Carrots!

So carrots were on sale this week at my favourite grocery store (No Frills...cheap and efficient:), so I picked up about 9 pounds of them:) Carrots have for a long time been a personal fav veggie for me, and I'm always looking for new ways to use them.

Today I came up with this yummy carrot muffin recipe. These muffins are extremely moist and don't rise much, so they're really more of a soft square/muffin...If that makes sense...I'm going to say just try them and you'll see what I mean. They are very tasty, freeze well, and, most importantly, are healthy! With natural sugars and whole grains, plus the fibre and nutrients from the carrot, these muffins were a hit in our house:)

Without further ado, here's the recipe:)

Healthy Carrot Muffins

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup bran
2 cups grated carrots (2-4 carrots)
1 cup dates
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 eggs
1/2 cup apple sauce
1/2 cup raisons

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Soak dates in warm water, and set aside for approx. 10 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, bran, baking soda and cinnamon.
3. Grind dates up in the food processor until they form a large ball.
4. In a separate bowl, mix dates, carrots, apple sauce and eggs. Fold into dry mixture. Throw in and mix the raisons.
4. Separate into a muffin tin, and bake for approximately 20-30 minutes.

More awesome carrot recipes to come! Be blessed today!

Breakfast On The Go!

First off, thank you all so much for your sweet comments about my last blog. Your feedback really is important to me, and it helps me to keep going knowing that there are people out there being blessed and inspired by my journey:) It also helps me to keep up the work when you all act as much cheerleaders:)

Now to the good stuff....FOOD:) I really want to include more recipes in my blog, so I'm bringing you one of my favourites....a smoothie recipe. I'm a sucker for creamy foods, especially milkshakes, so if I can fool myself into thinking I'm drinking one, that's a bonus:) This smoothie is great for breakfast, as it includes both fibre and protein, which I feel are the building blocks for the perfect breakfast.

For me, eating a good breakfast has been paramount in my weight loss journey. If I can fill up first thing in the day, I don't end up eating too much later. Since the new year, I've been back at work part time, and I'm finding mornings to be a bit of a scramble , getting myself and the kids ready and out the door. There have been a few days when breakfast has been a granola bar in the car on my way. This recipe is great because it's quick and you can have the ingredients ready ahead of time, so in the morning, you just have to dump it all into the blender and go:)



Oatmeal Protein Breakfast Shake

2 cups ground oatmeal (grind it up in the food processor...this can be done ahead of time)
2 cups low fat milk
1 scoop protein powder
fruit (I like banana, but you can really add any kind you want)
sprinkle of cinnamon to garnish
drizzle of honey to garnish

Throw the first 4 ingredients into the blender, and mix away. After you pour it into a glass, sprinkle with cinnamon and drizzle with honey.

Hope you like it! More recipes to come!

The Struggle

Gee willikers, it's been a while since my last post. Sorry everyone (at least I'm hoping more than 2 people read this blog:)...I've included blogging more regularly on my resolution list, so hopefully I'll be a little more consistent this year:)

If I can be real and raw with you all, part of the reason I haven't blogged for so long is that these past few months have been an honest to goodness struggle for me (in the health and fitness department, that is). Once the cold weather hit, running outside just hasn't happened, and I began to lose my focus. Christmas brought with it A LOT of unhealthy eating, and it's sometimes difficult for me to remember that Christmas is over, and eating like that needs to stop:)

Please tell me I'm not the only one who struggles! It's times like this that I'm so thankful for a God of second chances (and third, and fourth, and infinity and beyond...). I'm reminded of 1 Corinthians 10:13 which says,

"The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure."

As much as I wish all my struggles and temptations would just disappear, I have to be honest with myself enough to say I may always struggle with this. The good news is, God IS FAITHFUL to be there throughout the long road ahead, and He promises to make our journey's load light. Will you join me in this journey? Will you believe with me that God will help us endure the struggles?

Be blessed, and remember God finishes the work he starts!!!

Egg Nog Love!

Anyone who knows me knows just how much I LOVE Christmas. Not only is it a time to eat yummy things, and give and receive gifts, but it's a time when people turn their hearts and minds toward a baby born to change the world.

