{Squash Fries}

I am so thankful to have a local Farmer's Market so close to me. Every Wednesday at Feast of the Artisans there are multiple vendors selling a variety of handmade items as well as fresh and local food. This week I was excited to buy some round squash (we love squash around here). The owner of the farm, Jollisant Farms, was kind enough to share a great idea for serving them. She suggested cutting them like fries and baking them. I thought this was a great idea, but if course I had to add my own twist. I wasn't quite sure how they would turn out so I only made a small batch, but I must say, they are AMAZING!!! They were so good that I just had to share my recipe.

{Squash Fries}

1 Round Squash*

1/4 c. Greek Yogurt Cesar or Italian Dressing

1/2 c. Seasoned Panko Bread Crumbs

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Cut Squash into slices.

3. Cover slices in the dressing .

4. Add Panko crumbs to a large ziplock bag and drop the squash slices in a few at a time to cover well.

5. Arrange on a baking sheet so that they are not touching.

6. Bake for 30 minutes, turning halfway through.

7. ENJOY!!!

I hope that you enjoy them as much as me and my children did. My favorite part about this recipe is that it is a healthy option to French fries. We had them alongside our favorite dish, Dashing Dish Cheesy Quinoa Burgers...PERFECT MEAL!!!

{Diet and Alcohol: Skinny Peach Spritzer}

There are a lot of questions people have when deciding whether or not to consume alcohol while on their fitness journey. Can I drink? What can I drink? How much can I drink? They are very simple questions, but deserve honest answers.
When I first started on my journey, I totally cut out alcohol. It was not something that I felt like I could control if I started drinking, so I decided to refrain all together. Now that I have been on my journey for about 8 months, I drink occasionally. When I do drink I try to pick things that are lower in calories and definitely limit my intake to just a few drinks....most of the time ;) Don't get me wrong...we all need to let loose sometimes, but there is a time and a place!
One of my ALL TIME FAVORITE mixed drinks is a Skinny Peach Spritzer. It is such a simple yet DELICIOUS recipe...and great for parties too.

(photo courtesy of @dannigirldesigns on Instagram)
{Skinny Peach Spritzer}

1 bottle SkinnyGirl Moscato
1 can Kern's Peach Nectar
1 bag frozen peaches

Add all ingredients into a large pitcher, stir and serve.


I will be sure to share more "skinny friendly" drinks in the future, so make sure you follow me on Facebook and feel free to leave me a comment below with any questions.

{Pumpkin Spice Shakeology}

We are headed very quickly into fall, and the ONE thing (other than cooler weather) that I look forward to is PUMPKIN EVERYTHING!!!! It is amazing how much you can do with one little can of pureed pumpkin. I was SO excited last week when the Pumpkin Spice Latte was released early, but it's not always something extra that I can, or should, add to my calories for the day. One thing that I DO always have each day is my Shakeology! Why not add it to my Shakeology? Thanks to the release of the Vanilla a few months ago, it makes it easy to mix up new flavors....mmmmmmmPUMPKIN!!!!!
So I played around a little bit with ingredients and found the PERFECT combo that makes ONE AMAZING drink...I cant believe that it's not bad for me ;) Of course I am going to share so that you may experience the same joy that I do while indulging in this yummy treat!

{Pumpkin Spice Shakeology}

1 c. unsweetened almond milk
1/2 frozen banana
1 scoop vanilla Shakeology*
1/3 c. pumpkin puree**
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ginger
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1 c. ice

Blend all ingredients in a blender until well combined and smooth. ENJOY!!!!

*or vanilla protein powder of choice
**make sure you buy 100% pumpkin puree and NOT pumpkin pie filling

What is your favorite recipe?!?!

{Progress & Les Mills Combat}

Today I made an AWESOME Pumpkin Shakeology for breakfast, so I will share the recipe with you tomorrow...stay tuned!!! While you are waiting for that yumminess, I am so excited to say that I am finished with Les Mills Combat...whoop! I has taken me FOREVER to post my progress pics, but I finally have it done.

