Chicken Curry with Potatoes

Yesterday I was really hungry for Indian food. I decided to try and make Chicken Curry with Potatoes in the crock pot. I had a head of cauliflower so I roasted that to go with it. It was a huge hit.

The girls all had three helpings. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:
3 pounds chicken (I used boneless skinless thighs this time but have also used boneless skinless chicken breasts in the past)
1 large onion diced
1 can low sodium diced tomatoes
3 cloves garlic minced
1 tsp ginger powder
1 tsp dried cilantro
1 bay leaf
1 tsp cardamom powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp ground pepper
3 cups low sodium chicken broth
6 large potatoes diced

Directions:
1. Place diced potatoes in the bottom of the crock pot.
2. Cover with diced onions.
3. Mix all the spices in a bowl.
4. Rub spice mixture on raw chicken.
5. Pour chicken and spice mixture over potatoes/onions in the crock pot.
6. Pour the chicken broth over everything.
7. Pour the can of diced tomatoes juice and all in.



8. Cook on low for 6 hours

 

I served this by itself but I am sure you could serve over brown rice if you wanted. I like the sauciness of it. Also it you are short some protein for the day you can always add some Low Fat Greek Yogurt to give it some creaminess and some extra protein.

 

I hope you enjoy this as much as my family did. Have a blessed day. 

Week 5 Recap

This week was an awesome week. I didn't gain any weight but had to skip my first workout in 29 weeks. I did make it up on my rest day though. Here is my pictures for the week:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

29 weeks pregnant

 

Day 1: Sculpt: This morning we did all the grocery shopping. This meant we went to two different stores to stock up the house. IT was a snowy day but the snow was heavy and wet. I was tired when I got home and unloaded the car. I had lots of big items from SAMS Club like 25 pound bag of flour and 10 pound bag a brown rice. We also went to walk around the mall afterwards until it was time for A to be finished with preschool.

As you can imagine I was a little tired after my morning and made every excuse in the book as to why I shouldn't work out but I made myself push play. Sculpt is 27 minutes long. She says to wear shoes and use a mat but I didn't put on my shoes. Mainly I was too lazy to walk back upstairs to get a pair of socks after all the walking I did this morning. Finally at 28 weeks I feel like I'm pregnant and am starting to have to slow down a little. Also the baby is pushing upwards and I sometimes find it hard to catch my breath. You will also need a chair for this workout.  

Sculpt is broken into sections. There is a warm up, leg, full body, arm and the buns and cool down section. This is a great 27 minute full body workout for a day when you want to do something quick but effective. My legs were like jelly after the leg section. My triceps ached all evening after the arm section and then the cool down section that included some chair work. I felt great after this workout and was glad I did it.

Day 2: Sweat: This morning was bible study. It was so great to be back studying the book of revelations. IT was very icy out this morning. I almost feel on my butt in the church parking lot three times! I was lucky we all made it into the building.

Sweat was awesome this afternoon. I cannot believe how much stronger I am getting using this program. I'm in love with it and am so glad I decided to give it a try and do the entire eight weeks.

Day 3: Core: This morning was my only day at home this week so I had to make the most of it. I did laundry and baked. The girls and I did art projects and we read books.

So core was so difficult for me last week with my growing belly I decided to skip it today and substitute Dirty 30 from the 21 Day Fix. It felt so good to get some weights back in my hands. I only used 5lbs for the entire workout and felt great. I also did some of the modifiers. My one recommendation is slow and controlled. You don’t need to go as fast as them to get results. Slow down a little and get the move done correctly. Also watch your heart rate with a little one on board. You don't want it to get to high. What a great workout!

Day 4: Drench: This morning was my OB appointment. It was so snowy out that I had to drop Abby off at school early to get to my appointment on time. I am still measuring two weeks ahead. I didn’t gain any weight according to their scale this past two weeks. It was a great appointment.

Then B and C and I went to play at the mall. We had so much fun walking and running and playing. By the end though I  was having some Braxton Hicks Contractions so I decided to skip my workout today. This is the first workout I skipped in the almost 29 weeks of my pregnancy. Tomorrow is a rest day so I will make up the workout tomorrow. I'm hoping to take it easy and feel better. I need the baby to stay in.

Day 5: Rest: Today we had mommy connection. We ran around in the gym and had a ton of fun. I brought the kids riding toys and they were all over and having a blast.

Then I came home and did drench to make up for the missed workout yesterday.  This is a long workout. It is 45 minutes. It was a great workout but really hard. I actually had to stop the tape a few times and catch my breath. I don't think this is going to be a good option for me for the rest of my pregnancy.

