Creamy Chicken

2 Onions
4 Large Carrots
Bunch of fresh green beans washed and cut
Chicken 

Can of coconut milk

Spices

1C Chicken broth

Clean and cut onions and carrots. Saute in a pan with oil until cooked through. 
Place chicken in pan and cook on low. About 10 minutes, flip half way through.
Add coconut milk, broth and spices. (These can be changed up depending on what your in the mood for! More info below)
Simmer on low for 30 min. Add Green beans in the last 5 minutes.
Enjoy by itself of over brown rice.

Spice options:
Curry powder
Chili powder
Old bay
Onion/garlic powder
Pepper

Twice baked

Today was a long, yet fun day! It was a rest day so we headed to the dog park with Misty and Marley! They had a blast running around! After a bit of groceries we headed out to  the beach for some fun in the sun! The water was crystal clear and the sand was nice and warm. Ate a little Poke and spent some time relaxing with friends. 

Once the sun had worn us out we headed home for dinner with friends. On the menu tonight :

Twice baked Acorn Squash adapted from PaleOmg and sweet potato fries. 

Twice Baked Squash
4 servings

2 Acorn Squash
1lb Ground Sausage
1 Onion, diced
3 cloves garlic minced
4 eggs

Preheat oven to 375.
Cut open acorn squash and clean out seeds, Bake cut side down for 20 minutes.
Brown sausage, garlic and onion.
Scoop out cooked acorn squash (leaving about 1/4in inside squash for sturdiness). Careful not to break through skin.
Add insides to sausage and onion, mix to combine.
Refill the squash with mixture and leave a small pit. Crack egg here. Pepper if desired.
Place on baking sheet.
Bake 15 minutes or until egg is cooked!

For sweet potato fries CLICK HERE!

Want to see what we had for dessert?.......

Nuun Review

A couple months back I was talking with a friend about my love of water...but I wanted something that was refreshing but good for my body. One thing led to another and the word Nuun came up. I did a bit of research, a couple of emails and it was at my door! I was so excited I opened the box up right away.

First the packaging. I am a sucker for gorgeous marketing. The canisters are compact and the design is gorgeous! There were so many goodies in the box.

So what is Nuun?

"ELECTROLYTE ENHANCED DRINK TABS DESIGNED TO KEEP YOU OPTIMALLY HYDRATED WHEREVER YOUR ACTIVE LIFESTYLE TAKES YOU."

"Sugary and caffeinated drinks take you on a roller coaster ride during the day, but with zero sugar, under 8 calories per tab, and an all-natural blend of 17 vitamins and minerals, Nuun All Day keeps you going."

I popped one open and dropped one tablet into my bottle of water. It started to fizz! So I called my son in to come check it out ....."COOL MOM!" and thats all it took! We both couldn't wait to try it! In just a minute or so it had dissolved and filled my bottle with a rose colored hue. 

I took a sip and it was amazing! It was by no means sweet, which I loved! A subtle fruit flavor that instantly felt refreshing. I was so glad that it wasn't like any of the other "hydrating" drinks I had tried...It wasn't full of sugars or carbs or other fillers. It was just water, but better! 

I decided to try it out one day before the gym. As many know I live on a very hot and humid island! I also walk to and from the gym everyday and the heat really gets me down. I can literally feel it sucking all my energy. 

Before I left the house I filled up my bottle and dropped one little pink tablet inside and let it bubble! By the time I was out the door it had dissolved and I was ready to go! 

The refreshing, light taste actually made me thirsty! I drank more and by the time I was at the gym I had to fill my bottle back up. I definitely felt hydrated! I was so impressed at the feeling I had; usually I drink my water do some exercises and feel dead dry! I didn't feel anything like that now! In the next few days I enjoyed dropping a tab in and tasting the different flavors. It almost felt like a special treat! 

This is an awesome way to replace the sodas and sugary drinks in your home. My boys and I loved it and cant wait to try out some other flavors! ...Oh and did I mention it was Gluten free? SOLD.

