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Tuesday, July 2, 2013

It's a WHILE...a very long while...

Since my last post! I'm so sorry...I'm jumping back in the saddle and will blog more than once every 2 months 😁.

So life's about the same...still working out, battling food and trying to get back my spirituality. 

If you have Instagram, Facebook or YouTube you need to start following my girl TrulyJess. She is AMAZING...seriously! She vlogs daily on YT and I love my morning times watching her vids. She has come a long way in a short time with her fitness. So this month she decided to host the #TrulyCOMMITTED challenge and I'm partaking for sure! 

Check out today's WOD: 

I started May Cause Miracles again...
 
TTYL!

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Whoa...it's been a month and a HALF!!!

Wowsers....it's been that long since I last blogged. Somebody get the whip out!

So, what have you been up to?!

I'm super excited to tell you that the 3rd Annual Bikini Series has finally hit the internet waves! Yes ma'am...Karena and Katrina are at it again. Check out this video intro about the Bikini Series...


And here is the vid explaining the GRAND PRIZE up for grabs...


So it officially started last Tuesday (I think). And K&K have already dished out like 3 workouts for us - a couple of cardio seshs and then this bad boy (which I haven't done yet, BUT will today).


The series is 8 weeks long until the 1st day of Summer. I'm also sticking with Kathleen Tesori's Cutting Program - check it out here. K.T. is another of my fav fitness professionals to follow. Check out her 360 Fitness vid - I guarantee you'll love her as much as me!



So...are you going to join me in the Bikini Series?! Let's get this moving ladies!

TTYL

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Day 2 - PDL

Question to consider: I know that God created me. What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?

My answer: I struggle with ALOT when it comes to accepting different areas of who I am. I don't like me as a whole sometimes for different reasons. I don't like how I act sometimes...rude and ugly to the ones who love me. I judge others with ugly thoughts. I try to stay away from gossip but find myself jumping in the conversation sometimes. Its hard for me to show love to the ones who mean the most to me. I have never liked or loved my body. I've been chunky or fat my whole life. I always envied the girls at school who could wear whatever they wanted or had the size boobs I wanted. Why couldn't I have that body?! Why did I have to be a chunkster? And to this day I have body issues...I'm still striving for that "perfect" body.

Till the next chapter...

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Day 1 - The Purpose Driven Life

Question to consider: In spite of all the advertising around me, how can I remind myself that life is really about living for God, not myself?

My answer: I don't know! I'm a person who jumps on one idea and goes with it for a while until I'm tired of having to do it over and over again. It's something I'm working on. For example, I started the year pumped to read lots of books. I got to reading like 3 at a time and then I would get behind and eventually I would just stop reading all together. I'm focusing on reading one book at a time.

Till the next chapter...

Thursday, March 7, 2013

#SheReadsTruth Study

This just spoke out to me tremendously. I've heard Dr. Wayne Dyer say this exact same thing in his move The Shift.

If you're interested in deepening your understanding of God and the bible I suggest investing some time in bible studies.

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Emeals UPDATE!

So, I've been a subscriber to Emeals for about a month now. When I originally joined I chose the Paleo Family Plan. Well, let me start off by saying that I had not eaten anything I did not like on this plan. It was all delish and never left me feeling with that "ugh...I'm bloated feeling" before bed or even when I woke up the next morning. Then enters a lil bitty problem...MY DAUGHTER WASN'T EATING! Yeah, I know as a good mother your children should be eating dinner with you and not just chips. Chips are not classified as a healthy dinner - at least not every night! So after getting hammered by the hubster I decided to try the Classic Family Plan. BINGO...we now have an eating daughter!

This plan is just like the Paleo...the names may sound weird and scare you off but the recipes are truly easy to make. They incorporate crockpot cooking (which I LOVES!) along with all the American classics you can think of. However, they do have somewhat of a twist on their recipes...they aren't just your typical meatloaf. Like tonight I'm making Honey BBQ meatloaf - mmmm...my mouth is watering. The best thing I love about Emeals is that you have sides. When I started meal planning on my own that was a problem I had...what sides do I make. So I kind of went into having the same 'ol potatoes, mac, and corn. Now we have variety.

And guess what...I don't spend a lot of time planning meals anymore. Every Wednesday I get an email with the new recipes for the week. You can choose to make all of them or just some of them. I like to mix it up sometimes...so when I see a recipe from another blog or Pinterest that I must try I add it to the calendar. Yes, I put my meals on my Google calendar which syncs up with my phone.

I highly recommend giving it a try. It takes all the stress out of planning the meals...unless that's what you like doing!


