's a healthier me.  I've done the negative self talk too long and beat myself down with the "how on earth could you allow this?  How could you be so lazy and let this happen.."  Enough is enough, time to take the reigns and DO THIS. I'm done wasting my time on the negative energy, time to focus on the positives.  Enough excuses -Everyone's got a story and mine is no different.. Stress, divorce, working full time, being on the road at times for work, being a mom to 2 kiddos, loss of loved ones, putting too much weight (pun intended) on what others thought and not enough on loving myself and negative self talk all added up to bring me to where I am today.  As far as where I am today.. Lets just say, it's going to take sometime to reveal that # too.  I'm not happy with it and I'm not defining myself with a number but still it's a number I know I NEVER want to see again.  So, when the 50 Day Challenge with Bonza Bodies Fitness came up, I txt'd my boyfriend and asked him to join with me. He said yes and we dove in.  (I'm pretty sure after our first Bonza workout, he also hated me for that txt.. but we're both loving the energy and health changes we're feeling after only 10 days!)

I had to ask myself when starting this challenge, what's going to be different this time? I've done some in the past, lost some, felt over confident and then let old habits creep back in.  (Hello Starbucks Gold card..) For me, partnership and accountability is what is different this time.  Having my significant other partner with me is huge.  It makes it so much easier having someone understand what you're doing, plan recipes together, motivate each other to workout and keep each other accountable.  It's also been amazing knowing that someone can know my struggles openly in this department and not feel judged.  This challenge has been completely a No Judgement zone.  From my Bonza Buddy/Boyfriend, to our trainers, to other participants it's really an awesome team of supportive people.  I've also shared more openly (heck a lot more openly considering this blog..lol) with family, colleagues, friends who have all been incredible in their support and encouragement.  That's felt more empowering than I thought it could be.  It stripped back some vulnerability but added accountability and support.  =)

Finally, (I swear if you've read this far - there is an end!!) my main motivation for doing this is because I want to be a healthier me - be around and enjoy life with those I love for a very long time!  I lost my mom to breast cancer a few years ago and I know there are things I can do to minimize my risk.  If I can do anything that prevents my kids having to go through that - I want to do my part.  I can be a healthy weight (I'm not) and get regular exercise (I'm working on establishing that habit!).  Who knows what the future holds - but a lot of health issues can be fixed by healthy and clean living.  I feel like I owe it to me, my kids and those I love to do it.  And on the not serious side - I cannot wait to go shopping again and enjoy it!!!  No more making faces in the mirror unless it's a wink of approval =)

So with that - Hands in the air, 2 Claps..  GET THAT BONZA BOOTY BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!