Turkey Chili

With Winter finally upon us (booooo!), it always feels good to have warm hearty food in my belly! One of my favorite winter meals is CHILI! YUM! Chili is practically a staple in my household. When I decided to learn a healthier lifestyle, something obviously had to be done with chili. Now, I am definitely not a cook, but I can make chili. :) My fiancé is also an A-MAZE-ING cook! So anyone can do this recipe! Then do what we do. Make a huge amount and freeze some up for those days you don't feel like cooking or are in a hurry!

Total Time: 35 min.
Prep Time: 10 min.
Cooking Time: 25 min.
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients:
1 tsp. olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
1 medium yellow (or orange) bell pepper, chopped
1 lb. raw 93% lean ground turkey
1 (28-oz.) can chopped tomatoes
2 cans (15-oz. each) kidney beans, rinsed, drained
1 tsp. chili powder
½ tsp. sea salt
Crushed red peppers (to taste; optional)
12 Italian parsley sprigs, chopped
Preparation:
1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Add onion and bell peppers; cook, stirring frequently, for 4 to 5 minutes, or until onion is soft.
3. Add turkey; cook for 4 to 5 minutes, or until turkey is browned
4. Add tomatoes, beans, chili powder, salt, and red peppers; cook, stirring frequently, for 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Divide chili into 6 serving bowls and garnish with parsley if desired.

What To Eat Before A Workout

What should I eat before I workout? That is a question on many people's minds! It seems reasonable that you would want to eat to get energy before you workout right? That makes sense, but you need to be careful about what you eat before working out.
Eating and working out do not go hand in hand because it can interrupt the digestion and/or make you not want to work out. That does not mean you can not eat or that you have to fast for 12 hours before! You simply need to allow your body enough time to digest the food!
If you eat a healthy balanced meal, wait about 3 hours. If you eat a light meal with some heavy carbs, wait 2 hours. If you eat a carb rich snack, wait an hour. Any less than an hour before your workout, keep your snack under 100 calories and healthy! This can be liquid fuel like juice or easily digested carbs like half a banana.
‪#‎food‬ ‪#‎workout‬ ‪#‎preworkout‬ ‪#‎fuel‬ ‪#‎bodyfuel‬ ‪#‎digestion

Building Rage

Harsh words. Incoherent babble.
The door slams so hard, I hear the
windows rattle.

Red fire boils. Bubbles burst.
Rage explodes. That familiar
darkness inside begins to thirst.

Shattered glass rains all around.
I feel the pop before it hits the ground.

Holes in walls open up.
Control is slipping, tripping.
My mind erupts.

A screeching siren is piercing the air.
Fingers rake my scalp as I realize it's me,
but I just don't care.

Douse it all, light the flame.
Watch it burn, feel it creep up.
I'll take the blame.

Scorching flesh, rancid air in streams.
I shut my eyes for the last time, as a smile
slides onto my face and I meet my dreams.

written by Christine Jackson 12-19-2015

Meals For Kiddos!

Christmas Break is upon us! That means kids running rampant for the next couple weeks! Normally, our little ones or teens are eating at school.. SO now what?! Fret not! I have some tasty items for you to try out!
Pancake Bites: Mix together instant pancake mix and fill muffin tins 3/4 full. Add flavoring (fruit, cinnamon, nuts etc) on top. Bake at 350 for 12 minutes!
Mason Jar Oatmeal: Mix a serving of oatmeal and flavoring they like (fruit, maple, nuts, etc). Make several j...ars ahead of time to save time. Just add water and microwave!

Premake Lunches: Put together many different items to create yummy meals that are like a lunchable! Make sure there is a meat/protein, a carb, a dairy, a fruit, and a veggie. (examples: tortilla, chicken strip, lettuce & tomato, shred cheese, and a banana OR crackers, slices turkey, sliced cheese, baby carrots, and an apple).
Mason Jar Veggie Dips: Put their fav dipping sauce in the bottom of a mason jar and stick celery sticks, carrot sticks, etc in with them!
Peanut Butter Banana Rollups: Take a tortilla, spread peanut butter on it and then wrap it around a banana.
**A Few Extra Tips!**
1. Use Cupcake toppers instead of toothpicks for sandwiches. They aren't as sharp.
2. Apples can be used for sandwiches instead of bread.
3. Younger kids like cuteness! So maybe cut their sandwiches into hearts or make faces with the food! Cookie cutters work wonders!
4. Simple is ok too. Fresh, easy to grab fruits and veggies, yogurts, string cheese, hard boiled eggs etc.
5. Use tortillas for lots of stuff. Wraps, sandwiches, tacos etc.
6. Make sure you have pretzels, crackers, almonds, pita chips & hummus on hand.
Alright! I hope these tips help make your Christmas Break easier! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Check out my facebook page for more tips!

