Meal Plan Approved Chicken Quesadillas

Do you crave mexican?

Yeah, me too.

And I like to keep it healthy but its HARD because the restaurants pack all of our foods with fillers and preservatives and sodium, BLUCK. So I found a recipe that works GREAT with the 21 Day Fix plan AND with the Insanity Max 30 meal plan.

Feast your eyes.

Here's what you need:

- 3 free range chicken breasts
-whole grain tortillas or ezekiel tortillas
-Fage 0% greek yogurt
-red and green pepper
-onion
-organic shredded cheese
-salsa or diced tomatoes
-1 teaspoon coconut oil
-banana peppers
-black beans

Here's how it goes down:

Before making, boil the chicken breasts and shred meat. Takes about 15-20 minutes.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a pan, on medium heat, heat 1 teaspoon coconut oil
3. Add in onion, then add all peppers and about a cup of black beans - use fix containers for portions ;)
4. Throw chicken in to mixture for flavor and toss for a few minutes
5. Take wheat tortillas and line up on baking sheet
6. Add chicken and veggie mixture to each tortilla on ONE side of the tortilla (you'll flip the tortilla like a pita so you need to leave room)
7. Add cheese to the top of mixture and flatten the tortilla by folding over (about 2 tablespoons cheese per)
8. Put in oven for about 10-15 minutes, just long enough for cheese to melt and tortillas to crisp!
9. Take out, cut up and serve with salsa and fage greek yogurt for a sour cream taste!
10. Add hot sauce if you like spice

DINNER IS SERVED. And its a good one!

It's. About. To go. Down.

You know that song..."It's. About. To Go. Down!"

Scared is an understatement. But to be honest I NEED something new to push me. I need something that's going to question my ability to get through it, because that's how we grow in all things right? Just say yes.
First thought when I opened the box..."This program is actually setting you up to FAIL?"

Weird right? Nope. Ever heard of failing forward? That's kind of how this works. 

Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone to your max out time. The time when you HAVE to stop for a break. With the thought that the next time you do that particular workout, you can beat your previous max out time. Basically failing each day, in hopes that by the end of the program you can finish! Love it and love a good challenge.  Here is a little Pre-Insanity explanation of all things that come with the program <3 

I'll share my review after I complete day UNO! Wish me luck :)

Freedom in your Choices

It's that deep down, gut wrenching, sick to your stomach and worrying for days feeling that just doesn't go away over night.

If you've not dealt with anxiety, I pray that it never happens in your life and that you don't have to deal with the feelings associated with it. Such a crippling way to live sometimes and it's strange that it's so mental, and all to do with feelings and emotions that get triggered throughout the day. Some of us deal with nervousness or anxiety better than others. Honestly, when I ask my husband what he thinks anxiety is like, he can't even DESCRIBE it...Because he's not been there. And what he feels as nervousness, just isn't the same. You can try to explain it to someone ALL day, but if they've never been there, its just hard to explain in a way that makes sense or doesn't make you sound silly or crazy really!

For those who don't know me, I am someone who has dealt with anxiety and depression in my life, I've struggled with it since as long as I can remember...I'm talking, way back to the Pre-K days; I just didn't know what it was at the time. I'm a very sensitive person, I get my feelings hurt easily and I'm a people pleaser. All things that probably stem from anxiety to be honest. They are not a good combination. So I've been dealing with this my whole life - at one point I was put on medication (for 2 years) to cope with it, mainly when I started my "big girl" jobs. The pressures we all face when we go from college years to being a full blown "adult" can be tough and if you don't know how to handle them, the anxiety can make its way back in. Thats what happened for me. I lost myself. I wasn't able to function. I couldn't get out of bed without my husband or family dragging me. I couldn't even drive myself to my JOB. Here I am, with responsibilities and a family to take care of and I can't even take care of myself. Sometimes I wonder, why do I have anxiety but not someone else? Why do I have to tackle this feeling from the moment my eyes open to the time I lay my head down on my pillow? But the fact of the matter is, I've got it, it's not going anywhere so I need to DEAL.

