New Recipes!

This winter one of my favorite new recipes has been Veggie Gumbo.  You can add and subtract things to tailor it to your likes, but this has been my favorite combo so far!

Veggie Gumbo
1 can black beans (rinsed, no salt added)
1.5 cups frozen cut okra
2/3 cup frozen sweet corn
1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
1/2 medium sweet potato, chopped
1 large carrot, sliced
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
1 can petite diced tomatoes (low sodium)
1 celery stalk, sliced
1 TBS Cajun/creole seasoning
*I also added some pepper and garlic powder

1 cup cooked brown rice

Makes ~3 servings with 220 calories, 1g fat, 8g protein, 44g carbs, tons of Vitamin A & C.

I use my slow cooker and add all ingredients and seasoning.  I cooked on med-high for about 4 hours.  You can also make it in large skillet in about 30 minutes, but the flavor just isn't the same.  I cook the rice in a rice maker about 45 minutes before the gumbo is done when slow cooking, then serve gumbo over 1/3 of it.

New Start

I officially started working out regularly and tracking my nutrition on December 30th.  My "before" picture was taken a couple weeks before that and I actually looked a lot worse that it shows.  My weight was roughly 148lbs.  I have yet to take measurements, it's on my to do list!
I am excited to be taking a Nutrition course this semester to help motivate me further to stay on track.  I am so frustrated that I let myself get to this point.  My pants don't fit, my sports bras are too tight, and overall I was just feeling yucky.   Increasing my exercise and changing my diet back to mainly vegan has helped already.

Before 12/2013

Upcoming goals for my blog include tracking measurements, new recipes to share, and other fun motivational stuff!

Here are some links to my favorite new food ideas via Pinterest:

Amazing Edibles

Snackin

I'm back....

and so is the 15lbs I lost over a year ago!  Boooooo!  When I was blogging my progress, tips, and recipes I found I was a lot more successful then when it's just me, my scale, and my treadmill.  So here I am again, trying to get my flat abs back before I turn 33!  I will post my before picture (shudder) and plan of attack soon!

Day 115

Well today I turn 31.  I can honestly say I am probably in the best shape I have been since I was 15!  I will also admit I do not yet have a 6 pack. :-(  I think I would have made it by my goal date had I stepped things up the past 2 weeks instead of slacked off a little.  BUT, I am not giving up on my goal.  I still have a flat stomach with abs muscles that have never been there before!  I'm going to keep going with P90X and my diet.  I'm going to get some pics on here so I can compare what I looked like 115 days ago to today.  I know for a fact there's been a big change.  I have lost 14 lbs and gone down a size in jeans since the end of December.

Day 93

This was taken almost 2 weeks ago, but I didn't get a chance to put it up until now.  When I flex you can totally see some of my oblique muscles and upper abs now!  Only a few weeks to go!  I'm not sure if I'll have a full blown 6 pack by my actual birthday, but I know I'll be close!

Protein Smoothies

I've been drinking protein smoothies after weight lifting work outs to help with recovery and to add some needed protein intake.  As I've mentioned, I try to eat mostly vegan/vegetarian foods, so the protein I'm currently using is Pea Protein.  This is my first time using this kind of protein, and it's definitely not the same at whey protein.  To be honest, it tastes like ground up peas....   The plus side, it's 100% pure and natural and packed with natural protein!  I've been playing around with ingredients to see if I can add anything to make it taste better.  Here are some concoctions I've come up with so far:

My Green Machine (my fave so far)

1 scoop pea protein

1 handful (approx 1 cup) fresh spinach/spring mix

1/2 a banana

1 cup filtered water

ice

1 tsp agave nectar (optional)

Purple Protein

1 scoop pea protein

1 handful fresh spinach/spring mix

1/2 cup frozen berry mix

1/4 cup 100% pure pineapple juice(optional)

1 cup filtered water

ice

I use a Magic Bullet to mix the ingredients.  I find it does a great job shredding the ice and thoroughly mixing the protein and spinach.  Sometimes I don't have time to put a smoothie together so I simply mix a scoop of protein with 8 oz of water and chug!



Day 80

Weight: 130 lbs and stuck there for 2 weeks!!  Not that I'm mad, I'm very happy to be at 130!  Gotta kick up my game though to break through this plateau.
Work outs: 6 days a week.  I've added in some P90X videos that my husband does and they rock!  It's great to switch up my cardio with some kempo or plyometrics.  I like the weight lifting routines as well, they really push me.

Meals: Been sticking to my "diet" for the most part.  I did have a slip at at The Drunken Fish last weekend when I consumed almost an entire ball of green tea ice cream wrapped in pound cake then fried!  It was worth it though :-)  Did I mention the whip cream and chocolate syrup?