Hello Portion Control, Nice to Meet You

I've been under the illusion that if I'm making my own food, and it's mainly lean and green, with some "healthy" carbs, that I am doing the right thing.  Hah! Wrong.  Wrong, wrong, wrong.  Part of it is right, but portion control is SO IMPORTANT and so not something we Americans are good at.  In any part of our lives, we love to over indulge. I love to over indulge.  But, I am learning that indulgence (by definition: to yield to an inclination or desire) is a treat, not a way of life. So, in turn, I am learning how to control portions; the size and amount of food I eat in a day impacts me beyond what I ever thought it could.  

It did take a couple weeks to actually feel full/not starving on the portions my meal plan was allowing.  At first I doubled the veg/lean protein, or added in a whole wheat bread of some sort.  Now, I'm doing much better, eating much less, and eating properly.  (Finger up when I take a sip and all. ;-) )

I have definitely decided that I am a breakfast eater, or just an eater... But without breakfast my day is hard.  According to Chris, I am always hungry.  Which, if I do not eat, I get hangry, very very hangry! It's easy to avoid, if I eat a good breakfast.  When I'm home I like to make healthy veggie scrambles with farm fresh eggs from my awesome cousin! But, when I have to be to work super early, that isn't much of an option... My favorite thing for work days are Overnight Oats.  So easy to prep 3 or 4 days in a row and just grab one in the morning and you are SET!

Overnight Oats, before Almond or Coconut Milk

OVERNIGHT OATS

1/4 cup Old Fashioned Oats

1/2 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk 

(I like Vanilla Unsweetened, and you can use Coconut Milk also)

1 scoop Protein Powder 

(My new fav is Fit Miss in Vanilla Chai)

1 Tbsp Chia Seeds

1/2 Tbsp Cacao Nibs

1/2 Tbsp Peanut Butter (or any nut butter)

1/4 cup berries 

(blackberries or strawberries(sliced) are my favorite)

2 tsp honey

Put all ingredients in a mason jar, and let sit overnight.  I usually make up to 3 days in advance.  

Today I also tried a new recipe that is going to stick around for quite a while, I even think Chris will like it! I love a good crockpot recipe, I love getting everything ready, puting my crockpot on low to cook and blend flavors for hours without me having to do much at all.  I also am really excited that I now have lunch and dinner for at least the weekend, if not a while after that!  Makes meal prep a breeze, since I have breakfast for all weekend prepped from last night.  Go me! 

Crockpot Black Bean Chili

(With lots of extra yumminess)

2 Tbsp EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)

1 White Onion

1 lb ground chicken/turkey or 1 package Tofu

2 tsp Cumin

1 1/2 Tbsp Chili Powder (to your liking) 

1 Tbsp Cayenne Powder

2 tsp coriander

2 tsp-1 Tbsp Salt

1 tsp Black Pepper

dash/pinch of cinnamon

(Split spices in half)

1/4 cup minced Garlic

1 can Black Beans

1 can Kidney Beans

2 cups sliced Mushrooms (I like Crimini)

1 cup Bell Pepper, diced

1 cup Sweet Potato, cubed

1 cup Butternut Squash, cubed

2 cups Quinoa (I use a quinoa/ancient grain mix)

1 can Fire Roasted Tomatoes + 1 can water

1 small can Spicy V8

Heat oil in pan over Medium heat, add onion, cook until soft

Add meat/tofu and 1/2 of spices, cook until browned

Add all ingredients to slow cooker

High for 5-6 hours, depending on you slowcooker 

I think I'm getting the hang of this food photography! 

Enough about food, even though it basically runs my life right now.  I have not been able to workout in a week and it's killing me! I slipped and fell on the ice last weekend and went from feeling 28 and wonderful to feeling 88 and in pain in a matter of seconds! Haven't been able to do much, getting through work decently enough the last couple days and really trying to mend my body.  Went to see my lovely Chiropractor today and he told me that I messed my lower back up real well.  Had one of the highest adjustments I've ever had, including after my car accidents.  EEK! I honestly never in my life thought that I would miss working out, but I do.  I can't wait to get back into it, I'm going to start on Sunday with my Yoga Camp again and see how I do!  

Thanks for following along with me on the this crazy journey! Hope you enjoy these recipes, there will be lots more to come!! Comment with things you would like to read about, or if you have any questions! :) I'm off to ice my lower back.... after I put on a sweatshirt. 

Meal Prep has taken over, in a good way!