SAVE TIME AND MONEY WITH EMEALS MEAL PLANS


When you go to their website (just click the box above) you can actually view a sample menu from the different plans available. They also have breakfast and lunch options.

Let me know what you think...

Friday, March 1, 2013

Cinnamon Swirl Protein Bars...WHA WHA!!!

Ok kiddos...this is no joke when I tell ya get on this recipe ASAP! I swear it tastes just as bad-for-your-hips cinnamon rolls minus the ooey gooey icing.

I had a moment of weakness last weekend and ate 3 servings....yes...I know!

I'm going to try to make some more this weekend - most likely on Sunday. I may even make another one of her protein bars to try out.


And as for the protein - I used the new one I got recently. It's Gaspari Nutrition's Myofusion Elite Protein in Peanut Butter Cookie Dough. And even though it really doesn't taste like what I thought PB cookie dough would taste like...it's still YUM-O! And like I said...these protein bars were HELLA DELISH even with another flavor of protein powder other than vanilla.

Do you have any protein bar recipes that you can't live without?! Tell me about it...STUD!

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Fitness UPDATE!

I'm all over the place when it comes to my fitness regime. Are you the same way? I'll start something with good intentions of finishing the program whether its 60 days, 90 days, 12 weeks...whatever...but soon after I fall off the wagon because I want to do something else.

Well, you'll be sooo proud of me this time! I started Jamie Eason's LiveFit trainer program. HOWEVER, I must insert that I am not following the nutrition plan nor am I following the workout program to a T. I started it mainly because I wanted to get back in the gymnasio, literally, and build some sexy mama muscles! And let me tell ya...this strength program is no joke. My upper body could literally not function properly for the first week or so. It was ridiculous...but in a good way. So tomorrow starts week 3 and let me tell ya...I haven't gotten bored or wanted to start another program. I'm wondering if it's because I'm forcing myself to get out of my comfort zone (entering the man zone of the gym). But I have equipped myself with "tools" that help me to figure out what I should be doing on what machines. I've made a journal that has my workouts in it (I just simply printed off the workouts from Bodybuilding.com and taped them into a small notebook) and I also downloaded the Bodybuilding.com app to my IPhone. This app shows all the exercises that I'm doing and even have a short video of proper form if you need it. With these two "tools" I have been able to go to the gym ALONE (without hubby or son) and have been able to complete my workouts. Now from time to time I have had to alter an exercise because I couldn't find the right machine or because the machine was taken by someone else. I do have to admit I get a little P.O.'d when there seems to always be someone on the machine I want to use...but I have to remind myself that it's not a big deal and I can still get in a good workout with some slight modifications. Anyhoo....week 3 is now 5 days of training...yippee!

So I mentioned that I was not following her plan to a T and that is because her plan requires NO CARDIO only strength training for the first 4 weeks. I've been doing a 10 minute warmup and anywhere from 10 - 30 minutes of cardio afterwards. I don't recall a day where I've done nothing but cardio so I have cut back on that and I'm ok with it. I have also added in some Tone It Up workouts when I was not feeling like I was getting a total body part worked. I love the Tone It Up girls' ab workouts...they are the BEST! The next day or so after doing one you'll feel like you are wearing a girdle...seriously...that is how much they WERK DEM ABS! ahaha!

And since today is an "off" day for Jamie's program I've decided to do all the Love Your Body workouts 2 times. This whole serious does not miss a beat when it comes to working you. You'll love it! Below are the videos from the series and it's all available on YouTube...








Give one or all of them a try TODAY!

Aggieland...

This weekend we are in College Station...home to the 12th man...Texas A&M! And please don't think I'm crossing over - this girl is still a Longhorn fan \m/. My son is playing in a lacrosse tourney down here.

For lunch we stopped at Layne's. Its a chicken strip dive created by an Aggie for Aggies. What's on the menu?! Ding ding ding ding ding...CHICKEN STRIPS! Honestly there was nothing amazing about the place except for their "secret" sauce. I'd recommend it just because of the local feel of it.





Wednesday, February 27, 2013

The Purpose Driven Life

Hold up everybody...the book fell off the shelf for me this past Sunday. Pastor Rick Warren was on Oprah's Lifeclass talking about our purpose. I immediately grabbed my Kindle and downloaded the book. This book has made it's appearance in my life numerous times but I've always put it on the back burner. But not this time! There was something different, a power greater than myself telling me I needed to read it and I needed to read it NOW!

So welcome to today...day 3 of PDL! Here's something that just popped out at me:

"Without a purpose, life is motion without meaning, activity without direction, and events without reason. Without a purpose, life is trivial, petty, and pointless."

AMAZING...

