Weigh-In Wednesday

Funny, I thought of doing weight watchers the meeting ones because then I would have people see me weigh in and I could shame myself motivate myself into staying on track. So why not just bring that motivation to my little old blog. Anyways, eating clean is going incredibly well- like I was offered McDonalds for lunch and didn't even hesitate saying no. I have come to really LOVE instagram- I follow a lot of really motivating people and it has really kept me going. I do however need to really up the exercise because I only ran twice this week so I intend to up my cardio to 4 times a week and 3 days of weights. Anyways on to the numbers:

Last week: 162.2
Today: 160.4
Down 1.8lbs!

So I know that doesn't seem like a lot but I know I am losing real weight and I am determined to do this the healthy way and not the crazy three day diet I did last time that got my to lose almost 8lbs in a week for my brother's wedding. I am totally creating a lifestyle here and I am really excited about. So one lb at a time I will get myself where I want to be.

Plus little eyes are watching. It's so cute I taught the girls to squat. When we are playing and I can't get a good workout in I'll just do squats or ab work while they play and well they must have thought the squats were some kind of game because now they do it whenever they see me do it. I showed the hubs and he couldn't stop laughing. he said "Mommy taught you guys to drop it like its hot" lol. Yep- no further motivation needed to get my fitness on point than six little eyes looking up thinking I wanna be like Momma.

Freezer Cooking

I have tried my hand at freezer cooking once in the past- I used all recipes I got off different pins from my pinterest boards. I guess you take a chance when you make a large amount of recipes without trying any of them. But I thought pinterest wouldn't steer me wrong. Well, I made 5 recipes that first time and to be honest I only really LOVED two of them. This time around I only made one recipe but it got me four meals for my freezer that our perfect for lazy cold days. I was inspired by Bilo's 99cent sale of chicken breast so I went ahead and made Chicken and black bean chili.

So one thing I didn't like about my pin is that it gave the amount for the entire recipe and not what you put in each bag so I will do my recipe per bag and you all can just multiply by how many bags you want. I would say each bag will get you about 6 hearty bowls.

Step one:

Get your ingredients:

1.5 cans tomato sauce (not the mini can and not the jumbo can)

1 can crushed tomatoes (same size as above)

1 can yellow corn (regular size)

1/2 can white corn (small can)

1 can black beans (regular size can)

2 chicken breast (about 2lbs chicken bone-in) *note- we like a lot of meat

1 package chili seasoning

1/4 package hot chili seasoning (I like it hot but make it mild so the kids can eat too and just add hot sauce to my bowl)

1/2 onion

3 celery stalks

1 freezer gallon ziplock bag

Step two:

Boil chicken. While chicken is boiling dice onion and celery.

Step three: 

Let chicken cool. Remove skin and then shred the meat and place in large bowl. 

Step four:

Add all ingredients to your bag and zip tightly removing as much air as possible.

Step five:

I like to massage the bag to mix the ingredients. (make sure your have zipped it tightly.

You should end up with something like this:

To cook just place in a pot and simmer for 2 hours or I put mine in my crock pot on low for 4 hours or high 2 hours.

Let me know if you try it and also let me know what your favorite freezer meals are. My goal is to have a large variety so on days work gets crazy and I get tired I can still put homemade healthy meals on the table for the girls.

Not another crazy diet...

Soooo like many women after giving birth (in my case twice to three babies) the baby weight just hasn't melted off (magically) a la Giselle. And well I have tried crazy diets- low carb, calorie counting, grapefruit with little to no success and then it hit me. What the heck am I doing?!?! A diet is not going to solve my current weight struggles and it is not what I want my girls to learn. So I went back to my list of New Year's resolutions and somewhere on the bottom after lose weight and running races was the most important if not the most vague- Be a ROLE model to my girls.

With that thought in my head I have made a commitment to them and to myself that I will be healthy. I will fix us healthy and nutritious meals. I will fix us fresh snacks. I will make being active a part of our normal life not something mommy does because she is trying to lose weight.

I may not be a great or even consistent blogger but I am a consistent reader of other blogs and have become so motivated by all the amazing women I have found on here especially those I have also been following on instagram. I see the meal planning ahead of time, the regular gym appointments and the balance of family, fitness, and finances (i.e. work).