Day 6: Buns: Today we went to fill our Operation Christmas Child boxes. I love watching the girl's joy in serving others. It was so much fun watching them pick items for their boxes. A was filling hers for a 4 yr old girl, B picked a 3 yr old girl and C wanted a 3 yr old boy.

Then I did buns this afternoon. I love this workout. It felt good to get moving and work my buns. I also love how well this works all the muscles groups of your buns.

Day 7: Strength Intervals: This morning we did church and then had a fun morning as a family.

When we came home I did strength intervals. I love this workout. IT is quick but effective. The beast position towards the end is the only one I have trouble with as all the turning can hurt. I need slow it down but can still do the modified version.

My plan for this week is to stop Piyo exclusively. There is too many moves I cannot do well with bring pregnant. Instead I am going to try a Piyo 21 Day Fix Hybrid Schedule in hopes that I can continue to work out but not have so many twisting moves that make me have Braxton Hicks Contractions.

Week 4 Recap

We had an awesome week 4 of Piyo. Since I am half way through the program I decided to take some measurements. I was surprised at my results. I gained 4 pounds which is right on target for my 1 pound a week as I am entering the third trimester of my pregnancy. What I was surprised at was that in four weeks I've lost 3.5 inches! I lost 2.5 inches from my chest and .5 inches from each thigh. This is incredible as this week I didn't really watch my diet all that well. I'm also surprised that my waist is still 2 inches smaller than when I started this fitness journey almost eight months ago. Here are this week's pictures:

28 weeks pregnant

Day 1: Sweat: Today was a crazy day. I had to do grocery shopping. I love grocery shopping as I know we fill our fridge with lots of healthy stuff and the girls will eat it.

Then I did Piyo Sweat. I can totally tell I am getting stronger and gaining more balance. I didn't wobble during the runner's lunge today. I also did the entire first series that has lots of one leg balance work without having to put my leg down once! It was such an accomplishment for me.

Afterwards I needed to the girls to run off some energy as Brian was at a late work meeting. We went for a 1.22 mile walk. It was a beautiful night and it felt good to be out.  It was more of a run though with me pulling the wagon with B in it as C and A wanted to run. 

Day 2: Core: Today we went out and enjoyed the beautiful weather by raking leaves. I did four bags full before my workout and then got the girls down for nap. I worked out and then helped Brian finish getting all the leaves picked up before the snow falls later tonight/tomorrow. It felt so good to still have the energy to do this even after working out and knowing I'm 27 weeks pregnant today!

Core is probably the hardest workout for me in that it has a lot of turning. I have to be really careful being pregnant not to over extended my Ab muscles. I want to see results but don't want to hurt myself.

Day 3: Buns: Today was a great day as we spent the day at home doing projects as B and C call them. It was a nice restful day. I love spending time with the girls like that while A is in school. It makes them feel special.

I did Buns once I got them down for nap. I love all the squats in this workout. There is enough variety that just as I feel like I need to quit because my legs cannot take one more rep she switches it out. I can also tell my pants are fitting different. I know that my butt is a different shape!

Day 4: Drench: Today was a MOPS day. This is the day I usually let myself cheat on my nutrition. I usually don't go overboard but do allow myself to hit the buffet and splurge a little.

Then we came home and played in the first snow of the season. It just kept falling. We made Olaf complete with hair. We ran around in the yard and had a snow ball fight.

After I got the girls down for a late nap it was time for Drench. Tis was a tough workout for me. I kept getting out of breath but made it through the entire 48 minutes workout. All you need is a mat for this workout. I'm a lot stronger than I think. There was a few times I wanted to quit but I pushed through and felt so much better afterwards.

The hardest move for me was the beast section. I have a hard time rotating like that without my baby bump getting in the way. I also struggled a little bit on a section that had lunges and a piyo flip. I did it but it wasn't pretty.

I'm feeling more and more limber every day. I especially love how I felt after today's workout. I felt like I could conquer anything.

Day 5: Rest: Today was a rest day and I needed it. We went to mommy connection this morning and I played chase with the girls for a long time. Then after lunch we went back out to play in the snow. I could not believe how much more had fell in the 24 hours since we were last outside to play. Poor B was getting lost in the snow as it was tall in some of the drifts.

 

Day 6: Strength Intervals: Today we went out and played in the snow all morning. We had a rough night last night. No one wanted to sleep. It was a night where you feel like a pinball in a pinball machine bouncing from one girl to the next.  Brian got up with them this morning so I could get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep.

