Recipe: Chocolate Caramel "Crack" (THM - sort of)

Hello! Happy Tuesday night!

A few years ago, a neighbor made the most amazing creation she called "Christmas Crack" which was essentially butter, sugar, saltines and chocolate. What's the big deal with those ingredients. Don't be fooled - when combined it is the most delicious thing I have ever tasted. For real. It's sweet, salty and crunchy. 

Fast forward to now and being on THM I haven't had it in a very long time. In fact, Ifortunately hadn't even thought about it until it started popping up in my newsfeed on Facebook and on Pinterest. Ugh. 

Then a few weeks back in the Trim Healthy Mama groups page the lovely Briana Thomas posted her own recipe. So immediately I pinned it and looked at it but honestly it was a little too involved for me and I moved on with my craving.

So tonight while grabbing some items out of the pantry I noticed a package of wasa crackers and I decided to experiment.

I grabbed some foil, the wasa crackers, my THM super sweet blend, a stick of butter and vanilla and went to work.

I quickly searched for a recipe and found this one from Smitten Kitchen - http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2009/04/chocolate-caramel-crackers/

So I followed the directions loosely.

I didn't make a full recipe so I halved it. I spread about 9 crackers on the foil and preheated the oven to 350. I added the stick of butter to a saucepan and added about 1/3 cup super sweet blend and stirred. However, it wasn't thickening or coming to a boil. Seeing as how the real "Christmas Crack" calls for brown sugar, I didn't have any or any THM brown sugar. So I cheated a bit and added two small teaspoons of regular real sugar. As soon as I did the mixture came to a rolling boil and simmered for a few minutes. Then, I added the vanilla and poured over the crackers and spread with a spoon and popped the tray in the oven. After about 8 minutes it was ready with the edges turning brown and I sprinkled dark chocolate chips on top. I use the Enjoy Life brand. However, I didn't have enough so I did use some Nestle tollhouse chocolate chips I had on hand to fill in some gaps. These are clearly not on THM (hence the name of the post) but I figure it's better to have a smidge of real sugar than to indulge in completely off plan foods.

After the chips sat on top and melted I spread them around with a spatula. I sprinkled the top with some coarse sea salt and popped it in the fridge to cool.

Then I proceeded to open and close the fridge numerous times waiting to be able to taste it!! 

Finally, after an eternity - or about 15 minutes - it cooled enough for me to taste to make sure it was going to be good enough to satisfy my craving.

Oh, you guys. It was AMAZING!!

I popped it back in the fridge to cool a bit more and then broke it into pieces. 

And of course I continued to taste test. Even my son wanted a piece. I'm not going to lie - I hesitated to share! Haha but like a good mom I let him have a piece (a small one). He loved it!

This recipe is definetly a keeper. And while I did use some off plan ingredients, this hit the spot and I don't feel bad at al for having this along with my S meals!

~Carly

The D14 Recap

Yikes! I completely forgot to post my recap from the results of The D14 program!

Overall I was down about 5 pounds and almost 8 inches! My clothes are looser and fitting well, I'm still very much not bloated and truly feeling great!

I'm back to eating Trim Healthy Mama style - not that I really stopped - but just continuing to eat well. I have been careful to re-introduced too many of the things I cut out. However, I have had some small amounts of cheese here and there but am going to try to avoid gluten as much as possible.

Since I was finished with my nutritional rebalancing I feel truly amazing and I encourage anyone who is looking to get healthier, maybe lose a few pounds or just detox a little bit if you're feeling sluggish, etc.

~Carly

The D14 Day 14

I made it!! I measured this morning and lost another inch or so for a total of 7 3/4 inches lost in 14 days! I'm still less bloated and feeling good. I can't believe it was so easy to cut out some things from my diet for these past two weeks and I'm so much better for it!

I really can't say enough good things about this detox. Whole food nutrition is so important and I really am going to keep what I learned about myself going forward. 

I started my dieting journey in 2010 by counting calories. While it worked initially it can be quite a pain long term - but when you find food freedom like I have with Trim Healthy Mama you can lose the numbers and measuring obsession.

~Carly

The D14 Day 12

It's crazy that I only have two days left on my first round of The D14 and then go into Maintenance! I plan to continue using the shakes and eating my THM way.

Cutting out some things from my diet hasn't been as hard as I thought - some moments yes but my body is thanking me for it. I'm much less bloated. I am bouncing a bit on the scale but still feeling so great! 

I went for a walk yesterday with my dog - a little over 2 miles. Then today I took her for a walk again but it started to rain so I brought her home and went to the gym and walked hills on the treadmill for about 35 minutes. It felt great to exercise today.

So, just a quick update. I'm going to make the most of these last two days!

~Carly

Two Year Trimaversary!

Happy Sunday and Happy Two Years of Trim Healthy Mama to me!

Started at about 170 and really large for me personally (left). I had tried numerous diets - South Beach, Atkins, Eat To Live, meal replacement diets (found one product I do love now though!) and then right before finding THM I did the 21 Day Sugar Detox which was a great segue into the Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle.

The pic on the right was from the other night before going out to dinner with my husband. I'm currently doing a THM-friendly detox with some Juice Plus+ products and I'm about 153/154 pounds right now. I'm also down a few more inches in just the past few days and feeling very less bloated and trimmer.

