Garlic Apple Cider Vinaigrette

I love eating salads but there is a lot of sugar in the store bought dressings that I own.  I need to go out and find some good ones to replace what I have but I haven't done that yet.  Shopping with two kiddos is no joke - pretty much becomes my workout for the day!

I was looking for some easy dressings to make on Pinterest and found one from Skinny Mom that I went off of to create my own.  This vinaigrette was simple, easy, fast and DELICIOUS!  Already had all the ingredients - my kind of recipe!

Garlic Apple Cider Vinaigrette

• 1 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
• 4 cloves of fresh garlic
• 1.5 tsp kosher salt
• 1 Tbsp black pepper
• 3 Tbsp yellow mustard

Mix those up and boom!  Done!  So so good and I just can't get enough of it!  I have been eating mine on a bed of spinach with some broccoli, carrots, boiled egg and chicken.  Does not disappoint!

Also, I like to make my salads in a tupperware so I can put the lid on and shake it!  Makes the dressing cover everything evenly.  Gotta love that!  I'll probably have this for lunch again today.  Too good to quit!  Enjoy!

Who is the health junky?

I started this blog for a college class.  It was a multi-media class and we had to incorporate podcasts and videos into a blog.  I decided to write about one of my favorite subjects: health and fitness.  I had been living a "fit" life for over a year.  Before then I pretty much ate whatever I wanted.  I had worked to become a "master" at counting calories and getting my workouts in.  I finally thought I had figured out the secret to getting and staying in shape.  I was set.

Or so I thought.

After getting married, and getting a job, I suddenly didn't have time to workout twice a day.  Shocker I know.  And I found myself eating on-the-go more frequently.  And before I knew it, I had gained 20 pounds in 9 months.  I didn't even realize I had been gaining weight.

So life happened.  My "healthy" life and habits weren't realistic and they stopped completely.  Life continued on and I didn't do much about living a fit life.  I figured I didn't have time and couldn't figure it out.

When I decided to take charge of my health once again I tried so many "programs".  Counting calories, gluten free, paleo, sugar free, IIFYM... just to name a few.  I became obsessed with protein powder and added it to pretty much everything I could.  PROTEIN PROTEIN PROTEIN!  I read all about these "programs" and saw many people having success so I figured I had to find success by following their examples.

I felt frantic and I bounced from one set of rules to another thinking I was missing out on the missing key.  "Look how great that person looks doing paleo!  I have to do it too!  But wait!  That guy doing IIFYM looks amazing and he can eat ice cream!"  My thoughts drove me crazy trying to decide what the perfect lifestyle/diet was for me.  There had to be one right answer.

Over the past year I have come to realize that there isn't only one answer.  My health and fitness requirements are different from everybody else.  So I stopped worrying about if I was eating "right" or perfectly - according to someone else's standards.  I have tried many things, with success and with no success, and I have come to figure out what works for ME.  I've always had a lot of success with counting calories and IIFYM but it drives me CRAZY to log my food!  That's why I fell off the health wagon in the first place.

I have finally realized that my health journey doesn't have to follow anyone else's journey.  And it doesn't have to have a specific dietary label (paleo, gluten free etc).  I just need to stop worrying and live.  I know how to eat healthy and I also know how to enjoy a huge bowl of ice cream.  So I guess my motto is "moderation in all things" and "don't compare your story to anyone else".

It keeps me sane.
It keeps me healthy.
It doesn't require perfection.  And it is sustainable!

So I hope to share that message.  Your health journey is your own.  Find an exercise and eating plan that fit your lifestyle.  Try things out and pick and choose what works for you!  I will continue to do the same.  I love learning and I love sharing so I hope you will enjoy following as you work towards your own healthy life!

Worth It

How was everyone's 4th?  I just had a small bowl of ice cream and last night I had an oreo shake (always my downfall).  Not too bad though.  One important thing though when trying to change something in your life... you need to keep moving forward.

If you cheat a little more than you'd like or if you completely fail and don't exercise for a few weeks (guilty!).... it's okay.  Accept it.  Forgive yourself.  And move on.  Every time you move forward with something you are a new person.  Think about it.  How many times have you decided to exercise 3 times a week and you have failed?  To give up a bad habit?  5 times, 11 times?  It doesn't matter.  You, right now in this moment, are who you are right now.  You aren't that same person, even if you failed yesterday.  Life gives you new direction, new experiences, and it all comes together to make you who you are.

So if you have been trying to change something about yourself and you keep failing, it's okay.  Just keep moving forward.  It's a brand new day and you have a brand new perspective.  Don't be to hard on yourself.  Something that I have learned is that you need to love yourself first or else you'll never be satisfied where you are in life.

Anyway, that's my little rant for the day.  Don't give up on yourself!  You're totally worth it!

