My chipotle salad.

I love chipotle salads but they put in to many onions for me. Therefore, I now make my own version. 1 cup brown rice (yellow), 1/2 c. Mango salsa (1/2 purple), lettuce and tomatoes (1 green), cheese (1 blue) and black beans (1/2 to 1 red).It works so much better for me. Pineapple salsa is also good. If you want to add a kick add a bit of Franks's red hot sauce.

Today was a good day. New Recipe! #21dfe

I have struggled with bursitis and IT band issues. This can mean running is great, painful, or just something to get through.

Today was a great day. I managed an easy 7 miles for the first time in a long time.  My hip issues have kept me maxed out around 5 miles for way to long.  I would like to run the Chicago 1/2 marathon some time, so why not start retraining now.

I wanted to fuel up afterwards but in a good way.  I have my chocolate shakeology and then made lunch.  My newest recipe is below, I changed it up to make it super filling and healthy.  Even my kids like it. That says a lot.

21 Day Fix Extreme #21dfx

The 21 day fix extreme has arrived and I am sore!! The workouts will take you to a new level. If you are ready for a challenge let me know!

The new recipes are tasty too! One of the first ones I made was a turkey taco lettuce wrap. You could also put this on shredded lettuce and add a blue container of cheese for a taco salad.  Oddly, it tastes like taco meat with packets, but almost no sodium!

A new recipe for the week - Meatless Monday! Chana Masala

This is a recipe I haven't made in a long time. Over time I have changed how I made it and made it much easier to find items.  It is a vegan recipe and one my husband would say is authentic. (That is high praise considering I took out a few ingredients).

It isn't to hard to make and takes about 15 minutes of prep and 10 minutes of cooking. Pair this with some Naan bread for a great and filling meatless Monday

A slow way to make changes - Michi's Ladder

Food choices always surprise me. I will admit, I am a woman I have cravings and somedays you just have to follow them.  If you deny yourself forever you will always be hungry. It is interesting though that as I have been eating cleaner my body craves different things now.  I used to crave cheese and don't as much anymore and now consider sushi a treat. Yesterday I had to stop at my favorite place and grab a roll.

Michi's Ladder has food in Tiers. The healthier the food, the higher up it is. This is a great way to make slow changes one item at a time.  A lot of people who count macros (IIFYM) follow Micha's ladder.

I challenge you to see what you eat off tier 4 or  5 and see if you can give it up for a week, swap it for something on tier 3. After that how about tier 2?

On a different note I have found a happy running place again. I am not pushing it as much and trying to run for fun. These are short, interval runs (3-5 miles). I think what gave me the biggest boost is a new iTunes playlist and a new veto playlist. Let's face it, we already have negative wind chills here, and snow. Outdoor running has already become icy and injuries are never fun. I am hoping to keep finding new music, it always makes run so much more enjoyable.

Making Changes

I was watching a video someone posted from the Coaches Summit this last summer when Shaun T was talking. He was talking about how you have to accept yourself before anyone else can.

Everyone always thinks, "I will be happier when I am 10lbs lighter". The issue with this is how much happier could you be now knowing you are making big changes that will affect your life and those around you?

I know I have always been the above person. I know I still have 10lbs to go since my adrenal fatigue and deficiencies made my body go wonky last year.  BUT I have so much more than last year! I am strong, I can lift now more than before (should my kitchen ever light on fire again I know I can lift my 4 year olds and run). I have lost inches but not weight which tells me I have gained muscle. I am helping reduce my chances of osteoporosis, my bursitis in my hip is improving, my running is better, I am eating SO much cleaner, my kids are too. I have helped impact other people to think about their health and make healthier choices.

So sometimes we all need to take a step back. Accept ourselves for the great things we can and are doing. Not what we want to do.

I love a great Peanut Sauce!

So I love Peanut Sauce. What I don't like is everything added in that I have no idea what is really in there. For me eating clean is about making what I eat and knowing what goes in my food.  To top it off I like things spicy.  Most peanut sauces are a bit of a let down. Making my own with this recipe I love to add extra garlic siracha.  I will say if you make the recipe the garlic siracha is way better than just a regular old siracha.

I tend to make this and stir a bit into quinoa with chickpeas ( or shelled edamame) and tomatoes. It is so good, yet healthy. Who doesn't love tasty food! So give it a try and let me know what you think. It is super easy, vegan, and usually most of these items are in the house.

#PinoftheDay
#Fit4Fun13
#beachbody

Quinoa, tomatoes, edamae, peanut Sauce

Thai Peanut Sauce