Homemade Pizza

So, I am trying really hard to eat more natural foods and eliminate as many processed foods as possible. I'm not giving up my ketchup or a few other things though. Baby steps!

Today I went to Ingles and did the "edge" shopping and tried to remember a few other tips like:
more packaging means less nutrition
read at least the first 3 ingredients to know the main ingredients
if you can't pronounce it don't eat it
think "rainbow"
and buy lean meats

It took a lot longer to shop than normal and it definitely cost more.
I think by buying and freezing fruits and veggies I'll be able to cut on costs. It's a compromise that I'm willing to take!

I had the boys chopping, pureeing, washing, and bagging food. We also made a homemade pizza sauce as we went. (recipe below) The great part was that I threw it all into the blender and the boys couldn't taste any of the "yucky stuff". But the best part was hanging out with them. They are great helpers!

Not sure about breakfast. Makes me nervous b/c I love cereal. Like I said, baby steps. If I dive in head first I'll hate it and give up. Everyone asks how I lost all my weight and I tell them, baby steps. I'm not good with dramatic changes. Anyways, we'll see how I feel in the morning.

As for our dinner, here's the recipe. By the way, Derek liked it and he is not one who likes the idea or usually the taste of "healthier" foods. Score!

Pizza sauce:
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can tomato paste
oregano to taste
minced garlic to taste
onion powder to taste
red cooking wine, about 1/4 c
carrot puree
handful of chopped green pepper
handful of chopped mushrooms

blend together and wha-la!

I served it on Whole Wheat pizza crust with turkey pepperoni, lean ground beef, and 2% milk four cheese Italian mix.

Yes, I know this is not all clean and includes processed foods, but it's a start. It's better than what we'd buy at Pizza Hut anyways! I'm excited that the boys and I got in some veggies w/o gagging! I can't very well force veggies down there throat when I can't stand them myself, but I know it's important that they eat them so this worked out perfect for us. I felt good about what I was feeding them.

I would love tips on how I could make this better, but if you tell me to make my own crust, you've gone too far! I am not ready to start making my own breads, buying chickens for eggs, or owning a cow named Sue to milk every morning! Farmer is my last name, not my occupation or a talent I have.

Hope everyone enjoys the pizza if you try it. :0)

Recipe Swap!

I've decided that sense I'm going to TRY to get my family to eat better that you all might have some recipes that I could try. I'm going to post any that I find that I think you should try so I hope you enjoy!!!

Here is tonight's meal. This was awesome because I'm so sick and had no desire to cook. But this was quick and comforting!

Black Bean Turkey Chili
1 can of Mexican stewed tomatoes
1 can of Mexican style corn
1 lb ground turkey
about 3 tbs of regular chili seasoning
Chopped onion
green peppers
1 can black beans

-Brown the turkey, add peppers, onions, and chili seasoning. Mix. Add tomatoes, beans, and corn.
Mix
-Add salt and Pepper to taste. For heat, add cayenne or hot sauce
-Simmer on low for 30 min.
-Top with shredded cheese and sour cream
-Serve with corn bread or saltines

Nutrition facts (does not include cheese, sour cream, bread, or crackers)
125.9 cals
4.2g fat
Each serving is 1 cup

Hope you enjoy!!!

Avalanche

Last night was like one of the many nights I've had before. For whatever reason things/people important to me just aren't going as I want them to. I got really sad and disconnected. It felt like an avalanche of hurt piling down on me.

I refuse to let myself get down again. I cannot go back to the way I was. I have been so happy for so long now. I know what's going on . I viewed somethings that have happened recently the way I would have 3 yrs ago and that's not good. I have been so blessed with so much and I need to just focus on that. I need to remember who I am today and what I'm capable of. Things in our lives will at some point or another become tough. Even the good things can wear us down. But you have to decide what's worth fighting for.

