Pumpkin Curry Soup

Fall is in the air and I thought I'd post some of my favorite recipes.  I LOVE soup!!  I love creamy, chunky, and chili-type soups.  Here is one of our family favorites.

PUMPKIN CURRY SOUP

2 T butter or olive oil

1 c chopped onion (1 small)

2 cloves garlic

1 ½ tsp curry powder

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp ground white pepper

3 c chicken broth

1-15 oz can pumpkin (or fresh--just cut it in cubes and boil it for about 20 minutes and puree)

1 can coconut milk

Heaping spoonful of peanut butter

Melt butter in large saucepan over medium-high heat.  Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring frequently, for 2 to 3 minutes or until tender.  Stir in curry powder, salt and pepper; cook one minute.

Add broth and pumpkin; bring to boil.  Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in coconut milk.  Transfer mixture to food processor or blender (in batches, if necessary); cover.  Blend until smooth.  Add peanut butter and stir—if you like the chunky PB.  Otherwise, throw it in the blender.  Serve warm.  

Reflective

I have a bit of the flu.  Being pregnant (22 weeks), I cannot take much of anything for my symptoms, so instead I spend more time than usual sitting around and thinking.  I saw a quote that read, "At any given moment you have the power to say--this is not how the story is going to end."  While reading those words, my memory took me to a classroom Florida when I was in 9th grade.  My health teacher was telling the class statistics.  She said something to the effect of, 'if you're obese as a teenager, you have a (insert crazy-high percentage here) of being obese as an adult' and 'if both parents are obese, you have a (insert crazy-high percentage here) of your children also being obese.

I remember my heart sinking.

So discouraging to hear.  I felt like I was doomed to failure and that nothing I was doing or could do in the future would change these statistics.  From the age of 10 or so, I would look in the bathroom mirror and say awful things to myself about how I was repulsive...not just ugly, repulsive.  My entire family all seemed half my size and I didn't understand how I was so unlucky.  I wallowed in this feeling of how much I hated how I felt about myself.  And now to hear that it was my future?  And possibly my children's future?  I was overwhelmed with intense grief that lasted only a few minutes.

Just after these thoughts raced through my mind, I had a resolve burning inside me.  I can remember this moment like it was yesterday.  Determined to not be a statistic and to take charge of my own destiny.  I have never looked back since.

I have been in my ideal weight range for nearly 10 years and hear all the time how healthy my children are and how they love their fruits and vegetables.  It's hard to put into words the gratitude I feel for that teacher and that moment that changed my life.  I had previously felt victimized by my circumstances and that mind shift--to being in charge of my actions--has ballooned into several aspects of my life.  I am forever grateful.

Veggie Fajitas

Wow.  My husband and kids even like these.  I discovered this gem at El Torito Grill on a business trip this summer.  Every time I go on these trips, I order the same dish.  They are light but hearty at the same time.  I took a photo at the restaurant and then made my own version at home. WOW.

Here is my best attempt at a recipe for you:

Vegetable Fajitas via El Torito Grill
5 cloves garlic (minced)
1 onion (sliced)
1/3 cup olive oil
2 T fajita seasoning + water
4 red potatoes cut into wedges (try to be consistent in thickness of chopping for even cooking)
2 cups red pepper (sliced)
2-3 cups carrots (cut into match sticks
Corn (I cut off of 2 ears of corn on the cob that wasn't super fresh)
2-3 cups fresh spinach 
1 1/2 cups broccoli
1/2 head of cauliflower
Zucchini (sliced and halved) *
Yellow squash (sliced and halved) *
Guacamole
Pinto or black beans
Tortillas

*Not pictured here because I didn't have any--they were still amazing
 Combine garlic, onion, and olive oil and cook until translucent.  Add potato, carrot, red pepper, corn, broccoli, and cauliflower. Add fajita seasoning.  I mixed 2 Tbsp with 2 Tbsp water and then poured it in my wok.  Cook until veggies are nearly tender.  Add zucchini and squash and cook for 5-10 minutes until tender.  Add spinach and warm until it wilts (won't take more than 1-2 minutes). 

Serve on tortilla with beans, guacamole, and veggies. The potatoes and spinach make this--don't leave them out until you try it!  My husband was not excited when I wanted to try this experiment because of the potato and spinach.  He agrees they are the best part.

Cupcakes!

Inspired by Chef Chloe, I decided to make some serious cupcakes for my kids 2nd birthday.  I didn't love the frosting the first go-around, so I decided to branch out and mix it up with another favorite of mine.

Chocolate Cupcakes
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free all-purpose flour plus ¾ teaspoon xanthan gum)
1 cup evaporated cane juice or date sugar (health food store or a really great grocery store will have these)
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup coconut milk
½ cup canola oil
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract


To make the Chocolate Cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Line cupcake pans with 14 cupcake liners.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sweetener, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together coconut milk, oil, vinegar, and vanilla. Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and whisk until just combined. Do not over mix.

