Your Mottoe?

Don't you just love a great quote? Something that helps inspire you and makes you feel great! Sometimes you are lucky to find ones that you need in your life!? This is my most recent.

My husband and I were married young and with that came lots of sacrifice. Lots of jobs we hated, lots of time apart, lots of schooling, and never having any money. We chose that! Yes, it is hard and sometimes really hard. Now I am not someone who has a lot of wants but being this poor it’s hard to even budget needs. The best part of all of this is the example we are setting for our children and for the growth that we are blessed to have. One day we are going to look back at now and say WOW we did it! I am so grateful for that! We have high ambitious dreams and always have! The great part is we keep powering through so we may achieve those dreams, and I know one day we will! Then it will all be more than worth it!!

I encourage you to take time to find mottoes to find quotes and inspirational stories to help guide you through the bad and the good! It helps! It helps remind you that we are all human and we all struggle at times! If there is a will there is a way! Make your goals and start guiding your life to achieve them! Then it will lead you to your Healthy Happy Life!

Have a Healthy Happy Day!

Talking About Weight and BMI with Children?

So I have so many other post I am in the middle of writing but this is just blowing my mind right now and I have to talk about it. Again, this is my own personal opinion on this! Also, I am very passionate about this and I am sorry if it comes across crud or even confusing in parts I am just so frustrated that this is even happening!

Back story  there was a girl in Florida who plays varsity volleyball whose mother was given a letter from the school claiming her daughter is at risk for obesity. This is a Florida State law to run these test on kids and all of it is based on their Body Mass Index AKA BMI. Okay this is absolutely ridiculous. This is little girl is skinny first of all and I HATE that BMI does not calculate MUSCLE! From one muscular person to another you are not obese just because a machine, which has a 50% accurate rate, says you are!

I think that we as adults are over bombarding our kids with weight! We are so shallow and not allowing our kids to just be healthy happy kids is just sad! Who gives about weight? I say are you eating fruits and veggies? Are you playing outside or doing any athletic activities? Are you parents taking the time to make sure they are eating well and staying active? This is a parent’s responsibility. When I was working at the gym sometimes I would help Life Guard. I remember once that there were two moms with their kids in the pool. They were leaning up against the pool wall and talking about how much they hated their bodies. They were getting very vivid and specific. To no surprise to me one of their daughters, about 10, joined in and said "I know I hate my arms, and my tummy is not flat enough". No exaggeration she probably weighed 80 lbs. BUT that is the example that we are giving our kids these days!! It blows my mind!

Yes, I help transform people to healthier lifestyles for a living. My husband is in chiropractic school and has the same goal as me. Will we talk about weight and clothe sizes with our kids or even in front of them? NO!! They are to be kids. I want them to go and play because it is fun! Not because they need to burn off the brownie they ate! I want them to eat broccoli or watermelon because it tastes good not because they're getting too fat. The last thing I want them to ever do is be worried of how they look or if they are fat! That is the entrance to a lifelong struggle of a relationship with food and body image. I DO NOT want that for my children and I know my husband does not either.

My Husband and I are both big athletes and we are both built "muscular" these are the bodies god blessed us with! Do we chose to take care of ourselves? Yes and that example are all that my kids will need. No discussions, no forcing, and no making our kids feel like they EVER need to worry about counting calories or if they look too fat in there jeans!

Have a Healthy Happy Day!

Jag Modeling Agency

This is Something I very much believe in! 

This agency features models from size 6/8 to size 18/20. One of the models described her weight as "I do not think of myself as skinny or fat I just think of me as me. It's just where I am at and who I am" when taking pictures "I don't worry about sucking in I worry about getting a great shot". They also reveal in this video that most European companies produce clothes that are curvier and they have a far lower obesity rate than us. I believe and agree that most women become over weight because they know they will never be a size zero. I find it funny that these flat figured women are to be desirable. We are women we are meant to have fat for our bodies to function correctly. This constant push to be "skinny as a rail" is just sad. I believe that push is what is making our obesity rate among women continually inclining.

I say be happy with who you are! As long as you are healthy and taking care of yourself weight is just a number and so is the sizes we wear. Smile for what you have and own it!!

Jag Models on the Good Morning America!

Have a Healthy Happy Day!

Despite MS, swimming teacher inspires her kids

Such a sweet amazing women and inspiring story!!

