Well, yeah..duh!

I love to read.  I do.  I always have.  I'm glad my parents instilled that in me from a young age.  Yet I don't always make the time for it like I should.  Reading, to me, feels like such a luxury.  There I am, curled up in a comfy chair with a blanket and maybe something to drink, leisurely flipping the pages of a book.  All the while, laundry whispers my name, the messy closets rattle hangers to get my attention and the scrapbook I've started and restarted countless times, shouts, "Finish me already" from it's perch in the guest room.  And there I sit, as if I have nothing else to do, nothing else that needs my attention.

However, one thing on my daily TO DO list is to read for at least 30 minutes.  And no, Real Simple, Cosmo and trashy beach books don't count!  Know what's super cool about that?  Not just that I can make that kind of time guilt-free, but I'm supposed to do that as part of my Coaching job.  Being told to read?  Yeah, I'm all over that!  'Cuse me world, I'm checking out for a bit because I gots some reading to do!

Right now I'm reading The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson.  LOVE!  And tonight, I opened it and randomly selected one of the many passages that I highlighted.  This book is full of "hand to forehead" moments!  They're not all earth-shatteringly novel concepts...like this one (hence the title of this entry!):  "It's never too late to start.  It's always too late to wait."

Huh.  Read it again.  It's never too late to start.  It's always too late to wait.  I bet there are a zillion ways you can apply this to your life.  What resonated most to me was the simple idea that it's never too late to start...never!  Let's say I start out my morning on the negative side of the street for some reason (hypothetical, because I'm always super chipper..haha!).  Cold shower, stain on the shirt I planned to wear, missing earring, lost car keys...whatever the reasons, it can be easy to throw in the towel and chalk the day up to a loss.  BUT, it's never too late to start.  So start over.  Who cares that your day started x hours ago.  Start it again.  With a better attitude.  With a renewed sense of determination.

It's never too late to start.  Are you a "I'll do it on Monday" kind of person?  How many Mondays have come and gone and you've "forgotten" to do whatever it is you promised yourself you'd do come Monday?  Or how about this phrase..."I'll get that project done when xyz falls into place."  Come on, admit it---you've said it a time or two.  I have.  And it makes me nuts.  Sure, sometimes there's a logical order to events, and A has to happen before B etc.  But sometimes, that's our fear/procrastination/avoidance talking.

So what are you putting off?  What have you thought about starting, but didn't actually start?  It's like the riddle...there are 5 frogs on a log.  One decides to jump off.  How many are left?  The answer--5.  Because deciding to jump and jumping are two different things!

We are capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for.  We are.  We really are.  We need to believe it and then act on that belief.  So we fail here and there.  Congratulations...you're trying.  Show me someone who isn't failing and I'll show you someone who's not even in the game for heaven's sake!

Take my Challenge Groups.  I'm starting one today, as a matter of fact, and there are people in it who have been in more than one group.  Know what?  GREAT!  I say BRING IT ON!  I say THANK YOU for not giving up, for not backing down and for trying again.  Didn't reach your goals last go 'round?  Yeah.  It happens.  But it's never too late to start, and it's always too late to wait.  Will you reach them this time?  Time will tell, but I know you WON'T reach them if you sit around thinking about them. 

It's always too late to wait.  How many times have we heard thoughts like, "Tomorrow isn't promised" or "Procrastination doesn't pay."  Too many to count, I'm sure.

Don't wait to feel better.  Don't wait to live healthier.  I could get super melodramatic, but I'm not sure that really serves a purpose.  Life is short.  Life is precious.  Don't wait for the timing to be perfect--news flash, it never will be.  There's always going to be something.  Some obstacle, some hiccup along the way that takes you off your straight line between Points A and B.  It's called LIFE.  And it's not a dress rehearsal....so stop waiting.  Stop thinking.  Start acting. Let's not confuse this with being blindly impulsive or reckless.  But for the love of Pete, remember...It's never too late to start, and it's always too late to wait.  Well, yeah...duh!

