FIXATE - Eggplant Turkey Burger

I am so excited to share one of my favorite recipes from the 21 Day Fix cookbook FIXATE.  Lots of time when we think about "clean" "healthy" food we don't necessarily assume it is going to taste great.  I have made about 5 recipes from this cookbook so far and they have all been FANTASTIC!  In fact....they have all been so good that even my children love them!  Say what?  Kids liking clean, healthy food?  Yes!  They do!  I was shocked!

So here is one of, not just my favorite FIXATE recipes, but also one of my favorite recipes ever.  I hope that you enjoy it.  Please let me know what you think.

EGGPLANT TURKEY BURGER

serves:4  Prep time:  20 min.  Cooking time: 16 min.

21 Day Fix container equivalents (per serving):  1.5 green, 1 red, 1 blue

12 oz.         raw ground 93% lean turkey breast

3/4              medium onion, 1/4 finely chopped, 1/2 sliced (divided use)

2                 large egg whites (1/4 cup)

1 Tbsp.       finely chopped fresh parsley

1 tsp.          hot pepper sauce (like Tabasco)

1                 medium eggplant, PEELED, sliced into 8 rounds

1                 medium bell pepper sliced (or chopped)

1 tsp.          olive oil

4 slices       Muenster cheese (4 oz.)

1 Tbsp.       balsamic vinegar

Directions
1.  Preheat grill or broiler to high.
2.  Combine turkey, chopped onion, egg whites, parsley, and hot sauce in a medium bowl; mix well.  
     Form turkey into 4 patties.
3.  Grill or broil patties for about 4 to 5 minutes on each side, or until no longer pink in the middle.
     Set aside.  Keep warm.
4.  Brush sliced onion, eggplant, and bell pepper with oil.

5.  Grill or broil for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until lightly browned.
6.  Place a slice of eggplant on each of  four serving plates.  Top each with a patty, a slice of onion, a      slice of bell pepper, and a slice of cheese.  Sprinkle with vinegar and top with a second slice of eggplant.

Enjoy

Summit 2015

I had the incredible experience of getting to attend Beachbody Summit 2015 in Nashville.  This was my first experience with Summit and it will definitely not be my last.  Summit is a place where Beachbody coaches get together to get training from top coaches and speakers like Simon Sinek, Dewitt Jones, Chalean Johnson to name a few.  It is also a place where we can gather together and do live workouts with trainers like Tony Horton and Shaun T.  And it is a place to celebrate the lives that have been changed by the work we have been doing.



This experience for me was just so emotionally overwhelming.  I have now been working with Beachbody for 11 months exactly and it has completely changed my life.  I have gone from a depressed, eating disorder, anxiety filled, riddled with chronic pain, pessimist person who waited for the next bad thing in my life to happen, to an excited, driven, goal oriented, healthy, strong, optimistic person.  I am surrounded by such positivity with Beachbody.  Everyone is there to lift you up and help celebrate the goals you have for yourself and your family.   But not only that, I have met the most incredible people this year through the challenge groups that I run on Facebook!  I have seen people accomplish such amazing things!  I have seen a woman who had cancer and could hardly walk after cancer treatments now doing Insanity Max 30 and running 5ks!  I have seen soooo much weight lost, confidence gained, and love and support.  I have seen people changing their lives and changing the lives of their entire families!  I have seen people take the first step and stumble and then get back up again!  I have gotten to pray for people, send encouraging texts, challenge people and be challenged, and I have learned so much from each challenger.  I feel truly blessed to be a part of something so life changing for so many people.

Before I left for summit I got a couple of wonderful messages from challengers who told me that I inspired them to change.  ME!  I never in a million years thought I would inspire anyone to do anything.  This has given me such a purpose and I feel blessed to be a part of each and every challengers lives.

At Summit, I got to meet the teammates that I have been working with for 11 months.  We have never met in person, but we have had zoom calls.  We have learned from each other, we have gotten frustrated together, we have brain stormed, we have celebrated victories.  And I was blessed enough to go to Summit and get to wrap my arms around these people who have made such a huge difference in my life.

