Goulash

Background.

My mother, bless her heart, had 4 kids in 4 and 1/2 years.  (And no twins)

That meant, she had four teens in the house at the same time.  Bless. Her. Heart.

Meal times meant doubling or tripling recipes to feed the bottomless pits that we were.  Meals also needed to be easy to make.  Because of the constant "GO" lifestyle we led, it was difficult for her to have the time to find new recipes.  There was no Pinterest people. 

That meant that we had the same meals over and over again for quite a while.  No biggie, the rotation was big enough that we rarely had something too often.

Except for goulash.

For some reason (probably the ease of the meal) we had goulash twice as often as anything else.  That might be an exaggeration...but not much. 

One time there was still leftovers of the pasta/hamburger combo still in the refrigerator when she made another batch.  Not an exaggeration.

We give her a hard time about goulash.   She takes it good-naturedly

I lost my love of goulash well before graduating from high school.  It's been over 10 years since I have had it.

Back to present day.

While surfing Pinterest and looking for some new recipes to try, I came across this little gem.  Cheeseburger Skillet.  Different. Simple. And easy to make a healthy version. 

Pinned.

I made the dish this week, and even though it didn't look as pretty as the picture above, it hit all the things I wanted.  Low-sodium chicken broth, 93% lean beef, whole wheat noodles, no-salt added tomatoes.  This one is going in the rotation!

And then I took my first bite.

It's goulash.  It may have been 10 years since I last had it, but I know that taste anywhere.

It's a prettier version, but still goulash.

My mother will give me a hard time once she reads this post. 

And I will take it good-naturedly.

Fear

There are many things in life that can make you draw your breath in a moment of fear.  Spiders.  Strange noises when you're home alone.  Clowns.

But as a mother, there is one thing that can make your heart sink and your breath draw in just as fast as any of those items above.

The baby monitor at night.

Especially after you have finally gotten baby to sleep for stretches of hours...like eight hours.

Yep.  Little Katerina is sleeping consistently eight hours at night before waking up to eat and then she'll sleep another 4ish hours on top of that.  It has been wonderful.

But I've been soft.

I have been letting her sleep in the swing all night.

Why? 

EIGHT hours!  That's why.

With Jackie I was stubborn and strong.  She WAS NOT going to get used to sleeping in the swing at night.  She WAS NOT going to sleep in our room.  SHE WOULD SLEEP IN HER CRIB AND LIKE IT!

And she did.

But things have been different with little Kit-Kat.

I still didn't let her sleep in our room longer than 2-3 weeks...and that was longer than I wanted to. 

But once she started sleeping well in the swing she stayed there.  I kept promising myself that I would transition her to the crib before going back to work. HA!

By then the FEAR had set in.

You see...with Jackie, if she woke up often and had a bad night (which was rare, but did happen) I had four and a half months of maternity leave.  It was during the summer and we were home all day by ourselves.  If she had a bad night, we could lounge around all day and nap whenever we wanted.  It worked great.

But this time...I went back to work after 9 weeks of maternity leave.  Which is better than 6, I got lucky with Christmas Break added in there. 

Once Kat started sleeping great I was scared.  Scared of trying to be the kind of teacher and mommy I was before baby came along without much sleep.  Scared of getting sick because of lack of sleep. (There is something here folks...I get sick when I'm not getting good sleep.)  Scared of being exhausted and tired while trying to keep a climbing toddler from scaling the bar stools or the shelves in the pantry.  There would be no recovery days from bad nights. I have a toddler.  A VERY active toddler.

We have a routine, and it's a good one.  But much of that relies on Katerina and how well she sleeps.

But that's all going to come to an end.

This morning I went to get her out of the swing...and I smelled it.

Not poop.  I would have welcomed the smell of poop over this.

The smell of burnt rubber or burnt something mechanical.

The smell of the motor in the swing.

The swing was on...no swinging was happening.

Crap.

The engineer inside my husband is going to look at it and see what he can do, but for now I am dreading the night.

Because fear or no fear, Katerina is sleeping without the motion of the swing tonight.

Maybe I'm overreacting.  Maybe she will surprise me.  Maybe this will end up a smooth transition to the crib. 

Maybe... but I'm still afraid of that monitor going off!

The Results!

I know, I know, I'm a few days over 24 with the results, but hey...I've been busy!

Here we GO!  Over the last 24 days....

~  I lost 9 and 1/2 pounds and 8 inches, Ethan lost 5 pounds and 3 3/4 inches.

~  My energy level is SOOO much better now that I'm focusing on putting good quality food in my body and I get a boost with my SPARK!

