Moving right along...

Hello all!  I know I go MIA at times, but that's just part of walking with me in my flip flops!  Life is crazy... and I thought as I got older it wouldn't be... kids are growing up, starting lives of their own... but mine keeps getting crazier!  Didn't think that was going to happen.

So to catch you all up on the happs around my neck of the woods.  Starting to get back on track after having my inflammation flare up.  Finally!  Amazing to me how food and lack of exercise can affect your body, either positively or negatively.   Once again reminds me of why I started this blog in the first place.  I truly hope that I can help someone, even if it only be one person... I will feel accomplished.  If you need help, please reach out to me and let me help you.   I have spend years struggling, figuring out what works and what doesn't, and lost over 100 lbs doing it.  I'm not a professional, I am just your average gal, with your average everyday problems.  However, I am learning that I deserve to be healthy and so do you.

This week, I'm hoping to get in the kitchen and create a healthy something, something to share with you all.  It's time I must admit!  My garden is just kicking in and we are going to have zucchini coming out our ears soon!  I am sure my recipe will have something to do with those... just a hunch!  Workouts this week will be the 21 day fix workouts.  They really do wonders for me when I am doing them everyday.  The exciting part of my week is the arrival of the new PIYO!  I have been waiting a super long time for this and ordered it the day it came out.  It's led by my favorite fitness guru, Chalene Johnson.  She is the Turbo Fire genius, and I am,  and always.  will be a Turbo girl.  I started my weight loss journey doing Turbo Jam, which seemed like ages ago!  Her new PIYO is great for beginners and elite athletes.  No equipment is needed... "Your Body Is Your Gym"!  PIYO is a combination of Yoga and Pilates, but don't let that fool you!  You will burn amazing calories, get lean and defined without jumping and straining your joints. Totally exciting!  Here's a little sample of what it is...

So.. until later this week peeps!  Recipe on it's way... PiYo on it's way!  Great week ahead!  If you want to join me, I will be having a,  PiYO challenge group starting on the 7th of July!  Email me for more info at karimarkel@yahoo.com.

Here's to a great week ahead!

Holy Zucchini Noodles Batman!

I think it's funny that we control our own destiny, and yet sometimes we chose to make decisions that may be good at the time, but you regret later.  Living with Autoimmune disease can be a bitch!  The worst part about it, is that I have learned to keep mine at bay, yet there are times when I falter a little and then I'm the bitch!

If I stray from my diet, stray from my workouts a tad... my body truly pays for it.  Why oh why I wonder why I can't be like other people.  Anyone that has a disease or disorder to manage can attest that we all feel like that at times.  I really have to bring myself down to earth and remind myself that I DO know how to control it, and fix it... so get back to business and quit feeling sorry for yourself!

I did it... had an autoimmune attack and the only one to blame was myself.  What does it feel like?  Well just as an example... this cardio queen can't even make it up a flight of stairs when she feels like this without huffing and puffing.  My joints ache, I have no energy, I swell, and I can't seem to get enough sleep.  When does this happen?  When I get busy, caught up in life, and don't cook and plan my meals properly.  It also happens when I am not exercising!  So for those of you who suffer Autoimmune disease... hear me loud and clear!  IT IS OK TO EXERCISE!  Often times I read that people with Autoimmune disease should limit their exercise, I beg to differ with you.  Of course, you must have proper nutrition to go along with that or you won't have the energy to get through it.  It all works hand in hand. Physical activity boosts physical energy, endorphins produced are like a natural pain killers and it also reduces inflammation.  So even when you don't feel like moving... a little moving can go a long way for the way you feel.

Summer is not my favorite time of the year, but the one thing I love most is my trips to the Farmer's Market. My counter ends up looking like this every week... Beautiful huh?

I got the most amazing tool for Mother's day which I must share with you of course.  I have had my eye on this handy dandy vegetable slicer for some time.  Drum roll please...

This contraption was going to make my Farmer's market finds come to life... I just knew it... and it did...

Are those the most beautiful Zucchini noodles you've ever seen or what?  Freaking amazing!  Those my friends are the best damn thing to sliced bread!  (Gluten Free bread in my case of course.) The family was a tad bit reluctant because of my zucchini noodle experiments in the past, but they didn't know what goodness was about to dance into their tummies.  A healthy sauce had to be made to smother these baby's, so I pulled out the butternut squash cheese-like sauce and they were a match made in heaven! So forks up peeps for this anti inflammatory meal!