 

If you'd like to join my Challenge Group, let me know.  I'm happy to help you with your health and wellness goals.  It's never too late to start, and it's always too late to wait!

MexiCAN

I’m not usually a fan of Mexican food.  I mean, I’ll eat it (let’s be honest, there’s not much I won’t eat, but that’s another story altogether), but it wouldn’t be my first choice (or even my second or third).  But, I did it again---Pinned While Driving---which means just about anything looks good.  Case in point, these Grilled Chicken Burrito Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice.  Cilantro.  Lime.  Rice.  Yes, please!

Yesterday’s commute was particularly heinous—thank you rain, for ensuring that no one would drive more than 10mph the entire way home.  And a special shout out to the random tunnel closures, too.  A super treat to encounter along the way.

Needless to say, walking in the door after all of that to the aroma of this meal was beyond welcome.  Gosh, my hubby is good to me!  I somehow managed to have enough sense to snap a picture of this deliciousness before it was gone.  And I mean gone.  It was so awesome and flavorful and even pretty to look at in the bowl.  Not like that really mattered to me; I nearly inhaled this.

If you feel like going Mexican--and even if you don't think you do--I would suggest these without question.  And yes, if you’re keeping score, these went into the “make again” pile.  Win! 

What You’ll Need

For the grilled fajita chicken:

1/3 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
5 tbsp canola oil, divided
3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1½ tsp brown sugar
1 jalapeño, seeded, ribbed and diced (I used jarred ones; worked fine!)
1½ tbsp minced fresh cilantro
1 tsp salt
¾ tsp pepper
 1½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (6 halves total), pounded to about ½-inch thick

For serving:

1 recipe cilantro lime rice (below)

15 oz can black or pinto beans, rinsed and drained

1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

Kosher salt and black pepper

Your favorite salsa (or, if in season, some ripe tomatoes diced would be great too)

 Shredded sharp cheddar cheese (reduced fat)

 Guacamole (or sliced avocado)

 Sour cream (or Greek Yogurt)

We added some fire roasted corn as well...super yum!

What You’ll Do

Whisk the lime juice, four tablespoons of the canola oil, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, jalapeño, minced cilantro, salt, and pepper together in a medium bowl. Reserve ¼ cup of the marinade and transfer the rest to a large, shallow casserole dish. Add the chicken to the dish, cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for 15-20 minutes.

While the chicken marinates, make the rice. If the rice finishes before the chicken, keep it warm (covered) in the saucepan. Add the black or pinto beans to a small saucepan along with the chicken broth. Bring the broth to a simmer and cook the beans for about 10-12 minutes, until they are soft and the liquid thickens. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Meanwhile, heat the grill to high then turn two of the burners down to medium, keeping the third on high. Brush the grill grates with a tablespoon of oil.

Place the chicken (without the marinade, which you can discard now) on the hot end of the grill. Cook the chicken for 3-4 minutes per side, until nice grill marks emerge and it is cooked through (165° F). Remove the chicken from the grill and keep it warm on a platter under foil.

Add the reserved ¼ cup marinade to a large, shallow bowl. Slice the chicken on the diagonal and add the chicken to the bowl, tossing to coat well with the marinade.

Divide the rice between serving bowls and top with beans, chicken, salsa, cheese, guacamole, and sour cream. Serve hot.

Source:  Smells Like Home original

Cilantro Lime Rice (you’re welcome)

What You’ll Need:

·         1 cup brown rice

·         2 cups plus 2 tablespoons low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth (or water), divided

·         ½ tsp salt

·         ½ cup fresh cilantro

·         2 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice

·         1 tbsp olive oil

·         1 clove garlic, chopped

What You’ll Do:

Combine the rice, 2 cups broth, and salt in a small saucepan. Bring the broth to a boil, stir once then turn the heat to low, cover the pot and cook according to package directions.

Towards the end of the cooking time, add the remaining 2 tablespoons broth, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, and garlic to the bowl of a food processor (with the steel blade) and pulse the ingredients until well blended.