Fill the cupcake liners about two-thirds full with batter. Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cupcake comes out clean with a few crumbs clinging to it. Cool the cupcakes completely before frosting.


Frosting a.k.a. Chocolate pudding (From Raw Food Real World cookbook--love!)
2 cups young coconut meat (also known as Thai coconuts)*
3/4 cup young coconut water at room temperature (may add more to thin it)
1/2 cup real maple syrup
1/3 cup agave
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 T vanilla
1/4 tsp sea salt

Combine in high-speed blender (I use my Vitamix) and puree all ingredients until completely smooth.  Chill for a firmer pudding.

I sliced the tops off the cooled cupcakes, spread on some pudding and sliced strawberries, replaced the muffin top and then added a dollop of pudding again and a strawberry.  They were heavenly.

*Young coconuts can easily be found at Asian markets and most 'hip' grocery stores.  I grabbed a youtube link on how to open one for those who haven't tried.  They are amazing for you and are an excellent source of hydration.  Here's a photo so you can recognize it.  These are coconuts when they are green and under-ripe by our standards, but 'just right' in other cultures.

Cauliflower Soup

Tiffany and I both get Bountiful Basket (a local produce co-op) and get the occasional veggie that we don't know what to do with.  Cauliflower is one of those for me.  I don't have any recipes that are really good and a whole head is a lot for us to use raw with dip or something.  I got my hands on this recipe and made it tonight...slam dunk.  Husband loved it, kids loved it (minus the chunks--should've creamed it for them), and I loved it.  Wish the photo did it justice.

Cauliflower Soup

1 medium head cauliflower (or other veggie like broccoli or potato)
1/4 cup olive oil
2/3 cup chopped onion
3 Tbsp flour
2 cup vegetable broth
1cup liquid drained from cauliflower (or other boiled veggie)
1 can coconut milk
1/2 tsp. worcestershire sauce
3/4 tsp. salt
Garnish with chopped chves or minced parsley

Cut cauliflower into tiny flouretes.  Cook in boiling salted water.  Drain reserving liquid into container.  Combine olive oil and onion and cook until soft and transparent.  Blend in 3 tbls flour.  Add 2 cups chicken broth, cook, stirring constantly until mixture comes to a boil.  Stir in cup liquid drained from cauliflower, coconut milk, worcestershire sauce, and salt.  Add cauliflower and heat to boiling.  I ended up using corn starch to thicken it a bit as it was too watery for my liking.

You can double the recipe and combine a veggie with potato or different types of veggies together.  I did half potato and half cauliflower and it was delicious.

McDonald's Drops 'Pink Slime' from it's Burgers

I saw this in Time Magazine today and was pretty disgusted.  Everyone knows that fast food isn't the healthy way to eat, but very few people understand what goes into fast food to make it even MORE unhealthy.  Take a read--it's short.

http://moneyland.time.com/2012/02/01/mcdonalds-drops-pink-slime-from-hamburger-meat/?xid=newsletter-weekly

Pumpkin Pancakes

I have 2 kids that are gluten and dairy intolerant. (I don't do very well with dairy either). These pancakes are an awesome alternative and something we can all eat at an affordable price. I grind my own quinoa into flour in my Vitamix. If you have a wheat grinder, you can also use that.

1 1/2 c. quinoa flour
1/4 c. packed brown sugar (I use Sucanat, pure maple syrup, or agave nectar)
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground allspice
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. salt
1 3/4 c. buttermilk or sour milk (I make my own buttermilk, using just shy of 1 c. rice, almond milk with 1 TB vinegar or lemon juice mixed in. Since the recipe calls for 1 3/4 c. buttermilk, I adjust my homemade buttermilk to make that much).
1 c. pumpkin puree
2 large eggs (I use chia seeds. 1 TB chia seeds to 3 TB water. Mix and let sit 15 minutes)
2 TB vegetable oil (I use unsweetened apple sauce)
maple syrup
1/2 c. toasted pecans (I haven't used these)
whipped cream (optional. I don't use this either)

Measure the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon, ginger, and salt into a large bowl. Mix well.
Whisk together the milk, pumpkin, eggs, and oil in a medium bowl. Add to the flour mixture and stir until just blended.
Serve with maple syrup, pecans, and whipped cream.

Layered Tex-Mex Lasagna

If you haven't watched "Forks Over Knives," you should. It's on Netflix and SO worth your time! This recipe comes from the "Forks Over Knives" cookbook. My kids loved it and so did I!

Tomato Sauce
2- 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
3 c. water
1/4 c. cornstarch
3 TB chili powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. garlic powder

4 c. mashed cooked pinto beans
1 c. chopped green onions
1 1/2 c. frozen corn, thawed
1- 2 1/4 oz. can sliced black olives, drained, optional
1-2 TB chopped green chiles, optional
10-12 corn tortillas
salsa, optional
tofu sour cream, optional

1. To make the sauce: Put all ingredients for the sauce into a saucepan. Mix well with a whisk until well combined. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Taste and add more chili powder if desired. Set aside.