Just in time to start T25! I did my very first workout (T25 Cardio) today and ROCKED it...and I was so thankful to share the experience with my BEST FRIEND FOR-EVER!!!!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

BEGINNING IN JANUARY TO NOW:

After the completion of my first program with Team Beachbody, I decided to do a little soul searching and figure out my REAL "Why" for doing this and elaborate on it, so today I am sharing that with you.

SOUL SEARCING {9/9/2013}
My life before starting on my journey was very stagnant. I was very depressed and crept even deeper into my depression as I realized that I could not keep up with my children or do the fun things that I would like to do with them as they got older. I have struggled with my weight my whole life and as an adult have yo-yo'd with each and every fad diet I tried. My whole body ached and I was just miserable living life and exerting the least amount of energy that I could. I let myself go. One day I snapped and realized I had to make a HUGE change in my life and I had to do it NOW, and at that very moment things changed. I didn't wait until the next day to start fresh, I started immediately, even though my breakfast (consisting of kolaches and donuts) had blown my daily calories. I knew that if I waited one more day I would find an excuse to wait another day, and another day, and another day....I was good at that.
My biggest inspiration in life is my family. I am such a family-oriented person and the thought of not being able to do everything that they are doing all the time just kills me. I had a very active lifestyle growing up and I wanted to be able to provide that for my family as well. At the rate that I was going, I didn't see that happening. I wanted to be able to do EVERYTHING for my children. This is primarily my driving force.
My greatest challenge before starting the program was having the confidence in myself. I started working out with my neighbors for the first few months of my journey, but it was killing me that I had to leave my family every night and take care of myself. When I became a mother I lost my identity as a woman, and was unable to function outside that role for a long time. As much as I loved being with friends and having the outlet, I needed to prove to myself that I could do it. As I have lost weight and gained control of my identity once again, my whole mindset has changed. I am a much happier person, more active and most importantly, a better mother.


I hope that you find inspiration in my story and please feel free to email me or leave a comment below if you have any questions.

{My Weight Loss Journey...In Progress}

I have been putting this off for too long....but here it goes!

I started my weight loss journey towards the end of January this year (2013)....what made it all HAPPEN was how disgusted that I was with myself. I woke up one day and had to get the kids off to school...we were running late, so I just decided to grab something on the go. I stopped at the local doughnut shop and got each of the kids a kolache, and myself a kolache and two donuts. I ate those things before we even GOT to school and they tasted GREAT...don't get me wrong, but when I got home I felt like crap. At that very moment I SNAPPED....my mind COMPLETELY changed gears and I immediately told myself that I couldn't do this anymore. At that VERY moment is when my journey started. Instead of starting the next day with a clean slate, I started at lunch....no more excuses for me! That moment was about 200 days ago.

For the first week, I focused on my eating. I typically ate FAIRLY healthy most of the time, but I would binge eat and always get that nasty feeling afterwards, and would get depressed....I KNEW that I shouldn't eat that, but I COULD NOT control myself. With the help of the MyFitnessPal app, I was able to quickly get my eating and portions under control.

So, next step....exercising! Yeah, I have NEVER been one to workout....never liked it...never wanted to do it, but I knew that needed to change. Thankfully enough, my best friend and neighbor had just gotten the Jillian Michaels Body Revolution program, and she invited me to do it with her! I quickly accepted and was so excited to start on my journey, especially with the help, and support of my friends. We started the program just as directed to and took our starting weight and measurements. I was honestly shocked at how big that I had gotten. I started my journey at 278 pounds....ouch...that really hurt to see those numbers on the scale, but I used it as motivation...that and my kids. I had gotten to the point that I was tired all the time and never wanted to do anything, so I sat on the couch all the time. Not only was I a couch potato, but I hurt...I hurt SO BAD. It was very sad to realize that all of my aches and pains that I was getting were from being obese....yes obese....MORBIDLY OBESE in fact. That really hurts to write, but it is reality.

We started on the exercise program and followed it to a T and within weeks, I was seeing results. I had to modify SO MANY of what was on the video, but I was MOVING and committed to it. That is one of the hardest parts. We completed right at 9 weeks of the 12 week program, when we started to get bored and really needed a change, so we decided to do some cardio and strength training. It was nice to be outside for a change and get some fresh air and have a little more freedom in our workouts. We rocked it and pushed ourselves SO HARD! We proved to ourselves that we could do it...we had a BREAKTHROUGH and it was an amazing feeling!

