A few months ago, I stood, staring, at my closet. Tears pricked the corners of my eyes. Sunday's were supposed to be a day of rejoicing and a desire to meet with God's people and worship Him but here I was almost in tears wishing I could just crawl back in bed and stay in the over sized t-shirt and cotton, elastic waistband shorts that I was wearing. Getting dressed was emotionally exhausting and I had only myself to blame for the mess that I was in. With an exasperated sigh, I reached into the drawers in my closet and pulled out a pair of knee length, black, dress pants. I had no idea if they would fit or not. I got them on and buttoned them up, barely. Muffin top is not the word I would use to describe the fat spilling out over the top of these pants, it was much more than that. I don't recall what shirt I wore but I remember having to find something billowy that didn't cling to the mass above the top of my pants and long enough to cover how tight these pants were across my bum. Off to church we went and all the while praying that I wouldn't be noticed by many people. I tried to shut off the thoughts I was having about myself and concentrate on the sermon. All in all, I felt disgusting and disgusted with myself.
Flash back nearly 10 years ago and I was a slim, teen aged girl, and a pageant queen. I had no problem with my self-esteem and I felt great about myself. I wondered how I had gone from that person to the person I was now. On the inside, I still felt like that teen aged girl but the mirror told a different story. I remember being back in my hometown for a visit. I had gone out to eat in the neighboring town with some friends of mine and we ran into a former classmate whom I hadn't seen since graduation. After a brief chat, he congratulated me on my pregnancy! Abigail was around a year old at this time. I laughed it off and said, "no, I'm not pregnant, just fat." I had a smile on my face but on the inside I was dying of embarrassment. Not even that moment was enough for me to get behind my problem and make the changes necessary to fix it.
I can't say that the Sunday in front of my closet and getting ready for church that morning was my defining moment either but it was around that time that I decided I'd had enough. As the months have progressed those black pants have been a measuring stick so to speak on how well I've been doing. I've worn them off and on in the months since then and each time they've fit a little better but they've still been tight. It's been about a month since I've last worn them and today I decided that it was time to pull them out again. As I pulled them on and zipped them up, I sort of hesitated to button them. Would they still feel tight or would they reflect how well I've been doing and all the hard work that I've put in recently? I'm sure you've all heard the expression, "fit like a glove" and they did. They fit perfectly! They actually fit better than they did several years ago when I bought them. I added a button up shirt that I had bought in April and it fit better too.
For the first time in a long time, I actually felt really great about how I looked on the way to church this morning. My mind wasn't wondering about how people perceived me. Plus, I had run my first day of week 5 of C25K earlier and I was feeling good about running for five minutes, three times!
I do want to clarify that for me, this journey isn't all about how I look and what size clothing I end up wearing. It truly is about being healthier and doing what's best for my body and my family. Looking better and wearing smaller sizes is just part of the reward for living this healthier lifestyle.
Peace, Love, and Healthy Living,
Jessica
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
C25K: Week 4
One of my all time favorite comedian's is Jerry Seinfeld. I had never heard of him until I started watching his TV show, Seinfeld. Something about him reminded me of my cousin David and his sense of humor. David was more like a brother than a cousin so you can see why it was easy to like Jerry. Majority of his jokes start with "What's the deal with..." A while back, I came across one of his jokes that went something like this, "What's the deal with TGIF? Saturday is clearly the better day!" It was funny because it was true. Most people who say TGIF are thankful that it's the last day of the work week and the weekend is just around the corner. But for those who don't have to work on Saturday, it's the better day. A whole day to do what you want, relax, etc. Lately, I've been saying TGIT...Thank Goodness It's Thursday!
What a strange statement. Why would I be happy that it's Thursday? What's so special about Thursday? I mean, I can understand TGIF but why would you say TGIT? Well for starters, the Bible tells us that, "This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be GLAD in it!" - Psalm 118:24 We should be thankful for everyday that the Lord has given us. Be thankful that you have another day to praise Him on this earth and another day to live out your faith. But for the sake of this blog post, I say TGIT because Thursday's mean the final day of whatever week of The Couch to 5K that I am on. And today meant the final day of week four.
Let me say that again...WEEK 4! I have been training to run a 5K for a month now! That is a long time for me. Especially since I am relying on me, myself, and I. I really have no one holding me accountable...well except you guys. It does help me make the decision to get out of bed early in the morning to go run, knowing that there are several of you out there who are waiting on my next post or wondering how I did this week. Thank you for that! It feels so great to have accomplished this and to know that I only have 5 weeks left!
Here's how week four went...
Last week, I was amazed that I could run for three minutes twice. This week started off with the traditional five minute warm up walk, followed by a three minute run, a 90 second walk, a FIVE minute run, and then a 2 minute walk. This was all followed by a repeat of the three minute run, 90 second walk, FIVE minute run, and then the five minute cool down walk. HOLY COW! I was scared starting out week four. I knew that it was going to require two five minute runs. I did pretty good on the first day. I do have to say that my prayer life increased this week. Especially during those five minute runs. The first day was on Sunday and I felt pretty good.
