My Homemade Chili

My husband and I made a New Year's Resolution, and it was to cook all our meals on Sunday's rather than throughout the week, when we are tired and exhausted. It has been a huge success!

This week I made my chili.

What you need:
1 16 oz can of kidney beans
1 16 oz can of black beans
1 16 oz can of turkey chili mix
1 20 oz can of tomato sauce
1 4 oz can of tomato paste
1 package of ground turkey or ground beef
1 package of chili seasoning

Brown the turkey or beef, then add 1/2 the chili seasoning.
Drain the kidney beans and black beans of the extra juice, then pour them into the crock pot along with the turkey chili, sauce and tomato paste. Add the browned meat, and pour the other half of the chili seasoning into the crock pot. Stir the yummy goodness.

Cook for ~4-6 hours on low. Then consume! I will usually add cheese after it has been cooked. It is also delicious with corn bread!

9 months to gain it, 9 months to lose it!

The first week of January 2012, I found out I was pregnant. I was overjoyed! I definitely let myself go! I did continue to workout, but I ate whatever I wanted! I loved ice cream a lot. I gained 47 pounds at week 40, and I went till 41 weeks- so I know I gained more. Not the most I have heard of, but still quite a lot. I should preface- I am a working, breast feeding, loving mom, and have still been able to lose the weight! There are a few steps I have taken to help me lose the weight!

2 weeks after labor, I had only lost 15 pounds, which was not a lot! That is when I started paying attention to what I ate. I was breast feeding (and still am), so I had to be cautious of under eating. Before the six week mark I counted calories to make sure I was eating enough, and still able to lose weight. Especially since I couldn't work out.

At six weeks I forced myself back to my crossfit gym. It was tough! After having a baby, you just want to sleep. Also, the first workout back was all running - seriously! But I set my mind to it, and went back! Now, my daughter is incredible the gym because she is used to the routine! I am so thankful I went back when I did.

Starting in January, my husband and I started a goal with each other, to make our weeks meals on Sunday. It has truly saved us so much money, and our waist line! We do not go out and get fast food meals when we are exhausted. It has saved us time as well, we are much more free to cuddle and spend time with our daughter during the week. I could also stop calorie counting because I knew I was eating healthy!

These three simple things have helped so much! I have 7 more pounds to lose, and more than three months left to lose it! I do not have a personal trainer, or a cook. It is just hard work! I know the things I have learned and continue to do will teach my daughter a healthy active lifestyle!

Update: I am now three pounds away from my goal, with less than 2 months left! Here are a few updated pictures from the Schmall's Work out - dedicated to a hero who lost his life in Afghanistan. 

Stuffed Bell Peppers

Ingredients:
4 Green bell peppers (that can fit a lot when scooped out)
Olive oil
10 white Mushrooms
~2 lbs Ground turkey
Mozzarella cheese
1 cup Wild rice or quinoa

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Scoop out bell peppers, and rub with olive oil
Put bell peppers into 8x8 pan.
Cook for 20 minutes, or until peppers are soft
Cook rice (1 cup rice, 1 cup water).
Brown meat, add spices as you want.
Dice mushrooms, and sauté them.
Combine all ingredients into a bowl and add cheese as you feel necessary
When the peppers are done, put the ingredients into the peppers.
Then, sprinkle cheese on top of the peppers.
Broil the peppers for ~5 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

Pizza to Drool Over

Recently, I have found out that I am allergic to gluten. Since my daughter was born I break out in hives whenever I eat gluten. It is just nuts!

One of the things I missed the most was pizza. I am an avid crossfitter, and giving up gluten, meant I was closer to being paleo. But, I cannot seem to give up dairy. I cannot get used to coconut or almond milk. You could easily make this recipe paleo if you substitute the cheese. I just love cheese so much!

Ingredients:
Coconut oil
3 eggs
1 cup coconut milk
Small spoonful of minced garlic
1/2 cup coconut flour
1 tbsp baking soda
Sprinkle of garlic powder

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Cover a cookie sheet with wax paper.
Spread coconut oil on the wax paper.
In a bowl combine, eggs, coconut milk, and garlic, whisk until the ingredients are combined.
Add coconut flour, baking soda, and garlic powder to the bowl.
Whisk until the ingredients are combined.
Spread the, soon to be, crust unto the wax paper.
Cook in the oven for 20 minutes.
During this time, prepare another cookie sheet with wax paper and coconuts oil.
When it comes out of the oven, let it cool, the, flip the crust onto the new wax paper.
Peel the old wax paper off the crust.
Add whatever ingredients you want onto the crust!
Then broil on low for 10 minutes.
Your pizza will then be ready!