"Pat Knisley is a swimming teacher from New Bern, N.C., whose enthusiasm and love have inspired thousands of young students. Despite a 20-year battle with multiple sclerosis and the recent loss of her husband, Knisley continues to get kids in the swim. NBC’s Bob Dotson reports." -Today Show 8/21/13

Look at Pats full story here.

Have a Healthy Happy Day!

Fruit Leathers

Yep from scratch and super easy!!!

INGREDIENTS:
2 1/3- 3 Cups slightly ripened Fruit (I used Strawberries)  
2 teaspoons Lemon Juice
Honey, Sugar, or Agave to taste (I used about 2 Tablespoons Honey)

DIRECTIONS:
Heat Oven to lowest temperature 140-160 F. Line a baking sheet with microwave safe plastic wrap or silicone baking mat (look at pic below). Set aside. 

In food processor or high processing blender poor in fruit and lemon Juice and pure. Add in sweetener of choice to taste. Pour evenly over baking sheet. Place in oven for 6-8 hours. Until center is not tacky anymore. Let sit till room temp then peel off and place onto wax paper. Cut into long strips and roll up. Store in air tight container.

VARIATIONS:
You can add in spices like cinnamon or nutmeg to make fun twist also feel free to try with different kinds of fruit! If you do not want to roll them up cut into pieces just as fun and tasty! I live in the South in the humidity so for me it was easier to roll up after it had sit out over night and gotten softer, I also do not keep the lid on my container always to keep it softer as well.

These were the ones that I made for my husband for our 3rd year anniversary. Three years the gift is to be Leather so I made Fruit Leathers!

 In food processor 

On baking sheet before placed in Oven

 

My Finished Fruit Leathers!

Weight Gain

First I would really like to say that I'm not at all trying to offend anyone.

With pregnancy I have so far gained 30 pounds. I gained 10 right before I got pregnant, 10 in the first trimester, and 10 in the second. This weight gain has taken such a tole on my body! I can not believe that only five years ago I was 60 pounds heavier than my regulated healthy weight. I cannot believe that I was working out, walking around campus, and being active with friends. Now yes I did have more muscle so that tributes to the weight but still. I am now so achy it is so hard for me to do yoga, clean house, walk, stand up, sit down, and to sleep. I cannot imagine having this weight all the time! So painful and so hard on my body! I am so grateful to now have the knowledge of my own bio individuality. That I can take care of myself and keep my weight at a constant healthy level. I do worry, I worry allot. I think everyone who has been over weight worries about the weight coming back. It is going to take time after this pregnancy to get back down. I am so excited to do so cause I will feel so much better!! I will be able to be more active with my baby, take care of us, giving him the tools and example to take care of yourself in a healthy manner!

Weight loss, especially in a healthy consistent manner, is a gift and a blessing!!! Everyone is capable of being healthy and feeling well and everyone deserves it!!!

Have a Healthy Happy Day

Mexican Casserole

Freezes well and taste better ever time re-heated!

INGREDIENTS:
1 Can (10 3/4oz) Cream of Chicken Soup
1 Can (4.5oz) Chopped Green Chiles
1 Container (8 oz) Sour Cream (I use Plain Greek Yogurt but up to you!)
1/2 Cup Milk (your choice)
2 1/2 Cups Cooked Chicken Breast then Shreded
8 Yellow Corn Tortillas Torn into Pieces
1 Medium Green Bell Pepper Chopped (if you want it spicier use a Poblano Pepper)
1 Large Tomato Chopped
1 1/2 Cups Mexican Cheese Blend

DIRECTIONS:
Heat Oven to 350 F and spray 13X9 inch pan with cooking spray of choice. 
In Large bowl mix soup, chiles, sour cream and milk till well combined. Add in chicken, tortillas, and pepper stir till combined. Add in Tomatoes and 1 Cup of cheese. Spread into pan and cover with foil.

Bake for 40 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle remaining cheese on top then bake uncovered for another 5 to 10 minutes. Till nice and gooey!

OTHER VARIATIONS:
Instead of adding in the corn tortillas leave them whole and use the casserole as filling and into a Taco. You can also opt for flour tortillas and use the casserole as filling for burritos. All of these are super yummy!


Bowl Mixture

 Finished Casserole!

ENJOY!