We made the biggest snowman and had a ton of fun playing chase. The dog was in her glory just running free. It was also so pretty to see all the snow with the fall leaves that have yet to fall. I am noticing that I get winded more easily. I guess that comes with entering the third trimester. That doesn’t mean I'm giving up my workouts. 

Strength intervals was challenging. I don't know if it was because we were running around in 15 inches of snow all morning or that I'm just slowing down at 28 weeks pregnant. I had to do about 1/4 of the modifiers. Not a bad thing at all.

Day 7: Sweat: This was a great workout and much needed today. I definitely sweated and loved every moment.

Here is my plan for this week:

Couples challenge start November 24th. Want to lose 10-15 pounds before Christmas? Then why don't you grab your partner and join us. Have a blessed week everyone.

Smooties as Snacks

So I absolutely love my morning Shakeology. I love how full it makes me and knowing that I'm giving me and my baby all the nutrients we need. I love having this as my breakfast as I'm full for about three hours afterwards.

However lately I've been feeling like I've been eating the same old same old for snack. One of my challengers had also asked me how to get more veggies into her diet as she wasn't eating all her green fix containers.

Here are a few smoothies I came up with this week to combat this problem.

Pear, Pumpkin and Spinach Yogurt Smoothie
1 Small Pear
1/2 cup Pureed Pumpkin
1 cup Spinach (I used frozen)
3/4 Cup Low Fat Greek Yogurt
1 cup water

Blend in blender until smooth.
Enjoy

Blueberry and Broccoli Yogurt Smoothie
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup broccoli
3/4 cup Low Fat Greek Yogurt
1 cup water

Blend until smooth
Enjoy

Both of these recipes count as 1 green, 1 purple and 1 red if you are on the fix eating plan. They don't keep me as full as long as my Shakeology but serve as a nice snack to tide me over until lunch time. Hope you have a blessed day. 

Piyo Week 3 Recap

I'm excited to share what week 3 brought me. I had an awesome week. I gained another pound bringing my total up to 12 pounds in 27 weeks of pregnancy. My OB is still shocked at how great I look. I'm so excited at how well this pregnancy is going. I'm also excited of how great I feel. I still have so much energy.

Day 1: Define: Upper Body: I started with Define: Lower Body as I didn't leave the house all day. A was off from school. We did projects all day. It felt so good to stretch my legs. It also felt good to do the warriors series. Then I did Define: Upper Body. I love rolling like a ball. It is fun especially stopping in the V sit position. I'm getting stronger every day.

Day 2: Buns: Let me first say I started my day way off my game. I had my blood glucose screen for pregnancy this morning and I had to drink that orange drink. You know the one? This one:

I hadn't eaten anything in the previous 12 hours before drinking it. I was so hungry by the end of my appointment. AS I knew we had to do grocery shopping I was glad I had packed everything to make my Shakeology.

This may be my new go to non-bender recipe. I has 1 cup pumpkin puree, 15 ounces water, 7 ice cubes, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. nutmeg, 1/2 tsp allspice and 1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology. I put into my shaker cup and shook vigorously.  IT was so yummy and it definitively filled me up.

 

So onto Piyo Buns. This workout was hard. It is 28 minutes long. I wore shoes for this workout as you didn't use a mat. I could have used the mat towards the end as there was a section on all fours and my knee hurt even though I put my t-shirt underneath them. This workout was tough! It had a ton of squatting. There was also a section at the end where you were on all fours. It was killer especially the elbow plank leg lifts. My legs felt like jello by the end of the workout and the side of my butt hurt. I cannot wait to see how this workout defines my butt and helps my pants fit in that area.

Day 3: Core: I so wanted to get this workout in today. I even did it while the girls were awake. The had so much energy that I thought let's let them do it with me. They also didn't want to nap without mom. The reason I became a coach was to add a little extra income to our house to pay off all the medical bill debt and be able to spend time with my kids when they needed me so I went for it.

C is by far the best at the yoga poses. This surprises me as she I the one that had the toughest time learning to walk and run. She was also the one that had a small stroke while in the NICU. At one point we were told she may never walk and if she did it wouldn't be great.  As we know God is good and she walks, runs and plays and no one would have any clue. It was a long road with lots of physical therapy from our wonder therapist from the Achievement Center but now she is doing yoga with me and seems to be able to do every move.

Core kicked my butt today. I was so sore by the end I was glad to lay down with the girls. I pushed myself hard as I love these exercises. I love this workout as it isn't all on your back doing crunches. It has lots of variety. It is just perfect for this pregnant lady who doesn't want to be on her back for long. I'm so excited to see what the rest of this week brings.

Day 4 : Define: Lower Body: Today I lacked motivation to workout. I tried ever excuse in the book. I even procrastinated by spending time in my challenge group pages and answering emails. I knew I needed it because of the lackadaisical attitude.

