Well, hello July!
I know I'm a little behind on my posting. Ryan had surgery a week ago and then my parent's came into town later in the week so I've been super busy taking care of my "patient" and spending time with Nana and Papa. I finally found a minute to start trying to catch up. So, let's talk about week seven of the Couch to 5K.
I had finally gotten back on my running schedule and started out week seven last Sunday morning...a 25 minute run...no walking intervals! I did it and it wasn't as hard as I imagined it would be. The feeling of accomplishment was amazing! I have come so far. I have gone from someone who hated running and figured I'd never be a runner to someone who actually enjoys it and I don't feel like I'm going to die while doing it! Now, that is a good feeling! :)
Since I was back on schedule, I should have run my second day of week seven on Tuesday but my husband was scheduled for surgery. We had been told that we may not need to be at the hospital until 9 a.m. so I thought I'd be able to get my run in as usual but in the end we had to be there by 7 a.m. and I wasn't able to. Ryan had a hard time getting around after surgery so I couldn't leave him to go run that evening so that meant no run for me. Things didn't work out for me to run on Wednesday either. :(
By Thursday, I'd had enough of not exercising or running. I got up early like I normally do and got my run in. I felt so much better on Thursday. My parents came in to town on Thursday evening. I wanted to get back to my running schedule...AGAIN, so my mom and I decided to get up early the next morning and get in my last run for week seven.
I was a little worried about running two days in a row but we got up at 5:30 on Friday morning. I told you my mom can get me up early! Ha! It was interesting running with someone else. My mom has been running off and on for a while. I kept up with her pretty good but she has a faster pace and can run longer than I can right now so I let her go on ahead so I wouldn't get too winded or injure myself. :) Completing week seven felt amazing! Sometimes, I still can't believe that I'm actually doing this and have kept it up for so long. But then I look at how much I've changed in the last seven months and even in the last seven weeks and I can tell you this...I'm not going back!
Today, I'm more educated about nutrition and exercise. Do I have it all figured out? Absolutely not. I'm more conscious of what I put in my mouth. I won't lie. Sometimes, it's frustrating. The more I learn, the more accountable I become and the more responsibility I take on for my own health and the health of my family. A couple of weeks ago, I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown on the cereal isle. I had been eating a certain cereal for a few weeks but then I learned that I probably had too much sugar in my diet and how much I realistically should have. My cereal had way too much so I was trying to find some that would taste good but wouldn't have so much sugar. I'll admit I was aggravated and discouraged but I knew that in the end, making a hard choice was the best choice and would be better for me and the pay off would be great! I still haven't found the perfect cereal for me but I make a better choice every time. It's all about learning and growing...not gaining! LOL!
Be on the lookout for more new posts coming soon.
Peace, Love, and Healthy Living,
Jessica
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Making Your Dreams a Reality
At lunch yesterday Ryan and I were talking about what it takes to make our dreams/desires a reality. Most of us have a list of things that we'd like to do or accomplish. Some may be far fetched and unrealistic but others are doable if we just "do". The problem is that we have all these desires but we don't "do" anything to make them come true. Now, I'm not saying that we need to act on all our desires and dreams because let's face it, we're human and not all of our desires are God honoring and could be more harmful than helpful. But I'm sure that if you are like me, there are things that you really want out of life but they seem like some distant hope for the future. A sort of, "the stars have to align" in order for that to happen. But how many of those things could be accomplished if we just did something about it. This led me to thinking about losing weight.
If you are new to my blog let me give you a little background on myself. I never had a weight problem until I was in college. I always had a healthy appetite and love for food but I was fairly active in high school so it wasn't a problem. In college I became more sedentary and then two years later, I got married. Married life was like a free for all when it came to eating. My husband and I both shared a love for food and so we ate...A LOT! I began packing on the pounds. I like to say that I went to bed skinny one night and woke up fat the next morning. I know it didn't happen like this but that's how I felt. Anyway, after years of yo-yo dieting, I lost some weight with the help of a diet program that made me drink shakes and take pills. After I dropped a good bit of weight, I got pregnant with Abigail, which was an answer to prayer! But instead of keeping my eating habits the same, I let my pregnancy be an excuse to eat anything I wanted and I pretty much ate everything! Once I had Abigail, I dropped some weight pretty quickly but after dealing with postpartum depression and eventually losing my job just after Abigail's first birthday I turned again to food. Food was my comfort and my friend. My life became all about food. I was an addict. In 2010 we moved to Louisiana. For the first time in my life I was living in a town without any family, mine nor Ryan's and again food became my solace. I packed on even more pounds. I weighed the most I had ever weighed but refused to actually weigh myself. At the beginning of 2011, I realized that I couldn't keep living this way and that my negative food choices were affecting my daughter and I didn't want her to grow up with the same problems with food that I've always dealt with. So we started making better choices, adding fruits and veggies, cutting out most junk food, drinking more water, etc. I lost some weight initially and making better choices became easier but it wasn't until May of this year that I really got it together and started dropping some serious pounds.
How did I do it, you ask? Well, for a long time my desire to lose weight and be certain size was merely a desire, a dream. I could strain my eyes and my mind and look into the future and see the me I wanted to be. But for a long time, it was just that. I had no goals, no plan to get there. That is why I spent years trying this diet and these pills. That's why I joined gyms and started exercise programs. That's why none of those things really worked. Yes, I lost a few pounds here or there but the truth is, if they had REALLY worked, I wouldn't be typing this message to you now. I wouldn't have gained the weight back. If what you are doing now to lose weight isn't something that you can realistically see yourself doing for the rest of your life...IT DOESN'T WORK!!! So again, you ask, how are you doing it and why is it different this time? Well, I'll tell you...