Shop here and dont forget to find out which Nuun is right for you! 

Check them out on Facebook!

Monday Mommy Transformation

-What was your life like before you started your journey to better health? 
Before I started my journey I was a very athletic person, so I just played sports and being fit just came without thought. I could eat whatever I wanted and it never really crossed my mind if it was good for my body or not.

-What motivated you to make a change? I first started to make my change around my junior year of college, I was 21 years old.  I was not playing sports in college so I had really put on some pounds and I could see on the scale and in pictures but also in the fit of my clothes and my mood. At that point I just started eating healthier things and making it a point to get the campus gym in between classes each day during the week and I was successful for a while until I got married and moved to Florida.  My husband and I would cook all the time and I didn't add a ton of weight back, but it was definitely noticeable and then I got pregnant and I was one of those people who had that thought "oh I am pregnant so this is a free pass to eat whatever I wanted and just to sit around and relax". (Never time around, I will have a totally different outlook!!) So then I had my son and when he was about 3 months old I still had a lot of weight on my body. With the pregnancy I gained about 50 pounds and at that 3 months mark I had only lost about 20 of it, so that is when I made the decision then to make a change not only for myself but for my son and husband. At that point I was extremely out of shape so I started walking with my son in the jogging stroller everyday and I would slowly increase the amount of time I was jogging and I would do some light lifting at home with hand weights. After that I decided I needed more so I joined a gym with one of my friends that offered childcare while I worked out, this gave me more time and more options when it came to working out. I also really concentrated on my food and picking healthier options.

-How do you involve your family in your journey?  Now that my son is two and is really active, I take him to the park at least twice a week and run the 1.75 loop around the park with him a couple times with the promise that he gets to play on the playground after and he loves it and I get a great workout in.  When it comes to my husband I just had to explain to him what my goals were and how he could support me because when it comes to him he is one of those people that have a really high metabolism and he can eat whatever he wants and do whatever and still remain skinny. He has been very supportive with helping me cook healthier meals and watching my son so I can go to the gym. And as our son gets older we are trying to incorportate more active activities into our lives as a gamily.

-What is your biggest accomplishment so far? My biggest accomplishment so far is not eating any fried foods for a year and a half.  I made this resolution for myself and have stuck to it. Also, I am 4 sizes smaller than I was in highschool/pre-baby!  I also ran my first 5K when my son was about 7 months old and have been running them ever since.

-Who inspires you? My son is my biggest inspiration. When I am fit and active, I feel happier and healthier and it all rubs off on him because he deserves to have the healthiest and happiest mommy.  Also, all of my friends who have decided to live an active and healthy life. I love to read about their journeys, what they are doing and to take from their experiences things that I can incorporate into my own life.

-When your in a slump what do you do to shake it?  I plan. I sit down and plan out my meals and workouts. It makes me feel more in control of everything and it helps me focus. Then once I accomplish everything on that first day, I check it off and have that feeling of "I can do this!"

-What future goals do you have for yourself? Have a couple more babies and maintain a healthy and active lifestyle before, during and after pregnancy. I am at a weight that I am happy with right now, so I really would like to just get more toned!

-How did you do it? At first just running with my son and doing at home workout videos and light lifting. Now I continue to run with my son but I also go to the gym and cross-train on different cardio machines and weight light 3 times a week. Food wise I tracked all of my food at first to see the types of nutrients that I was consuming and how many calories I was consuming. Now I just make healthier choicess and really examine everything before I eat it since I have more knowledge on more foods.

-What is one of your favorite recipes? Turkey stuffed peppers, Turkey chili, Teriyaki pineapple chicken sandwhiches, Chicken & veggie kabobs on the grill and ANY crockpot recipe that I can tweak to be clean and yummy!!

Monday Mommy Transformation

Krisse from Airman Getting Strong is next up to offer inspiration! 

