End of the year reflections and New Year's aspirations.

It's mid December and....much to my dismay, another year has passed even faster then the year before.  Just as we manage to get our asses smacked by the 2012 door , we are already hopeful for what lies ahead.  That's a glass half full attitude and I love that so many of us look ahead to a new year.

A New Year is, frankly, everyone's new beginning. We all start with a clean slate with our diets and attitudes.  This year I am going to______________________________! (With vigor and meaning, right?)  Then by January 15th or so we slowly fall back into our same ole, same ole habits....because that's who we are, easily distracted.  It's much easier to give up and give in than it is to say "self...get your shit together and stick with it!"

Somehow the voice that pumps you up and gets you to that amazing place of accomplishment is quieted by that rotten lazy bitch that holds more water than reason.  I hate her...coming in with her combat boots on squishing my motivation with her oh-so-sweet "it's just one day....you can workout twice as hard tomorrow" or the ever-loving "Who doesn't love cheese fries?  You DESERVE it".  Deserve what? To lose? To succumb to the temptation of food that I will only poop out in 8-12 hours?  Deserve to FAIL?

YOU DO NOT DESERVE TO FAIL!

Failure is NOT an option.  Your body is this amazing living, healing machine.  Why do we continue to sabotage the one thing that brings us happiness? Why aren't we looking at our children, our spouses, our selves and saying YOU DESERVE THE BEST? Why don't you deserve the best? Can't afford the best? You can't afford not to.  Pay now or pay later, right? If you don't take care of that amazing living, healing machine now, you WON'T be able to convince your body to take care of itself later.

I am telling you now that if you don't take a good long hard look into that mirror and tell yourself to get your act together...this year will be just like last year and the year before that and the year before that.  When do we say "I AM WORTH IT! MY FAMILY IS WORTH IT!"?

Truth: America is the ONLY country in the world whose budget does not have FOOD as their number one priority.  Food and water...the ONLY two things you NEED.  I mean in reality you can live without food for days, but not water.

This is YOUR YEAR! Make it happen, make it that year that you look back on; that year that you define in your life as before 2013 and after 2013! Dream BIG!, LIVE! Feed your body and soul!

Cheers!

Jeni

Resetting yourself

As I go through these stages in life, learning more and more about food and nutrition.  I become constantly amazed at the way FOOD impacts our life.  I want you to imagine for a second if you could not smell or taste.  You would only be able to eat food based on what you see.  Do you think you would be more likely to eat this:  

 or this

The amazing things that food can do for your body are just phenomenal.  It gives you life or death, right?  Food can fuel your body, mind, and soul or stop you dead in your tracks, literally.

We take advantage of the earth in so many ways, taking for granted food.  WE HAVE THE POWER to choose if food will kill us or truly give us a healthy life.  WE HAVE THE POWER to skip the drive through and prepare a healthy meal.  It's in our hands.  I am begging you to eat for life, not death.

Food can equal:

• Energy or lethargy
• Gas/bloat or healthy digestion
• Strong heart or heart disease
• Invigorating breath or barely breathing
• Running a marathon or sitting on the couch.

FOOD is energy, life, and health.  Every time you take a bite you are one step closer to life or death.

A friend of mine said something so profound to me it has stuck: "ONE BAD MEAL CANNOT MAKE YOU FAT; ONE HEALTHY MEAL CANNOT MAKE YOU THIN".  These are our every day choices, in moderation that make us who we are, and after all, we are what we eat.

When you stop and make a good choice, you will feel no guilt, no bloat, no weight gain.  Making a good food choice is setting the example for your spouse, and your children.  Make a small change a REAL goal to drink more water, or do 10 push ups for one full week.  When the week is done, pat yourself on the back and set another goal!

My goal this week is less alcohol.  I like a beer or whisky at night before bed to unwind and relax.  this week NO BOOZE!  What will you do for yourself this week?

Cheers!

Jeni

Are you up for a challenge?

I've been Facebooking and tweeting the last month or so the importance of good nutrition.  Everyone knows that good nutrition is key to good health.  You hear it on the news, in reports, the facts are the facts are the facts.  Period, right?

So why don't we eat healthier?  Well that's an easy answer, cause crappy food tastes better, makes us feel cozy when we eat it, and makes us feel like we are comforted.  

What if I told you that good food (fruits, veggies, nuts and a little lean protein-not processed meat) everyday for 10 days straight would make you feel better than you've ever felt in your life?  10 days of healthy eating-NO CRAP like processed food (if it comes in a box or a can...don't eat it), extra refined sugar, and NO FAST FOOD.  I guarantee in 10 days you'll feel better.  You'll have more energy, your skin will look better, you'll be in a better mood, and you know what else?  you'll lose weight.  

I highly recommend doing this for 10 days, but realistically it's tough to change like that, and after 10 days you'll be salivating for something terrible. So here is my challenge...for ten days drink 4 liters of water per day, if you already do that, then eat a piece of fruit everyday, if you already to do that, then cut red meat out.  you see where I am going?  Do something good for your HEALTH for 10 days straight. Then tell me how you feel.

If you really feel ambitious rent one of these movies: 

Food, Inc

Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead

Forks Over Knives

Ingredients

Food Matters

Who is going to take me up on my challenge?