On Tuesday, I had to wait to run that evening. My husband had to work the morning shift that morning and I didn't want to get Abigail up so early or have to do it with the stroller. So, after a yummy dinner of grilled shrimp and spinach salad with a home made lime dressing, I headed out the door. This time, it was a tiny bit easier, plus during those five minute runs, I tried to think about something else to keep my mind off of the run and how much I wanted to stop and walk. Envisioning myself the way I want to look and feel helped me out a lot.
Today I finished out the week. Normally, days one or two are the hardest but for some reason, day three tried to defeat me. I wouldn't let it! I have been tired all week. I'm not sure why. I have gone to bed a little later a couple of times but I've still been in bed earlier than was the norm for me just a month ago. When my alarm went off, I wanted nothing more than to catch that last hour of sleep before the baby I sit for arrived. But I made myself get up and get ready. I usually have no problem with that first three minute run but it felt hard for some reason. By the last five minute run, I was exhausted, ready to give up, and a tad bit nauseous. I tried the tactic from day two...thinking of something else or envisioning my future self. I was mentally exhausted too. I could get the image but I couldn't keep it. Today's run was definitely a mental battle as well as a physical one. But in the end...I won! I did it! Go me!
I'm not sure how the run next week goes. To be honest, I've been a little afraid to look! But rest assured, come Sunday morning, I'll be out the door and pushing forward towards my goal...running a 5K in July with my mom!
Peace, Love, and Happy Living,
Jessica
What a strange statement. Why would I be happy that it's Thursday? What's so special about Thursday? I mean, I can understand TGIF but why would you say TGIT? Well for starters, the Bible tells us that, "This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be GLAD in it!" - Psalm 118:24 We should be thankful for everyday that the Lord has given us. Be thankful that you have another day to praise Him on this earth and another day to live out your faith. But for the sake of this blog post, I say TGIT because Thursday's mean the final day of whatever week of The Couch to 5K that I am on. And today meant the final day of week four.
Let me say that again...WEEK 4! I have been training to run a 5K for a month now! That is a long time for me. Especially since I am relying on me, myself, and I. I really have no one holding me accountable...well except you guys. It does help me make the decision to get out of bed early in the morning to go run, knowing that there are several of you out there who are waiting on my next post or wondering how I did this week. Thank you for that! It feels so great to have accomplished this and to know that I only have 5 weeks left!
Here's how week four went...
Last week, I was amazed that I could run for three minutes twice. This week started off with the traditional five minute warm up walk, followed by a three minute run, a 90 second walk, a FIVE minute run, and then a 2 minute walk. This was all followed by a repeat of the three minute run, 90 second walk, FIVE minute run, and then the five minute cool down walk. HOLY COW! I was scared starting out week four. I knew that it was going to require two five minute runs. I did pretty good on the first day. I do have to say that my prayer life increased this week. Especially during those five minute runs. The first day was on Sunday and I felt pretty good.
On Tuesday, I had to wait to run that evening. My husband had to work the morning shift that morning and I didn't want to get Abigail up so early or have to do it with the stroller. So, after a yummy dinner of grilled shrimp and spinach salad with a home made lime dressing, I headed out the door. This time, it was a tiny bit easier, plus during those five minute runs, I tried to think about something else to keep my mind off of the run and how much I wanted to stop and walk. Envisioning myself the way I want to look and feel helped me out a lot.
Today I finished out the week. Normally, days one or two are the hardest but for some reason, day three tried to defeat me. I wouldn't let it! I have been tired all week. I'm not sure why. I have gone to bed a little later a couple of times but I've still been in bed earlier than was the norm for me just a month ago. When my alarm went off, I wanted nothing more than to catch that last hour of sleep before the baby I sit for arrived. But I made myself get up and get ready. I usually have no problem with that first three minute run but it felt hard for some reason. By the last five minute run, I was exhausted, ready to give up, and a tad bit nauseous. I tried the tactic from day two...thinking of something else or envisioning my future self. I was mentally exhausted too. I could get the image but I couldn't keep it. Today's run was definitely a mental battle as well as a physical one. But in the end...I won! I did it! Go me!
I'm not sure how the run next week goes. To be honest, I've been a little afraid to look! But rest assured, come Sunday morning, I'll be out the door and pushing forward towards my goal...running a 5K in July with my mom!
Peace, Love, and Happy Living,
Jessica
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Cooking My Way: Grilled Turkey Burgers with Guacamole
It's recipe Wednesday! I just love sharing recipes with you all and I love getting and trying new recipes as well. Cooking has been a lifesaver for my healthier lifestyle. In the past, when I tried to "diet" I failed mostly because of what I was eating. I thought eating healthy meant eating stuff that I didn't really like. I even tried doing a program through a local gym once and I had to eat the same things every day and none of them was anything that I looked forward to. So eventually, I would give up and give in and head to the nearest McDonald's for a double cheeseburger, large fry, and a large diet coke! I would then eat every bite and go looking for something sweet to follow it up. I would officially be off the wagon again!