There were 25,000 coaches at Summit.  These coaches came in every size, color, shape.  Sometimes people think that coaches all need to look like professional body builders or trainers, but that is not the case at Beachbody.  In the live p90x workout, there was a coach with a prosthetic leg doing the workout.  In the live Insanity Max 30 workout, there was what looked to be a couple that were in the late 60's or 70s.  There were people who were just starting their fitness journey and people who were maintaining their fitness.  There were quiet/shy coaches, outgoing coaches, funny coaches, smart coaches, playful coaches.  Every kind of coach imaginable.  It was a beautiful sight.  All of us bring something unique to the table.  All of us have something in us that can help inspire others to lead a healthy lifestyle, gain confidence in themselves and love themselves.

The three days of Summit were like three days of personal development.  I got so much information that just made the wheels in my head turn. We learned about furthering our business, yes.  But there was so much more.  We learned about developing good and healthy relationships with our spouses.  We learned about looking for what is "right" in the situation instead of looking for what is "wrong" in a challenging situation.  We were encouraged to "Dream Big" and to set goals and believe they will happen.  Instead of "I'll believe it when I see it" turn it around!  "I will see it, BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT!"  We learned about Discipline and doing what needs to be done even when the motivation to do it is not there.  I could go on and on.

Do we as Beachbody coaches help people lose weight and get in shape...yes.  BUT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE.  We are changing the way people see themselves.   We are helping people gain confidence.  We are bringing couples closer together.  We are saving people from diseases.  We are helping families learn how to keep their children healthy.  We are helping people get rid of chronic pain.  We are helping families become active together and because of that connect with each other more.  It is so much bigger than weight loss.  And it is a tremendous blessing in the life of me and my family.  I can't wait to see what this year brings and to meet back up with my team in Nashville in 2016!  This year, I went with 2 of my coaches.  Next year, I can't wait to see how many of MY team, Team Dramatic Action, will be with me in Nashville.  I already have 12 signed up.  I can't wait to hug each and every one of them and celebrate the incredible victories that they have had next year!

God Turns Grey into Colors Bold and Bright

I have been overwhelmed at what a blessing my life has turned into.  Of course, it was always a blessing but my anxiety, depression, eating disorder, and pessimism didn't let me see it.  It was like this big dark, cloud covering up my view and all I could see was the dark cloud.  I couldn't see what was just on the outside of that dark cloud because I never bothered to move out from underneath it.  Just like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, she had the power to go home the entire time.  I had the power to move out from underneath that cloud my entire life!  But I CHOSE to stay put.  Even though I was miserable, it was comfortable there.  I knew the misery.  I was familiar with it.  I didn't know how to show excitement or happiness even when I was happy.  All I knew how to show was indifference or sadness or anger.

There is a song by Dave Matthews called "Gray Street."  I used to LOVE that song.  Why?  Because it described how I felt perfectly.

Oh, look at how she listens
She says nothing of what she thinks
She just goes stumbling through her memories
Staring out onto Grey Street
She thinks, "Hey, How did I come to this?
I dream myself a thousand times around the world
But I can't get out of this place."

There's an emptiness inside her
And she'd do anything to fill it in
But all the colors mix together
To grey
And it breaks her heart

How she wishes she was different
She prays to God most every night
And though she swears he doesn't listen
There's still a hope in her he might
She says, "I pray
But they fall on deaf ears
Am I supposed to take it on myself?
To get out of this place"

There's a loneliness inside her 
And she'd do anything to fill it in
And though it's red blood bleeding from her now
It feels like cold blue ice in her heart
When all the colors mix together
To grey
And it breaks her heart

There's a stranger speaks outside her door
Says, "Take what you can from your dreams
Make them as real as anything
It'd take the work out of the courage."
But she says, "Please
There's a crazy man that's creeping outside my door
I live on the corner of Grey Street
And the end of the world."