I set some goals and I made a plan. And this time it just wasn't a thought of, "I want to lose 30 pounds. I want to get back into a size 8 jeans. I'm going to go on a diet. I'm going to exercise." While all those thoughts have good intentions behind them, you know that the road to failure is often paved with good intentions. This time, I really put a plan into motion...a specific plan. My goals were to get more sleep, drink more water, complete the C25K running plan, eat more fruits and veggies, etc. And I'm doing all those things. I am on my seventh week of the C25K. It's a nine week plan. I'm going to graduate soon and I've gone from someone who hates running to someone who enjoys it. I used to be someone who went to bed around midnight every night. Now, I'm in my bed around 8:00 p.m. I read for about an hour and then I go to sleep. I get up early three days a week to run and I go for a walk or to the gym on the other days. And I've changed the way I eat. Like I've said before, I used to equate eating better with eating things I did not enjoy which always led to falling off the wagon and a trip to McDonald's. This time, I found ways to eat the things I love but in a healthier way. I'm not saying that I always get it right and I know that some days I eat too many calories but when I make a mistake, instead of saying, "oh well, I've already messed up, I might as well eat something unhealthy," I re-evaluate and start over. But the key to my success so far is making a plan and sticking to it. And when you find out your plan is no longer working as well for you as you like, change it up, take stock of where you are, and make the changes necessary to meet your goal. It really is as simple as that.
It applies to all areas of your life. Whatever your dream or desire might be. I have another dream that has been tormenting me and mocking me for years. I love to read and because of that I developed a love for writing. I always enjoyed writing papers in high school and college and through that love a desire grew...to write a book, a novel. But in the same way that I approached weight loss in the past, I approached writing a book. I started out with no real plan so on my computer is an unfinished novel that I started over five years ago. I have this great desire to finish it and write other novels. Truth be told, I have like four novels that I've started. But none of them are finished. I had no follow through. I would get overwhelmed with it and give up. Just like losing weight was something that I REALLY wanted and could squint into my future and see, it's the same with my book. I know I have it in me. I can look really hard into the future and see myself as a published author but how am I ever going to get there? It's going to take the same goal setting, plan making, and discipline that it has required of me to actually change my life and my weight.
I can see myself living this healthier lifestyle for the rest of my life. I enjoy it. I'm not having to swallow magic pills, drink disgusting shakes, go to meetings, or any other stuff that I wouldn't want to do forever. My life and my body is changing because I'm using it as it was designed to be use. I'm putting in healthy fuel, giving it the exercise it needs and deserves, treating it like the temple it is and that is why I feel better and look better. And today was my weigh in day. I'm down three more pounds for a total of 12 pounds down since around the middle of May.
So, whatever your dream or desire, if it honors God, go for it! Don't just sit there wishing for something to happen because more often than not, you'll still be sitting there in the years to come. Sometimes, you just have to make things happen for yourself. Don't just say your going to do it, make a plan, set some goals, and go for it. And find someone or some people, to keep you accountable. For me, it's my husband, my family, and my Facebook and blogger friends.
I've already been making my plan to finish my novel. I don't have all the steps down yet but I'm working on it. Maybe one day in the near future you'll be in your favorite bookstore and look over and see my name on the cover of a book on the shelf. And if you do, I hope you'll pick it up and buy it. And when you look on the back for the picture of the author, you'll see a slimmer more confident me!
Peace, Love, and Healthy Living,
Jessica
If you are new to my blog let me give you a little background on myself. I never had a weight problem until I was in college. I always had a healthy appetite and love for food but I was fairly active in high school so it wasn't a problem. In college I became more sedentary and then two years later, I got married. Married life was like a free for all when it came to eating. My husband and I both shared a love for food and so we ate...A LOT! I began packing on the pounds. I like to say that I went to bed skinny one night and woke up fat the next morning. I know it didn't happen like this but that's how I felt. Anyway, after years of yo-yo dieting, I lost some weight with the help of a diet program that made me drink shakes and take pills. After I dropped a good bit of weight, I got pregnant with Abigail, which was an answer to prayer! But instead of keeping my eating habits the same, I let my pregnancy be an excuse to eat anything I wanted and I pretty much ate everything! Once I had Abigail, I dropped some weight pretty quickly but after dealing with postpartum depression and eventually losing my job just after Abigail's first birthday I turned again to food. Food was my comfort and my friend. My life became all about food. I was an addict. In 2010 we moved to Louisiana. For the first time in my life I was living in a town without any family, mine nor Ryan's and again food became my solace. I packed on even more pounds. I weighed the most I had ever weighed but refused to actually weigh myself. At the beginning of 2011, I realized that I couldn't keep living this way and that my negative food choices were affecting my daughter and I didn't want her to grow up with the same problems with food that I've always dealt with. So we started making better choices, adding fruits and veggies, cutting out most junk food, drinking more water, etc. I lost some weight initially and making better choices became easier but it wasn't until May of this year that I really got it together and started dropping some serious pounds.
How did I do it, you ask? Well, for a long time my desire to lose weight and be certain size was merely a desire, a dream. I could strain my eyes and my mind and look into the future and see the me I wanted to be. But for a long time, it was just that. I had no goals, no plan to get there. That is why I spent years trying this diet and these pills. That's why I joined gyms and started exercise programs. That's why none of those things really worked. Yes, I lost a few pounds here or there but the truth is, if they had REALLY worked, I wouldn't be typing this message to you now. I wouldn't have gained the weight back. If what you are doing now to lose weight isn't something that you can realistically see yourself doing for the rest of your life...IT DOESN'T WORK!!! So again, you ask, how are you doing it and why is it different this time? Well, I'll tell you...
I set some goals and I made a plan. And this time it just wasn't a thought of, "I want to lose 30 pounds. I want to get back into a size 8 jeans. I'm going to go on a diet. I'm going to exercise." While all those thoughts have good intentions behind them, you know that the road to failure is often paved with good intentions. This time, I really put a plan into motion...a specific plan. My goals were to get more sleep, drink more water, complete the C25K running plan, eat more fruits and veggies, etc. And I'm doing all those things. I am on my seventh week of the C25K. It's a nine week plan. I'm going to graduate soon and I've gone from someone who hates running to someone who enjoys it. I used to be someone who went to bed around midnight every night. Now, I'm in my bed around 8:00 p.m. I read for about an hour and then I go to sleep. I get up early three days a week to run and I go for a walk or to the gym on the other days. And I've changed the way I eat. Like I've said before, I used to equate eating better with eating things I did not enjoy which always led to falling off the wagon and a trip to McDonald's. This time, I found ways to eat the things I love but in a healthier way. I'm not saying that I always get it right and I know that some days I eat too many calories but when I make a mistake, instead of saying, "oh well, I've already messed up, I might as well eat something unhealthy," I re-evaluate and start over. But the key to my success so far is making a plan and sticking to it. And when you find out your plan is no longer working as well for you as you like, change it up, take stock of where you are, and make the changes necessary to meet your goal. It really is as simple as that.