Well I started my planning Monday and was at walmart till 11pm getting us groceries. I bought all new tupperware and a 1/2 gallon jug I now carry with my to make sure I drink my water for the day. So what did a typically day look like for me yesterday:

Meal#1: blueberry power bowl (I got the recipe from muffintopless)
Meal #2: cheesestick and 15 almonds
Meal#3: salad with romaine, cucumbers, 1/6 avocado, and 3 oz turkey
Meal#4: protein bar
Meal#5: turkey sausage with onions and green peppers on corn tortillas with salsa and a dap of light sour cream

I had a meal #6 planned which was a post workout protein shake but since I didn't make it to the gym thanks to a little baby who refused to go to bed. Anyways, as you see totally doable and not only that I wasn't hungry like I was when I was counting calories and most important everything I put in my mouth was because it had nutritional value. I don't want my girls growing up using food as comfort or rewards I want them to learn the value of food that it's there to provide fuel for our bodies and that we have to take care of our bodies to be healthy. Anyways stick around won't you as I navigate my way through getting fit and healthy.

Oh wait one more thing: just because I am not dieting doesn't mean I don't want to see the numbers on the scale and on the back of my pants go down: so hello weigh in wednesday!!

Weight: 162.2
Pants: 8 or 10 depending on the brand

The goal:
Weight: 130
Pants: 2 or 4

So What Wednesday!!!

Linking up with the fabulous Shannon at Life After I Dew, in order to tell you all what I am saying so what to this week!

• I wrote two posts yesterday and could not make it publish worthy- maybe by tomorrow
• There are still no pictures on the walls- but I did buy frames- getting closer!
• I felt totally guilty about taking Layla to her first day of school today because Bree was sick and couldn't go. (I always feel like they need to be the same) It's okay she will go Monday.
• I put the girls in Mother's day out twice a week because I feel like they need to socialize with kids other than themselves.
• I took today off to take the twins to their first day and I gotta say I am now super uber jealous of stay at home moms (maybe I can start working from home?)
• I haven't worked out at all this week- so much for new year's resolution but hey I lost 6lbs! (woot woot) Thank you my fitness pal and your meager calorie allowance.
• My main motivation to start exercising is to eat more food.
• I let my friend talk me into signing up for a 5k- I guess I should train for that soon. It's a month away. (time to get serious)

Alright, enjoy the rest of your week ladies!

XOXO, Ally

Must be doing something right....

The day I found out I was having twins- a mixture of emotions flooded through me. With an extensive education in mental health- so much swirled through my head and so much anxiety I don't think I would have had if I was having a singleton pregnancy. I wondered how they would get along. I wondered if they would compete against each other or if they would get together to outsmart Mom and Dad. I never pretend to have all the answers- heck I've only been doing this parenting thing for a little over 18 months. Bur this weekend I felt like a supermom! No- I didn't do any cool pinterest worthy crafts, yes I did manage to get four kids to target, old navy, chickfila., coldstone and the mall but that wasn't what did it. Although pushing my triple in public always either makes me feel like a sideshow act or a superhero (thank you random strangers for all your comments in regards to my kids- yes they are ALL mine, no they're not triplets, and well how do I do it- I'm awesome I don't have any other option but to do it). Anyways, after that long rant I bring you the moment that made my momma heart overflow and gave me that reassurance that I am doing SOMETHING right:

 

You see that right there! Those are my two baby girls hugging AND kissing each other for NO reason! I did not tell them to do this in fact I wasn't even watching them I was putting their sister in the car when my stepdaughter calls me over and I see THIS!!!! Every night I pray that all my girls will grow up with a special bond and that they will develop a great friendship. Sometimes I question myself because the girls do fight- they bite, they push, and they pull hair. Not always and granted it usually involves some toy the other one wants. BUT moments like this- let me know that if nothing else I am teaching my girls LOVE and that ladies makes this momma so happy.

 

XOXO, Ally

  

New Year... Same blog

I think I am officially back. To be honest I can't really explain my hiatus- just surviving the everyday- work, kids, holidays and figuring out life. But I love reading blogs and I apologize for not commenting on some of my faves but I have just been reading from my iPhone while you know I was supposed to be working.

So a quick recap on what I have been doing for the last few months: took the girls (all three) on a 7 day cruise for Thanksgiving, celebrated Christmas, rang in the New Year, and a lot of growing up. My little babies are getting big. Speaking of big, the twins start MDO next Wednesday. I can't believe my little babies are going out into the world. I am excited for them to meet new friends and learn new things.

This year is also a big year because at the end I turn the BIG 3-0. Not as frightened as I thought I would be but also I have lots of goals to reach before I hit that milestone.

So for those of you still around. I'm back and I promise lots of fun bloggy recaps and posts to come- including cruising with kids tips, house makeovers, holiday recap, and watch us grow posts. Plus a few new year new me planning, setting goals and update posts as well.

Stick around.. please. I promise I'm here for awhile.

XOXO, Ally