Oatmeal Raisin Chocolate Chip Cookies

I am overdue for sharing a recipe, so let's make it a tasty one!  As far as my sweet tooth is concerned, I usually don't obsess about my dessert being healthy.  I just indulge on occasion, in moderation.  During the holiday season, I like to use craisins & white chocolate chips to add a little more festive-ness to this recipe.

 Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened (2 sticks)

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 3/4 cup wheat flour

1/4 cup white flour

1 1/2 cup rolled oats

1 tsp salt

3/4 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp baking powder

2 TB cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup raisins (or craisins!)

3/4 cup (white) chocolate chips

Directions

1. Combine the butter, sugar, brown sugar, and eggs.

2. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt

3. Add dry mixture, a little at a time (about 1 cup) into the wet mixture, until well blended

4. Add the vanilla and blend

5. Stir the white chocolate chips and craisins into the mixture.

6. Chill the dough for 30 minutes

7. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a cookie sheet and spoon dough in 1 to 1-1/2 inch balls onto the sheet.

8. Bake for 9-10 minutes and cool on a wire rack.

9. ENJOY!

....

This can make 2-3 dozen cookies depending on the size of your scoop.  So chewy and delish, and always a hit around Christmas time.

I originally got my recipe from Erica's Sweeth Tooth, but tweaked it in a few areas.

Yay for treats!  Remember, all things are ok in moderation.  It's ok to indulge from time to time and have no regrets.

Hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful holiday season!

Lex

Fit Pregnancy: The 1st Trimester

Gaining 60 lbs during my first pregnancy has been a huge motivator for me to stick to my normal healthy habits as best as I can.  This pregnancy was planned, so I feel like I was gearing up for battle with all my weapons of knowledge, tips, tricks, recipes, etc.

Boy, was I in for a surprise!  To all my mommas out there that deal with morning sickness and nausea(not to mention extreme fatigue); I give you major props.  Especially if you have other children to tend to, aaaand especially if they are of toddler age.

I've had many of you ask me if I have changed my workout routine since becoming pregnant. The answer is a big, fat YES!

My first priority is the health of this baby, which directly correlates with my health (of course).  So, I really had to listen to my body.  I went from working out 5-6 days a week (heavy lifting and HIIT cardio) to sometimes only making it to the gym 2 days a week.  I didn't beat myself up over it, because I knew that I needed to rest as my body kicked into overdrive to create this little miracle.

Once I stopped throwing myself a pity party(did I also mention Sofie stopped napping around the time I got pregnant...? Ha.) I made some new goals.

1. Make it to the gym 4 days a week.

2. Drink, at minimum, half my weight in ounces of water (approx 65 oz)

3. Eat as healthy as I can, when I can (see below)

4.  Listen to my body

There was a time where eating things like pizza, bagels and cream cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, and burgers were the ONLY things that settled my nauseous stomach.  So, that's what I did.  No regrets.  

The mental battle that I had with myself over going to the gym was very similar to how I felt when I was out of shape and lacked motivation.  So I told myself the same thing I did then, "Just show up and stretch, go home after that if you want."

Some days, I did just that.  Just stretched.  Most of the time, I would overcome the mental battle and focus on getting a workout in. Every single time: I always felt better!

The nausea in both of my pregnancies have been identical, except for this time around. Working out has truly helped with my nausea, as well as my energy levels.

....

Here is what I changed about my workout routine in the 1st trimester:

1.  Started to use a heart rate monitor, and focus on keeping my heart rate below 150 bpm

*Keeping your heart rate below 140 is a bit outdated, so after doing my own research and consulting with a few of the personal trainers at my gym, I focused on the level of my perceived exertion.  

2. Weight training 3-5 days a week(depending on how I feel) Lower weight with 12-15 reps

3.  Combining muscle groups.

*I used to focus on only one, usually. However, some weeks I only made it to the gym 2 or 3 days. So I worked on 2-3 muscle groups at a time (shoulders/back, biceps/triceps/chest) Except Leg Day, holy crap does my heart rate go up quick with just air squats!  I am as slow as molasses on Leg Day. Haha

4. Take daily walks.  I chose to no longer do any HIIT for cardio, but I tend to do a lot of supersets still, so I know I am getting enough "cardio" in.  When I got pregnant, I was not focused on cardio.  I was focused on maintaining and build muscle.  Now it's just maintenance

....