And I've dealt. I've learned to live with it, and I've done it without medication for the last 3 years (go me!). One of the biggest things that helped was my decision to do something I LOVED instead of something that just paid my bills. I think because I didn't truly love what I doing, I wasn't able to ENJOY my days. I looked for the bad in EVERY situation. I still do this sometimes. It's that never ending battle of wanting to please EVERYONE and not always just deciding to make yourself and your family happy. And I think I started to feel better about this around the age of 28. I'm not 30 years old, and I still deal with this daily BUT, I've learned that I now have a priority thats ALWAYS number one, and thats my daughter, who is now 2. SHE is the reason I do everything; the reason I get up in the morning, the reason I want to do SO much with my job and the success I want to see, is better of her. I had to realize that not everyone can be pleased or be happy with your choices, but at the end of the day, they are just that...YOUR choices. <3 We have to be happy in this life. We only have ONE to live. Why in the world allow a FEELING to control so much of our limited days here on earth?

This anxiety is what almost had me PASS UP my opportunity to become an online health and fitness coach. It almost told me I COULDN'T do this and that I wouldn't be successful. Until I shoved those thoughts in the back of my mind, and gave up the reasons it WASN'T going to work, and started thinking of why it WOULD work for me and for my family. I feel so much more FREEDOM now - freedom with my time, freedom with my choices, freedom in what I decide to do with my business, because after all, its MY business and it's a GOOD one! There are so many things we say to ourselves daily that create a NEGATIVE energy, and we can live in old moments, the past, whatever...But those things aren't going to help our future. That energy is going to breed negative energy, and thats not healthy for anyone. So if you're dealing with or have dealt with anxieties, I urge you to dive into something that is a POSITIVE light in your life daily. God, your family, your business, your DREAMS. Go for it and don't have those regrets of what if...Because thats the worst thing you can do for yourself.  There is freedom in your choices, take scary risks and leave whats "safe", you might find a whole new opportunity patiently waiting for you.

Insanity: Max 30 Coming December 2014!

Ya'll know I've been talking about this one for a LONG time friends...And now I'm COUNTING DOWN the days until it's released. I've done LOTS of programs in the past, and one where I saw the best results post baby, was Insanity. But it was LONG. I couldn't get into it because it took up more than nap time and sometimes I couldn't fit the whole workout in before my little one woke up. But this is different. Shaun T has taken Insanity and his newest program, T25, and done a pretty amazing mesh - to bring us a BRAND SPANKING NEW workout program, that's going to give us the results of Insanity, with the time frame of T25.

A quick rundown:

• 150 new moves
• No equipment 
• Low impact modifier – yay! I didn't have this with Insanity, so I'm loving this! 
• 30 minutes, 5 days a week for 60 days

How is this different from Insanity?

It’s different because you are going to be pushed to your absolute MAX. Max: 30 takes the tabata style workout with a Shaun T twist. You are MAXING out each day and the hope is that your max out comes later in the workout each time!

After the first month comes what he likes to call, Friday Fight, and Shaun T says “it’s like 30 minutes of hell. It’s like Pure Cardio on crack. It’s a fight to test the will.” Anyone else nervous? haha Just kidding, I'm PUMPED! 

Is there a modifier?

YES!

Release date?

December 2, 2014

How much will it cost?

Customer retail price is $119.95 

Challenge pack? (Bundle of workout program and Shakeology - over $80 saved)

YES!

Challenge group and support system?

Absolutely! Nothing comes easy right? And we all need support...Sometimes thats the only thing that keeps us from being a success story. My Insanity Max 30 challenge group will be other fellow ladies doing this workout and sharing their progress, posting their thoughts, struggles, successes in an online private group setting daily! Along with that, I'll have meal plans available, tips on eating clean, Shakeology recipes and so much more.

This group will begin DECEMBER 15. Need to get involved? Ready to be in a group where you can get some change? Reach out to me here <--- we can chat through direct message on my Fitness page :)

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

If you're getting cold weather soon, or you're already snowed in...Continue reading.

After a day of snowball fights with the little one, we came in and warmed our tootsies by the fire and enjoyed THIS.

Here is my crockpot chicken noodle soup recipe:

{Its vague at times, I'm sorry, but I didn't do tons of measuring, just eyeballing}

The Goods:
3 boneless skinless organic chicken breasts
parsley
himalayan sea salt and pepper
organic chicken broth
water
carrots
onion
celery
egg noodles


Ok so I KNOW that soup has LOTS of sodium - Let me just start with that But sometimes you need a good soup when you are home and its freezing 

Take the chicken breasts, and place in about 1 box organic broth and a couple of cups of water...and let cook on low for 4 hours...add the salt and pepper and about a tablespoon of parsley. Add about 4 chopped carrots, 3 chopped celery stalks, and half a small onion chopped. THEN shred the chicken and and stir, adding more parsley and salt and pepper to taste.