https://www.facebook.com/JacksonChristineN/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel


‪#‎tips‬ ‪#‎meals‬ ‪#‎mealprep‬ ‪#‎healthy‬ ‪#‎christmas‬ ‪#‎break‬ ‪#‎christmasbreak‬ ‪#‎kids‬ ‪#‎children‬ ‪#‎school‬ ‪#‎tasty‬
‪#‎snacks

‬

Lettuce, Tomato, and Beef Wrap

Ingredients•1 lettuce leaf
•1/4 tomato, medium
•2 tablespoons sour cream, reduced fat
•1 teaspoon horseradish sauce
•1 low carb whole wheat tortilla, 6"...
•4 1/2 ounces roast beef, lean, deli-style
•1/4 teaspoon oregano, dried
•4 fluid ounces orange juice

Preparation
•Wash and chop lettuce and tomato.
•Mix sour cream and horseradish; spread over tortilla.
•Top prepared tortilla with chopped lettuce and tomato. Top with beef and oregano.
•Fold two opposite sides of tortilla in towards the center, and roll up from one of the remaining ends.
•Enjoy wrap with a small glass of orange juice.

Nutrition Facts

Calories	330
Calories from Fat	80
Total Fat	9 g
Saturated Fat	4 g
Cholesterol	60 mg
Sodium	1,210 mg
Total Carbohydrate	33 g
Dietary Fiber	9 g
Sugars	11 g
Protein	28 g
Calcium	6%
Vitamin A	50%
Vitamin C	120%
Iron	15%

NO EXCUSES 5!

NO EXCUSES 5:
I'M TOO OLD TO WORKOUT!
Ridiculous! So often people tell the elderly they need to slow down and rest when they get older. That is all wrong! When you stop being active, your muscles and bones weaken! Exercise can actually help stave off muscle loss and prevent falls.
...

•Lew Hollander became the second 80-year-old to complete the Ford Ironman World Championship (2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile marathon).
• At 93 years old, Tao Porchon-Lynch is a winning ballroom dance competitor and teaches at least 12 yoga classes a week.
• At 98 years old, Sensei Keiko Fukuda became one out of only 16 people in all of history to earn a 10th degree black belt.

There are even workouts that are a bit easier for people with injuries or elderly. One of those is Tai Cheng. Another great workout that has a modifier to follow if the workout is too hard is the 21 Day Fix!
So, I think it is very fair to say that most people are not too old to workout. Obviously talk to your doctor for safety and health purposes, but don't completely write off the possibility of health and fitness because you think you are too old!

‪#‎tooold‬ ‪#‎workout‬ ‪#‎noexcuses‬ ‪#‎healthy‬ ‪#‎itsalifestyle

NO EXCUSES 4!

NO EXCUSES 4:
I am having a bad day. I am not in the mood to workout!
Did you know working out actually puts you in a better mood? Not only does it allow you to relieve some stress and anger, but you can also feel euphoric afterwards! Your body releases endorphins while working out that reduces pain and also gives your brain positive feelings. Another thing, exercise can increase your self esteem which can also put you in a better mood! When i workout, i feel stronger and more confident, and I feel like I am flying!
So if you need to relieve stress, pull out a punching bag or do some P90X! If you want to feel strong and confident, do some yoga or dance around with Cize!
‪#‎imnotinthemood‬ ‪#‎workout‬ ‪#‎badmood‬ ‪#‎noexcuses‬ ‪#‎happythoughts

NO EXCUSES 3: I MISSED A WORKOUT! I SHOULD QUIT

NO EXCUSES 3:

I MISSED A DAY (OR WEEK)! I SHOULD JUST QUIT!
Just like I didn't post for the last couple days to this, that doesn't mean you should stop completely! Here I am posting again even though I didn't for two days.
This is the mother of all excuses for me personally! If I miss one or two of my workouts, I have talked myself into the idea that I might as well stop now. That is so silly! What makes sense about that at all?! The only bad workout you have is the one you ...don't do. So just because you missed a workout, that doesn't mean your workouts will be less affective. Don't through away all your hard work! Short and sweet, get in there and get it done! Don't give up!
‪#‎missed‬ ‪#‎giveup‬ ‪#‎dontgiveup‬ ‪#‎workout‬ ‪#‎noexcuses
‬

