Girl's Night

I went to a Girl's Night last night to see my cousin Tina who was on for her birthday. It was nice seeing everyone. It makes you wonder where all the time goes. I enjoyed catching up, and everyone gave me a smile that I left with. I appreciate them inviting me over.

Before I went I made a healthy dish that I got from www.skinnytaste.com. It was baked mozzarella sticks with a marinara sauce. I thought it turned out very good. My daughter said it tasted like pizza to her.

If you are interested, here is the recipe I got from their site:

Skinny Baked Mozzarella Sticks

Skinnytaste.com
Servings: 12 • Serving Size: 2 pieces • Old Points: 1 pts • Points+: 2 pts*
Calories: 86.8* • Fat: 4.8 g • Protein: 7.4 g • Carb: 3.5 g • Fiber: 0.2 g • Sugar: 0.2
Sodium: 168.6

Ingredients:
• 12 sticks part-skim, reduced sodium mozzarella string cheese (Sargento)
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 2 tbsp flour
• 5 tbsp Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 5 tbsp panko crumbs
• 2 tsp parmesan cheese
• 1 tbsp dried parsley
• olive oil cooking spray (I used my misto)

Directions:

Cut cheese in half to give you 24 pieces. Place cheese in the freezer until cheese is frozen.

In small bowl, whisk the egg. Place the flour on another small dish. In separate bowl, combine bread crumbs, panko, parmesan cheese and dried parsley.

Dip the frozen sticks in flour, shaking off excess, then into the egg, then coat with the crumbs.

Repeat this process with the remaining cheese placing them on a tray with wax paper. Place cheese back into the freezer until ready to bake (this is a must or they will melt before the crumbs get golden).

When ready to bake preheat oven to 400° F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly spray with oil.

Place frozen cheese sticks on baking sheet. Spray the tops of the mozzarella sticks with a little more oil and bake in the bottom third of your oven until crisp, about 4 to 5 minutes. Turn and bake an additional 4 - 5 minutes watching them closely so they don't melt.

Makes 24 pieces.

* There will be extra crumbs and flour after breading, I've deducted them from the nutritional info.



Quick Marinara Sauce

Skinnytaste.com
Servings: 6 • Serving Size: 1/2 cup • Old Points: 1 pt • Points+: 1 pt
Calories: 51.5 • Fat: 0.8 • Carbs: 9.0 g • Fiber: 1.1 • Protein: 0.1 g

Ingredients:
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, smashed
• 28 oz can crushed tomatoes (I like Tuttorosso)
• 1 small bay leaf
• 1 tsp oregano
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
• salt and fresh pepper to taste

Directions:

In a medium pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and saute until golden, being careful not to burn.

Add crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper, oregano, and bay leaf. Stir and reduce heat to low. Cover and let simmer about 15 - 20 minutes. Remove from heat and add fresh basil.

The only difference with mine to the original recipe is that I substituted a lot of items though to keep it all organic, which was the flour, bread crumbs, cheese. It was all easy to find at my local health food store, but you don't have to do organic. That is purely reference, and I didn't edit the original recipe, so none of that was changed.

I am off to do my morning workout now. Today is Turbo Jam - Cardio Party by Chalene Johnson. :)

Quote of the day: "Don't let other people tell you what you want." – Pat Riley

Going Without Breakfast

This has to be the worst thing to do...not eat breakfast. Today I have not been feeling so well, but after I dropped off Allison at school I realized that I was very hungry feeling, despite how icky my stomach was feeling. Well, the husband asked me to hit the grocery store after I dropped her off. We haven't gone in a while and stock was getting low. I bought so many snacks that were absolutely unnecessary. After I got home and rested for a bit I realized the errors of my way. I felt like the old me..buying anything and everything because it looked yummy.

Well, they weren't super bad snacks. I got chewy granola bars, so I'll just make sure to toss them into Ally's bag for lunch and snack at school. She likes them. I got donuts too. Gah! My husband will devour those. I'll tell him to take them to work with him.

So, lesson learned - if you are starving get something in your stomach before you browse those grocery aisles. You will more than likely pick up things because you are hungry, which isn't a good thing. If you have to run out the door without something then try grabbing an apple or a banana, something quick and easy to munch on before you step into the grocery store.

While I was standing in line I sparked up a conversation with the cashier because she mentioned that she was starving. I agreed with her and mentioned how I shouldn't be purchasing half of this. Her reply was "Imagine working here when you are hungry." Ouch...that must really suck. It got me thinking. I'm not sure a grocery store would be a good place for me to work, not someone that is trying to be healthy and lose weight.

I did get fruit and gluten free whole grain waffles from the health food section, so I didn't strike out hard, but some of it was still unnecessary purchases.