If you ever wonder what you are here for I suggest you get this book. The newly updated version comes with video intros and sermons from Pastor Warren.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

yOgA...is where it's at!

Do you do yoga? I love doing yoga...the bad thing is that I don't do it nearly as much as I'd like to. So in my day I have been watching yoga videos from Tara Stiles. Now all I want to do is get out of this place and go do some yoga...ASAP! Go grab your yoga mat folks...

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Ooo! Shiny! - Chapter 2 of Let. It. Go. OBS

Let me start off my saying...if you've never read this book GO OUT AND GET IT ASAP! Run to your closest Barnes & Noble...get on Amazon and download it to your Kindle...do what you must BUT get the dang book in your hands!

We are on chapter 2 right now and this book is sooo speaking to me! The author has a great way of just connecting with you...at least with me she does. It feels like a close, longtime friend giving me advice on how to live my life the way God intended us to.

So chapter 2 is about discovering what tangents are getting in your way. Things you do that are not necessary in your life but have become somewhat of an obsession and have caused you to lack in some other area of your life. For me that tangent is Facebook. I know, I know...we all are on FB these days. Its a great way to stay in touch with family and friends. It's a great way to make new friends. OR be apart of an online bible study! However, sometimes....ok a lot of the time I can get out of hand checking my news feed. Seriously...I can! So I've made some changes recently which have caused me to not be on FB so much - let's just say I'm only now getting on FB about half the time I was before. This addiction to FB was causing me to not be present when I was with my family. FB was more important - what tha?! What kind of mother does that make me?! UGH...I know...it's horrible. But changes are what are coming! I'm now more dedicated to becoming a spiritual person. One who gives her life over to God. He has the wheel in my life or so that is what I'm working towards. And it's hard let me tell ya. To go from thinking about God every once in a blue moon to deliberately thinking about Him everyday is a big step and something that is sometimes hard to remember to do. It's a lifestyle change that takes work. Work that I am willing to do.

What tangents are in your life that are causing you to lack in another area? We all have them...'fess up now!!!

I love this song...so enjoy!

Sunday, February 3, 2013

New OBS: Let. It. Go.

I started a new bible today! We went to the gym and I read chapter 1 and part of chapter 2. It's already "speaking" to me. I love it when authors write and it's like they made the book just for you.

This book is about letting go of our control-freak tendencies and allowing God to take the wheel.

I also read Day 19 of May Cause Miracles. Today is about forgiving my ego's perception of my body. Forgiveness is the "F" word!

Have a great Sunday 😃




Friday, February 1, 2013

Guess Who Joined Emeals....

Did you guess?! Who is it?! MEEEEEE....

Yep, I finally took the plunge after my friend at work told me the great success she has had with the service. She sent me a sample Paleo menu for the week. I have not made all the recipes because they give you recipes for 7 days. And who cooks 7 days a week?! Well, not me at least - ahaha! So at this point I've made 3 of the meals and can I tell ya that I feel so much better eating this way. I'm not bloated and super full like before. And for this one week it did seem as though I saved some dinero at the store. It's like lately I'm not walking out of the grocery store without spending between $150 - $200 a WEEK - EEK! And at this point I'm going through Financial Peace University from Dave Ramsey - so spending that amount a week is not bueno...


eMeals - Easy Meals for Busy People!


 Dinner has been a hard meal to control my eating. I can do good all day at work and then when I get home it's a whole other story. Sad to say but true! So I'm not sure exactly what the Paleo diet consists of but all I know is that for dinner I'm eating more lean and clean. Not so much carbs at night which is what I need. I'm the kind of girl that seems to get stuck in a rut and make the same thing over and over. And then you have to have sides...what tha?! Same 'ol mac and cheese, potatoes, green beans...

So I'm excited to start this journey with Emeals....

You should check it out if you are struggling like myself!

Check ya later!

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Grateful...

Yesterday morning I took my dog Buddy for a morning jog and let me tell ya it was amazing! We haven't been jogging since it started getting cold...so like 2 months or so. And that's a long time when you really enjoy outdoor running. I'm a runner - ha! I may jog...but I'm a runner! Anyways, the feeling of just being out in the open air jogging down the pavement...there is just something about it. Holla at me if you feel me!

Anyways, my morning jogs are not just for exercise. That's a great reason to jog, but my NOW main reason for jogging in the early morning is to get my mind filled with the good stuff. The motivating and inspiring stuff. Now don't get me wrong...there are days when I like to blast DJ Khaled's Out Here Grindin' - that's my running jam!