But this time has been different. It started back in January when I decided to clean up my eating. I added fresh fruits and veggies to my diet. Once I got used to eating that instead of chips or fries with a meal, I got a little more courageous in the kitchen. A big help was Jillian Michael's Mastering Your Metabolism Cookbook. She has lots of really great and tasty recipes to try. And like I've said before, my granddaddy Strickland is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to eating healthier and he creates some of the yummiest, healthiest recipes that I know. He was the first person that I ever heard of that ate quinoa and now it's a staple in our home. We eat it at least once a week. Right now, I have Mexican chicken and quinoa cooking in the crock pot. It's sort of a made up recipe that supposed to be similar to Arroz Con Pollo but with quinoa. I sort of took this and that from other recipes and made it my own. Look for that recipe coming soon.
Below you'll find the recipe to the turkey burgers that Ryan and I made last week. It was a meal that I was looking forward to because a cheeseburger is my ultimate go to, comfort food. I was excited to try a healthier version of a favorite meal. Several months ago when I was visiting family, my brother made burgers with fresh guacamole on top. It was so yummy and guacamole is good for you in small portions so we decided to add that to our turkey burgers. It was a delicious and satisfying meal and I'm sure it will be on our meal plan again in the near future.
Here you go:
Grilled Turkey Burgers with Guacamole
(Makes 4 burgers)
1 lb of lean ground turkey
Salt
Pepper
Cumin
Smoked Paprika
Garlic Powder
2 ripe avocados
1/2 packet of guacamole seasoning
1 jalapeno, seeded and finely diced
Onion, finely diced (I used about a handful but you can use more or less depending on what you want.)
Tomato, diced (I used about a handful but you can use more or less depending on what you want.)
Cilantro, chopped (I used about a handful but you can use more or less depending on what you want.)
1/2 lime, juiced
Reduced Fat Pepper Jack Cheese
Fresh baby spinach leaves
Whole Wheat Sandwich Rounds or hamburger buns (We used the sandwich rounds because they were thinner and had less calories and carbs.)
Mix in salt, pepper, cumin, smoked paprika, and garlic powder with ground turkey. We did not measure the spices. Use to your liking.
While the patties are on the grill you can make your guacamole. Cut avocados lengthwise and remove the pit. Using a spoon, scoop out avocado and put into a mixing bowl. Add 1/2 packet of guacamole seasoning, mix together, mashing with fork. Add in jalapeno, onion, tomato, cilantro, and lime juice. Mix well. Cover with plastic wrap and place in fridge until ready to use.
Cilantro and lime are not pictured below. Sorry!
Abigail loves to help in the kitchen!
Just before your burgers are ready to come off the grill, add a slice of reduced fat pepper jack cheese. Place burger on bun and top with a spoonful of guacamole and fresh spinach leaves. The guacamole is creamy and flavorful so you don't really need any other condiments. Serve with baked sweet potato fries.
But this time has been different. It started back in January when I decided to clean up my eating. I added fresh fruits and veggies to my diet. Once I got used to eating that instead of chips or fries with a meal, I got a little more courageous in the kitchen. A big help was Jillian Michael's Mastering Your Metabolism Cookbook. She has lots of really great and tasty recipes to try. And like I've said before, my granddaddy Strickland is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to eating healthier and he creates some of the yummiest, healthiest recipes that I know. He was the first person that I ever heard of that ate quinoa and now it's a staple in our home. We eat it at least once a week. Right now, I have Mexican chicken and quinoa cooking in the crock pot. It's sort of a made up recipe that supposed to be similar to Arroz Con Pollo but with quinoa. I sort of took this and that from other recipes and made it my own. Look for that recipe coming soon.
Below you'll find the recipe to the turkey burgers that Ryan and I made last week. It was a meal that I was looking forward to because a cheeseburger is my ultimate go to, comfort food. I was excited to try a healthier version of a favorite meal. Several months ago when I was visiting family, my brother made burgers with fresh guacamole on top. It was so yummy and guacamole is good for you in small portions so we decided to add that to our turkey burgers. It was a delicious and satisfying meal and I'm sure it will be on our meal plan again in the near future.
Here you go:
Grilled Turkey Burgers with Guacamole
(Makes 4 burgers)
1 lb of lean ground turkey
Salt
Pepper
Cumin
Smoked Paprika
Garlic Powder
2 ripe avocados
1/2 packet of guacamole seasoning
1 jalapeno, seeded and finely diced
Onion, finely diced (I used about a handful but you can use more or less depending on what you want.)
Tomato, diced (I used about a handful but you can use more or less depending on what you want.)
Cilantro, chopped (I used about a handful but you can use more or less depending on what you want.)
1/2 lime, juiced
Reduced Fat Pepper Jack Cheese
Fresh baby spinach leaves
Whole Wheat Sandwich Rounds or hamburger buns (We used the sandwich rounds because they were thinner and had less calories and carbs.)
Mix in salt, pepper, cumin, smoked paprika, and garlic powder with ground turkey. We did not measure the spices. Use to your liking.
Pat out and shape into patties. Because the sandwich rounds are wider than hamburger buns, we made them fairly thin so they would be about the same size as the round.
While the patties are on the grill you can make your guacamole. Cut avocados lengthwise and remove the pit. Using a spoon, scoop out avocado and put into a mixing bowl. Add 1/2 packet of guacamole seasoning, mix together, mashing with fork. Add in jalapeno, onion, tomato, cilantro, and lime juice. Mix well. Cover with plastic wrap and place in fridge until ready to use.
Cilantro and lime are not pictured below. Sorry!