It applies to all areas of your life. Whatever your dream or desire might be. I have another dream that has been tormenting me and mocking me for years. I love to read and because of that I developed a love for writing. I always enjoyed writing papers in high school and college and through that love a desire grew...to write a book, a novel. But in the same way that I approached weight loss in the past, I approached writing a book. I started out with no real plan so on my computer is an unfinished novel that I started over five years ago. I have this great desire to finish it and write other novels. Truth be told, I have like four novels that I've started. But none of them are finished. I had no follow through. I would get overwhelmed with it and give up. Just like losing weight was something that I REALLY wanted and could squint into my future and see, it's the same with my book. I know I have it in me. I can look really hard into the future and see myself as a published author but how am I ever going to get there? It's going to take the same goal setting, plan making, and discipline that it has required of me to actually change my life and my weight.
I can see myself living this healthier lifestyle for the rest of my life. I enjoy it. I'm not having to swallow magic pills, drink disgusting shakes, go to meetings, or any other stuff that I wouldn't want to do forever. My life and my body is changing because I'm using it as it was designed to be use. I'm putting in healthy fuel, giving it the exercise it needs and deserves, treating it like the temple it is and that is why I feel better and look better. And today was my weigh in day. I'm down three more pounds for a total of 12 pounds down since around the middle of May.
So, whatever your dream or desire, if it honors God, go for it! Don't just sit there wishing for something to happen because more often than not, you'll still be sitting there in the years to come. Sometimes, you just have to make things happen for yourself. Don't just say your going to do it, make a plan, set some goals, and go for it. And find someone or some people, to keep you accountable. For me, it's my husband, my family, and my Facebook and blogger friends.
I've already been making my plan to finish my novel. I don't have all the steps down yet but I'm working on it. Maybe one day in the near future you'll be in your favorite bookstore and look over and see my name on the cover of a book on the shelf. And if you do, I hope you'll pick it up and buy it. And when you look on the back for the picture of the author, you'll see a slimmer more confident me!
Peace, Love, and Healthy Living,
Jessica
Saturday, June 25, 2011
C25K: Week 6
What can you do for 25 minutes? Watch TV, read a book, work on a project, play outside with your kids...? I can do all those things too PLUS I can run...for 25 minutes! This is a major accomplishment from someone who just months ago wondered about people who ran. I'd always heard about "runner's high" but I couldn't get past the scream of my thighs to get anywhere near a "high". I hated running. But if you've been reading my blogs, you already know this. The Couch to 5K changed the way I feel about running and is changing my life. I am simply amazed.
When I started running six weeks ago, I started on a Sunday afternoon. I continued to stay on the same schedule, running Sunday's, Tuesday's, and Thursday's. That was until I got sick during week five. So instead of completing the week on a Thursday, I finished it on last Sunday evening. I started week six on Tuesday.
Week five ended with a 20 minute run so I assumed that going back to intervals on week six would be a breeze. I was wrong. Day one started off with the five minute walk followed by a 5 minute run, an eight minute run, and another five minute run. The first five minute run was OK. By the time I finished the eight minute run my legs were killing me and I wanted to stop. The last five minutes was TORTURE! I pushed through somehow. Sometimes finishing has everything to do with knowing that I have a group of people who are keeping up with me and encouraging me and I don't want to disappoint. The other part of it is that I've come so far and I owe it to myself!
I woke up late on Thursday which ended up being day two. Day two had two 10 minute runs. Again, I figured that it wasn't much different from day one and a lot shorter than the end of week five so I wouldn't have to much of a problem. Wrong again! And I don't like being wrong! Ha! I've come to believe that running is at least 50% mental if not more. Mind over matter, right? Right! I had also hit the snooze too many times that morning so I got home just before the baby arrived and I was a HOT mess, literally!
Since I'm off schedule, I got up a few minutes after 6:00 a.m. today to finish week six. Yes, on Saturday! I know, I can't believe it either. :) After how hard the previous days were, I had to push my doubts aside and just go for it. And I owned that 25 minute run! I'm not saying that there weren't times that I wish I could have just stopped and walked or when my legs weren't hurting but I finished and I finished well. I really believe what I said about running being mental. On the previous days knowing that I was going to be able to stop after a few minutes kept me looking forward to stopping but knowing ahead of time that I would run almost my entire route, I wasn't constantly listening for the cue to stop, I was enjoying my run and focusing on pushing myself to go just a bit farther. It's such an exhilarating experience to know that you've pushed yourself and that you've conquered something you never thought you could do.
I would like to get back to my normal schedule so I'm hoping to get up early in the morning and start week seven. Only two more weeks to go after this one! I can't believe it! I'm looking forward to running my first 5K with my mom and my uncle!
Oh and before you go...here is what I look like after running for 25 minutes! Sweat never looked so good...to me! OK...it's not the best picture but who cares...I ran for 25 minutes! :)
![]()
When I started running six weeks ago, I started on a Sunday afternoon. I continued to stay on the same schedule, running Sunday's, Tuesday's, and Thursday's. That was until I got sick during week five. So instead of completing the week on a Thursday, I finished it on last Sunday evening. I started week six on Tuesday.
