Confessions (The Embarrassing One)

So I wrote this blog to chronicle my quest to go from fat to fit.  It includes all my successes, slip ups, and face plants along the way to learning how to eat right, exercise correctly, and just live a healthier life.  I've asked you all to listen, comment, help me out, and even get involved in your own quest to live better, but the question is - Do you really know who I am?  Who is this that your reading about, cheering on, and maybe even trying to learn or gain motivation from?  So here it is kids - some of my craziest, most ridiculous confessions.  Hopefully this will help you feel like you know a bit more about me.  

I have a cat, but I really wanted a dog.

I'm just not home enough to be a good dog mommy.

So I rescued Harlee from the SPCA and made her as dog like as possible.  

She greets me at the door, can fetch, and (uurrrggghhh...) begs for food.

I've learned to love Harlee and am pretty much they crazy cat lady who thinks their cat is the best.  

Except when we are cuddling and the neighbors decide to start surprise 12th of July fireworks shows.  Ouch!

Being a rugby player a large percentage of my friends happen to be gay (rugby stereotype, but quite often true).  I believe that these fabulous kind, wonderful women and all the other people out there deserve equal rights.  I went to the Pride Parade with them today, some would say I was being supportive, or a straight ally, I say I'm hanging out with my friends.  

I think the word skinny is overrated.  

My goal has never been to be skinny, but rather to be healthy, fit, toned, or athletic.

Choose one of those words - they're all great.

I believe fit comes in all shapes and sizes.  

I wear a double digit size, have very curvy hips (which are probably being sucked in a bit a lot by the compression shorts), and a huge rib cage.

Ex-boyfriends have told me I was: big-boned, thick, curvy, and a good eater.  

They are exes for a reason - I date idiots.

Not because they said that, all that is true, and I am fine with it, heck even proud of my build, it did allow my to run a marathon.

They were idiots for about every other possible reason.  I must attract that.

And my biggest confession... I have never done karaoke or sang in public because I am super embarrassed by my voice, even my own mother told me at a very early age that singing was not the career choice for me.  Obviously she was right!

However, I still jam out in the car like a crazy person.   

My current hit, Call Me Maybe, and yes I'm 30 and singing a teeney bopper song.  

Try to act like it doesn't get stuck in your head too.

Now you know way more about me (Yikes!, Try getting that horrid performance out of your head without having nightmares) than you wanted to.  I hope that makes you feel a little more connected to me and to BackatSquareZero.

P.S.- I also snort if I laugh hard (really loudly)!

Okay guys be brave - What is one of your confessions?
Let me know.

Deliciousness

This is one of my favorite recipes and was the perfect dinner for tonight:

Healthy Chicken Enchiladas

Only 230 calories & 2 grams of fat per enchilada

19 grams of protein so you feel full

Grocery List:

1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 large green pepper

1 large onion

1 large tomato

1 can condensed tomato soup

1 can Campbell's Healthy Request Cheese Soup (has less fat & calories than normal)

2 cups salsa

10 tortillas

*optional - 2 jalapenos, sour cream, guacamole

The tomatoes looked great, but small, so I got 3 little ones.
The peppers & onions looked horrible and I didn't have time to run to a 2nd grocery,
 so I made due with yummy precut ones.
Normally I don't buy these because they're more expensive.

These are my favorite tortillas.  They are so soft and delicious and less than 90 calories each.  

I always get the Healthy Request Cheese soup.  It tastes the same to me and is way better for you.

Chop up the chicken and onions.
Cook on the stove top.
I use a huge wok since I tend to spill (a lot).

I like spicy things so when I am cooking for myself I add 2 jalapenos.
If I am taking these to a party where not everyone loves the heat I leave them out.

Chop up the green pepper and throw it in with the chicken and onions.

Cut up the tomato and set it to the side in a large bowl.

Once the chicken is no longer pink pour the chicken, onion, and pepper mixture over the tomatoes.
Pour the can of tomato soup on top and stir.
(It keeps everything moist and delicious while it bakes.)

Now make the sauce.
Dump the cheese into a small bowl and add 2 cups of salsa.
I love salsa so I use lots.
(This is me using the leftover cheese soup can so I don't get more dishes dirty.)

Stir salsa and cheese soup together.
You can use whatever salsa you like.
My dad makes super thick & chunky homemade salsa that is probably about a medium, it is my go to.
However, if that isn't available I use store bought and it is still fabulous!

Add the mix to tortillas.  It should make 10.
Sometimes I end up with 9, sometimes 11.  No big deal.

Carefully place enchiladas in baking dish.  (I use one large and one small dish to make them all fit.)
I spray mine with olive oil cooking spray first so nothing sticks.

Dump sauce on top and spread it out.
Place in oven for 25 minutes at 400.

Ta-da.  2 dishes full of this amazingness came out.

I knew they were perfectly done because the very edges were just a bit brown.

If I'm serving these at a party I have sour cream and guacamole to put on top.
Sometimes I even go wild and sprinkle shredded cheese over the top of them while they are baking.
Then as a side dish I do black beans, rice, or corn.
However, today it was just me and I was craving fruit.