2. To assemble casserole: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put the beans, green onions, corn olives, and green chiles into a large bowl and mix gently until well combined.

3. Spread 1 1/2 c. of the sauce over the bottom of a nonstick baking dish (9x13). Place 3-4 corn tortillas in the bottom. Spread half of the bean mixture evenly over the tortillas. Place another 3 or 4 tortillas over bean mixture, then spread the remaining bean mixture on top. Cover with 3 or 4 more tortillas, and then pour the remaining sauce over the tortillas. Cover the baking dish with parchment paper, then cover with aluminum foil, crimping the edges over the baking dish. Bake for 45 minutes.

Southwestern EggRolls

These are AMAZING! They take A LONG time to prepare. So when we make these, we do a huge batch! That's why the recipe has such large quantities. It makes about 50 burritos. So if you don't want that many, divide everything up and make maybe 5. :) But it's just as much work to make 50 as it is 5. So we just go all out. And then we freeze them for meals for later. They do have chicken and cheese in them. But you can just omit it if you want. My kids are obsessed with these and they are so so nice to pop into the oven from the freezer for 30 minutes for an awesome dinner. This is a recipe from the restaurant "Chili's." They fry them. I like them better baked like I do with this recipe.

10 chicken breasts
10 T. oil
1 1/4 c minced red pepper
1 1/4 c. green onion
3 1/3 c. frozen corn
2 1/2 c. black beans (2 cans)
1 1/4 c. green chiles (1 lg can and 1 sm can)
5 TB minced fresh parsley
1 1/4 c. frozen, drained spinach
5 tsp. cumin
5 tsp. chili powder
2 1/2 tsp. salt
7 1/2 c. monterey jack cheese (I don't use nearly this much if I use the cheese)
50- 7 inch flour tortillas

BBQ chicken, brushed with oil and salted and peppered until cooked.
Saute green onion and red pepper in oil. Dice chicken and add to oil. Add everything except cheese and heat through. Stir in cheese and fill tortillas. Roll up and freeze on baking sheet.

Obviously if you don't use the chicken, you won't need NEARLY that much oil. Just enough to saute the green onions and peppers. I have never made them completely without the chicken AND cheese, but I want to try it soon. I think they would be so so good still! If you do omit the chicken , definitely add more black beans!! You'll have to experiment since there is a ton of chicken in them.

When ready to bake, put into oven frozen for 25-35 minutes on 350 degrees.

Tortilla Soup

I had this soup at a luncheon one time and fell in love. It's a little more complicated, but worth the trouble! Of course to make it Vegan, omit the chicken and use Veggie broth instead. I am famous for doing that with recipes.

1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 TB olive oil
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
1-2(14 oz) cans chicken broth/veggie broth
1 c. corn
1 small can green chiles
1 can white hominy
1 can black beans
1/4 c. fresh cilantro, chopped
2 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed

Toppings: avocado, tortilla chips (leave those out to minimize calories), cheese (if you wish. this will add a significant amount of calories), green onion

In medium stock pot, heat oil over medium heat. Saute onion and garlic in oil until soft. Stir in chili powder, oregano, tomatoes, and broth. Bring to boil and simmer 5-10 minutes.

Stir in corn, hominy, chiles, beans, cilantro, and chicken. Simmer 10 minutes.

Veggie Chili

My sister gave me this recipe and I loved it. My kids aren't huge Chili fans, but they still eat it. :) If your family likes Chili, you'll love this Vegan version.

1 c. onion
1 green pepper
2 tsp. garlic
2 cans black beans
1 can white beans
1 can kidney beans
1 28 oz. can petite diced tomatoes
2 TB chili powder
2 TB oregano
1 tsp. coriander
2 tsp. cumin
4 c. veggie broth

Cook on low in a crock pot for 4-8 hours. At end, stir in 1/3 c. couscous to thicken.

Note: You can always use whatever beans you have on hand. It doesn't matter what kind. :)

Chicken (or non-chicken) Chowder

This is one of my kids favorite soups. I do sometimes do it with chicken or sometimes I will just leave it out. I modified the original recipe for a healthier, non-dairy version. :)

2-3 pieces chicken
1 qt. chicken or veggie broth
1 c. celery (diced)
1/2 c. onion (diced)
1 c. grated carrots
4 c. potatoes (diced small)
2 TB butter (I use Earth Balance brand)
cornstarch and water mixture for thickening (1/3 c. cornstarch with warm water mixed in to make it runny)
1 c. almond or plan rice milk

Boil chicken 15-20 minutes. In separate pan, cook all veggies in a broth. Bring to boil and then simmer 20 minutes. Add in cooked chicken once veggies are cooked through.

Add butter and almond milk. Stir in cornstarch mixture with wire whisk to thicken. Salt and pepper to taste. Simmer 10 minutes.

