Balance

I get it.
There is some kind of crazy cliche in the (fitblogging) universe about people that don't blog for a while falling off the wagon and gaining weight.
But that's totally not me.

I just haven't had much to say.
I've been super busy trying to focus on my four kids.
Going to crossfit four times a week.
Trying to figure out some paleo snacks that are grab and go.

Trying to balance working out and doing what's best for our family.

And then I got to thinking about how every single weekend we have about 5 places to be and we're never home long enough to do the dirty dishes that are piled up in the sink.
And what's going to happen when the littles get bigger and we have 10 more places to be?
I want our kids to be well rounded and active, but I don't quite know how to balance all of the activities along with the rest of our crazy schedule.

But I'm still here, trucking along.
Eating paleo.

Being distracted.

Missing box jumps. (which I would really not recommend)

I did it

I refrained.
It was my birthday, and I held out on the sugar.
I did have a bun with my hamburger for dinner, so the flour thing went out the window for the night, but I didn't have any sugar.
And then, when I baked cupcakes for little man I didn't even lick my fingers. Or the beater. Or the inside of the bowl.
I proved to myself that I can totally do this.

Husband is awesome, and he found cupcakes that are sugar free and flour free, so I did have a sweet treat, but we all kind of agreed that the real thing is way better.
So I guess I'll just wait until the first birthday celebration after Easter to enjoy the real thing.
Until then, it's no sugar for me!!!

But it's my birthday

So, I gave up sugar and white flour, at least until Easter.


And so far? I've done really well. I didn't even add in alternatives to sugar until about two weeks ago. And even now, it's not like I eat them every day.


The flour? Except for a one time oopsimstarvingijustateapieceofleftoverpizza mistake, I've been right on.


But I failed to take in to consideration that my birthday will happen this week. And my little guy will turn two just one day later.
So this begs the question. 
Do I allow myself a sweet treat on my birthday?

You see, the whole reason that I did this was to prove to myself that I was the one with the control, not the food. And "they" always say that once you don't eat sugar you don't crave it anymore. Well, "they" are big fat liars. I want sugar every.single.day. I have turned down cupcakes, and cookies, and ice cream, and muffins, and breads on so many occasions over the past couple of weeks. And I have never caved in (even when those Girl Scouts shove a box of cookies in my face on every grocery store visit).


So have I proven my self control enough to indulge?


Or would you consider it cheating?

Do you want fries with that?

I've been really good about staying sugar free and laying off of the white flour. 

However, these beauties have been making a regular appearance in my diet.
I feel like I've been compensating for the lack of other junk food in my diet by splurging on french fries about 5 times a week. Yikes!!


I'm still managing to lose weight, and so far I'm down 6.8 pounds (Yay!), but I can't imaging how the scale would be moving if I could just cut these out of my diet too!


And if I were picky, then I could just avoid the places that I enjoyed the most. But unfortunately, I'm totally nondiscriminatory in my french fry eating practice.


I'm totally trying to justify it by saying "one thing at a time", but I really know that I've got to get a handle on this too.


Ugh. 

What's for dinner?

So I guess menu planning is the biggest rage around mommy land, which seems kind of like a no brainer to me. I mean, how else do you figure out what you're going to have for dinner?






There are a billion sites that offer services for you, fancy craft ways to make it all cute and fun, and tons of free printables to help you organize yourself.


But I've always just done it, more or less because I HATE going to the grocery store. Even more so now that I always have at least two littles in tow.


So here's what works for us.


We shop at Costco for things like milk, eggs, and meat. As well as things that we go through by the trough full, such as string cheese, yogurt, bread, waffles, and peanut butter.


At the beginning of the week, Husband and I sit down and brainstorm about which meals sound good for dinner for the week. He's pretty good about letting me try out new recipes that I've found on Pinterest, and we both kind of know which recipes we all enjoy and try to base our decisions on what we have in the freezer. 

After we've decided which meals we're going to have, we make the grocery list for what we need. One of us will do the grocery shopping, and usually pick up some extra staples, ( like black beans and diced tomatoes), and we always have all of the ingredients for tacos ready, just in case. (Always)


Then we look at our calendar for the week. If we have an evening engagement, I try to make something that gets put together fast, and that will make enough food for our childcare workers (read: grandparents) to enjoy a meal too.


