Crock pot Fajitas Recipe {It's What's For Dinner}

I am the queen of the crock pot. I can pretty much turn any recipe into a crock pot friendly recipe. I may be at home most days, but I still don't want to be cooking in the evenings. Plus, it is so nice to come home and find dinner waiting on YOU!

Crock Pot Fajitas
frozen chicken tenderloins or breast {which ever you prefer}--enough for your family-- we do 1/3 of a bag.
frozen (or fresh again what ever floats your boat) red/green bell peppers onion blend
1pkg of onion soup mix
2tsp (totally guessing here as I measure nothing and just dump) chicken bouillon

Throw everything in the crockpot and walk.away.
Cook on low 6-8 hours, high 3-4 hours
Once the chicken is cooked through and everything has been heated thoroughly (you can put ready to eat foods with raw meat as long as you cook it long and hot enough to kill any potential bacteria--fyi) shred up chicken with a fork and heap it on your tortilla.
Serve with cheese, gauc, salsa, black beans

I  thought they were amazing. Let me know if you try them. :)

That Crazy Wrap Thing

As an RD I have always been skeptical of the "quick fixes" out there. Hard work is what gets your results. And I still believe that, however, I have found a product that seems to give you that jump start in your weight loss routine.

It's called the Ultimate Body Applicator {Wrap for short}.

What it does is help to tighten, tone and firm the skin.
It can be placed pretty much anywhere, except the face {there are special face applicators instead}.
It improves the appearance of cellulite, skin texture and tightness all in approximately 45 minutes with result continuing to occur of the next 72 hours.

The Wrap is a non-woven cloth that is infused with a powerful, botanically-based formula which once placed on the skin can improve the skin tone. While inch loss is not a claim, I have wrapped several people who did experience "instant" slimming.

This wrap has benefited people who have had serious weight loss and now have loose skin left as a result, it has also helped those who have been working hard but just not seeing the results they had hoped to yet or gets them onto the road of success. Helps those that are getting ready to leave on a beach get away to feel confident in shorts or swim wear. The list goes on.

You can purchase a box of wraps at retail pricing for $99 or $59 at Loyal Customer pricing. Each box comes with 4 wraps which completes the treatment. You can wrap once every 72 hours to get maximum results. Results are lasting, however, just like in diet and exercise you can counteract these results by going back to the old habits of eating poorly and lack of movement.

To find out more click on my site HERE. Or feel free to email me through my site under Contacts.

Puppy Chow Almonds

While purusing some of my favorite health and fitness blogs I stumbled upon this recipe from the Lean Green Bean {a brand new RD I might add!}

Source: theleangreenbean.com via Michele on Pinterest

Who doesn't love puppy chow?!
And now this version makes it a healthy treat option.
As always moderation is the key, but now you can enjoy puppy chow without all the guilt.

Why are almonds good for you? 
Glad you asked!

*Almond nuts are rich in dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals and packed with numerous health promoting phyto-chemicals; the kind of well-balanced food ensuring protection against diseases and cancers.

*They are a complete source of energy and nutrients. Packed with minerals such as  manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and selenium and vitamins such as vitamin E, riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6, and folates. These vitamins and minerals keep your cells healthy and help fight off oxygen-free radicals!

*They are packed with GOOD fats, the mono-unsaturated kind that help LOWER bad cholesterol {LDL} and promote GOOD cholesterol {HDL}.

Hand full of almonds a day provides much of recommended levels of minerals, vitamins, and protein.

Plateau?

Anyone else feel this way?!

I know I do.

You ever wonder why your weight loss efforts plateau?
In my honest opinion, not that I have conducted scientific studies on it; I believe it's because we think we eat less than we do and work out harder than we do. And reality is the complete opposite. We eat WAY more and work out way less.

{Food}
Ways to combat this are really paying attention to portion size. Flip that package over and see how many crackers, cookies, Tbsp of peanut butter are in a serving.

You are drinking your calories away. Sodas, juices, smoothies, lattes, alcohol they all have large amounts of calories in them. You may be surprised to realize if you drank more water how the weight would come off.

Salads. Oh salads. The ultimate "diet" food right?! Well, it can be provided you didn't load it up with a bunch of dressings, sauces, cheese and croutons  At this point it starts to lose its diet factor and moves into the "should have just ate the cheeseburger" realm.

Write down what and WHY you are eating. This is three-fold.
1. It helps check mindless eating and grazing. If you have to write down "I ate 3 goldfish." You may stop yourself from grabbing them. You may be surprised to know how quick tastes and bites add up fast!
2. Writing it down allows you to see what you have consumed all day and shows you it is most likely more than what you thought you were eating based on  your calorie plan.
3. Writing down the WHY helps curb emotional eating and can allow you to find other ways to deal with stress,  sadness, boredom and even celebration.

{Exercise}
Pay attention to your workout. Our bodies are highly efficient and while that 1 mile run use to get your heart pumping and your sweat on, it may no longer be pushing you the way it once did. Push yourself and keep your workout fresh and different. If you keep your body guessing it has to work harder, which equals greater calorie burn.

Source: fitsugar.com via Michele on Pinterest

Just like our quick tastes/bites of foods around us add up, so can sneaking in extra exercises.
*Park further away
*Take the stairs instead of the elevator
*If you have little kids and they beg you to hold them, toss them in the air a few times or do a few squats while holding them. Or just plain run around with them at the park.
*Jog the shopping cart back to the cart corral.
* Do some squats or lunges while brushing your teeth.
*Dance around your kitchen while you make dinner.
*Get creative...
I know some of these see hokey, but exercise is cumulative and it all adds up to a lesser you.