~  The first time I did the challenge I did struggle with resisting my sweet tooth.  This time I have found that fruits and yogurt can satisfy that craving.  And if I'm DESPERATE for some chocolate, a few chocolate chips or a couple of chocolate covered almonds are quire satisfactory!  I am easily able to resist other sweets that I don't LOVE.  Such as the cupcake with a mountain of frosting delivered to me today...I don't love cupcakes, I definitely don't love frosting, so I can easily pass.  Love the words of my sister..."If you LOVE it, then have a little, if you don't, then DON'T" :)

~  Ethan Successes:  Apples and natural peanut butter have become his GO TO snack.  He TRIED EVERYTHING that I made during these 24 days.  Even spaghetti squash!  Pre-Challenge Ethan would have scoffed and said, I don't like that.  Instead he tried it and I got "it's ok" or "It's not bad" response.  He discovered spicy hummus, tried sweet potato fries, turkey sausage, and egg whites.  He has gone from dipping chicken in GOBS of ranch and BBQ sauce, to just putting a small amount on his plate and portioning it out better.  His pants are saggy :)

~  I like oatmeal!  Let me say that again in a way that more expresses my excitement.  I LIKE OATMEAL!!!!!  I have been working on liking oatmeal for over 10 years.  The first time I tried the challenge, I gave up on trying to like oatmeal.  This time, I was determined.  Now, I want it EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.  So warm and yummy.  My secret way to love it...cinnamon and a small scoop of natural peanut butter with sliced bananas.  My mouth is watering for it as I type...  This is such a huge achievement for me. 

This is all great...but what's next?

I have said this before and I will continue to say it.  The 24-Day Challenge is a STARTING POINT, not a destination.  It takes 90 days to change your metabolism. 

The Challenge helps give you a good base.  A place to start.  Begin developing good, healthy habits that are REALISTIC.  Habits that you can stick to for 90 days and beyond.

I am continuing to cook like I was during the last two weeks on the challenge.  Whole wheat.  Veggies.  Fruit.  Greek Yogurt instead of sour cream and regular yogurt.  Mixing my own seasonings.  Brown rice. Trying to stay away from prepackaged snacks.  I try to follow the Challenge eating guide 80% of the time.  This helps me continue to make permanent habits as well as gives me the freedom for those faculty parties, pizza Fridays, and that yummy ice cream.  Everything in moderation!

The 24 Day Challenge is just the tip of the Advocare Iceberg. There are so many wonderful products that help promote healthy living.  If you would like more information, please contact me, or click HERE

A Day in the Life...

...of me on the 24 Day Challenge!

**I am currently a breast feeding mom so my challenge is a tad modified**

5:00 AM:  BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, my alarm goes off.  Ugh...I was just up an hour and a half ago feeding baby.  Gotta get up...time to pump, but first my SPARK!  (Oh Spark, how I love you...)  The biggest decision at this point of the day...which flavor??? Take 3 Catalyst and the best Probiotic out there! 

5:15 AM:  Drink more water.  Get dressed, hair, and make-up. (I showered the night before...FYI)

5:30 AM:  Pack lunches if not done the night before.  Today...meal replacement shake for me, I have break duty (recess) at lunch, so I need a quick meal!  Ethan gets tomato basil chicken breast and whole wheat pasta.  Multitask and clean pump attachments, dry, and pack breast pump to take to school. 

6:00 AM:  Make Ethan's Spark, he drinks that while taking the first color pack of his MNS supplements for the day and 3 Catalyst.  Start breakfast.  Today... 1/2 cup oatmeal with scoop of peanut butter, cinnamon, and half of a banana sliced, 4 egg whites scrambled with spinach and tomatoes.  YUM!  Ethan:  breakfast burrito with turkey sausage, scrambled eggs (mixture of egg whites and whole eggs), salsa, jalapenos, and a whole wheat tortilla, and half a cup of grapes.  Ethan takes white packets of his MNS supplements, I take 3 CorePlex with Iron (my prenatal vitamin) and 2 OmegaPlex (Omega 3 fatty acid dietary supplements)

6:45 AM:  Get baby up, dressed, and fed while hubby gets toddler up and dressed.  Switch kids.  I do toddler's hair, hubby gets baby in car seat. 

7:00 AM:  Roll out!

10:00 AM:  Take 3 more Catalyst.  Have second Spark if needed. (I usually do because I like to take Spark and Catalyst together). 

10:30 AM:  Snack!  Apples and natural peanut butter it my typical go-to snack.  Ethan's too! 

11:30 AM:  Lunch.  Today's shake...Chocolate!  My favorite!