Note: If you don't use the chicken, you can ALWAYS add some more of the veggies. :)

New Favorite Hummus

I combined two of my favorite hummus recipes and came up with this beauty. My kids devoured it and I had to stop myself from doing the same. Here goes.

This made A LOT of hummus! It filled up my 11 cup food processor. So if you don't want as much, just cut it in half.

Black Bean Hummus
2 cans black beans
2 cans garbanzo beans
1 clove garlic
1/4 c. tahini
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cumin
1/4 c. olive oil
juice from 1 lemon
1/3 c. water

Blend in food processor and enjoy!

Workout Group Challenge Update

Wanted to update you guys on my Workout Challenge Group plan:

I have a few awesome and committed ladies that are ready to change it up and dramatically change their bodies with an awesome exercise program and good nutrition (some will be using Shakeology, some are not).

One group is an exclusive, BeachBody Challenge group. www.beachbodycoach.com/tiffanydansie (See the Beach Body Challenge button on the right hand side of my BeachBody Page). They have committed to do P90x, drink Shakeology as a meal replacement for the 3 month duration of the program, and to become a BeachBody Club Member. An invsement? Yes! But those willing to actually invest in their health have a better change of actually changing their health and following through.

Our second group is also going to be a P90x group but without Shakeology or the BeachBody Club Membership. The people of that group will simply be doing P90x together. This group is just a flat fee of $35 per month, for the 3 month challenge. An investment? Yes! But more likely to see results, especially with me coaching everyone, every step of the way.

This is my plan. I will be creating private Facebook groups for these challenges. No one can see you are in it and what we talk about except for the few members in each group. We will each report daily, about our workout, about our nutrition, give and get advice, etc. I will be there to answer ANY questions via text, email, phone. I WANT these ladies to be highly successful! I am committed to being there, every step of the way to hold people accountable, give nutrition tips and advice, and give advice for the workouts so the people of the group are getting what they pay for in the program, meal replacements, and my personal help. These groups will have my name on them, and I want them to be successful. I cannot wait!

We start December 1st. If anyone is interested in joining one of these groups, please let me know, as you have to have time to get prepared to start up the program.

And for those interested at a later date, I plan to start up a few more groups on January 1st. It will be time for New Years Resolutions and instead of paying for a gym membership, going for 2 months, and then never going back, you'll have be right at your side (and the other people in the group) to help motivate and push you, like you've never pushed yourself before. Results do not come for free. I can promise you that! No one that is toned and in great shape doesn't have to work hard to get there.

If you are ever interested in joining a group, please let me know. I am willing to start up a group whenever anyone is ready and committed to changing their life. Just shoot me an email or leave a comment here, or message me on Facebook. tiffanydansie@gmail.com

Happy Holidays!

Workout Challenge Groups

Hello everyone!

As many of you know, I have a passion for helping people on their fitness and wellness journey. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Health Science and am currently studying to become a Personal Trainer... something I have wanted to do for about 10 years now. I have been helping friends and family lose weight, get in shape, giving advice, feedback, tips, etc., for years. I have had some people succeed. But most people just aren't that committed. They can't do everything needed in order to be successful. Getting into shape is a long journey. Your body doesn't build muscle and lose weight over night. It is something that takes time and serious effort. 

So, I have decided to run a new kind of challenge... This challenge group would only have 5 MEMBERS. There will be money invested into this. At first, I struggled with this thought. But the more I thought about it, when someone invests money into something, they are way more likely to stick to it, and truly want to change and be motivated. If I just let anyone into a group for free, I could get hundreds of people wanting help, but only a small percentage of them would truly be committed to succeed and work hard. That is the problem I have had when working with people over the past several years... commitment to do what it takes to really become fit and healthy. There are two ways you can invest. I'll talk about each way individually when I explain what each group consists of. 

I am going to start with 2 groups (or possibly more). The rules for each group are as follows:

Group #1- Starts December 1st- P90X

This group will consist of up to 5 people who would all be doing P90X, starting on the same day. Everyone would be required to be replacing one meal a day with Shakeology (a meal replacement, protein shake, supplement). This would mean, you will have to invest in Shakeology. If I am going to invest my time working one on one with you, I need tho know you are willing to invest into your own health first, and that you are truly committed.

WHAT IS REQUIRED??

1. Purchase your Shakeology HD in a 30 serving Bulk Bag OR To-Go packets for the duration of the 90 days. 

2. Purchase P90X through my site. www.beachbodycoach.com/tiffanydansie

3. Join Beachbody Club so that you have access to the meal plan during the challenge to help with your nutrition. ($2.99 a week! And includes a 10% discount on all of your purchases!)


Something to think about too... Beach Body just launched "Challenge Packs" where you get these three things at a discounted price, all in one bundle, for the purpose of these group challenges.

-WHAT IS P90X??  

www.beachbodycoach.com/tiffanydansie (you can look up any program under the shop button and then fitness programs link.