Week five ended with a 20 minute run so I assumed that going back to intervals on week six would be a breeze. I was wrong. Day one started off with the five minute walk followed by a 5 minute run, an eight minute run, and another five minute run. The first five minute run was OK. By the time I finished the eight minute run my legs were killing me and I wanted to stop. The last five minutes was TORTURE! I pushed through somehow. Sometimes finishing has everything to do with knowing that I have a group of people who are keeping up with me and encouraging me and I don't want to disappoint. The other part of it is that I've come so far and I owe it to myself!
I woke up late on Thursday which ended up being day two. Day two had two 10 minute runs. Again, I figured that it wasn't much different from day one and a lot shorter than the end of week five so I wouldn't have to much of a problem. Wrong again! And I don't like being wrong! Ha! I've come to believe that running is at least 50% mental if not more. Mind over matter, right? Right! I had also hit the snooze too many times that morning so I got home just before the baby arrived and I was a HOT mess, literally!
Since I'm off schedule, I got up a few minutes after 6:00 a.m. today to finish week six. Yes, on Saturday! I know, I can't believe it either. :) After how hard the previous days were, I had to push my doubts aside and just go for it. And I owned that 25 minute run! I'm not saying that there weren't times that I wish I could have just stopped and walked or when my legs weren't hurting but I finished and I finished well. I really believe what I said about running being mental. On the previous days knowing that I was going to be able to stop after a few minutes kept me looking forward to stopping but knowing ahead of time that I would run almost my entire route, I wasn't constantly listening for the cue to stop, I was enjoying my run and focusing on pushing myself to go just a bit farther. It's such an exhilarating experience to know that you've pushed yourself and that you've conquered something you never thought you could do.
I would like to get back to my normal schedule so I'm hoping to get up early in the morning and start week seven. Only two more weeks to go after this one! I can't believe it! I'm looking forward to running my first 5K with my mom and my uncle!
Oh and before you go...here is what I look like after running for 25 minutes! Sweat never looked so good...to me! OK...it's not the best picture but who cares...I ran for 25 minutes! :)
Thursday, June 23, 2011
When It Rains...
The weather and my mood today were twins. It's been dark and cloudy outside all day. While I can't say that I've been in a bad mood today, I've been in a blah mood.
It all started at 3:00 a.m. this morning...
I had gone to bed early last night since today was my day to run. Around 3:00 a.m. this morning I was awakened by the sound of Abigail's voice saying, "Mommy, I peed in my bed." This has been a reoccurring thing recently. She hasn't worn a diaper or pull-up to bed since April. Ryan has gotten up with her the last couple of times but he had a rough day yesterday and I knew he needed to sleep so I got up with her. Once I got back to bed, I couldn't go back to sleep. I was so frustrated. I needed to get up in a couple of hours to go run and I needed my sleep.
I finally got back to sleep but when my alarm went off, I was not ready to get up. After hitting the snooze a couple of times and then turning it off all together, I overslept. Imagine that! Once I woke up and realized what had happened, I quickly dressed and headed out for my run. While the weather was overcast it was still sort of humid. I'm not sure what my problem has been this week but day one and day two were both difficult. Today I even felt a bit nauseous. I finished and made it home just before the baby I sit for arrived. So guess what that meant....NO SHOWER! Yuck! I did change my clothes since my running clothes were soaked with sweat but I had to go all day feeling yucky.
Later in the day, I finally got around to washing the soiled sheets from last night and some miscellaneous items. Only to find out later that my dryer was kaput! It's been on the fritz for a while now but somehow we've managed to get it working all the other times. Nothing I tried this time worked. Thank God for good friends who let us use their dryer. For now, I guess I'm going to have to do it the old fashion way and hang the clothes up to dry or go to a laundromat.
All of this comes just the day after we found out that Ryan has to have surgery next week on Tuesday. I've already been stressing over him actually having to have surgery, hospital bills, being alone with no family to wait with me while he has surgery, making plans for Abigail on the day of, etc. so to say that today was frustrating is to say the least.
But I know this, God is faithful and He provides! Nothing catches Him by surprise and that He is in control! Without that knowledge and hope I would be an even bigger basket case than I am now.
In the midst of all this, I do have a bit of good news to share. It's nothing earth shattering and it may not even be that exciting to you but it is to me...I barely have any love handles anymore! Ha! But I'm serious. I love looking in the mirror and seeing the changes in my body and today I noticed that I've lost a good bit of fat around my hips and waist. So exciting for me! And I'm loving my legs right now. They aren't perfect but so much better than before!
That is all!
Peace, Love, and Healthy Living,
Jessica
It all started at 3:00 a.m. this morning...
I had gone to bed early last night since today was my day to run. Around 3:00 a.m. this morning I was awakened by the sound of Abigail's voice saying, "Mommy, I peed in my bed." This has been a reoccurring thing recently. She hasn't worn a diaper or pull-up to bed since April. Ryan has gotten up with her the last couple of times but he had a rough day yesterday and I knew he needed to sleep so I got up with her. Once I got back to bed, I couldn't go back to sleep. I was so frustrated. I needed to get up in a couple of hours to go run and I needed my sleep.
I finally got back to sleep but when my alarm went off, I was not ready to get up. After hitting the snooze a couple of times and then turning it off all together, I overslept. Imagine that! Once I woke up and realized what had happened, I quickly dressed and headed out for my run. While the weather was overcast it was still sort of humid. I'm not sure what my problem has been this week but day one and day two were both difficult. Today I even felt a bit nauseous. I finished and made it home just before the baby I sit for arrived. So guess what that meant....NO SHOWER! Yuck! I did change my clothes since my running clothes were soaked with sweat but I had to go all day feeling yucky.
Later in the day, I finally got around to washing the soiled sheets from last night and some miscellaneous items. Only to find out later that my dryer was kaput! It's been on the fritz for a while now but somehow we've managed to get it working all the other times. Nothing I tried this time worked. Thank God for good friends who let us use their dryer. For now, I guess I'm going to have to do it the old fashion way and hang the clothes up to dry or go to a laundromat.
All of this comes just the day after we found out that Ryan has to have surgery next week on Tuesday. I've already been stressing over him actually having to have surgery, hospital bills, being alone with no family to wait with me while he has surgery, making plans for Abigail on the day of, etc. so to say that today was frustrating is to say the least.