Comfort Zucchini

4 Zucchini Spiralized

1 Butternut Squash

1 1/2  tbsp Ghee

3/4 Cup Coconut Milk

6 tbsp Nutritional Yeast

1 tbsp Arrow Root

2 tsp Yellow Spicy Mustard

1 tbsp Lemon Juice

1/4 tsp Garlic Powder 

1/2 tsp Onion Powder

1 tsp Red Pepper Flakes

Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Cut Squash in half, and place face down in a Pyrex.  Fill with water about a 1/4 inch and place in oven until squash is tender.  In saucepan add 1 tbsp Ghee, whisk in coconut milk and arrow root powder until smooth. Stir in the rest of the ingredients (minus the zucchini of course and continue to whisk until it has thickened.  It takes about 5 min.  Remove from heat and set aside.  (It will thicken a tad more while it sits.)  In a saute pan, add 1/2 tbsp ghee and saute zucchini until it softens a bit.  Add sauce to noodles and mix well.  Serve up and Enjoy!  

Cauliflower? Say What?

Back to life, Back to reality!  It might be a sick thought, but I have grown addicted to my little 21 day fix containers.  When I am eating good and focusing on being healthy... I feel really good.  I honestly haven't had any autoimmune flare ups... and that is just amazing to me.  I am a firm believer in the fact that food can heal as I have said before, but the last few months my healing has gong to new levels.

This last weekend was Mother's Day weekend.  With that being said... I wanted to make a treat, but keep it in my plan.  I started browsing through the almighty Pinterest for 21 day fix meal ideas!  I found one that must be tried.  PIZZA!  I already have a great grain free pizza recipe that is phenomenal... but I saw a recipe that uses cauliflower to make a crust... and the first thing I thought...Wow... I can fit that in a Green container!  As most of you know... I follow a grain free diet all the time, and dairy free diet for the most part.  I have learned what my body can handle and what it can't.  Once you have been playing the autoimmune roller coaster for a long time... you learn what your body can and can't handle.  Not everyone is cut from the same mold, and food is a very personal experience for each person.   Dairy isn't really my enemy... but I still try to stay away from it because of the hormone content in it.  I have incorporated Greek yogurt back into my diet and have had no troubles. Also on occasions I have been known to consume a bit of cheese, and Mother's Day was one of them.  This pizza that I was going to devour and consume, was destined to be topped with some mozzarella cheese, which fit into a blue container of course.  What I ended up using for this recipe was one Green container, one red container, and  a blue!  The crust wasn't like a traditional pizza crust... I actually had to eat it with a fork, but it did the trick and filled the need.  I wish my picture could have been prettier on this one... but still gives you an idea of what it looked like.  I topped my crust with a tad bit of pizza sauce (we make our own gluten free, sugar free sauce and I had some in the freezer), spinach, Applegate salami and mozzarella cheese!  The Salami probably wasn't so 21 day fix approved, but it was Mother's Day, cut me some slack!  So grab your containers and get creative!  Here's how you make the crust!

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

1 head of Cauliflower, shredded

1 Tbsp Egg Whites

Italian Seasoning

(Yes... that's it)

To get the cauliflower to the right consistency... I just throw the florets into my food processor, the same way that I made cauliflower rice in my other recipes.  Measure out your shredded cauliflower into your green 21 day fix container, (which is one cup BTW... I measured), place cauliflower in a bowl.  Place bowl in microwave for about 3 to 4 min to get the cauliflower soft, and ignore husbands remarks about kitchen stinking.  I let it cool a tad, then added 1 tablespoon of egg whites to help hold together.  Sprinkle enough Italian seasoning in to your liking and then pour mixture onto a parchment lined baking pan.  Spread the mixture into desired shape, and place in a 450 degree oven.  Bake for 5 min on one side, flip, bake and additional 5 min on the other side, flip again and bake about 2 more minutes.  Pull out of the oven, top and put back in the oven to get toppings hot and cheese bubbly.  (Broiler works great for this... just don't walk away, it burns fast) 

Swift Kick In My A@$

Why does it seem like I am always blogging about starting over?  Well, I am going to lose that way off thinking and just know that I have made some great accomplishments in my health and wellness and at times will allow myself to be human and then give myself a swift kick in the ass to get back into my routine.