So there it is. While I didn't lose a ton of weight, I lost inches and gained so much more happiness than I could have ever thought. 

~Carly

The D14 Day 10

Happy Saturday! 

Ahh the weekend. We have a good balance of a busy Saturday and hopefully a productive and relaxing Sunday.

Today starts day 10 and still loving this truly easy detox. I can't believe I only have four days left! I did fluctuate up and down and a bit up by about a half pound for some reason over the past two days  - lady cycles and water intake are likely to blame - but I'm still feeling slimmer and really great! 

Thursday night I attended a party with a cookie swap and grab bag so I did have a baby glass of wine and a taste of a drink my friend brought but did not eat anything except a few olives! I was really proud of myself and was shocked I was not tempted to graze or eat any appetizers! Or a cookie!! 

Last night we hosted my parents and in-laws for dinner to celebrate Hanukkah. I had a delicious gluten free pasta with an eggplant sauce for dinner and a side salad and made a yummy lasagna for the rest of the family. I did a small taste of the meat sauce while cooking and it was delicious. 

About to make breakfast and I'm thinking I will eat some veggie eggs and save my shake for on the go for later as it gets busy!

Have a great weekend!

~Carly

Healthy Tip/Trick

Happy Wednesday!

I wanted to share a quick health tip/trick that I've always tried to do. Since life is busy (more so around the holidays) and errands run long or we find ourselves out and about for longer periods of time - stuck at a sports practice or in traffic. And it's always inevitable that hunger will strike. It does for me anyways! 

So I always keep some things in my bag with me for just those instances. Like today for example I was running errands and got a late start and figured I would be home in time for lunch. 

Wrong! I was shopping when hunger struck while at Kohls. And I mean starving. Of course, there's no real food there except the Godiva chocolate at the register. So it's a good thing I always keep that bag in my bag! I actually re-stocked it this morning!

Currently inside are some Quest bars, one packet of Vanilla and Chocolate Complete mix with a container of unsweetened almond milk, a package of peanut butter crackers for the kids, a package of Annie's bunny gummies, a few packages of Juice Plus gummies, two small mini bags of M&Ms, small serving bags of Brookside dark chocolate pomegranate snacks and a few Brookside dark chocolate bars.

I've been saved by having goodies like these for me and my family on so many occasions I can't even list or count! I'm pretty good about packing our reusable water bottles before we go - I have stainless steel thermos brand ones for the kids and I like my Camelback Eddy bottle.

What are some ways you keep healthy on the go?

~Carly

The D14 Day 6 with some RESULTS!!

Hello, hello, hello!

It's been another GREAT day so far.  My son ended up staying home today unexpectedly.  He said he wasn't feeling well ten minutes before the bus came so better safe than sorry, right? 

Turns out he just wanted to stay home and play with toys.  We had a chat about that.  Why am I telling you this?  Well, it's actually quite relevant to this D14 journey I'm so pleased to be on. 

The past two days I've felt much calmer in general but especially as a parent.  I mentioned I was more clear and focused but I haven't "flown off the handle" or lost my "mommy sh!t" as much as I have been when my kids are on my last nerve, not listening or dilly-dallying before bed.  And I'm convinced it has much to do with The D14 program. My blood sugars are balanced which means my insulin is regulated which is all intertwined with hormones and I'm just more stable.  Crazy, right?

I'm not a doctor or a nutritionist (although I'd love to be either or) but it's fairly general knowledge that if you aren't filling your body with sugars and carbs and other ingredients or chemicals then your body can function the way it is designed to BE.  I'm truly feeling that from these last 6 days.

And guess what?  The scale is showing it, too.  I love when that happens - seeing the evidence aside from only feeling it.  Because guess what - kinda hard to show feelings over the Internet, huh?

Yep.  So I will show ya.

Image below is as follows:

Top Left is last Thursday (start day), middle is this past Saturday, top right is same weight for both Sunday & Monday and bottom left is this morning 12/8.

 

I'd like to apologize quickly for my winter feet and our ugly bathroom tile.  Additionally, I have no idea why my left foot looks more "tan" than my right foot in each of the pictures. I'm guessing it has to do with the lighting as well as the way I'm holding my iPhone to take the pictures when I first wake up ;)

 

I'm also not departing from my Trim Healthy Mama plan which I still love and rely on.  The Juice Plus+ products really are complementing this plan for me and providing me with extra whole food nutrition that is getting me closer and closer to my ultimate goal. 

 

My ultimate goal has always been to get to where I was before my first child - because it's not called child weight either!! 

 

I'm about to have a Complete shake now as my day kind of went off track when I decided my son could stay home.  Dinner is to be determined but will be in accordance with the D14 guidelines :)

So, there you have it...I'm pretty shocked, hopeful, happy and motivated.  If you're ready to join in on this please, please, please don't wait!  If you've followed me or read any posts at all, you know the struggle is real and how many "diets" I've truly tried on this journey. 

Email me at carlykirsch@gmail.com - you'll thank yourself!!!
~Carly

The D14 Day 5

Wow, this is quite a few days in a row of me posting! I have to be honest - I really had NO intention of posting every day but I cannot help myself!