Just before your burgers are ready to come off the grill, add a slice of reduced fat pepper jack cheese. Place burger on bun and top with a spoonful of guacamole and fresh spinach leaves. The guacamole is creamy and flavorful so you don't really need any other condiments. Serve with baked sweet potato fries.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
A Look Back: How Being a Camp Counselor Changed My Life
In the summer of 2002, my mom and dad drove me up to Tennessee and left me.
OK. It wasn't as dramatic as that but that's how I felt.
As a youth in church, I loved summertime because summertime meant one thing...youth camp. We tried several camps while I was in the youth department but my favorite one had been Quest Camp which was a part of Inquest Ministries. I knew from the my first camp experience that when I was old enough, I wanted to be a camp counselor. So my final summer as a camper we went to Quest Camp in Brevard, NC. I remember talking to a man who was in charge of the camps at that time and expressing my desire to become a counselor the following summer. After a brief talk, he told me to fill out the application and say that I had talked to him. And eventually, I did.
I was ecstatic to get the phone call in early 2002 that I had been selected as a camp counselor for the 2002 summer of Quest Camp at Hiwassee College in Madisonville, TN. So the time came for my parents to drop me off. I was nervous, excited, and scared. At 19 years old, I had never been away from my family for more than a week or so at the time. I was embarking on a nearly three month long adventure. And an adventure it was! It was an all around great summer. I learned and experience new things, became stronger in my faith and my discernment of spiritual things. But one thing happened to me that summer that changed my life over the next 9 years. I wish that I could say that it was some great spiritual revelation. But it wasn't. That summer started my downward spiral into food addiction and a growing weight problem.
Now, I must confess that I've always had a healthy appetite and a love for food. I can't say that summer was 100% to blame but I can look back at that time and see where the patterns and problems started. First of all, food was my comfort. I was miles and miles away from the people that loved me the most. Ryan and I were dating during this time as well, and I won't even tell you about the astronomical cell phone bill that I racked up!!! While I couldn't possibly be lonely, there were always tons of campers, and on the occasional off day or the few hours between campers leaving and more campers arriving, I was surrounded my some pretty great people...the other counselors. They were (are) a great group of people to spend a summer with. I love that Facebook has given most of us the opportunity to reconnect. But even with the friendships I forged that summer, I still turned to food for comfort. I had a dorm room to myself. Which is some ways was great. But at the end of a very long day, there was no one to talk to. I would call Ryan on the phone and after we hung up, I would feel lonely again. So, I would eat. I always had a good source of snacks in my room. And it was always so cold in there that I didn't need a fridge! Ha ha! But that wasn't the only time I ate.
Secondly, my life that summer was on an unrealistic schedule. I ate when I was hungry but I didn't make wise choices. As you know, I am NOT a morning person. So, I didn't always make it down to breakfast so I ate a granola bar on the way to morning worship. At some point, we had lunch. I have to say that for the most part, the food wasn't great, so it was a lot of chicken fingers, pizza, french fries, and honey mustard for me. Then I led several groups through a low ropes course. Afterwards, I had to grab supper early to have enough time to get a shower before heading to evening worship. Which usually meant supper at 4 p.m. This was usually followed by a snack of some sort during Late Night. My friend Jesse was usually pretty good at supplying me with hot, buttery popcorn during this time. After Late Night we were usually starving again and had things to do before we could start camp the next morning so some of us would make a fast food run. So my last meal would be somewhere around midnight. Just thinking about the fatty, greasy food consumed during those late nights makes me feel ill.
Third, us counselors, especially the girls, bonded over food. I remember two places we frequented often when we had the occasional free time. There was a really great Mexican restaurant that was fairly cheap and had yummy food. I think I have some pictures somewhere with a group of us standing out front. And then there was this other place. I can't remember the name of it. But they had the BEST club sandwiches and honey mustard of anywhere I have ever been. To this day, I still haven't met a club sandwich that came anywhere close to this one. (I even remember as newlyweds on our way up to Pigeon Forge, TN, begging Ryan to make a side-stop for a club sandwich at this place. But we didn't.) We frequented there so often that I remember Lauren and I trying to get one of the guys who worked there to give us some t-shirts.
I distinctly remember the day towards the end of the summer that I tried to wear a pair of jeans that had fit perfectly at the beginning of the summer. They were button flies, my favorite pair. I had grown accustomed to wearing shorts during most of the summer because it was so hot but I had decided to wear these jeans to evening worship. I think that I may have gotten the bottom two buttoned and that was it. I was astonished. How could these jeans possibly not fit? I hadn't even really noticed the weight gain but I had gained a fair amount in just a couple months time.
There was a gym there. Some of us had tried to work out whenever we could. And we were constantly walking everywhere and up hill most of the way. But alas, eating too much had won. I remember looking at some pictures from the last week of camp and thinking how fat I was. But that was only the beginning. I dropped a good bit of the weight when I came home. One from having good home cooked meals and two from no more late night fast food runs. But the habits that I developed there didn't altogether disappear. Even though I was back with my family and my boyfriend, I still turned to food when I was alone or stressed or upset. It didn't stop there. Eventually thoughts of food consumed me. If you remember a previous post, I already told you that I talked about food non-stop during home room my senior year. So, something that was a small thing back then had snowballed into something big in my life. The summer of 2002 just gave it all the momentum it needed.