Finally I just pushed myself through it and I was so glad I did. I even added Define: Upper Body. I really needed to get out of my funk and that was just what I needed. 40 minutes of uninterrupted Piyo. I felt so much better after my workout. I was also more focused and ready to face the rest of the day even when the girls woke up early from nap and were full of energy and Brian still wasn't home from work.

Day 5: Rest:   I love that Friday's are rest day. Usually by Fridays I am a little frazzled from the week. This week was especially crazy as Brian worked many later days and then my mother in law decided to come pick A up today for a princess weekend.  She picked A up at lunch time. I decided to take a snuggle nap with B and C to start off their princess weekend.

I truly took a rest today. It has been a long time since I took as rest day like this and my body felt so glorious after it. I definitely needed it. Friday night is pizza and movie night in our house. I make a healthy version of pizza with a whole wheat pizza crust. See my recipe Here

Day 6: Sweat: Since A was a meem and papa's and we had just B and C they got to choose where they wanted to go out to lunch. They choose Steak and Shake. I counted this as my cheat meal for the week. We had fun and I didn't go over board as it would have been easy to do.

I definitely needed the Sweat when I came home. It felt so good to work out. I love feeling the sweat. I also love how limber I feel afterwards.

Day 7: Strength Intervals: This workout is 22 minutes long. you don't need a may but they all wear shoes for it. I have very flat feet so I have my running shoes with a good arch that I used for this workout. It may seem like a short workout but it makes you sweat! i had to stop once during this workout as my heart rate was too high. I did the entire workout without any modifiers but stopped once. It has a good variety of stretch mixed in with high bouts of cardio. I think this may be my new favorite workout in the bunch.

Here is my schedule for week 4:

I'm going to use the same meal plan as last week. I'm not much of a variety person and I need easy this week as I have a busy week. I also need simple at this stage of the game of my pregnancy. I hope everyone has a blessed week.

Pregnancy and Shakeology/Working Out

I was just reading that another friend that started the 21 Day Fix and Shakeology around the same time of me is pregnant. This means that many of the challengers I started with in my original challenge group are now pregnant. Why do you think this is?

My friend's husband has an interesting theory. He said "women get to looking a little bit better but they are feeling way more confident. The guys are then even more interested and of course with an increased frequency of activity, more people are getting pregnant!" This made me laugh.

Shakeology has a few ingredients in it that do increase the libido. This may be a really silly video but it shows you the ingredients in Shakeology and their benefits. It also shows you the savings you are getting by buying Shakeology for a meal replacement every day.

I also believe that while exercising you have more energy. A challenger just said to me this morning that she is shocked at how much more energy she has after exercising every day. She said that it helps her de-stress and then she is ready to face the rest of her day. I know that I feel this way too. So could it be ladies that we are more willing to accept the advances of our husbands because we have more energy? We aren't ready to pass out on the couch at 8:30 after we get the kids in bed?

I'm also having the healthiest pregnancy ever. I've kept my weight gain down. I've not missed a day of exercise the entire pregnancy. I feel great and even my OB cannot believe how well I am doing.

 

So as you can see exercising and eating right don't just affect your physical and mental attitude they also help you in other areas. Maybe your marriage needs a little spice up. I'm excited for the couples challenge group starting preseason November 24th for just this reason.  I think couples who play together stay together. This challenge group will give you a unique way to connect with your spouse every day and you never know where else it may lead.

Also I have a any workout women's only challenge starting November 17th. You can start to make the changes in yourself and show your whole family how fun it is to make these changes. We spend a lot of time exercising as a  family. One small change in me has had a ripple effect in my family.

I hope everyone has a great weekend. If you are interested in joining either of these challenges please contact me. Have a blessed day.

My non scale successes

Sometimes we get so stuck in the number that we forget about our non-scale successes. We get so fixated that the number isn't going down and we get discouraged and decide to quit. Or we see progress and we decided just having this one doughnut won't hurt. Have you ever been in this situation?

So today I want to talk about some non-scale successes. I think my biggest non-scale success was fitting into a smaller size of pants. I want you to look at these next two pictures.

I weigh exactly the same in these two pictures. Which one looks better? Which one looks like I'm skinnier? In the one on the left I wore a size 12. The one on the right I was the same weight but could wear a size eight. Muscle and fat weigh the same but fat takes up more room than muscle. So the same poundage of muscle takes up less space than the fat. Therefore the scale doesn’t go down but the size of your clothes and your inches decreases.