Now on Day 5 and woke to the same number on the scale as yesterday which was a little surprising only because I have been seeing a drop every day since I started but that doesn't mean dissapointment! I'm still feeling awesome. It's funny because I always read people on a detox or cleanse feeling "clear" and I didn't really understand what that meant until now. My mind feels clear. I'm remembering more and feel more focused and honestly a little less crabby than normal. Coincidence? Not sure yet but I'm thinking its definetly a result of this. 

So, Day 5 has gone like this:

Wake up and have water and some coffee and water

Vanilla shake in blender with fruit and almond milk around 7:45 am

Lunch was around 11:45 so I drank my detox drink and quickly scrambled some eggs and had some trail mix quickly before I had to run out again.

Snacked on some rotisserie chicken and water around 4:30 pm

Then...dinner. My son requested pancakes for dinner and I couldn't disagree. Not only because it is his birthday but also because it sounded yummy. But I'm on a strict 14 days here - so what to do? 

Make pancakes out of my Complete mix of course! It's a packet of vanilla, 1/2 cup of gluten free oat flour, one egg and two tsp of baking powder and about 1/4 cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk.

Mix all ingredients together and voilà - pancakes!!! I added blueberries, too.

Oh they were deeelish. It's about 8:40 pm and I'm still full.

Enjoy the evening!

~Carly

The D14 Day 4

Day 4 done and in the books!

It was a busy but good day! Woke up again to a decrease of pounds on the scale! I'm really happy!! 

Today was my son's birthday party so breakfast was a Vanilla Complete shake with some added fruit and ice with almond milk.

I had coffee again on the way to the party and then just water. I did not have any pizza or cake at the party! Whoop! Needless to say by the time I get home I was starving! I threw some Chocolate Complete in a shaker bottle with 10 ounces of almond milk and drank that while my son opened presents.

Since this weekend was busy I haven't done a grocery shop yet so we decided it was out to dinner we go. 

My son chose Jakes Wayback Burgers so I ordered a side salad and a grilled chicken sandwich and only at the chicken. 

The salad came with some cheese on top and croutons - I picked off the croutons but did eat the cheese.

So, overall a great day! I didn't unfortunately drink the detox drink but plan to before bed actually.

Looking forward to see what the rest of the week holds - good night!

~Carly

The D14 Day 3

Good evening! 

I saw some more movement in the right direction on the scale this morning! Very happy and excited about that for sure! I'm also feeling really GOOD considering this is a "detox" and a nutritional rebalancing. 

So today went like this:

Woke up around 6:30 and drank water and a small cup of coffee (note: it's recommended to cut out caffeine during this program for maximum benefit but it's just simply something I don't do 100% on my journey)

7:30 am - I made a chocolate Complete shake in a shaker bottle with 10 ounces of unsweetened vanilla almond milk. Normally I would have used a blender and blended up a shake and added some goodness to it but my son had his first morning of basketball.

11:45 am- I drank my D14 detox drink before having some left over Quinoa bean veggie soup and a small piece of very dark chocolate 

3:30 pm- I snacked on some fruit after going to Target with the family and later had a cup of herbal decaf tea

5:30 detox drink before dinner and a large green salad with fresh diced peppers, red onion, roasted pepper with grilled chicken on top and balsamic dressing

Yummmm!

So Day 3 is in the books and I can't wait to keep going!!

Tomorrow will be a challenge as it is my son's 6th birthday party tomorrow and unusually sneak some frosting or a bite of cake every now and again...fingers crossed I will resist!

~Carly

The D14 Day 2

Good afternoon!

It's day 2 of my detox/reboot and I'm feeling really great!

Thankfully my sinus/headache thing has seemingly gone away - hopefully for good! I woke up to a lot less bloating and one pound lighter! That's after ONE day so I'm very optimistic for the next 13!

So full disclosure as always - I'm up a few pounds in general from Thanksgiving and such but not a lot and definitely not currently at my lowest weight. I have been maintaining and bouncing with the same 3-4 pounds. That's where I'm expecting this D14 to help me bust through my rut/plateau. 

Back to today...After I had my JP+ Complete shake for breakfast and capsules, I put the kids on the bus and went for a 3 mile walk this morning with a good friend and our dogs. 

For lunch I had my Quinoa Bean Veggie soup and an apple also with the detox drink that is suggested in the D14 program.  I'm pretty full right now!

Since it's chilly today,  I'm sipping on some tea while typing this and for dinner I plan to have a large salad with grilled chicken on top.

 

So, cheers to the weekend and plan to update you over the weekend. If not early next week!

~Carly

The D14 Day One

Good morning!

Despite having a sinus/headache thing going on for the last week or so I am feeling pretty awesome this morning.

I'm starting a detox/jumpstart program called The D14 which is a 14 day program that helps get the body detoxified, proper digestion going and a general "tune up" of how your body was designed to metabolize food and generally function. 

Before you get skeptical of the word detox - stop! This program is designed not to be harsh or unpleasant and you eat FOOD. Yes, real nourishment for your body to flush the toxins out - which means a less bloated you! 

Since it is a detox, you do need to refrain from eating a few things. But, before I lose you again it's only 14 days.  the program was created by Courtney O'Donnell - she's a mother of five, a personal trainer and a director at the Juice Plus company.  All the details are provided to you when you commit to the program

I'm still following my Trim Healthy Mama principles alongside the D14 - I'm coming up on two years on that lifestyle, too!