But I know this, God is faithful and He provides! Nothing catches Him by surprise and that He is in control! Without that knowledge and hope I would be an even bigger basket case than I am now.
In the midst of all this, I do have a bit of good news to share. It's nothing earth shattering and it may not even be that exciting to you but it is to me...I barely have any love handles anymore! Ha! But I'm serious. I love looking in the mirror and seeing the changes in my body and today I noticed that I've lost a good bit of fat around my hips and waist. So exciting for me! And I'm loving my legs right now. They aren't perfect but so much better than before!
That is all!
Peace, Love, and Healthy Living,
Jessica
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Cooking My Way: NO SOUP FOR YOU!
Just kidding! In case you're wondering about the title of my post, I'm referencing one of my favorite Seinfeld episodes. The owner/chef at the soup shop in town is referred to as "The Soup Nazi." He serves the best soup in town but if you want it you have to follow his orders to get it. There is certain protocol that you must follow while in his shop. If you don't, he yells, "No soup for you!" and you are out of luck.
Thankfully, I am NOT "The Soup Nazi" and on this recipe Wednesday, I am going to share with you two of my favorite and healthy soup recipes. Sadly, I do not have any pictures of either soup so you'll just have to take my word for it. Both recipes come from my granddaddy Strickland who I still believe should have opened a restaurant!
Tomato Basil Soup (Probably my favorite soup EVER)
4 tbs of butter (you can substitute evoo or do half butter and half evoo. I use the whipped version of the Smart Balanced Low-Sodium butter.)
2 cups onion, finely diced
1 cup celery, finely diced
1 cup carrots, finely diced
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 28 oz can of diced tomatoes
1 cup of heavy cream (I believe that Land of Lakes makes a fat free heavy cream)
3 cups low sodium chicken broth
Salt and pepper to taste
Pinch of sugar
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil, divided - use 1/2 in soup and other 1/2 to garnish.
In a stock pot or dutch oven over medium heat, melt the butter. Add onions, celery, and carrots and saute 10-15 minutes or until onions are translucent. Add flour and cook and additional 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent scorching. Add tomatoes, cream, and broth and bring to a light simmer for 30 minutes. Taste and season with salt, pepper, and sugar if desired. Remove from heat and add 1/3 cup of basil. Use submersion blender to combine (you can also do this in batches in a regular blender). Serve immediately. Garnish with remaining basil.
Cauliflower Soup
1 head of cauliflower, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 limb of celery, chopped
4 cups of low sodium chicken broth
pepper to taste
1 can of fat free evaporated milk
In a stock pot saute onion and celery in a little evoo, about 5-6 minutes until tender. Add chopped cauliflower, chicken broth, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cover with lid. Simmer for 20 minutes or until cauliflower is tender. Remove from heat and add evaporated milk. Blend until smooth with a submersion blender. *Disclaimer* This is a fairly thin soup so more than likely you'll want to eat it as a side. We like grilled chicken or sandwiches with it.
OK. I know that I said I was going to give you two of my favorite soup recipes but I'll give you one more as a little bonus! :)
I was never a big soup eater growing up. I detested vegetable soup which was a common dish in our house during the winter months. There were only two soups that I actually liked and both were made by my granddaddy Strickland. The first was his homemade chicken noodle soup (I'll give you guys this recipe later but I don't have it on hand right now without spending forever looking for my missing recipe book. Have I ever mentioned how much I hate moving? Ha!) The other was his split pea soup. It was probably my favorite as a kid and he didn't make it often. Back then, before he developed diabetes and became more health conscious, it wasn't very healthy considering it had ham hock in it! Ha ha! But like many of his other "famous" recipes, he tweaked them to make them healthier but no less yummy. It's funny how all of my favorite soups were/are made by him. Most of the men in my family can attest to their love of cooking and their skill at it because of him. Until I was about 15 or so, he worked for the Georgia State Prison. He taught inmates how to build things. He made it home early in the afternoons before my grandma did so he cooked supper almost every night. We ate with them for lunch on Saturday's and even on the weekend, he was the primary cook. I always look forward to going home and eating with my grandparent's. You never know what he's going to make! So without further ado, here is the split pea soup recipe...
Split Pea Soup
1 small onion, chopped
1 1lb bag of split peas
Pepper to taste
2 packs of ham flavored Goya
5 cups of water
1 can fat free evaporated milk
Saute onion in a bit of evoo. Add peas, Goya, water, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes. Remove from heat and add milk. Blend with submersion blender.
For all three recipes you need a submersion blender. You can blend in batches in a regular blender but it's a pain. Depending on what brand you buy, submersion blenders aren't too expensive and it's a great tool to have.
Hope you enjoy these soups! I am now a soup lover and I don't care what time of year it is, summer or winter, I'll be eating soup! :)
Peace, Love, and Healthy Living,
Jessica
Thankfully, I am NOT "The Soup Nazi" and on this recipe Wednesday, I am going to share with you two of my favorite and healthy soup recipes. Sadly, I do not have any pictures of either soup so you'll just have to take my word for it. Both recipes come from my granddaddy Strickland who I still believe should have opened a restaurant!
Tomato Basil Soup (Probably my favorite soup EVER)
4 tbs of butter (you can substitute evoo or do half butter and half evoo. I use the whipped version of the Smart Balanced Low-Sodium butter.)
2 cups onion, finely diced
1 cup celery, finely diced
1 cup carrots, finely diced
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 28 oz can of diced tomatoes
1 cup of heavy cream (I believe that Land of Lakes makes a fat free heavy cream)
3 cups low sodium chicken broth
Salt and pepper to taste
Pinch of sugar
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil, divided - use 1/2 in soup and other 1/2 to garnish.
