Fitness Challenge Day 8

Today, whether you are with me on Day 8.... or you are on DAY ONE of the Fitness Challenge, it doesn't matter.  You are on the RIGHT TRACK.  I chose this quote today because I really want you to think about that quote.  This Fitness Challenge is NOT about competition.  It IS about taking a step in the right direction and feeling what that feels like to improve!  You don't HAVE to be complacent.  You don't HAVE to settle.  You don't HAVE to be unhappy.  This can actually be applied to any aspect of your life but for today it has to do with self confidence, strength and how we see ourselves.

I used to struggle with this when I was younger.  I thought I had to deal with what I was dealt in life.  Once I realized this was not the case, it opened all kinds of opportunities to change my life for the better.  THIS challenge is a step towards that realization.  No one is going to make those changes for you though.  That's a tough one for some people.  They wait for others to "make them happy".  That wait ends up being a long one.  Only YOU have the power to make YOU happier!  One of the best places to start is with confidence; a feeling of worthiness.  We women are extremely hard on ourselves.  We need to take the time and learn to love ourselves before we can love anyone else.

For those of you who "get this"... awesome.  You are going to love yourselves even more after these 30 days!  For those of you who can't quite see what I mean yet... that's okay.  Just focus on your daily workouts; do YOUR best.  You'll like what you feel after this 30 Day discipline.  You WILL be better than you used to be.

Today I went for a nice long walk with my husband.  We talked, laughed and enjoyed the warm morning.  We discussed all the inspiring things we learned at the seminar yesterday.  Happy WifeStyle even got a mention at the seminar, which was an amazing honor... thank you Dr. Baker from New Beginnings Coaching.  I am SO incredibly inspired to help others; to teach them what I WISH I would have known sooner; you've helped me have the confidence to believe I can make a difference.

"Stella" stayed home today as it was very warm already...she just can't handle any exercise in the heat.  We came home, sat down and had a meeting to discuss the final details of the household budget we have put in place.  We had it "scheduled" because it never seems like something fun to discuss and we had to make sure it happened.  It was AWESOME.  We both feel like we accomplished so much during that little morning meeting!  So much so, that we have "scheduled" a meeting just to "check in" with each other about anything we need to discuss each and every Sunday!

Now we are planning to relax by the pool on this beautiful, hot Sunday.  Maybe a little BBQin' and a cocktail!  Enjoy your Sunday, and remember to make the time for your challenge today... :)

Fitness Challenge Day 7

It's DAY 7 of the Fitness Challenge!!  One week DONE!!  You're doing AMAZING!  I got to get out of bed extra early on this beautiful Saturday morning to do my workout... because we had an AMAZING seminar to go to all day today in San Francisco and I had to be out the door, dressed up, at 7:00am! That's okay though... you know why??  Because it's only a 7 Minute Workout!!  I've been blessed enough to be able to attend these inspiring seminars for many years and I always leave there even more excited than when I went.... so I'm sure today will be no different!  I will leave you with that... have an AWESOME workout today!  Even though I only got one set in today, I encourage you to do 2 sets like last time!  Go for it!  :)

How to make Artichokes

Unless you grew up eating artichokes you may not know how to make them.... let alone eat them!  I realized this when my husband didn't really know what to do with it when I first served him one.  I grew up eating artichokes, my mom made them in her old pressure cooker.  I just remember her telling me never to get near that pressure cooker on the stove.  I always saw that thing on top wiggling, steam pouring out...and went the other direction... all I knew was "it could blow up"!  It scared me, so I wasn't too excited to cook artichokes because I always thought it was hard, or dangerous.  Well, now I make them all the time and it's actually quite easy.  They are probably my favorite vegetable... and now that I make my own olive oil mayonnaise, I can still be healthy!

Some may think, if they've had canned or jarred artichoke hearts, they've had artichokes.  This is not accurate in my opinion.  I personally am not a huge fan of hearts in a can or jar, they taste totally different.  The heart of a homemade artichoke is so delicious, to me, it's the "candy" of vegetables... that's the only way I can think to describe it, it's that good.

You want to pick out one that isn't too soft, it shouldn't give too much when you squeeze it.  Wash them under running water and let the water run through the leaves to rinse it.  Shake out the excess water.  Careful not to prick yourself, the leaves have thorns!  See, more danger!  Trim the bottom stem so it's flush with the bottom.  This is where you have options.... you can leave it as is and cook it just like that.  I trim off the whole top portion of the leaves with a very sharp knife, it takes some elbow grease to cut!  I then cut them in half, down the middle like this....

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I do this, because they fit in my steamer better.  It's hard to fit two whole artichokes in my Black & Decker Steamer, so this helps.  At this point some people will "clean out" the furry part inside... the part that sits on top of the heart.  I have tried this and find it difficult to do on raw artichokes.  Just my opinion... I prefer to do it after they are cooked when they are softer.  You can also clip the tips of the leaves off so all the thorns are gone... this also makes them look pretty fancy.  If you do this, use scissors, it's quick and easy.

There are many ways to cook artichokes:  steamer, boil them, pressure cooker, oven, grill... I would recommend steaming them or using a pressure cooker.  Mostly because that's what I'm familiar with and I know it works well.  My steamer is super easy to use, it looks like this...I've had it for many years.