So, here I go...if you're interested in the program feel free to email me directly at carlykirsch@gmail.com.

~Carly

Other Ways To Promote Health

Exercise more. Eat less processed foods. Get enough sleep. Drinking more water. Stay away from sugar. More vegetables and greens (which I have a secret to easily get more of!). Do this...don't do that...

The list goes on. And on...

So, aside from the obvious things what else can you do to promote health and overall wellness? Today, I'm going to share with you two things I do every day for me and my family.

1. Essential Oils

A few years ago I started using a few oils - lemon and lavender. I made a homemade lemon coconut oil body cream recipe. Then about two years ago I bought a diffuser (finally) with the intention of buying more oils but never did. It was just only recently (about two months ago) I decided to finally get more and dive into using them on a daily basis. After lots of research, I ordered quite a bit from Plant Therapy, one blend from DoTerra and some from a local health food store in town.

Here's my Plant Therapy order:

They have a line of kid safe oils and blends that I love so far. 

I now have two diffusers - one is a Zaq brand I got from an online store and the other is the one pictured above. I use the diffuser every day - especially now that it's getting colder and germs are everywhere! I diffuse energizing blends and calming blends based on my day and the germ destroyer kids blend is usually going in the afternoons. I am really enjoying them and seeing some definite benefits from using them so far. 

2. Juice Plus+

I only recently heard of Juice Plus. But from the moment it was mentioned to me I was hooked. It's SO simple and I'm actually shocked I hadn't heard of it before! I'm always reading and learning about health, wellness and nutrition and have never come across it. I actually learned about it initially from someone at my dentist's office because Juice Plus was studied and published in a medical journal (it's actually one of the only studied and researched of its kind!) that links the importance of nutrition to dental health - among other things.  I'm very inspired by this company and their mission for health for many decades now. 

Juice Plus Products - Complete, capsules, chews and bars

That's my little secret.  For a few weeks now, I have been taking their "trio" Vineyard blend, Garden and Fruit Blend and I just ordered their Complete shake mix.  It's gluten and dairy free and it is delicious!  I use it to promote health personally and my kids are taking the gummy version which I actually get for basically free through their Children's Health Study. 

They are a great company and I'm actually joining them on my own personal health mission to spread the goodness. If you want to learn more you can click on the Juice Plus links and it will take you to my web site to learn about the products as well as order. 

Ok...So what exactly is Juice Plus? It's FOOD.  Not a supplement!

Juice Plus+ is whole food based nutrition, including juice powder concentrates from 30 different fruits, vegetables and grains. Juice Plus+ helps bridge the gap between what you should eat and what you do eat every day. Not a multivitamin, medicine, treatment or cure for any disease, Juice Plus+ is made from quality ingredients carefully monitored from farm to capsule to provide natural nutrients your body needs to be at its best.

It actually has a nutrition label!  No additives, non-GMO and just good nutrition to help keep us healthy every day in a truly simple way.

I'll be sharing with you more about Juice Plus in the coming weeks...so stay tuned!

Those are just two things I do to promote health other than the obvious advice we all hear over and over.

What are some things you do to promote health?

Feel free to email or comment with any questions...anytime!
~Carly
 

Recipe: Hearty Chili - E

Good morning! It's a rainy Wednesday here. I'm sipping my coffee and decided I needed to share a recipe I've been making for some time now. Since it is getting cooler here, For the past few I've been naturally craving heavier comfort foods like stews, soups and chili. 

Enter my concoction of chili - full of whole foods rich with texture and flavor.

This is considered an E meal for those following the Trim Healthy Mama Plan.

Hearty Chili 

Ingredients:

1-2 tablespoons of olive oil

1 tablespoon of minced garlic 

1 medium yellow onion roughly diced

1 package of ground turkey, chicken or (browned and rinsed) lean ground beef

1 can of black beans drained and rinsed

2-3 medium sweet potatoes pre-cooked and cut into cubes

1 box Pomi chopped tomatoes

1/2 cup quinoa (cooked separately)

1 can of diced chiles

2 tablespoons of chili seasoning

2 tablespoons of cumin

1 cup (or more for more or less liquid) of chicken or vegetable stock 

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. In a larger stock pot add the olive oil to heat. Add garlic and simmer for a minute. Grab a second soup pot and begin to cook quinoa per the directions on the package. Then, in chili pot and onion and cook until softened.

2. Add ground meat of choice. Once browned add cumin and chili and stir well.

3. Add the tomatoes, diced chiles, broth and beans and stir to combine. Simmer for about 10 minutes.

4. Add cooked cubed sweet potatoes and quinoa. At this time you can also add more broth to increase liquid.

5. Simmer on low for as long as you'd like - I do another 15 minutes or so.

It's really delicious and hearty without being heavy. You can top it with a sprinkle of shredded cheese as added fat if you're following THM. If you aren't, feel free to add sliced avocado, sour cream or a side of tortilla chips - the choice is yours!

I shared this recipe with a few friends now and it's gotten great reviews! 

Enjoy and as always comment if you decide to make it!

~Carly

Motivate Me Monday - 11/9/2015

Happy Monday! October just flew by and now November is almost at the halfway point! 