-What was your life like before you started your journey to better health?

I would always just take diet pills to lose weight and I never lifted weights. I was scared of them. Instead I would just b-line to the ellipticals and call it a day.

-What motivated you to make a change?

Pregnancy for sure. Right before I became pregnancy I was thinking that I need to step up my fitness level. But then I was so incredibly sick my first timester that I was barely able to leave the house for a walk. Then my second trimester came around and I got moving and started eating healthier! I started walking every night (still not lifting for some reason). Once I had my baby girl, I made a vow to become healthy and strong for her and myself. 

-How do you involve your family in your journey?

My baby girl is only 7 months old so she can't workout with me... yet. She loves flying baby, so I try to hold her above my head for as long as I can to get that extra burn in for the day. My husband compromises fat and flavor at dinner time. :) But I do my best to change up the meals often and boost the flavor while still remaining healthy.

-What is your biggest accomplishment so far?

Push ups!!! I'm in the Air Force, and part of our physical assessments are push ups. I've always been horrible at them but after I had the baby I couldn't even do one... but 6 months after baby I went for my test and was able to do 37 in one minute!!! One month later I can do 40 now. 

-When your in a slump what do you do to shake it?

That is where I am at now. I lost the 30 pounds I gained during pregnacy plus I lost another 5 but I've been stuck for 6 weeks now. I'm not seeing the muscle that I want. So, I went back to basics. I just started following Jamie Eason's LiveFit Program.

-What future goals do you have for yourself?

I want muscle, muscle, and more muscle. I wouldn't care if I didn't lose another pound, just as long as I had some visible muscle. My triceps bother me the most so that is my main goal for now.

-How did you do it?

3 weeks after giving birth I went straight to the gym. I went to my go to cardio, Mr. elliptical, but this time I would set goals like to burn 800 calories in 45 minutes. I also started lifting and I fell in love. But my work had a different agenda. They wanted us to workout together during work hours. I kept up 2 a days for probably a month. But a guy I work with introduced me to beast workouts. This is not something you can find on the internet, these are just workouts that we created on our own. We would do them outside at work. We used sand bags and chains as weights, a sledge hammer, truck tire, and pretty much anything heavy that we could move around. We realized that we incorported Crossfit into our workouts without even knowing. We also took it to the road and would run... a lot. We would also sprint suicides in between sets. It got me to a 13 minute 1.5 mile (Air Force assessment also). Then we went to our gym on base and took the intro to Crossfit class and fell in love! We do that at least once a week.  

-What is one of your favorite recipes?

My comfort food is my favorite recipe! I sprinkle a raw tuna steak with seseme seeds and sear it on all sides with a cast iron skillet. I steam a little bit of jasmine rice and I make a dipping sauce made from rice vinegar, Mirin (sweet rice seasoning), and low sodium soy sauce. I also steam zuchini and squash to complete my perfect meal. 

Krisse can be found on Facebook HERE. Check her out and like her page!

ENERGYbits!

A while back I was watching an episode on the Discovery Channel where Andew Zimmern gave an inside look of a Spirulina Algae farm. He spoke of its benefits and how natural it was for your body...then I wondered where the heck would I ever find something like that and then changed the channel.
Fast forward a couple years later...

After seeing Energybits all over Twitter I decided to look into it since I'm always looking for new items in health and fitness. Turns out Energy Bits are just little bits of algae that are taken to improve energy and overall health. The best part is the ingredients- Spirulina Algae. Thats it! ONE calorie per bit and ONE ingredient to help increase energy and all 100% natural.
This all natural product works a lot like a cup of coffee or energy drink without that crappy feeling your left with after the caffeine has worn off. Talk about a miracle!
So what exactly are Energybits? 

Made from 100% organicallly grown spirulina algae and loaded with 40 nutrients, ENERGYbits® algae tabs have the highest concentration of protein in the world (64%) all for just one calorie per tab.