After a few months of working out with my "personal trainer" (lol...my friend seriously was such an amazing trainer for me), our lives got busy and I was having a hard time leaving my husband each night to go workout...I missed him, so I decided to try something new ON MY OWN...what?!?!? I NEVER thought that I would be strong enough to do that. Another good friend of mine (and now my coach) introduced me into Team Beachbody and invited me to be a part of her challenge group that she was doing. I finally decided to join and purchased the Les Mills Combat program along with Shakeology! I am now 6 weeks into the program and ABSOLUTELY LOVE it! I feel so empowered doing it by myself and knowing that I CAN DO IT...for the rest of my life. There are no limitations when doing it on your own. I try my best to do my workouts during the kids naptime...doesn't always happen, but it is what works for me. As for the Shakeology (a daily nutrition shake), it has done wonders for me! First of all it is all natural, and you know what a hippie I am, so that means a lot to me, but the biggest benefit has been that it has totally taken away my cravings for sweets. I have ALWAYS had a HUGE sweet tooth, and even struggled with it for months after starting on my weight loss journey...those cravings are HARD to tame. After almost a week of drinking it, I felt different, but I couldn't figure out why...and then it hit me...it was the cravings...they were no longer there and it was SO LIBERATING!

With all this hard work that I have been doing, I am happy and proud to say that I have lost almost 60 lbs and still going strong. I still have my days where I struggle, but I have some AMAZING support! What has also been so FREEING is my mentality. I have had a HUGE mental shift not only in my outlook on life, but also in my role as a mother. My kids can enjoy their mother now and THAT means the WORLD to me

Thank you for all your support and for reading my story!!!!!!

{Chocolate PB2 Banana Pops}

Hey y'all!

Since this is my very first "official" post, I thought, what BETTER way to start than with a recipe!!!!!

Ok, first I need to tell you a short story. I received this AWESOME Zoku for Christmas one year. I had seen it in a store and just HAD TO HAVE IT....and I got it. This things sat in my freezer for FOUR years untouched and collecting random coffee grinds and who knows what else, until one day I had an emergency....yes that's right...a popscicle emergency. I only had TWO popscicles left...but, I have THREE children...the WORLD was coming to an END! HA, well...you would have thought anyway. So I whipped that thing out just as fast as I could, poured some limeade into it and SEVEN minutes later....yes you heard that right...SEVEN MINUTES...I had 3 perfect little limeade pops. MOMMY SAVED THE DAAAAAAAY! Ok, so maybe it wasn't THAT dramatic, but you know how kids are. Anyways, I haven't STOPPED using that thing ever since.

We had an early dinner today, so I sent the kids outside to play in the CRAZY Texas heat...running through the sprinklers of course, while mommy concocted some kind of yummy frozen treat for the little darlings. I have been obsessed with all things chocolate, peanut butter, and bananas these days....especially when they become ONE with each other...there is nothing else better than that really, is there?!?!?! I grabbed all those ingredients and went to town, thus creating the Chocolate PB2 Banana Pops!!!! Dun-dun-dun-DUN!!!!! So, without further adieu....the recipe:

Chocolate PB2 Banana Pops

1 1/2 medium frozen bananas (I freeze mine in halves)
1 1/2 c. unsweetened almond milk
2 T. Chocolate PB2
1 T. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 t. raw honey

1. Combine all ingredients and blend well in a blender.
2. Pour into the molds.
3. FREEZE!!!!
4. Enjoy :)

(Serving size 1 / Makes 8 pops)

Nutrition Facts
Calories 32 Fat 0.8g Sodium 42.7mg Potassium 103.5mg Carbs 5.8 g Fiber 0.9g Sugars 2.8g Protein 1g


Feel free to use any type of Popsicle mold...you will just have to wait more than SEVEN minutes and disappoint some little children. Just kidding!

Let me know if you make it and how you liked them. Feel free to adjust to your own taste

{Welcome}

I am so incredibly excited to start this blog in hopes of inspiring others to make the same changes in their lives as I am doing now. Please stay tuned for some healthy and whole living inspiration! Courtney