I eat fish now

This is what I made last week for my family.  I'm not a fish eater......I grew up on Fish n Chips in Ireland but that was fresh caught Cod and very light.  I've tried tilapia, mahi mahi and red snapper but theyre all too fishy for me.  I do however eat Tuna?  Weird right? 
I found this on sale at Sams Club, it was fresh and with trying to eat clean and healthy, I thought I'd take the challenge.  It was delish.....my family ate the entire huge chunk of it.  It was really really good and Im definitely now adding Salmon to our family menu. 
Below is the recipe....

 

 

Ingredients

• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 (6 ounce) salmon fillets
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

• 1/4 cup white wine
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons fines herbs
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
  

Directions 1.Preheat the oven's broiler and set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source. Line a jelly roll pan with aluminum foil, and spray with nonstick spray. 2.Place garlic and olive oil in a small microwave safe bowl and cook on High for 1 1/2 minutes. Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat, and stir in the garlic mixture. Remove from heat; stir in the Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, white wine, black pepper, garlic salt, and fines herbs. 3.Place the salmon fillets skin-side down on the prepared pan. Spoon about 1/3 of the butter sauce over the fillets, and sprinkle evenly with the fresh dill. 4.Broil in the preheated oven for 3 minutes. Turn salmon fillets so that the side of the fillet faces up, and baste fillets with about 1/3 of the butter sauce; broil for 3 minutes. Turn the fillets to place the opposite side facing up; spoon on the remaining butter sauce; broil until the fish flakes easily with a fork, about 3 additional minutes.

and the fun part......

I don't have a hard time getting to the gym....well I work there....but I love it!  Love the feeling of pushing my body to a limit and feeling & seeing results.  I've starting lifting weights separately from BodyPump.  Free weights, with "the BIG BOYS" as I say.  I'm still using lighter weight with 10-15 reps per exercise (sets of 4).  My friend has been helping me and I'm learning a lot.  Here are some pictures we took on "back day"   I see more definition than every before.  My goals now are to lower my bodyfat from 21% to 18% and to lean out.  I know I am getting stronger after only 3 weeks.
Hoping as I work harder on a clean diet, the hard work Im putting in at the gym will be accelerated.

Food, food & more food

Happy PADDYS Day.....

My Mam showed up with Irish Soda Bread and Barmbrack (fruit cake).  I pretty much excused myself from my cleaneating and overate both!  Small quilty pleasure......extra hours at the gym?

Eating out, eating clean!  Trying so hard to make better choices when I eat out.  The top two pictures are from In N Out (double protein burger, no cheese, no sauce) & Panda Express Shanghi Angus Beef with steamed veggies.  Bottom left is homemade, quick and skinny "Chicken Curry"  I only sprinkled the meat and veggies with curry powder and soy sauce, served with brown rice.  Bottom right is a salad and protein shake, which is quickly becoming my "go to" meal during the day. 

Progress......

So in the past my macros have not looked like this.  These are three days in the middle of last week.  Normally I have a huge slice of Carbs with minimal protein and heavy fats.  I've been working hard to increase protein intake and lessen carbs or I should say, eat better carbs.  Taking out sweets and sugary things is helping lower the daily "fats". 

Monday....how I Love thee

MONDAY is groundhog day for me.....DO OVER every....single....week!  I love it though because its a fresh start, I feel motivated, charged, ready to go and get it right this time.
My focus this week is FOOD.  Im going to make sure I track really good and watch what and how I eat, making sure to fuel before the gym and recover after my workouts, with some help from my protein shakes.  Today for the first time I made egg whites.  For some reason they just look so "snotty" without the yellow mixed in so I took a tip from my friend to mix 3 egg whites with 1 egg yolk.  They were good.  I added a little goat cheese and avocado with a side of yummy ripe calamari tomatoes and I'm full.

The NO EXCUSE MOMS challenge is going good.  It is not easy on top of my regular workouts but Ive been consistent with the challenge each day except for yesterday. I was sooooo tired, I couldn't bring myself to do it so today (9th & 10th) I've got 60 crunches, 245 jacks and 45 squats. My legs definitely feel tighter *and sore* I like how the jumping jacks make me feel, strong and tight.  Squats are the best exercise for the booty so I'll do what is required and hope to see a physical difference at the end of the month. 

