Running

I go to visit family, and after a bad night of little sleep, my little sister drags me from my bed to make me run. We are such a competitive family, that I can't bow out!
So I ran, I ran a mile and a little more and tried not to throw up. I am not a good enough runner to enjoy conversation while I run. I have to concentrate on my breathing and I have to have a focal point to concentrate on.
But I ran, and I only had 5 hours of sleep, and I enjoyed it. I enjoyed running with my sister and having someone to keep up with and to keep trying harder.
Here's to the rest of my "vacation" that I don't think I'm really getting a vacation from anything though!

Mediterranean Chicken

I got this recipe off www.kraftrecipes.com and it was one of the easiest meals I have ever made!

 

2 cups instant brown rice, uncooked

4 small  boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)

1 small onion, chopped

1 tsp.  dried oregano leaves

1 can (14-1/2 oz.) Italian-style diced tomatoes, drained

1/4 cup  KRAFT Sun Dried Tomato Vinaigrette Dressing

2 tsp. minced garlic

1/4 cup  sliced stuffed green olives

Make It

COOK rice as directed on package.
MEANWHILE, heat large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium heat. Add chicken, onions and oregano; cook 6 min. or until chicken is lightly browned on both sides and onions are crisp-tender, turning chicken after 3 min. Add tomatoes, dressing and garlic; stir gently. Cook 4 to 6 min. or until chicken is done (165ºF), turning chicken after 3 min. Stir in olives.
SPOON rice onto platter; top with chicken and sauce.

per serving

Calories

 360

Total fat

 8 g

Saturated fat

 1.5 g

Cholesterol

 65 mg

Sodium

 720 mg

Carbohydrate

 42 g

Dietary fiber

 3 g

Sugars

 6 g

Protein

 29 g

Vitamin A

 6 %DV

Vitamin C

 20 %DV

Calcium

 6 %DV

Iron

 10 %DV

Healthy Living Information

Low fat

Low calorie

Diabetes Center

Carb Choices: 3

Diet Exchange

2-1/2 Starch + 1 Vegetable + 3 Meat (L)

My tips:

• I used red bell peppers and did just regular diced tomatoes. I was afraid that the flavors would be overwhelming with Italian diced tomatoes.
• I served the original dish with brown rice, like it called for, but had some left over and ate it with fettuccine noodles and LOVED it! 
• My kids even liked this dish, as well as my husband! I will be making this again! 

 

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Fresh Tomatoes!

I love summer and that it brings so many fruits and veggies. I have been trying to grow a garden for the past two years. This year, since I don't have my land space that I had in Beaver, I have planted 4 tomato plants and quite a few onions in potters. I am so excited to see my tomatoes turning from green to red. Unfortunately, I have had 2 tomatoes turn red, but haven't had the chance to eat them because my dog keeps picking and eating them.
What is your favorite summer time veggie?

Tortellini soup

This is one of my favorite recipes and is super easy to make. I have found I like the spinach, regular tortellini mix for this.

1 lb. Italian bulk sausage
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 medium zucchini, coarsely chopped
2 medium carrots, coarsely chopped
2 cans (10 3/4 oz) condensed tomato soup
3 cups water
1/2 tsp basil
1/2 tsp oregano
8 oz dried or frozen tortellini (meat or cheese filled)
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

-Brown sausage, drain, add onion and seasonings. Add everything but tortellini. Bring to boil. Add tortellini, reduce heat to simmer for 20 minutes. Add cheese.

It is really good if you serve a crusty french bread with it.

Motivation

One thing that was super motivating to me in my weight loss journey was joining a biggest loser competition that my sister started up in January. I was not that motivated when I first joined but just a few short weeks after, I was totally into it and looking forward to(and dreading) the weekly weigh ins. We started the competition in January and ended it at the end of May. Throughout the whole competition I lost almost twenty pounds. Both of my sisters lost 30! I was so sad when the biggest loser ended, I wanted it to just keep going. My sisters have decided to start another one this next Wednesday!! I am so excited!

