Cheezy Dip, Eggnog Shake & Veggie Cakes, oh my!

I've got some great snack and/or side dish recipes for you today! Enjoy!


Averie's "Spicy Doritos"Cheezy Dip
Each week at our couples small group we take turns bringing snack. We brought this dip and it was a huge hit, even among people who don't typically eat things like this! (Which is why the picture is of just the remnants of the dip!) We served it with an assortment of cut up veggies.

Katie's Healthy Eggnog Shake
This shake is great for a quick snack on-to-go! To make it endo-friendly, please see my recipe changes below.

sub: 1/2 cup raw cashews for the tofu
sub: stevia, to taste, for the xylitol/sugar/coconut sugar/evaporated cane juice     


YumUniverse's Chesapeake Veggie Cakes
These are sooo yummy! The sweet potato really shines and there's just a hint of spice to these. Delicious!

 

...But It's Not My Fault.

I love when God gives me a theme and then confirms it later.

Remember my theme for this year? No excuses!

Well, today my church started a new series, titled, "Losing Our Buts" and is designed to help us get rid of our excuses. Today was about, "...But It's Not My Fault."

I've been thinking a lot this week about my excuses, as I've tackled and conquered exercise challenges that I never thought I could do.

"I'm too tired"
 "I don't have the time"  or "No time is convienent"
"It's too hard"
"I just don't want to"

But the one that I feel like God is having me examine is... "I have endometriosis."

Before I continue, I must disclaim that this post may rile a few feathers among the endometriosis community. My intention in writing what I'm about to write, is not to make anyone feel bad or guilty, nor is it to diminish the amount of the pain and severity that one faces while dealing with endometriosis. The thing about endometrisosis is, is that it affects every woman differently. What works for one woman to reduce her pain levels, may not work for another woman. And the level of pain itself, can be felt more severely by one woman and less severely (or in some cases, not felt at all) by another. This is not a competition. This is not me saying, "I have the right answer". This is not to condemn those with endometriosis that aren't doing what I am. This is simply share what is working for me. And to share, what God is doing in my own personal life. The fact that I have this disease and am able to do half the things I'm currently doing, is a testimony in and of itself to His greatness. And, for me, that's what it's all about. To glorify the name of God. And maybe, just maybe, in my sharing and in my vulnerability, someone's life can be changed by them deciding to give Christ a try.

With that said...

So, I've worked out the past 5 days in a row. I honestly can't tell you the last time that's happened or if that's ever happened. Not only that, but I've managed to do workouts and endurance and push myself harder than I ever thought I could go.

Now here's the real kicker... The past 5 days are typically my most painful and debilitating days of my cycle.

How am I able to do this then? Because God is helping me do it. There's really no other explanation. And in the doing, He is also helping me to grow and challenging my thought patterns. Real change doesn't happen, unless we can gain right thinking.

Have I been tired? Yes.
Have I had to sacrifice my time? Yes.
Did I think I could do it? No.
Have I always felt like doing it? No.

Have I been in pain? Y.E.S.

But, here's the deal. In the movement, it reduces my pain level. I, personally, am able to reduce my pain level a great deal, just by what I eat. But, I've discovered these past few days, that I can further reduce my pain level and PMS symptoms, by moving my body. It's actually been kind of a break from the pain. Just this morning, as I was standing during worship at church, I had a shooting pain radiating down my right leg. Did it cross my mind that I shouldn't go to the gym because of the pain? Yep. Did I listen to that voice in my head? Nope. And guess what? I ran a 5K in 32:58!

Is endometriosis my (or your) fault? NO.

Is blaming my endometriosis for my lack of eating right or being active going to get me anything other than feeling stuck and helpless? NO.

In fact, it's motivation. Endometriosis takes so much from us girls, but it doesn't have to take everything. It only takes from us, what we let it take, mentally I mean.

This disease is straight from the pit of hell. Which means, it's from our enemy, Satan. Which means, I'm going to direct my anger at the right place... at the one who came to kill, steal from and destroy me. And this is what I'm going to say... YOU CANNOT KILL MY JOY. YOU CANNOT STEAL ANYTHING MORE FROM ME. YOU CANNOT DESTROY MY HEALTH AND MY QUALITY OF LIFE ANY LONGER. GET BEHIND ME, SATAN! NO MORE EXCUSES!

I believe, with all my heart, that what Satan has created for evil, the Lord is using for good.

And THAT is why I write this blog.

