Screw the scale!

"Gasp!!  That's not a very nice thing to say, Debi."  I know, I know.  I felt kind of funny typing that out, as a matter of fact.  However, it's how I feel.  And I think it's important to convey my feelings in my posts, rather than sugar coat them.

So, yes, there you have it.  Screw The Scale.  I'm done with it for awhile.  In joining this challenge with my friends in November, I thought it would be good to remain accountable during this season - to not gain a bunch of weight like I did this time last year.  What better way to do that then to join a friendly competition where we have to weigh in once a week?  While I am down three pounds since that first weigh in...I lost those three pounds in the first week and have been fluctuating since.  It's frustrating for me to hop on the scale and see a number that deflates my excitement...that negates the amazing job I have been doing these past few weeks.  I tell myself before stepping on that it doesn't matter what it says.  It's how I *FEEL* that matters.  But, for me, the numbers make me feel somehow inadequate.  They make me feel like maybe I need to work a little harder, that I need to eat cleaner - that I am just not doing as well as I thought.

Who wants to feel like that?  Certainly not me!!  I know how hard I have been working - and it has been HARD at times, it's taken every ounce of will (or, rather, won't) power that I can muster some days.  I know how well I have been eating and how much self control I have been exerting, especially in the face of temptations this time of year (ahem, cookie exchanges & holidays).  I am PROUD of myself.  I feel amazing - I have an incredible energy...and a fire inside of me that allows me to take each day as it comes, and not go off on some crazy food binge.  That same fire pushes me to get my workouts in every day, even when I don't quite feel like it.

One thing that really helped me to make this feeling concrete was to take some pictures of myself this afternoon.  So what if the scale is up?  So what if my body wants to hang on at this weight?  So be it.  When looking at my pictures, I see where I can still tone & tighten...but look at those arms!!  Pretty soon, they won't be jiggling as I wave the scale a fond (okay, not fond) farewell.  I am starting to see where my abs might one day be more defined.  And, best of all, that baby belly (thank you to my three BEAUTIFUL little girls, all born within three years and two months of one another) is going away.  That's all due to nutrition right there - and my goal by summer is to have more defined abs as I stick to my nutrition plan.

So - when I feel like what I am doing might not be enough, I will look at these pictures.  Maybe next month I will take and post more pictures - just to show myself that my hard work is most definitely paying off.  And if this energy continues and I gain even more strength than I have now - how could I even question myself?

See ya scale!  I *WON'T* miss you!!  

Stuffed Mushrooms - healthy-style! YUM!!

While grocery shopping the other day, I had a craving for stuffed mushrooms.  When I used to make them, I would make a mixture of sauteed onions, chopped mushrooms, garlic (in oil or butter) and then added to boursin cheese and bread crumbs.  They were amazing.  However, not too figure-friendly.

For tonight's meal, I opted for a guilt-free version.

Ingredients:
6 large mushrooms for stuffing, cleaned and stems removed
1 medium sweet potato, peeled & chopped
1/2 white onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, chopped
fresh thyme & rosemary, chopped
organic vegetable broth
extra virgin olive oil

Preheat oven to 450.  Add sweet potatoes, onion, garlic & herbs to roasting pan and spritz with evoo.  Roast until cooked through and slightly browned. During roasting, add mushrooms in separate pan and roast for about 10 minutes.  Remove from oven.  Add all veggies (except mushrooms) to blender or food processor and add veggie broth (use 1/4 cup at a time) and pulse until desired consistency.  Add this mixture to the mushroom caps and put back into oven for about 10 minutes.  That's it!

This is the veggies after being roasted @ 450 for about 20 minutes

This is what the mushrooms looked like after 10 minutes of pre-baking

The finished mushrooms - YUM!

I served the mushrooms with a small salad of sprouts, tomatoes and peppers.

Shakeology mini pies

For my dessert on Thanksgiving, I made Shakeology mini-pies.  I cheated a little with the crust, but for 100 calories, I wasn't overly concerned.

I used 4 Keebler mini graham crusts
3/4 scoop Chocolate Shakeology
1/2 pkg (6 oz.) Light Silken Tofu
3 Tbsp natural Peanut Butter
few tbsp Almond Breeze
2 tbsp agave
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
pumpkin pie spice
cinnamon

I blended everything in my Ninja until it was smooth, then I poured it into the pie crusts.  I let it sit in the fridge all day.  They were very good but tasted more like chocolate peanut butter (couldn't really taste the pumpkin at all).  I had one and froze the other three wrapped in parchment as they didn't really firm up in the fridge.

Either way, this was super yummy!  And I liked that it was a healthier option for dessert.  :o)

The Usual Suspects (i.e. ingredients)

Before mixing - looks, uh, interesting!

Voila!  :o)

Just for kicks, here's the pecan pie I made for Josh ~ before baking.

Our Thanksgiving - some firsts this year!

This Thanksgiving was an interesting one for me.  This was the 4th Thanksgiving that we have spent here in Maryland, away from our families, and although I kind of liked having such a relaxed and laid back Thanksgiving those other three years, this year I found myself missing family & friends in Connecticut.  Growing up, Thanksgiving was one of my favorite holidays.  I can remember back to when I was very young - our family crammed into my grandmother's small kitchen on Standish Street in Hartford.  Wow - it was so LOUD in there.  But those were the best meals.  There were stories, laughter, and a feeling of comfort, always.  When our family grew too large for Mama's kitchen, we branched out to Aunt Nancy's house.  Those were some really fun and memorable Thanksgivings.  It seemed every year someone else had a baby and the family just grew and grew and grew.  In the past 15 years (longer, actually) since I have been with Josh, we would visit each of our families - sometimes having dinner at one and visiting the other...or, yes, having dinner at both families' gatherings.  I remember the first year I hosted and had Josh's family over.  It was a sad day because his grandfather had just passed away, but yet we all got together to remember Gramps and to be in the comfort of one another.  I was terrified that year.  I had never cooked a turkey before.  Everything out fantastic though.  I digress...

My point there was that every year, for as long as I could remember - until 2007, we spent every Thanksgiving surrounded my family, making memories while remembering years past.  This year, I missed that.  I missed sharing stories while my girls could run around and play with their cousins and make their own memories.

Even though I felt that pang of sadness and regret, I still spent all day in my kitchen preparing our Thanksgiving dinner.  This year, our meal was a little different than what I would normally make on Thanksgiving.  For starters, this is the first year I did not eat turkey.  Earlier this year I made a commitment (much to some people's surprise) to stop eating meat.  I was not sure if it would be difficult for me to smell the turkey, and see it (fully cooked).  I wasn't sure if I would want to have some after it came out of the oven.  But, as Josh carved it (first time ever for him, by the way), I found that I really didn't want it at all.  I thought about the reasons I made that commitment...and I felt very content with the extra dishes I made for myself.