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I fill the bottom section with water, on top of that goes the drip tray... which can hold seasonings on the screen which gives flavor to what you're steaming... I usually will put a lemon wedge.  :)

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You put on the tray with the artichokes in it, put the lid on, and set it for one hour!  That's it!  Careful removing the lid as the condensation will drip and it's hot.  They come out looking like this...

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Usually, I'm done at this point.  Ready to eat!  But when I made these particular artichokes, I was making BBQ'd chicken tenders with them so my husband had the grill on!  Bonus!!  I drizzled olive oil on the cut sides, a little seasoning, and he put them cut side down on the BBQ.  Remember they are cooked, so just get some nice grill marks on them and they're good to go... that's how the restaurants get them SO good.

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They turned out amazing, my husband raved about them... another Paleo success!!  Oh, and in case you're really new to these... don't eat the entire leaves; don't eat the furry insides either!  The first couple of times my husband ate these I had to tell him what parts he could eat and could not eat.  :)  My advice... try artichokes with people who know how to eat them so they can teach you!  :)  You'll like the experience better, I promise!  Squeeze some lemon on them, it's great.  I always have to dip my leaves in mayo... but melted butter is common too.

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See, not so scary!  I hope you try making artichokes if you've never tried them before... they are my favorite.  They are even great cold the next day.  If you have any ways of cooking them or serving them that are different than what I know... I'd LOVE to hear from you!  Enjoy!

Fitness Challenge Day 6

It is Day 6 of the Fitness Challenge!  Congrats on getting this far!  We almost have a full week under out belts!!  Are you feeling stronger?  Sore?  Energized?  Whatever you are feeling.... that's okay!  You are moving in the right direction.  Everyone is different and not all of you are starting at the same fitness level, so don't worry if you're feeling something different than what I'm posting about my experience.  You are doing the best YOU can do and THAT is an accomplishment!  ...and by no means am I assuming that I am feeling or doing any better!!  You may be out there doing three sets, walking miles, and blowing me away!  That's AWESOME!  Pass me up!!  I LOVE that!!

Today I took Stella for a 30 minute walk, her "loop" that she usually can handle.  We went a little later today as I posted "Frenchie Friday" first... so it was sunny, a little warmer...therefore it was a little rough for her.  She got hot and was wheezing a bit by the time we got home, so we called it a day.  You have to be very careful with those brachycephalic breeds (short-nosed, smashed-face)... they can get heat-stressed pretty easily!  She's doing great now, just needed to rest!  She's a little high maintenance, but I wouldn't have her any other way!

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Sorry, some of you might wonder, why is her dog is so many posts!?  Aside from her being my child, the Vet Tech in me creeps back every now and then!  In all seriousness, what I know for sure is... WHEN you complete this 30 Day Discipline you WILL be stronger than you were 30 days before.  You WILL have more confidence than you had 30 days before.  You WILL be healthier than you were 30 days before.  Period.  I'm proud of YOU for making this change for YOU.  You won't regret it.  :)

"Frenchie Friday" - Did you know Frenchies could fly?

I bet you didn't know Frenchies could FLY!  Many people don't know how playful French Bulldogs are!  Yes, they are couch potatoes, but they have also been known to love agility classes and ours LOVES to fetch!  Aside from not being able to play for too long because of her "smashed" face... we have to tell her when it's time for a break... she is actually quite agile!   Our Frenchie, "Stella" goes out of her way to jump from furniture to furniture, essentially making her own "agility course" on her way to fetch her toys!  It's very entertaining.  She loves to run, jump and play hard.... (if you click on the pictures you can see them larger)

With that being said.... she sleeps even harder because she wears herself out!  It's so funny, she'll "tip over" onto her side and my husband and I will laugh... and say "the pig tipped!"  She gets herself sleeping into all kinds of very interesting positions...and snores loudly...

Hope this gave you a laugh.... enjoy the little, or big, characters in your life and have a Happy "Frenchie Friday"!

I'm going to take "Stella" for a walk, she deserves one today for giving all of you a giggle at her expense!  :)  ...AND because it's DAY 6 of the FITNESS CHALLENGE!!  Get out there and walk!!

Fitness Challenge Day 5

It is DAY 5 of the 7 Minute Workout Fitness Challenge!  Some of you might be hating me right now.... that's okay, I'm not taking it personally!  After all, that's the second agreement in the Four Agreements, right!?  ;)

Today I didn't feel sore, so I felt good about going for 2 sets today!  At the end of the first set, I felt tired... but not tired enough to stop there!  What I did for five minutes in between sets was did some stretching on the mat since my muscles were warm... then I did the workout a second time.  What I found was that the second time around, it was actually easier than the first time around!  I was warmed up, so that can happen.  Sometimes on my hikes, I'll feel like I'm not as strong in the beginning as I feel once my body gets going.

So I encourage you to give it a try... try TWO sets today if you haven't yet!  You just might be surprised at what your body is capable of!  Also... you'll get better, quicker results!! :)  You're doing great, so reward yourself!  After my big hike yesterday, I felt like I deserved some Paleo Fudgy Brownies!  They were GOOOOOOD!  Remember, you're on your way to a more confident, happier you!  You're ONE workout away from a better mood!!  Go enjoy your day!