Just Dance!

Yesterday was supposed to be an "active" rest day. An active rest day is when you do something leisure, but you're still moving your body.

I have a goal of doing 100 miles by Valentine's Day, so my plan was to wake up early and do an easy 2.2 mile walk at the gym before heading down to my friend's house for a fun girls day.

The alarm clock went off. I hit the snooze and got back into bed to snuggle with my hubby for awhile. Before I knew it, it was an hour past when I was supposed to get up. Soooo.... my plan was thwarted.

I tried to convince all the girls, later that day, that we should go for a leisure stroll around the neighborhood... 5 times. In 20-degree weather. Obviously, no one took me up on my offer.

The time was getting later and it was looking like I wouldn't even get home until after 10PM, so going to the gym was less than appealing.

We sat down to dinner, which the hostess had made us. It was amazing and the recipe is below.

Rustic Herb Potatoes and Chicken
1 pat butter (or coconut oil)
10 red potatoes, diced
4T Tastefully Simple Rustic Herb Seasoning, separated
16 oz bag of frozen green beans
5 chicken breasts, diced
1T olive oil

Place diced potatoes in a skillet with a small pat of butter and 2T of the Rustic Herb Seasoning. Cook in the pan until slightly browned and then transfer the potatoes to a cook sheet. Finish cooking the potatoes in the oven at 350F for about 10 minutes. While the potatoes are cooking, cook your green beans according to the package. Also, cook your chopped chicken in the skillet. When green beans, potatoes and chicken are all finished cooking, combine them back into the skillet with 2T more of the Rustic Herb Seasoning and cook on low with olive oil.


Another one of the gals brought a salad with homemade balsamic vinaigrette. Again, amazing. And again, the recipe is below.

Kristine's Berry Salad
1 package mixed greens
1 pint blueberries
1 pound strawberries
1 pint blackberries (we substituted apples)
crumbed feta (optional)
candied walnuts (optional)

Kristine's Balsamic Vinaigrette
2T honey
1T dijon mustard
1/4 cup balsamic vineger
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 clove garlic, minced or pressed (minced is stronger)
3/4 cup olive oil (for a thicker dressing, use an amount just shy of 3/4 cup)

Make the salad by mixing everything together in a bowl with salad tongs. Make the dressing by just mixing everything together. Enjoy!


After dinner, it somehow came up that the hostess' son had gotten the game, "Just Dance 4" for Christmas, so I challenged her to a dance off. Before I knew it, I was getting my active rest day activity in afterall!

It may not have contributed to my mileage or looked like how I had planned it, but it sure was fun! And I was sweating like crazy at the end!

Me (on right) beating the host, Stephanie

Me, beating Janelle

Me, beating Jen

Me, beating Kristine

And... I was the winner! :-)

I think I need a Wii...

Top 10 Workout Songs for January

Typically, the beginning of a new year is when folks resolve to get into better shape. This month's mix features a lively bundle of songs to help you kick things off with a bang. Present here are duelling remixes from both of the world's biggest boybands, Icona Pop and Charli XCX's raucous theme song from Snooki & JWOWW, and Nicki Minaj's aptly-titled new single.
 
Here's the full list, according to votes placed at Run Hundred--the web's most popular workout music blog.

Nicki Minaj - Va Va Voom - 128 BPM

Coldplay - Charlie Brown - 138 BPM

Icona Pop & Charli XCX - I Love It - 126 BPM

Pitbull & TJR - Don't Stop the Party - 126 BPM

50 Cent, Eminem & Adam Levine - My Life - 89 BPM

The Wanted - Chasing the Sun (Danny Verde Remix) - 129 BPM

Macklemore, Ryan Lewis & Wanz - Thrift Shop - 96 BPM

Fun. & Janelle Monae - We Are Young (Betatraxx Remix) - 106 BPM

Will.I.Am & Britney Spears - Scream & Shout - 131 BPM

One Direction - Live While We're Young (Dave Aude Remix) - 130 BPM

To find more workout songs, folks can check out the free database at RunHundred.com. Visitors can browse the song selections there by genre, tempo, and era—to find the music that best fits with their particular workout routine.

-Chris Lawhorn, Run Hundred

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Please note that by featuring these songs I am not condoning anything the song lyrics may promote. These are posted for you to decipher appropriateness  for yourself and to hopefully motivate and inspire you to get active! Thanks, Amy

A New Milestone!!!

How are you doing with giving over your plans for a healthy life to God?