Here's what I served:
*Turkey (stuffed with oranges & onions for flavor)
*Mashed Potatoes (the real deal - butter, garlic & cheese added)
*Stuffing (my version!)
*Southern Green Bean Casserole (so good, but not at all healthy, even with my lightened up ingredients)
*Mushroom Shepard's Pie (for me!)
*Sweet Potato Biscuits
*Gravy (turkey gravy for Josh and red wine reduction for me)
*Pecan Pie for Josh
*Chocolate, peanut butter, pumpkin Shakeology mini-pies for me


Just a few recipes to share...


Mushroom Shepard's Pie:
I winged it on this one.  Really, I just sauteed (in evoo) sliced white button, baby bella & shitaki mushrooms with sliced onions.  I added fresh chopped sage, thyme & rosemary to that.  I tossed that with a little bit of freshly grated Asiago cheese and added a layer to a small casserole dish.  I added a layer of mashed potatoes, then another layer of the mushrooms followed by a thin top layer of mashed potatoes.  Because the mashed potatoes were already cooked, I only had to heat this casserole through on 400 for a little while.

 

Sweet Potato Biscuits:
(made 7 biscuits)

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp raw sugar (I used Turbinado)
dash of cinnamon

1 whole banana, cold
1 whole sweet potato, mashed
also, I needed a splash of almond milk to get to the right consistency

Cook sweet potato and remove skin.  Mash and set aside.  Preheat oven to 425 degrees and line baking sheet with parchment.  Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar & cinnamon together in food processor and pulse a few times to distribute.  Add banana and pulse/run food processor until a dough forms (about 45 seconds).  Put dough into a mixing bowl and add sweet potato.  Use hands to mix gently, then form into 7 biscuits.  Bake 5-10 minutes, until toothpick inserted comes out clean - err on the shorter side, and put back in if need be.

Stuffing:

Whole Wheat bread, toasted & cubed (10 slices)
1 cup (prepared) Trader Joe's Harvest Grains blend
7 chopped, dried apricots
diced celery, onions & mushrooms
poultry seasoning
garlic pepper
chopped almonds (about 20)
vegetable broth

I sauteed the onion, celery & mushrooms in evoo, then added it to a large mixing bowl with the cubed bread and grains mix.  I added the apricots & almonds and poultry seasoning (I didn't measure that).  I also added garlic pepper.  I added enough vegetable broth to get the stuffing to the right consistency and tossed it in the oven.

Having trouble with formatting - thanks for bearing with me!  :o)

Is it possible?

Is it possible to be Fit & Healthy without being skinny/thin/lean/tight?  In one word - ABSOLUTELY!

I look at myself and I know I am more fit and healthier than I have been in many years - maybe ever.  I love that about myself.  I am strong, I have endurance, I possess the strength to do things I couldn't do 2 years ago.  But - I am not skinny.  I have curves - and some parts are more curvy than others.  I am okay with that!  It took me a very, VERY long time to be okay with that.  And, I will confess, I still have days where I am not 100% okay with that because I would like to lose some fat and tone up several areas.  I would like feel less jiggle when I am working out.  But, I do my best not to let those thoughts get me down.  I have learned that when I focus on these feelings of dissatisfaction, I tend to feel overwhelmed and frustrated, which then leads to overeating, making poor food decisions, and skipping workouts.  Funny how that happens - you'd think it might make me work harder and make better choices, but, well...that's just the way my brain works.

I've learned that focusing on the positive, leaning on friends for support, pulling motivation and inspiration from wherever I can (pictures, articles, Facebook posts, blogs, quotes, etc) has helped me to remain in the positive and work towards staying away from the negative.

For those of you who are not yet where you want to be physically - or in terms of your nutrition - and if you feel badly about that sometimes, then consider this.  Stop for a moment.  Look back to last year or the year before.  Compare how you are feeling now to how you felt then.  Do you have more energy?  Are you stronger?  Were you able to stop using any medications (cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, aspirin, headache medication, etc)?  Are you making better choices when you go out to eat or when in the grocery store?  Do you read product labels to try and avoid things like High Fructose Corn Syrup or Saturated Fats?

If you said yes to any of those questions above, then tell yourself that you have made great strides since you started making these changes.  Pat yourself on the back.  Send me a message and I will tell you how awesome you are doing.  Give yourself credit for how far you have already come - as opposed to looking off too far in the distance at what you are still trying to attain.

Sometimes we need to remember to celebrate our successes instead of feeling frustrated with what we ultimately want.  This is a journey - it's always a journey - and many times, there's no destination.  There's just a check-in point, with another leg of the race to complete.  Celebrate your successes!!

This post today is as much for me as it is for anyone else who needs a reminder that once we start taking small steps towards a healthier lifestyle, we can look back and KNOW that we are more Fit & Healthy than we were at some point in the past.  We have overcome a hurdle (or several).  Even if there's still a long road ahead of us...we'll keep heading in that direction, because what good will come of us turning back?

Vegetable Soup - Great for the Icky Sickies

Pretty much the entire globe knows I was sick last week.  Yeah, I'm a whiner.  I know this.  When I was able to eat again I felt the need to stuff myself silly with all things bread.  When I had to perform contortionist moves in order to get my jeans on the other day, I knew I was not in a good place.  I thought it might be good to make some vegetable soup - that's a good, hearty comfort food that helps combat the ickies and is really a much better option than cinnamon toast or a muffin.

I had a lot of what I needed already, so I just threw it together.  First, I roasted the veggies for about 25 minutes at 375 degrees to bring out the flavor.

I used -

• 5 carrots - sliced
• 4 stalks of celery - diced
• tiny white potatoes
• edamame - shelled
• yellow pepper - diced
• 1/2 onion - diced
• fresh thyme
• plus the items listed below...

I added the roasted veggies to the crockpot and topped those with 2 cups of organic, low sodium vegetable broth along with 2+ cups of water and a few tablespoons of tomato paste.  I also tossed in in chopped zucchini, chopped green cabbage and fresh parsley.

When it was done - it smelled fantastic - and tasted even better.  It's been great for dinner or for an evening snack.  I get loads of veggies - which I always need more of anyway without a lot of sodium.  It makes me cough simmer down and makes my throat feel better.

I love my veggie soup!

Who needs a centerpiece, anyway?

Pretty much every time I go to Trader Joe's, I pick up some sort of floral arrangement or potted plant for our island in the kitchen.  Although the island tends to get buried with all sorts of stuff - school papers, mail, keys, wallet, purse, sunglasses, and a plethora of other nonsense (what are those plastic things that go in the collars of dress shirts called?), I still like to have something pretty on there...even if it gets covered in the shuffle.  No wonder the flowers never last more than a few days - they probably can't get any air.