P90X is amazing for people that are exercise veterans. If you have been exercising, need a change in your routine, and have 5-20 lbs to lose, that's how I feel it fits the best. If you have large amounts of weight to lose, I may recommend a different workout program.

WHAT IS SHAKEOLOGY?

It's a nutritional protein shake that provides a wide spectrum of healthy nutrients in a low-calorie formula. Shakeology is an effective way to help you lose weight (if used appropriately as a meal replacement), increase your energy and feel better all around. Many people have had great success with Shakeology while also incorporating a healthy diet and a Beach Body program. Most people are missing the nutrition part when it comes to getting fit and healthy. Almost anyone can exercise and get that done. But nutrition is huge... for me, it's 90% of the battle. So with Shakeology, you are taking care of one meal and have tons of fruits and vegetables from it, you are on the right track for your nutrition. And it's only 150 calories, so when used as a meal replacement, you are well on your way to cutting out calories needed to lose weight. But it MUST be used appropriately. You cannot use it as an additive to your diet, or just like any other food or drink, you will not lose. Yes, it is an investment and a pretty big one. But cut the treats and other crap out of your diet and spend the money on something good for you! It comes down to about $4 per day. That's as much as getting your morning coffee or eating one fast food meal out. (Or getting your daily latte, or drinking your glass of wine). So cut that stuff out and replace it with something healthy! Here is a little more information about Shakeology... www.shakeology.com/tiffanydansie

-WHAT'S THE CHALLENGE? 

It's simple...for 90 days you will be replacing ONE MEAL A DAY with Shakeology and using the P90X Fitness program to reach your goals!

If you order your Shakeology on Home Direct- you get FREE SHIPPING, 2 Workout DVDs and a Shakeology cup! And if you don't love it you can cancel your Home Direct after the first shipment and send back the empty bag for a full refund! What do you have to lose?? Remember that if you don't LOVE your new program or Shakeology then you can return it within 30 days! 

At the end of the event their will be a drawing from the contestants for a free gift! ONE PERSON WILL WIN A GIFT THAT CONSISTS OF A PERSONAL BLENDER FOR YOUR SHAKE AND A SET OF BEACHBODY PUSHUP STANDS!!! You must COMPLETE the challenge to qualify for the giveaway! LETS GO!! 

Let me know if you have any questions!! And be sure to let me know if you want to be in this group. I only have 4 slots left, as I have already filled one. :)

Group #2- Starting December 1st- 

This workout program is to be decided (based on your input). I'm thinking Insanity, Lindsay Brin's 60-day slimdown (for those from the Operation: Get your body back group on facebook), or any other Beach Body program.

This group will be up to 5 people with the same idea as the group above. But the investment you will be putting in is $35 per month to be part of the group. That will be the only requirement (other than your serious commitment to use your money wisely and work hard). This group will also have a drawing at the end of the program. The prize will depend on what workout program the group does. It may just be a cash prize.

Both of these groups will have unlimited access to me and my fitness and nutrition coaching via email, facebook, and you will also have my cell phone number. I will hold you accountable, motivate, encourage, give nutrition and workout advice, and be there for any problems of questions you may have along the workout program. I want to help people on a smaller scale to truly succeed. Giving random advice is great, but doesn't target the person specifically and get to know them on a one on one level so that together, we can help you succeed.

For those not interested in a group at this time, or if they fill up and you aren't able to participate, I plan on starting more groups in the very near future. If you are interested, please let me know. Also know that I am offering personal coaching (without the group support of others doing your same workout) exclusively from me for the same price as above. $35 per month for unlimited access to me via email, text, and phone. Let me know if you are interested in anything above or have questions. I would love to answer them and help in any way that I can.

Also, if you already have a program and don't need to buy one, that is fine for either group. Again, let me know if youvare interested as soon as possible and I can give you more information on how to register for both groups. Participants will be chosen on a first come, first serve basis. So commit to getting healthy and get started!! You can do it!

Also, if you do want to participate, I will need to know some more information about you to be sure the program we will be doing will suit your needs. I may recommend another program for you, based on your individual goals. But we can always start a group for that program also. :) Let me know as soon as possible!

Tiffany Dansie

To check out my Beach Body's website, go to www.beachbodycoach.com/tiffanydansie

You can order anything from there that you need. Keep in mind, Beach Body has a lifetime guarantee, where you can replace a DVD for a lifetime if it gets scratched or ruined, you can send it back 10 years from now and they will mail you a new DVD. A great reason to purchase from Beach Body.

my weight loss journey

so... this is going to be long winded. but i've actually wanted to put this on my blog for a while, and just haven't. as you can see, this blog (and my two others) have been completely neglected over the past few months. my sister has done way more posts than me. i'm vowing to change that.

some people don't know (unless you knew me in middle school) that i struggled with my weight all growing up. i wasn't way overweight necessarily. but i was more than chubby, not skinny, and was made fun of A LOT when i was little.