4th of July Drink

So big holiday tomorrow... it will be hot and you might be looking for a sweet, cool drink.  I was at a bridal shower the other day and my friend made an amazing drink.  Fast, easy, sugar free, and delicious.

Crystal Light Lemonade

Fresh strawberries

Ice

Refreshing.

Feed the Craving

If you don't have The Biggest Loser Cookbook, I highly suggest that you get it!  I checked this book out from the library once and I fell in love with it!  There are so many amazing recipes in it.  They are delicious and so healthy for you, I love them!

I've already posted about a couple of the recipes, the meatball one and the sweet potato fries recipe.  My favorite things about this cookbook are:

* over 125 healthy recipes
* kid friendly (also Katie friendly... I'm a picky eater)
* Calls for easy ingredients that you have actually heard of!
* Quick and easy meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and desserts!
* Gives the serving size and nutritional info so you know what you are eating.

I had one of these recipes today to satisfy a sweets craving.  This is one of my favorite snacks.  I've also had it for breakfast and a after workout snack.  It's so easy and it's delicious!  You have to give this one a try!

Banana, peanut butter, yogurt, topped with granola... (I like to use Kashi cereal).
Then you're done!  I've tried this recipe with lots of different yogurt flavors.  The recipe calls for Boston Cream Pie... that one is good for a dessert.  For breakfast or a snack I like to use strawberry or strawberry/banana yogurt.  So so good!

So be sure to get The Biggest Loser Cookbook, it's less than $9 so it's budget friendly!  Or check it out from the library and try it out for yourself!

Week 3 Goal: No Sweets

GOAL: No sugar or sweets this week.

I did okay at the reunion.  I ate a lot of M&Ms and Sweetish Fish (fat free so those aren't bad right?).  The scale didn't like me this week though... so I've been avoiding snacking and sweets this week.  Usually I try to just have one treat a week... so Friday nights I usually have a wonderful ice cream creation.  I find that if I eat well the rest of the week, my one night of treats doesn't kill all the work that I have done.  But this week I need to just avoid it all.  I'll probably do this next week too.

I've heard so many people say how wonderful they feel when they don't eat sugar and I am thinking I want to try that.  It will be really hard at first... but I did this several years ago and it got to the point where you don't crave sugar anymore!  After I had gone a couple of months without eating sugar, I went to my favorite ice cream joint (where I usually eat everything in sight and they have the largest ice cream creations in the world!!), while I was there I could only have a few bites of the ice cream because it was soo soo sweet!  But little by little I build up my tolerance again to sugar so I'm now able to eat the whole ice cream plus some more.

I will not give into my temptations and I'll remind myself why I am doing this... why I want to be healthy.  Something that helps me with temptations is to chew some gum.  I did this a lot at my reunion last weekend.  I find that the fruit ones get rid of my cravings the best.  My favorite kind is Trident Watermelon Twist.  It's a great flavor that leaves me not wishing for sweets.

So whether or not you want to join me on this goal or you may already be doing it, I'll be posting what I'm doing to keep up that goal!

Have a great week and stay healthy!

Weekend Reunion

Update on last week's goal... I did have a lot of liquids but it was mostly soda or pepto since I had food poisoning or the flu.... either way, not a fun week.  I still lost a couple of pounds but that sure wasn't due to exercising.  I took the week off in order to let my body recover from whatever I had.

Looking towards this weekend I am feeling a little scared... family reunion.  You know what that means.  Lots of food.  Lots of snacks.  Lots of treats with unlimited access, and everyone telling you to let loose and eat whatever you want since it is a special occasion.  Now, I'm not opposed to having a treat here and there.... but when it is uncontrolled and unmonitored eating that it becomes a problem.

A couple of weekends ago I was at another family get together and there was junk food everywhere!  But I went into the weekend with my mind already made up.  I wasn't going to cheat, at all!  None!  Surprisingly, it was a pretty easy weekend for me.  Usually when I am faced with a large bowl of ice cream with a side of a few candy bars.... I sit and debate with myself about if I'm going to give into my craving or not and I usually give in and end up eating everything in sight!

So when I went into the weekend with my mind and will power already set it was amazing!  This weekend I will probably end up eating something delicious and very fattening.  But I'm making up my mind right now that I can indulge just a bit.  Now that doesn't mean snacking all day long, having huge meals, snacking some more and finishing the day off with a dessert buffet.  I will indulge just a bit without letting myself go crazy!

Whether you choose to not have anything or choose to just have one or two things then great!  Go for it.  Just be strong and stick to your plan!  So wish me luck, and if you want to read a little article about not cheating... see this.

I'll be reading it and I'll do my best to not gain back all the weight I've worked hard to work off!