The other day I was looking around my kitchen, noticing how cluttered it is, and I decided that I should try to declutter as best I can.  I installed child locks on the cabinets (yes, just now, when my youngest is already 2) so that I could put a few counter-top appliances underneath the counters.  Then I thought that I should clean everything off the island - and let me tell you - it makes the kitchen look quite a bit bigger when there's not a whole bunch of stuff everywhere.

I was a little concerned because my nice tidy kitchen didn't have any flowers on the island.  I looked around to see what I could put there to pretty it up a bit...and it dawned on me that I could move the fruit & veggies from the counter to the island.  They take up a lot of room on the counter - but I like to keep them there so that I always have a healthy option at my fingertips.

Do you know how EASY it is to enjoy a roasted squash?  Cut it open, sprinkle spices (no salt) on cut side, place cut-side down on a baking sheet lined with foil and roast at 375 for 40 minutes or so.  Remove from oven, scoop seeds out with a spoon...then scoop out the squash or eat it right from the skin.  SO GOOD - and incredibly healthy.  Perfect for chilly evenings.

Here's how my island looks now.  I like it!!  Until we decorate for Christmas, it'll stay like this.

Tony Horton's thoughts re: Beachbody Coaching

I love this!  ♥

Boys and girls,

I'm unaware of your financial situation but I do believe that you're reading this page because you care about your health and fitness. If you have plenty of income and love your job then what I’m about to tell you might not be for you. If you're not thrilled with the way you make a living, would like extra income, love Beachbody products, like the way they make you look and feel, enjoy helping other people feel and look better, enjoy setting your own hours, get excited about being the captain of your own ship as opposed to working for the man - then listen up.

The reality is, your health and fitness moves beyond you. It impacts the people around you. You (whether you like it or not) have the power to change lives based solely on your own personal transformation. Inadvertently you become a catalyst for change. This is how I got started. I was clueless, asked a few questions based on my need to be strong and healthy, stayed with it and people in my life wanted to know what I was doing. Simple yet powerful.

If you want to share what you've learned with people in your life who want better health (and could use extra income in the process) then you should consider becoming a Team Beachbody Coach.   I felt so strongly about this program that I’ve encouraged many of my friends to become coaches, even my own sister.  She is doing great (even though my contract with Beachbody won’t let me help her).  She is a perfect example of someone who had plenty of doubt and hesitation regarding the coaching opportunity and still found a way to make it work for her. A busy working wife and mother with three very active kids doesn't sound like a good candidate to start an in-home multi-level marketing company. Did you say multi level marketing? What? Ick! You mean pyramid scheme right? Okay chill out. All these fears would be true if BeachBody were selling hats or kitty liter, but this is Beachbody people! The number 1 in-home fitness company on the planet! P90X is steadily becoming the most popular fitness system in US history. Shakeology is the revolutionary replacement meal on the market today. We sell life-altering change - not soap. Tens of thousands of regular folk around this country are doing something they love because of this coach opportunity.    

The unemployment rate still hovers around 10% but it doesn't have to be that way if more people were willing to see that new opportunities exist all around them. The Team Beachbody Coaching opportunity is one of them. Health care companies, pharmaceutical companies and our government are not capable of solving this obesity crisis and we can't wait around for them to do it. The crisis is now and the answer is YOU! I know that sounds a bit Rah Rah but it's true.

 

Cynics don't need to apply, but if you're sick and tired of the status quo and want to make a difference in your own life and in the lives of those around you, then open the door.  The two major issues of our time - the health care issue and unemployment rate could be resolved if a million more people in this country decided to get healthy and share the wealth. This is a brand new industry waiting to explode. It's not happening in boardrooms or factories – it’s happening in the homes of tens of thousands of Team Beachbody Coaches and in the homes of their customers.  With a tiny investment (actually the company is waiving the enrollment fee through the end of 2010) and a willingness to help people the sky's the limit.  

TH- 

Shakeology - what's in that stuff anyway?

You have heard me talk about Shakeology...I have been using it since March.  I love it - it's THAT good.  I can't see myself canceling my monthly home direct order any time soon.

Below is a link to a video showing where the ingredients come from - how pure they are - and how much research has gone into making this supplement so healthy.  Shakeology is rapidly becoming more widely known & recognized.

If you would like a sample, please email me at coachdebim@beachbodycoach.com.

Shakeology - From the Fields:
http://beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/coachdebim?bctid=632106888001

P90X is not just for Weight Loss...it's SO much more...

Please see the excerpt below, straight from Tony Horton, as he posted to his Facebook profile.  It really hits home.  P90X is not a program designed solely to help people lose weight.  It's much, much more than that...and he really hits on the many reasons this program (and other Beachbody programs) really do CHANGE LIVES.

Why P90X works

by Tony Horton on Tuesday, October 19, 2010

 

"I hear 20 times a week - "P90X has changed my life!" I heard it a hundred times in Dallas this weekend. P90X is NOT a workout program that focuses solely on weight lose (which still happens) like most programs. It's not a pill, potion or processed food program to help you look different. Lives are changed because P90X goes much much deeper than smaller dress sizes and lower numbers on a scale. It cuts right to the core of who we can be. Poor eating habits and lack of physical activity keeps us from learning, growing and thriving. P90X grads are complexly different people in every way - after 90 days. Physically, mentally, emotionally and even spiritually in many cases. 

I'm trying to teach people that short term diets, gismos and gadgets cater to the lowest common denominator. P90X on the other hand, exposes our greatness. P90X grads have moved away from the archaic methods of the past. They know that the numbers on a scale and eating manufactured factory food to lose weight does NOT work and does NOT excite or motivate them. It never did. If it had, these things would have worked long term. Companies with big ad budgets and shinny media campaigns fooled them once, but after P90X they've learned the truth. 

Change is hard for most people because of the lack of authenticity in things they've tried in the past. They bought into the quick fix plan and were disappointed so they make excuses to prevent further disappointment. Pre P90X, people didn't have time. After day 90 they continue to make time because their lives are better. They want to feel good every day. They want their health, strength, flexibility, coordination, balance, self esteem and energy go through the roof. They do NOT want the future to be filled with aches, pains, illness and disease. The P90X devotees around the world know that 6 days a week of muscle confusion and healthy food is the only way to get there. They see through the smoke and mirrors and refuse to be fooled again.

Do you want to look good in a dress at a wedding in front of a bunch of people who don't care, or do you want to change your life? If you said yes to the dress go buy somebody else's program. If you want to be super fit, healthy and at the top of your game (for the rest of your life) buy P90X!"

Get off the fence - join my team now - there's no better time!

I am running a Fall special for anyone who signs up as a Beachbody Coach on my team!  Read on!

This is a great time to consider the coaching opportunity.  Why?  Sit back, relax, I'll fill you in.