There will be two parts to this competition. The first part with be of course weight loss. Each week we will weigh ourselves and report on the private blog our weight loss and the overall percentage that we lost that week(Don't worry you don't have to post your weight if you are not comfortable). The biggest loser at the end of September will be the winner of a cash prize.(oh yeah each contestant needs to pay $15 dollars to join. The money will be used for the winners!!)

The second part of this consists of a list of healthy choices that you can make during the day like: drinking 8oz of water 8 times a day, exercising 30 minutes a day, eating 5 fruits and veggies a day etc. For each healthy choice that you make you will get one point. At the end of the biggest loser competition the person with the most healthy points also gets a cash prize.

I loved the healthy points portion of the competition because even if I had a bad week with my weight loss, I was still able to have a chance at winning because of the healthy points.

We are starting the next biggest loser next week on Wednesday. If any of you readers would like to join you are welcome too! Just leave a comment with your email address and I will send you a message with my sisters email so that you can get her the money and she can invite you to the private blog.

This was so much fun when we did it last time, super duper motivating and I hope that some of you take up this challenge and decide to do it too. You wont regret it!

I absolutely love asparagus! When we moved into our house in Henderson, we were doing yard work and thought we came across more weeds, but realized (luckily before we pulled any out) that it was asparagus! So excited!

I usually just boil it and put salt on it. I also like to put it on a cookie sheet, put some olive oil on it and bake it until it's soft. I didn't know what great nutrition it had too!

I got this great article from http://www.naturalnews.com/023368_asparagus_food_foods.html

Asparagus is a springtime vegetable that is versatile and uniquely delicious. Buying it this time of year is best as it is fresh and particularly nutritious, since it is in season. Studies show that asparagus balances insulin levels, which means that it powerfully prevents diabetes. Ensuring that our insulin levels are stable is one of the most important things we can do for our health. It allows us to live long and feel good. Its unique mineral profile makes it an effective natural diuretic. Natural diuretics promote the formation of urine in the kidneys, aiding in detoxification and cleansing.

Asparagus is also a powerful aphrodisiac and one of the best foods to increase libido. Just check out its shape.

Asparagus is also one of the only vegetables to contain inulin, which feeds friendly bacteria that live in the large intestine. This makes it a great food for preventing yeast overgrowth, and it generally keeps the digestive system and belly well.

Asparagus contains loads of folate. Among other health benefits, folate is essential for pre conception and the early stages of pregnancy. Asparagus' high level of this mineral means that is can reduce the risk of birth defects and helps the nervous system develop beautifully.

Here are some other benefits that make asparagus one of the best super foods on the planet.

* Great for your heart

* Asparagus fights depression and puts you in a good mood

* Gets rid of warts by eating one of the best super foods on the planet!

* Asparagus lowers cholesterol

* Stimulates milk production in nursing mothers

* It is a potent antioxidant

* Is antifungal and antiviral

* Your kidneys will love asparagus... it helps cleanse the body and prevent kidney stones

* Asparagus prevents bladder and urinary tract infections

* Helps with treating HIV

* Helps prevent multiple sclerosis

* Asparagus contains anti cancer properties and is especially powerful in preventing lung cancer

* Is energizing and fights chronic fatigue syndrome

* Asparagus will lower blood pressure naturally

* Asparagus is top of the list of alkaline foods

* Asparagus stimulates hair production and is one of the best super foods for balding.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/023368_asparagus_food_foods.html#ixzz1PSX4hURS

Fun with kids

I have been trying to not let my kids with their fighting and yelling, get on my nerves. I've usually had quite a good attitude with them, but lately they've been driving me crazy. Last week I did some exercises on the Wii and decided to stretch out afterwards. My kids wanted to join me and I thought it was a good idea so I could teach them something good. They loved it! Fortunately, I've been running (other then yesterday) and so when I get home, we do some stretches. They really do enjoy it. I have found that I enjoy it as well. I feel like I'm teaching them something important and that they are understanding that exercise can be fun. They even try to make up some of their own! I have learned that I can touch my nose to my knee (big deal since I've gained my weight)! It has been such a fun experience with them! Even Cartr has gotten in on it and will sit down and try to do what we are doing.