My advice? Same advice I give to those who ask me how to
start being fit/healthy:

....

Now that I'm in the 2nd trimester, things have been a lot easier as far as eating healthier and consistently working out.  I plan to write a separate post and am thinking about doing a weekly bump update with pics and other fun preggo details, yay.

Until next time!

Lex, xoxo

P.S.  In case you missed it, we are Team Blue this pregnancy. Yay!

FITspiration Lifestyle Tip #7: Self Love & Acceptance

Wow, has it really been almost THREE months since I updated about the last FITspiration Lifestyle Tip ? Oops, I swear my blogging is going to get much better now that I have survived the 1st trimester of this pregnancy.  *the struggle is real*

Today's blog post is so important: Self Love & Acceptance

"Talk to yourself like you would talk to someone you love."

First thing I want to talk about is self love and ultimately, positive self-talk.  Imagine how you talk to your own child. To your mother. Your best friend.  This is how you should speak to yourself.  As women, especially as mothers, we tend to be our worst critics.  It's ok to make mistakes and it's ok to fail.  When your child makes a mistake, do you say "Gosh, you are stupid!  Just give up!"  (I hope not!)  No, you probably say "It's ok sweetie, just try it again.  You can do this!"   Talk to yourself in that same loving way, and encourage yourself to be and DO better.

This is so much bigger than we know.  My inspiration to commit to this lifestyle has always come from my daughter.  I want to show her that it's healthy to love yourself the way God made you.  That nourishing your mind & body is important in overall happiness.  As she gets older, I try to be more mindful of the things I say about myself in front of her.  I know that her self esteem may very well depend on it. I want her to love and accept herself as the unique, beautiful creature that she is.

When trying to eat healthier, you begin to replace unhealthy foods with the nutritious ones.  I use this same approach when it comes to self love: replace negative thoughts/talk with positive affirmations. Here are some examples.

Found here

Losing 25lbs doesn't happen overnight.  There are daily habits and decisions that you must choose in order to achieve your goal.  This is a similar approach to positive self talk, it takes practice to cultivate this good habit.  Write down 3 things that you love about yourself.  Keep that list in your wallet, and when you're having a bad day; pull that note out and remind yourself that you are worthy.

The second part of this is Acceptance.  Part of loving yourself is to accept things that you cannot change.   Accept your past mistakes and choose to move forward.  Don't let the past define who you are today, and who you want to be tomorrow.  Instead of wishing you had something you don't have, focus on embracing what you do have.  That doesn't mean you settle for less, it truly means to accept things you cannot change while working towards a happier, healthier you.

Next to setting a healthy example for my daughter, this journey of health and fitness has truly made me feel good about myself. Having extra energy from nourishing my body with healthy food has been far better than feeling bloated, groggy, and BLAH from eating junk.  Challenging myself by making short-term goals and actually achieving them (30 second plank!) has boosted my self confidence and made me feel like I can do anything I put my mind to.

I hope you can take sometime today and look in the mirror and say "I love you.  You are enough."  To the reflection that stares back at you. 

Time to spill the beans...

I'm pregnant with baby #2! Due May 2015

That's what I've been up to the last 3 months.  It's such a blessing and our family is so excited to expand our family! 

8 week ultrasound

With that being said, I have to be honest and share that the last 3 months have been quite the challenge.  As with my pregnancy with Sofie, I got hit hard with what I refer to as "The Nausea Monster" (Nausea ALL day. Beginning 30 minutes after I wake up until I go to bed) in addition to my very active toddler not napping at all for the first 6 weeks. *Wooosahhhhh* 

Luckily, the napping has gotten better. Some days she will skip it, so I try and roll with it as best as I can. Nausea seems a little better, and deep down I'm relieved to have it as a reminder that my body is working hard to nourish and grow a healthy baby. 

It's been so much fun talking to Sofie about the new baby.  She came with us to our first ultrasound appointment and pointed to the screen and said "Baby! Baby!"  It melted both of our hearts!