• ~ The Coach Business Kit/Registration is now FREE as of 10/16/10 – that’s $39.95 savings!
• ~ You will receive 25% discount on your workout programs, supplements and Shakeology (many people sign up as a coach just to receive these discounts, especially on the supplements or Shakeology that they buy each month – in fact, that’s why I originally signed up – for my Shakeology discount – it is cheaper for me to be a coach and buy Shakeology than it is for me as a Beachbody customer...so to anyone who receives Shakeology on Home Direct, you really should consider this opportunity - it will SAVE you money each month!)
• ~ You can easily become a product of the product – get yourself in the best shape of your life both in terms of fitness and nutrition and help others reach their goals as well.  This is what I have done in the past year!
• ~ Bring in supplemental income while you are getting fit!  You receive 25% commission on any programs or supplements that you sell through you coach office, and you can qualify for team bonuses and free customer leads!  Many coaches are creating full time careers with their business.  You can put in as many hours per week as you’d like.
• ~ Receive support, motivation, inspiration and team unity - our team is on FIRE!
• ~ Business will be BOOMING in January when people are all looking for something to get them started on their New Year’s resolutions.  What’s the most popular resolution we see each year?  To lose weight, get in shape, become more healthy.  Can you imagine the opportunity you could have to make money as a coach by offering these incredible workout programs, supplements & Shakeology to your friends, family, and anyone else you meet along the way if you are set up and in place before January?
• ~ You will receive the program & supplement discounts I mentioned above as well as receiving 2 websites (your Beachbody coaching site and your Shakeology site), your Beachbody email account, the coach back office with TONS of learning and business building applications & strategies, access to current and prior conference calls and webinars.  Our team has a weekly conference call in addition to the weekly national call (which is always super motivational)
• ~ You can cancel at ANY time – with no penalty or fees.  You are not locked into any contract.
• ~ You do not need to buy anything to start your business – there’s no “start up kit” or group of products that you have to purchase 
• And the best incentive, yes I mentioned it above…Beachbody is waiving the $39.95 coach registration fee from now through December 31st.  This is the first time they have done this!

Our team is growing and is creating a fantastic structure right now – in terms of weekly conference calls and a Facebook Group where we can all support each other and share ideas for building our business, as well as hear from the coaches who have found huge success.  Having this support system in place is a HUGE stepping stone in building a strong and successful business. 

Getting started between now and November is an opportune time because it gives you a chance to work with me, learn about the products and programs, brainstorm on local events (workouts, home parties, etc) and have your business plan in place prior to January.  I will work with my new coaches very closely to ensure that they form a business plan and we will move forward in a close knit team structure.  Our first order of business will be a Get Started Right Interview where I will walk you through the coach back office, product information, and show you the resources that are available to you.  We can do this in person if you are local, or via phone.

For me, it’s been an awesome experience.  Not only am I the most fit I have ever been because I am using the Beachbody programs, but because I have been able to contribute to our financial savings, meet some incredible and motivational people, and build on my own personal development in the process.  I was never someone who liked to work out.  In fact, I pretty much loathed it.  I was always skeptical of any business opportunity where I had to pay a monthly fee or be set up in what seemed like a pyramid.  I have turned down other opportunities in the past with other companies due to my concerns, but I felt that Beachbody was different.  I am so glad I made this decision, although I wish I had done it when I first started considering it last year.  I have met such amazing people, I have received more support than I thought possible, I have found motivation and inspiration in the people I have surrounded myself with in this business and it’s helped shape my business plan and my personal development.  It’s been such an incredible journey thus far.  Best of all, the ball is rolling and I am seeing the results in terms of my weekly paychecks and bonuses.  Also, I love that I can put in as much time as I see fit and still see the results I want.

With all of that being said, my Fall contest will be as follows:  For any new coach who joins my team between now and the end of the year, I will provide from my inventory the following to help you build your business  (see photo below):

• 2 packets of Shakeology (one chocolate, one greenberry)
• 2 P90X Protein bars
• A Decide DVD (which you would show to any prospective coaches that you might sign)
• A Solutions DVD (this highlights transformations and the workout programs - a really great 9 minute DVD)
• A Shakeology DVD
• A printed list of Shakeology recipes that I have compiled (not pictured)
• A Beachbody Product Guide
  

I will then enter all new coaches who remain active for 90 days into a drawing to win a brand new Insanity (with Shaun T) workout program valued at $119.85 *or* a brand new box of Shakeology sample packets (Greenberry & Chocolate mix – or – all Chocolate, your choice) that you can use as sample giveaways or use for yourself.  This is valued at $119.95.  You can have one of these for FREE just by signing up with me and remaining active for 90 days!

I can get you set up to watch or listen to a Business Opportunity webinar/conference calls.  There are several this month - I am happy to give you the dates and times if you are interested in listening to one of Beachbody's top coaches talk about the business opportunity.  These calls are incredibly informational and motivational.

Sizzle call – you can call this at any time and listen to some of the top coaches talk about the business:

This is a pre-recorded call provided by Team Beachbody that introduces potential Coaches to our Company, products, opportunity, and testimonials from Team Beachbody Coaches.

The phone number is (310) 295-1899.

Press 1: To listen to a quick overview about our company from CEO Carl Daikeler.

Press 2: To hear success stories from our Coaches.

If you would like to sign up as a coach right now, please visit this link:  https://teambeachbody.com/signup/-/signup/coach/36833

Please contact me with any questions – I will be happy to forward you further resources and information on the coaching opportunity, or meet with you to talk about it.  :o)

What a great week!

As I look back on the previous week, I can't help but be incredibly proud of myself for making some really great choices, keeping myself on track, and following through with last week's commitment.  Today marks 8 days on track - no cheating, no slacking off, and no wavering in my willpower.  Please excuse me while I pat myself on my back and do a little dance.  This is pretty big for me.  I am confident that I have turned a page in my fitness & nutrition novel, and that there's no going back.  Another happy dance...

I am down 5.6 pounds from last week.  Now, before we get too excited or say "Hey, Debi, that's too much for one week!" let me remind you that I have been doing a yo-yo thing ALL year long, fluctuating within an 8 pound range.  I am about 9 pounds away from my ultimate goal, which I hope to reach by January.  After this week's initial loss due to the nutritional changes I have made (and stuck to), I plan on losing around 1/2 to 1 lb per week until I reach my goal.  Then it will be onto maintenance (which I have never been able to do) - but I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

In the meantime, I am really happy with this week's nutrition.  It was pretty balanced.  I did eat 5 times, pretty much each day - which really kept me feeling good, energized, and not hungry - score!  Using my Bodybugg has helped me a LOT in terms of seeing how many calories I burn on any given day, how much I am consuming, what my deficit is, what my protein/fat/carb balance is, the times I am more active than others, what my workout calorie burns are...it's really very cool and I think it will definitely help keep me on track, especially with the fall & holidays fast approaching (that's my tough time of year in terms of falling off the wagon).