I do this for the streets...the runners!
Sorry...got a little sidetracked! Anyways, so my morning jogs consist of listening to the good stuff. I like to fill my mind with goodness before it officially begins that way I can be more positive through out the day. But sometimes being positive is trying! My mornings are spent with Eric Thomas aka The Hip Hop Preacher. I never imagined myself someone who could run without listening to music but I now can. I love it. If you've never listened to him...check out his new mixtape. That's right a motivational speaker with a mixtape. The music that was put with his messages are so good. Go check it out here. I have both mixtapes downloaded on my IPhone plus a season of TGIM and anything FREE that I can find of his!



So, the point of this blog is basically to say that one thing I'm so grateful for is the ability to wake every morning and choose to go out in the world and fill my mind with the "good stuff". Ok...make it two things I'm grateful for...the ability to enjoy the beauty of the trees and inhale the crisp fresh air while I'm on my jogs. My jogs are now mediational for me...is that even a word?!

What are you thankful for today?


Thursday, January 24, 2013

Day 15 - MCM - Body Image



This week we are working on how we love our body or treat our bodies. I'm going to start blogging my answers to the Evening Exercises as my way of "journaling".

Affirmation: My false perceptions of my body are an attack. Today I choose love instead of my ego's perception.

What are my ego's fearful beliefs about my body?
My ego's fearful beliefs are that my body is and never will be good enough. That I will never be comfortable in my body. It will never be "perfect".

How are my negative thoughts affecting my energy?
My negative thoughts are affecting my energy because the negativity becomes the norm. I don't know what it's like to even just like my body somewhat. I've always had a hate/hate relationship with it. I've always wondered why I wasn't lucky enough to have a cute little figure.

How has my ego made me think my body is special (better than others/separate)?
The only time my ego makes me think my body is better than someone else's is when it sees their flaws. Or if they are bigger than me.

How has my ego convinced me to see other bodies as more special?
My ego convinces me that other ladies have a better body than me by making me envy their bodies. Their bodies are how I want mine to look. So I am constantly setting myself up thinking one day I'll have a body like theirs.

How have my fears from the past created negative body behaviors?
My fears from the past have created negative body behaviors by filling my "voids" with food. I will eat when I'm lonely, when I'm happy, when I'm bored or when I'm simply alone.

In what ways have your ego body perceptions from the past negatively affected your behavior?
The majority of my relationship with food is based on my negative thoughts. Food is my comfort.


GOALS Thursday!

Today is my weekly goals day! I write down 10 goals I'd like to accomplish in a year. Every week you write them again but you can't look back at the previous week(s) to see what you wrote. So here's mine! Have you written down your goals?!

Book Updates!

So, I've got a couple of books that I'm going through right now.

This week I've gotten a little behind with May Cause Miracles by Gabby Bernstein. But I'm on week two and it's all about loving your body! I so need this so I'm going to take my time on this one. Today's "Miracle Moment" is: My false perceptions of my body are an attack. Today I choose love instead of my ego's perceptions. So appropriate for me. I have struggled with body image since I was a young girl. As a mom of a young girl, I don't want her to struggle with it. However, the thing is that kids often follow in your footsteps even if you are verbally telling them another thing. They pick up on how you treat yourself and they tend to treat themselves the same way. Here's a little quick vid on Gabby explaining this week's focus:


I also, literally, just started reading Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst. One of my friends, April mentioned she was reading it and blogged about her feelings on it over here. I bought this book last year to read with an online bible study, but I guess I just wasn't ready for it. This year is different though. This year my spirituality is very important to me and so I guess it just now makes since. I read chapter one yesterday and can't wait to continue. It's all about how God created us to crave...BUT to crave Him not food, alcohol, drugs, sex, etc. Only to crave Him. Here's another vid for ya!



What books are you reading right now?!

Friday, January 18, 2013

Sex and the City...The Movie

Guess what's on T.V. - it is! Sex and the City - The Movie. And I love watching the story of 4 friends who are always there for each other. I know I may sound pitiful, but I long for friendships like this. How amazing is it that you can have girlfriends that you know will always have your back no matter what. How amazing is that these are the same girlfriends that you can tell anything to and know they won't judge you. We all need to have friends...friends that we can trust with our lives, with our kids, with our whole life.

I guess my whole life I hadn't felt that connection except to one other girl. The only problem is that I don't want just one...I want several to spend my life with. I want to be able to go to Ladies Nites or brunches or lunch with my girls. I know that I have pushed away a lot of ladies who could have been friends and that is something I'm working on. 

I know that I have A LOT of work to do when it comes to myself...

Here's to 2013 and making new life long friends!!!

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Manifesting Your Desires...

