Your Body is a gift, NOT a Number

If I had my way I would banish all scales from homes! How many of us get discouraged when we work and work and don’t see the number budge? How many of us focus so much on that number we don’t see the non scale victories? How many focus on the size of our pants, wishing we had smaller thighs, a bigger butt, that we don’t notice that we have more energy, confidence, and feel better since we started taking care of ourselves. We focus so much on the number that we miss the PROGRESS! Life is about Progress NOT Perfection. Our BODIES are about Progress NOT Perfection. My Body is never going to be perfect, it has birthed 4 children, it has run Marathons, been broken, stitched up, and stretched out! My Body is not PERFECT, it is not a number, IT IS A GIFT! 

We only get 1 body in this life, we need to take care of it. We need to treat it like a GIFT and not a Garbage can. We need to eat healthy because we love our bodies, not because we hate them.  We need to eat to fuel our bodies. We need to exercise to keep our bodies strong and healthy, not because we don’t like the way we look, but because we love and appreciate our gift. We need to be Thankful for our bodies. Thankful for those stretch marks, it means we were able to grow a precious miracle. We need to be grateful for our sore muscles, it means we were able to move and be active. LOVE your Body and treat it like a gift.

As a woman it is so easy to compare ourselves to others! I catch myself on a daily basis comparing myself to others. I see other moms with spotless houses, moms who don’t wear yoga pants all day, their kids do what they say, they have had 6 kids and a 6 pack, they are a size zero and their makeup is always done and perfect. Well guess what? Comparison is the thief of Joy. The only person you should compare yourself to is who you were yesterday.

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” 

      -Dr. Suess

One of the most important things I want to teach my children, is that they have so much to offer by being themselves. There is no one else that can take their place. We are all one of a kind. It is so important to me that my children love themselves, that bullies won’t have an impact on them. That they will know they are important. I feel it is important as mothers to teach our daughters to love themselves for who they are and whatever size they are. Mothers need to teach their daughters to have a healthy relationship with their bodies. If they see us skipping meals, becoming depressed, shaming or bodies, our daughters will feel inadequate and ashamed of their bodies. This can increase the risk of low self-esteem, depression and eating disorders. We need to be an example of healthy eating and that we eat healthy because we love our bodies, no matter what size they are. We need to show them we workout to be healthy and strong, not to be a size 0. 

There is no perfect body! There are only bodies in progress. Love yourself for who you are now, while working on who you want to become. We all have goals and we need to push ourselves, but we need to love and be grateful for what we have now! We are all bodies in progress!

Transformation Tuesday- 21 Day Fix

There is a reason that 21 Day Fix is so popular! IT WORKS! Simple workouts + simple nutrition = results.

Yara P. was in great shape before having kids. After that, she wanted to do something for herself and get back in shape. She completed two rounds of 21 Day Fix, losing 14.6 pounds and 13 inches! She said, “I cannot believe how good I feel. I have more energy. I feel strong. I don’t get winded carrying my children up the stairs. I had no idea I could feel this good again after having kids.” If you’re tired of long workouts and hate counting calories then you want to check out the 21 Day Fix. Many people have lost 15 pounds in 21 short days!

3 Ingredient Paleo Sweet Potato Dough

Years ago I made a Paleo Sweet potato Gnocchi and the kids ate them before I had dinner ready. I have been craving them, but couldn't find the recipe. My Sister, mom and I stumbled onto this amazing recipe and my Sister rolled a gnocchi in some butter and sprinkled it with salt and said it tasted like a pretzel. We have become obsessed with the endless possibilities with this dough and it hasn't disappointed.

Paleo Sweet Potato Dough
3 cups cooked sweet potato (bake 5-6 sweet potatoes at 350 for an hour)
1 egg
1-2 cups Tapioca starch (I get this at Winco in the bulk section, Bobs Red Mill makes it also)

Directions: scoop potatoes out of skins and mash them till all lumps are out. Add 1 cup of Tapioca starch and mix,add egg and combine. At 1/4 cup increments add Tapioca starch till the dough is workable. you want to be able to roll it with out it sticking, but not too dry.