My second non-scale success was the increase in energy I had. I wouldn't have called myself a lazy person before I started working out with Beachbody programs and clean eating, but I'd often find myself having to sit down often because I was tired and out of breath. By exercising every day for 30 minutes I found my energy increase. I felt I could do so much more in a day. It is so awesome.

My third non-scale success was lack of headaches. I have suffered from migraines since middle school. I used to get them pretty often. Since I've made the switch to clean eating I haven't had a migraine. It is amazing to me that just by cutting out all the garbage I used to eat especially sugar and salt that I haven't had a headache.

My forth non-scale success has been inspiring others. I absolutely love bring a coach. It is so fun to love on others and help them achieve their goals. I also love the people who I haven't seen in a while look at me and say how did you do it or you look great. It is also fun to inspire other moms and pregnant women that they can workout too.

My fifth non-scale success was not being drawn to the junk any more. By drinking Shakeology everyday I'm not drawn to the sugar any more. It really does curb my cravings. I don't look at the candy on the counter and say I want one.  I can truly eat just one piece because I don't want any more. Soemtimes that one piece will give me a sugar headache. I love that sugar no longer has control of my life

These are just my top five. I love the changes I've made in the last seven months. I also love the non-scale successes I've had. If you've been one of my challengers in the past what has been you biggest non-scale success? Hope you have a blessed day!

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Pancakes

Last week I had posted on my Facebook page that I was hungry for Pumpkin Pancakes. Today I had some time since A was off of school to try and make them. They turned out so delicious.

My 21 Day Fix approved lunch (1 yellow, 1 green, 1 blue, 1 orange, and 1 red)

Ingredients:

2 cups White Whole Wheat Flour

1 tsp. Agave Nectar

2 tsp. Cinnamon

1 tsp. Ginger

1/2 tsp. Allspice

1/2 tsp. Nutmeg

2 tsp. Baking Powder

1 tsp. Baking Soda

1/2 tsp. Sea Salt

2 cups Vanilla Flavored Almond Milk 

1 cup Pumpkin Puree

1 Egg

1 tbsp. Vanilla Extract

 

Directions:

1. Place Milk, Pumpkin, Egg and Vanilla in your stand mixer.

2. Beat on medium for a few minutes until well mixed.

3. While the mixer is on slowly add Agave Nectar, Cinnamon, Ginger, Allspice, and Nutmeg

4. Beat on medium until well mixed.

5. In a separate bowl mix Flour, Baking Powder, Baking Soda and Salt

6. While the mixer is on add this dry ingredient mixture from step 5 to the wet ingredients.

7. The batter will be thick

8. Heat griddle pan to medium heat. If it is too hot you'll burn the outside and the middle will still be runny. If it is too low the pancakes won't fluff up and cook.
9. Use a small amount of butter, nonstick cooking spray or oil on the pan.
10. Use a 1/4 cup to spoon pancakes onto your griddle.

11. Cook on the first side until the top side starts to bubble.

12. Flip and cook an additional few minutes on the other side until cooked all the way through.

13. Serve with 1tsp. pure maple syrup, frozen fruit defrosted in its juices or plain. I ate my plain.

14. Enjoy

 

The girls scarfed these down. They each ate three. This recipe yielded 16 small pancakes. I hope your family enjoys these as much as mine did.

 

Transformation Tuesday -- Dawn Surrenda Henley

Many times you get a challenger and she just starts to rock the challenge. You cannot believe the results she pulls off in such a short amount of time. You knew she'd succeed but she is even doing better than you could have ever imagined. That explains my friend Dawn.

I've known Dawn since middle school. I won't pull out any pictures but we were on the dance squad for midgets in middle school. We've been friends for a long time. She has always been one of those girls with a smile on her face and a genuine concern for her friends and family. She was the first one to always offer help. I was lucky to have her as a friend all these years!

I was so excited when she contacted me to do the 21 Day Fix. I knew with 5 kids and work that she leads a crazy life. I also knew that this program was perfect for her as in 30 minutes a day you are done. Here is my transformation Tuesday interview with Dawn:

Tell us a little about yourself :
My name is Dawn I am 34 years old and the mother of 5 beautiful kids.

Why did you decide to do a Beachbody program?
I have always struggled with my weight. I have tired many diets before and wen I didn't see the progress I would get frustrated and quit.

What was the thing that surprised you the most?
With this program I tried the 21 day fix and in 11 days I have lost 14 pounds and I am seeing progress with definition in my muscles.

What would you tell others that are thinking about these programs? 
I have recommended this program to many of my friends just because the results are visible quick and it keeps you motivated I still have about 40 pounds to get to my goal but I am confident to get there.