What is even more appealing is that this isn't considered a supplement, its actually a food...we all know how much I love food!

My Experience with Energy Bits:
Being that I live overseas I find it hard to find new things to try so I was hoping I'd get this chance! I received an email response from Jonathan Levitt, Brand Manager/Pro Sports soon after contacting him.  I was immediately excited when I was offered the chance to try out Energybits!

As a mom to 2 boys, I am constantly trying to boost my energy through out the day and once I cut coffee from my daily diet I noticed a bit of a slump towards the afternoon...Here enters Energy bits! I need to get up with my boys at 530am make it through the day (workout) and well into the night with my newborn.

Heres how you take them:

For best results, take at least 30 ENERGYbits® (or more) before any workout, run, game or intense physical or mental activity. They will improve your energy and endurance. Also take whenever you are tired, hungry or don’t have time to eat or cook. They are a terrific high protein, low calorie snack or meal on the go.  A favorite of Olympic athletes. Swallow with beverage or chew them as you would a handful of nuts. Remember, they’re “bits” of food (not pills).”

The Energy Bits website lays everything out and explains exactly how every person, be it athletes, children, or moms like me, can benefit from Spirulina Algea. Thats right...I said children. When I read that I was completely blown away! Not only can you stop a cold from getting worse but they help prevent them as well!
Algae has the same nutrients as leafy green vegetable so what better way to give your entire family a boost of nutrients and protein!

Day 1 and 2
I was given enough to take them 2x so I popped open my cute little tin on Tuesday and Wednesday morning and gave it a go. The first day I decided to try chewing some for the heck of it (they recommend swallowing them because you'll end up with some green in your mouth). I figured either way my son would get a kick out his mom's tongue being completely green!

BAD IDEA! The taste was kind of like a pork rind (weird huh?) and my mouth was definitely green!
I would also recommend swallowing them! 4 or 5 at a time would be pretty easy with a glass of water.  (Although It would be more convenient if they were combined into maybe 1-2 pills instead of 30!) Once I finished I went about my day! I did my workout, ran some errands, took my son to the park and made a late dinner....THEN stayed up taking care of my new little man. To see what Skinnyfitchick thought about Energybits click here.

The end result
I didn't feel the drop in energy like I usually do around 3pm (the one where I just cant seem to keep my eyes open) so this is what I needed. Even though I didn't feel more energized in my workout than I usually do, I felt it more through out the length of the entire day (maybe a placebo effect?)

I would also add that I believe 2 days of taking the Energybits isn't going to give me the best impression of this product. I'm sure taking these over a period of time and getting the nutrients in your system would help gauge the amount of energy I could have.

Energybits can be found HERE and on FACEBOOK

**I was given this product free of charge to review. I did not promise a positive review nor was I paid to endorse this product. These opinions are solely my own. 

Meal Prep

This MEAL PREP post can be found by clicking:

Roasted Veggies

Today for lunch I wanted something quick and easy and was craving eggplant...did you know you can still crave items while breastfeeding? Who knew! I've never roasted anything before so I was praying I wouldn't ruin all the fresh vegetables Id just cut up. This was so satisfying! I kept thinking how amazing it was that I was eating all vegetables and they were so good!

1 Eggplan
1 Golden Zucchini
1 tomato
1Tbs Coconut oil
Seasoning (I used Mrs. Dash tomato basil)

Preheat oven to 425. Slice and place all vegetables in a bowl. Add coconut oil and seasonings, stir to coat. Lay in a single layer on pan. Cook for 30-40 minutes. turning half way through.

Paleo Chicken Curry

I've realized I dont really like following recipes...kind of makes my brain hurt! lol I mean I'm sure there are hardly any real original recipes anymore but I like to think I can come up with some good ones on my own! Tonight was one of those times! I had chicken defrosted and wanted something comforting to eat. I had curry and coconut milk...thats all it took.