There is more to this story so stay tuned for the rest of it at a later time.
PS. I wish I had a picture to upload today from camp that summer. But they are all packed up. I may try and get some out and scan them in and add them at a later time. :)
OK. It wasn't as dramatic as that but that's how I felt.
As a youth in church, I loved summertime because summertime meant one thing...youth camp. We tried several camps while I was in the youth department but my favorite one had been Quest Camp which was a part of Inquest Ministries. I knew from the my first camp experience that when I was old enough, I wanted to be a camp counselor. So my final summer as a camper we went to Quest Camp in Brevard, NC. I remember talking to a man who was in charge of the camps at that time and expressing my desire to become a counselor the following summer. After a brief talk, he told me to fill out the application and say that I had talked to him. And eventually, I did.
I was ecstatic to get the phone call in early 2002 that I had been selected as a camp counselor for the 2002 summer of Quest Camp at Hiwassee College in Madisonville, TN. So the time came for my parents to drop me off. I was nervous, excited, and scared. At 19 years old, I had never been away from my family for more than a week or so at the time. I was embarking on a nearly three month long adventure. And an adventure it was! It was an all around great summer. I learned and experience new things, became stronger in my faith and my discernment of spiritual things. But one thing happened to me that summer that changed my life over the next 9 years. I wish that I could say that it was some great spiritual revelation. But it wasn't. That summer started my downward spiral into food addiction and a growing weight problem.
Now, I must confess that I've always had a healthy appetite and a love for food. I can't say that summer was 100% to blame but I can look back at that time and see where the patterns and problems started. First of all, food was my comfort. I was miles and miles away from the people that loved me the most. Ryan and I were dating during this time as well, and I won't even tell you about the astronomical cell phone bill that I racked up!!! While I couldn't possibly be lonely, there were always tons of campers, and on the occasional off day or the few hours between campers leaving and more campers arriving, I was surrounded my some pretty great people...the other counselors. They were (are) a great group of people to spend a summer with. I love that Facebook has given most of us the opportunity to reconnect. But even with the friendships I forged that summer, I still turned to food for comfort. I had a dorm room to myself. Which is some ways was great. But at the end of a very long day, there was no one to talk to. I would call Ryan on the phone and after we hung up, I would feel lonely again. So, I would eat. I always had a good source of snacks in my room. And it was always so cold in there that I didn't need a fridge! Ha ha! But that wasn't the only time I ate.
Secondly, my life that summer was on an unrealistic schedule. I ate when I was hungry but I didn't make wise choices. As you know, I am NOT a morning person. So, I didn't always make it down to breakfast so I ate a granola bar on the way to morning worship. At some point, we had lunch. I have to say that for the most part, the food wasn't great, so it was a lot of chicken fingers, pizza, french fries, and honey mustard for me. Then I led several groups through a low ropes course. Afterwards, I had to grab supper early to have enough time to get a shower before heading to evening worship. Which usually meant supper at 4 p.m. This was usually followed by a snack of some sort during Late Night. My friend Jesse was usually pretty good at supplying me with hot, buttery popcorn during this time. After Late Night we were usually starving again and had things to do before we could start camp the next morning so some of us would make a fast food run. So my last meal would be somewhere around midnight. Just thinking about the fatty, greasy food consumed during those late nights makes me feel ill.
Third, us counselors, especially the girls, bonded over food. I remember two places we frequented often when we had the occasional free time. There was a really great Mexican restaurant that was fairly cheap and had yummy food. I think I have some pictures somewhere with a group of us standing out front. And then there was this other place. I can't remember the name of it. But they had the BEST club sandwiches and honey mustard of anywhere I have ever been. To this day, I still haven't met a club sandwich that came anywhere close to this one. (I even remember as newlyweds on our way up to Pigeon Forge, TN, begging Ryan to make a side-stop for a club sandwich at this place. But we didn't.) We frequented there so often that I remember Lauren and I trying to get one of the guys who worked there to give us some t-shirts.
I distinctly remember the day towards the end of the summer that I tried to wear a pair of jeans that had fit perfectly at the beginning of the summer. They were button flies, my favorite pair. I had grown accustomed to wearing shorts during most of the summer because it was so hot but I had decided to wear these jeans to evening worship. I think that I may have gotten the bottom two buttoned and that was it. I was astonished. How could these jeans possibly not fit? I hadn't even really noticed the weight gain but I had gained a fair amount in just a couple months time.
There was a gym there. Some of us had tried to work out whenever we could. And we were constantly walking everywhere and up hill most of the way. But alas, eating too much had won. I remember looking at some pictures from the last week of camp and thinking how fat I was. But that was only the beginning. I dropped a good bit of the weight when I came home. One from having good home cooked meals and two from no more late night fast food runs. But the habits that I developed there didn't altogether disappear. Even though I was back with my family and my boyfriend, I still turned to food when I was alone or stressed or upset. It didn't stop there. Eventually thoughts of food consumed me. If you remember a previous post, I already told you that I talked about food non-stop during home room my senior year. So, something that was a small thing back then had snowballed into something big in my life. The summer of 2002 just gave it all the momentum it needed.