Came across this yesterday and while we all know these things it's truly true that smaller changes add up to big differences. 

I'm a sucker for a good visual - so I leave you with this one :)

Will be posting again soon with some other things I've been up to and that have been on my mind. 

I'm also approaching my 2 year anniversary on Trim Healthy Mama! Woohoo!

~Carly

Losing My Way

As usual, it's been awhile since I've posted.  At least I'm consistent in that area ;p

The Summer was long and I definitely lost my way towards the end of it with my eating and exercise habits.  This resulted in me feeling sluggish, bloated and a few pounds heavier.  I still was exercising at least twice a week but I stopped doing PiYo regularly - which I LOVED - and strayed a bit from my Trim Healthy Mama.  Not so completely far from it that I was no longer following it, but just far enough from it that I wasn't feeling as good as I should.  The principles of Trim Healthy Mama work for me - it's the ONLY thing that has worked! So, what was my problem? Why was I losing my way from what they perfectly describe as "Food Freedom"?

So, about two weeks ago I was talking to my best friend and she follows the BeachBody program called the 21 Day Fix.  I had also heard good things about it. So, I decided to give it a try - because I then was watching TV and came across the infomercial, too.  So, I thought sure, why not give it a try.

Essentially the program is portion control which therefore limits calories consumed based on your current weight and activity level.  You get a certain number of protein, fruit, vegetable and fat allowances based on that with color coded containers to measure. There's also an exercise component to it which I didn't do but did do similar workouts - cardio, pilates, weights, abs, etc.  I will say that I do feel this program would likely be effective for most people who are looking for a healthier way of eating IF they are currently not following a whole foods/clean diet.  I don't feel that I was the right person for this way of eating.

Why do I say that?  Well, with Trim Healthy Mama, I was eating a very minimally processed, whole foods diet.  I eat large, healthy salads with protein and I eat wholesome carbohydrates.  So, one week on the 21 Day Fix and I GAINED 2-3 pounds.  I was perplexed and frustrated to say the least.

Image via google image search

Fast forward to this past Monday, I decided to refocus and get honest and real again and get fully back on track with Trim Healthy Mama.  I ordered some of their amazing sweeteners and baking items. I also started a Fuel Cycle and then yesterday made a trip to Barnes and Noble and bought the new books they have out - The Trim Healthy Mama Plan which is a less informative version of the ebook I already had and the new cook book :)

Today, I'm happy to report I'm already down 3 pounds I gained over the Summer and gone are the few pounds from the few days I was on 21 Day Fix.

Before Summer I was still bouncing around 153-155 pounds and I'm pretty much back to where I was now this morning at 155.8.  The scale had gotten pretty up there for a bit but I'm happy it's come back down.

So if anyone needs me I will be eating my skinny chocolate while reading my two new books :)

~Carly

NOTE:  As I always keep things real, this post does contain affiliate links.  If you choose to order from the Trim Healthy Mama store, I will receive some sort of monetary benefit. I do only recommend products that I use and love myself so please don't feel obligated or anything!

Motivate Me Monday - 8/10/2015

Hello and happy Monday.

Today's motivation is coming from ME!

I had posted a few months ago about Kayla Istines and her bikini body program - well summer happened and I got off track a bit. Well I've decided to restart and I'm on week 3 and feeling great. I'm starting to see some minor changes but instead of feeling frustrated I'm looking back a bit to see how far I've come.

Left is 2012, middle is June 2014 and the right is yesterday morning before my run.

I'm excited for what the next few months hold for me 😊

~Carly

Recipe: A Summer Quiche

Hello! Yes, yes - been some time again since my last post. But I promise this post will surely make up for my lack of posting. Last weekend I was blessed and fortunate enough to go away with my friend to her family's home on Shelter Island in New York. It was the second year in a row I've been invited and it's just a rejuvenating and wonderful experience. The home is beautiful and just amazing to be there. Truly.

A view I captured from Sunset Beach on Shelter Island, NY

While we were there, my friend Tracy made us breakfast each morning and she came up with this amazing quiche that I replicated last week (minus a few ingredients). It's got a fresh take and an ingredient you just may not ever think to include in a quiche but I assure you it's deeeeelish!

And fortunately two ingredients now are in full swing this summer season and you can likely grab them at your local farm stand or farmers market: zucchini and tomatoes.

Yep. That's right zucchini and squash.

What?!?! you say?  Yes.  So did I. Until I tried it and it was the best tasting quiche I think I've ever had. So run to the market and grab some squash, zucchini and tomatoes and whip this up.  I promise you it does not disappoint.

Oh, and for my fellow THM-ers this recipe would be an S.

Ingredients

1-2 medium sized zucchini or summer squash chopped (last week I used both yellow and green squashes but this week I only had green)

1 medium tomato chopped 

1 or 1/2 large yellow onion chopped 

Fresh basil (if possible) chopped

Dried oregano to taste 

Salt and pepper to taste

1 tablespoon of butter or coconut oil

Non stick spray or butter for pan

5-6 large eggs 

1/2 cup of heavy cream or 1/2 and 1/2

1 cup of shredded cheese - I used a Mexican blend but mozzarella or any of your choosing will do

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a skillet place butter or coconut oil and heat onion and zucchini until softened. Add tomatoes half way through just to soften.