Cook egg noodles according to package directions {they cook FAST!} <--- Could always use a whole wheat or spinach pasta if you wanted here as well. I LOVE egg noodles with soup!

Then add it to the slow cooker to warm up  At this point put your slowcooker on WARM. You don't want noodles to get mushy.Add more broth or water as needed! We like a hearty, thick soup in this house. Enjoy!

QDoba Style Clean Chicken Bowls

It's time to get these recipes flowing! First up is this bad boy: Clean Chicken Taco Bowls! 

What you'll need:

1.5 lbs chicken breasts

1 can black beans

1 jar organic salsa

1/2 lb frozen corn

1 tablespoon chili powder

1.5 teaspoons cumin

1.5 teaspoon minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/4 teaspoon himalayan salt

pepper

half avocado

2 cups brown rice or quinoa

plain Fage greek yogurt

The deal:

Add all to crockpot/slow cooker. Stir it up. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.

When you are close to cooking time, cook two cups brown rice according to package directions. 

Add  1 ½ lbs chicken breasts, 1 (16 oz.) jar organic salsa, 1 (15 oz.) black beans – drained,  ½ lb frozen corn, 1 T. chili powder, 1 ½ tsp.  cumin, 1 ½ tsp. minced garlic, ½ tsp. dried oregano, ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper, ¼ tsp. salt and pepper to taste to slow cooker. Stir. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours. Near the end of the cooking time, cook two cups of brown rice according to package directions.

Combine rice and mix 'er all up! Once you've done that - scoop out your portion and put it in your fave bowl in preparation to devour. Top with chopped avocado and a tablespoon of plain greek yogurt for a sour cream feel ;)

ENJOY! 

Life is about Living

Anyone else a believe in Personal Development and the greatness that it does for the body, mind and soul? I think its safe to say that even just a year ago, I didn't feel like I "needed" PD, that I could get by without it - you know - trying to CONTROL everything. After all, I'm realizing that I have a really hard time letting go of control. But I'm learning more and more, that I can let it go, and things will be *alright*.

I will say if you are one who enjoys Personal Development, "You are a Badass" by Jen Sincero is a GOOD read. I'm 4 chapters in and already feeling so much more put together but in my personal life AND the business end of things.

Today I just wanted to touch on the growth I've had with my at home business and how this book has been perfect for that thus far. Do you think its safe to say that the majority of people live in an illusion based on someone elses beliefs? You know, your parents told you something growing up, so then it became YOUR thoughts and so on and so forth? As we grow older, take on responsibilities in our own lives, its safe to say that some stay in that "place" and some step out, creating new tracks, exploring their thoughts and beliefs. When we are growing into adults we get others beliefs, their opinions and their thoughts drilled into our heads and naturally we pass that on many times to our friends and families of our own. Not sure if that's the subconscious mind at work or what. Its important that I become AWARE of my subconscious thoughts and how they change my feelings and thoughts on everyday life events.  There's something to be said about drawing from positive energy and staying away from those people and things that don't create that for you. Why would you want to be sucked into their negativity too? It's just creating a negativity in your life that whether you realize it or not, you are FEELING.

I've always had anxiety and so going to a job everyday that I didn't love was scary and gave me feelings of terror and fear everyday. I've always worked hard, I've worked since I was 14 and never NOT had a job so its not a fear of working hard. It's just the fears of failing or the WHAT IF's that come on. When I decided to pursue coaching and running this little fitness business from home and mostly on social media, I had real FEARS. I had a fear that I would fail. The fear of what others would say. The fear of being able to juggle both my job and a baby doing both at home. The fear of just UNKNOWNS plain and simple. But so many times people are in these jobs that they LOATHE and working for someone elses dream - and they forget about their own. In this little PD read I'm currently doing, she stated "Why work for someone who makes your skin crawl?" And that right there should be enough for anyone who is unhappy or wanting a change to say, YES, I'm going to change what I don't like and do something I DO like, and I'm going to pursue it day in and day out. There are times where I've had to believe in the process even when things are at their most uncertain...Even when things did not look bright...I had to realize that there is always a silver lining and that things could look up at any time. And thank God they did. I'm working from home - creating hours for myself and my team around the baby's nap time and her schedule. I'm bettering myself and so many others are getting incredible life changes because of it. I'm creating a future for my family and this little one that I do any and everything for.