There is more to this story so stay tuned for the rest of it at a later time.
PS. I wish I had a picture to upload today from camp that summer. But they are all packed up. I may try and get some out and scan them in and add them at a later time. :)
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Buffalo Chicken Chili
I know I said that I was reserving Wednesday's to post recipes but I figured I'd go ahead and post one today. Tomorrow for lunch we are having Buffalo Chicken Chili. This recipe is courtesy of a former boss of mine. I worked for Mrs. Lisa when BCF still had a daycare. It was a great job. Please check out her blog here. Or you can check out more of her recipes here.
After lunch today, I decided to go ahead and put the chili together so that it can sit in the fridge over night. Dishes like chili tend to be more flavorful the next day anyway. Plus, all I'll have to do after church tomorrow is warm it up. So here it is:
Buffalo Chicken Chili
3 Tbs EVOO
2 lbs of boneless skinless chicken breast, boiled and chopped
1 large onion, diced
3 stalks of celery, chopped
1/2 bell pepper, chopped
4 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 15 oz can of tomato sauce
1 15 oz can of diced tomatoes
1 can of light red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 bottle of your favorite buffalo sauce ( I like Texas Pete Buffalo Wing sauce) - use 1/2 to 3/4 bottle depending on how hot you want it.
3 Tbs smoked paprika
1 Tbs cumin
Salt to taste
Blue Cheese crumbles to serve on top
Instructions and pictures below.
Chop all your veggies while your chicken is boiling...
Saute veggies in EVOO until tender. About 5-7 minutes.
Here's a glimpse at what the finished product looks like. Since I'm uploading this recipe before we eat it. I don't have a picture of it being served. I bought some blue cheese crumbles to add on top when we eat it.
After lunch today, I decided to go ahead and put the chili together so that it can sit in the fridge over night. Dishes like chili tend to be more flavorful the next day anyway. Plus, all I'll have to do after church tomorrow is warm it up. So here it is:
Buffalo Chicken Chili
3 Tbs EVOO
2 lbs of boneless skinless chicken breast, boiled and chopped
1 large onion, diced
3 stalks of celery, chopped
1/2 bell pepper, chopped
4 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 15 oz can of tomato sauce
1 15 oz can of diced tomatoes
1 can of light red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 bottle of your favorite buffalo sauce ( I like Texas Pete Buffalo Wing sauce) - use 1/2 to 3/4 bottle depending on how hot you want it.
3 Tbs smoked paprika
1 Tbs cumin
Salt to taste
Blue Cheese crumbles to serve on top
Instructions and pictures below.
Chop all your veggies while your chicken is boiling...
Saute veggies in EVOO until tender. About 5-7 minutes.
Chop the chicken while your veggies are cooking. Don't forget to stir the veggies a few times as well.
Drain and rinse your beans.
Once the veggies are tender. Add all other ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer. I like to let mine cook for about an hour.
Hope you all enjoy! Thanks again to Mrs. Lisa for the recipe! Let me know if you try it!
Peace, Love, and Healthy Living,
Jess
Thursday, June 2, 2011
C25K: Week 3
It's Thursday and do you know what that means?
I FINISHED week three of the Couch to 5K running plan today!
I constantly amaze myself (not in a conceited way). Or maybe I should say that I am amazed at what I can actually do. Last night at the gym I was in the Express Workout (circuit training) area. When we get there on Wednesday nights after church, that area is "coached" meaning that a trainer is in the area and keeps up with your time so you know when to start and stop. Basically you are doing each machine for a minute a piece for as many reps as you can do. Anyway, if you're not quite sure how to use the machine or if they think you can handle a little more weight than you're doing, they'll help you and let you know. They are also a good source of encouragement. Ryan and I do the circuit training at the same time so he's busy with what he's doing so it's nice to have someone else who motivates you to keep going or to do another rep. I have weak arms. They've always been weak and I have to work really hard for them to be strong and as you know, it's been a LONG time since I've worked on them. Unless you count, lifting and carrying Abigail! :) Back to last night...I was on my second round of CT when my arms just didn't want to go anymore. I was struggling to lift the weight and the trainer encouraged to me to push through it and do at least one more rep. And I did! He then said, "see, you're stronger than you think you are." It was a great encouragement and I thought about that again today as I was running. I am stronger than I think I am, otherwise I wouldn't be able to continue each week of C25K. I've already told you that I HATE running and always have. I like the IDEA of running but I don't actually like running. Until now. I'm not to the point where I can say that I LOVE running but I'm enjoying it more and more and I love the sense of accomplishment that I feel when I'm done with each set. It's a great feeling! So, if you are out there thinking about starting C25K or any sort of exercise program or if you just want to start out eating healthier...you can do it! Listen to me, YOU ARE STRONGER THAN YOU THINK YOU ARE!!!
Now, back to my week 3 of C25K....
I started out on Sunday morning, early. By the time I got dressed and got out the door it was about 6:15 a.m. Let me say this, I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON!!! People who know me well, know that it's not always wise to try and have a conversation with me first thing in the morning. I'm a bear! And the only time, I've ever successfully gotten up early in the morning to exercise was when I was in college and that was thanks to Rebekah Fries Phillips and my mom. And they both can attest to my dislike of mornings! :) But I knew that Ryan had to work on Sunday afternoon and that it would be better to get out there before it was hot. And while I love my running stroller, it does make the days run a little more difficult. So, I crawled out of bed and out the door. I've already told you how unsure I was. But I did it, two 90 second runs and two three minute runs!