The rest of the week, we kind of just decide in the morning which meal we will have, at which time I take the meat out of the freezer, or assemble the ingredients in the crock pot.


It's super simple and saves us so much time and money! Only making one shopping trip a week has been a life saver. And while I would love to use fancy things like this, or these printables, my handy pen and notepad work just as well.


Do you meal plan?

Sugar Free

So I decided that something had to give, you know, since I was actually GAINING weight while feeding myself and another human being.
(For the record, I totally don't want to hear how your pregnancy weight just melted off while you were nursing)


So I decided to try going sugar/white flour free until Easter to see how I feel.
And let me tell you this.
I am a far better person with sugar in my life.
I am grouchy. and irritable, and even more impatient than I used to be.
All I want is a little something sweet. And something to drink that isn't water.
(although I pretty much gave up Diet Coke when Paige was born, I want one sostinkingbad right now)


I also started logging my food again on myfitnesspal.com. (username turtlemomma) And I'm actually having a hard time getting all of my calories in. 
Reading nutrition labels and really paying attention to the food I'm eating has made me super aware of just how much sugar I was eating before, and I am totally shocked!


Giving up sugar is a huge sacrifice for me. But I'm actually really proud of myself for making it through two days of being sugar free.
I'm learning to eat for nourishment, instead of pleasure.
Making healthy choices, instead of easy ones.


And I'm really hoping that my mood will shift eventually. That after detoxing from the sugar, I'll be back to my normal sleep deprived self.

In the meantime, I could really use some food suggestions or snack ideas. I have a feeling the stuff I've been eating is going to get old really quick.

Gone are the Days

Gone are the days of being too nauseated to eat anything.
Which is good.
But also very, very, bad.
You see, now I have a paranoia about gaining too much weight and having to lose it all (plus the 50 pounds I didn't lose to begin with).
And this?

Although completely delicious and worth every bite (and maybe even the ranch that it got dipped in), totally not helping the situation.

Lucky for me, I've found an alternative for Diet Coke.
Not a replacement, as you better believe I haven't given up the evil.
But a suitable alternative, at least.

A little bit of this, maybe even add a little bit of lemonade...
And I forget about my beloved Diet Coke for a glass.
Or two.

Skinny Taste

Have you heard of Skinny Taste?
Super yummy, healthy recipes. 
Tons of options.
Nutritional information provided. (Even Weight Watchers Points Plus, if that's your thing)
We're having Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken for dinner. Wrapped in corn tortillas (because my kids will eat anything if you tell them its a taco).
Despite my aversion to all things chicken while pregnant.
It's that good.


What are you having for dinner?

I love...

I love that these little piggies are patient enough to accompany me on a 2.5 mile walk.

I love that Husband did some grocery shopping this weekend and loaded me up with these.

I love that the kids think that these are dessert. (And I'm totally not against bribing)

I love that when I'm pregnant I'm allowed to buy dill pickles.

And I love that its just about summer time, which means flip flops, salads, and sleeping in.

What do you love?

Okay.

So here's the situation.

I finished the Joggermom marathon.
I've managed to lose 3 pounds.

And... I'm almost 11 weeks pregnant.

With all of my other pregnancies, by this point, I've stopped exercising and gained somewhere between 5 and 10 pounds.
Most of the time, by this point, I have to think about pulling out the maternity clothes because "I'm just showing so much sooner" (which really is code for 'I can't stop shoving food in my mouth and I'm bloated and fat').

I didn't lose the weight because of the exercise.
That happened because I'm so stinking nauseated that I don't want to eat. At all.
But that hasn't stopped me from indulging in some of my favorite things.

This showed up on my doorstep yesterday from Julie over at Joy's Hope.

The cupcake? Yum.
The friendship bread? Heavenly.
And I even got my own starter.
But none of this means I'm going to go to back to where I started.

Yes, I will gain weight.
But I will also continue to exercise, even if it's only a daily walk.
I will make good food choices.
I will continue to set a good example for my kids.
And come January, you better believe I'll be starting to train for a half marathon.

Four kids and all. YIKES!

Abundance

I have an issue.
Well, lots of them actually, but one specific that I'm willing to admit and ask for help with.


I have an issue with too much food.
And I'm not just talking about eating too much of it.
I'm talking about ordering too much of it.
Supplying too much of it.
Baking too much of it.