Paleo Pretzels
Roll dough out with extra tapioca starch onto parchment paper into round long "snake like" strips. Shape into pretzels. Bake at 350 for 20 mins. Turn oven to broil for 2-3 mins and let top turn golden brown, pull them out of oven and butter tops and sprinkle with course salt. I love the course Himalayan Pink salt from sprouts.

Gnocchi
Roll dough out with extra tapioca starch onto parchment paper into round long "snake like" strips. cut into half inch peieces and roll with a fork. Bake at 375 for 15 mins. Check the bottoms to see if they are golden brown.
I love to saute them in butter and garlic and add them to spicy sausage and peppers.

  






Paleo Flat Bread
Take a ball of dough roll it till smooth and then flatten it on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 for 15 mins. I like a crispy outside, so I broils till the top is crispy or I have toasted them up on a griddle. you can make pizza, navajo tacos, top it with eggs and bacon, so many tasty things!

Pumpkin Protein Waffles

I feel like every family needs to know about these, you are missing out if you do not have these waffles in your life. My kids devour them every morning. I need a couple more waffle irons to keep up with them, there is always fighting going on about who gets the next waffle. 

Pumpkin Protein Waffles

8 eggs
2 cup cottage cheese
2 cup gf flour or oats
1 15 Oz can pumpkin puree
2 tsp. Cinnamon
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
2 tsp vanilla
Blend all ingredients in a blender till smooth. I use a Blendtec, if you have a smaller blender, I would make it in 2 batches.  Cook in a waffle iron, Throw a few chocolate chips in it and its like a cookie! Top them with fresh berries, cream, maple syrup, nuts, the options are endless. 

Enjoy!

Transformation Tuesday Core De Force

Before starting CORE DE FORCE, Marsha was stuck in a bad place with her health and fitness. After completing the program, she lost 20 pounds and is now an expert on portion control! Here is what she had to say about her journey:

“I needed a change in my life. I was unhappy with my body and overall health. I felt defeated and disappointed in myself. I was looking for motivation and change. My primary goals were to reduce body fat, lose inches, and gain a six pack.

CORE DE FORCE was so effective because the workouts were fun. My mind and body were engaged. Body Weight was my favorite workout because it focused on my upper-body strength. I really enjoy boxing, and the combination moves were challenging. It made me focus on form as well. Also, learning how to portion control my food was important. I was eating to fuel my body!

Jericho is strong, energetic, and athletic. She is supportive, positive, and will demand you give your all. Joel is full of energy, engaging, and helped me push through my comfort zone.

I can’t believe my results! I lost almost 30 inches all over my body! My friends and family say I look like the old me. They are so proud of me. They mentioned they would love to try the program themselves. They are impressed by my small waist and overall weight loss. They are excited for me! I feel strong and healthy. I feel empowered to push through any challenge in my life. I feel confident! I have not been this small in years, and I am proud of my accomplishments.”

Paleo Honey Nut Granola

I LOVE Granola and I miss it, but it is so not worth eating oatmeal. Oatmeal is a grain that is not my friend. totally bloated and I have a hard time digesting it. So I make my own grain free granola and it disappears. Everyone loves it!

Paleo Honey Nut Granola
2 cups raw nuts chopped
(I used a mix almonds, cashews, and walnuts)
1 tbs. Chia seed
1 tbs. Flax seed
1tbs. Honey
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 tsp. vanilla

Directions
Chop nuts(I pulsed mine in my blend tec.) Melt oil and honey, add vanilla and stir still combined. Add nuts and seeds and stir till combined. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper, evenly spread the nut mixture on the sheet. Bake at 250 for 15 mins. pull out of oven and stir nuts and spread evenly again and bake for another 15 mins. remove and let cool. I store mine in a Mason jar.