Here are some awesome reveal pics that we included on our last photo session with our amazing photographer, Monique Hessler.

Can I also just say what a relief it is to finally share the happy news? I'm excited to share with you this new chapter in our lives.  I have been doing my best with fitting in my workouts and trying to eat healthy.  I thought it would be easier to say no to all the junk, but sometimes pizza is the only thing that will settle well with this awful nausea.  The struggle is REAL! That will be it's own blog post, trust me!


I am also working on getting my new website up, and am really exciting about things to come!  Keep an eye out for www.FITspirationMom.net  

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

I found one of my new favorite recipes. Can you say YUM?  Here is where I found the recipe.

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients:

1 TB olive oil
1 pound ground chicken(or turkey)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, diced
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
2 TB soy sauce
1 TB rice vinegar
1 TB freshly grated ginger

1/2 C carrots, diced
1 tsp Sriracha,(or to taste)

1 -8-oz can whole water chestnuts, drained and diced
2 green onions, thinly sliced 

Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1 head butter lettuce

Directions:
1. Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium high heat. Add ground chicken and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes, making sure to crumble the chicken as it cooks; drain excess fat.
2. Stir in garlic, onion, carrots, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ginger and Sriracha until onions have become translucent, about 1-2 minutes. Stir in chestnuts and green onions until tender, about 1-2 minutes; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
3. To serve, spoon several tablespoons of the chicken mixture into the center of a lettuce leaf, taco-style.


Managed to have enough for lunch the next day too, which is always a plus.

Don't forget to use your favorite hot sauce!  Cholula anyone?

Until next time,

Lex

FITspiration Tip #6: Eating Clean in Moderation

I have really enjoyed talking more about each FITspiration Lifestyle Tip individually.  It has been a good refresher and has helped me reflect on the things I have learned through trial and error.

Today's post will hopefully help guide those of you asking about my meal plan.   Though I am no nutritionist (I did take a few classes!), I have researched and learned from experts and found what works for me.  Currently I am trying to maintain my weight, but get more definition.  So my calorie intake is much different than a year ago when I was trying to lose excess weight.

 It's important to understand that each person should have a different way of eating depending on their goals.  To lose weight, of course you need to focus on a caloric deficit. Click here for an awesome calculator to determine how many calories you should be consuming based on a few pieces of information.  If you have lost weight and are looking to get some muscle definition, you do NOT want to restrict your calories.  Your body needs protein, complex carbs, healthy fats and enough calories to support lifting heavy weights.  With that being said, here are a few points I have come up with.

1. 80/20 rule 
I may have Maria Kang (no excuse mom)to thank for hearing about this concept.  Basically, I focus on making healthy meal choices 80% of the time.  If you are like me and have a big sweet tooth, it's probably best to plan for the 20%.  Friday nights meant 3 things for me: Pizza, wine, and dessert. I gave me something to look forward to all week! Life should be enjoyed.

1. Eat smaller portions, more often.

I tend to "graze" throughout the day and always eat something at least every 2-3 hours. So about 5-6 meals.  This is important in maintaining your blood sugar, keeping your metabolism strong, and fueling your body with the energy you need to get through your day (and your workouts!). 

I also believe that it helps avoid over-eating.  If you eat breakfast at 6:30am and eat lunch around noon, you are probably starving by then and have a higher chance of over-eating.  Having a snack in between (maybe around 9ish) will help hold you over, and help you make healthier decisions once lunch time rolls around.

2.  Eat whole foods; limit processed junk
Confession:  I do not "eat clean" 100% of the time.  I aim to limit processed food and nourish my body with whole foods.  What is this "whole foods" concept? Here is the definition per google:

"food that has been processed or refined as little as possible and is free from additives or other artificial substances."

Fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes, etc.  I would add meat(organic) to this list.  Boneless, skinless chicken breast is preferable to a McDonald's chicken nugget.

It's really scary how the food industry has changed in the last 20 years.  According to The Non-GMO Project about 80% of conventional processed food contain GMO's.  Genetically Modified Organisms do not belong in our food.  Something created in a lab can't be healthy for you.  Read your labels!