The Benefits of Peas

I got this article from http://healthfood-guide.com/peas.aspx and I really liked it! I really like peas and so do my children.

 

Scientific studies now show that the lowly pea lives up to its name. Dr. Aluka studied the effect of pea protein hydrolysate from the yellow garden pea on rats with a severe form of chronic kidney disease, polycystic kidney disease, and found that it increased their urine production by approximately 30 percent. The increased production combined with the protein they received lowered their blood pressure by 20 percent. The control group of rats showed fed a regular diet showed no change. The study proved the yellow pea, made them do just that.

While the irony of the study is funny, the implications are quite important. Today hundreds of people around the world die from the complications that kidney malfunction bring to the table.

The malfunction causes high blood pressure and the high blood pressure causes cardiovascular complications like stroke and heart disease. The benefit, however, isn't readily available by eating the yellow garden pea; unfortunately, the pea protein needs activation by other outside enzymes and remains inactive in its natural state. That shouldn't, however, stop you from eating peas because there's so much more benefit that you'd miss.

Just one cup of boiled green peas provides over 51% of the required amount of vitamin K, 42% of your daily manganese, 40% of the daily requirement of vitamin C and over ¼ of your body's daily requirement of vitamin B1 (thiamin). It also contains between 12 to 25 % of the daily requirement for folate, vitamin A, tryptophan, phosphorus, B6, protein, niacin, magnesium, riboflavin, copper, iron, zinc and potassium. You don't need a lot of extra fiber because just one cup of peas provides over 1/3 of the necessary daily fiber. Best of all, they taste good. This naturally sweet legume is a favorite of both children and adults. The carotenoid in the green pea is lutein, well known for reducing the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration.

The green pea is not the only hero of this family. The sugar or snap pea also has a high standing in the world of nutrition. Their high sugar content makes gardeners around the world, snap off a pod and eat them right in the garden, which makes it a super lunchbox treat or mid morning snack for adults and children. Of course, cooking the pea pods make them even sweeter. While these peas don't contain as many nutrients as the green pea, they have plenty of iron and vitamin C.

Toss a few boiled peas in your fresh salad and enjoy the additional nutrients and taste. Studies on peas show that they help lower cholesterol, strengthen the immune system, maintain level glucose levels in the blood to keep energy levels consistent, promote bone health and cardiovascular health. The high vitamin C content is a great natural antioxidant that protects the body from cell damage.

Peas, however, aren't for everyone. They contain purines, which metabolize into uric acid. The body also produces uric acid from the purines the cells release when they die. Uric acid isn't a bad thing. In fact, to most people it is a blessing. It acts like an antioxidant in the blood. If the kidneys aren't functioning properly to balance the uric acid levels or there's an overload of uric acid, it accumulates and becomes crystals. The crystals deposit in the kidneys, joints, tendons and other organs, which causes a condition known as gout. For those that suffer from gout, the pea is a taste treat that comes with a price.

If you don't have a problem with uric acid, put plenty of peas in your diet. They increase your energy without the sudden drop that other forms of sugar produce. Peas taste good, so good in fact, the kids won't know they're eating something nutritious

Green Smoothies!!

Sorry I have been such a slacker! I promised a blog post about green smoothies and life got away with me. Well here is the getting started part of my green smoothie post!!
First let me mention some of the benefits of drinking green smoothies:

• Better Nutrition: The average American gets 2-3 servings of fruit and veggies a day. Average child gets 1-2(that includes french fries, potato chips and ketchup, which in my book in no way counts as a veggie!) In one quart of green smoothie there is 12-15 servings of greens and fruit. 12-15!!!! That is already more than triple the amount that the average American gets!
• More energy: If you think about it this one is a no brainer. By drinking green smoothies you are feeding your body nutrient rich foods. Green veggies are full of vitamins and minerals, fiber, and live enzymes. The mix of all these things prevent cancer and other health problems. Greens smoothies are raw and natural. They don't have the chemicals, hormones and preservatives that almost all the food that you buy from the store contains. Greens and fruit are easily accepted and digested by our bodies, which in turn gives us more energy. I have never in my life had as much energy as I have when I drink a green smoothie twice a day. I used to go around with a heavy cloudy feeling in my head but now my head is clear and my body is energized. I actually love to work out now too.
• Better digestion: The awesome thing about greens smoothies is that when you put all the fruit and veggies together and blend them all up we are also getting lots and lots of fiber in our diets. Plant fiber is key to digestion and can carry out a lot of the crap in your system. Plant fiber not only helps in digestion but is also helps stabilize blood sugar, can lower cholesterol.
• Fewer sugar cravings: When you are drinking a fruit sweetened drink all day long you don't crave as many sweets. I have totally noticed this side effect of green smoothies. Also my tolerance for sweets are not what it used to be. When before I could just eat and eat and eat junk food, now it gives me a tummy ache and makes me feel sluggish and tired.
• Weight loss: Green Smoothies are low fat and low calories but tons and tons of nutrition and mostly all natural. A cup and a half of spinach has around 10 calories. I usually put up to 3 cups of spinach in my smoothies and I can't even taste it. I have counted out how many calories are in my usual green smoothie and it is usually between 200-300 calories. So sticking to a 1200-1500 calorie diet is very easy while drinking green smoothies. Also green smoothies totally fill up my stomach so I don't eat as much. Many people have lost a lot of weight doing green smoothies. I lost 32 pounds drinking 2 smoothies a day and working out.
• Less Depression: Many people(including me) have experienced after drinking green smoothies that they are happier and that their depression affects them less. I have had depression on and off sense I was a teenager and I can totally testify that green smoothies do help a lot with my depression.

How to get started:
Start by adding just a few cups of leafy greens(spinach has tons of nutrition and great when you are just starting out and just getting used to the taste of green smoothies) to a blender with some water and ice. You can add a little bit of agave nectar or stevia if you feel the need to have it sweeter. ( I don't add any sweetener to mine I find that the fruit I add makes it plenty sweet) Other greens that you can add are: swiss chard, kale, beet greens, collard greens, celery, and turnip greens. I would suggest sticking to spinach, celery, and swiss chard until you are used to the taste of the greens in your smoothie and then you can branch out and add different greens.

Blend the greens, ice and water until it is smooth with no visible chunks. It should be a nice green color.

Next add a variety of frozen and fresh fruit. I buy the big bags of fruit and spinach(you can totally freeze spinach so it doesn't go bad) at costco or walmart and then I also get bountiful baskets every week. I like to add bananas, apples, oranges, lemon, limes, mangos, pineapple, pears, peaches, blueberries, and strawberries. You can mix and match and decide which combo of fruit and veggies that you prefer. I love to have more of a citrus taste in my smoothies so I add oranges, bananas, mango, pineapple and strawberries to mine. My daughter likes it when we add berries to her smoothies because it makes it purple(her favorite color)

You can add more water or ice if you need to to help with the blending. I like adding frozen fruit and ice so my smoothie is thick like a smoothie you would get at a store, but my husband likes his to be more liquid and less thick. Just experiment and see what you come up with!

I challenge you to have a green smoothie everyday for a week. At the end of the week evaluate and see if you notice all the wonderful benefits from green smoothies. I bet the you will!

My next post will be about more of the nutritious different things that you can add to your green smoothies and how to get your kids to drink this amazing drink.

Happy Smoothie making to you!!

Most of my information came from the green smoothie girl books and class that I went to. For more information on green smoothies go to: www.greensmoothiegirl.com

Music

How often do you change your music on your ipod/mp3 player? I just changed mine up a little by adding a few new artists and songs, and getting rid of songs I really didn't like to listen to while running. It takes me a little bit to find out what I like to listen to and what I don't. I also like to change things up a little bit. I just added Kelly Clarkson's CD "All I Ever Wanted" and LOVE some of her more fast paced songs. Here's to continuing to lose those pounds!

A Great Workout....

I think one of the best workouts ever is pushing three kids in a shopping cart around Costco. I took all three kids to Costco yesterday and slowly added more weight to it. I was sure sweating as I walked around and had to walk twice the distance as I would forget things that were on my list. Gotta love Costco and the great work outs it gives me.