3 Chicken breasts cut up
3Tbs Curry powder
1 Large onion
1C Mushrooms chopped
1C Carrots chopped
1C Cauliflower
1Tbs Coconut oil
1C chicken stock
1 Can coconut milk

Place oil in pan and add onions and carrots, saute until soft. Add chicken. Cover and cook through. Add stock, cauliflower and mushrooms. Cook for 5 minutes. Add Coconut milk and let cook on low for 10 minutes.

I put some cauliflower in the food processor and blended to make "rice" but didnt cook it..not the best idea. My son and I did not care for it! I may cook it a bit next time!

I did cook up an acorn squash in the microwave (cut in half, in a dish with 1/4c water covered for 10 min) and the curry tasted great over that!

Snackeroo

Being half a world away from my husband and most of my family during Sandy has got me stressing. I usually eat and EAT A LOT when Im stressed (Im the girl that gained 15 pounds the first 2 months of my pregnancy..when I was told I wasn't pregnant).

This time I've been trying to focus on good choices, better options and staying sane. Today I was out and needed a quick (Paleo friendly) snack and found these!! Its a bag full of amazingness! I literally walked the isles not wanting actual fruit (too messy to drive with) and just something that tasted great and was easy. Check out those ingredients! Some of the things listed that I LOVE!

• No sugar added
• I can eat the WHOLE bag (score!)
• Kids love them!
• Cheapola- $2.50
• Kosher...thats always a plus right!?

These are amazing! There were 4 other flavors bit I tried the mixed pack. I couldn't get enough and finished them by the time I was home! So crunchy they could be used as cereal with some coconut milk. Im going to attempt to make some dried fruit on my own but for a quick snack for school, on the go or in front of the TV these are great! 

PPP Paleo

I am finding that going Paleo has been quite easy. I dont miss my oats (they were a pain to make) or my Rice (again I hated making it). I do miss my condiments...soy sauce! Its been 3 days and I don't feel like too much has changed in my eating and I feel great! The fact that I don't have to look at ingredients is nice! I just eat REAL FOOD...crazy concept huh? the last couple days have looked a bit like this:

M1: Omelet with spinach and tomato

M2: Nuts

M3: Salad and veg with oil, vinegar and mustard dressing

M4: Seaweed

M5: Chicken in mustard dressing marinade with veggies...so good!

Challenge

I've decided that it would be fun to take part in a clean eating / Paleo challenge. I've been eating clean for the last year now and I love that I'm actually one of those people that can say its a lifestyle. It just comes naturally and I don't really put much thought into it anymore!

Going Paleo...that's a whole new world for me. I would need to eliminate my grains: brown rice and oats ( I eat both daily), Dairy: yogurt(I don't eat often) and cottage cheese. I'm still looking into it and learning the spa and fonts but I think to just try it would be good. I love doing this so I can speak to an experience and have my own opinion and understanding. It starts Monday so hopefully by then I'll have everything in order!

In the group of girls doing this challenge I will be checking in daily with workouts, eating and how things are going. Along with being held accountable It'll be nice to see what everyone else is up to and how they are doing! I look forward to swapping recipes and tips! 
Here are some helpful sites to get more information.  

*What is the Paleo Diet?
*What is Clean Eating?
*Breastfeeding and Paleo

Source

Monday Mommy Transformation

What was your life like before you started your journey to better health?  

Well... I have been over weight my whole life, pretty much beginning when puberty struck. I was always "big boned" But my weight really ballooned when I got married. I really never realized how miserable I was...even at the beginning when we were "happy". 

I was obese, my highest weight being 236lbs..not pregnant!  I went up and down many times, never getting lower than 190lbs.  Well, long story short, after a decade of being in a difficult marriage, struggling with infertility, financial problems, etc (everyone has their struggles, mine are no worse) I separated from my husband in July 2009. That was a rude awakening for me. I struggled badly with my new life as a single mother.  

How do you involve your family in your journey?  