I try hard everyday to be the best Christian I can be, but everyday I fall short. I will never stop trying and yet I know that I am destined to fail because of my human nature. The goal is to try. So, I have to shrug off this sadness that paralized me last night. Dig myself out of the avalanche and continue on with God as my strength.

I know that at times I will get hurt. I will feel sad. I will feel like running away before I get hurt, but I can't act on those feelings. As Christains we have to stand in the path of possible heartache and no matter what hang on to our purpose which is to be someone who God is proud of.

Remember who you are. Don't let fear or history get in your way. Stand with God and don't be moved....

Jillian Michaels

"Fitness to me isn't about a crunch or a push up, it's about taking your power back",

"I believe in blood, sweat and tears",

"Showing you pity, doesn't do you any favors""

"Unless You Puke, Faint or Die, Keep Going!" ~Jillian Michaels

This has to be the meanest, toughest, most fantastic woman I've ever seen! I would love, like the rest of the world, to workout with her. That's what I need. To be pushed beyond what I think I'm possible of doing. I look back at my journey and I've came a long way, but I think I still have a lot further to go. I can do videos at home, run, go to the Y, or whatever, but I want that person who has no pity. Who doesn't care that I'm too tired. That won't except any "I can'ts" from me. I try to push myself especially when I work out at home, but I could do more. Just last night I did the Boot Camp video from Cathe Freidrich, who is another awesome trainer. It's my workout when I need a good kick in the rear b/c it definitely kicks my rear! It is the only video that I can't do exactly what they do. I have to take breaks and modify some of the work out, but I would bet that if Jillian had been here I would have done it all! She is scary, but only because she wants you to be your best!

I have a few things I say that keep me from quitting:
1) Nothing taste as good as being thin feels.
2) Hunger doesn't hurt as bad as having to buy a size bigger.
3) repeat verses over and over like Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me or Isiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary. Especially good during races!
4) and now thanks to Jillian my new favorite is "I HAVE A CHOICE"!




I think I'm creating a new slogan for weight loss and fitness:
WWJMMMD" What would Jillian Michaels make me do?!!!!!

5k

So, today I ran my first 5k! Yay! I've been saying for a yr that I wanted to run one, but always made excuses or something really did come up. I was so nervous I only slept like 3hrs last night, ate maybe 100 cals all day, and was so nauseous I thought I'd be sick or pass out before I made it the race.

I didn't suck at it. I made it in 34 min. Hoped for 30, but considering my physical being at that moment, sleep deprived and no food = no energy, I'm ok with 34. I know, Mikie, I should be happier. Maybe tomorrow. Right now I'm so drained and still sick to my stomach b/c after the run I downed a Wendy's coffee shake! Besides, this was a lot of up hill and it was like 90 degrees out there. Which reminds me, it was so awesome how all the people came out into their yards and sprayed us runners with their water hoses. That was the best! But to the guy riding by on his bike with no effort drinking his water, that was just wrong!

I can't say I "enjoyed" it, but it was my first, I'd made myself sick about it, and I kept it a secret and went alone. I'm sure it's funner when you go with friends or family, but today was something I needed to do alone. I needed to prove this to myself. I still have the mind set of the fat girl who couldn't walk 3 miles must less run it. I knew I needed to do this to show myself how far I've came and to have closure after loosing the weight and not to mention all the changes I've made on the inside.

I did have this image of me running across the finish line with my arms in the air in victory and tears of joy, but I sprinted when I saw that finish line and then almost passed out in the porto john! Not as dramatic as I'd hoped!!! Fifteen min after I'd sat down my heart began to slow down and it hit me that it was over. I could have laid back and fell asleep right there! I'm glad I did it and it really did give me confidence in myself that I needed, but I'm just too tired to think about all the good this did for myself. To others this was just a 3.1 mile run on a very hot day with lots of hills which sounds like a stupid thing to do especially to pay someone to let you do it, but to me this was about more. I am, again, glad it is over though! Next 5k I'll check out the route before hand to make sure its flatter and I'll plan it in Fall or Winter when its cooler. Live and learn!