So as you can see in just two weeks on the 21 Day Fix she has lost 14 pounds. All her heard work is paying off. Here is a before and after photo:

 

 

If this is what she did in just 11 days imagine what she is going to do in the entire 21 Days of the program! I'm excited to see her progress and will keep you all updated. Dawn keep up the great work.

If you'd like to be like Dawn and join my next challenge group or are interested in the 21 Day Fix I'd love to have you join me in your fitness journey. Please message me for more information.

Week 2 Piyo Recap

I cannot believe week two is in the books and I start week 3 this week! I love this program. I'm glad I decided to stick with it. I'm a believer after week 2. I thought it was going to be boring. I also didn't think just doing yoga and pilates could keep me in shape. Boy was I wrong. I already feel stronger and more limber. I'm excited to see what week 3 will bring.

Tomorrow I will be 26 weeks pregnant. I gained 0.4 pounds this week. My eating plan was abandoned one day this week as we went out to eat for out anniversary and went to olive garden. I had way to many yellows and not enough reds that day. I'm thankful to be still exercising and working out. I'm getting nervous as I gave birth to the girls 10 days from now. I'm hoping that this pregnancy will not results in a NICU baby.

 

Day 1: Sweat: Today I was already really warmed up when I started my workout. I've been promising A a nature walk at Asbury Woods before it snowed. Today we made that happen. We walked 2.5 miles and had a ton of fun. Then I came home got ABC down for nap and then moved on to my sweat workout.

I love this workout. It actually lived up to its name today and I sweated. I pushed myself really hard. At one point I thought I was going to have to pause the workout and catch my breath but I made it through. I have trouble with the runners balance. I can do it but it isn't pretty. MY ankle wobbles a lot. I will get it!

I love how healthy I feel and the fact that I can keep up with the girls no matter what they want to do. I'm no longer that mom that after dinner just wants to sit on the couch and do nothing as I'm too tired to do anything. Instead my body is properly fueled and I have the strength to do just about anything. 

Day 2: Define: Lower Body: I love how quick this workout is. It was a perfect workout for today as it was 77 and warm out and I wanted to get outside to play with the girls. I finished the workout and cannot believe how much more flexible I already feel. Then we went for a 3 mile walk before the rain started. I love how much energy I have! I also love how much stronger I feel even though I'm not using weights.

Day 3: Core: Today I started out by taking a 2 hour walk at the zoo with a good friend and her daughter. It was so nice to be outside even though it was a little chilly. Then this afternoon I pressed play on the Piyo core. This is one workout where they have shoes on their feet. She mentioned you didn’t want to slip and with being pregnant I took her caution and put on shoes.

This workout is 30 minutes long. It starts with a stretch and then goes into standing core work. Then it has some traditional core exercises where you lay on your back and crunch. There is also a nice plank section. Also there is a roll up side plank section that was challenging but fun. It ends with a nice stretch. I made it through the entire workout with no modifications. It seems like just as you feel you cannot do one more rep that she switches positions.

My upper abs are a little sore as well as my oblique's. MY arms feel like jelly. I did sweat just a tiny bit but I know by how my muscles feel that I worked hard.  I liked this workout and cannot wait to do it again to try and master some of the moves or at least improve!

Day 4: define: Upper Body: Today I was tired. I really didn't feel like working out but I pressed play anyways. I love the variety in this workout. I also loved how my arms felt like jelly by the end. I also knew my abs worked as they were sore.

Sometime over night the baby moved further up towards my ribs instead of down lower in my pelvis. This made some exercises more challenging but I still didn’t have to modify anything.

As an extra I did define: lower body too. I needed the extra boost today. I felt so good after I worked out. I actually had energy and could finish out my day. I even did four loads of laundry and got three put away. I love how my stress melts away and my mood changes when I exercise.

Day 5: Rest Day: today was anything but a rest day. First I had Mommy Connection and we played in the gym. I had a little Harvest Party for all our friends. We did pumpkin bowling, picture frames, some fishing, and played balloons. All the kids had fun and us moms got some time to sit and chat too.

Then tonight was trick or treating. We walked 2 miles linear, but crossed the street many times so we actually walked further than that. The girls has so much fun and I was proud of myself. I only ate 2 pieces of candy and then stopped.

 Day 6: Sweat: I wish I could do this work out every day.  I love how much stronger and flexible I feel after this workout. I'm in love with it especially the section that has burpees. I used to hate burpees. Now I adore them. I also like the stretch strength section with all the pushups. I was one of those people who thought they'd never be able to do pushups on their toes and now I can do the whole workouts worth on my toes. I was so sweaty today after this workout I had to hit the showers. I pushed myself so hard and it felt great.