Well, I enlist family support to give me time to run while training for a half marathon.  I couldn't do it without my "village".  My kids are a part of  the everyday..they go to weight watchers meetings with me, help me prepare healthy meals and snacks, etc.  Their current favorite thing: roasted veggies!

What is your biggest accomplishment so far?  

    In general:  Being  a good,healthy example/role model for my two children (ages 5 and 9) is by far my biggest accomplishment.  I am showing them how to take care of themselves by taking care of myself.  They are happier because I am happier!

   Health related:  I reached my goal weight this fall and am maintaining under my goal.  I weigh less than I did in jr high now at 147lbs.  I exercise regularly and I am training for a half marathon (completing this will be a huge accomplishment.  I can't wait!).

Who inspires you? 

 I have a friend (Hi Tracey!) who I met along my way in this weight loss/health journey.  She is around my age.  She suffered a stroke recently and since has taken charge of her health and has lost over 100 lbs so far.  I would post online about my runs..and she would post about her walks from one end her driveway to the other.  I know if she could run, she would put me to shame daily.  She gives maximum effort all the time despite her health challenges.  She is kicking butt!

What future goals do you have for yourself?

Fitness related...My very short term goal is to run my first half marathon on Oct 21.  After that, continue to maintain my weight loss and my running for my second half on my 39th birthday in February.  

Simply put, how did you do it? 

 Weight watchers, couch to 5k running program were the two main things.  I have gone past the 5k distance now, but if it were not for that program I would not be able to run more than 60 seconds at a time!  Those two programs have changed my life!

What is one of your favorite recipes?

Slowcooker lentil polenta stew

1.5 cups brown lentils (rinsed and picked over)

2 onions sliced

1 large green pepper, diced

4 garlic cloves, sliced

1 can plum tomatoes with juice

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

1.5 cups vegetable broth

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1 cup quick cooking Polenta

Layer lentils, onions, green programs garlic in slow cooker. Halve tomatoes and add to cooker with juice. Sprinkle with oregano, pepper flakes, and salt. Pour in broth and vinegar. Cover and cook on low for seven hours or until lentils are tender. Serve over Polenta (I stirred it in!)

Serves 6. Per serving... 300 calories, 1 gram fat, 57 gram carb, 15 gram fiber, 16 gram protein

Click HERE to check her out of Facebook!

Stuffed Peppaaas

Whenever I have ground turkey I am always so conflicted with what to make! I have so many ideas and recipes that I want to try that sometimes its hard picking one. Then I remembered I got bell peppers on sale and should probably use them (I bought more than my fare share). These turned out so well! I was quite impressed with my "winging it skills" so I wanted to share!

Stuffed Peppers

• 1Tbs coconut oil
• 4 Bell peppers
• 1lb Ground turkey (any meat will do)
• Onion-chopped
• 4 Garlic cloves-choppped
• 1C chicken stock
• cumin
• worchestire sauce
• 1/2C tomato paste
• 1C Cooked Brown Rice (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Put coconut oil in pan. Add garlic and onion and turkey. Cook through. add 1/2 cup of stock and tomato paste. Cook for 5 minutes. sprinkle some cumin and a splash or two of worchestire sauce. Stire

Wash then slice peppers in half long ways (so you have 2 boats). Clean out and fill with turkey mixture.

Line pan with tin foil and pour remaining broth in pan. Place filled peppers in pan cover tightly with foil (I fold up the sides of the bottom foil to keep the stock around the peppers and crimp it to the piece of foil on top)

Bake for 35 minutes and top with cheese (I broiled the cheese) ...and you can leave the cheese off and top with more tomato paste if you'd like to keep it clean!

To weigh or not to weigh

I've been trying to decide whether or not Im going to weigh myself as I get back in shape post baby.