in high school, i started with tae bo. when i was about 14, my older sister (the other author of this blog) and i started doing tae bo after school sometimes. i don't remember when, but i started running a little bit on my parents treadmill not too long after that. i don't know where my motivation came from. but it was there and i sometimes used the treadmill. when i was around 16, i did the body for life program, and for the first time in my life, had some muscle tone. i lost some weight and looked better than i ever had. (still far from great shape). i also started eating healthier. i was raised on the standard american diet of meat, potatoes, cheese, chips, cookies, juice, creamy casseroles, etc. there wasn't a huge concern for health back then and eating well.

when i got to college, i pretty much had cut out all refined sugars and flours. i started running more and made it a daily habit. i would usually just run for 30 minutes or so every day. i was thin, but not toned or in great shape. i loved exercise and eating healthy and decided to get my bachelor's degree in health science, with an emphasis in health promotion and lifetime wellness. my goal was to become a personal trainer eventually. but getting married and having a family took priority and i never did it... until now.

when i got married at the ripe age of 19, i weighed about 115-120 lbs. (i'm 5' 1 1/2"). i got pregnant with our first baby 3 months after we got married (yes, i know. crazy :) ). i immediately (like, the day i found out i was pregnant), stopped running, too paranoid that i would hurt the baby. i started just walking. i walked every day for 30 minutes during my pregnancy. good, right? well, my eating went out the window. i had been so good to have no sugars, refined flours for the past few years. i used pregnancy as an excuse to eat ice cream when i wanted, snacked CONSTANTLY (afraid that i needed to eat more because i was pregnant... which i did, but i had no idea how much 300 calories actually was), and didn't stick to my healthy eating. 30-35 lbs later, (i am pretty sure my ending weight was 148 lbs), i had my first baby. i was swollen, chubby, broad shouldered, etc.

i went on a quest to lose that baby weight. i had vowed i was NEVER going to be "one of those moms" that never lost her baby weight in between babies and ended up 40 lbs heavier after 4 kids. no way. not me. boy, did i EAT MY WORDS. i spent 1 1/2-2 hours per day in the gym, 6 days per week. treadmill, elliptical. i even started using the weight machines in the gym. i did drop a few pounds (maybe 5). i tried doing the "sometimes" rule with treats. but i swear, there was always some occasion, church party, holiday, birthday party, something. ALWAYS! so i was stuck around 130 for a long time. i tried cutting out sugars (and failed miserably). i tried eating salads twice per day. i became highly frustrated and when my baby was 18 months, i got pregnant with baby #2, 10-15 lbs heavier than i was when i got pregnant with baby #1.

i decided during this pregnancy, i was NOT going to use it as an excuse to eat what i wanted. i was going to listen to my body, eat when i was hungry, stop when i was satisfied, and try to eat really healthy. i accomplished that goal, gaining only 16 lbs during my pregnancy (also ran until i was about 17 weeks pregnant) and even did some weight training (some bicep curls, squats, lunges, etc). my doctor was fine with the small weight gain since i already was overweight at the beginning of my pregnancy. i did cut out treats, sugars, and white flours for the most part during this pregnancy.

i had baby #2 and was on my same quest to lose this baby weight. this is when i met lindsay brin with moms into fitness. i won't bore you with the story, but i got a hold of lindsay's post natal bootcamp dvd. popped that baby in 3 days per week (dying, trying to do her 12 week program), and also ran 5 days per week for about 30 minutes with some friends. yes, i was exercising twice per day and EXHAUSTED! i did this all while breastfeeding. in fact, i breastfed my son until he was 13 months old. it took me 7 months, and i surpassed my wedding day weight, and got down to 106 lbs. i was beyond thrilled! i had muscles i had never had before. when i finished the 12 week program, i started mixing and matching the workouts on her dvd, still doing 3 intervals of cardio/toning and 2-3 core workouts on the dvd. i used heavier weights when i didn't feel as challenged. (i started with 5's and 8's, moved up to 5's and 10's, moved up again to 8's and 12's). when my son was just about a year old, i got pregnant with baby #3.

during my third pregnancy, i was determined to stay as fit as possible. lindsay was kind enough to send me her pregnancy dvd's. i did them throughout my 3rd pregnancy, ran until i was about 24 weeks along, and tried to eat really healthy. (although whole wheat bread with cinnamon sugar was about the only thing i could tolerate for the first 16 weeks). i did the best i could to listen to my body, eat when i was hungry and stop when i was satisfied, and eat the best food for the amount of calories. i gained about 25-27 lbs.

baby #3 was born and i was determined to do the same thing i did with baby #2, but FASTER this time! haha. did not happen. in fact, it was a month or two slower. why? i think i was too paranoid about losing weight, not eating enough to keep up my milk supply (which started drying up when my daughter was about 5 months old), and just plain being over-paranoid about losing weight while breastfeeding. my body hung onto it until i stopped breastfeeding because i wasn't eating enough for it to let go of the excess fat. it needed it to survive and help my body keep my milk supply up. so after baby #3, i ate very healthy (lots of fruits, vegetables, green smoothies (which are made from fruits and vegetables), whole grains, sprouted grains, very little meat (and when i did do meat, it was chicken or turkey), and very little dairy. it took about 7 or 8 months and i was back to 106 lbs. i did lindsay's bootcamps again, and her new dvd's that had come out. shed 5 fast, core metabolic jumpstart, her cfs method (which helped tremendously to heal my diastasis recti that i had for the 3rd time), both bootcamps, etc. she even wrote an outside workout for me when i plateau'd.

