So a couple weeks ago I started a fitness challenge (and if this bores you I'm sorry... this blog is my attempt at journaling too). A six week challenge, but I intend on continuing it to May when my sister in law gets married and we'll be seeing lots of family... not to mention summer will be just around the corner from there and... well... we ALL know what that means!
The challenge includes keeping a daily food journal and working out 5-6 days a week. You get points for daily accomplishments and working out (which I go Mon, Wed, and Fri at 5:30! AM!... but am LOVING it... as well as a couple Wii workouts during the week and kickboxing on Saturday mornings).
So... goals...
I'm just gonna get this one out of the way... so maybe you'll forget about it... but since this IS MY journal... here goes: I'm turning 25 this year... oh... whoops... 35... yes... 35. So by my 35th birthday my goal is to lose the control tops!!! Pantyhose that is. Sorry guys... but CJ didnt even know what they were so maybe I'm good here??? I figure after 3 kids, and 2 abdominal surgeries, PLUS the ever loved "diabetic waist tire" it'll be difficult, but I think I'm up for it.
In addition to the "waist tire" I had a goal to reduce my insulin by HALF in the 6 weeks of the challenge... I CAN CROSS THAT ONE OFF! Its really amazing what a little dedication can do. Just 2 weeks into a diet and exercise plan and my insulin is already down... HALF!!!! That's pretty exciting!
My other 6 week goals include:
ChangED eating HABITS
Daily fitness routine HABIT
Loss of INCHES (nope... not gonna even mention how many)
and all of my "tight" pants will no longer be tight.
I'm getting close... I can do it! I'm working really hard on a low glycemic diet, and I REALLY know that its helping. It been a little difficult with a daughter who wont eat beans and a son who wont eat cooked tomatoes... but they'll get it. They have to!
My May goals include everything previous PLUS a loss of AT LEAST 20 pounds! I really hate numbers... but.. I am giving one, hey everyone needs something to strive for right?!!
Mom WAS on board with me when they were here in December but she has TOTALLY slacked and... I am SO WINNING. It was a challenge between the 2 of us... but its not much of a challenge when SOMEBODY doesn't participate!!!!! (Hows that for a push??? Love you more than you know Momma!!!) I cant remember what our challenge deal was for sure... I'm sure it had something to do with her giving me money...
???Ok, I said I wouldn't devote the entire post to the fitness challenge, so here's some fun stuff...
CJ got to go hunting again. A few times.
(such a handsome guy I have)One of the guys he took out actually didn't want the elk, so he gave it to CJ. Another he split and he got to keep a yearling for himself (yep Bambi... in elk form
).Needless to say we have a chest FREEZER full of elk meat.
I would love to hear some tried and true recipes. If you know me at all you know I love too cook, and so far the elk meat has worked just fine will all my beef recipes... but ALREADY we're getting a little tired of red meat so I think this will last well into the year, and maybe the next.
Canyon River has loved the elk hunting too. Not going, but enjoying the after-fun. He especially LOVES the legs. Each and EVERY elk he has claimed the legs.
(ya ya, gross I know)He was making tracks in the snow.
After Daddy got home from the last hunt he just fell into bed (this is one of the times I am thankful he has his hospital bed). I went into the bedroom a few times and made sure he knew that he STANK! When he woke up and was sitting with Canyon in his lap Canyon's little sniffer started working... he finally detected the smell was DADDY. He response was "mmmmmmmmm" ... and continued sniffing Daddy until Daddy couldn't stand himself anymore and had to take a shower. I probably don't need to tell you how proud Daddy was!
Their most favorite thing to do together is to take the carcass up to the mountain behind our house and feed the wolves. Then they go back up and look at the tracks of all the animals who went and ate.
on their way up
coming back down
a trophy from the adventure
And the girls....
(I just wanted to get more Polar Express pictures in.)
On a side note....
Here are a couple of recipes that I have enjoyed eating that are pretty low glycemic... just in case anyone wants to try.
These are pretty much my lunch staples every day...