After my first child I weighed in every Friday, sometimes as early as 3am...just so I could say I weighed in on Friday! That was a healthy way of doing it but as the years went by I started weighing in everyday, any chance I got. I even had the scale in my kitchen-this was after trying every hard surface in my house to see where it told me what I wanted to hear. It was driving me insane! I finally decided to toss the scale and not even think about my weight. I started the LiveFit trainer October 2011 and only weighed myself in the beginning and then at the end.
Only a few days later I found out I was pregnant and vowed not to step on a scale.  I loved how my body had changed during the trainer and now with the upcoming weight gain over the next nine months, I didnt want the stress of the number on the scale. I wanted to enjoy being pregnant! So every 4 weeks at my OB appointments I would step on the scale and tell them not to tell me. Some of them remembered me from the time before and others laughed! They had NO IDEA how big of an accomplishment this was for me; it took the one stress of pregnancy away! (My doctor did mention my weight once or twice but never the actual number)
In the end I ended up gaining about 39lbs...I had to look at my record! I am fine with that number, I gained 37 with my first and I had a rough start this second time and gained quite a bit in the beginning. Now that I have had the baby and dropped 20lbs from labor I'm left with 20 to lose and another 30 before my ultimate goal.

Should I weigh myself once Im back to regular workouts or stick with just my measurements?
The number on the scale doesn't reflect any time in the gym or strength I'm adding so it could be detrimental.  I may do my measurements and leave the scale to only monthly weigh ins. At least till I've lost the rest of the baby weight!  Ill be posting all my starting numbers once I am given the OK to return to regular exercise. Hopefully I can get a bit more lean until then
 just from my eating!

Monday Mommy Transformation

 Jodi to our newest Mommy Transformation story.

 She lost 65 pounds and 5 dress sizes! 

          -What was your life like before you started your journey to better health?

It was very unbalanced. I really wasn’t taking any time for ME at all – life just felt like a race to get everything done, and I wasn’t prioritizing myself. Life as a working mom with two kids still feels like a race some days! But, training for a half-marathon has given me a personal goal, time to myself when I run, and a great feeling of accomplishment as I cross the milestones along the way. It has made me a better mom. It has also reinvigorated a very important friendship in my life – my dear friend from university, Alana, has joined me on my journey and we are both training for Disney’s Princess Half-Marathon!

        -What motivated you to make a change?

It was a story I read about a young family that lost their mom. It got me thinking that I needed to do a better job of taking care of myself, for my kids. I had come through a very difficult time in my own life and it was time to redefine myself. I was suddenly very ready to make a change and take control of things. I truly believe that you have to be in the right emotional and mental space to make a physical change.

         -How do you involve your family in your journey?

The end goal is racing at Disney World, so my kids were clearly a key factor in choosing my goal race. But it has become so much more than that – they come with me to races, cheer me on, and have recently started racing themselves. On Canada Day, we celebrated by running the Limestone Mile together as a family – a new tradition. And they now participate in the kids’ races whenever there is one attached to my race days. They like to “train” by running up and down our street and having me time them. They want to beat their personal bests! It really reminds you of the power of parenting when you see your kids model themselves after you. We may not always think so, but they are paying very close attention to everything we do.

         -What is your biggest accomplishment so far?

I started this journey having never raced before – and now, I have completed 5 races and have numerous more on the calendar. I would say just getting myself to the start line was an accomplishment! As I started my running journey, a dear friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. I decided to create a team for her in our local Run for the Cure – our team is now the biggest in the city, with the most dollars raised! It has been so inspiring to rally and recruit people for such an important cause. Suddenly, I am seeing women who have never run training for their first race and taking time for themselves to do so. Some are involving their families. It has grown into something so powerful and I feel we are making a big difference. I am so proud to be involved with this team and to run for my friend, Karen.

         -Who inspires you?

I love the “Run Like a Mother” duo, Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea. They are very relatable and down to earth – and funny! But mainly, I am inspired every time someone asks me what I have done to get healthy or comes to me for tips on starting to run. I love to see that spark of interest because I know that will to make a change is the first step. Motivating others to run, whether it is a slow run around the block or training for a 10K race, is very inspiring in return.