2. Add herbs, salt and pepper to veggies.

3. In a large mixing bowl scramble eggs and combine cream. Then, add shredded cheese.

4. Spray or coat round baking pan or dish with nonstick coat.

5. With a slotted spoon, transfer veggies to the large mixing bowl - the tomatoes and veggies can leave liquid which you do not want in quiche! Mix well.

6. Pour all ingredients into baking pan/dish and bake for about 30-40 minutes depending on your oven and baking dish.

Softening the veggies 

Add the tomatoes last to soften - drain with slotted spoon

All mixed up and ready to bake

Ready to cook!  I can't hardly wait to eat this

Ta-dahhh! Done.  Oh and I made my husband a ham and cheese quiche too :)

So, what do you think?  So easy and fresh and a fantastic way to get in some additional veggies.  You could add anything else to this also - bacon or any other veggies you have laying around. 

I hope you have a great Sunday!  Now, onto laundry and cleaning.  

~Carly

Motivate Me Monday - 6/15/2015

Happy Monday!

It's rainy here today and I woke up with a headache but I'm trying to not let it get me down. 

For the first time in a long time I was able to get up really early before my kids and have a cup of coffee. I've been trying to do that since the beginning of the school year! Now that it's the last week of school - go figure! 

And then even though I didn't feel like it I worked out and ate a really healthy breakfast and was able to have a fairly productive morning with my son. 

As I ate my lunch earlier I thought "Wow, why can't every day be like this?"

And then of course I laughed. I can certainly strive for each day to be more on purpose and meaningful. But when you have a lot going on, two kids and just life in general it's a bit much to expect perfect days all the time. But today made me grateful I was able to do what I did.

So to remind myself I came across this:

Strive for progress, not perfection.

This was so fitting to see and take in. Right now I feel it applies to so much for me with health, life, exercise, parenting, organizing - anything! 

As long as there's a progression in the right direction I consider it a win.

I will attempt to get up early again tomorrow but just in case I don't, I will take this morning as progress and put perfection aside for now :)

~Carly

What's Up Wednesday 6/10/15

Hey there!

Just wanted to post a quick update as to what I've been up to.  As I mentioned I started doing PIYO about a month ago and while I really love it and will continue to use it, I just don't think I'm getting the results I want from it.  I'm definitely more flexible and stronger from the program but I'm lacking the cardio aspect and toning I was hoping to get.

Soooo, again I'm switching it up my workout and trying a program I found via Instagram by an Australian woman named Kayla Itsines.  She's got 3 million followers and is constantly posting these AMAZING transformations of women across the world with her Bikini Body Guide.

So, I figured while I'm on my exercise kick, why not give this a whirl?  Kayla's 12 week program includes circuit training, high and low steady state cardio and stretching so I will plan to do PIYO for stretching benefits and possibly even on my rest days.

I've also made my Refreshing Quinoa salad a few more times now - yeah, I'm addicted!  And just keeping clean eating and making sure I'm drinking enough water.

That's what's up for this Wednesday.

Catch me on Instagram, too!

Have a great one!
~Carly

Recipe: Refreshing Quinoa Salad (THM E)

Happy Friday! 

Whew - is it just me or was this a long week? Either way, TGIF for sure.

On my to-do list was grocery shopping but kind of fell to the wayside. My son is no longer in preschool every morning and today we had a park play date with some friends. Since I was out of grilled chicken or deli meats (and pretty much everything else) I opened the pantry and fridge to see what I could make last minute.

Enter this refreshing quinoa salad - oh it doesn't disappoint! Each bite is a burst of sweet, crunchy, lemony goodness. I promise!

I' m just going to throw it out here now - I'm a culinary genius. Just for today. Seriously.

Grab your grocery list and add this ASAP since I'm totally making it again for next week, too! 

Ingredients:

1 cup cooked quinoa (cooled)

1-2 tbsp olive oil

1 lemon juiced

1 can garbanzo beans

2-3 stalks celery diced

1/3 cup diced red onion

1/2 large cucumber diced

6-7 stalks of kale (with stems removed and leaves chopped)

1/4 cup craisins 

Directions:

1. Cook quinoa according to directions and set aside to cool. (Since I was in a rush I threw the pot in the fridge!)

2. Drain and rinse garbanzo beans and set aside.

3. Dice onion, celery, cucumber and kale and throw them in a large bowl. 

4. In a smaller bowl, add the olive oil Amd lemon juice and whisk together. 

5. Once quinoa is cooled, add it to the diced items in large bowl, add garbanzo beans and toss together.

6. Last, pour lemon/olive oil over mixed items and stir gently to coat or combine.

Then, enjoy!

I'm going to admit I wasn't sure how this would all turn out as far as taste goes - but yum! This could easily be eaten without anything else (like I did today at the park) or it would be fantastic as a side dish to grilled chicken, a white fish or even over a bed of lettuce or spinach! 

You can add, change or omit ingredients to your specific tastes. Green apples could be added for some extra crunch too! 

I would say this recipe makes about 4-5 decent sized portions. You could easily double the recipe. In fact, this would be a great side dish to bring to a summer barbecue or just to make and keep in the fridge. I actually can't wait to have some more possibly with dinner tonight.