3:00 PM:  3 more Catalyst.  Sometimes, depending on how the night went with baby or the day went with teens and preteens I may have another Spark! :o)

3:20 PM:  Bell rings at school and I walk out my classroom door and start walking laps at the school or put in my Can You 24 DVD workout and bust out 15-25 minutes of some sort of physical activity! (length of time depends on if any kids come in my room needing help with something or to finish up work.

3:45 PM:  Head out to pick up girls.  Drink Post Workout Recovery shake if I did workout DVD.  Eat Advocare snack bar if I walked.

4:30 PM:  Get home from picking up the girls at daycare.  Start dinner if needed.  Feed baby if needed.  Play with toddler or get toddler to "help" with dinner.  Try to keep toddler from shoving pacifier in baby's face.  Tonight's dinner:  Chili (1 lb. 93% lean hamburger, 1/2 lb turkey sausage, black beans, no sodium diced tomatoes, low sodium tomato sauce, chili powder, cayan pepper, garlic powder, basil and oregano, salt and pepper to taste).  Sprinkle a little cheese on top with a dollop of Greek yogurt.  Tasty!  2 more OmegaPlex with dinner.

6:00-7:30:  Clean up kitchen, play with girls, give girls baths if it is bath night, or anything else that needs to be done.  Hubby helps with all of the above. :)

7:30 PM:  Bed time for toddler.

8:00-8:30 PM:  Feed baby and put her to bed.

8:30 PM:  Shower.  Have a snack of fruit if hungry (after out of the shower of course)

9:00 PM:  In bed.  Little computer time, little Netflix time (House of Cards Season 2...Feb. 14!!!).

9:30-10:00 PM:  Ahhh SLEEP!
 

Sometimes I have a hard time picking out exactly what is part of the challenge, other than taking supplements.  That's the great thing about the 24 Day Challenge, it really does transition you into a REALISTIC healthy lifestyle.  This is real life.  Eat good, clean food.  Take vitamins.  Get SOME KIND of physical activity each day.  SLEEP. 

And enjoy some tasty, good-for-you energy with SPARK!  :)

Why Advocare?

Out of all the nutrition systems out there, why do I believe so much in Advocare?  What brought me here in the first place?

For me Advocare stood out for two specific reasons.

1. It had a program, the 24 Day Challenge, that was modified for breast feeding moms.  I knew that the supplements I would be taking and the food I would be eating would be safe for me, as well as giving me enough food so my milk supply didn't dwindle.  This was important to me, I wanted something that would help me lose weight without "dieting."  Nursing moms still need to consume extra calories.  I wanted a way to get those extra calories, help become more healthy, and make life-long changes. 

2.  It was shared with me by a friend who was very similar to me.  She had been a college athlete, and built like one.  She had spent her entire life thinking she would always weigh a certain number.  Then Advocare helped her drop 20 pounds lower than that number.  I saw myself in her.  She inspired me to try, talked to me in terms I understood, and helped me along the way.

I started out like many others I hear...

"I can't afford it."

"I'm not good at following a set eating plan."

"There is no way a shake is going to fill me up like my usual breakfast."


My friend had answers for all of these excuses.  Answers that made sense. 

"I can't afford it."

You "CAN'T" or you "WON'T" there is a big difference.

"I'm not good at following a set eating plan."

The 24 Day Challenge really allows you to eat all kinds of foods.  It asks you to give up wheat and milk for 10 days, and try to eat less processed more clean foods.  It isn't like those diets that restrict you to only eating one food group, where you miss out on key nutrients and vitamins.  This really helps you make habits that are LIFE LONG.

"There is no way a shake is going to fill me up like my usual breakfast."

Try one.  If you don't like it, we can talk about how to have a healthy, nutritious breakfast that will give you a great start and keep you satisfied just as long, or longer than your typical breakfast now.

Ok. 

I can do this.  24 day cleanse.  It's 24 days out of my life that can help me feel better, look better, and achieve more.  24 days.  Less than a month.  I can stick to something for 24 days.

Little did I know what those 24 days were going to do for me.

I am 2 days away from completing my second Challenge, and I don't plan on stopping there.

I feel better.

I look better.

I have more energy.

I can do more! 

I am so thankful that Advocare has become part of my life.  I am so thankful for my friend and her support.  And now I want to be that friend for you.

Let me help YOU jump start your LIFE.

Hmmmm...

I read a quote once shortly after starting my journey with Advocare that made me stop and go, Hmmm....

"If you can't afford 200 dollars to make a change in your life, then you need to change your life."

Now, I'm not going to say I completely agree with this statement.  I am never one to tell someone in financial trouble that they need to spend 200 dollars on a program to jump start healthy living rather than pay their electric bill.  But, it got me thinking about what we, as a society, value and promote over others.