When the rice has finished cooking, fluff it up with a fork then stir the cilantro-lime mixture into the rice until well-combined. Serve the rice hot.

Source:  Adapted from Everyday Food, April 2008 via Annie's Eats

What's Up This Week

Ever look at your upcoming week as you shut down on Friday afternoon?  Ever get a sparkle in your eye because it doesn't look too full and crazy?  And then ever have the "Work Gremlins" sneak into your computer between Friday and Monday and add a whole bunch of meetings and projects?  Yeah.  Kinda stinks.

For weeks like that, I've found it even more essential to carve out some time to meal plan and prep in advance.  It saves time, and--most importantly--it saves me from making bad choices simply out of convenience.  Not to mention, Easter is next Sunday, and we're hosting.  That means each night this week, we'll invest a little time getting ready so we're ahead of the curve.  That doesn't leave a lot of time to labor over dinner.

This weekend, we got a jump-start and took care of our menu on Saturday rather than Sunday--it's simply too nice today to be stuck inside working.  Here's what's happening in our kitchen at dinnertime this week....

Sunday
Spaghetti Squash Carbonara (cleaned up with turkey bacon and egg beaters)
Tossed Salad

Monday
Chicken Burrito Bowls with cilantro lime chicken
No Chipotle necessary...we're makin' Mexican IN!

Tuesday
Cheddar Spinach Chicken Burgers
We actually made these a couple weeks ago and froze some! 
As long as we remember to thaw them out in time, this will be a yummy and efficient dinner!
Wednesday
Leftovers...at least one day a week, we serve up a hodgepodge of whatever we've got in the fridge.  Again, in preparation for Easter, we're going super light this week!

Thursday
Tuna Salad Wraps...Quick 'n Easy
Mark golfs, Abby has swim class...no time to putz around on Thursdays!

Friday
Out..Date Night! (I know; I can't believe it either!)
More than likely, I'll whip up a Shakeology before we go out so I'm less tempted by the bar food.  Fortunately, drinking won't be an issue.  Water with lemon for this chick and Sprout, all night long!

Nothing tremendously novel here, but a couple new dishes that will hopefully end up in the "Make Again" pile!  What's happening in your kitchen this week? 

Loss

Sometimes when I read other blogs, I see beginnings or disclaimers up front.  Warning; you're about to read a {Enter adjective here} post.  Or This post is coming to you from a place of {enter feeling/emotion here} and I'm simply putting it all out there.  

So I guess this is mine:  I think you'd agree, loyal readers (humor me; I like pretending I have legions of fans!), many of my posts--specifically the ones not about food, because food posts are, well, foody!--have been fairly upbeat.  That's usually who I am.  It's who I strive to be, who I consciously chose to be.  In the case of my last post, I shared a side of me that I don't often expose; the part that overthinks, gets worried and allows dark stuff to ooze in where sunshine normally resides.

In a strange twist of timing, I shared that very post the evening before an unthinkable, yet somehow familiar in the most frightening way, took place at my former high school.  Yes, I graduated from Franklin Regional High School and yes, I was horrified to see my school showcased in such an awful way.  Later in the day, I would be uplifted to hear the stories of heroism that, thankfully, were also covered by local and national media alike.

The events of Wednesday morning and the hours and days that have followed, brought forth a lot of thoughts, questions, emotions and fears.  When I hug my daughter goodbye in the morning and tell her she's loved...I know that to be true.  When I tell her she's safe...I knew that to be true, and now I'm scared that it's not.      

And that makes me imagine the unimaginable--and try desperately to shake that runaway train of fear and grief that occupies my mind.  To date, none of those injured in Wednesday's attack have died--by the grace of God.  That does not mean, however, that there hasn't been tremendous, significant and real loss. 

Loss.  We’ve all experienced it.  It might have been the kind of loss that makes you smack your knee in frustration or the kind that drops you to your knees in total despair.  Loss doesn’t discriminate.  It doesn’t single people out based on behavior or attitude or any characteristic.  Many times, it doesn’t even have the common decency to warn you.

