Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Sweet Potato Hash...Thank you very much!

Recipe share:

I made this on a whim one night for dinner, b/c well I'd already had some sausage cooked up, and had a couple sweet potatoes on the verge so decided to just go with it......It was amazing.  The girls loved it, and so did mom.  So much that there wasn't any left for Big Daddy Z when he got home from slaving at work all day.....negative wife points for me. 
Hoping to redeem myself.... I made it again, this time I made a big pan of it, and had some leftovers even! 

Here is the recipe link:

Sweet Potato Hash w/ sausage and eggs

Because I don't ever like to do more dishes than I have to, I didn't follow this recipe exactly, and it still turned out great!

Here's my simplistic version.

1. cook sausage
2. dice potatoes and onions and toss with Evoo and seasonings in a 9x13" pan. 
3. Mix in sausage
4. bake for 30-45 minutes
5. make the well thingys and add your eggs.
6. bake again about 10-15 minutes until eggs are done. 

Easy peasy, and oh so yummy <yea I know it doesn't rhyme, but greasy, no it wasn't, and cheesy, it is Paleo and this version didn't have any cheese involved....>

Monday, August 20, 2012

1/2 way there ?!?!

6 weeks, really already!?!?  I can't believe the time has moved by so quickly.  6 weeks ago I began a journey to transform my life and to begin learning all I can about being healthy: mind, body, and soul health. 
Today I was brought back to a quote by a very wise Kelly Rota-Autry, "It's not a procedure, it's a process".  I'm a Type A personality. I like to be in control, I like it all laid out in black and white, I have little room for gray in my life!! ......those of you who know me best are surely shocked by this revelation, I know weird, right!?!  Pick your jaws up off the floor and move on!
Today we were asked, "What has been your biggest breakthrough or insight thus far in your BTWG journey?"
1). It's NOT a procedure, it's a process.
2). It's hard to deny the truth, when it's all laid out in front you (you know that black and white I love so much)...there's no escaping that!
3). Take care of your body, and it will take care of you in amazing ways!

In the past week I've gotten 2 personal records in the gym.....

8/16/12 90# Overhead Squat (prior to this, the most I've ever done was 65#)
8.20/12 105# Split Jerk (prior heaviest was 75#)

Tangent: I remember when I first started at PR in August 2011 Chris saying to me that I would learn not to worry about the number on the scale going down but to focus more on the number on the barbell going up.
I thought he was just talking crazy talk!!

Did I make these 25 and 30# gains b/c I've been actually fueling my body with what it needs, and working to keep it injury free with mobility and yoga?  Hmmmm, the magic 8 ball says......strong possibility!!

I praise God for all these things, He is constantly amazing me with the wondrous works He performs in my life.   So many people have entered my life at just the perfect moment to lead me down a path to better myself!  And for that I am forever thankful!

~Don't you realize your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price.  So you must honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Donut disasters

Old habits die hard, I know this to be true. I fought urges many times. I've walked by the dessert table, passed on French fries, and sworn off pizza.
Some things aren't so easy. Not when they are staring you in the face, swimming in their sugary goodness.
My old weaknesses creep on in and take hold. I was weak and gave in a little, a little bit more, and even a little more; makes me mad it wasn't even on the "good" stuff.
I guess in hindsight the old Nicole would have indulged in probably the entire box, so the "new Nicole" is fighting to come out even in my moments of weakness. I just need to let her out more often.
So for a moments joy I walked away with a huge belly ache (2 days later my belly still isn't right), a headache, and guilt.....and I suppose a good lesson. Donuts=disaster.
Can I say I'll never eat them again, not likely. But I will rule them, they won't rule me.

You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” (Genesis 4:7 NLT)

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Free to be me...