It seems as though we will balk at purchasing the healthy peanut butter, whole wheat bread, and spaghetti squash because they are more expensive than the more processed, sugary, and cheaper counterparts.

But we'll drop $400.00 on a new TV because it is Black Friday or some other super sale.

Hmmmm...

"If you can't afford 200 dollars to make a change in your life, then you need to change your life."

We will turn down the opportunity to make a healthy, life long change in our lives and become positive examples for our family and friends because we are "to cheap" to purchase supplements.

But, we'll go out to eat 3-5 times a week.

Hmmmm...

"If you can't afford 200 dollars to make a change in your life, then you need to change your life."

We will talk about how much we wish we could stay home with our kids, have that "dream house" that we keep pinning on Pinterest, or just lose 10 pounds.  But we don't actually DO anything about it. 

We are reactive instead of proactive.

Which makes me think of another quote that graced the back of many of my t-shirts from various sport teams throughout my life.

"Don't dream it.  Be it."

The cool thing...Advocare can be IT.

Advocare can help you with those 10 pounds (or 15, or 20)

Advocare can help you set a good (and realistic) example for your family and friends.

Advocare can help you spend more time with your family.

Advocare can help you on your way to being debt free.

BUT, it won't do the work for you.  It won't make it "easy," it will help make it POSSIBLE.

So your DREAMS can become YOUR LIFE.

"If you can't afford 200 dollars to make a change in your life, then you need to change your life."

 

Hmmmm....

Spaghetti Squash: My Official Review

It's all over Pinterest.

It's all over the health blogs.

The reviews are so positive, it is almost unbelievable.

"I Love spaghetti squash!  Didn't even miss the pasta."

"My picky kids and husband ate it and didn't even know the difference."

"Turned out just as I hoped it would.  So yummy!!"

Hmmm.  I needed to check this out.  I was a little skeptical for a number of reasons.  I just kept thinking...those people who rate spaghetti squash CLEARLY do not love pasta (or anything carb-filled) the way I do.  And even thought I consider myself a pretty skilled cook (at all things "easy"), I will still expecting the squash to turn out looking like mashed potatoes, rather than the stringy "pasta" consistency.

So I bought one.

And researched how to cook it...

YIKES.  There are about 15 different ways.

After consulting my sister, who I consider an expert on all things healthy, and my mother-in-law, who was coming over for dinner that night, I decided to go with cutting it in half (easier said than done...)

Notice my lovely knife-skills with the uneven "halves." I'll just say, that's what I was going for...

Brushed it with a little olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper.  A little roast in the oven for 45 minutes at 375 degrees, and I got this...

Yay!  Strings not mush!

I made a batch of chicken cacciatore (recipe below) to put over it.  For those who were a little leary of the spaghetti squash, and in case I needed a back up, I also made some whole wheat pasta.

Healthy eating is all about portion sizing.  I love my pasta, but the correct portion for me is 1/2 cup.  Now, I could have done some tricky photography and placed it on a tiny, toddler plate to make 1/2 cup of pasta look like it would be enough to satisfy my tummy, but that's what the "healthy" blogs do to fool you.

So here's a real comparison.  On a real plate.

1/2 cup of whole wheat pasta.  (I think there are maybe 15 spirals here...)

1 cup of spaghetti squash.

After plating up my meal and digging in here are my pros and cons.

Pro:  The taste was WAY better than I expected it to be.  Actually there wasn't much of a taste to the actual squash, it is more what you put on it or with it.

Con:  It was a tad crunchy.  I could have probably baked it another 5 minutes longer, but I didn't want it to be mushy.

Pro:  It really was easy to prepare.

Con:  It was NOT easy to cut in half.

Pro:  I can think of many ways to eat this and replace a lot of the pasta I was having before.

Con:  It is pricey when compared to pasta at the store.  The one spaghetti squash cost me over $4.00.  I can buy 4 bags of pasta for that.  Although...it did yield more "fruit" than I thought it would originally.

Pro:  I get 1 full cup of spaghetti squash vs. the teeny tiny 1/2 cup of whole wheat pasta!

Now that's a dinner!

Chicken Cacciatore (modified from Skinny Taste recipe)
- 4 chicken breasts, thawed
- 1/2 red pepper
- 1/2 green bell pepper
- 1/2 orange bell pepper
- 1/2 red onion
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 28 oz. can low sodium crushed tomatoes
- any mixture of Italian spices (I used, basil, oregano, garlic powder, crushed red pepper, and a bay leaf)
- salt and pepper to taste

Place all of the above in a crock pot and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours, or until done.

PS...I do not measure much, I just dump and pour.  Drives my hubby nuts :)