There's an emptiness inside her
And she'd do anything to fill it in
And though it's red blood bleeding from her now
It's more like cold blue ice in her heart
She feels like kicking out all the windows
And setting fire to this life
She could change everything about her
Using colors bold and bright
But all the colors mix together 
To grey
And it breaks her heart
To grey

I would listen to this song over and over and over and just cry.  That is EXACTLY how I felt.  And that "stranger speaking outside my door" was God telling me to give it all to HIM.  I had many many heart breaks growing up.  I was hurt and sad and lonely.  I felt worthless, fat, ugly, unintelligent, scared.  God was telling me over and over again to give it to Him and instead I stayed locked in my clouded house.  Until 1 year ago.  Somehow God got through that huge dark cloud that I had created and I heard Him and saw Him so clearly that I couldn't refuse what He was telling me to do.  He was telling me IT WAS TIME.  Time to leave the baggage behind.  Time to stop living in the past and give it all to Him.  For once...I obeyed.  And there hasn't been a moment since that I have regretted giving it to Him.

Through my healing what has God done?  He is using the struggles I had for the majority of my life to HELP other people!  All that pain, all that suffering was NOT for NOTHING!  He is BRINGING people to me that connect with my story.  I have never met so many strangers in my entire life.  And these strangers are contacting ME because they too felt the way I did and they want to CHOOSE to change it.  I had to CHOOSE to step out of the dark, grey cloud.  God was waiting the whole time to show me the beautiful rainbow of bright, bold colored blessings that he had waiting for me.  He will turn your darkness into light and your sadness into gladness.  He'll turn your mourning into dancing...but YOU have to let Him.

Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken Chili

I love crockpot meals!  It is perfect for busy mom or dads.  It is even more perfect for a person who has to be at work all day!  Who wants to come home after a long day at work and cook?  Not me.  It is the perfect way to prepare dinner for you or for the whole family.  Put the stuff in the crockpot in the morning and come home at dinner time to a delicious smelling house and a fully prepared meal.  *sigh* ahhhhhhhh........ No pots and pans.  Just the crockpot and the dishes you ate with.  Pop them in the dishwasher and you are done!

This crockpot meal is one of my all time favorites.  It puts a nice spin on the chili.  Please let me know if you try it!  I'd love to hear your thoughts.


Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken Chili 
6-8 Servings

Ingredients
2-3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 medium onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (20oz) can pineapple chunks, drained with juice reserved
1 (10oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilis
1 (14.5oz) can diced tomatoes
1 (14oz) can kidney beans, drained
1 (14.5oz) can black beans, drained
1 Cup prepared BBQ sauce
3 Tbsp chili powder
1 Tbsp cumin
1/2 tsp ground ginger

Instructions
1.  Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper and place in the crockpot.

2.  Top chicken with chopped up onion, bell pepper, garlic, tomatoes, beans, BBQ sauce, and the reserved pineapple juice.  (put pineapple chunks in the refrigerator for later use)

 3.  Stir chili powder, cumin, and ginger into the chili and set crock pot to cook on LOW for 6-8 hours, or HIGH for 3-4 hours.

4.  Remove chicken from chili and shred into bite-sized pieces.  Return to chili and stir in pineapple chunks.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

I hope you enjoy!  Please share with your friends and please go like my page for more recipes, fitness tips and more!  https://www.facebook.com/dramaticfitness

Pumpkin Chip Zucchini Bread

I made this delicious bread yesterday.  I had actually never had zucchini bread before so I was a little nervous.  I mean, I DO NOT like carrot cake at all!  I DO NOT like rice pudding either!  I tend to think that regular food items like vegetables or rice should not be a part of a dessert like dish.....HOWEVER.....this bread was absolutely delightful.  It was sweet, but not too sweet.  It was a nice treat that isn't too high in calories and it's clean.  The bread is easy to make and so moist.  Love it!  Here is the recipe below.  Leave your comments and tell me what you think!

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
Pinch of nutmeg
Pinch of ginger
Pinch of cloves
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup shredded zucchini, sqeezed of excess moisture
1/3 cup honey
1 Tbsp. coconut oil
1 egg
1 tsp. natural vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease a 9 inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.  In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger.

In a separate large bowl combine pumpkin, zucchini, honey, oil, egg, and vanilla until well combined and smooth.  Whisk in almond milk.  Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until just combined.  Gently fold in chocolate chips, reserving a few for sprinkling on top.