Sounds kinda freaky...huh?! But it's not...really it's not. We all have the ability to do it. To get what we've always wanted. All you have to do is manifest it. Well how do you do this Stephanie?! GET RID OF THOSE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS! And yes, I know it's hard. I'm the girl whose head only tells her she can't or she's not good enough. Where has this lead me in my life? To a life of negativity and living a life of just passing by.

I don't want to "just pass by" anymore. I want it all. I want to help others. I want to be super duper successful. And let me remind you, "success" is what each one of us chooses it to be. For instance...I want to be financially independent and debt free. To me that is success. To someone else that may not be. I want to be not only a student of A Course In Miracles, but also a teacher. When I can become a teacher that will be success...to ME! But maybe not to Joe down the road.

I've been reading May Cause Miracles by Gabrielle Bernstein. I HIGHLY recommend it if you are interested in learning how to love yourself and how to stop being so dang negative. You may not be negative towards others, but you seriously are your own worst enemy. We beat ourselves up in a WAY worse way than we'd let anyone else do. And that negative thinking about ourselves has become our reality.



"Your intention creates your reality." ~ Dr. Wayne Dyer

Till next time y'all...HAVE A MIRACULOUS DAY!

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Financial Peace?! Is There Such A Thing?! + Turbo Jam

Financial Peace...two words that obviously don't go together for the vast majority of us. But look no further cause this chica is enrolled in Financial Peace University! You may be asking...so what is FPU? FPU is Dave Ramsey's course on getting your finances right the way God intended you to. God doesn't like the fact that we are in debt, that we borrow money, that we live paycheck-to-paycheck. So why do we? Because we try to live our lives our way and not His.

Starting this Sunday, January 13th I will be going to FPU at my church and learning how to handle our money. Now I've taken this course before and if you work the plan it works. However, if you veer off the path like me you may struggle to get back on which is why I decided to take it again. I need that support from others in the same situation. It's nice to be able to count on others for support!

You know what's funny...as I typed that I was thinking that its the same with health and fitness. Most of us struggle with it so why is it so difficult for us to look towards other for support? We always want to do everything on our own. I know...I'm the same way. Which is why I'll be starting a fitness/health challenge on February 4th. I'm gearing it towards other moms but anyone is more than welcome to join. We'll be doing Turbo Jam together. If you don't what Turbo Jam is watch below!


Our little group will be accountable to one another through this program. If you are totally interested in joining me send me an email here.You can choose to purchase the program alone or as a Challenge Pack. Challenge Packs offer Turbo Jam along with a 30-Day supply of Shakeology. The Challenge Pack is really the way to go!

I can't wait to start this challenge with you! I also can't wait to start FPU!

Cheers!

Friday, January 4, 2013

W.O.T.D. ~ 01.03.13

Hey there! So below is my workout for yesterday. I'm going to be REALLY good the next 6 weeks because I'm partcipating in two challenges that end on Valentine's Day.

The first is Tone It Up's Love Your Body challenge which started January 1. Check it out here.

And then I'm hosting a 30-day Shakeology challenge - woop woop! Just replace one meal a day with Shakeology for 30 days and get moving. Your workouts can be whatever you like whether it is a Beachbody program (and we have some great packages that include the workout program along with a bag of Shakeology at a DISCOUNT!) OR you go to your gym, get moving outside...whatever you want! JUST MOVE! We are starting this challenge on Monday, January 14. My hubby will be doing the challenge with me so hopefully your sweetie will join you! Order your ShakeO here.

So after all that are you sitting there in anticipation for what my workout was?! Well here ya go...

After two days of running intervals with the Tone It Up chicas my groin and hip flexors were sooorrreee. So in the A.M. I did the Sunset workout from TIU.


Followed by some short Tara Stiles yoga.

For my P.M. workout I had planned on going to the gym to do another cardio circuit from TIU but my legs still hurt. So I went home and did this yoga video from Tara Stiles. It was wonderful...you should try it out!



Oh hot dang...I almost forgot to mention that I'm also doing Chalene Johnson's 30-Day Challenge. Yesterday's assignment was to come up with 10 goals that I'd like to accomplish in the next year. So here ya go...BA BAM!

  1. I wear a size 6 comfortably.
  2. I am a life coach.
  3. I am DEBT FREE!
  4. I practice my meditation/spirituality everyday.
  5. I quit my J.O.B.
  6. I am a Diamond Beachbody coach.
  7. I make $1500 per week.
  8. I vacation 2 - 3 times per year.
  9. I have a good relationship with food.
  10. I am a teacher of A Course In Miracles.

So what are your goals for the year?! Leave them in a comment below...

Till tomorrow...