Busy Weekend

Hello everyone!!

I had such a busy weekend. This weekend, one of my best friend had a Bachelorette Party on Friday and Saturday so I wasn't able to get to a computer. It was super fun and I didn't eat super crazy, as I assumed I would have. I only had one alcoholic beverage ( Sangria Swirl ) it was delicious!! I am not saying or trying to be portrayed as, "oh drinking is against God la la la la". I personally do not like the way I feel when I drink. For instance, my heart starts racing like crazy, I feel super hot, nauseous, and just weak. I can usually have one drink or glass of wine and I feel fine but more than that I just don't like it. I do think that drinking can lead to BIG mistakes and can lead to getting yourself in situations you wish didn't happen.

As the imperfect person I am, I have had many mistakes happen from drinking and I just think, drinking is overrated and it should just be a couple drinks, to maybe relax and that is it. Drinking to get drunk is super dangerous and if you do that, whoever you are, please please please be careful. I am not judging anyway because as a college student, drinking to get drunk, partying, and just feeling your immortal is what majority of college students go through, I did! But as being married and getting closer to God, I realized for myself that it just isn't as important to me or fun anymore. I would rather workout, read, watch movies, paint, hangout with family and friends! I definitely went through that phase of partying and I will not and do not judge anyone who does things "their" way of having fun or relaxing. I just want to say a couple things, which you all probably have heard these. 1. Do not sit your drink down and then drink it later. 2. Do not drink and drive. 3. Do not hesitate to call the police if you need a ride home, your life may have just been saved. 4. Be responsible and think before doing anything. 5. Never be embarrassed to ask for help, that is why certain professions exist.

Okay! Enough about my opinion on drinking. I honestly didn't even expect to get into my opinion on drinking, but oh well. Here is my buggy at Walmart with all of my husband and I groceries are Walmart yesterday.......

With healthy food being super expensive, 'well food in general', I have found ways to feed my husband and I on a budget of 65-75$ per week on food.
1. Buy a bulk of chicken; use freezer bags to store the chicken. I put 2 per freezer bag and sit them out the day I want to cook them. This typically lasts a week and maybe one meal we won't have a meat.
2. My go to snack when I want something spicy and salty (Chips and salsa). The salsa is gluten free as is the corn chips. These chips are $2.00 and salsa is about $3.20.
3. I love making baggies of trail mix. These are my cheats (mwhhhahaha). I use unsalted sunflower seeds, natural almonds, dark chocolate, and uncooked oatmeal. Super yummy and I portion control this to make sure I am not eating to many "healthy fats". Almonds are good for you but you only need about 12 almonds per day. Also, soaking your almonds in a bowl of water overnight helps plump them and makes them taste super yummy! Try it!! 
4. Salads are always a must! I like cutting up strawberries in mine.
5. Yes that is 2% milk you see. Not mine, my picky husbands. I personally drink skim milk! I think it tastes much better!
6. Muscle Milk! For those hot afternoon runs, I need something to help me recover.


Tutorial of makeup will be coming very VERY soon. Work has been super hectic and busy but when I get a chance to sit down and do my make up I will post a video for you guys. I also will be posting ways to save money at the grocery store, that my husband and I do all the time!

Scripture of the day:


But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the safe of Christ, then, I am content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

- 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Mmmhmmm

So today was such an interesting day. Last night in the middle of my sleep I decided to change the password to my phone. Since I was practically 'sleep texting/locking myself out of my phone' I woke up this morning to a blaring alarm that would not shut off. I jumped up being super confused on why my password was not correct. It finally hit me that in my sleep, I thought it would be cool to change my password and then clearly forgetting it during my sleep. So lets just say, all the photos I wanted to post of my food = gone, contacts = gone, text messages = gone, my singing recordings = gone, and my bible and devotional apps = gone.

Luckily, God is great and he gives people amazing gifts, such as fixing things that not so high-tech savvy individuals, like myself do like locking myself out of my phone. Needless to say, never sleep text, sleep change codes, and/or sleep walking, I would advise to just stay in bed and sleep.

Well last night I went to a bible study with my friend called "The Table". It was absolutely mind-blowing. I was just so moved by what God was doing in that room. The longing questions I have had about the Bible are answered, at last. One thing I want to share with you is this following sentence, which was spoken during prayer. "God Matters First and All Else Flows Through." I know it sounds simplistic, but those 8 words mean so much to me. Basically I take it as, you must love God over everything and anything earthly and non-earthly. You need to give him all the honor and glory because he is the one who has given you breath, given you your families and friends, given you talents, gifts, passions, and personality. He has given you life! It is super important as believers and lovers of God to love him more than anything you can ever imagine.