Day two for me was on Tuesday. Same thing, I got up early and got my run in. Same thing is true for today, day three. I was out the door about 6:15.
There is no one waiting on me outside to exercise with them. My mom doesn't call me in the mornings and wake me up like she used to when I was still in college. She doesn't come knock on my door. Ryan only grunts when my alarm goes off in the morning. So, who gets me up? Who makes sure I get my run in before it's too hot and before Abigail wakes up and the baby I sit for arrives? I DO! Sometime, I still can't believe the changes that have taken place in my life this year. I want to say that I feel like a different person but truth is, I'm just getting back to feeling like the person I was before I put on all the weight. And I love seeing the changes in the mirror.
I've had several people over this past week tell me that they were starting the C25K plan and that I inspired them to do that! Wow! I never thought I'd see the day where I inspired someone to get active and get healthy! It feels incredible!
Peace, Love, and Happy Living,
Jessica
I FINISHED week three of the Couch to 5K running plan today!
I constantly amaze myself (not in a conceited way). Or maybe I should say that I am amazed at what I can actually do. Last night at the gym I was in the Express Workout (circuit training) area. When we get there on Wednesday nights after church, that area is "coached" meaning that a trainer is in the area and keeps up with your time so you know when to start and stop. Basically you are doing each machine for a minute a piece for as many reps as you can do. Anyway, if you're not quite sure how to use the machine or if they think you can handle a little more weight than you're doing, they'll help you and let you know. They are also a good source of encouragement. Ryan and I do the circuit training at the same time so he's busy with what he's doing so it's nice to have someone else who motivates you to keep going or to do another rep. I have weak arms. They've always been weak and I have to work really hard for them to be strong and as you know, it's been a LONG time since I've worked on them. Unless you count, lifting and carrying Abigail! :) Back to last night...I was on my second round of CT when my arms just didn't want to go anymore. I was struggling to lift the weight and the trainer encouraged to me to push through it and do at least one more rep. And I did! He then said, "see, you're stronger than you think you are." It was a great encouragement and I thought about that again today as I was running. I am stronger than I think I am, otherwise I wouldn't be able to continue each week of C25K. I've already told you that I HATE running and always have. I like the IDEA of running but I don't actually like running. Until now. I'm not to the point where I can say that I LOVE running but I'm enjoying it more and more and I love the sense of accomplishment that I feel when I'm done with each set. It's a great feeling! So, if you are out there thinking about starting C25K or any sort of exercise program or if you just want to start out eating healthier...you can do it! Listen to me, YOU ARE STRONGER THAN YOU THINK YOU ARE!!!
Now, back to my week 3 of C25K....
I started out on Sunday morning, early. By the time I got dressed and got out the door it was about 6:15 a.m. Let me say this, I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON!!! People who know me well, know that it's not always wise to try and have a conversation with me first thing in the morning. I'm a bear! And the only time, I've ever successfully gotten up early in the morning to exercise was when I was in college and that was thanks to Rebekah Fries Phillips and my mom. And they both can attest to my dislike of mornings! :) But I knew that Ryan had to work on Sunday afternoon and that it would be better to get out there before it was hot. And while I love my running stroller, it does make the days run a little more difficult. So, I crawled out of bed and out the door. I've already told you how unsure I was. But I did it, two 90 second runs and two three minute runs!
Day two for me was on Tuesday. Same thing, I got up early and got my run in. Same thing is true for today, day three. I was out the door about 6:15.
There is no one waiting on me outside to exercise with them. My mom doesn't call me in the mornings and wake me up like she used to when I was still in college. She doesn't come knock on my door. Ryan only grunts when my alarm goes off in the morning. So, who gets me up? Who makes sure I get my run in before it's too hot and before Abigail wakes up and the baby I sit for arrives? I DO! Sometime, I still can't believe the changes that have taken place in my life this year. I want to say that I feel like a different person but truth is, I'm just getting back to feeling like the person I was before I put on all the weight. And I love seeing the changes in the mirror.
I've had several people over this past week tell me that they were starting the C25K plan and that I inspired them to do that! Wow! I never thought I'd see the day where I inspired someone to get active and get healthy! It feels incredible!
Peace, Love, and Happy Living,
Jessica
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Cooking My Way: Chicken Spaghetti with Spinach Salad
It's recipe Wednesday! Yes, you read that right. I am officially declaring Wednesday's as recipe sharing day on my blog. I am always looking for new, healthy recipes to make for my family and I don't mind sharing with you guys. Thank you to those of you who have shared recipes with me.
The spaghetti recipe today comes from my friend, Rebekah Fries Phillips. She saw my post on Facebook about loving to cook in the crock pot and graciously shared a couple of recipes with me. I followed the recipe exactly and it was so yummy. However, I like to make things my own so, I am going to include what I'm going to do differently next time.
Here we go...