Here's my meal plan for the past 7 days...

Tuesday:
B - Steel cut oats w/1T dried cherries, 1T dried blueberries, 2tsp chopped pecans
S - 1/2 apple, 1T natural Peanut Butter
L - chocolate Shakeology w/almond milk & cocoa powder
S - Larabar (Apple)
D - dinner salad w/2T Newman's light balsamic dressing, 1 serving Trader Joe's Tarte Aux Champignons

Wednesday:
B - Rolled oats w/1T dried cherries, 1T dried blueberries, 2tsp chopped almonds
S - 2 organic brown rice cakes w/1T peanut butter
D - tofu veggie lettuce wraps (a la P.F. Chang's), steamed broccoli & sugar snap peas
S - Pure Organic cherry cashew bar
 

Thursday:
B - Rolled oats w/1T dried cherries, 1T dried blueberries, 2tsp chopped pecans
S - Larabar mini (cashew cookie)
L - chocolate Shakeology w/almond breeze, 1/2 banana cocoa powder & PB2
D - dinner salad w/1T Newman's light Italian dressing; leftover tofu veggie lettuce wraps, broccoli & sugar snap peas
S - 2 slices cinnamon raisin Ezekiel bread with 1T natural PB

Friday:
B - rolled oats w/2T golden raisins, 2tsp chopped pecans
S - Raw Revolution bar - mini (chocolate & cashew)
L - chocolate Shakeology w/almond breeze, 1/2 banana cocoa powder & PB2
D - dinner salad w/1T Newman's light Italian dressing; Shirataki noodle bake w/vegan "cheese"
S - Raw Revolution raisin & chocolate bar

Saturday:
B - rolled oats w/1T dried cherries, 1T dried blueberries, 1T chopped almonds
S - Raw Revolution Tropical Mango bar (SO good!!)
L - chocolate Shakeology w/almond breeze, 1/2 banana cocoa powder & PB2
D - dinner salad w/1T Eating Right yogurt ranch dressing; grilled shrimp, 1 slice marathon bread with 1/2T Smart Balance light w/flax
S - Raw Revolution raisin & chocolate bar


Sunday:
B - Rolled oats w/3T golden raisins & pecans
S - Raw Revolution cashew & agave mini bar
L - chocolate Shakeology w/almond breeze, 1/2 banana & 2tsp cocoa powder
D - 1c butternut squash & silken tofu soup; 1 slice marathon bread with 1/2T Smart Balance light w/flax,  dinner salad w/1T Eating Right yogurt ranch dressing
S - Shakeology pudding

Monday:
B - Rolled oats w/1T dried cherries, 1T dried blueberries, 2tsp chopped pecans
S - Kind bar (Fruit & Nut)
L - chocolate Shakeology with Almond Breeze, 2 tsp cocoa powder & 1T cacao nibs (okay, chocolate overload!)
D - dinner salad, 1c butternut squash & silken tofu soup; 1 slice marathon bread, dinner salad w/1T Newman's light italian dressing
S - Shakeology pudding and Larabar mini (cashew cookie)

Decide. Commit. Succeed.

Decide.  Commit.  Succeed.  I see those words all the time.  It's Beachbody's slogan - it's everywhere.  I had decided and committed to be fit in August.  I posted my goals on my blog for everyone to see and so that I would be accountable.  However, I fell short.  Way short.  In fact, it was one of my roughest months.  First, I felt overwhelmed.  Also, frustrated.  I let stress get the best of me.  Instead of rising above, I went under.  I did not succeed.  But it's okay.  I am not going to beat myself up over it.  It happens.  Moving on...

This weekend, I thought a lot about the Game Plan Event that I attended last weekend.  I learned quite a bit about Beachbody and about coaching.  I left there with an enthusiasm and excitement that was hard to contain.  I thought more this weekend about my business, how I want to grow it, how I want to succeed...but also how I want to attain my personal goals, especially those that I left by the wayside last month.

I Decided to Commit to Succeed!  Here's a few things I am doing this month...

• I am making time each day to focus a bit on personal development by reading or listening to some inspirational words
• I am reminding myself that every decision I make - no matter how insignificant it seems - DOES matter.  It might not seem like it matters right now, but in the big picture, it totally does.  Each small positive decision I make - hundreds a day - will help me to reach the goals I am setting for myself down the road.
• I am committing to a 30 day challenge - focusing on clean, vegetarian eating
• I will remain in touch with my accountability partners and will check in often
• I will use my Bodybugg and track everything daily
• I will not let stress/frustration/irritability hold me down - it's time to learn to rise above and keep my head held high...and move forward with positivity
  
  
  

There you have it!  This month, I have Decided.  I will now Commit.  And I WILL Succeed.  :o)

Let's Fall Into Fitness!

I will be running a contest beginning on Friday, September 3rd and continuing through Monday, September 6th @ 11:59 PM. For any new or existing Beachbody customers of mine who purchases either Shakeology or a Workout Program, I am offering some goodies.

(You won't get this on Ebay, my friends! haha!) Everyone's a winner! :o)

Shakeology: For any new or existing customer who orders Shakeology while the contest is running, I will enter your name into a drawing to win a brand new container of Shakeology Fiber Boost and a brand new 30 day supply of Core Cal Mag supplements, along with a Shakeology shaker cup and the Thin Kitchen recipe book (a compilation of recipes including entries from some of Beachbody's popular trainers). These four items are valued at almost $65.00!

**All customers who purchase Shakeology during this contest will get a set of Shakeology recipes and a sample of PB2 powdered peanut butter (best Shakeology add-in, in my opinion!)

For more info on Shakeology Boost: http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/MDSUSH31103G?referringRepId=36833

For more info on Core Cal Mag: http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/CoreCalMag?referringRepId=36833

Check out the recipe book here: http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/thinkitchen?referringRepId=36833

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Workout Programs: For any new or existing customer who orders a workout program that retails for over $50.00 while the contest is running, I will enter your name into a drawing to win an additional workout program. The winner will have their choice of one of these brand new, sealed programs: Turbo Jam or Brazil Butt Lift.  (Yes, I am serious!)

**ALL customers who purchase a workout program (no minimum value) during the contest timeframe will receive a sample packet of Shakeology ~ Chocolate or Greenberry - your choice! *AND* a sample packet of P90X Results & Recovery Formula.

For more info on Turbo Jam (retail value $59.85): http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/turbojam?referringRepId=36833

For more info on Brazil Butt Lift (retail value $59.85): http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/brazilbuttlift?referringRepId=36833

*Please note: There will be 2 winners: one for Shakeology orders and one for workout program orders, as listed above. Winning names will be by random drawing by none other than Miss Alexis Leigh and Miss Ashelyn B on Tuesday, September 7th. Please note - contest prizes will be shipped 31 days from order date, please don't hesitate to ask me why.

