Quinoa Salad - A Non-recipe Recipe

Here's a quick and simple non-recipe, recipe for quinoa salad. I'm not a huge fan of just plain ol' quinoa but this definitely gets me eating the superfood. I make a big batch on Sunday and eat on it all week. Here you go:

 

1. Quinoa - Cook as the packaging says...one cup of quinoa per two cups of water

2. Cut up whatever you want to put in it (one of the reasons this is a NON recipe) Use what you have and what you like to make it to your own liking. I used carrots, tomatoes and cucumbers because it's what I Had on hand.

3. Chop up some fresh cilantro and add

4. Stir everything together and pour in some olive oil and balsamic vinegar. No measurements (another reason for calling this a NONrecipe) Use your own judgement. You want to add flavor but not drown the dish.

5. Enjoy!! You can eat this hot or cold.

Next time I will probably add some olives and feta. I also cook up a big batch of thin chicken breasts for the week, so I will probably add that as well.

Throw Back Thursday and A Little Motivation

Here's my TBT picture for the week - well actually it's two pictures -

 

So along with this picture, I though I would give you a little back ground. The first picture is my last belly picture from my last pregnancy. Little did any of us know there was 10+ pounds of baby in there!! YES I carried a 10.3 lb baby! Holy cow, literally. Now, who's up for a little "birth story" - I love reading birth stories...

 

My first pregnancy ended in a c-section and after that I swore to myself I would do everything in my power to NEVER have another. So, when we decided to try to get pregnant for the second time I found an OBGYN that would let me try for a VBAC (vaginal birth after Cesarean). The reason most doctors say no to this is because there is a 1% chance of a uterine rupture. I figured I'd take my chances. My pregnancy went smoothly. I had no issues. Once I hit about 38 weeks, I was measuring about 40+ weeks. I would not consent to an induction until I was actually 40 weeks. So, that time rolled around. I scheduled my induction for the day after my due date. I was devastated. I wanted so bad to go into labor naturally. My induction went smoothly, and I progressed nicely (something that I didn't do the first time around). Once it was time to start pushing, I was experiencing tremendous pain on my upper left side, despite the epidural. I was working through it and gave pushing a go for a good hour. Finally, my doctor said it was time to get the baby out via csection. Again I was devastated, but I trusted my doctor and knew to follow her instincts. Here's where the story gets Crazy...I had had a csection before, I knew how quickly things went once you got in the operating room. This time things were different. It took longer but eventually I heard the screams of my newborn son. Thank GOD! I met him, kissed him and then he and Matt were off. I was then informed, even though I don't really remember this...but I was going to be in surgery for another 2 hours because my uterus had ruptured and my bladder had been cut open when the csection incision was made. Remember, I said there was a 1 freaking % chance of this happening! My uterus was repaired, my bladder was repaired. I was alive and my baby was alive. We were both so lucky! I healed, he was healthy. Thank GOD! The end :)

 

Picture number two - and My weekly motivation picture is exactly 6 months after the birth of my 10lb baby boy. High five, right?! Matt and I had a Caribbean cruise in April - Nolan was born in October. I gave myself through the end of the year to heal and starting in January went to work! I lost 50 lbs in 3 months and managed to wear my bikini on our cruise. Unfortunately, after that I stopped working out and taking care of myself and here I am today. (NO BIKINI PIC aint no way!)  BOO! But I can do it!! I know I can! I have proved to myself that I can do anything I set my mind to. So now that I've pumped myself up - Time to get a work out in! I am challenging myself and anyone reading this (anyone??) to do something to motivate yourself AND someone else today! 

 

Make it A GREAT Day!! 

Monday Monday Monday

Why hello there Monday - why are weekends SO short?! Especially when you get one less hour (thank you day light savings time)

So last week I decided to start making weekly goals posting them on Instagram/Facebook, mostly for accountability, also because I'm an over-sharer in general. Later, in the week, I decided I wanted to start blogging. Mostly, because I'm an over-sharer :) And because, while sharing pictures keeps everyone up to date on progress, sometimes more info is needed to go along with the pictures. So, here we are.

My goals last week looked like this:

1. Insanity Every day

2. Go for a walk every day

3. eat healthy/no fast food/no diet coke/no alcohol

4. lose 3 lbs

5. drink LOTS of water

Here's how I did (where the blogging part is important to go along with the picture):

1. I did do Insanity EVERY DAY! (Except Saturday which is the REST day) WOO HOO!

2. I did NOT go for a walk every day. In fact, I think I only went on walks 2 days out of the week. Hurry spring!!

3. I ate ok - but the husband was gone most of the week and the whole weekend so I wasn't in my normal cooking routine - so it's his fault haha ;) / NO FAST FOOD - Check!! / NO DIET COKE - Check!! / I had a glass of wine 2 nights out of the week. So there was alcohol...but that's HUGE for me!! And did I mention my husband was out of town most of the week?!

4. I did NOT lose 3 pounds. Depending on what day you wanna count I either gained 2 lbs or Lost 1.6. Seriously people how is it physically possible to be up 2 lbs one day and down 1.6 (from starting weight / 2.8 from the day before)?! This is why I'm taking weight off of my goal for this week. I can't focus on this right now. I'm getting healthy that's what matters. Yes I want to lose weight (about 10lbs to be exact) and I know weightloss will come.

Ok so there it is folks. Week one is over. I seriously had such a great week! I felt energized, happy, healthy. And that's what it's all about!

Now onto Week 2 - Here are my goals - if you follow me on Instagram or Facebook you have already seen this, but for the record:

1. Insanity Every day

2. Yoga Every day -- started yoga last week. I'm in love and will continue to practice daily. I'm following 2 instagram challenges: #madaboutyoga and #handstandmadness JOIN ME!!

3. Focus on water intake - I drink a lot of water. It's actually all I drink other than protein shakes and green smoothies. But since I've started working out, I don't feel like I'm drinking enough. So this week, I'm going to focus on it and make sure I'm getting the amount I need.

4. Don't weigh every day! SEE #4 ABOVE!

5. Work on meal planning/grocery shop at Whole Foods - I don't eat terrible and I don't eat great. But, one thing is for sure, If I don't have healthy options surrounding me when I get hungry I'll grab whatever is quickest and usually that means NOT GOOD. So, this week I want to focus on having healthy options readily available and know exactly what my next food move will be. Also, I grocery shop at Food Lion. It's right down the street - it's easy and convenient. There is a Whole Foods in town - not close to me not convenient but you know what I'm going to suck it up and go outside the box and shop there this week. I feel like it will be worth it for me and my family!

6. Eliminate Negativity - self explanatory really. I'm focusing on positive changes in my life and have no room for NEGATIVITY!

7. Start the 40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge - I'm messy and unorganized and it's time to work on that. I have clutter everywhere and it's unmotivating and causing unnecessary stress in my life and this week I'm going to start tackling it. I found the 40 bags in 40 days challenge on Pinterest - basically you start cleaning out rooms and drawers and cabinets and closets and collect 40 bags and get it out of your house. BAM!

HERE WE GO ladies and gentlemen -

MAKE IT A GREAT DAY! (And Week)