Just wanted to give you a quick little reminder that without Him, we will likely fail. Or at least we will struggle a lot more than we need to.

The Bible says in Psalms 37:5 NASB, "Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it."

I've been making it a point to get my strength from God. And He has not failed me.

Today, I first took a 1-hr yoga class. At times, my whole body was shaking. This tells me just how out of shape I've allowed myself to become.

But then, I got on the treadmill and attempted to try the TIU Cupid's Cardio routine again today. And guess what? I reached a new milestone!

3.79 miles in 45-minutes! That's the farthest I've ever gone at one time!!!

Afterwards, I could barely move, so I soaked in a Lavendar Epsom Salt bath. That was heavenly! 

What are your goals for tomorrow?

Changing Our Minds + Pizza Hummus

I believe, that a major step in leading a healthy lifestyle is getting our mind and thoughts right. What I mean is, I was (and sometimes still am, if I'm not careful), an avid black-and-white, all-or-nothing thinker. When you have this mindset, you've automatically set yourself up for failure.

Think about this... you're at the office and you've brought your lunch. You've eaten your lunch and you feel on top of the world, when a co-worker comes into your office and offers you a donut. If you're like me, it's pretty hard to pass up a donut, so you eat it. And here enters the mindset that leads to failure. See, eating the donut itself has not led you to failure...its what happens next. You know what I'm talking about. "Well, there goes my 100% perfect diet. I may as well just have 2 donuts. You know what? It's not worth going to gym now either. I think I'll just grab a pizza for dinner and sit on my couch, while I watch tv. I'll try again tomorrow." See? Failure.

Instead, what if your thought was this: "Mmm, well that donut was delicious! And totally worth every bite! Looking forward to the gym tonight and reaching my goal. And I can't wait to make that mouth-watering healthy recipe that I found on Pinterest for dinner!" See? Not failure.

So, how do we get our thoughts to go from example A to example B?

Well, I'm not going to lie. It's going to be tough. But, it IS doable! The secret? Jesus Christ.

I have failed every time I've tried to change my behavior or thought patterns on my own, unless I'm working with a professional Christian psychologist. Or unless I'm simply praying and asking for God's help.

The Bible says in Ephesians 4:23-24, "...and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth."

We need God's help in renewing our mind, so we can be created new in His likeness. And Jesus was able to fight off temptations! (see: Matthew 4:2-4)

So, if you're tired of trying to change your ways on your own and you have no strength left. Why not give Jesus a try?

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Today was a blast!

First, I revisited my "Why" list for some inspiration. If you haven't created your own Why list yet, I highly encourage you to do so. And I highly encourage you to make sure "look good" or anything like it, should NOT be on your list!

Then, my girls and I headed to the YMCA. Today's challenge on TIU's Love Your Body series was to do a 45-minute interval treadmill routine. It kicked my butt! I ended up walking most of it, but I still managed to go 3.3 miles in 45 minutes! Not bad for having not run in quite some time. After the run, I did the Shoulders & Arms routine from P90X and did a version of the P90X Ab Ripper routine, too. I was dead tired by the end. And my exercise-induced asthma was going haywire. But, I made it through and was sooo excited about it! I can't wait to get to the gym and workout again tomorrow!

For breakfast, I had my usual shake mixed with black coffee, but couldn't finish it. I didn't have much of an appetite and didn't want to feel like I was going to hurl during my workout.

For lunch, I just threw together a MIAG with strawberries, kale, mixed veggies, almond milk, hemp seeds and a little bit of stevia.

Snack was cut up celery dipped in Katie's Melty Pizza Hummus. Yum!

I was craving warm comfort food for dinner, so I made up another batch of Angela's Gingerbread Pumpkin Vegan Oats, with just a few changes (mentioned below).
*sub: Raw Yacon Syrup for Blackstrap Molasses
*sub: Raw Coconut Nectar for Maple Syrup

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Don't forget to visit my Facebook page to let me know what your goals are for tomorrow!

2013 Inspiration

'Tis the season for New Year's Resolutions.

And while I'm not a fan of them, because so many people just set themselves up for failure, I've seemed to be on a journey this week to find "renewed inspiration", I will call it.

It's not a new resolution for this year, but rather, a continued journey in becoming, "Healed, Healthy, Whole."

I'm hoping, that by sharing the inspirations I've found recently, it will help you to find yours, too. So, together, we can make 2013, the best year yet!