We had Wesley's one year birthday party this past weekend. 
There were 58 people on the list to attend.
So we ordered 10 pizzas.
Costco pizzas.
Gigantic pizzas.
Huge miscalculation on our part.


And as far as cupcakes are concerned, well I couldn't stop at 48, because then, if everyone were to actually show up (which we know never happens) then there wouldn't be enough for everyone to have one.
So we baked 72.
And then people couldn't make it.
And some people don't eat cupcakes.


So I was left with 7 pizzas and about 40 cupcakes.
Too. Much. Food.


I am always worried when I have a party that there won't be enough food.
That I will run out of something.
That people will have to do with only one serving. GASP.


So I guess my question is, what do you do when you have a party? Do you oversupply? Or do you just not worry if you run out of something?


And why do I have such a big issue with it? It's not like I was starved as a young child or anything. Obviously.

Super Easy Mango Chicken

Everybody should have a couple of go to recipes for which they always have the ingredients on hand.

You know, for the nights that you just don't feel like cooking. (which for me happens way more than I'd like to admit)

This is one of our go to dinners.

Hope you enjoy!

double click to enlarge

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my birthday.
I'm taking a little bloggy break and making me some Diet Coke chicken.
I'll let you all know how it turns out!

Evil

I know that evil comes in many forms.
I also know that this is one of them.

source

I have somehow managed to keep the Girl Scout cookies out of my house this year.
It's totally a God thing.
I was experiencing a moment of weakness the other day and reached in to my pocket to get the $4 I had just received as change so that I could by a box of mouth watering "Tagalongs" (at least that's what they used to be called). 
The money was not there. 
Somehow, this I-always-keep-money-in-my-pocket-and-never-put-it-in-my-wallet mommy had managed to secure the money in her wallet, where it actually belongs.
So because I'm too lazy to haul three small children to the other end of a parking lot and back just for a box of cookies, we are still cookie free.
It's kind of a miracle considering how often the darn things have frequented our house in the past. 
I'm hoping that they will just go away.
But even just looking at that picture? 
Evil. That is all I see.
And don't even get me started on the Thin Mint ice cream. And they at least make a lower fat version of that.
I will not buy Girl Scout cookies.
I will not buy Girl Scout cookies.
I will not buy Girl Scout cookies.
Maybe if I say it enough it will actually come true.


Have you stayed cookie free this Girl Scout cookie season?

Who Knew?

We went to a super fun Karaoke party this weekend and let's just say that I over-indulged.


I drank (almost) a whole pitcher of sangria, and after it was gone, I decided I would just whip up some more. In my glass. By mixing red wine and sprite. Apparently that is not how sangria is made. Who knew?


These lovely little snacks were found in not just one, but two locations at the party. Yes, they make candy corn for Valentine's Day. Who knew?

sorry that the pic is kind of blurry, it was taken on a cell phone

Bootcamp is doing some serious butt kicking. However, I have noticed a very unfortunate decline in the amount of calories I burn doing the same activities that I have always done. So apparently, being more fit means you have to work harder at the same thing to get the same results. Who knew? (ok, this one I actually knew, but it sucks, and I wanted to complain about it without really complaining, so here it is)

Kin-Wha?

I get it. I'm late to the party. That's nothing new.


But Husband and I tried quinoa for the first time this week, and I might be a convert.


Husband cooked it in some vegetable broth (I know that some of you are checking out already because I just said my husband cooks. I get, I'm lucky. Stay with me.) and then we had some sauteed onion, bell pepper and zucchini over the top with a little bit of vinaigrette dressing. And YUM!! (next time I'm going to try some eggplant too, I love me some eggplant) 


This is totally something that I will incorporate in to our diets on a far more regular basis. It supposedly is crazy good nutritionally for you, and it is a way better choice than rice.


And I even found a recipe for some kind of breakfast quinoa thing. You know, in place of oatmeal. We'll have to see about that, but I'm excited to find something so healthy that my family enjoys!


Have you found any new foods lately that you're excited about?

Spaghetti Squash Casserole

I have never tried to cook with spaghetti squash before, but I was inspired by Colleen over at Bee Fit, and decided to give it a try. I messed with her recipe a little bit, and it turned out delicious.

I would actually recommend making it the night before, and eating it as leftovers, because it was actually better the next day.