Bake for 50-60 minutes (mine baked faster...45 minutes) or until toothpick comes out clean.  Cool on wire rack for 10-15 minutes, then remove bread from pan and transfer to wire rack to finish cooling.

You can also bake these into muffins, but you may need to adjust the baking time.  I would check them around 20 minutes.

You can use different types of chocolate chips to make this bread your own.  

NUTRITION INFORMATION
Serves: 12 slices
Serving size - 1 slice
Calories:  153
Fat:  4.5g
Carbohydrates:  26.1g
Sugar: 13g
Fiber: 2.3g
Protein: 3g

   

21 Day Fix Approved - Crockpot Sweet Potato Chicken

My husband Joey made a fabulous crock pot meal yesterday while I was at work!  I have to say that when I found the recipe I was thinking that Joey would like it but I assumed I would not.  Well!  I was wrong!  It was fabulous!  So tasty and easy to make!  Who doesn't love crockpot meals when you are busy?  Here is the recipe:

Ingredients
Makes 4 servings
2 Sweet potatoes
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
sea salt and cracked black pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

Directions
1.  Layer the sweet potato chunks and chicken breasts in the bottom of the crockpot.
2.  Season with salt and pepper.
3.  In a small bowl, stir together the garlic, red onion, apple sauce and vinegar
4.  Pour the mixture over the chicken and sweet potato chunks.
5.  Cover and cook on low in the crock pot for 6-8 hours until the chicken breasts are tender.
6.  Serve with a vegetable or side salad.

1 Red (chicken)
1 Yellow (Sweet potato)
1/4 Purple (applesauce)

I hope you enjoy!  Post your comments below if you tried it!

 

I Feel Like I'm Grounded

Whenever someone in my challenge group or my life gets injured or sick I will be the first one to turn into MOM and tell them that they need to take it easy and rest and recover before they begin working out again.  But, I find myself being a huge hypocrite when it comes to doing this myself.  I do it everywhere in my life.  I will be the person that still does a show with a 102 fever because I don't want people to be disappointed with  me.  (meanwhile I am infecting everyone).  I am the person that continues to workout even when I am injured or sick.

About a year ago I got the flu and it turned into pneumonia.  I was literally working out for an hour to an hour and a half a day with a fever and coughing so much that I couldn't breathe until God literally had to knock me on my rear end.  I had no clue that I had pneumonia when I was working out but I did know that I felt terrible.  I just knew I didn't want to lose the muscle I had gained or gain weight back because I was sick.  But I got so sick that I was forced to just lay in bed.  That was really silly of me.  I should have been listening to my body because what good is working out and being healthy if you don't take time to rest when your body needs rest?  It is all a part of being healthy.

Well....here I am....in the same predicament.  I have a sprained neck (or whiplash).  What was my first question to the Urgent Care doctor?  "WHEN CAN I WORKOUT AGAIN?"  This time when I said it, I almost felt ashamed of myself.  I KNOW BETTER.  I know that I can workout again when my body is feeling well enough to workout.  My first concern SHOULD have been getting well.  But it wasn't.  I am saying all this because I want you to know that it is still something I struggle with.  It is a part of the eating disorder that ruled my life for 26 years.  It is the fear of gaining weight....getting flabby... not having things in my control...etc.  It is the habit my brain has been in that I am working very hard to re-train.  I KNOW that me taking a break will not make me gain weight or get flabby especially if I keep eating healthy.  I know this.  But, my emotions sometimes take over and I need to remind myself of this daily.

So, the past two days have been difficult for me.  I see all the post workout selfies in my groups and on my news feed.  I get up early with Joey still while he works out to support him and make sure we have our quiet time together and I am JEALOUS!  I want to get moving!  But I cannot.  If I do not let my body heal I will wind up in worse condition than I already am.  If I do not let my body heal what kind of message am I sending to my children?  To my friends and family?  So, God is sending a message to me right now.  This is a period of waiting....and learning....and re-training my thought process.  What goals can I set for myself while I wait?  That way I can feel productive in a different way.  Let me know your suggestions.  I would love to hear them.