The Impossible Pushup

Guess what!?!?

I did it!

Personal Fitness Goal: 10 Impossible Pushups-check!

I honestly didn't anticipate reaching this goal so soon. I'm still wobbly and need to work on my stability, but I did it! Woo hoo!

May I present to you the Impossible Pushup:

By the end of 2014, I plan on rocking (um, I mean not rocking) those pushups!

What are your fitness goals? What are you doing to reach them?

Set a goal. Write it down. Make a plan. Take action. Reach higher. You CAN do it!

The only difference between "try" and "triumph" is a little UMPH!  

Mango Mojito Chicken

This year I am going to focus on learning how to make healthy, nutritious meals.  I have challenged myself to try one, new recipe a week. This week I tried the Mango Mojito Chicken recipe found in the December, 2013 issue of Oxygen magazine.

First, the original recipe:

Mango Mojito Chicken

• 2 tsp olive oil
• 4 4-oz boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 1/4 tsp each sea salt and black pepper
• 2 ripe mangoes, peeled, pitted and diced
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/3 cup chopped scallions
• 2 TBS chopped fresh mint
• 1 TBS fresh lime juice
• 1 tsp finely grated lime zest
• 1tsp finely grated garlic
• 2 cups brown rice, cooked

1. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Season both sides of chicken breast with salt and pepper. Add chicken to skillet and cook 1-2 minutes per side. 

2. Add mangoes, bell pepper, broth,  scallions,  mint, lime juice, lime zest and garlic and bring to a simmer.  Cover skillet and cook 5 minutes undisturbed, until chicken is cooked through.  Add rice, stir and cook 1 minute more.

Nutrients per serving (4 oz chicken and 1 cup rice mixture):

Calories: 340

Fat: 7g

Carbs: 44g

Fiber: 4g

Sugar: 3g

Protein: 27g

I substituted a yellow bell pepper for the green pepper (I was out of green).

I only had one scallion so I also added some sweet onion.

I only used 1 mango.

I did not use mint (I didn't want to pay for it).

It cost me around $6.00 to make 4 servings which makes 1 meal (for 1 person) around $1.50 per serving. 

Taste-test Approved?

I wasn't sure how I would like this meal. I don't cook with lime often and I think mangoes are "ok". This meal wasn't bad. I wasn't begging for seconds but it was definitely edible and something I will file away for future use.

Kid Approved?

No!

Husband Approved?

Quote: "It isn't bad.  If I were somewhere else I would eat it and be happy.  It isn't something I would want to eat very often."

Food for Abs

One of my goals for 2014 is to see my abs or get "defined abs".

I like challenges and this will definitely be a challenge! First, I have had 4 babies and anyone who has had a baby knows what pregnancy does to your midsection. Second, I like food. Actually I LOVE food!  Not healthy food either.  People just assume that because I'm a fitness instructor I eat healthy.  Nope! I was blessed (or cursed!?) with a decent metabolism which means I can eat like junk and still maintain a healthy weight (I'm sure all that exercise helps!). It is hard for a thin,  healthy person to find the motivation to eat healthy and clean. But my ultimate goal is to eat clean and have a healthy lifestyle. Striving for visible abs will (hopefully) be the incentive I need to get my eating on track.

This will probably be the most difficult and challenging of all my goals.  It will require a level of discipline I have never had to exercise before.  Although it will be difficult, this goal is still attainable for me. The last my body fat was checked (December of 2013) I was at 16%.
This is in the "excellent" and "elite athlete" range for my age.  My abs are already somewhat defined now and all I need to do is focus on shedding the last layer of belly fat.

Abs are made in the kitchen,  not the gym.

It is 80% nutrition and 20% exercise.

You can't out-exercise a bad diet.

Unfortunately, what you eat is a crucial part of  getting great abs. Proper nutrition and "clean" eating is an important part of the puzzle. This will be what I struggle with the most.  I have never really counted calories more than a few days in a row and when I did count calories I never stayed within my calorie goal.  Did I mention I love food?

So my first step in finding my abs will be to just
count calories and stay within my calorie goal.  I will try to eat mostly healthy options, but I will be less concerned with carbs, sugar intake, etc.

I will be focusing on protein. My goal will be to get 130-150g of protein per day. Why focus on protein and why so much? Protein accounts for about 50% of our body's dry matter, helps rebuild and repair our muscles, and keeps us feeling fuller for longer. Protein is especially important during weight loss to help prevent the loss of lean muscle. The RDA recommend adults get 0.8g of protein per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of bodyweight. However, it has proven to be very beneficial for weight lifters and heavy exercisers (I am both) to consume 1.6-2.2g of protein per kilogram of bodyweight.

I will also be dividing my calories into 3 meals + 2 snacks throughout the day.

Here is what my meal plan will be for the next 7
days:

Breakfast
Friday-Sunday (breakfast-on-the-go): Myoplex Muscle drink

Monday-Thursday: 1 cup of cooked oatmeal +
berries and a Chili Omelette*

Snack
Protein bar and Banana

Lunch
White Chili**
Carrots

Snack
Banana-Blueberry Muffin***
Boiled Egg

Supper
Friday-Mango Mojito Chicken (new recipe!)
Saturday-Thursday- I will alternate between Homemade Chicken Soup and Salad with Chicken Breast

            *Chili Omelette Recipe

• 1 whole egg
• 3 egg whites
• 1 Roma tomato, diced
• 1/4 cup sweet yellow onion
• 2 TBS diced green chilies
• Sprinkle with Mozzarella cheese and hotsauce (optional)

**Two Bean White Chili Recipe

• Chicken breast, chopped
• 2 cans of black beans
• 1 can of pinto or white beans
• 1 green pepper, diced
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2-3 cloves of garlic (optional)
• 1 small can of green chilies
• 1 large can of no-salt added tomatoe sauce
• 2 cups of chicken broth
• Hot sauce to taste
• Spices of choice (I use chili powder, cumen, and paprika)

***Banana-Blueberry Muffins Recipe

• One cup of whole wheat, rice, or oat flour
• 2 scoops vanilla whey protein powder
• 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 cup of plain, greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup blueberries
• 3 egg whites
• 1 ripe banana
• 2 tsp of baking powder
• 1 tsp of baking soda
• 1/4 tsp vanilla
• 1 TBS honey

1. Combine all dry ingredients

2. In separate bowl combine all wet ingredients. Except blueberries

3. Spray muffin pan. Fill 1/2-3/4 full.

4. Sprinkle blueberries over batter

Bake @325 degrees for 12-18 minutes