By the way, those waffles in the health food section are so yummy! If anyone needs a quick fix for the mornings. They have a touch of honey added to them, so you don't even need syrup on them. I like to toss blueberries or strawberries on top of them. They are delicioso! It's exactly what I had when I got home. It only came to a whopping 301 calories, which is great! That's exactly around where I short for in calories when I eat breakfast.

Quote of the day: "The most important things to do in the world are to get something to eat, something to drink, and somebody to love you." – Brendan Behan

I think it should be "The most important things to do in the world are to get something healthy to eat, something to drink, and somebody to love you." Like how I tossed in healthy? ;)

We all need a little push!

Well, my daughter is sick..poor thing. I think I might be coming down with whatever she has as well, and I didn't feel like working out today. I had to push myself to push the play button. I know everyone knows how that feels! It was tough, but once I got through about ten minutes of my workout I started to feel a whole lot better about forcing myself to workout.

Also, on that note, I'd like to congratulate myself. Monday is my 20th week of TurboFire, which is awesome in my eyes! It's not easy making that commitment to be focused and challenge yourself to this point, but wow...am I proud of myself! I've stopped weighing myself. I did this per Chalene's recommendation. I'm doing this workout for me, to get healthy, and to feel good about myself! I am not going to let a scale control me anymore! I will admit. I was one of those that was obsessed, weighing myself every single day, which isn't good for your or your mental focus.

Also, guys...seriously, check out this deal for Rockin' Body! It's a limited time offer and a great steal! It's such a cheap price for everything that's being offered! I ordered one for myself, and my cousin purchased one as well. This package is typically valued at about $100, and it's a limited time offer! Get it while you can and start working out with me on Beachbody! It's such a great site with awesome tools!! We can beat the trend to obesity together! If you're interested in working with me to battle the bulge you can leave me a comment here or you can contact on my site linked in this post.

On that note, I have an awesome quote of the day to share with everyone!

"Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will." – George Bernard Shaw

Focused!

I am very focused today!

Also, I was really disappointed in something. I was reading through some of Chalene Johnson's books that came with Turbo Fire. After some calculating I was very low in caloric intake, and she says if it's too low that your body stores fat, especially with as much calories being burned during the Turbo Fire workout. So, I know this now. It could also explain why I wasn't losing that much over the course of the last 17 weeks.

Oh well, we live and learn, right? Life would be boring as hell if we were perfect at everything we did! If you are interested in this formula check out Chalene's products by clicking the link above and searching for Turbo Fire, Turbo Jam, and many of her other products there.

Today was my first day working with a new preschool class. I've worked the lunches for them before, so it isn't like I don't know the kids, but it's a new experience working so closely with the teacher and the other aide. I had fun! We had a little trouble with one of the kids, but nothing we all couldn't handle. The parents aren't too happy with the decision from the principal in regards to that student, but it's a private school for a reason - they definitely don't like to deal with bullying, which was happening.

I'm must run - typing this quickly. I am off to work, yet again!

Quote of the day: "I care not what others think of what I do, but I care very much about what I think of what I do! That is character." – Theodore Roosevelt

On Top Of The World Feeling

You know what was the most amazing feeling today? When my daughter told me that her and dadda were very proud of me sticking to my workouts. They watched me workout today, which was also a bit of a motivator. I wish I could talk them both into working out with me. My husband won't budge, but I've got my daughter to join in a handful of times now or more. She's only 6, and she gets frustrated that she can't keep up after her first try, so I don't push her. I try to make it fun with her though and let her know she's doing a really great job.

I actually had been contemplating on purchasing a kids workout on Beachbody. There are a couple that they offer, but I think one is more for teenagers while the other is for toddlers. They are both by Shaun T. I asked her if she would workout to it if I bought it. Heck, I would even workout with her on them with her. Of course, after I've completed my own workouts.

Speaking of my own workout, today was such an awesome one! I was completely motivated, and I blasted through them. I was completely winded at the end of each HIIT workout. I did HIIT 20 and Sculpt 30. I wasn't winded in Sculpt 30, but my husband was watching and commenting on how tough it looked. He said he was sweating just watching me, which had me laughing. Then he told me it looked like someone dropped a bucket of water on me. Mind you, my husband is very thin. I always hated how he could eat all this junk food and not gain a pound. Anyway, back on topic. The Sculpt 30 was insane!! My shoulders were sooo sore! The resistance bands really do work, so if you think you need weights to do these workouts - NOPE! You can also purchase a great set of resistance bands on Beachbody. I love that site. They have everything for your fitness needs, as well as nutritional and motivational!

Now that I got those out of the way. I need to get motivated to go shopping for my husband's birthday tomorrow. Happy birthday to him!

Quote of the day: "Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, but only saps today of its strength." – A. J. Cronin