Life is about LIVING - It's about enjoying each moment as it comes and soaking up those moments rather than living in the past or the future at all times. It's not that the things or opportunities we want in life don't exist, its just that maybe we aren't aware yet. Maybe you don't even realize what you can do!

PLEASE, don't miss opportunities in this life because you are too wrapped up in the scary chatter in your head telling you otherwise. Do we have responsibilities as adults? Of course. So planning for the future HAS to happen, yes. Should we visit the past and the future? Yes. But occasionally. I'll tell you what I need to do less of, spending so much time on the "what ifs" or the "how comes".

"The more time you spend in the moment, the richer your life will be". Easier said than done for a person with high anxiety. But I'm living this motto and working on it everyday.

Some people may not understand your goals - But you create your reality. Growth isn't for the scared...But its much better than living the life you don't enjoy now if you really haven't GONE FOR IT. Have faith; Trust that your new life is happening and its going to be better than what you left behind!

"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are."

As Each Month Passes

I sat in thought for a long time before even knowing where to begin with all of this.

How should I begin my blog?
What should my first post be about?
What if people don't like it?

And then I began to think about why I started this blog. Do I want people to follow it and enjoy it, maybe get some little nuggets of knowledge along the way, of course! Do I want you to come away with recipes and tips and things to help you along your fit journey? Yes! But I also want you to get to know me and my family through all of this. And so with that, I give you my first post, sharing with you the hardest part about my life journey so far!

Many of you know I am a mom to a beautiful baby girl {or should I say toddler, as she's 2 years old now} and am married to my wonderful husband, Brandon. We have been together since our freshman year of college, so 12 years with this man, and 7 years of marriage. Blessed for sure! With marriage, you very well know I'm sure, comes trials along the way. Well, when our family of two decided we wanted to add a baby to the mix, we were beyond excited and couldn't wait to welcome a little bundle to our family.  So we began thinking about that next step in 2010. We tried and tried and as each month passed, I began to worry if I would ever become a mommy. I knew thats what I wanted more than anything, I knew that was something missing from my life and I just knew that God had a plan for us. But each month would come, and each month would go, and still nothing. Frustration set in, and doubts crept in too.

It was a trying time in our marriage, and with months of disappointment, we decided it was best to seek help from my doctor. I was placed on medication to help with fertility and stuck with that for the 3 months the doctor recommended. At the 3 months mark, I met with the doctor because nothing was working. She suggested trying the medication for the maximum length recommended, 6 months...And so we did. But the fourth month came and went, the fifth month - nothing...On the sixth month, I prayed that God would take this fear and worry away from me, and I gave it all to Him. There was a certain peace with that, knowing that I had no control and was giving that to Him. On Christmas Eve, the last week of the last month of medication, Westley was conceived! Crazy how that all works right? The moment we stop WORRYING and trying to control things, the moment it happens.

We have been blessed with two wonderful years with that little spitfire, baby girl and I wouldn't trade it for the WORLD. Being a mommy has definitely been the most fulfilling thing I've ever done and I am grateful for her and the joy she's brought into our lives.

So where am I going with this? Well...We are now ready to grow our little family once more. And we have been trying for months. Each month comes and each month passes...We haven't sought medication or help this time around, just yet. I'm not against it and would definitely do it again, but wanted to share WHY I am eating well and exercising daily. Part of the reason I changed my lifestyle was to provide nutrients for Westley as I nursed her and to teach her healthy living as she grew older, developing healthy habits early on. Now that we are struggling to get pregnant this time around, I want to focus on my eating habits and staying active. I want to attempt to get pregnant without the medications that left me gaining weight, feeling unhappy, and not myself. The best thing I can do for this baby who we have yet to meet, is to be a healthy mom BEFORE I get pregnant. So I am working on that, and I pray that in His timing, God allows us to welcome another sweet babe into this world!

Until then, I will enjoy these two blessings that are a part of my life and continue to push me on my journey as a healthy, happy fitwife & mom. <3