Crock Pot Chicken Spaghetti
1 onion diced
2 boneless, skinless chicken breast
2 cans of Italian diced tomatoes
whole wheat spaghetti noodles
Dice onion and place in bottom of crock pot. Place the chicken breast on top. Pour over the cans of tomatoes. Turn on low and cook on low for at least 4 hours. Cook spaghetti noodles according to package directions. Easy!
*I did add a little kosher salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper to my crock pot after I put in the tomatoes. I do have to say, that while this recipe was really yummy, the sauce was a little thin. So next time, I will add some tomato sauce and a bit of paste just to thicken it up. I will probably cut up a bell pepper or throw a bag of frozen seasoning blend in there next time. Maybe some mushrooms too. The recipe is really versatile. I think you can really make it what you want. That's another reason I love it so much and wanted to share it with you.
On Sunday, I just opened a can of green beans to go with it. Normally, I cook them with a ham flavored Goya pack and some oregano. The oregano gives the beans a great flavor plus it complements the flavors of the spaghetti. But unfortunately I was out of oregano so I decided to use coriander seed powder. It was pretty yummy too.
We had leftovers on Monday and since we had eaten all the green beans on Sunday, I decided to make us a quick salad.
Spinach Salad
Fresh baby spinach leaves
Nuts (I wanted to use pecans or walnuts but what I had of each had gone bad. So, I used almonds)
Goat cheese
Shredded carrots
Pomegranate dressing
I sort of just eyeballed the amounts in the salad. I only made enough for me and Ryan so I took out two bowls, filled each with spinach. I tossed in a handful of nuts, sprinkled some goat cheese and carrots. I made a homemade pomegranate dressing. The dressing recipe is courtesy of Clara via a magazine article she read.
Pomegranate Dressing
(The recipe is for one serving but it's for two cups of spinach. I doubt you'll eat a huge salad like that if you are eating the spaghetti with it. I made it according to the recipe and split the dressing between Ryan and myself. I still think it was a tad too much. It could probably be easily split between three or four people for a small side salad. Or you could always use the dressing on the side method and just dip your fork into the dressing before each bite. Just be sure you pour yourself some and aren't double dipping! ;) )
2 Tbs of 100% pomegranate juice
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp of Dijon mustard
Place all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together. YUMMY! :)
Once again, I hope you enjoy these recipes. Let me know if you try them and what changes you make, if any. Also, if there are other recipes that I haven't shared that you are interested in, leave me a comment and let me know.
Peace, Love, and Healthy Living,
Jessica
The spaghetti recipe today comes from my friend, Rebekah Fries Phillips. She saw my post on Facebook about loving to cook in the crock pot and graciously shared a couple of recipes with me. I followed the recipe exactly and it was so yummy. However, I like to make things my own so, I am going to include what I'm going to do differently next time.
Here we go...
Crock Pot Chicken Spaghetti
1 onion diced
2 boneless, skinless chicken breast
2 cans of Italian diced tomatoes
whole wheat spaghetti noodles
Dice onion and place in bottom of crock pot. Place the chicken breast on top. Pour over the cans of tomatoes. Turn on low and cook on low for at least 4 hours. Cook spaghetti noodles according to package directions. Easy!
*I did add a little kosher salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper to my crock pot after I put in the tomatoes. I do have to say, that while this recipe was really yummy, the sauce was a little thin. So next time, I will add some tomato sauce and a bit of paste just to thicken it up. I will probably cut up a bell pepper or throw a bag of frozen seasoning blend in there next time. Maybe some mushrooms too. The recipe is really versatile. I think you can really make it what you want. That's another reason I love it so much and wanted to share it with you.
On Sunday, I just opened a can of green beans to go with it. Normally, I cook them with a ham flavored Goya pack and some oregano. The oregano gives the beans a great flavor plus it complements the flavors of the spaghetti. But unfortunately I was out of oregano so I decided to use coriander seed powder. It was pretty yummy too.
We had leftovers on Monday and since we had eaten all the green beans on Sunday, I decided to make us a quick salad.
Spinach Salad
Fresh baby spinach leaves
Nuts (I wanted to use pecans or walnuts but what I had of each had gone bad. So, I used almonds)
Goat cheese
Shredded carrots
Pomegranate dressing
I sort of just eyeballed the amounts in the salad. I only made enough for me and Ryan so I took out two bowls, filled each with spinach. I tossed in a handful of nuts, sprinkled some goat cheese and carrots. I made a homemade pomegranate dressing. The dressing recipe is courtesy of Clara via a magazine article she read.
Pomegranate Dressing
(The recipe is for one serving but it's for two cups of spinach. I doubt you'll eat a huge salad like that if you are eating the spaghetti with it. I made it according to the recipe and split the dressing between Ryan and myself. I still think it was a tad too much. It could probably be easily split between three or four people for a small side salad. Or you could always use the dressing on the side method and just dip your fork into the dressing before each bite. Just be sure you pour yourself some and aren't double dipping! ;) )
2 Tbs of 100% pomegranate juice
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp of Dijon mustard
Place all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together. YUMMY! :)
Once again, I hope you enjoy these recipes. Let me know if you try them and what changes you make, if any. Also, if there are other recipes that I haven't shared that you are interested in, leave me a comment and let me know.
Peace, Love, and Healthy Living,
Jessica
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