Day 7: Core: I absolutely nailed this workout today. MY favorite portion is the punter exercise towards the end. I cannot believe I can see my foot behind my head and then extend my leg and kick! I am amazed at my flexibility after just 14 days of Piyo. I'm also loving the way my arms and legs look. They are getting more sculpted by doing this program. I'm excited to see what week 3 brings.

Here is my workout plan for week 3:

Here is my meal plan for week 3:

Meal Plan Nov 11_2

I'm love Piyo. I am a believer now. I cannot wait to see what the next 6 weeks brings! Hope everyone has a blessed day.

November Specials

I cannot believe that it is November already. Where did the year go? I am so shocked at how this year has played out. I would have never thought that I would be ending the year pregnant with baby number four and 25 pounds lighter than when I started the year! I also would have never believed I could be so strong and healthy. I’ve learned a lot about myself the last 7 months of clean eating and exercising. I’m enjoying every one of my challenge groups and coaching. I’d love to have you join me in my next challenge group.

I’m so excited for the November specials. The first is Piyo! What is Piyo? Piyo has many Pilates and yoga inspired moves. It builds strength, endurance and flexibility. It is low impact. It uses no weights. This program uses your body weight to get you the results that you need. Piyo will improve your range of motion. It will allow your joints a break. Because you are improving your core it will be good in all areas of your life. Why do I love Piyo? Many of you know that I have had both back and knee pain for awhile. Most of it has went away by losing all the extra weight. If I do a lot of gardening or do a ton of stairs then my knee will hurt. During the last 7 months of both the 21 Day Fix and T25 I haven't had any knee pain because of the programs. They have really great modifiers when I needed to have less intense moves. I am excited to have this low impact version to put in on days when I do have some knee pain due to outside activities. I also love this program as there is no impact while I am pregnant. Here was my week one in review http://momforabc.blogspot.com/2014/10/week-2-piyo.html. This program has an awesome deal! You get the workout for $10 when you purchase the Shakeology.

The second program that is on sale for the month of November is a combination pack. It is called the Piyo Kick Start Challenge Pack. You get everything that is included in the Piyo Challenge pack including all the workouts, meal planning information and Shakeology. This kick start challenge pack also includes 3 Day Refresh. What is the 3 Day Refresh? The 3 Day Refresh is a straightforward 3-Day program to lose weight, get a clean break from bad nutrition habits and feel immediately cleaner, lighter and healthier...without starving! Why am I so excited? This program is awesome for those looking to get back on track with their eating habits and be able to feel immediately healthier and become lighter. Those that have already completed the three day program have lost an average of 5 pounds and about 2.5 inches in the waist in the three days. It isn't your typically cleanse as you get to eat real food during the 3 day refresh. This would be an awesome program to choose to get a jump start before all those holiday parties.

 

Also on sale this month is the Beachbody Ultimate Reset, Challenge Pack, and Refill Kit. The Ultimate Reset is a 21-day program that rids the body of all its toxins while maximizing energy production and nutrient retention. Ultimate Reset is a program designed to get the body in top shape internally, just as a fitness program gets the body in top shape externally. Users looking to restore energy, boost moods, and maximize health can rid the body of toxic compounds that could be making them ill-while dramatically improving the way they feel and function. 

I have a few different challenge groups occurring this month and I’d love to have you join one. I’m doing a 3 day refresh/30 day clean eating group November 17. The Piyo Kick Start Challenge Pack would be perfect for this group. You could also purchase the three Day Refresh Challenge Pack. I am also doing a 14 Days of Shakeology Christmas group starting December 1st. This will be a group where we will just replace one meal a day with Shakeology for 14 days. We will also commit to exercising for 30 minutes each day. I am also doing a Christmas Challenge starting preseason November 24th (30 day any program). I will also host my free five day clean eating group starting November 10^th.  Anyone want to join me? Message me for more details.

If you are not Facebook friends with me you can always friend me at https://www.facebook.com/simpkinskl. This way you can have the most up-to-date information. I'm excited for this month! Have a blessed day.

Halloween Time

So here we are. Tomorrow is Halloween night. The night you kids get dressed up and go trick or treating. They get a ton of candy. The get more than they will ever eat on their own.  They only eat their favorites and then the rest sits on your kitchen counter to tempt you. How can you overcome the temptation?

A's First Halloween 2009 (one month old)

I know for me if it is out of sight it is out of mind. I will usually put all the candy into one community bowl and then hide it in the pantry. If it isn't eaten by my kids in a week I have my husband take it into work and leave it in the break room. This way the kids get some of their "treat" and I don't have the temptation.