even though i had hit my pre-pregnancy weight, i still felt like i had a small layer of fat that i wanted to get rid of. i wasn't toned like i wanted to be. i consulted with lindsay about it and she suggested that i just might be too used to her dvd's and workouts. i had increased my weights up to 12's and 15's and still had stopped losing and seeing results after a few weeks. she suggested i change it up (which is when she wrote the outside workout for me). i saw some results for the first few weeks and quickly plateau'd again.

i had seen some p90x infomercials. it looked interesting and HARD! i decided to get it for my husband for a graduation present (he was just graduating from physical therapy school). i got it for him, but REALLY was planning on doing it also. :) i emailed lindsay and asked her what she thought of it. she said she had seen the infomercials and thought it looked GREAT and that she thought i would love it, since i like to push myself.

i did the 90 days of p90x. i didn't follow their diet guide, as i don't really do a lot of animal products and after one day of doing it, felt so sick and yucky. again, i emailed lindsay about it and she suggested i not do the diet guide. i even tried drinking some protein shake, but noticed i was gaining weight. lindsay suggested not doing that either. i just decided to eat how i normally do (pretty clean to begin with), and just do the workouts. i was AMAZED with my results. the layer of fat was gone, i was at 102 lbs, my abs looked like lindsay's, i felt amazing, had muscles showing that i didn't even know i had, etc. i was in shock because most of the program is weight training. it didn't get my heart rate up nearly as much as lindsay's videos or other cardio exercises, like running. not at all. but i was more than sore every day and in phenomenal shape when i finished the 90 days. i was stunned. i had always been a cardio girl. cardio, cardio, cardio was my middle name. and i had gotten into the best shape of my life, and the lowest weight i could ever remember being, by simply doing push ups, pulls ups, and weight training. (there is a little bit of cardio involved, but nothing like i was used to doing).

i started a second round of p90x just in time to find out i was pregnant with #4! holy smokes! i tried continuing the program but felt it wasn't a good idea while i was pregnant. it was working me way too hard and i was exhausted, trying to finish the workouts. so i went back to lindsay's bootcamps, other dvd's and running. when i felt like those became too strenuous, i decreased my weights. when that became too strenuous, i started doing her pregnancy dvd's (probably about 20-25 weeks). i ran until i was 30 weeks, and my varicose veins were just bugging me way too much. so i stopped and went just to her pregnancy dvd's. i also kept my eating as clean as possible. i gained about 27 lbs with pregnancy #4 also.

baby #4 arrived and again, i was determined to lose the weight faster. again, it did not happen. :) it took longer. some because i was too paranoid about eating while breastfeeding, when i should have just focused on eating healthy, but not focused on how much i was eating. i was basically eating perfectly and dieting... when i shouldn't have been dieting at all. my milk dried up again when my baby was 5 months. :( i had been doing lindsay's bootcamps again, her other dvd's, and her downloads had come out soon after i had the baby. so i started doing those also. i also started using the Insanity program from beach body for cardio. i basically did her dvd's and downloads and when my baby was around 6 months, started doing p90x again. it took me 9 months to get down to my pre-pregnancy weight of around 106 lbs but not to my "best weight" of 102. my baby just turned 11 months and i am sitting at around 103-104 lbs. i am on my second round of p90x. it has taken longer this time around because my "no treats" rule sort of went out the window. even though i still don't eat refined sugars, i still use natural sugars and was eating treats with natural sugars. my body just doesn't do sugar. when i'm eating it, i don't lose weight and can't be in my best shape. so recently, i've made the pledge again to cut it out for a few months.

so that's how i have done it. i've been sharing about lindsay's dvd's for years. when i finally found something that truly WORKED for me, i was elated to help other mom's around me that i knew were struggling with the very same thing!! i hated being overweight and not feeling good about myself. shopping was a nightmare and completely depressing. i avoided it. i avoided the camera (which is also why i don't have many "before" pics). i avoided being in a bathing suit. ever! getting my body into the best shape i've been in has been amazing and a huge accomplishment for me. i am all about sharing with others what works for me.