In a stock pot or dutch oven over medium heat, melt the butter. Add onions, celery, and carrots and saute 10-15 minutes or until onions are translucent. Add flour and cook and additional 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent scorching. Add tomatoes, cream, and broth and bring to a light simmer for 30 minutes. Taste and season with salt, pepper, and sugar if desired. Remove from heat and add 1/3 cup of basil. Use submersion blender to combine (you can also do this in batches in a regular blender). Serve immediately. Garnish with remaining basil.
Cauliflower Soup
1 head of cauliflower, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 limb of celery, chopped
4 cups of low sodium chicken broth
pepper to taste
1 can of fat free evaporated milk
In a stock pot saute onion and celery in a little evoo, about 5-6 minutes until tender. Add chopped cauliflower, chicken broth, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cover with lid. Simmer for 20 minutes or until cauliflower is tender. Remove from heat and add evaporated milk. Blend until smooth with a submersion blender. *Disclaimer* This is a fairly thin soup so more than likely you'll want to eat it as a side. We like grilled chicken or sandwiches with it.
OK. I know that I said I was going to give you two of my favorite soup recipes but I'll give you one more as a little bonus! :)
I was never a big soup eater growing up. I detested vegetable soup which was a common dish in our house during the winter months. There were only two soups that I actually liked and both were made by my granddaddy Strickland. The first was his homemade chicken noodle soup (I'll give you guys this recipe later but I don't have it on hand right now without spending forever looking for my missing recipe book. Have I ever mentioned how much I hate moving? Ha!) The other was his split pea soup. It was probably my favorite as a kid and he didn't make it often. Back then, before he developed diabetes and became more health conscious, it wasn't very healthy considering it had ham hock in it! Ha ha! But like many of his other "famous" recipes, he tweaked them to make them healthier but no less yummy. It's funny how all of my favorite soups were/are made by him. Most of the men in my family can attest to their love of cooking and their skill at it because of him. Until I was about 15 or so, he worked for the Georgia State Prison. He taught inmates how to build things. He made it home early in the afternoons before my grandma did so he cooked supper almost every night. We ate with them for lunch on Saturday's and even on the weekend, he was the primary cook. I always look forward to going home and eating with my grandparent's. You never know what he's going to make! So without further ado, here is the split pea soup recipe...
Split Pea Soup
1 small onion, chopped
1 1lb bag of split peas
Pepper to taste
2 packs of ham flavored Goya
5 cups of water
1 can fat free evaporated milk
Saute onion in a bit of evoo. Add peas, Goya, water, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes. Remove from heat and add milk. Blend with submersion blender.
For all three recipes you need a submersion blender. You can blend in batches in a regular blender but it's a pain. Depending on what brand you buy, submersion blenders aren't too expensive and it's a great tool to have.
Hope you enjoy these soups! I am now a soup lover and I don't care what time of year it is, summer or winter, I'll be eating soup! :)
Peace, Love, and Healthy Living,
Jessica
Sunday, June 19, 2011
C25K: Week 5
What a crazy week this has been. It started off like any other week. I got up last Sunday morning and ran day one of week five of the C25K running plan. Day one started me off with three five minute runs. It went well, if my memory serves me correct. Ha! It truly has felt like two weeks instead of one.
Tuesday was our eight year anniversary. I got up like I normally do on Tuesdays and ran day two which included two eight minute runs. In my last post I confessed that I had eaten a little differently than I normally do but I monitored it and I went back to the gym that night. When I went to bed on Tuesday, I was happy with myself and what I'd accomplished so far and I was actually looking forward to Thursday and my final run of the week.
But on Wednesday afternoon, I noticed that my throat felt a little sore. I hoped that it was just a fluke and that I wasn't actually getting sick. It's not uncommon for my throat to hurt randomly due to sinus stuff. But before church was over on Wednesday night, I could barely swallow. I went on to the gym but decided to hit the treadmill first instead of the circuit training. Walking on the treadmill was torture. I couldn't increase my speed because my whole body ached and my throat was killing me. After 30 minutes I'd had enough.
By the time I got home I knew that I wouldn't be getting up the next morning to run. I was so disappointed. Day three was supposed to be a real test of my endurance...a 20 minute run. I really wanted to see if I could do it. By Thursday morning, my throat was swollen and fire engine red. I ended up a urgent care. Two shots and three prescriptions later, I was home to rest.
I had hoped to be able to get up on Saturday morning and finish week five but my body really needed the extra rest. After grocery shopping for the next week, I took Abigail to a birthday party for a family friend. *Confession Alert* I had a cupcake and a snack-sized bag of Frito's. Later on we went back to our friends house and ate dinner. We had brown rice and chicken. It was a healthy meal. However, later on I was still hungry and I'm not sure if my resolve was down because I had been sick but I was craving a hamburger. So, my friend and I went to Sonic. We split a hamburger and I had another snack-sized bag of chips, Doritos this time. I justified it and went on about my night. But an hour or so after eating it, I had stomach pains and I felt miserable. I ended up staying up really late last night so I didn't get the sleep that my body needed.
I had set my alarm to get up on Sunday morning and finish week 5. I would normally be starting a new week not finishing a week. I was so tired that I just turned my alarm off and went back to sleep. We overslept and luckily we were only a few minutes late to Sunday School. We grabbed some organic granola bars for breakfast as we headed out the door.
As you know, today was Father's day. Ryan wanted to eat at Copeland's which has yummy Cajun-style food. I'm just going to go ahead and say what I have to say. It's like pulling a band-aid off. We ordered a FRIED appetizer and I ordered a calorie loaded pasta dish with a crab cake stuffed eggplant...FRIED! Again, I justified my options even though there were several options to get something much healthier. I will say that I ate much less than I would have a couple of months ago and I left the leftovers at the restaurant so I wouldn't be tempted by them again.
I went home and felt full and guilty. I also felt sluggish. I had finally had enough. Around 6:45, I got my running clothes and shoes on. I left Abigail with Ryan and walked outside. The wind was blowing pretty good so it made it feel cooler out than it was. I was going to do this. I owed it to myself and my body especially after I had given it such poor choices this week. I completed my five minute warm-up walk and I was ready for my run. It felt good. When the lady on my iPod said that I was halfway done, I smiled. I still felt good. I couldn't believe I was doing it. The last 1/4 of the run was tough but I pushed through. If I hadn't felt so wobbly when I transitioned from running to walking, I probably would have broken out into my happy dance right there on the sidewalk. As soon as I got my heart rate down a bit, I called my mom. I had to tell someone that I had finished and she's probably my biggest fan! Thanks mom!