Halloween 2012

IT also seems that if you do work in an office that the candy is everywhere you look. A challenger in one of my groups yesterday posted that she sits right outside the break room at work. There was a big bowl of candy on the counter. She kept moving it to the fridge. One of her colleagues kept moving it back to the counter. She finally got up and moved the bowl to the reception desk so that person had to look at it all day.

Make sure you have your own snacks ready in your desk. Make sure you are drinking enough water. Make sure to eat your protein. It will help keep you fuller for longer. Don't forget to eat your good carbs! 

Did you know that some dental offices will buy back your Halloween candy? You can go to www.halloweencandybuyback.com to find a place near you. In Erie these two places buy back candy:

Beautiful Smiles
3219 Peach Street
Erie, PA, 16508
Phone: (814) 455-2158
Email: jodib@beautifulsmileserie.com
www.BeautifulSmilesErie.com

Doleski & Wolford Orthodontics
3230 West 38th Street
Erie, PA, 16506
Phone: (814) 835-3888
Email: smiles@doleskiwolfordortho.com
www.doleskiwolfordortho.com

They pay $1 for every pound of candy brought in. They use this candy to send for Operation Gratitude for our troops. This is a great way to get rid of that unwanted candy.

Did you realize how much you kill your clean eating by eating just one fun size candy bar?

They may be small but you have to do a lot of exercise to negate the calories from just one little bar. You also give yourself a sugar rush. Since we've been clean eating for 8 months now I know by eating just one of these small bars I get a wicked headache as my body is no longer craving the sugar.

Alternatively you can eat just one piece of candy as your cheat for the week. Most people cannot stop at just one so make sure you only have one available. This will allow you to feel like you aren't denying yourself something but that it truly is a treat for you.

 I hope this gives you some ideas of how to get around eating candy on Halloween. I wish everyone that does Trick or Treat a safe evening. Those here in Erie I hope you stay warm and dry! Happy Halloween.

Reflections on our ninth anniversary

I cannot believe that we are celebrating out nine year anniversary today. It has been a long road and it hasn't always been easy. I wouldn't change a thing as we are stronger together for everything that has happened. I'm so lucky to have a partner, friend, lover and confidant like Brian to share this crazy world with.

Let's start at the beginning. I met Brian first day of band camp freshman year at the University of Pittsburgh. We were only 18 years old. I still didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up. My mom wanted me to be a doctor but that really wasn't what I wanted but I pursued the dream any way. 
 

The year I took Organic Chemistry was the year we started getting closer together. He'd help me study and then we'd have fun together. We feel in love. We started dating but I wasn't ready to move as fast as he was. He was already talking marriage and I just wanted to have fun. We broke up.

Our Matron of honor and I shortly after we graduated in 2002

 

Then fast forward a few years. Brian was ready to graduate from Pharmacy School. He was accepted to the residency program at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. I knew I couldn't let him leave without letting him know I love him.

Brian and Brian at a Pitt game 2003(?)

 

A few short months later we got engaged on September 14, 2004 at Gateway Lodge. Then on October 29, 2005 we got married on the most beautiful fall day. We had our ceremony at Heinz Chapel and our reception at The Fez on Hopewell.  It wasn't the small wedding we wanted but like everything else I went with it.

October 29, 2005

For the next few years we had a ton of fun. We traveled all around the world. We became SCUBA instructors.  I learned about myself. We got to spend time as a couple and grow.

Gilboa 2008

Then in September of 2009 God blessed us with A. In 2011 we were blessed with B and C. Wow the lessons we have learned together being parents!

A

B

c

 

I'll never forget when God gave Brian a wakeup call when A was only six months old. I cannot believe how our marriage was transformed. God was now the center of it. I'll never forget the day Brian got baptized on June 1 2011. When the twins were born at 27 weeks we were prepared as we had God on our side.  We had peace through the troubles.

Then three short months later we were following God's lead and moving to Erie. What a scary but great hear where we knew we were following the will of God but had no clue what life had in store for us.

Halloween 2011

Halloween 2011

Three years later and life in Erie has been great. We've grown serving together, studying the bible together, talking together, and just spending time together. God has shown us that as long as he is the center of our marriage we can conquer anything. We have nine years down but I feel like four years ago is when our marriage really started as we finally "got it".

February 2014

September 2014

 Im hoping for our 10 year anniversary we can renew ours vows. I think we finally understand the true meaning of the wedding vows. I want to do it this time knowing that God is joining us. Brian here is to the next 50-60 years and then life in eternity. I love you do much. Happy anniversary my KISA.