Discipline

Discipline. What does that word mean to you? If you look in a dictionary, you'll see several definitions. My favorite, and the one that holds true to me is: "activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill".

I have become more disciplined since last summer when I first started my fitness journey. When I began P90X in June 2009, I was out of shape, over weight, tired, and I did not have the energy that I needed to be active with my girls. During my 90 days, I learned much about discipline. I made a point to workout almost every day. I pushed play. That alone takes discipline. I still did lose sight of that a bit over the holidays last year when I relaxed and only did portions of the program here and there. I found that I started lacking discipline again during that time.

In early January 2010, I realized I needed to get back on track. I began P90X again, routinely, and worked my way closer to where I was last summer. At the beginning of this summer, I was feeling a little burnt out. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE P90X. Tony Horton is amazing and his program ROCKS. I was just ready to do something a little different. When Beachbody announced their new program - TurboFire - I quickly jumped on the bandwagon of coaches who were eagerly anticipating its release. I bought it literally AS SOON as it hit our online stores, and I expedited delivery. I could not wait to try Chalene's new program!

Just as I suspected, I LOVED IT! Because I was worried about losing some of my muscle definition, I still did some P90X strength workouts in addition to TurboFire. However, I had been pining for ChaLEAN Extreme for quite some time, so my mother - I adore her - purchased ChaLEAN for me after hearing me talk about it constantly. Since then, I have been doing my ChaLEAN and TurboFire hybrid.

My alarm goes off at 4:45 most mornings. It's the perfect time to focus on just ME!! That, my friends, also takes some discipline. I have conditioned my body to get used to the early wake up time (most days) and I make the best of each workout before anyone else is in the house gets up.

Here's a short video regarding discipline, put together by Chalene Johnson. She's an incredible inspiration to me. Enjoy! :o)

I Commit To Stay Fit - part 2

My wrist band arrived today!

Let's go August - Bring it!

August - I Commit To Stay Fit!

I have been learning so much from other Beachbody coaches in terms of presenting myself and putting myself out there for the world to see - even though I am not quite yet where I want to be, ideally.  About 6 months ago, I thought that in order to be a Beachbody coach I would have to be slim, with a hard, muscular body.  Wow, what a silly thought!!  It's not how I look on the outside.  Of course, it does help to be somewhat fit...but in reality, my personality is what's really going to help people make their lifestyle changes.  I have found that people need support - they need to be able to talk to someone, to share their struggles, to hear that they are doing a great job...and that in time, their hard work and dedication will yield the results they want to see.  Someone laughed the other day when I said "I am a great cheerleader".  It's true though.  I think I am a pretty enthusiastic and motivational person.  I know that I have already helped a few friends to make changes in their lives that they did not think possible.  I know I have cheered them on, supported them, and shared my own struggles so that they would know they were not alone in how they were feeling.  I want to help countless other people feel good about themselves, get fit...strong...and healthy!

All of that being said, sometimes coaches need coaching too.  Last week was super busy and while doing so much, I found myself making some pretty poor nutritional choices (or lack thereof).  I realize how quickly I can slip back into old habits (Hello, Starbucks??) but it's good to know that I can get back on track again. 

The Game Plan in D.C. is at the end of the month...a few short weeks away.  I'd really like to be more fit for that.  This is going to be an incredible event...one which I am really looking forward to.  I'd like to put my best face forward.  So, I decided that with a new month, comes a new mantra and a new perspective.

I took some great advice from Team Fit Revolution, a super successful Beachbody team.  

• First ~ I filled out their agreement (and had 5 friends sign as witnesses) and I will keep reminding myself this month, "I Commit To Stay Fit".  In the agreement, I set 2 goals to be attained by October 1st...however, I am setting an additional goal to focus mainly on nutrition in August.  I hung my agreement on the wall in the kitchen - above my laptop - so I must see it often throughout the day.  I thought about putting it on the fridge - but quite honestly, if I am going to slip up with my nutrition, it's not the fridge where I will be headed.  It's the pantry...or to Starbucks...or to Weis (they make the BEST muffins ever...which, consequently, I believe are the spawn of evil). 

• Second ~ In my wallet, where my credit cards & license are, I put my business card - backwards - in the license window.  I wrote "I Commit To Stay Fit" on that so when I open my wallet to pay for anything, there's my mantra, staring me in the face.  (i.e. "Debi, keep up the great work and refrain from making poor decisions.")

• Third ~ I promised myself I will log into and use MyFitnessPal every day this month - to track my nutrition & exercise.  No skipping days because I feel guilty for eating something less-than-nutritious.

• Fourth ~ I ordered a FitMinder wrist band from TFR with that little mantra stamped on it.  That band will go on my right wrist - so when I pick up a fork, Ta-Da!!!  There's my reminder - again.

• Fifth ~ I will be accountable to someone.  I don't know who that someone is just yet, but if you'd like to volunteer, just let me know.

• Lastly ~ I plan on taking pictures on October 1st.  Having this thought hanging over my head for two months will also help to keep me on track and reinforce these goals of mine.

Am I a little crazy?  Perhaps!  Silly?  Yes, sometimes.  But will this help me to reach my goals and remain accountable this month?  YOU BET!  And, now that I have shared this with anyone who happens to read my blog, I will look like a complete hypocrite if I don't follow through.  So, there you have it folks.  Yes I am a Beachbody Coach...a pretty GOOD one...but, I need to remain accountable and motivated too.  Keep checking in on me for the next two months...and I will report back at least once a week to share my successes and my struggles.  :o)

My first Beachbody vendor event!

I have been so busy planning for this past weekend's TotSwap event.  It was fun putting together my presentation binders, getting the raffle basket set up, wrapping the boxes so I could stagger items on my table, creating raffle tickets and Shakeology sample sign up sheets, printing & cutting little signs for my table...yes, I am detailed and fairly organized.  I even set up everything on my dining room table in advance so that I could plan on how I would set up at TotSwap.  Of course, I changed it all around when I actually got there, but it worked!

I had a really fun time this weekend.  While I would not call it a very successful event in terms of selling, I think I made some nice contacts and will build a few solid relationships.  That was a good starting point for me.  It was really great to talk to people about their fitness goals, the things they are struggling with, and making suggestions on things they can do to move forward to become more fit & healthy.  It was funny to see the dads coming over and looking at P90X or mentioning the program.  I need to make moms aware that this is not a program just for men.  I did talk a lot about Chalene's programs (ChaLEAN Extreme and TurboFire) since those are what I am currently doing, and they are incredibly effective.

