Turkey Chili

You know how you want chili on a cold day, but sometimes chili can take a long time to cook, and not to mention it's not so healthy for you?

Well your in luck! I found the perfect recipe for your chili needs! Straight out of the 21 day fix extreme meal plan. :) 

What you need:

1 tsp of olive oil

1.5lbs of 93% lean ground turkey

1 medium onion chopped (I used onion powder)

1 medium green pepper chopped (I used red)

3 cloves of garlic, chopped (I used garlic powder)

1.5 tsp. of ground cumin

1 Tbsp. of chili powder

1/2 tsp. of sea salt

1/4 tsp. of cayenne pepper (optional, and I didn't use it)

2, 15oz cans black beans (I used 1 black bean and one can of corn)

1, 15oz can of diced tomatoes, no sugar added

12 fresh cilantro springs, finely chopped (for garnish, optional, I didn't use this either)

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat

2. Add turkey, onion, pepper, and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally

3. Add cumin, chili powder, salt, and cayenne pepper; cook, stirring constantly for 1 mintue

4. Add beans and tomatoes (with liquid) bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, gently boil, stirring occasionally for 15-20 minutes or until thickened (mine took about 30 minutes to thicken to how I liked it) 

5. Serve and sprinkle with cilantro

Day 3!

And on day 3...

She did Pilates...

Okay, so she TRIED to do Pilates! 

Me and Pilates don't get along. Not for any reason but the honest one...I have a bad spot in my back.  It always, always gets aggravated by Pilates types of moves.  I got through a little bit of it, and decided it wasn't worth it.  

I have this problem with working out.  Meaning, I can not stand to skip days.  Mostly because I have eaten something bad, or drank something bad the night before, and feel like I NEED to workout.  Today, I didn't.  

Day 3, still going strong.  I had one slip up today...and it was only a whole grain english muffin.  We aren't allowed those on the Fix Extreme meal plan. I had one toasted, with 2 eggs in-between it.  So it is what it is!  

I'm anxious to share my week 1 results in a few days.  I feel good.  I really, really do.  They say the first few days are the hardest, and I truly believe that.  Yesterday I was hungry..and not because I don't eat on this meal plan. I eat! Some people can't eat all they are required to eat.  Me? I love food.  And I got hungry, and just wanted to grab cheese and crackers and shove them in my mouth!  But that's what got me here in the first place.  To many days of just shoving food in my face!  

So today I spaced out my meals a bit more, and planned my days for the next couple of days.  I'll go to the store Saturday and get food for my weekend. I can't shop for to many days at a time...baby steps.  Meal planning is new to me, so I don't want to try and do to much to soon! 

I did make this today...it's in the refrigerator chilling.  Shakeology, PB, oatmeal, raisins and almond milk! 

I know I know...not the prettiest, but I bet it will be good LOL.  And I will totally be okay with my kids having this for breakfast if they want! 

So, that's day 3 in a nutshell...tomorrow is lower fix extreme..AKA...LEG DAY.

21 Day Fix Extreme, day 1

  I am super excited to be starting my first round of the fix extreme program! So excited.  I have had some bad habits creep back in, and this is just what I need to get back on track.  Last February when the original 21 day fix came out, I lost 11lbs and 8.5 inches in just 21 short days.  This program is a step up, and a little more strict, and there are NO cheat days.  No wine, no sweet treats.  And every workout is done with weights or resistance bands!

I promised to blog about my journey, so here we go!  

First off, my container count looks like this everyday. 

3 greens (veggies)

2 purples (fruits)

4 reds (protein)

2 yellows (carbs)

2 tsp (oils and nut butters)

1 orange (dressings)

1 blue (healthy fats)

Day 1~

Workout was Plyo Fix.  Plyo with weights!  Legs are jello! 

Breakfast

I ALWAYS start my day with Shakeology and a banana.  This morning I worked out around my normal breakfast time, so I had a banana, then had my shake blended with 2tsp of peanut butter. (those are the tsp of oils and nut butters I am allowed) 

Mid morning snack was 12 almonds (I work outside the home for 2 hours a few days a week, so I was in a rush but it kept me satisfied until lunch)

Lunch was a big salad with 2 eggs, red peppers and a little bit of dressing on it.  I made a homemade balsamic vinaigrette from the Fix recipes. 

Afternoon snack was a small apple.

Dinner was something new I tried...Turkey meatloaf, and man it turned out so good! I paired it with a sweet potato and some cottage cheese. The meatloaf equaled out to 1 red, 1/2 yellow and 1/2 purple.

(try to not be to jealous of my awesome paper plates..my dishwasher is broke lol)

Over all it's been a pretty good day! Night time is here, and this is my weakness....glass of wine, beer with hubby, snacks to go along.  NOT going to happen. I'm committed! 