Chang’s Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients:
3 teaspoons oil
2.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts (or pieces of)
8 oz. water chestnuts – finely chopped
2/3 cup mushrooms – finely chopped
3 tablespoons chopped green onions
1 teaspoon minced garlic
iceberg lettuce leaves
Special Sauce
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon sesame oil
Stir Fry Sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
Directions:
Make the special sauce by dissolving the sugar in water in a small bowl.
Add soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ketchup, lemon juice and sesame oil.
Mix well and refrigerate this sauce until you're ready to serve.
Bring oil to high heat in a wok or large frying pan.
Saute chicken breasts until done.
Remove chicken from the pan and cool.
Prepare the stir fry sauce by mixing the soy sauce, brown sugar, and rice vinegar together in a small bowl.
When chicken is cool, mince it as the mushrooms and water chestnuts are (or chop in a food processor).
Heat the pan to high.
Add chicken, garlic, onions, water chestnuts and mushrooms to the pan.
Add the stir fry sauce to the pan and saute the mixture for a couple minutes then serve it in the lettuce"tortillas".
Top with"Special Sauce".
I basically use an entire bag of frozen chicken and this lasts me the entire week!
Honey Walnut Bread
2 Loaves
Ingredients
2 C. Water
2 pkg. Yeast
3/4 C Honey
1/4 C. Applesauce
1 T. Salt
6 C. Whole Wheat Flour
2 T. Flax Seed
1 C. Walnuts, chopped
2 T. Milk Powder
Directions:
Dissolve yeast in warm water.
In a large bowl, combine applesauce, honey and salt and mix well.
Add walnuts; Add yeast mixture and then gradually add milk, flour and flax seed.
Turn onto floured surface and knead until smooth.
Place in buttered bowl and let rise until double.
Punch down and let rest for a few minutes.
Divide dough into 2 parts and shape into loaves.
Place in greased pans and let rise for about an hour.
Bake at 375* for 35 to 40 minutes.
3 teaspoons oil
2.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts (or pieces of)
8 oz. water chestnuts – finely chopped
2/3 cup mushrooms – finely chopped
3 tablespoons chopped green onions
1 teaspoon minced garlic
iceberg lettuce leaves
Special Sauce
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon sesame oil
Stir Fry Sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
Directions:
Make the special sauce by dissolving the sugar in water in a small bowl.
Add soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ketchup, lemon juice and sesame oil.
Mix well and refrigerate this sauce until you're ready to serve.
Bring oil to high heat in a wok or large frying pan.
Saute chicken breasts until done.
Remove chicken from the pan and cool.
Prepare the stir fry sauce by mixing the soy sauce, brown sugar, and rice vinegar together in a small bowl.
When chicken is cool, mince it as the mushrooms and water chestnuts are (or chop in a food processor).
Heat the pan to high.
Add chicken, garlic, onions, water chestnuts and mushrooms to the pan.
Add the stir fry sauce to the pan and saute the mixture for a couple minutes then serve it in the lettuce"tortillas".
Top with"Special Sauce".
I basically use an entire bag of frozen chicken and this lasts me the entire week!
Honey Walnut Bread
2 Loaves
Ingredients
2 C. Water
2 pkg. Yeast
3/4 C Honey
1/4 C. Applesauce
1 T. Salt
6 C. Whole Wheat Flour
2 T. Flax Seed
1 C. Walnuts, chopped
2 T. Milk Powder
Directions:
Dissolve yeast in warm water.
In a large bowl, combine applesauce, honey and salt and mix well.
Add walnuts; Add yeast mixture and then gradually add milk, flour and flax seed.
Turn onto floured surface and knead until smooth.
Place in buttered bowl and let rise until double.
Punch down and let rest for a few minutes.
Divide dough into 2 parts and shape into loaves.
Place in greased pans and let rise for about an hour.
Bake at 375* for 35 to 40 minutes.
This is REALLY REALLY yummy bread. Especially when I need a "bread fix". Its low fat, high fiber and 100% whole wheat!
Dance competition season is beginning in about exactly a month now. I am the team mom for Ashlyn's team and am really looking forward to it. I cant wait to start posting about the dance adventures of 2010! This year not only are we going to St. George but to Pocatello, ID... and to Lagoon. It should be fun!!!