Below are a few pictures of my table.  The background is really busy with all of the consignment items, so it's hard to see how my table stood out - but I think I did a fairly good job.  Having a lot of black did definitely stand out from the pastels that were on either side of me.

I'm looking forward to the town fair in a few weeks.  I think that will be a better venue for me in terms of talking to people who choose to come visit my booth and talk about fitness & nutrition.  So exciting!  :o)

A week in meals...

To be honest, it's only three days in meals.  Josh traveled one night and the other nights that I planned for the week did not work out due to timing.  But, here's what I have for you!!

Okie Dokie Gnocchi with Spinach

(served with Salad)

1 pkg Gnocchi alla Gorgonzola (TJ's)

1 cup frozen chopped spinach

1/3 cup chopped onion

(I added cubed pancetta to Josh's portion)

Sautee the onions in pan.  Pour contents of the Gnocchi alla Gogonzola into same pan, over medium heat.  Cook for 5+ minutes until cheese is almost melted.  Add spinach (I thawed and drained it, but I think it might be better if added straight from the freezer).  Continue cooking for a few minutes until everything is heated through.  Gee, that was tough!

Optional - add frozen peas.  With the pancetta for Josh, I bought pre-cubed pancetta at TJ's and cooked it in a pan, then put it aside to drain on a paper towel while I made the Gnocchi.  I added the pancetta to his plate when I served it.

 

Wilted Southern Greens Blend

(served with salad & grilled shrimp)

1/2 bag Southern Greens Blend (TJ's)

1-2 cloves crushed garlic

juice from 1/2 lemon

1T olive oil

1/2 cup minced onion

1/4 cup water

Heat oil in large pan on medium and add onion & garlic.  Cook for about one minute.  Add 1/2 package of Greens & water.  Cover and cook for about three minutes.  Uncover and toss with tongs.

Remove from heat when greens are wilted, toss with lemon juice.

The mixture of mustard, collards, spinach & turnip greens are nothing short of a nutritional powerhouse - and this tastes good!!  Do you know how dark, leafy greens can benefit you?  They are useful in reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease since they are low in fat, high in dietary fiber, and rich in folic acid, vitamin C, potassium and magnesium, as well as containing a host of phytochemicals, such as lutein, beta-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene.

Are you ready for #3?  This was seriously a lick-the-plate-clean kind of meal.

Soyaki Broiled Salmon

with Peanutty Sesame Noodles

(served with salad and steamed green beans)

Salmon:

2-3 wild-caught Salmon Fillets

1/2 cup Soyaki (Trader Joe's)

1T organic Dijon Mustard

2 green onions, chopped

Preheat broiler on high - place rack on second rung from top - approx. 6" away from heat source.  Combine Soyaki & mustard.  Pour over salmon and marinate for 10 minutes.  Place fillets on foil-lined baking sheet, discard marinade.  Broil approx. 8 minutes.  Remove from oven & top with green onions.

Peanutty Sesame Noodles:

8 oz. whole wheat spaghetti

Easy Peanutty sauce (see below)

1 cup shredded carrots

1/2 cup peeled & sliced cucumber

2 green onions, chopped

Easy Peanutty Sauce:

1/2 cup Tader Joe's Soyaki

1/4 cup organic, natural crunchy peanut butter

2 tsp. toasted sesame oil

1/4 cup water

Whisk Soyaki, peanut butter & sesame oil until blended.  Add water and mix well.  Cook spaghetti according to package & drain.  Pour peanutty sauce over noodles and toss with carrots & cucumber.  Top with green onions.

Do you know what's so great about salmon?  In addition to being an excellent source of omega-3s, salmon are an excellent source of selenium, a very good source of protein, niacin and vitamin B12, and a good source of phosphorus, magnesium and vitamin B6.

Words that inspire me

Are there any quotes or sources of inspiration & motivation that you look at each day?  Would you care to share them with us?

Here are two that I look at each morning and remember throughout the day:

Be the change you want to see in the world.

~ Ghandi ~

Optimism is essential to achievement and it is also the foundation of courage and true progress.

~ Nicholas Murray Butler ~

Debi - Does P90X work?

I have heard this question many times.  Does P90X work the way they say it does?  Well...in short, yes, it does.  Of course you have to set aside time every day to go push play, and it's best to follow a healthy & balanced nutrition plan (P90X comes with a great nutrition guide, complete with recipes).  Yes, you will be sore.  Yes, it's tough.  But if I could do it, I think pretty much anyone can!

I started doing P90X in June of 2009 after seeing a friend's incredible progress.  She has always been very fit, but, gosh, she looked incredible.  Then, another friend had talked about doing it as well.  I had never heard of it before, so I talked to them, watched the infomercials, watched YouTube videos - and thought about it...for a few months.  During that time, I had been running a little bit and eating healthier, so when I finally decided to commit (Decide, Commit...Succeed!) I was in a better frame of mind.  I thought, heck, I CAN DO THIS!

Now let's be real for a second.  I hadn't really done any push ups before.  No pull ups either.  I was VERY weak - my arms, my core - I wasn't sure how I would do it, but I was determined to try.  But, just like Tony Horton advises - and all Beachbody coaches will agree - this program can be modified.  It can be modified so that folks who are new to exercise CAN do this program!

I started out by doing all of my push ups on my knees.  I was focused on maintaining good form (straight back - no bowing or arching) rather than getting as deep as I could.  While Josh used the pull up bar, I used a set of resistance bands that I hooked up to a door so they were suspended overhead.  I did this for my first 90 days.  I still got a great workout.  I still ended my 90 days with a 13 pound weight loss and some defined muscles.  I was thrilled with my results.  Although I did not take pictures as I should have, I will share some before (Spring '09) and after (July '10) pictures with you below.

I am now able to do my push ups with good form, on my toes, and I am able to go much deeper than I could when I started.  I still drop to my knees if I think I can do more but my back starting bowing.  I now do my pull ups using the pull up bar, but I still use a chair for support.  One day I will bang out pull ups without a chair - but until then, I look back to when I started and am so proud of the progress I have made.  You can do this too!

If you are considering buying this program but you are just not quite ready to commit...are you ready for my advice?  Listen to those folks at Nike.  JUST DO IT.  You will NOT regret it.  Still, though, if you think it might not be the right program for you, I would be more than happy to talk about some of the other Beachbody programs.  I have done several of them, so I can speak from experience.

Are you ready to take a step to be a healthier, more fit, stronger YOU?  Then contact me and let's talk about getting you set up with the best program for you.

Here it is...The workouts, the Program guide and the Nutritional Guide.

All you really need is a set of resistance bands to start.

A few other items that I recommend, but are not necessary to begin the program:

Pull up bar, Dumbbells, workout Gloves (prevent calluses),

Yoga mat (for yoga & abs workouts), Heart Rate Monitor, Push up stands

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And - to keep it real....here are the pictures I mentioned above...