Would you bully a friend? Would you talk to a friend the way you talk to yourself? Would you grab their "love handles" and call them fat? Would you grab that extra skin on their arms and fling it back and forth, frowning at them, telling them they better start doing more push-ups? I think not. As woman, we have to learn to love each and every part of who we are. Last Friday when I posted a flex Friday picture, at the same time someone I follow here on Instagram did too. She's got amazing arms. AMAZING. What did I do? Started to feel silly. I was so close to deleting the post of MY arms because I thought I wasn't "ripped" enough. I let that self sabotage sink in. My stomach has always been my "problem" area. I once had someone who was very close to me, walk up behind me and grab both my sides...then proceeded to say it looked like I was gaining weight (haha funny funny she thought!) That happened 15 years ago and it still scars me. Nowadays, I work to reach my goals and also remember that I carried two little humans inside of it for 8 months. #bodiesareamazing We are all built differently. We all carry weight in different places. We all are on different journeys, and we were all created to be US. No one else! Embrace your imperfections. Remember how far you have come. This is YOUR freakin life my friends. Your body. And remember we all started somewhere. Don't compare your beginning to someone else's middle or end... Now go look in the mirror and tell yourself your sexy. #bringingsexyback #nofilter

2015 vision board

Today has been a super crazy emotional day, that started before the sun came up. I won't go into detail about the events that took place, BUT I wanted to share my goals publicly for the first time in 2 years. I remember the first time I ever shared my vision board, and it was scary, scary stuff. I thought who in their right mind would put some crazy out there that MIGHT not even come true, so then if it doesn't, the entire world can watch you fail...
That's what I USED to think. I also used to think that dreaming big was stupid, and something I should never do. Because why would I, small town girl who's battled depression, been overweight, and been knocked down more times then I would like to admit, why would I possibly think any of those things would happen. I stayed in my shell, I thought it "would be cool" to make some of those things happen, but never in my life have I EVER felt like this. Never have I felt so in control of my destiny, and in control of my future.
What changed? I don't know. I do know I haven't got it all figured out yet. What I do know, is the day I stopped comparing myself to other people and what they wanted THEIR life to look like, is the day I finally saw my vision to be so much clearer.
I am learning to stop over thinking so much, to let go and give the universe total control. To wake up and know that I am here for a reason, I am here to make wonderful, totally awesome things happen.
Because this life, this is it my friends. We get one shot. Why should we sit in the corner and watch everyone else be happy, but yet feel so sad and down ourselves each day....
I get it. It's tough stuff. It's hard to love you, and just YOU. It took me years to finally realize it starts with me....if I don't believe in myself, who the hell else will believe in me?
My goals used to seem scary to me, but when I was creating this today, I just thought of everything that was in my heart, and it went on this board. From having another baby, to helping 4 of my coaches become diamonds this year to hit my personal HUGE SCARY goal of 5 star diamond by the end of the year.
I'm not scared this time...I'm excited to see what's in store for my team, my family, and me in 2015.

Stop comparing

Right? Because honestly, do we REALLY know their struggles? I'm here to break the news to you...no one, I repeat NO ONE, is perfect.
I work closely with a LOT of woman. Some are stronger then nails, others doubt everything they do from the way they do their hair to the way they dress, to the way they parent.
Because someone is ALWAYS doing it better then us.
Am I right?
That girl over there never looks bad, she ALWAYS looks like she just rolled out of bed and looks beautiful...that Mom over there ALWAYS has it together, her kids are perfect, her house is perfect, and man her husband is perfect too....that business owner who makes her job look EASY and just bounces through life not having to work hard, everything just falls into her lap....
What you don't see, is that woman who spends hours in her bathroom in front of the mirror, wondering if she has gotten her hair to look PERFECT, or if anyone will notice the wrinkles coming in around her eyes....we don't see the Mom who is hanging on by a thread at 6pm most days, who doesn't get anymore then 4 hours a sleep a night, and who cries herself to sleep sometimes....we don't see that successful business owner who is plugging in hours at her desk, frustrated most days because she thinks her hard work will never pay off, but deep down in her GUT she hears God whispering "don't you dare give up"

If these are just a bunch of words to you, then you might be missing my point. My point is this.
You are YOU. You are an awesome, amazing, PERFECT you. You are crazy cool, and super fabulous, and what you THINK might be your flaws, are make up that perfect part of you.
God created you to be the one and only....you need to stop caring about what THAT woman looks like, what THAT Mom is doing, or what THAT business woman is doing....
Comparing yourself to other people, is the WORST thing you could do do yourself if your trying to grow, be happy, or just get your shit together. When you start to focus on YOU, and only you....I promise, promise, promise, everything will gently and slowly fall into place.
So starting today...pinky swear me you are going to be your most awesomely perfect self, and not think anyone else is cooler then you.
K?

Catching up

I promise I will be catching up with all my holiday news asap! I sent my kiddos off to school today, after being off for 14 days. Needless to say it was a tad rough, but we made it lol! I first wanted to share the most awesome gift I received...probably the most thoughtful and caring gift I have ever received. A necklace with my father in-laws finger print on it. I of course broke down crying, but wow. I'm still in shock. My mother in-law is amazing. To remember that I said one day I wanted one of those just a couple days after he passed, and make that happen for me shows just how incredible of a person she is. I will never forget this Christmas and how special she made it for us all, while going through her own personal struggles. Love you Nana!! #missyoupapa