Eating out *insert eeeeek face*

I've pretty much started taking pictures of everything I eat.....the obsession is real! 
Its one thing to eat healthy in my home, with food I buy and plan on eating....a whole other thing when I'm eating out!  I feel like I deserve to eat whatever I want BUT I don't feel good when I go all nutso and order almost everything on the menu. 
Smart eating is happy eating.....choose wisely my friends.

Met up with a friend of mine for breakfast, keeping in mind I was trying to make healthy choices, I ordered the white scrambled eggs with artichoke and spinach, Feta cheese crumbled on top which is quickly become my favorite kind.    WAS AHMAZING......I did have the potatoes but I swear they were baked (at least I think they were....lol).

Then This.....mmmhmmmm......buffet with the family!  STOP THE MADNESS.....

Beautiful, colorful salad....super yummy!  Good choice AND I even went for Italian dressing, which is probably a first for me.

They had roasted squash and eggplant (also new fav) beside a yummy penne pasta.  I left out the sausage and just had a small portion of the pasta.  Super tasty, super yummy and I'm feelin good....

And....on to desert....well....first I stopped at the Mexican section and grabbed a "SOPES?"  Never had one of these before.  It felt like a splurge BUT the bottom was corn and with beans, chicken and a wee bit o' cheese, I felt deserving of the splurge due to me "killing" my legs with weights 4 hours earlier! 
I do have to admit that I had a scoop of NO SUGAR ADDED Carmel Gelato (and omitted taking a picture) HA..... 
Overall.....for me.....success at the buffet.  It's normally super hard for me to control my portions let alone my appetite.  Note to self.....limit the number of times to come to a buffet per month!

"Go To" snack

This has become one of my favorite GO TO snacks while trying to eat clean.  I usually don't use this yogurt  - I like the Danon Light N Fit better but today this was all I had.  I dump yogurt into a bowl, toss in a handful of granola and a handful of dried cranberries.  Yum Yum Yum.....
I calculate approx. 200 calories for the whole thing

Bread sticks alternative?

Gonna try these.  I love cauliflower so I'm game for these....

Early workouts

Great way to start the day, Bodypump at the YMCA.  I enjoy so much my 6:15am Bodypumpers. Class never drags, always great energy and by the end we're ready to conquer the world.
This is what I saw when I pulled out of my driveway this morning!  Sunrises are beautiful and remind me to be grateful for a new day, and that anything is possible.

March Madness

This is my fitness challenge for March!  I'm in three days already.  It's not easy on top of my regular workouts but I'm a tough IRISH woman and ready to do this thing....this is my month!

Monday Already?

Last week was so super busy it flew by.  I taught at Namaste with these fun women

I ate lots of good, healthy food....at least I tried.  Gluten free three cheese Ziti and a bomb salad of nuts, cranberries, tomatoes, feta cheese

Went out with the quad squad (my girls from the gym who have become some of my favorite friends) Saw the Rat Pack show on Fremont Street and danced in an Irish Pub.

And.....wait for it.....I took my first Locker room selfie!  AWKWARD moment of the week....lol

Finished the week out with a sweaty zumba class at TRUFUSION Yoga studio 

As well as a killer leg workout Saturday afternoon.  Then on to a "fiesta cumpleanos" with my chicas Latinas to celebrate Tomys birthday.  Six tacos later .....we took photos 

And all of a sudden it was Monday again!  

What a busy week.  All this on top of my regular workout schedule and taking care of my family.  I need a 48 hr day please.....

Eating is so tough on the weekend.  I feel like I loose control BUT I have a plan going into next weekend thanks to my NO EXCUSE MOMS group....I'm gonna plan my meals and snacks and try a preemptive attack on the weekend. So tired of doing well during the week and loosing my progress on the weekend.  So here's to a new week and the experiences that will come with it.

Started with this

I started the week off seeing this picture on line.  It made me happy.  Beautiful colors and simplicity in motion.  Often we forget how simple life should be.  Yes life is busy and yes there will never be enough hours in the day but look how calm and peaceful these two boys are. Stopping to "smell the roses" or take a time out is healthy and necessary.

Busy Weekend

Weekends are always super busy and when it comes to eating, weekends are definitely the hardest for me.  This weekend I was asked to present at a womens conference about Physical Health & Wellness.  Most of the information I shared was from my experience and what Ive learned on my own journey.   It's a constant battle to stay focused and motivated.  I appreciate the support of friends who have similar goals and motivate me. 
I've been lifting weights in addition to my regular workout schedule and feel & like the results in just a week.  Last week I felt really successful.  Eating was good and workouts were productive.  Holding on to that momentum will be good going into this 2nd week of my NO JUNK CHALLENGE!