Last time we met, I was telling you about my Easter weekend stray, and then there was my anniversary trip. We had every intention of being active... packed the kayaks even...

First day we got to the lake... the water was like glass!  We spent the afternoon setting up camp and prepping for some fun days on the water!

Well... the next morning we woke up to wind billowing through our windows.  This couldn't be a good sign.  I wish I would have gotten a picture of the lake... it didn't look like a lake anymore... it looked like an ocean!  White caps galore and so cold we had to go buy sweatshirts.  Needless to say... the day of activity was only a dream in my mind.  We had fun though... however our fun consisted of sitting on our bums, playing cards, drinking alcohol and eating kettle chips!  Yes... I am hanging my head in shame!  

Once again I admit defeat to all of you, so you won't feel bad when you fall off the wagon for a few days! Taking one for the team I am!  (In my Yoda voice)

Back home, back to reality and back to my containers.  The first few days of getting back to workouts can be a bear... my body is sweating out all the evil kettle chip salt! 

My goal this week is to restart my 21 day fix!  Get "fixated" on it (no pun intended) and complete this SOB! Since I got the hang of this container thing now... I want to try to venture out and work on some recipes that fit in with this plan instead of just trying to make it easy.  You all know how I love to create in the kitchen... this should be interesting.  

21 Day Fix Week 2 to 2 1/2, but who's counting!

So... my week 2 did NOT go as planned!  We had family come in for Easter and I was not able to stick my whole plan for the week.  I am going forward... and starting week 2 over!  I pretty much stuck to the eating side... but the exercise just didn't happen.   I am telling you this because this just proves that we are all human.  Shit happens... and we have to get back up and get back to what we need to do.  I am not giving up on my plan... I just hit a bump in the road.  Who cares if it takes me 27 days to complete the 21 day fix... that's my prerogative right?  Point is... keep going!

As far as my progress goes... well 60 days ago today I joined a group of girls, just like me, who were trying to stay motivated and get back their health.  This challenge group was supposed to only last 30 days, but we all loved talking to each other so much that we extended it to 60 days.  My weight loss in the past, I did alone, and I've always continued to exercise and eat clean to maintain... but I was tired of maintaining.  I was ready to love life in my own skin again, and this group has helped me do that.   My health in 60 days has improved in more ways than I can tell you.  I feel better... my muffin top is almost non existent, I sleep all through the night, and I just feel so damn better.  I can honestly tell you that drinking Shakeology has helped my gut heal, and helped eliminate  a lot of inflammation in my body that I just couldn't get rid of.  What a great experience.  Here's how I see my shake daily... as a ray of light!  

Where I stand now... 10 lbs lighter!  Yes 10!  I planned on taking measurements and posting again... but I haven't gotten around to it.  Oh and Strong... have I mentioned strong?  Strong is the new sexy right?   My gosh those 21 day fix workouts rock!  I am seeing so much definition in my arms it's insane!  

Ok... so they're not the biggest guns... but they're mine!  I can also hold a plank for a whole minute now without wanting to vomit!  Progress peeps... progress!  

This weekend is my wedding anniversary and we are taking a trip!  So once again I am going to stray a little.  Got a pretty active weekend planned though, and will try to stick to my eating.  I actually am really digging eating out of those little containers.  They are amazing.  You can fit so much food in them.  When I get back... I am hitting it hardcore.  Anyone want to join me?  

21 Day Fix... Week One!

Well I guess me trying to blog daily was a little overzealous on my part.  In a perfect world I would get to... but in my world, well that's another story.

Anyway... I can't say enough about this week!  My one big screw up was after a bad, long day at work... I came home, broke down, had a martini and didn't get my workout in.  I was so disappointed in myself... It was only day two for crying out loud. The next day, being riddled with guilt, I did that workout, plus the one I was supposed to do.  I do not recommend this... however one day was the upper fix, and the next was the lower fix so since I was working two different areas... I felt justified.  We are all human... we are not going to be perfect, and we can't expect perfection out of ourselves. If you are tired of starting over, quit giving up... those words are resonating in my head!