I came home and Ryan and Abigail congratulated me. I sat down on the stairs to cool off and I let out a little victory yell. Yes, they both thought I was acting crazy but I was so happy. After a nice cool shower, I had supper. I wasn't really that hungry so I had half a peanut butter sandwich and some strawberries.
Before I ran, I was thinking about blogging and chalking this week up to a loss. I mean you win some, you lose some, right? But even though I didn't eat the best all week, I'm counting this week as a victory in my book. Being able to run 20 minutes without stopping is something to be proud of and it's an accomplishment.
Here's to next week. I'm not sure what the scale is going to show when I weigh tomorrow but whatever happens, I'm back on track and on my way to being better than ever!
Peace, Love, and Healthy Living,
Jessica
Tuesday was our eight year anniversary. I got up like I normally do on Tuesdays and ran day two which included two eight minute runs. In my last post I confessed that I had eaten a little differently than I normally do but I monitored it and I went back to the gym that night. When I went to bed on Tuesday, I was happy with myself and what I'd accomplished so far and I was actually looking forward to Thursday and my final run of the week.
But on Wednesday afternoon, I noticed that my throat felt a little sore. I hoped that it was just a fluke and that I wasn't actually getting sick. It's not uncommon for my throat to hurt randomly due to sinus stuff. But before church was over on Wednesday night, I could barely swallow. I went on to the gym but decided to hit the treadmill first instead of the circuit training. Walking on the treadmill was torture. I couldn't increase my speed because my whole body ached and my throat was killing me. After 30 minutes I'd had enough.
By the time I got home I knew that I wouldn't be getting up the next morning to run. I was so disappointed. Day three was supposed to be a real test of my endurance...a 20 minute run. I really wanted to see if I could do it. By Thursday morning, my throat was swollen and fire engine red. I ended up a urgent care. Two shots and three prescriptions later, I was home to rest.
I had hoped to be able to get up on Saturday morning and finish week five but my body really needed the extra rest. After grocery shopping for the next week, I took Abigail to a birthday party for a family friend. *Confession Alert* I had a cupcake and a snack-sized bag of Frito's. Later on we went back to our friends house and ate dinner. We had brown rice and chicken. It was a healthy meal. However, later on I was still hungry and I'm not sure if my resolve was down because I had been sick but I was craving a hamburger. So, my friend and I went to Sonic. We split a hamburger and I had another snack-sized bag of chips, Doritos this time. I justified it and went on about my night. But an hour or so after eating it, I had stomach pains and I felt miserable. I ended up staying up really late last night so I didn't get the sleep that my body needed.
I had set my alarm to get up on Sunday morning and finish week 5. I would normally be starting a new week not finishing a week. I was so tired that I just turned my alarm off and went back to sleep. We overslept and luckily we were only a few minutes late to Sunday School. We grabbed some organic granola bars for breakfast as we headed out the door.
As you know, today was Father's day. Ryan wanted to eat at Copeland's which has yummy Cajun-style food. I'm just going to go ahead and say what I have to say. It's like pulling a band-aid off. We ordered a FRIED appetizer and I ordered a calorie loaded pasta dish with a crab cake stuffed eggplant...FRIED! Again, I justified my options even though there were several options to get something much healthier. I will say that I ate much less than I would have a couple of months ago and I left the leftovers at the restaurant so I wouldn't be tempted by them again.
I went home and felt full and guilty. I also felt sluggish. I had finally had enough. Around 6:45, I got my running clothes and shoes on. I left Abigail with Ryan and walked outside. The wind was blowing pretty good so it made it feel cooler out than it was. I was going to do this. I owed it to myself and my body especially after I had given it such poor choices this week. I completed my five minute warm-up walk and I was ready for my run. It felt good. When the lady on my iPod said that I was halfway done, I smiled. I still felt good. I couldn't believe I was doing it. The last 1/4 of the run was tough but I pushed through. If I hadn't felt so wobbly when I transitioned from running to walking, I probably would have broken out into my happy dance right there on the sidewalk. As soon as I got my heart rate down a bit, I called my mom. I had to tell someone that I had finished and she's probably my biggest fan! Thanks mom!
I came home and Ryan and Abigail congratulated me. I sat down on the stairs to cool off and I let out a little victory yell. Yes, they both thought I was acting crazy but I was so happy. After a nice cool shower, I had supper. I wasn't really that hungry so I had half a peanut butter sandwich and some strawberries.
Before I ran, I was thinking about blogging and chalking this week up to a loss. I mean you win some, you lose some, right? But even though I didn't eat the best all week, I'm counting this week as a victory in my book. Being able to run 20 minutes without stopping is something to be proud of and it's an accomplishment.
Here's to next week. I'm not sure what the scale is going to show when I weigh tomorrow but whatever happens, I'm back on track and on my way to being better than ever!
Peace, Love, and Healthy Living,
Jessica
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Cooking My Way: Grilled Shrimp and Spinach Salad with Lime Dressing
I bet you thought I was going to forget about recipe Wednesday! Nope! I'm just a little behind today, that's all.
Yesterday, Ryan and I celebrated our 8 year anniversary! I wanted to do a blog post designated to our special day but we ended up being gone all day and I just didn't get around to it today. Friends, you can see pics from our outing in New Orleans yesterday over on Facebook.