Is anyone truly content with themselves? How many times have you been in a store, on the street, or in the gym and wished for something someone else had? For me it happens a lot.....a cute outfit, amazing hair, seriously sweet abs....it's hard to remember in times when we are wishing for something we don't have we are missing out on the blessings we have been given.
I was brought back to this simple
Realization tonight while helping Miss Sassy with her homework. We read the story , "The Mixed up Chameleon" by Eric Carle. If you're not familiar with the story here is an excerpt....
"one day the chameleon saw a zoo! It had never seen so many beautiful animals. The Chameleon thought: how small I am, how slow, how weak! I wish I could be big and white like a polar bear. And the chameleon's wish came true. But was it happy? No! I wish I could be handsome like a flamingo. I wish I could be smart like a fox. I wish I could swim like a fish. I wish I could run like a deer...........I wish I could be like people. Just then a fly flew by. The chameleon was very hungry. But the chameleon was very mixed up. It was a little of this and it was a little of that. And it couldn't catch the fly. I wish I could be myself. The chameleon's wish came true. And it caught the fly!"
So often when I'm longing for something else I end up feeling down at myself as though what I have and what i am isn't good enough. But I know In my heart of hearts, I am good enough because I am made by God; unique in my own purpose, strong and weak for a reason, a reason I may never know. Although it is difficult I must be content with that and be the best me I can be.

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. (Psalm 139:14 NKJV)

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Lessons learned...

There is always a lesson to be learned.  We just need to have our eyes and our hearts open to it, and reflect on it.  That is what I have spent some time doing, reflecting on this past week, dubbed Hell Week @ PR, and I've learned this: I'm am truly NOT the same person I was one year ago; and for that I am grateful!!
You see I took my first "freebie" class at PR during 2011 Hell Week, and in that class we did a 3ish mile "rifle run" w/ a 10# weight plate, and when we were not running we did situps, pushups, bear crawls, crab walks, relay sprints, and some Indian runs.  I remember that workout and the pain I felt just like it was yesterday, but it wasn't it was a year ago!!  In that year I've truly changed, I remember constantly thinking how weak I was and angry at myself that I couldn't keep up with these athletes! I hated walking and slowing everyone up, I recall leaving that class just physically and mentally beat down.  I was weak, overweight, and truly miserable.  So instead of wallowing in my self-pity, which is what I normally did, I put on my big girl panties, and did something about it.  I called up the Coach and setup my foundations courses.  Big Daddy Z was pretty hesitant at first, he is the realist you know, pretty certain he thought this was just another one of my brilliant ideas that I wouldn't follow through on.  But he joined up with me, through some prodding.....
Fast forward one year to Hell Week 2012.  In retrospect, I truly enjoyed this week as a whole, maybe not in the moment, but always afterwards.  There was not once that I thought, "I am too weak" or "I can't do this".  I didn't completely doubt my ability to complete any of the workouts to the best that I have.  I knew that when I would start to get down, my family would be there to help me through it, and they were.  I also found how much I loved being there for them as well.  At home I really focused on my nutrition, trying to properly fuel my body and give it the rest it needs.  It paid off, I was able to hang with the guys sometimes, and be there to contribute to my team. While I still need to work on that voice inside my head, she isn't nearly as loud as she used to be, that or I've gotten better at proving her wrong!!
What a difference a year has made, excited to see what the next year will bring as I continue growing and learning!

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.
2 Timothy 4:7

Sharing some of the week in pictures from PR Facebook page....

 Wednesday's 1 mile tabata run with my team and Big Daddy Z's....

3/4 of my team after completing our Fran "cool down" Wednesday

Thursday:  Do you see that voice, she is trying to talk to me...

 Thursday: But see I didn't let her beat me during those 25 minutes of Burpee Broadjumps

 Posing for a pic with the "family" during our only rest period :)

Thursday: Aftermath..most mentally difficult day

 Friday: Carrying and dragging our wounded

Fri: Everyone cheering on Roxy as she finishes our last reps of leave no man behind.

Enjoying some well-deserved watermelon!

Until next time....