After some leg lifting at the gym, had a Saturday date night with the hubs!  I was really craving lettuce wraps from PFChangs but the wait was so long we hit up Chilis instead.  I haven't eaten there for years but knew I wanted healthy.  Even watching my food for the weekend I was close on calories.  I don't burn near as many calories on weekends as I do weekdays.
The MANGO CHILI TALAPIA looked amazing so I gave it a chance.  Loved the spiciness of the salsa and sauce on top and the fish was ok but still a bit "fishy" for me.  Broccoli and Rice Pilaf was delicious!  Total 550 calories = not too bad.  I added a house salad for another 150 calories.....yum!
It feels good to be in some control.  I'm highly motivated and hoping that stays with me while I adjust to healthier eating.  Today (Sunday) has been a little tougher.  Ive been hungry all day long, even though Im snacking.   AND Im craving a sweet ALL DAY LONG!  I even brought Ghirardelli chocolates to my choir members today and abstained.  The closest I came was yogurt with granola and cranberries, which was a good choice.  Looking forward to the coming week with a plan to succeed.

Keep calm and eat good

I'm becoming passionate about eating well.  Today I made an amazing salad. 
Spinach*Chicken*Feta Cheese (basil & tomatoe)*Purple Onion*Cranberries & Almonds*Strawberries*Light vinaigrette dressing.  It was filling and only about 400 calories for the entire thing.

The Ingredients

TA DA! 

The bottom of the salad is always the best part.  Where all the yumminess hangs out
 

So then as if my salad wasn't enough brilliance for one day, I got totally domesticated and made homemade green chili enchiladas for the fam bam tonight.  The two on the end are mine (wheat tortillas).  Good balance of protein & carbs.  Workout hard today so must. eat. good! 
I'm lovin where this week has taken me.  I'm feeling healthy, strong & lost 7lbs.  Going into the weekend ready to take the challenge.  Weekends are usually where I fall hard off the wagon so I'm holding tight to those reins and staying in control....at least that's the plan! 

Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas

Or you could burn 1,000+ calories...

On this day.....I not only taught Zumba but did 8STRIKES with the 8StrikeArmy!  This class.....words don't describe.  You must try for yourself.  Literally dripping sweat every second.  So sweaty that my gloves dyed my hands black.  Burning fire in my abs and legs.  Best energy with the best people. 

Temptation everywhere

Doesn't matter where I go....chocolate is following me!  It's my stalker.....
I'm so tempted with these cookies that Baili makes and then she shows up with a KING size Milky Way bar??? I could taste it BUT I was strong.  You know what.....I try to compare how I feel after I give in to these temptations verses how I feel once I get past that craving and then its so much easier to say NO.  It's always a good idea to leave the area of the treat. If your temptation is not sweets then you can not relate but I feel like a drug addict in those moments.  I can taste it in my mouth.  I try to hurry out of the store or leave the kitchen even though the smell of melting yumminess seems to be everywhere in my house....BACK AWAY FROM THE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES.....what would I do without that angel on my shoulder.

2 for 2

Today's the second day of my healthy eating restart.  I've been trying to motivate my family to eat healthy also.   My kids have a sugar tooth that they might get from me???? Lol

I also have a son that has Celiacs disease and cannot have any wheat in his food.  Last night we had gluten free rice pasta that was actually pretty good.  I'm loading up on veggies and salads and taking it light on the other stuff.  

Tonight I made a huge stir fry with asparagus, red, yellow & orange bell or peppers, carrots, red cabbage & red onion.  

I have found in the past when I eat a lot of veggies, it seems to boost my metabolism into gear and I loose weight faster

DAY ONE.....again

Every Monday is like groundhog day but Todays the Day! I'm excited and motivated.  Reminding myself that the journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.   Great workouts today.  Eating good and clean.  I've got this!!!!!

And then there's this....

It seems so easy!  And really it is.  It just requires motivation, determination, preparedness & the key ingredient for me WILL POWER.  Positive thinking.....

confessions of an OCD fitness instructor with a food addiction.....