So today, I am taking this new challenge. I bought today this meal replacement formula from GNC. It is called Lean Shake 25 by "Total Lean". I am going to drink 2 shakes a day; for breakfast and lunch. Yes, I know you are like OMG that is so unhealthy. The way I think about it is, majority of you probably don't even get the recommended daily allowance of nutrients. This shake contains what my body will need to perform at its greatest. I will probably place a salad or something of that sort with the shake for lunch. I am honestly excited about it, because I've noticed during my morning/evening runs that I just am exhausted and fatigue so I decided to try this shake 'meal replacement' in hopes of giving me a little bit more energy. By the way, I am training for a marathon in April 2014. I also bought multivitamin packets from GNC by the same brand, "Total Lean". I will post pictures of them so you know exactly what I bought. I will definitely let you guys know if I like it and see any results from it, allow time though, this will not happen overnight unfortunately.

I also wanted you guys to know that I love doing Yoga. I will also post my favorite yoga pose and list the amazing benefits it has for your mind, body, and soul. If you don't have local yoga instructors, the DVDs have great ways to get your Yoga on, try Walmart and/or Target.

Have a wonderful weekend!! Remember trust God with all your heart, he will never leave your nor forsake you. Such a wonderful God huh? :)

My Lovely Fur Babe Kali

In love!!!! <3

Beauty + Prayer Video :)

God Gives Me The Reason To Smile :)

Favorite Dinner Recipe

Sweet Potato Stir-Fry (serves 2.5)

My Special Creation 

What you'll need: 

2 large sweet potatoes 

Sunflower Oil (at walmart, actually cheaper than the other oils and slightly healthier)

Bell Peppers (1 Yellow, 1 Orange, 1 Red)

1 Zucchini 

1 Squash 

Jalepanos 

1 Chicken Breast 

Cooking the Chicken: 

-Clean and Trim the chicken. 

-Use kitchen scissors and cut the chicken into small cubes 

-Pour enough sunflower oil into small skillet to cover the bottom

-Add chicken (you can add season, but I typically don't because it has so much flavor when mixed with other ingredients) 

-Cook chicken on medium until chicken turns white. Set aside. 

*Don't worry about the chicken getting cold, it'll be warmed up with the stir-fry.

Remaining Ingredients: 

-Cut sweet potatoes into small cubes as well. ( I usually cut the potato in half and cut long strips and half those strips). The size does not matter at all. 

-Cut bell peppers into long strips (just mimic the cutting process as potatoes)

-Cut zucchini and squash (when I cut mine they look like cucumber circles and then I half them)

-Cut jalepanos. ( I leave seeds in because I LOVE spice, deseeding is recommending if you don't want your mouth on fire). 

-Use a deep-skillet 

-Add enough sunflower oil to cover the bottom and place all cut ingredients into pan. 

-Cover and let cook for about (20 minutes) on medium

-Stir occasionally 

-After 25 minutes, uncover and place chicken in with the sweet potato batch

-Leave uncovered and cook for another 10-15 minutes. 

Enjoy!! It is super filling and delicious 

Calories: approx. 380 calories per serving ( I did actually calculate when I made it) 

Hello everyone!!

Well sorry for no posts on saturday or sunday. I usually don't workout on the weekends. I am a firm believer in working out monday thru friday and on saturday and sunday; enjoy the weather, read a book, do something for yourself. Well this is what my weekend looked like. On saturday, we had a crazy intense storm so I spent the majority of the day inside. With being inside practically all day I practiced my vocals. Yes, I love singing and I do practice to make myself a better singer. I also read a great book which I recommend to anyone who is married, or even considering marriage. It is a memoir and is christian based. I would elaborate more but I am not quite finished with it yet so I'll let you, whoever you are, pick up the book yourself. It is called, "Beyond Ordinary" by Justin & Trisha Davis. After some reading, I went to get my nails done (much needed) and had a small dinner with my husband and we watched Identity Theft. It was absolutely hilarious ... another recommendation. Oh and thank you all for your prayers, my husband is feeling much better.

On Sunday, I serve at my local church and after I serve I attend the morning service with my husband. It was such a great sermon. It was basically to respect your older and younger generation. Because we (younger generation) need the older generations wisdom and guidance. Older generation needs us because we (younger generation) have such a passion within us to help and serve to others. It was just a good realization to respect others. After church, I went to our apartments pool and laid out all day. Phew! It was hot, but it was super relaxing and I got a lot of reading done there as well.

Okay! Today is Monday! Whoohooo :) Here is my daily intake and my workout for the day...


Breakfast:

8oz of coffee

Lunch:

Panda Express (eek I know): Chow Mein and Sweetfire chicken breast and orange chicken

Dinner:

Nothing! ( Okay I know this is horrible, I just don't have much of an appetite, probably from the huge meal at lunch).

Workout:

Ran 3.05 miles with run time at 28:04
Arm/Back Day
Crunches

Okay so I know that I wasn't detailed on the workout. I will be posting either tonight or tomorrow what exactly is my "arm/back day" and "crunches". For the record, I think I may be getting my husbands sickness, so I really think that is why I am just not hungry and didn't push myself today.

