Ultimate Reset (21 days)

Due to the sheer awe of my friend Rachel's recent weight-loss with Beachbody's Ultimate Reset, my interest was instantly piqued.

A little background... I have been YoYo dieting since I was 13.  I have done Weight Watchers, South Beach, Atkins and any other diet you can come up with.  NONE of these diets alone stuck with me, however, the South Beach diet introduced me to good carbs and bad carbs and WW taught me to be a "mindful" of what goes into my mouth. Needless to say, I fell off the bandwagon over time without a structured plan of action. Flashfoward into Fall 2012. I was bored with all these diet tactics and went to something very simple. I used Loseit.com to simply track my calories (even the bad calories) I didn't change anything, I just experimented by "journaling" everything that went into my mouth.  What an enlightening experience! I was shocked at how things added up. I lost 12 pounds slowly but surely. It became easier to make healthy decisions simply because if something took me too long to add up in the calorie counter I would simply opt for something easily calculated like veggies and meats.  The more ingredients, the more I avoided it. I would store up some calories that I had "saved" during the week to treat myself to ONE meal on the weekends. Without sounding cliche, moderation really is the ticket to success. I am such a rebel that if I deny myself something, it taunts me and I cave in simply because it is forbidden. How ridiculous is that?

Now back to my point, I probably eat healthier than I am letting you believe. My kitchen is stocked with superfoods such as kale and quinoa but I often reward myself like a dog saying to myself, "You have been so diligent this week, eat that cookie."  Well, that tactic switches on my "screw it" attitude and all of my hard work goes tumbling down. Therefore, I need a regimen.  Structure. Measurable outcomes.  I am poor as-all-get-out so I am not doing the paid version with the supplements but I am sticking to the diet as best as humanly possible with my limited cashflow.

Height: 5'9''
Starting Weight: 146
Goal Weight: 140

Week 1 Day 1:

Breakfast- One piece of toast (dry) with one egg.
Lunch- Salad with raw sunflower seeds
Snacks- One apple + 12 raw almonds
Dinner- Chicken breast, boiled red potatoes and asparagus and kale.

I was supposed to eat 2 slices of bread,  2 eggs and kale for breakfast but that would have made me sick so I had my kale with dinner. Also, dinner called for salmon but I only buy salmon fresh and didn't have to time to go to the store after work...

BTW- Lemon juice is your best low-cal friend ever!  I use it as dressing to my salad and a finisher on almost all of my meals.

I will keep this blog thoroughly updated with my success, failures and over all feeling as I embark on this 21-day reset!

Tex-Mex Vegan Lentil Chili

I created this recipe especially for BerryRipe.com! So check out the other amazing recipes on this website as well!

Chili is a hearty and soothing dinner that warms even the chilliest of souls.  I have revamped the same old lentil-based recipe with some Southwestern flavors like cumin and fresh cilantro.  Serve it over nutty brown rice for extra depth.

2 tbs olive oil

1 cup diced onion

½ cup of diced carrot

½ cup of diced red bell pepper

2 cloves diced garlic

salt and pepper to taste

1 tbs cumin

½ tbs red chili powder

¼ tsp cayenne pepper

1 can diced Fire-Roasted tomatoes undrained

1 can black beans drained and rinsed

1 cup of lentils fully cooked according to package

1 cup vegetable broth

¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

Directions:

1. Heat olive oil over medium high heat in a heavy bottomed pot. Add the onions, carrot, bell pepper, salt and pepper and sauté for about 5 minutes. 
2. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.   
3. Sprinkle the vegetables with the cumin, chili powder and cayenne pepper and sauté for an additional minute. 
4. Add ¼ cup of the vegetable broth to deglaze the pan. 
5. Stir in the tomatoes, beans, lentils and the rest of the broth.   
6. Bring the ingredients to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer.  Let simmer for 30 minutes.  Add salt and pepper to taste. 
7. Ladle the chili over brown rice and sprinkle with fresh chopped cilantro.

Terms in the Word

Think back to when you were a student. Before every unit in your textbook, you had a list of terms to help you better understand the text as you read. If we study God's word, we must understand the terminology just the same to better understand the message.

Use this list I have made, as a starting point to your Bible study or print it out and use it as a bookmark for your Bible.
(This would be a great learning opportunity for those of you with older children.)

 Happy Bible studying every one!

• Apostles- the leaders of the first church who saw and heard Jesus
• Discernment- having good judgment (faith-based logic)
• Disciple- a follower of Christ
• Evangelist- one who spreads the good news of Jesus
• Gentile- anyone who is not Jewish
• Integrity- upholding one's beliefs; moral uprightness
• Parable- an every day story used to help show God's message to us
• Pharisees- religious leaders who made up their own laws
• Prophecy- a message from God about something that will come in the future
• Repentance- turning away from a sin completely
• Resolve- having firm determination
• Sadducees- religious group of people who did not believe in eternal life
• Sanctify- to make holy (free from sin)
• Sovereignty- having supreme power over your life
• Synagogue- a building where Jews gather to worship God
• Temple- the House of God
• Tithing- giving 10% of your earnings to God
• Trespass- to sin
• Trinity- The 3-pronged entity; God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit

Out of the Water. Into the Sunset

"...God is not a secret to be kept. We are going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket do you? I'm putting you on a light stand..." Matthew 5:13-16

 
Needless, to say, I am going public with this...I am officially a new light as I sit here typing to you. I have been on a renewed journey with Christ since January of this year.  I have found a new church and a new hunger for God and His word.

Today I made it publicly official, with a beach baptism along side other members of my church. As I walked out of the beach, I felt an old part of me drip off into the ocean.  I cried hysterically (of course) and walked into the sunset eager to begin this new walk I have with Him.  Yes, He has always been there. But NOT LIKE THIS.