i have been helping friends and family members (most recently my mother, who has lost more than 20 lbs with my help) for YEARS with advice, tips, help about losing weight. i finally decided to order my personal training books (i've been wanting to do this since college) a few months ago and am currently studying to take my certification test. i have also been approached by friends and family members who have mentioned to me i should do some consulting of sorts on the side to make some extra money. so i am looking into doing something like that. it is something i am passionate about... helping others to achieve their goals, that took me years to achieve. i also recently signed up to be a beach body coach. so if you need or want any of their programs or want to know more about them, or order anything from beach body, i would love to help. as your coach, i can help give you advice, tips, and keep you motivated to reach your goals. i have always been doing these things with friends and family. now i'm ready to try to make a business out of it. email me at tiffanydansie@gmail.com or you can message me on facebook as well. when i get my beach body website up and running, i'll also let you know.

this takes guts for me. but i'm posting my before and after pictures. :) the first picture is when my oldest was about 8 months old. the after pictures are from my first round of p90x, after baby #3 (2 1/2 years ago), and also just a few days ago, 11 months after baby #4. :)

so embarrassing. very few people have seen these. lindsay, my sister, and my husband

this is after my first round of p90x, about 18 months ago (after baby #3)

i actually weighed about 105 right here. this was a few weeks after i finished the program and hadn't been working quite as hard. 

a few photos taken just a few days ago, after a morning workout

weighing in at 103 lbs at 5' 1 1'2"

starting weight was about 130 (where i was stuck after baby #1 for 18 months)

so there you have it.

my plans for the future?

eating well.

finishing this round of p90x

p90x plus

p90x 2 (coming in december)

and lindsay's downloads in between

:)

Almond milk ice cream

I love ice cream, but haven't had it in a very long time.  I have a few health conscious reasons but the main one is that I don't tolerate dairy, at all.  If you've shopped alternative milk ice cream, you know that it's not cheap and most of the time, not tasty.  For my birthday, my husband bought me an ice cream maker and we've been making our own ice cream creations a few times per week.  I thought I'd share the recipe that we've created using a few different recipes we've found.  Let me know if you have an exciting flavor--we're always up for new ideas.

Almond Milk Ice Cream
3/4 cup coconut milk (we buy lite)
1 1/4 cup soy creamer *
1 cup almond milk (can also substitute other alternative milks)
1/3 cup agave
1 tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp guar gum **
pinch of salt

* You can make it without the soy creamer, it just isn't as rich.
** I buy Bobs Red Mill brand. Again, you can do without this. It makes it creamy in texture and guar gum is in almost all ice cream sold at the grocery store. 

If I am going to enjoy some ice cream, I might as well make it as healthy as I can! 

P90X

I thought I'd give you an update on what I've been up to. You may have heard of this home workout DVD set. Tiffany did P90X before she had her last baby and had fantastic results. After finishing my half marathon in May, I borrowed a friend's DVD set and have loved it! I am currently finishing week 12. I completely love it. I needed something to switch up my workouts and to allow me the flexibility to workout at home during my kid's naptime. The things I love the most:

1. It's convenient and you don't need a lot of equipment.
2. I have loved building muscle tone.
3. I love pushing myself to do hard workouts...and some are really tough!
4. Fast results. I could tell a difference in the mirror in the first 2 weeks.

I cannot say that I have the fabulous results I hoped for, but I have come to recognize that my snacks (even on the healthy options I choose) add up to more calories than I am burning. I've made some changes and have seen better results. I plan to do it again in November or so. I am going to train for my second half marathon in October while we are living in Hawaii.

Lemon Chicken with Rice Pilaf

I had a request to post this recipe. It is a favorite at our house. My husband picked it to have the night before his marathon a week ago. So, I think it's safe to say it's husband-approved.

LEMON CHICKEN
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 fresh lemons
2 T olive oil, divided use
4 chicken thighs (I use chicken breasts)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup chicken broth
1/8 tsp of tumeric
1/2 pound Jerusalem artichokes (sunchokes), peeled (I use quartered potatoes in the off season and it's yummy)
10 garlic cloves, peeled and halved (You can use less if you want)
1/2 tsp dried thyme leaves
1/8 cup pine nuts

I turned this recipe into a crock pot dish because it's easier and keeps my house cooler. I put it on high for a few hours and then turn it down to low for 4 hours more or so. When chicken and sunchokes (potatoes) are tender, stir in thyme leaves. Taste and adjust seasoning, if need be. Then cook an additional 10 minutes. Sprinkle with pine nuts to garnish (or use pine nuts in the rice recipe below). Serve on top of rice pilaf (below).

RICE PILAF
(from Lion House Cookbook)
¼ cup celery
¼ cup onion
1 cup rice
2 TBSP butter (I use olive oil)
2 cans chicken broth
1 T. dried parsley
¼ cup slivered almonds or pine nuts

Combine butter, onion, celery and rice in a deep frying pan. Cook until onion is translucent and rice is starting to brown. Add in Chicken broth and cook for about 20 minutes on low heat or until liquid is gone & rice is done. Stir in Parsley and nuts.

Winners

Sorry this is two days late.  Life has been a little crazy and it involved my entire family and the flu...yuck.

The winners are:
Jodee Luke
Johnson Family
Devin & Christine

Congratulations!

Please email me your address at findyourbestself at gmail dot com so I can send you your prize!