I added up the points (using recipe builder on etools), and it turned out to be 7 PointsPlus, if you divided the 9 x 13 pan in to 6 servings. It could probably be less if you used less meat, or crushed tomatoes instead of the sauce. Or if you were able to find (and willing to use) fat free cheese.


Here is what I did. Enjoy!!
(and did I mention that the kids ate it too?)

Have you ever cooked with spaghetti squash? What did you think?

Food Finding Friday?

So I kind of had an idea about a link up party. It was inspired by Julie over at Joy's Hope. I'm new to this whole technologically savvy stuff, so I'm not quite sure how it will all work out, but let's give it a try.

I love food. Good food. However, I have found that since I am trying to eat healthy, a lot of recipes are hit or miss in the yum department. Here's where you come in. Let's share our yummy healthy recipes. If the response is good, maybe I'll make it a weekly thing and we can have a ton of variety. Sound good?

Just link up below with a delicious recipe to share. Then hop around and enjoy!!

Here's mine.

Shrimp and Sausage Jambalaya

1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

4 bell peppers, any color, diced

2 onions, diced

1 pound reduced-fat turkey kielbasa, thinly sliced

4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 tsp paprika

1 1/2 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cayenne, or more to taste

5 cups water

1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes

2 cups long grain white rice

2 Tbsp tomato paste

1 1/2 pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

1. Heat the oil in a large, heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the peppers, onions and kielbasa and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic, paprika, oregano, salt, and cayenne and cook, stirring, 1 minute.

2. Stir in the water, tomatoes, rice, and tomato paste and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook, covered, until the rice is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 20 minutes.

3. Add the shrimp and cook, covered, until cooked through, about 5 minutes.

Per serving (1 1/2 cups) : 308 cal, 4 g fat, 1 g sat fat, 0 g trans fat, 117 mg chol, 837 mg sodium, 46 g carb, 3 g fiber, 21 g protein, 78 mg calcium.

Weight Watchers "Eat! Move! Play!" page 178

Serves at least 10 people, so have company over and enjoy!!

And I live in Southern California, not the South, so I'm not quite sure about authentic, but it sure did taste good.

Self Control

My daughter came home from preschool telling me all about self control.

How Adam and Eve didn't use it in the Garden of Eden ( and because of that, they had to put their clothes on ).


How the little boy in her class didn't use self control when he pushed her out of the way to get farther ahead in the line ( but he said sorry and she "forgived" him ).


And then we got home from lunch and I noticed these on the counter.

Yes, they are THE brownies, in full flavor. ( I may or may not have had two on Sunday night. )


But since then, they have been sitting in my kitchen. ( And yes, I was displaced from my kitchen for 24 hours of that, but still... ) 


They are taunting me. Tempting me. Calling my name.


And I have exercised self control.


If I have done nothing else right this week, at least there's that.


I'll take any victory I can right now.

Dinner tonight

We had a kind of no cook dinner tonight. 
This is one of our favorites! Super easy and super tasty.
We add a little bit of Fat Free Black Bean Dip from Trader Joe's. It has a spice to it that adds nicely to the flavor. And we don't use avocado, because we don't like it. So the point value is probably a little bit different for what we eat, but regardless, YUM!

Bean Tostadas with Corn Salsa and Avocado


4 small (6 inch) corn tortillas
1 (15.5 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup fresh salsa
1 ( 8oz) can low-sodium corn kernels, drained
3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded romaine lettuce
1/2 avocado, diced
1/2 cup fat free sour cream
2 scallions, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro


1. Arrange the tortillas in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake until crisp in 450F oven. About 5-7 minutes.
2. In a small saucepan, mix the beans and 1/2 cup of the salsa; cook, stirring as needed and mashing the beans (we don't mash ours), until heated through, about 5 minutes. In a small bowl, mis the remaining 1/2 cup of salsa and the corn.
3. Place the tortilla on plate, then assemble tostada as desired. ( I didn't follow the directions here, because I like my sour cream on the bottom on top of the bean dip.) Put it together however you want. You get to be the boss tonight.


4 servings. Per serving: 326 cal, 6g fat, 3 g sat fat, 12 mg Chol, 566 mg Sod, 50g Carb, 11g Fib, 20g Pro, 373 mg Calc. POINTS: 5


From Weight Watchers "Cook it Quick" (2002)