So as I sit here empowered with the spirit running through me, I ask you to think about your next step with God. Evaluate where you are in your journey and take it to a new level.  If He is constantly moving through you, then there is always room to grow. The last thing you want to be is complacent with your relationship with God.  Shake things up and go outside of your comfort zone.  I sure did!

Food for thought...or lack thereof

Vegan- n. A vegetarian who eats plant products only, especially one who uses no products derived from animals

   This definition has over 100 variations but I liked this one most because it is simple. I really don't have a problem eating animals, in fact, I believe God put animals on Earth for our benefit. I can definitely do without red meat. MY meaty vices swim!  I can't live without fish or shellfish. However, I did an experiment a few weeks ago where I went Vegan for two weeks.  Yes, I am officially a fair-weather Vegan and I am sure animal equality activists are shakin' in their boots, but before you roll your eyes at me, hear me out.  I have been off of the Vegan diet for two full weeks now and I have to say, I was feeling so much better two weeks ago.  I am a very healthy eater for starters but reincorporating meat, cheese and dairy into my diet has made me bloated, sluggish and weary.

   I don't feel as clean on the inside (mind and body).  Does that make sense?  When I stepped out of the food realm for awhile, I found a lot of clarity in my other life adventures.  I don't want to get much further into the reasoning behind it right now other than to say, my Vegan week was the result of a spiritual "diet" taken from the book of Daniel. I truly think fasting is a private and spiritual journey one must go on to understand the magnitude of its benefits.  Back to my point, I was more focused on EVERYTHING.  I was spending 45 minutes to an hour in the Bible and wrote more articles in that week than ever before.

What it taught me was that re-channeling focus can be a very insightful journey.  My challenge for you is to get rid of just one of your vices temporarily and see what sort of personal/spiritual clarity you can find.  Here are some ideas of things that we (as a society) tend to put a lot of weight on:

Daily cocktail or glass of wine
Sugar
Carbonated beverages
Make-up
Looking in the mirror
Trips to the salon
Fast-Food
Time on Pinterest

 Only you know that one vice you have that can have the potential to derail your goals.  Try out my challenge and let me know what insight you gain from losing something for a while.

Fiery Fast Fish

Total Time: 15 min    Serves: 2

Ingredients:

Fiery/Sweet Salsa:
1 can Pineapple chunks drained
1/2 fresh jalapeño seeded and diced
1/2 cup of red onion chopped and rinsed

Combine all ingredients into a bowl and toss together.  Put into the fridge until ready to serve.
Fish:
1 tbs olive oil
2 filets of tilapia or halibut
salt and pepper

Heat oil in nonstick skillet on medium low. Season the filets with salt and pepper on both sides. Place both filets into the hot oil and sear on each side for 3-4 minutes.  Serve over a bed of Instant Brown Rice or quinoa. Top the fish with the pineapple salsa and add the rest of the jalapeño as garnish. (If you can take the heat!)

ENJOY!

Letting you into my nitty gritty...

I feel compelled to let you in, whoever you are, to what I am and what I have become. 

"Your life is a novel, the past has already been printed but you are in charge of the story you are creating right now. Write a life you will want to read about when you are older." - My Facebook status today.

It may sound cheesy, but every chapter can unfold something brilliant about who you are.  You just have to lift a finger and turn the page.  Sounds easy, right?  Creating a new version of yourself is difficult and it does not happen over night.  I pride myself on being a "constant work in progress" because it's the darn truth.  I WANT a better life for myself even when I am perfectly content.

I had the most amazing Bible study last night and felt very reflective afterwards.  Here is what I came up with...I grew up in a beautiful family where church was a second home for me.  I was in Youth Group, Bible Study and Summer Camp.  Then I grew older to becoming a Jr. Camp Counselor, worked at the Daycare during the summer, Volunteered at VBS...you get the picture. My point is, my family gave me all the tools to being the best person I could possibly be and I truly was.

In 2006, I was in a very bad accident and I was blessed with a second chance at life. I knew I had God to thank for keeping me alive but I did not bow down at His feet at this point.  All of a sudden, I realized, "Life is short and I have every plan on LIVING it.  My way!"

I had a pretty darn amazing life still, I found the most amazing God-fearing man (my husband), graduated college, got married, moved to South Florida to support my husband's dreams of becoming a doctor and found Teaching, something I truly love. But there was more to be uncovered, I wasn't being true to myself.  I let my own wishes drive my decisions as opposed to what God had in store for me spiritually.  I just didn't want to listen to Him. I felt like a kid pursing my lips together like someone was offering me something unidentifiable on a spoon. I also kept my eyes shut as tight as possible so as to not see Him. (Like that would actually work!)

THEN HE CAME KNOCKING!  After a long uphill battle, I succumbed to His plan for me. He never left me, I just was too blind to acknowledge Him personally.  I knew I wasn't happy with who I was at the time, so I gave up my sense of control and let me tell you... He is way better at driving than I am! Since, I let Him back into the driver's seat of my life, He has taken me on a whirlwind adventure. My renewed self has had a ripple affect on everything in life. I have a stronger marriage than ever, I am doing something I feel passionate about (writing) and I have created deeper bonds with people who truly love me as I am. (Including my two fellow South Florida "hostages", Allie and Kay Kay).  I can honestly say that my faith is even more profound than it was before because it was a decision I made for myself. Yes, I had my husband and my family planting the seeds along the way but when I finally fell into it, I was in control of the way it happened or rather, God was, but you get my point. :)

I also have Beth Moore and Church By the Glades in my toolbelt of spiritual success to thank. Now I have to thank you, reader, for taking the time to listen and digest all that I am in a few words.

God has amazing things in store for people like us. He can use you even if you don't feel worthy and I can absolutely say, I FINALLY feel useful!