The workouts are so awesome!  I can't say enough about them.  I seriously was feeling pretty cocky apparently because I thought these workouts were going to be nothing compared to some of the Turbofire moves I have been doing forever... but they proved me wrong.  I have been working muscles that I didn't know I even had, and sore in places that I didn't know I could be.  My strength has improved so much in a week,  and one of the things I am starting to love about my body... My shoulders!  AMAZING workouts!!!! I can't say that enough!   This is what the schedule looks like... 

I even got to have my wine this week (no cheating like the martini).  The wine has to fit in the yellow container... but as you can see in the picture next to it... it's a good amount.  (Well at least that's what I keep telling myself) 

I still start my day with my Shakeology... 

and I am continuing to eat out of my color coded containers...

I feel great, and my body definitely needed this restart... that's all I can say!  I love it!  Day five was rough because I felt really hungry, which is funny because I really hadn't until then this week.  May have been because my monthly friend is on her way in... gotta love being a woman right?  I was kinda worried I was going to be so bloated that it would make my weekly result numbers not look so good... but my weekly numbers turned out pretty awesome I must say... so I will take it!  Bloated or not!  

So here's the deal... on Week 2.  I'm not going to commit to a daily blog, but I will post at the end of week 2 and fill you all in.  I will commit to my Facebook page and Instagram this week though... so click on those links and give me a follow!

Honestly, I am a little worried about this week.  It's Easter weekend coming up, and we will have a house full of people.  Cooking a big meal on Sunday too!   Wish me luck!  I feel a "How to get through a holiday on the 21 day fix" blog coming on!  

21 Day Fix... Day 1!

Well yesterday was my very first day on the 21 day fix!  I know it's going to sound crazy... but I feel like a different woman today!  My theory on this is this... I tend to let myself down so often, and yesterday I didn't. I stuck to my plan, and I got through it.  Your mind can make a huge difference in the way you feel about yourself.

Yesterday was Monday... always my worst day of the week.  I got home, got my workout knocked out and was feeling good about myself.  Until I walked downstairs and it was time to go into dinner and sit on the couch mode.  I am going to admit something here that is going to make me sound like a real lush... but I think it's something that needs to be talked about, and I know that other's probably face these same challenges.  I love to drink my wine while I cook dinner.  It's a habit, and not a good one.  Prior to this weekend, I had been wearing my fitbit, counting calories and doing workouts like usual.  I was staying in my calorie range, burning calories... but just not getting the results I needed.  Here's where the confession comes in... I had allowed myself calories for my wine at night.  I would actually take away the calories I was allowed for food and save them for my vino!  Crazy, now that I am saying that in my out-loud voice.  No wonder I haven't made the progress I wanted.  Not that I was drinking crazily every night mind you... but you realize how many calories are actually in a glass of wine?  Especially if you fill your glass?  As I told you yesterday... On the 21 day fix, you can have wine... but only up to three times a week, it has to fit in that little yellow container... and NO you can't have all three yellow containers in one night.  This is where we have to learn moderation people.  Anyway... back to my temptation.  I had already planned two glasses to have during the week in my menu, I left the third for a gimme.  Well... I used it.  But that's ok, because I only had that little yellow container... it was all I needed, and I was allowed that little yellow container.  To me it becomes more than just sticking to my eating plan... it means I stuck to a commitment to myself and my health.   I woke up feeling good today, a little sore because these workouts are so much more challenging than I thought they would be, but it was a good kind of sore.  Definitely different workouts than I was use to.   All in all... ready for day two!  Bring it!

Just an FYI... this is how I pre-measured and packaged my food for the week, so I could pack it up easily every morning.  I drink my yummy shake while getting it all together.  My shakeology has always been my breakfast, so that wasn't a change for me.  To be honest with you, I think I am eating more food in a day than I was before. I've been staying full, and no blood sugar crashes (which I'm prone to).  That's because I am actually eating my daily calories instead of drinking them I guess.  Go figure.   The food you see above is just my "take to work" food.  I still have dinner to eat later.

For those of you who follow my blog for my creative recipes... they will return.  I just needed a break to work on me, and all the Mom's out there can relate with me I am sure.  It was hard for this foodie to pack her nutrition up in little baggies... but for 21 days it's about eating to heal not about being fancy!  See ya tomorrow peeps!