This is from Spring 2009.  My friend posted this on her Facebook page.  

When I saw it, I was incredibly embarrassed that I had let myself look like this.  This picture is what gave me that motivation to get my act together and start taking better care of myself.  That's me on the right, with Korinne.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This picture below is from this morning.  I am still a work in progress - I need to work on toning up, for sure (this is where TurboFire and ChaLEAN Extreme come in - and they are already helping me get closer to where I'd like to be).  But you get the idea.  I do not plan to look like that picture above - ever again.

Weekly meal plan ~ July 11th - 17th

This was a good week in meals!!  They all came out well...and Josh even ate them (that says something!)  I got pretty much all of these ingredients at Trader Joe's - and the grocery bill for the week (including dinners and kids' food, milk, fruit, etc) was $127.00.

Sunday ~ July 11th:

Mixed greens salad with warmed goat cheese medallions

Leftover marinated bean & corn salad with brown rice

This is how I made the cheese:

1 - 8 oz. log Chevre goat cheese, sliced (see notes below)

1 egg white, beaten

1/2 cup Just Almond Meal

2 T olive oil

Dip each cheese round in egg white, then into almond meal.  It's a good idea to do this ahead of time, then put the coated rounds back into the fridge to get them cold & firm (less melting when adding to the hot pan).  Heat olive oil in non-stick pan over medium heat.  Fry for one minute or so on each side, careful not to let them melt, and remove promptly from heat.  (Pour a light balsamic or fruit infused vinaigrette over mixed greens, toss, then top with 2 cheese rounds).

* note re: the cheese - I later learned that I could buy the single medallions and it would have saved me some trouble with slicing. As it was, I had to place the log in the freezer for about ten minutes so it would slice more easily - but it still got a little crumbly.  Next time, I am 

getting the individually wrapped medallions, for sure.

Monday ~ July 12th:

Enchilada Casserole served with salad

Enchilada Casserole:

I am posting the way I made it

* 1 cup cooked chicken, chopped
(chicken was for Josh - I made one casserole for him and one, meatless, for me)

* 3.5 small, light whole wheat tortillas (45 cal each)

* 1 - 15 oz. can black beans (I used about 2/3 can)

* 1 jar chunky salsa (I used a natural, fire roasted salsa - about 3/4 jar)

* 1/2 cup lowfat, plain greek yogurt  (in place of sour cream in recipe)

* 1 cup chopped tomatoes

* approx. 2/3 cup light shredded Mexican blend cheese
(I used 1/4 cup for me, the rest for Josh)

* chopped cilantro

Preheat oven to 400.  Lightly grease small casserole dish.  Mix salsa & yogurt (sour cream) in bowl.  Spread a few spoonfuls into casserole dish.  Arrange a layer of tortilla pieces (I cut mine into quarters so they would not overlap too much).  Top with half of the chicken (if using), 1/2 of the beans, and 1/2 of the salsa mixture.  Create one more layer in that order.  

Spread chopped tomatoes on top then sprinkle with cheese. 

Bake 20-25 minutes, remove from oven and sprinkle with cilantro.

  

This was SO SO good!!  I totally recommend this meal.  It was very easy to make. 


I estimated the calorie count in my serving to be around 325 total (per MyFitnessPal calculations) - that's including the salad and light balsamic dressing!

 

Tuesday ~ July 13th:

Leftovers!  Fiery Mango Mahi Mahi ala fish taco style, marinated bean & corn salad, endive with sliced beets and feta cheese.  Basically I took 2 light, whole wheat tortillas from Trader Joe's (45 cal each), added lettuce, chopped mahi mahi and a light sprinkle of feta cheese.  I also took three endive leaves, sliced one beet and divided it among the three leaves, and sprinkled with feta cheese.  I had about 1/2 cup of the marinated bean & corn salad.  The whole dinner was around 411 calories.  No stinkin' salad plate for me - this was a real deal dinner plate!


Wednesday ~ July 14th
Life is a Bowl of Cherries Salad

This list is for one serving:

* Few handfuls of Organic Baby Spinach

* 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

* 1/4 cup dried Montmorency cherries
* 1/2 oz. (or a small handful) chopped pecans
* 1T TJ's cranberry, walnut & gorgonzola dressing 


Toss it all together!  YUM!  This was around 255 calories.



 
Thursday ~ July 15th

Spinach & Feta Stuffed Mushrooms, Pan Toasted Brussels Sprouts, Corn on the Cob

Stuffed Mushrooms:
One package baby bella mushrooms
2 cups frozen organic spinach
1T EVOO
1/2 medium onion, diced
1/2 cup organic whole wheat bread crumbs
1/3 cup feta cheese


Preheat oven to 400.  Clean mushrooms, remove stems.  Chop stems & set aside.  Thaw spinach and thoroughly squeeze out all water (will look like 1/2 cup after water is removed).  Place in mixing bowl.  Heat oil in skillet and add chopped stems & onion.  Saute for a few minutes.  Drain off any juices, then add to bowl with spinach.  Add  bread crumbs and mix well.  Gently stir in feta.  Stuff caps and place in shallow baking dish.  Cook for about ten minutes or until tops are lightly browned.  Remove from oven before juices start running out into the pan.


Pan toasted Brussels Sprouts:
1 - 12 oz. pkg Brussels Sprouts
2 tsp. EVOO
1/2 cup vegetable broth
grated or shredded parmesan cheese


Heat oil in pan.  Cut sprouts in half and place cut side down in pan.  Add broth.  When it comes to a boil, cover and let cook 5 minutes.  Remove lid & cook until liquid evaporates and sprouts are browned.  Remove from heat and sprinkle with cheese.

Friday ~ July 16th
Strawberry & Apricot Spinach Salad

Pear & Gorgonzola Quesadillas

Salad (this is for one serving):
* Large handful Organic baby spinach
* 2 medium strawberries, sliced
* raspberries

* 1/2 apricot, chopped
* 1/2 handful pecans, chopped
* 1T crumbled feta cheese
* 1T cranberry, walnut, gorgonzola dressing



Quesadillas (this is for my serving - Josh's had more cheese):
* 2 small low carb, whole wheat torillas
* 2T crumbled gorgonzola cheese
* 1/4 pear, thinly sliced
(optional chopped walnuts & pear sauce - I omitted)


Add crumbled cheese (1T each) to one side of each tortilla.  Add sliced pears on top of cheese.  Fold tortilla in half and add to hot grill pan.  Grill on both sides until warm and slightly crispy.  Cut into wedges.  Makes 6 wedges.  (This is a salad plate in the picture).


Calories:  202 in the salad; 220 in quesadillas (422 total calories for dinner!)