3.  Protein, Carbs, & Healthy Fats

Here is my generalized answer to anyone wondering about my meal plan (perhaps I will do a more detailed post another day)  As I mentioned before, I am no professional and I do this to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I don't track my macronutrients or carb-cycle, only because I don't know enough about those concepts (hmm, add it to my To Do list)  This is just something I have found that works for me and my family.

For every meal (especially the "main" ones: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner)  I make sure I eat a lean protein, complex carbohydrate, and a healthy fat. I have a three separate lists to help me choose these items if I need to switch it up. Here is an example of one day:

Breakfast (6:30am)- Overnight Oats
 Chocolate Whey(Protein), Oatmeal & Fruit(Carbs) Ground Flaxseed(Healthy Fat)

or

Scrambled Egg Whites & Turkey Bacon (Protein) Sliced Avocado(Healthy Fat) and 1/2 cup Fruit(Carb)

2nd meal(snack after my workout-9:30ish)
Quest Bar (Protein) and Banana (Carb)
*This is perfect because I am usually on the go with my little tot*

Lunch(12:30ish)- DIY Burrito Bowl
Grilled Chicken(protein) Quinoa(complex carb) and Avocado(healthy fat)

4th meal/2nd snack(around 3:30ish)
Handful of mixed nuts(healthy fats),  1 hard boiled egg(protein) and Mean Green Juice (so many good carbs and vitamins)

Dinner(around 6:30-7ish)-Quinoa & Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers
Ground Turkey(protein) Quinoa & Bell Pepper (carb), cooked in Olive Oil(healthy fat)

Optional 6th meal(if you had an intense workout or you're just hungry):
1/2 C of cottage cheese with salt & pepper to taste (yay protein!)


There ya have it!  Bottom line: this isn't a "diet" with an expiration date, it is a way of living.  Healthy eating is something that will always be a focal point, especially as we approach the holidays, celebrations, and the like.  Eating healthy 80-85% of the time allows for those occasional indulgences, but doesn't completely compromise being healthy in the grand scheme of things.


I really hope this helps you on your journey to a healthier, happier YOU!

Until next time,

Lex

"Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference." ~Winston Churchill

I think I should write this quote on a few post-it's and stick them all over the place.

Real talk: My 22 month old has decided to quit napping (she has been down to only 1 nap since 11 months old).  Sure, it could be a phase. Yes, I am giving her "quiet time".  Thankfully, she is going to bed a little earlier too.  After throwing myself a pity party for the last week or so, and having the opening line be "Hi, how are you? My toddler stopped napping!"  "Hey, how's it goin? My toddler stopped napping!!!" *womp womp womp* I decided that I need to get my mind right and focus on having a better attitude about this new change. #ownit Motherhood at it's finest.

You know what they say, "expectation is the root of all heartache"  (and by "they" I mean Shakespeare).  That's a hard lesson I keep re-learning as a mom.  Heck, as a human being.  Expecting things to go as planned, or as I envisioned.  In other aspects of my life, this is something I continuously struggle with.  Expecting a certain person to be a particular way.  Expecting to be "bikini ready" the summer after I gave birth.  Expecting my daughter to take a nap after play time, swimming, and being awake since 6am.  Expectations can be tricky.  The key is to have realistic expectations.  Hope for the best, but expect the worst.  Amen to that!

I also believe the universe is telling me to slow down, I have been sick with a sinus infection since hubby got back from his trip (welcome home babe!)  So I have been resting and putting my pride aside and asking the grandparents for help.  Truly blessed to live near my parents and in-laws, they jump on any chance they get to see their grandbaby. Hopefully I will nip it in the bud ASAP! **listen to your body**

So that's what I have been up to!  Pity party is over....for now. ;) On a happy note, maybe she will wanna snuggle her dearest mama more often

Watching "Finding Nemo" for the umpteenth time ;)

 I've been working on a post about FITspiration Lifestyle Tip #6: Eating clean in moderation. My goal is to also post another recipe.  

As requested, I am also starting to post some of my favorite exercises.  These can be found on my Instagram: FITspiration_Mom and on my Facebook page.

Here is an example:

If you have questions on how to do a particular exercise, check out www.bodybuilding.com

Hope everyone is having a great day

 TGIF!
Lex