Tonight I'm feeling two things.....like a major failure & highly motivated to be better. 
It's been about a week since I was on point with my challenge.  We had an amazing event here in Vegas and now hold the record for the largest Zumbathon in the USA.  It was a complete success and we had so much fun.  Unfortunately since then my "healthy eating"/ challenge has gone out the door.  I've mulled it over in my mind a million times, beating myself up for having white rice and Naan bread, which seems totally ridiculous BUT since then I've thrown all sense out the window when it comes to eating clean and healthy.
So enough about the problem, on to the solution......thankful for a new week tomorrow.  I have a plan to prep my food for the week and excited about working out.  I've been thinking about running and swimming but not sure where to squeeze those in with teaching pump & Zumba. 

Agghhh!

Today was tough.  I want BAGELS, BREAD & CEREAL.  I had lunch at Zupas and was good, ordered mango berry salad and cauliflower soup, but the afternoon I was just starving....not even craving treats, just wanna eat!  Almost gave in to candy bars at the Smiths checkout but didnt.  Hoping this feeling subsides soon.  

Cinco de Abs

Day 5 and Im obsessed with getting some great looking abs.  After Zumba today I tried some new exercises for abs and I LOVE THEM.....If you don't already know, I tend to have an addictive personality and I can feel myself being sucked into the vortex of ab obsession!  haha....not really but I love the feeling when you've worked hard and feel tighter.  I must say thought that the picture above is definitely true.  You can do crunches and sit-ups all day long but if you eat junk food and over eat carbs, you will never see those abs you've worked so hard for. 
Which leads me to my next picture....stay away from these....my lovely daughter Baili likes to bake trays of cookies at random and just leave them sitting in the kitchen tempting me.  I'm still in the withdrawal stage so I begin to salivate even looking at this picture let alone smelling the chocolate chips melting. 

I'm feeling strong though.  I accidently gave in to a half eaten bag of sour cream and onion chips sitting on my couch.  I didn't eat the whole thing, I just put two chips in my mouth and then was like UMM 911 what the heck am I doing.....I totally spit it into the trash can and didn't swallow it.  That was a huge accomplishment for me. 
Here's what we had for dinner.  Salmon, which I never liked but have found a taste for it, spicy baked sweet potato fries (gluten free for our son that has Celiacs Disease) and beautiful asparagus. 
I'm finding my taste and tolerance is changing and Im enjoying eating good things. 
Working hard to get these abs made in my kitchen.

It's all about choices

I'm CRAVING & WITHDRAWING.........
Excited to be past day three because by now I've usually given in to junk food and feel like a loser.
Instead I feel motivated and strong, well strong in the exercise area not so strong in the food area.  I've been good!  Real good, but I am totally craving chocolate and bread.  Walking around Smiths today I ALMOST bought a pan of squishy fresh white bread but quickly dumped it and hurried to the checkout where I bought candy bars for my kids???? That made no sense?  In the past these would not have made it home to my house.  They would have been demolished in the parking lot BUT I'm proud to say I said NO and felt empowered by that. 
In the past, when Ive given in to binging in the parking lot, I then fall into a bad place in my head.
Having battled some eating issues at college and having the mindset that "I can work it off in the gym" its really hard for me to keep some thoughts under control.  I have learned, however, that when I control my eating, I am such a better me. 
So I hurried home and made this beautiful salad instead and it was delicious.

Now you are wondering why I have this picture.....well, this was desert at Ryan (my 10yr olds) Cub Scout banquet tonight.  I saw it from across the room, the minute we walked in.  It's like FAT FOOD hears me coming.  I recommitted that I would not listen to it calling my name.  I was not having any.  Proud to say I didn't, even though I was sure I could taste the yummy Pirouline cookies melting in my mouth, it was just a dream!  I had some trail mix instead.  Day 4...pretty successful.  I definitely am struggling with the cravings but Im going to stay strong because I feel so good and hoping to see some changes in my body over the next couple of weeks. 

The highlight of my workout today, was sweating it out with these three guys at 8strikes.  This class is insanely fun.  I mean "fun" in a sadistic, "Im going to cry if I have to do another tuck jump" sort of way.  Seriously a great workout.....cardio and all over strength class.  I was kinda nursing my pulled muscle still so that was frustrating that I couldn't go all out but I did a flippin ton of pushups and can feel myself getting stronger all the time with those.  700+ calories later and Day 4 is over and done with......