I feel like there should be some sort of confession about what I ate yesterday. I decided before hand that wherever we went to lunch yesterday, I would get what I wanted and I wouldn't feel guilty about it. It's been a while since I've let myself indulge a bit and I figured it would be better to do it and monitor it than to just totally blow it another day and fall off the wagon all together. So, I had a really yummy ham sandwich at Luke in New Orleans. Luke is one of chef John Besh's restaurants. What's so bad about a ham sandwich you say? Well, consider that it's on some sort of white bread goodness and then it's smothered in a white cheese and they place a fried egg on top and it come with homemade fries! I ate half of the sandwich and a handful of their skinny fries. Abigail ended up eating most of the other half even though we had ordered her chicken fingers. We also stopped for supper in Slidell at The Italian Pie - this is the place next to the gym that smells so good. But I decided that I could eat there and still be guilt free. I opted for a salad and asked them not to bring the bread sticks. I had one small slice of Abigail's kid sized mushroom pizza. Overall, I felt good about the day. We walked a lot in New Orleans, plus I had run day two of week 5 of the C25K that morning and we went to the gym for about 40 minutes that evening. All in all we had a great day!
Now back to the matter at hand. Here is a delicious salad and dressing recipe. I've discovered that homemade dressings taste better and are way better for you than store bought!
Lime Dressing
1 jalapeno, seeded, coarsely chopped
1 clove of garlic
1/4 cup lime juice
1/3 cup honey (I feel like you can reasonably reduce this to 1/4 cup or less depending on how sweet you want it. Plus reducing the quantity reduces your sugar intake for this dish.)
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp salt or to taste
1/4 cup packed cilantro leaves
1/2 cup evoo
Place jalapeno and garlic into blender or food processor. Pulse until finely chopped. Pour in lime juice, honey, vinegar, salt and cilantro. Pulse to blend. Slowly drizzle in evoo on low until incorporated. Taste. Salt if necessary. Place in a container with a lid and place in fridge until ready for use.
*This makes a lot of dressing. It should save for a while in you refrigerator. It's so good, I'm sure you'll want to eat a salad again the next day just to taste the dressing again! :)
Grilled Shrimp and Spinach Salad
25-30 small to medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
5-6 skewers, soaked in water for at least 30 minutes.
Fresh baby spinach leaves
Shredded carrots
Almond slivers
Reduced fat Feta cheese
Lime dressing (see recipe above)
Season shrimp. I think we used salt, pepper, garlic, and smoked paprika. (Ryan seasoned the shrimp so I'm not 100% sure what was on them. Just season to your liking.) Place five shrimp on each skewer. Grill. Shrimp do not take long to cook. You only need to cook for a few minutes on each side.
Divide all other ingredients, except dressing, into three separate bowls. Take shrimp off skewers and divide among bowls. Drizzle with dressing.
*When we made this, Ryan and I had two skewers a piece and Abigail had one. However, she ate several of my shrimp so if feeding three people I would suggest at least 30 shrimp. Of course you can increase or decrease to fit your needs.
Enjoy!
Peace, Love, and Healthy Living,
Jessica
Yesterday, Ryan and I celebrated our 8 year anniversary! I wanted to do a blog post designated to our special day but we ended up being gone all day and I just didn't get around to it today. Friends, you can see pics from our outing in New Orleans yesterday over on Facebook.
I feel like there should be some sort of confession about what I ate yesterday. I decided before hand that wherever we went to lunch yesterday, I would get what I wanted and I wouldn't feel guilty about it. It's been a while since I've let myself indulge a bit and I figured it would be better to do it and monitor it than to just totally blow it another day and fall off the wagon all together. So, I had a really yummy ham sandwich at Luke in New Orleans. Luke is one of chef John Besh's restaurants. What's so bad about a ham sandwich you say? Well, consider that it's on some sort of white bread goodness and then it's smothered in a white cheese and they place a fried egg on top and it come with homemade fries! I ate half of the sandwich and a handful of their skinny fries. Abigail ended up eating most of the other half even though we had ordered her chicken fingers. We also stopped for supper in Slidell at The Italian Pie - this is the place next to the gym that smells so good. But I decided that I could eat there and still be guilt free. I opted for a salad and asked them not to bring the bread sticks. I had one small slice of Abigail's kid sized mushroom pizza. Overall, I felt good about the day. We walked a lot in New Orleans, plus I had run day two of week 5 of the C25K that morning and we went to the gym for about 40 minutes that evening. All in all we had a great day!
Now back to the matter at hand. Here is a delicious salad and dressing recipe. I've discovered that homemade dressings taste better and are way better for you than store bought!
Lime Dressing
1 jalapeno, seeded, coarsely chopped
1 clove of garlic
1/4 cup lime juice
1/3 cup honey (I feel like you can reasonably reduce this to 1/4 cup or less depending on how sweet you want it. Plus reducing the quantity reduces your sugar intake for this dish.)
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp salt or to taste
1/4 cup packed cilantro leaves
1/2 cup evoo
Place jalapeno and garlic into blender or food processor. Pulse until finely chopped. Pour in lime juice, honey, vinegar, salt and cilantro. Pulse to blend. Slowly drizzle in evoo on low until incorporated. Taste. Salt if necessary. Place in a container with a lid and place in fridge until ready for use.
*This makes a lot of dressing. It should save for a while in you refrigerator. It's so good, I'm sure you'll want to eat a salad again the next day just to taste the dressing again! :)
Grilled Shrimp and Spinach Salad
25-30 small to medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
5-6 skewers, soaked in water for at least 30 minutes.
Fresh baby spinach leaves
Shredded carrots
Almond slivers
Reduced fat Feta cheese
Lime dressing (see recipe above)
Season shrimp. I think we used salt, pepper, garlic, and smoked paprika. (Ryan seasoned the shrimp so I'm not 100% sure what was on them. Just season to your liking.) Place five shrimp on each skewer. Grill. Shrimp do not take long to cook. You only need to cook for a few minutes on each side.
Divide all other ingredients, except dressing, into three separate bowls. Take shrimp off skewers and divide among bowls. Drizzle with dressing.
*When we made this, Ryan and I had two skewers a piece and Abigail had one. However, she ate several of my shrimp so if feeding three people I would suggest at least 30 shrimp. Of course you can increase or decrease to fit your needs.
Enjoy!
Peace, Love, and Healthy Living,
Jessica
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)