Loss is a word that doesn’t quite feel right in some situations.  Sometimes it feels more like something’s been ripped from you, against your will, despite all your strength.  Loss is too gentle a word to use in all scenarios.  And really, to say you’ve lost someone when they've died?  You didn’t lose them.  They aren’t lost; they’re dead.  Dramatic and final?  Sure, maybe.   But accurate, too.  Things can be lost.  Perspective can be lost.  Innocence, patience and yes, people.  All of this can be lost.  

The losing is not the thing.  Its’ the coping with the loss that really manifests itself in some tremendous emotional purge.  There are countless self-help books, websites and gurus out there to tell you how you should cope. Know what?  None of those have exactly the same words, the same theories, the same advice.  That’s because there’s no clearly-defined right or wrong.  It’d be great if there was, right?  Or a neatly mapped out handbook that offers very specific directions as to how to handle a particular loss.  “If you’ve lost a pet, turn to page 36, follow steps 1-19 and all will be well again.”  Yeah.  If only.

There’s not even a proper time frame for loss.  I mean, who’s to say that all your pain and tears come immediately after the loss occurs?  Case in point, Sunday will mark two years since my Grandfather passed away.  Certainly I cried many tears the day I learned of his death.  The day we said our final goodbyes.  I did.  And you know what?  I cried three weeks ago when I heard the sound of someone whistling in just the same way that Grandpa used to.  And I cried in November when I realized he wouldn’t be at our Thanksgiving table and he’d never meet the newest Great Grandchild I had just learned I was expecting.

It’s how you cope, right?  How you process your loss and address the feelings you’re feeling.  Tangible loss is just as difficult as that intangible loss.  Think of losing innocence when a young child has to learn of something horrific happening in this world.  Think of losing your security because something violent has taken place in a setting you took for granted as serene.  When something like that is lost---or taken, stolen, really---from you, how do you cope with that? 

When answers are far outnumbered by questions and those who normally provide answers are as confused and distraught as you are, how do you cope?  My Grandfather was 91 years old.  He had health issues.  His passing was a devastating relief and a peaceful sadness.  I could understand that.  I could cope with that.  It’s the senseless, the tragic, the unforeseen and the random losses that smack you in the face with a force so hard you are left both speechless and screaming for explanations.    

It's often said that you don't know what you've got until you lose it.  Maybe.  But maybe you do really appreciate what you have, making the loss that much more unbearable, suffocating, consuming.  I'm not even sure what's a better option; to be blissfully unaware of what you've lost, thereby eliminating both the pain and the joy of enjoying it in the first place or being so mindful, so aware that the loss hits you on a visceral level.  What do you think?

I could close with an admonition; a firmly, yet lovingly worded plea that we all hold our loved ones close.  We all try to be more patient and understanding.  We make a true effort to not be bothered by little things.  We all take stock and recognize what could be lost in an instant.  I could.  But I suspect that you already know all of that.  

So rather than tell you what to do, how about if we, instead, make a pact to simply do it.  And let's make sure that we keep doing it.  The memories of Wednesday's attack, of whatever loss you or someone you know has endured will begin to fade at some point---that's life.  But let's work on not letting the lessons and behaviors that emerge fade, too.   

 

Sometimes I Forget

Oh, that’s hard to admit.  So hard.  Because I like to think that I always know this.  It’s one simple truth that I should know.  We should all know it.  Right? 
But the reality is, sometimes I forget.  And, even worse, every now and again, I’m not so sure I believe it.  Horrified gasps, I know!  From myself, too.  In fact, I almost didn’t write this blog because I’m that uncomfortable admitting to this.  But hey, I’m putting it out there.

I take pride in being a positive person, someone who looks for solutions, rather than simply complaining.  I like sharing an encouraging word as often as I can.  I love (you well know this by now!) motivational quotes and plaster those puppies all over the place.  It's not an act.  It's not putting on a show for others to see.  It's who I am.  And sometimes, who I cannot be.  And that's okay.  Because when life is good, but I forget, I'm blessed that there are things, people and moments of pure beauty and joy to remind me.