Getting My Healthy On-January 2012 edition

On January 1, 2012 (like every other person) I made a resolution to be a healthier mom and wife for a few reasons:

1. To take off a few pounds (like 15 or so) so I don't have to lug such a big ass around when I run.
2. To set an example for my kids (and husband).
3. To feed my family food that is fueling them and not bringing them down and making them cranky, tired, and crave more bad food.
4. To make that lifestyle change I swear I'll do every year, but can't quite bring myself to throw out all the bad crap my family is eating.

So the first thing we, as a family, did: 

• Went to Costco and stocked up on nice fresh veggies and fruits
• Cleaned out all the crap we became MORE addicted to over the holidays
• candy
• cookies
• beer
• wine
• chips 
• dip

• Once I brought the food home I cleaned it all and put it in snack bags.  This took about 30 minutes in all, BUT this 30 minutes saved me from:
• Wasting food (cause if it's not EASILY ACCESSIBLE no one is gonna eat it)
• By putting it in snack bags, it's a "perfect portion" for anyone.
• Talk about 'grab-n-go' and fruits and veggies are so easy to eat on the run-no fuss and no mess!

 Fresh Fruit...I have this bowl filled with cleaned fruit ALL.THE.TIME.

Carrots in snack bags (there's about 5-6 baby carrots per bag) 

 Celery stalks in snack bags (there are three 7" stalks cut in half for a total of 6 pieces per bag)

And of course Shakeology, helps me keep up with my crazy kids, job, and exercise.  I never start my day without it. 

Meal Planning is another great way to save money and cut back on your calorie intake.  Planning your meals for your family forces you to stop and think about how much food you have to buy.  My Friend Kari does this, and she's lost around 40 lbs since last year this time (maybe more). 

If you can plan the meal so that each family member gets their portion, you don't have wasted food or over-eating.

So what kind of meals are we talking about?  Something that's easy to make and easy on the budget, right? 

Here are some of my family's favorites:

Stuffed Peppers

• Stuffed peppers with steamed california veggies on the side ( I stuff my peppers with orzo instead of rice) here's my recipe for a family of 5:
• preheat oven to 375° 
• fill a 9x12 pan with a enough water to cover just the bottom of you pan
• 1lb of cooked ground turkey or beef
• 4 large bell peppers halved with seeds removed
• 2 cups of rice or orzo (cooked)
• 2 TBSP of worchester sauce
• 1 TSP pepper
• 1 TSP salt (I always use kosher or sea salt)
• 1 can of tomato paste
• 1/2 cup of beef broth  

Mix all ingredients together well (EXCEPT THE BELL PEPPERS) and fill your peppers with your mixture, put the stuffed peppers in the 9x12 baking dish and bake for 40 minutes.  While your peppers are baking steam your California veggies.  Cut and juice a lemon and set aside.  while your veggies are hot take 1-2 TBSP of butter or margarine and mix with veggies until melted and coat with lemon juice.  VIOLA! serve and watch your family eat it up.

Taco Mac

• 2 cups of cooked elbow macaroni
• 1 pkg of taco seasoning
• 1 lb of ground turkey or beef
• 1.5 cups of shredded cheddar or Mexican cheese mix
• sour cream
• salsa

Mix your meat, mac, and taco seasoning together top with a bit of cheese sour cream and salsa and enjoy!  If you don't mind the extra calories just use a box of mac and cheese and add your meat and taco seasoning to that.

Chicken a Veggie Bake

I use this recipe when I make chicken breasts and have left overs

• Preheat oven to 375°
• Spray a 6 qt glass baking dish with cooking spray
• 2-3 cooked chicken breast halves -cubed
• 1 large package of frozen California veggies
• 1 cup shredded cheddar
• 1 clove of garlic pressed
• 1/2 lemon juiced
• *1 can of french fried onions (optional)
• *1 can of cream of mushroom soup (optional)

Mix chicken, veggies, cheese, garlic and lemon juice and bake for 40 minutes.  and serve.  done and done.

*If you don't mind the extra calories and would like your dish creamier mix the cream of mushroom soup in with your chicken/veggie mixture.  Bake for 40 minutes and top with french fried onions and bake for 5 more minutes or until onions are brown and crispy.

These are some of my families favorites.  Add yours in the comments and I'll be happy to add it to this blog.  

You owe it to yourself to live a healthy lifestyle.  That doesn't mean a diet, that means eat well and do SOMETHING (like bike, walk, swim, run, etc.) for 30 minutes, MOST days of the week (that means 4 out of 7).  Studies have recently shown that you don't even have to be active for 30 minutes at a time.  You can walk 15 minutes now and 15 minutes later.  

That means you've got more energy to play catch, basketball, whiffle ball, football, and ride bikes with your kids.  Who doesn't want to have more ENJOYABLE family time?  They are only kids for a little while, we all know the bitter sweet reality that is childhood.  Make these few sweet years the ones your kids remember and tell their kids.  Be the example, not just for your kids, but for other parents who see you swinging and playing at the park.  Don't be that dad or mom that sits on the bench playing with their smartphone.

Cheers!