For THM, this recipe would be considered an E meal because of the quinoa, beans and limited amount of fat from the olive oil.

Let me know if you do decide to make it and if you make any tweaks!

Have a great weekend!

~Carly

May Updates and PiYo

It's finally spring here in Connecticut! Although we really don't have seasons anymore here in New England. I'm able to finally be outside more, run on our local trail and walking the dog. 

I'm of course still following the Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle and in addition to my walking and running I started a beach body program called PiYo.

I'm loving it so far! It's a combination of yoga and Pilates (hence the name) and you use your own body to sculpt your body. While I haven't necessarily lost any weight (I'm still maintaining), I feel like I'm definetly stronger and leaning out a bit. It's hard to tell right now since I'm feeling bloated with my monthly thang - but time will tell for sure.

Hope all is well in your world - will have some more updates and posts for you soon.

~Carly

Fuel Cycle Week Two (with a bump/twist)

Today starts week two of my Fuel Cycle.

Week one starting weight about 158.

Starting weight this week is 156 - up a bit from 155.6 from my planned date night the night before :) also I still have my period. Keep reading for my ending weight :) 

Week Two

Day 8 deep S

5:45 am Coffee and water upon waking 

8:00 am three eggs scrambled in coconut oil and sausage and more coffee with cream 

12:45 lunch deli roast beef with sautéed peppers, mushrooms and a few slices of onion and half of a deep s cake in a mug with ggms

1:45 coffee with cream - tired! And had to take my son to a birthday party

6:00 pm dinner - ate out at a Mexican restaurant and had carne asada with a side salad with a little cheese and tomato and a little guacamole that came with it and I forgot to tell them no. (Note: not supposed to have tomatoes or avocado on the fuel cycle per the book).

8:30 - snack of skinny pb cup chocolate made with peanut flour

Day 9 deep S

6:15 am wake with water and coffee

8 am breakfast scrambled eggs in coconut oil and sausage and another cup of coffee with cream

12:15 pm - Perrier water while out shopping at Bjs wholesale club

1 pm - lunch - snickers shake with chocolate protein with cottage cheese and pb powder ice and sweetener with vanilla and caramel extract - yum 

 

4:00 pm - snack 1/2 of a deep s cake in a mug and a piece of skinny pb chocolate and hot Shrinker tea

6:15 pm Dinner - turkey burger with roasted red pepper and mustard and kale salad and water 

8:45 pm - skinny pb chocolate  

Day 10 deep S

I think there was something off with my scale because I'm back up to 157.2 :/

Hmmm

6:15 am coffee and water after waking up

8:00 am breakfast eggs scrambled in coconut oil with ham, green pepper and a little onion and a smidge of cheese

 

9:15 am gym - walk/run on treadmill

10:00 am water and coffee with cream 

12:15 polar black cherry water 

1:45 lunch - turkey burger with bacon and mustard and roasted red peppers and a side kale salad

6:30 pm dinner - baked salmon with butter and sautéed squash and zucchini in coconut oil and water

Day 11 Fuel Pull

6:15 am wake up and have water and coffee with almond milk

7:15 am hungry and ate my overnight berry oats

10:00 am Snack coffee and water and a strawberry cheesecake quest bar

12:30 pm lunch big boy smoothie with added spinach and some cottage cheese for extra protein

3:00 snack - FP brownies 

6:00 pm dinner - buffalo chicken salad

Day 12 Fuel Pull

Note: very difficult day - night before found my daughter had somehow gotten lice and then my grandmother passed early this morning so off day due to all that was going on

6:15 am wake and have coffee and water

9:00 am more coffee

1:40 pm lunch progreso light soup with added grilled chicken and a piece of FP brownie

3:00 snack - coffee water and more FP brownies

6:00 pm egg white wrap with bacon bits and little cheese 

Day 13 E

Weigh in: 156 (down 1.2 from a few days prior)

6:20 am wake and have water and coffee

8:00 am Ezekiel toast with peanut butter and a half of banana 

12:15 pm - lunch at a friends house - salad with rotisserie chicken, light dressing, some black beans and a little avocado 

2:50 pm coffee and FP brownie and half container 0% Greek yogurt with polaner jelly 

5:45 pm - dinner left over chicken black bean and sweet potato chili I froze with a little sprinkle of cheese and I ate a few bites of a small slice of pizza - ooops and water 

Day 14 E

Weigh in: 155.4 Woohooo!

Note: I'm altering my last day since I am flying to Florida and had planned to do three weeks but may now be difficult and I really wanted an S breakfast.

7:00 am wake and have coffee and water

8:00 am breakfast deep s eggs in coconut oil and sausage and one piece of bacon

11:15 snack/lunch fuel pull brownie and a Greek yogurt with polaner probably an E with the extra carbs

2:00 pm coffee at airport and a Perrier 

4:30 pm quest bar and a few pieces of pineapple and water on plane 

8:00 pm dinner out - had a small Caesar salad and eggplant grinder and ate the eggplant and cheese only and a piece of my moms meatball 

Update: I'm writing this on Tuesday March 24, 2015 - this morning I weighed in at 154.4!!!! 