Woah! Somehow we are already half way through the first month of the beautiful new year! Not sure how that happened, but it did.  I have been slacking in my blogging duties, but really, I haven't had much to share.  I have been following my TIU meal plan, for the most part, and working out daily, for the most part.  In these 3 1/2 weeks, I have realized a lot about myself.  Mainly, I am not going to EVER give up a few things in life (foodwise).  In no particular order, those things are: *iced 12oz caramel americanos with milk. *WINE (although I am going to not drink on worknights... for a bit) *Egg yolks.  because the whites gross me out! *salt *cheese (OMYum) *Gluten.  I do not have to live a gluten free lifestyle, there for, I will not.  (Trust me, I'm nicer when I can have bread)

Me today.  Its my Monday. :/

I have struggled with the working out part more than I have the food part.  Which, if you know me, is not a big shocker.  Like I've told you, I really have never worked out before.  Especially not for an extended period of time, and definitely not while hungover! But, watch out world, this new Alex might just take over! I have decided to take it easy on the days that I have to wake up at 4am for work.  I am just so exhausted on those days, it is hard for me to do much of anything.  Maybe eventually, or even tomorrow, I will be able to do my TIU workout.  For now, my goal tomorrow is to complete my Yoga Camp.

But enough about tomorrow, today I really felt the turning point, I powered through a section in the workout that was crunches with alternating left and right punches without a break! (woo) and then I jumped back into plank, held plank, and powered through that section too! :) I am so proud of myself, and in seeing the changes there is no turning back.  I am on the right track to health and loving my body! All of these things are full on non-scale victories! I haven't actually lost any weight, YET!

Veg all prepped out!! :) Simple Life!

Along with my Weekly Workouts from TIU, I am also doing Yoga Camp with Adriene.  I follow a bunch of fellow TIUGirls on Instagram and saw so many doing this, that I joined in also!  She is so relaxing, and funny, and I am moving in ways I was unaware I could, already.  (Joined late, finished day 3 today)

Constantly meal planning, but loving every minute of it. 

My meal planning has taken over the kitchen/fridge/ottoman/house. lol  I've never been this much of a meal planner, but man, it takes all the thought out of it.  I am eating more veggies than ever! Lean proteins, and finding new foods to love!  I am also learning how to cook on a healthier side, less salt, less fats, and foods that fill me up and leave me feeling healthy!!  Extra Bonus: Chris is loving the foods too! :)

I think I've caught you all up, shared some fun photos, eaten my dinner while blogging, and now it's time to go.  To continue to meal prep!! ;) Hope you all have a great night, thanks for following along!

Tomorrow is the day.

Tomorrow is the day.  The day I begin my journey to re-find myself.  Not that I've lost myself, I've just put myself to the side for the past few years.  I've been focusing on my job, my family, my appetite.  Appetite for life, for love, for food, for WINE! In that pursuit, I've lost track of me.  I turned 28 a couple months ago, and I'm ready to really focus on my health, on fitness and food.  A different kind of food though, not the kind that makes my feelings happy, but the kind that makes my body healthy and happy.  

I've found that the best way to focus on anything in life, is to be fully prepared.  I'm very good at preparing, at least for the things I can control.  So after work today I meal-prepped quite a bit.  I got all of my lettuce chopped, kale cut, bell peppers and mushrooms chopped and stored safely! I will be cooking my chicken either that day or the night before to get meals ready for workdays.  This way I can make sure to set aside time to check-in with myself and the TIU community. 

As I've told you before, I'm following the TIU 8 week challenge and with that I'm finding a few hurdles I wasn't fully prepared for.  For starters, I'm not big on spending anywhere over $30 for protein powder let alone $50 + shipping.  I'm sure their Perfect Fit Protein Powder is awesome, but I just can't spend that much.  So, I have the protein powder I really do love in my shakes, and I needed some for a baked item (donuts!).  Oh man, bad bad bad! Like, bad bad bad! Now I'm on the hunt for a new protein powder, that I can get in the small town I live in and that isn't too expensive... :/ Wish me luck, I think I'm going to need it.

I'm not letting that discourage me though, neither am I letting the fact that I haven't worked out since Thursday discourage me.  I worked a super long day yesterday, 12 hrs starting at 4am, and was asleep on the couch by 6pm last night. And today, well, today I just didn't... :/ Not that I still couldn't, but I've had a horrible neckpain/headache all day and today is not yet tomorrow. ;) (hello, queen of excuses) So again, tomorrow is the day! 

Another thing that bothered me, but I have already overcome, is that the meal-plan isn't quite as planned as I would hope.  The grocery list isn't quite accurate, and neither are the planning days.  Thankfully tho, I am quite the planner.  I had already gone over Week 1 multiple times, therefore I think I bought all that I could from one grocery store and will be hitting up a specialty store in the morning.  

Well, I think that's all for today.  Sorry for not having any pictures, I was so in the zone while prepping and cleaning that I did not get any taken.  Isn't it so nice to not be attached to our phones every once in a while?! :) Thanks for listening!