Friday, March 15, 2013

Chipotle Fish Tacos

Marinade
1/8 C olive oil
2 tbsp white vinegar
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tbsp lime zest
1 1/2 tsp honey
2 cloves minced garlic
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp hot sauce
s & P
1 lb tilapia filets or other whitefish

Dressing
8 oz greek yogurt
1/2 seasoning packet "chipotle rub" (I found one on the isle with the marinade packets)
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tsp lime zest
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp chili powder
s & p to taste

Toppings
1 pkg corn tortillas
chopped tomatoes
chopped red onion
avocado slices
chopped cilantro
shredded cabbage
lime wedges

1. combine all ingredients and pour over fish filets.
2. refridgerate at least 1 hour - up to overnight
3. remove fish from marinade and grill 4 minutes each side or until opaque. meanwhile prepare dressing
4. crumble/flake fish and place in warmed tortillas.  top with dressing and toppings
5. enjoy guilt-free fish tacos!

With the ingredients I used, it was 411 calories for 2 tacos




Skinny Pesto Chicken Pizza


Ingredients
1 store bought thin whole wheat pizza crust
1/4 C sotre bought basil pesto sauce
1 chicken breast - thinly sliced and sauteed
1/2 C sliced fresh mushrooms
2 roma tomatoes - sliced
3 cloves garlic - minced
1/4 C reduced fat feta crumbles
1/8 C fresh grated parmesan
1/2 C reduced fat shredded cheese of choice (I used colby jack)
1/2 tbsp pizza seasoning
s & p to taste

1. Place crust on a a pizza tray and spread surface with pesto sauce. 

2.  Place toppings in any order you like.  I did tomatoes, mushrooms, garlic, chicken, feta, parmesan, colby-jack and then seasonings.

3. Bake at 375* 12-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and crispy at edges.

4. Enjoy guilt-free pizza!

My calculations with products I used were 340 cals/2 pieces of pizza or 1/4 of the pizza


Monday, April 16, 2012

The Inevitable

After many ups and downs, prayers and hopes, it looks like the inevitable is here.  My grandpa is at the end of the road.  As my family makes a last minute scramble to pack and drive to Florida, i have decided to stay behind.  I can't be sure that I won't regret my decision but I have to trust that my gut instincts are good. 

Exactly 7 months ago my grandpa was leading me across the dance floor on the best day of my life.  I wouldn't have believed that he would be leaving us just a short time later.  Just 2 days from today, I am supposed to be boarding a plane to visit him and my grandma.  So many unexpected turns have left me feeling confused and uncertain.

I know for certain that my memory of dancing with vibrant, smiling, happy grandpa is the one I want to keep.  I also know that a short time from now, he will know exactly how I feel and he will be dancing and vibrant again.  Tonight, my thoughts, memories and prayers with my grandpa and my grandma.


Monday, March 5, 2012

February Changed It All

Every time I hit a goal, or in some cases obliterate a goal, I realize that my potential is far greater than I give myself credit.  There were many years in my life where I held the belief that I was an un-athletic person.  That I HATED running.  That I was incapable of ever being a tiny person, because I "just wasn't born that way".  That fat people are incapable of running, it's scientifically too difficult. 

Today, just 3 months into my new plan for life, I have radically changed my beliefs, and my health.  I've blown my weight loss and athletic goals out of the water and now for the first time in my life I actually believe that I am capable of any goal I set for myself.  In light of my new outlook, I've revised my 2012 bucket list as follows:

1.  Not only will I lose 50lbs by May, I will do it by the end of March.

2.  I will see 100lb weight loss this year.

3. I've already hit my goal to run a 5k, so I will run a 5k in 30 mins.

4.  I will do at least 1 un-assisted pull-up

Who knows where the path will take me.  I know for sure that my life is already changed and I can't contain the excitement I have for the future.  It's a whole new world of opportunities that I never considered possible!

39lbs lost

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

My "Life Diet"

I started my "life diet" on December 10, so it's been almost 10 weeks now.  I call it my "life diet" because after many failed attempts at fad diets, I've learned for myself that they don't work  I wanted to take control of my life and everything in it so I started with the physical me. 

Here's what I've done:
1. maintain a 1200-1500 calorie/day diet
2. 5-7 days/week of exercise (at least 30 min moderate-intense cardio and 30 min weight/resistance)
3. cut out all soda including diet soda waters
4. 2 days/week vegetarian diet(because I would like to eat vegetarian for my own reasons).
5.  aim for at least 75%of food to be natural (no preservatives, refined sugars, sat fats, etc.)
6. I've tried...and failed...several times, to cut out alcohol.  I'll keep trying.

My goals for 2012:
1. Hit the "wonder-club" by May 4th, 2012
2. Lose at least 50lbs this year
3. Run a 5k
4. Do an unassisted pull-up(never done that in my life)
5. run a 10 min mile

The results so far:
1. I've lost 23lbs so far, only 16 to go for my May goal
2. I ran my 1st 5k last weekend and hit my goal time!
3. I ran a 12 min mile this morning....im getting there
4. overall lost 36lbs total!!!
5. dropped 4 pants sizes

 before                                                                                                    after

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Why Am I Doing This?

  For so long now, I have been longing for a change.  I'm not talking about a new job, a vacation or a fresh haircut.  I'm talking about the kind of thing that changes EVERYTHING.  I long for my facade to match the my soul.  I long to have meaning and relevance in the world and to inspire change.  I pray for the bravery and audacity to stake my claim in the world.  I yearn to gather my share of abundance and give back all that God has given me to share. 

My longing isn't the naive idea of a life of unending. blissful happiness.  It's a hopeful belief that my great potential is being drowned by fear, and learned behavior.  Should such an idea be true then we would all be capable of changing our circumstances and therefor our path by simply changing the way we respond to our surroundings.

My dear friend Jill has often posed to me a brilliant question. 
"What would you do if you had no fear, if fear was irrelevant?"
I ponder that question tonight as I contemplate where my path will take me.  What if we could take away all the things that immobilize us?  I can't shake the thought that there is a LOT more to life than this.  We can't possibly be meant for an existence of trudging through life fat, broke, depressed and unfulfilled.

After a year of losses, sadness and fear I never thought I could endure, I have realized one thing; that it's far scarier to cling to the edge in fear than it is to just let go and give in to your instincts.  My "terrible year" has given me the ability to see and feel again.  I'm setting a goal tonight to constantly ask myself  "Why am I doing this?".  and "What would I do if fear were irrelevant?"

-Shandra