{Other reasons}
1. Medications. Sometimes you may be on certain drugs that just keep you from losing. If you have tried everything else, then it's time to consult your doctor and talk about meds.
2. You aren't eating enough. If you are killin' at the gym and really watching what you eat, your body very well may think it is starving. Again our bodies are very smart. If your body is in starvation mode then it will fight to hold onto all the fat it can. You will feel weak and tired because your body is running at minimal metabolic rate in order to conserve.
3. Check your clothes. Does the scale say one number, but yet your clothes are looser?! Well then you may be at the point you are "replacing" fat with muscle tone! I use the term loosely because fat can't actually turn to muscle. But if you are bulking up your muscles it will start burning your fat off. So don't always listen to the scale, but rather to the mirror.

Do you need a kick start to achieving your weight loss goals? Click here to see my site about products that can help get on the road to health. Notice I said get ON the road. They are not to be the entire road you travel.

What are ways you avoid the plateau? 

Black Bean & Sweet Potato Quesadilla {It's What's for Dinner}

Tonight I made some yummy sweet potato black bean quesadilla served with homemade salsa. Now while I am an RD, and while our family typically eats healthy we aren't quiet at the 100% real food, paleo diet level yet. However, I do like to make as much of our food as possible because honestly it is cheaper and better for you.

So with out further ado the recipe:

Black Bean & Sweet Potato Quesadilla

1 c black beans
1/2 a sweet potatoes diced, microwaved until soft 

{cooked mine in a crock pot in foil 2-3 hours, just to do several to use in other recipes}
1/3 c green pepper, diced
1/4 c onion, diced
cayenne pepper, to taste 

{didn't have so didn't use}
2% shredded Mexican cheese
2- 8 in whole wheat tortillas

Saute onion and green pepper until crisp tender.
Add black beans and sweet potato and heat through.
Spoon mixture onto tortilla, top with cheese.
Cook in a pan, oven or panini press.

———————————-

This made 3 quesadillas.
I cooked them on a hot skillet.

Serve with homemade salsa.
Another easy peasy recipe. I don't even buy store bought salsa anymore, unless I need to cook with it, just b/c it is thicker than the homemade.

PS the black beans I use are also homemade. I try to stay away from canned items as much as I can. It is again easy peasy to make your own and store them in your freezer! Cheaper and healthier. Recipe is from my friend Kelley!

Salsa
1-{14.5z} Can Whole Tomatoes (drained!)
1-{14.5z} can of rotel (do NOT drain)
4tsp of jalapeno (canned, diced--not pickled)
1/4 onion
1/2 tsp of cummin
1/2 tsp garlic pwd
cilantro
juice from 1/2 a lime

Toss in blender/food processor--process and viloa! Yummy homemade salsa.
Now I am a "Rachel Ray" type cook and these are the measurements from the actual recipe. I on the other hand just dump and pour. It always turns out good. Salsa is like chili you can't go wrong and you will get the hang of what to add more of and less of for your taste buds.

Sweet potatoes are a fantastic fat fighting food, packed full of nutrients! The carotenoids they have help stabalize blood sugar levels and lower insulin resistance, which makes cells more responsive to insulin--a huge help in your weight-loss efforts!
The beta-carotene that is packed in there also helps fight chronic illnesses, and those related to inflammation.

Sweet potatoes are definitely a super food!

Let me know if you try it and how you liked it! Definitely a family favorite...well at least me and the hubs favorite. :)

Gender Bender

I just think this is so funny.

Source: youtube.com via Michele on Pinterest

But the point is that as women we are capable of working out just as hard as men.
Don't be afraid of lifting heavy weights. You won't turn into Arnold Schwarzenegger. {hope I spelled that right?!?} Men have lots more testosterone than we do, some of them do extra things to build that type of muscle. Even women who want that fitness buff {read:masculine} body work very very very hard for that and also do things to get those results; however, just the average woman will not achieve those results.
So get out there and lift!--Not that I have anything to boast about, but I am trying!

For the Love of Water

I know this may sound crazy especially coming from a RD, but I "no likey" my water. {That's how my son says it and it's cute when he does it. ;) }

Anyway, I am challenging myself to drink MORE water and maybe slightly less coffee. {deep breathes, you can do this}

Do you know how much water you need a day? At least HALF your body weight is a good start. So because I like easy math...if you weigh 100# then you need 50oz of H20 a day; a little over 6-8z glasses--roughly. However, that is a good jumping off point, but depending on exercise level, diuretics (ie coffee or meds), you may need more.

I struggle with water not because I don't like it--I just don't like peeing all the time! But it is a necessary evil.

Dehydration can lead to headaches, joint aches, fatigue (hello this is SO me!), and low energy and strength at the gym.

Water make our skin prettier, aides in digestions, makes our tummy feel fuller {read: EAT LESS!}, and keeps our kidneys healthy and flushing toxins out of our bodies.

To get me drinking more water I flavor it with lemons, or frozen strawberries; which is my current fav.

STRAWBERRY INFUSED H20
Get a pitcher and fill the bottom with several 5-7 frozen whole strawberries.
Smash the strawberries just ever so slightly--just want to release a hint of flavor.
Fill with ice and then with water.
Refrigerate and drink through out the day.
After 2-3 days toss and make again.
I refill the pitcher over the first 2 days. Waste not want not.

CUCUMBER LEMON MINT INFUSED H20
Another option that I hear is delish--but yet to try is Cucumber lemon mint water.
Same process just cut up fresh cucumbers, lemon slices and add fresh mint (or leave out if you don't have on hand.)
Yum!

The goal here is to just drink water. I saw this on a blog and pinned it, I am doing this to my water bottle to remind me that time's up--DRINK-DRINK-DRINK!!!

Source: undressedskeleton.tumblr.com via Michele on Pinterest