THE OBSTACLE
Before I continue, I must make this disclaimer... even the best of intentions can be met with, well, life. Life gets in the way, holidays ruin our intentions, wrongful thinking can self-sabotage us, etc.

My biggest obstacle? My need for perfection. So, as trials come up (and they will), my goal in 2013 is grant myself some grace, pick myself up quickly and move onto the next healthy choice. If we make enough small healthy choices, eventually we'll find ourselves at our goals! :-)

MY MOTTO
I absolutely love this from Tina Reale and have made this my motto for 2013:

THE SUSTENANCE
I've proven to myself many times before that without God, I fail. My inspiration can come from anywhere, but He will be the one to sustain me. So, that's my first goal... to find inspiration every day and to keep my eyes focused on Jesus.


MADE TO CRAVE
One of the ways I do this is by reading a devotional on YouVersion titled, "Made to Crave" and each day there's some really great stuff on there. Yesterday, I got this quote:

"God made us capable of craving so that we’d have an unquenchable desire for more of Him, and Him alone. Nothing changes until we make the choice to redirect our misguided cravings to the only One capable of satisfying them."

 I don't know if you've ever had a craving attack, but being a past-food/sugar addict, I often find old patterns coming to the surface in times of stress. But really, giving into the food/sugar doesn't quench the craving, because as my best friend says, it's like "trying to scratch a spiritual itch with physical things."

Today, I got this nugget:

"Today, your heavenly Father is telling you the same truth: “You were made for more!” More than this failure . . . more than this cycle of defeat . . . more than being ruled by taste buds, body image, rationalizations, guilt, and shame. You were made for victory. This truth is a great script to play in our heads every time we’re tempted with guilt, rationalizations, or the “I’ll-do-better-tomorrow” escape clauses. Do any of these sound familiar? Addressing our thinking is one of the most crucial steps toward permanent progress in any area and stopping the cycle of shame and defeat. We have to rewrite those negative scripts by getting into the habit of saying truth. And, the first of these truths is, “I was made for more.” Wrapped in this truth is a wisdom and revelation that unlocks great power. We need strength greater than our taste buds, hormones, temptations, and our inborn female demand for chocolate. Yes, the truth of who we are and the power to live out that truth — that’s what we need. So, say it out loud with me today: I was made for more!"

How am I going to keep these in the forefront of my mind? I have a journal, where I track my food. On the front page of that journal, I'm going to doodle little sayings like, "Only God Satisfies" and "I Was Made For More!" These should be just enough to jog my memory of these truths and keep me going.

KEEPING ME INTERESTED
I bore easily. This can be another obstacle. So, I'm always looking for new recipes by reading other food bloggers, or taking on new exercise routines, like P90X. I also follow the Tone It Up girls and love that they offer different fitness challenges every so often. The different daily routines, should keep me from getting bored. And it's like having my own personal trainers! Their newest challenge is the "Love Your Body" challenge, which I'll be taking on (at least until surgery... yes, I'm having another surgery and I haven't blogged about it yet. Please check out: http://caringbridge.org/visit/amybrand if you'd like to find out what's happening).

Here's a few inspiring quotes from the girls:

Your body is the one thing you have your whole life. It is yours- it is beautiful and it depends on you to treat it right.

Tell yourself how beautiful you are every morning-- how you can make anything happen and how today is the first day of the rest of your life to make your dreams happen. 

This last one above ^^^ I'll be posting on my mirror in the bathroom, so that every morning before I start my day, I'll look in the mirror and tell myself exactly what it says above! Positive affirmations never hurt anyone. :-)

JESUS CALLING
Another devotional I've been reading through is called, "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young.

Today, this is what I got from it in regards to living a healthy lifestyle...

• Approach God with a teachable spirit, eager to be changed
• Do not cling to old ways (see above regarding my cravings)
• Be ready to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, through a journey with God
• Believe, wholeheartedly, what it says in Jeremiah 29:11 that God's plans for me are, "plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give [me] a future and a hope"

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Well, that's enough inspiration to get me through my workouts and healthy choices (at least for tomorrow!) ;-) Looking forward to continuing this journey with you, my faithful readers! As always, thanks for reading my blog. I sincerely mean what I'm about to say... you all inspire me to keep going, every single day! xoxo

P.S. If you're interested in having accountability for your daily goals, I'll be posting mine on my Facebook page and interacting with my readers there. Come join us, because remember, it's all about small choices, every day!