One of my New Year’s Resolutions was to get back to my gratitude journal.  Well, 3 months into the new year, the journal is more of a metal list that I write whenever I feel the need.  I “write” while I sit in traffic, while I’m driving to an appointment, while I’m in the elevator, while I have lunch…whenever, wherever I can.  It’s a helpful exercise to keep (or regain) perspective and realize that there are heck of a lot of things that put a smile on my face.  Even the act of doing this puts a smile on my face, because sometimes the happy thoughts are as silly as they are profound.  Good hair day?  Smile!!  Close a $65,000 sponsor?  Smile!!  No traffic on the way into work?  Smile!!  Feeling Sprout's* kicks?  Smile!!

But see, there’s the flip side.  The side I don’t like.  Don’t like talking about it, don’t like going there, don’t like owning it.  There are plenty of things that hurt my heart, leave me feeling hollow and achy and bring on a sadness that can be hard to shake.  In those moments, I try really hard to go to that place of gratitude, but it doesn’t always work.  It’s not as easy as flipping to page 34 in my mental journal and admiring the picture of the amazing rainbow we saw while at the baseball game.  It should be.  I’d love for it to be.  But the truth is, sometimes, while life is, in fact, good…I just forget for a moment. 

It’s easy to open a whole new journal and start scribbling down the negatives.  The crappy stuff.  The dark news that casts a shadow over my day.  Awful story on TV about a Mom killing two of her three children, ages 3 and 6?  Scribble.  Friend diagnosed with cancer at age 31?  Scribble.  Cousin’s Dad dying?  Scribble.  Lost my temper with Abby because I was tired?  Scribble.  How on EARTH is life good when you deal with that kind of stuff?

Here's the trick; how can both journals co-exist?  I mean, they do...but how?  I find myself puzzling over something troublesome and in the next breath, berating myself for not being grateful for the amazing things that do exist.  The "I feel like a schmuck" feeling piles on top of whatever the troublesome thing is and before you know it; SPIRAL!   

I'm moping because my boss is acting like an idiot, while there's a Mom sitting in a hospital room praying for a donor heart for her baby.  What a jerk.  Ticked off because I'm running a few minutes late because Abby couldn't decide which of her beloved friends to take to Nunny's this morning, while there are all those families, with loved ones on the Malaysian flight, who have no closure, no answers.  Yeah, you've really got it bad, Aim!  I'm guessing you've done this dance a time or two as well.  It ain't fun, am I right? 

Life is good.  And yes, sometimes I forget.  Sometimes I dwell in the ugly place where things are awful and no one cares and I might as well just stay in bed all day.  I mean, mentally anyway.  Sometimes I allow work frustrations to get the better of me or thoughtless people's rude behavior occupy far too much of my mind.  Sometimes I forget that I'm allowed to want (and ask for!) encouragement or support, too.  Sometimes. 

Life is good.  And sometimes--more often than not--I remember! I remember how amazing my daughter's little body feels, snuggled up to mine, her soft hands tangled in my hair as she sucks her thumb and sighs in her sleep.  I remember how inspiring my friend is, pushing forward in total defiance of a cancer diagnosis, seeming to dare everyone around her to be just as strong in the process.  I remember that I've been married for 10 years to my best friend and the one I can always count on to love me unconditionally---yes, even when I'm in that dark, ugly place.  I remember that I'm blessed with my health and that of my immediate family. 

This blog post has been written and re-written a zillion times.  Saved as a draft, deleted and restarted.  It was both impossible and easy to write.  And now it's out there.  It's not the prettiest side, but it's real and it's me.  Sometimes.  I guess, in the end, it's helpful to admit that life is good..and sometimes I forget.  Because you can't forget something you don't know, right?  So maybe I do know this simple truth after all?!

*Sprout is my bambino; currently 24 weeks.  16 to go until I meet this wonder!