Granted I didn't eat as much over the past few days due to traveling and being emotional and not hungry but I brought quest bars with me and was able to stay on plan with one cheat of having some coffee cake after my grandmothers funeral service. 

Overall this two week fuel cycle was great! I would loved to have continued for a third week but it wasn't possible. I did a deep s breakfast today and will continue to freestyle for now using what I've learned again during this fuel cycle.

~Carly

Fuel Cycle Details - Week One

Hello! 

After a long winter and some holiday and vacation weight gain, I started another Fuel Cycle this past week. 

My starting weight was 157.6-158 on March 8th. Here are the details of my week:

Week One

Day 1 Deep S

6:45 am Snack - 1 piece of skinny peanut butter chocolate and cup of coffee with cream before my spin class

9:30 am Breakfast - three eggs in coconut oil with mushrooms, spinach, bacon strip and coconut oil and another cup of coffee

1:00 pm Lunch large salad with spinach and romaine, rotisserie chicken, bacon crumbles and cucumbers with olive oil and fruit punch GGMS and a few bites of deep S cake in a mug

3:30 cup of oolong tea 

6:00 Dinner -Breakfast for dinner - scrambled three eggs in coconut oil and sausage and water. A few more bites of a chocolate cake in a mug. 

Day 2 Deep S

6:15 am coffee and cream and water after waking

8:00 am Two eggs scrambled with butter and sausage and a small sprinkle of cheese and more coffee.

9:15 am 3 mile walk on the trail 

12:45 pm Lunch - roast beef sautéed with mushrooms and a few onions (note: onions are not recommended for deep S days but I didn't have any other veggies) and a large side salad with olive oil dressing and water

3:30 pm snack oolong tea, water and half a chocolate cake in a mug

6:45 pm Dinner - meatloaf and two heaping bowls of a kale and broccoli salad mix from Costco with some olive oil and a little balsamic vinegar dressing with water (note: I only made one meatloaf for my family so I did eat some of the thin tomato sauce layer on top but tomato products are not recommended for deep s days).

Deep S Day 3

Weigh in - 157 (down approx. 0.8 lbs)

6:10 Coffee and water upon waking 

8:30 am Breakfast - two eggs scrambled with sausage and a little cheese just like yesterday and coffee with cream

11:50 am Lunch - leftover piece of meatloaf and kale salad mix with olive oil and balsamic dressing and water 

Snack 3:45 pm half of chocolate cake in mug

Dinner 6:45 pm grilled chicken with sautéed garlic spinach in olive oil

Day 4 Fuel Pull

Breakfast 7:45 am overnight oats

Coffee with almond milk

Snack 10:20 am quest bar banana nut muffin and water 

Lunch 12:30 - was starving! Loaded fotato soup and a side salad with chicken and light dressing and fruit punch ggms

1:00 pm 35 minute walk

2:00 pm a small amount of Greek yogurt and polaner

4:00 coffee with almond milk and FP brownies

6:35 pm Dinner ham steak with large kale salad mix and light dressing and water and a piece of apple

Day 5 Fuel Pull

Weighed and got a little drop of 156.4 but double checked and it jumped back up to 157.2 so we shall see how the rest of the week goes but the scale is going down!

6:15 coffee and water after waking

8:05 am - breakfast egg white muffins a friend made and a big boy smoothie

10:20 am - snack fuel pull brownies with coffee and almond milk

1:40 pm - lunch grilled chicken wrap with buffalo wing sauce, lettuce and blue cheese dressing mixed with Greek yogurt to dip veggies in - carrots cucumbers and celery and water

 

4:30 snack coffee and FP brownies

6:30 dinner - FP pizzas and salad

8:30 FP brownies at my neighbor is ladies night and had a "shot"

Of red wine and a small taste of a few dips with celery and wasa crackers

Day 6 E

Wake with coffee and water at 6:15 am

I was supposed to go to spin class but I woke up with a stiff neck :( 

8:00 Breakfast - egg white scramble with veggies and Ezekiel English muffin and polaner and more coffee with almond milk 

11:00 snack 1/2 quest bar while out and about and some water 

1:15 lunch - chicken, black bean and sweet potato chili with a little sprinkle of cheese and if still hungry will snack on some veggies and a black cherry polar sparkling water

3:19 - really hungry so having a snack and made a snickers shake with pb2 flour and added some sliced frozen bananas to make it an E and had a bite of a FP brownie while waiting for it all to blend!

6:00 dinner - another small serving of the sweet potato chili and a large bowl of my kale salad mix with some lighter dressing and water

Day 7 E

Woohoo! Amazing surprise on the scale 155.6!!!!! My period came yesterday and I'm sure some of the weight was from bloat but it's on its way to being gone!

6:30 am Coffee and water 

8:45 am breakfast THM pancakes with 0% Greek yogurt and polaner 

11:45 am - early lunch of more chili and a small side salad and a half piece of a small FP brownie with water

2:45 pm - snack some apple slices and a little natural peanut butter and coffee

6:00 pm - dinner out for date night!! I ended up deciding to eat s and had a portobello mushroom stuffed with crab appetizer and a filet mignon and mixed veggies and a glass of red wine (note: wine is not recommended during a FC)

It was a choice I made and that's what I love about THM :)

So there's week one! 

Have you done a THM Fuel Cycle? 

~Carly