I just want to give a huge thank you to God. I know that he is working wonderful things in my life and I just love that I can finally see all the beautiful blessings. I just want you, whoever you are, to know that God loves you. He really does! Even if you are going through something that seems unbearable or scary, God hasn't left you, he is right with you at all times. It really helps if you pray. Pray to him, cry out to him, let him know that even though you are going through a hard time or situation, you still love him and trust him. If you don't like who you are such as: your attitude, your thoughts, your actions. Pray to God. Say; God, Change Me. He will do that for you, and when you feel, see, or hear of good, praise him. If something goes wrong, praise God anyways. He has great intentions for you. He wants you! He is jealous for you! Don't give in to evil ways, be positive, be hopeful, be gracious, and most of all give all the honor and glory to God.

Scriptures that reassures me:

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:3

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
- Philippians 4:7

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

- Proverbs 3:5-6

Hello everyone!!

Today is day 1 of my new journey. It was actually a really good day. For the record, each time I post, I will include a brief overview of my day. Work was great, but tiring. Working 9 hours a day sure takes a toll on me when I am not use to it. I was preparing snacks for the kids today at work, we had this graham cracker creation that mimicked a strawberry short cake. I was sooooo tempted to try a bit, since it looked amazing. Nope! I stayed strong and turned my focus to God and to my health. I know treats are fine but I want to reward myself with treats not just eat them because they are at hand. After work my husband and I went to this christian book store where I bought some pretty cool things. :) That place usually gets my paycheck.

Afterward we decided, we should eat some dinner. We had Mexican. Eeeek I know but instead of being debby downer, I thought what if we shared a meal... cut calories, appreciate portion, and save some money. I recommend if you and your friend, significant other, or whoever should split a meal when going out to eat since majority of restaurants double up the servings, as if we needed all that food.

After dinner, we arrived to our cozy little apartment and I put on my workout clothes and headed for the gym. My husb didn't join, he has the stomach bug, prayers would be appreciated for him. Anyways,  while running I decided to speak with God a bit. I thanked him for my health, my determination, and him allowing me to lean on his strength. One thing that helps me keep going when I am exhausted, you guys should try this... When you feel tired like you can not go anymore, think about Jesus. Think about how he was beaten and humiliated not to mention thirsty and hungry and he carried that cross for miles. If he can sustain that kind of pain, we should be able to push through some of the pains of working out.

Listed below is my daily intake of food and my workout for the day. Enjoy :)


Breakfast:

One medium size banana
2 cups of water
1 cup of coffee
Vitamins (Biotin, B6, and a Woman's Multivitamin)

Lunch:

2 Cups of green beans
1/2 cup of brown rice
1/2 of a chicken breast (leftover from last night)

Snack:

8 cherries
A small coffee from Aspen

Dinner:

Split chicken/shrimp fajitas (I ate 2 fajitas: tortilla, lettuce, bell peppers, chicken, shrimp, salsa, and a little cheese)
Of course a couple chips and salsa ( I watched my chip count, it can get dangerous with chips hehe)

*sorry not calculating calories. I will further down the road, right now I am focused on moderation


Workout:

22 minutes on the treadmill (I did the hill workout: it is an option on the treadmill. Running at 5.8-6.3 speed; it varied throughout the workout).
300 fast jump ropes
100 crunches
Stretching


Enjoy your night everyone! Remember, give God all the glory for all the things you do. He is the reason to smile, to love, and to live. He is my everything. <3

Introduction About My New Journey

Hello everyone!

First and foremost I would like to say thank you for your support and your interest for following and/or browsing my fit-blog. I want to start off by telling you all a little about me and my journey to where I am now, and why my passion is fitness and health.

I believe that God gives each and every one of us challenges, good times, and hard times to go through to help us become better people and stronger believers in him. I have had my fair share of good and bad times, as I am sure you reading this has as well. One of my very not-so-personal challenge I have been through is overcoming an eating disorder. You may be thinking... why share this personal information? Well, I asked myself that same question but the thing is, is that everyone is NOT perfect, and I believe God gave me that challenge to help someone out there adopt a new lifestyle and become sexy, confident, and positive about themselves.

So back to my challenge... I struggled for many many years and it finally took me getting closer to God and realizing that I really only have one life to live and I am not invincible as I previously thought.  As my challenge spiraled downward and me constantly obsessing over calories, workouts, etc. I decided to change that word obsession into determination. I am determined to live a healthy, happy, and positive life. That is why I want you, whoever you are, to take this challenge with me. It may be hard and slipping into old ways will occur, but hey we are only human.

You may be asking yourself, what is the challenge? Well the challenge is to check out my blog frequently. I will be posting my personal workouts as well as ones I think are super beneficial, healthy and inexpensive recipes, beauty care tips, my religious journey with God, and powerful and motivating scriptures.

The reason why I am doing this is really to help people become confident within themselves, as well as holding me accountable for my everyday actions. This blog is not going to be pretty. I will post the good, the bad, and the ugly! :)

A little about me... I have two beautiful families. One amazing and supportive husband. Two sweet cats. Many kind and gracious friends. A wonderful God who I serve with all my heart, in which I give him all the honor and glory for the things I do. I am blessed, imperfect, compassionate, determined, and loving.

Follow me on this journey why don'cha :)

*I am not a certified dietitian, cosmetologist, and/or trainer I am just a gal who loves God, loves all aspects of health and fitness, and who wants to share this journey with all who is willing to read!