         -When your in a slump what do you do to shake it?

Go for a run! The best thing about running is that you can never predict what will make a good run. You can easily turn a bad day into a good one with a run that surprises you – you may start out feeling sluggish or tired, but quickly find yourself flying along and setting a new personal best. I also find that running helps to shake the blahs out as it so invigorating, and it gives you time to resolve whatever may be nagging at you. It is just you and your thoughts – there is nowhere to hide. When you do have a hard run, the feeling of accomplishment at completing it is that much sweeter. So basically, if you are having a good day – run! If you are having a bad day – run! That is my philosophy.

-How do you reward yourself?

Shopping! I love shopping for new running clothes and gear. One of my biggest purchases was a Garmin watch – now I cannot run without it! It is great if you can reward yourself with things that fuel your love of exercise. When I buy a cute running skirt or funky arm sleeves, I can’t wait to hit the road to try them out.

         -What future goals do you have for yourself?

The goal that I am working towards right now is Disney’s Princess Half Marathon. Running to the Castle in my pink shoes is about more than just a race. It’s about proving something to myself. It’s about setting a goal and achieving it. It’s about being feminine and athletic, not having to choose between the two. It’s about showing my daughters that strong is beautiful. It’s about my sole sister and all of the amazing women who are training with me, on their own journeys to this finish line. It’s about realizing the childhood dream of becoming a princess by making my own dreams come true as an adult. It’s about having faith and trust in myself… and still believing in pixie dust too. I have a lot invested in this race. When it is over, it will be time for a new goal.

         -How did you do it?

I think the big secret is that there is no big secret – people spend so much time looking for shortcuts. If they spent that energy on changing their habits, they would be so much closer to their goals. It takes commitment and discipline. It means working out, hard and regularly. It means making healthy food choices. That’s really all there is to it. The good news is it is not complicated! Anyone can do it if they have the will.

         -What is one of your favorite recipes?

I think more important than recipes is debunking some common myths about food. I hate to see people sabotaging themselves without knowing it. For example, people often assume that eating salad is a healthy choice – but they don’t realize that many dressings are full of fat and empty calories. Another good example would be tuna or egg salad – sounds healthy, but the fattening mayonnaise cancels out the health benefit. You really need to be mindful of everything to make the smart choice. In doing so, I have found that you can still have your favourite dishes if you just learn to make them in a healthier way. One of my favourite guilty pleasures was always nachos with cheese and sour cream. And I refused to give them up! Now I use baked nacho chips and low fat cheese (hold the sour cream  or use a non-fat alternative)…still yummy with no guilt. It’s all about getting creative.

Check out Jodi on her BLOG! 

A Rant

di·et

1. Food and drink considered in terms of its qualities,composition, and its effects on health.-Websters

When I hear the word diet I think of deprivation, crashing and short lived. I cant stand when people ask if Im on a diet. I refuse to diet. To me a "diet" has and end and then what happens next? If I can explain it as a lifestyle it makes it sound never ending. I dont want to ever stop eating well...who would? I used to swear by the South Beach diet but just like everyone else I know who has tried it..I stopped when I met my goal and went back to my old ways....You know, the ways that got me to my heaviest in the first place!! What was I thinking? It was a circle of never ending defeat.

I want to feel full, nourished and enriched by the foods I eat. I want to eat pizza, pancakes and dessert...but in their purest forms. Their names shouldnt dictate how they are made. I dont want them chock full of chemicals and additives...Who said pizza has to have some crazy proceesed form of food on it? Why cant I benefit from my food?

I want to walk away from my plate knowing Im being fueled by what I just ate-and it actually tasted good.
I dont want to walk away from my plate feeling like shit because I just ate something that had zero benefits and ingredients I couldnt even pronounce let alone find in a store!