NO EXCUSES DAY TWO

NO EXCUSES DAY 2:
I'M TOO BUSY TO WORKOUT!
Yet another excuse I hear constantly and that I have MOST DEFINITELY claimed!
People are always saying they are way too busy to workout. They have kids, work, cooking, cleaning, errands, church, sports etc. Ok, real quick, do you watch TV? Do you read? Do you facebook? If you are reading this, that means YES! Skip some of that stuff and workout! It doesn't take much time, AND it is SOOOO worth it! The healthy feeling, energy, and s...trength you gain from those workouts are more than worth it.
You still don't think you have time? Workouts are usually only an hour tops! Did you know there is a little workout called 21 Day Fix that is only 30 minutes a DAY!? Another is T-25 that is only 25 minutes a DAY! And 10 Minute Trainer?? TEN MINUTES A DAY! THAT IS IT!!
If you still don't think you can do that, consider this. I have put together several at home workouts that were ONE SONG LONG! That is about 3-5 minutes on average. Those workouts include legs, abs, arms, cardio etc! It is NOT THAT HARD!!
So, again, "I AM TOO BUSY" is NOT an excuse! NO EXCUSES!! No one is ever too busy. If you care, you will make time. I did!
‪#‎noexcuses‬ ‪#‎busy‬ ‪#‎workout‬ ‪#‎takethetime‬ ‪#‎worthit‬ ‪#‎priorities‬ ‪#‎maketime

Check out my motivational page on facebook as well!

https://www.facebook.com/JacksonChristineN/?ref=bookmarks

NO EXCUSES DAY ONE

I DON'T HAVE TIME TO GO TO THE GYM!
We have all heard that excuse, and many of us have said it ourselves! We don't have time to drive to the gym and back, plus get a decent workout in because we have so many other responsibilities. We can't go to the gym because we have kids and no babysitter.
WHO NEEDS A GYM?!
You can workout at home, in the comfort of your own living room! Then you can do it with the kids home and everything! Do it during nap time or when they are at s...chool! Better yet, have them join you! I almost always workout while alessa is either taking a bath or right after I put her to bed. If I have to work that night, I do it around lunch when she is busy or have her join me. She LOVES it!
I know SO many people who workout at home and get AMAZING results! I have don't several different at home workouts, but this pic is from Piyo. My cousin is on my coach team, and she used 21 Day Fix! Gerri has used 21 Day Fix, Combat, and Slim in 6! My personal coach uses lots as well, but for this one she was using Brazil Butt Lift! BBL if one of my favs ^_^
  NOW, tell me you can't workout because you don't have time for the gym!
‪#‎athome‬ ‪#‎noexcuses‬ ‪#‎nogym‬ ‪#‎justdoit

CHECK OUT MY PAGE ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE MOTIVATION!

https://www.facebook.com/JacksonChristineN/?ref=bookmarks

Blueberry Overnight Oatmeal

A Battle Against Anorexia

Do I have your attention? Good.
Throughout middle school and high school and a semester of college I have been privileged enough to have a beautiful girl in my life! We have been friends for a long time and even were room mates for the first semester of college. She is beautiful inside and out, but she wasn't aware of that at one point in her life. I always worried about her weight, but she kept to herself about it. I hate that I didn't push more about it, but it wasn't my business and I didn't want to bother her. Some friend, huh?
In the picture of her on the bus, she was in high school. She disclosed to me that she hadn't eaten for 24 hours, the last time she had eaten was only dinner the whole day. She was a senior in band class. In the one with the ducks, she also hadn't eaten for at least 24 hours. After college and getting married, she went the opposite direction and gained a lot of weight. While I am glad she was no longer anorexic, this was not the healthy way to handle it.

"hunger migraines, heart problems and joint problems

that's what i've got now because of the mess i put myself through for years

i messed up my stomach so badly, that when i get hungry i actually get nauseous, making me not want to eat

kinda like....hangover stomach

start slowly with water" -V

One day she reached out to me for advice, and I was more than willing to be there for her! When she reached out to me, we would talk a lot about food and how much we LOOOOOVE it! There is NOTHING wrong with loving food. The problem was she couldn't tell herself no and when she had had enough. The more we talked, the healthier her choices started sounding! Less carbs and rich foods, more fruits and veggies. She was running on her treadmill and going on canoe trips and hikes with her husband! I was so excited for her! Then one day she told me she was skipping meals again....

"Ok, I'm getting super discouraged

Because I can't eat what I want so why eat at all?