I love that this dish is so healthy -  230 calories, count me in.  Plus the fresh taste of the chicken and veggies is delicious and the sauce is so much lighter than what you find when you go out to eat.  I worked at a Mexican place for about 7 years through HS and college and invented this dish years ago when I was craving Mexican, but wanted something healthier than what the restaurant had.  I make this pretty frequently because not only do my friends and family love it, but it is easy to do, and makes 10 good sized enchiladas.

P.S. - They freeze well.  I now have 3 in my fridge for this week and 6 more in individual containers in my freezer.  Way healthier and yummier than store bought frozen food.  I just take one out of the freezer, defrost it, and heat it up when I am busy and still want a great dinner.  

Sweets & Sushi

For me one of the first steps to being healthy was realizing it had to be a lifestyle change, not just a diet until my clothes fit and then go back to my old ways and slack off until I'm popping buttons off and have to start some crazy diet plan again.  Now it is part of who I am.  Don't get me wrong, I mess up, I make mistakes, I eat raw cookie dough, sh*t happens.  However, that is the exception, not the rule and I get myself back on track.

During this crazy health adventure I have come to realize that being healthy is not just food and exercise, it is so much more.  It's eating right, exercising/being active, resting and getting enough sleep at night, but it is also about your overall happiness.  For me my happiness factor comes not only from what I do, but also who I surround myself with.  Crossing that finish line is amazing, but it's so much sweeter if you know there are people who care about you and support you in your goals.  I am beyond blessed in that I have many fabulous people in my life, who may not want to run 26.2 miles with me or who may think turkey burgers are "un-American", but who support my decisions nonetheless. 

I believe it is very important to try to do things for all these fabulous people so they know how appreciated they are; I mean really I would be a hot mess without so many wonderful, supportive people in my life.  Since I am on a teacher budget I can't buy them the amazing vacations and ridiculous diamonds they probably deserve.  However, hopefully these sweets and modified/stolen Pinterest ideas helped to get my point across. 

Hello sweet tooth.  Of course, I bought candy as a gift.

Mounds, Nuts (Chocolate Covered Almonds), Reeses Pieces, and M&Ms
I made 3 of these and all the notes were very different, but the treats were the same.

Then it was time for dinner with one of my awesome friends/supporters, C.  She heard about a place called O-Ku that does half price sushi on Friday from 5-7.  Sushi?  Cheap?  Sign us up!  It was in downtown Charleston, but in an area where parking isn't too bad (which is good because I'm 30 and have yet to master parallel parking) , and the atmosphere was great.  Everything sounded amazing, we couldn't decide what to get, too much amazingness for my brain to process.  So we just got lots and split it all because we wanted needed to taste everything.  It was super yummy and we got everything for right under $30 after the half price discount.  I would definitely return, on a half price night, let's be real I'm working on a teacher salary here. 

Our Fabulous Sushi - C& I split 5 rolls

This was next to C's side of the plate.
Mine was perfectly neat, not because I'm cleaner, but because food does not miss my mouth.  

Then C and I went home and did a nice little 6 mile walk.  We were too full to run.  I am sure that sushi would not have looked as pretty coming back up.  However, we both still wanted to get some type of exercise in.  See supportive friend = happiness!  We did 4.5 miles on our own and then went back to rescue her puppy.  Side note I am aware he is a full grown dog.  I refer to all dogs no matter size, shape, age, or breed as puppies and I LOVE them all.  (I don't have a big enough place and am not home enough for a dog of my own so I latch onto all my friend dogs.  Hello crazy.)  Then we walked the last 1.5 miles with the pup to make it a nice even 6 and burn off some of those delicious sushi calories. 

C's baby Leroy is an adorable SPCA rescue

P.S.- Then we watched The Vow and I cried for like a hour straight, could not stop, no idea why.  Dear heavens.  Ridiculous!  I looked like I'd been beaten, it was rough.  However, Channing Tatum still looked good so it was a victory;)  

Lies & Untruths

I see this all over Pinterest when I am searching for good running motivation (AKA finding delicious recipes to cook given any half decent excuse) at it really irks me.  

Why do we continue to glorify this?

"Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels"?  Really? Are you sure about that?

What about healthy?  

Or fit?

How about happy?

Loved? 

Cherished?

Wanted?

Needed?

Looked up to?

Intelligence?

Compassion?

Sunny days?

Family? 

Friends?  

Long runs?

Crossing that finish line?

Aren't all these things much more important than "skinny"?

           Forget "Good", these things are BETTER.

and guess what...Occasionally I think a bowl of ice cream, grilled out burger, or amazing piece of brie tastes way better than your skinny feels.  Because life is important, love is important, people are important, living a healthy lifestyle is important.  

Being a stick?...  Save that for the damn trees!

Question:  What do you think tastes BETTER than skinny feels?
Let me know.

Amen!

Can I qualify as both?

Apple pie with that crumb topping in particular.  Yummy!