Meal Planning

As a Beachbody Coach, one of my roles is to help folks with nutrition.  Does that mean I'm an expert?  Heck no.  Does that mean I exist solely on twigs and berries?  For sure not.  Confession:  I love food.  I love to prepare it, serve it, eat it, create it...food and I?  Yeah, we're pretty tight.  I've come to learn that 80% of weight loss is about what and how we eat.  That's a big chunk, don't you think?  So it's only right that we focus a big chunk of our energy and thinking on that very topic. 

The thing is, what I do do (ha, do do!) is try my very best to eat cleanly.  While there's no hard and fast definition, clean eating is all about consuming only whole foods (think: fruits, vegetables, and whole grains), while avoiding processed and fast foods at all costs.   

I'll be 100% honest; every once in a blue moon (or even something more uncommon) I will eat some Wendy's fries.  Or even have (gasp!) a burger.  HOWEVER, before you go stripping me of my Coach status, know this; I have learned to pay attention to my body and how it feels after I eat something like that.  It ain't pretty.  Which is what helps me stay away from it and NOT feel deprived.  Not to mention, I love finding alternatives to satisfy whatever the craving is.

One of the best ways I've found to help me with my eating is to meal plan and prep.  For me, this happens on Sundays.  I previously described my Sunday Morning Ritual here.

I suppose it could seem mundane or boring to some.  But for me, this practice is a little slice of predictability that carries through to my entire week.  See, when Tuesday is a particularly ridiculous day with demands, angry co-workers or tough clients, I take some small measure of comfort in knowing that when I get home, I know exactly what's hitting the table and, if I'm really lucky, some of the prep is even done.

If that sounds silly, well, guilty as charged.  But let's be honest--dinnertime can often be the witching hour in the sense that hunger can creep up on you, you're likely a little worn out and that can lead to some bad choices (don't tell me you haven't grazed mindlessly in your pantry for a good 20 minutes before you decided what to have for dinner...then called out for pizza.  And breadsticks.  And fried zucchini planks.).  

Below is a sample of my dinner plan for a given week.  Monday thru Friday, I start my day with Shakeology for breakfast.  Around 10:30 or so,  I usually have a few unsalted almonds and some apple slices as a light snack, although I do like to mix up snacks, too.  Check out some cool snack ideas.  Lunch is generally leftovers from the previous night's dinner or lunch with a client--I opt for salads, careful to avoid too many extras.  Don't be fooled by a big ole bowl of lettuce; even healthy stuff can be overdone!

And then it's dinner.  The moment we pause, breathe and talk about our days.  On this particular week, here's what we ate.  Generally speaking, most of the recipes can also be found on my blog; I try (I really, really do!) to keep them all on the Full Plate tab (but the name of that tab is a carefully chosen one that speaks to, well, the juggle of it all.  Invariably, something crops up before I've completed that task!!).  If you don't see one that you'd like to learn about, leave a comment and I'll be sure to post it up.     

I hope this helps give you a sense of how my weeks shake out.  It's not complicated, it's not rocket science, and it's really not much of a chore.  In fact, in the odd week when we don't go through this process, it throws our whole week off.  No, really.  This doesn't mean there isn't flexibility from time to time, but overall, we stick to our plan and it works.  Here's to it working for you, too!

Sunday
Dijon Mustard Chicken
Wild Rice and Veggies

Monday
BBQ Chicken Quesadillas in whole wheat wraps
Fruit Salad

Tuesday
Cheddar/Spinach Chicken Burgers (these have become quite the family favorite!)
Sweet Potato “Bakers” (not fries!)

Wednesday
Ground Turkey, Spinach and Tomatoes baked with Spaghetti Squash
Tossed Salad

Thursday
Breakfast for Dinner (Crockpot casserole with eggs, turkey sausage and veggies)
Fruit Salad

Friday
Baked Tilapia
Brown Rice and veggies

For more on how I can help you with  your goals, please feel free to reach out!  I look forward to hearing from you!