Of course, the food IS great:) (ya know, I love food too;). One of my seasonal favourites is egg nog. I secretly want egg nog all year round, and really don't understand why it's not available for the other 11 months of the year. I even tried to make homemade egg nog a few years ago, but no one (including me) would drink my lumpy/eggy/milky mess.

You can imagine my excitement last week in the grocery store when I spotted the nog sitting in the dairy case, waiting to be enjoyed:) To my elation, I then set my sights on the low fat version. Finally I could enjoy my egg nog, and not feel guilty about it! I raced home, and got my special egg nog cup ready to be filled! Now picture the look on my face when I drank what can only be described as watered down MILK. It was gross.

So I resigned to the fact that I would not be able to enjoy my precious nog this season:( Then the Lord reminded me of something. The reason we get into trouble with food is not eating bad things alone, but because we don't allow His Spirit to give us the self-control we need to eat in moderation. He wants us to enjoy food, but we just need to make sure we do not indulge.

On today's grocery trip, I bought the higher fat version, and am reminded that walking in the freedom Christ brings means being able to use the self-control He offers to only have a little.

Be blessed today, and remember that "if the Son sets you free you are truly free" (John 8:36).

One of those days...

I have to admit, there are days (sometimes weeks), when I just DON'T WANT TO WORKOUT! As much as I love running, and get a high from it, some days it's like pulling my own teeth to get out there and run. I'm not sure why I'm like that. I'd love to be one of those people who always loves to workout....But I'm not, and today was "one of those days". In addition to not always loving working out, I don't love the cold weather. My body just doesn't seem to work as efficiently when it's all stiff and cold, and I find it difficult to breathe the cold air. If any of you fitness buffs out there know of ways to overcome these pitfalls, let me know.

I'm pleased to say I did go out running today....though I'm embarrassed to say it's been about a week! I have been working out in my house, but all you runners out there know that it's just not the same as a good run outside.

I'm learning how to psych myself into enjoying exercise especially when I'm just not feeling it. Here are a few things I've learned.

1. Spend the time thinking about God's word. It's amazing how God's promises have come alive to me as I run! (check out these verses: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+40:31&version=NIV, http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+12:1&version=NIV , http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%204:13&version=NIV )

2. Just get out there ! I've learned that it's really only the first 20 or so minutes that are tough, and then the rest of the time I'm enjoying it, and when it's all over and you get the runner's high, it's all worth it:)

3. Find something new. It's always possible that you're just in a workout rut. Trying a new form of exercise might help beat the boredom.

By the way, I LOVE hearing from you all, letting me know that you've been encouraged by my blog! It's really humbling to me to know that God is using my journey to inspire others!

Be blessed!

Just Keep Running

So I've been on vacation for the past week. My brother was married in Hawaii, so I "had" to come;) I have to say, I'M IN LOVE with Hawaii....This is the most beautiful place I have ever seen, and I am heading back home today completely relaxed and nicely tanned:)

Back when I started running (a whole 10 months ago), I promised myself that I wouldn't take shortcuts when it comes to my runs. For me this means not stopping to walk unless I have to, never cutting corners, running up every hill I encounter (not easy), and finally, making sure I run even when I'm on vacation.

I have to say that running in Hawaii isn't that difficult, as there is so much natural beauty to behold, and the constant breeze is like God's air conditioning:) I'm proud to say that I have run every morning I've been here!

Here I am running in Hawaii:)

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If I can encourage you with something today, it's that keeping promises to yourself will breathe life to your habits. Your will power and discipline will be strengthened and you will get a strong sense of accomplishment.

The most important meal....

One thing I've learning on my weight loss journey is the importance of eating a good breakfast. I found for me that if I eat a good balanced breakfast, I am less likely to overeat later in the day (especially at around 3pm), have more energy, and feel full. The old saying "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" couldn't be more true, so I thought I'd share with you some of my favourite things to eat first thing:)

1. Cottage Cheese with diced apples and cinnamon (my current fav)
2. Kashi Go Lean Crunch (with milk or yogurt)
3. Mango smoothie (check out the recipe on my blog)
4. Activia plain yogurt with diced strawberries and banana
5. Egg Creations scrambled in the microwave on an english muffin (I like it with cheese for good measure;)