Eating didn't make the numbers on the scale go down. Lately it's been making them go up"
She was slipping back into the thought pattern that being hungry meant her body was eating the fat. She said was dying for a hotdog. You know what I said? HAVE A HOT DOG! She was weighing her self every single day. Not the way to do it. Then she was weighing herself every time she ate. Obviously the scale went up when she ate, and it scared her. She panicked and skipped the next meal to compensate. She started her journey off simply wanting to get healthy and suddenly it was all about the scale again. We decided together not to include weight or the scale at all. Just eat healthy and get exercise! And you know what? It worked!

"It's so weird to be eating AND losing weight. Like I know that sounds so stupid, but I didn't know the two COULD go together." -V

Now I look forward to every little achievement she gets! I remember when she told me she ran a mile without stopping! We swap recipes and meal pics. She started out not sharing her journey with anyone online. BUT the other day, she posted a pic of herself showing her jeans were too big! And she did it WITHOUT starving herself! I am so super proud of this girl! Currently she is maintaining her weight because she has a wedding to attend this month and already had to take the dress in once! So awesome! I'm proud of her dress take in but I am 100% supportive of her weight maintenance. I am currently in a maintenance part of my journey as well. She said after the wedding, she is all set to get back into it though. She is currently still running, doing some yoga, and taking self defense classes! Get it girl! She also has a 5k she is preparing for! Dang! Love this girl and she is one of my BIGGEST inspirations to keep moving forward in my own journey.

Remember:
-We NEED food to live.
- It's ok to love food!
- It is all about moderation, portioning, healthy choices, and exercise.

If you are fighting this battle in your life, DON'T do it alone! Reach out to family, a friend, or even me. We can't do it alone.

#selfjourney #anorexia #weightloss #health #fitness #motivation #coach #workout

It's Transformation Tuesday! I would be lying if I said I'm not still surprised to see what I used to look like two years ago! I still get shocked when I see the pictures! I stumbled across the one of me here from Sept 2013 and freaked out. See the NOS in my hand? Yeah, that was basically glued there at all times. I drank 2-3 of them a day til I was shaking and nauseous because I needed the energy so bad. Once I started my new lifestyle, I kicked the NOS and eat way healthier! Now my issue is finding time to work out with a kiddo!
Well school is starting and that is a big thing for mommies everywhere! This will be our chance to make time for us! While the kids are getting their back packs, pencils, crayons, and notebooks, mommies need supplies too! Supplies to kick the bad habits and feel better!
Kiddos aren't in school? That is ok! That's when you do what ive been doing until now! Have the little ones join in! They need to start a healthy life NOW before they are adults and struggling like us! So why not give them the same meals you're already making for yourself and have them do your little workouts with you? Alessa has been working out with me for almost two years now, and she can make it 15 minutes without stopping and getting bored! She has her little water and her pink dumb bells next to mine! Who says kids stop us from being healthy? You're the mommy right? Engage them in this lifestyle!
I am running a Back To School Challenge Group for Mommies everywhere, and I want YOU! Whether your kids are toting back packs, or you are toting diapers still, join us! I have a few spots left! Message me now for the deets!
#backtoschool #mommies #kids #healthy #transformationtuesday #challenge

I Can't Cook! Now What?!

I am seriously one of the WORST cooks ever! My fiancé claims I can burn water even! I don't think im THAT bad.. lol I tend to stick to fresh fruits and veggies because it is so much easier and I ate a LOT of microwave food bc it was simple. That didn't go over so well for my health of course. When I started using my portioning dishes with my workouts, it changed my eating world completely! Now I eat healthy, clean food and get burstingly full!
Curious about what exactly a meal plan looks like with 21 day fix? This breaks it down and makes it SUPER simple! ‪#‎21dayfix‬ ‪#‎mealplan‬ ‪#‎mealprep‬ ‪#‎cleaneating‬ ‪#‎healthy‬ ‪#‎easymeals‬

http://www.teambeachbody.com/teambeachbodyblog/nutrition/meal-prep-mondays-21-day-fix?ICID=CT_BLOG_21_DAY_FIX_MEAL_PREP

21 Day Fix Extreme Turkey Meatballs

Ingredients   

• 1.5lbs raw 93% lean ground turkey breast
• 1 tsp. sea salt or Himalayan salt
• 1 tsp. dry mustard
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 large egg
• 3/4 cup quick cooking oats
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 12 fresh parsley sprigs, finely chopped
• 1 Tbsp. tomato sauce, no sugar added

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F

2. Lightly coat large baking sheet with spray; set aside
3. Combine turkey, salt, mustard, paprika, egg, oats, garlic, parsley and tomato sauce in a large bowl; mix well by hand. (you may want to wear some latex gloves!)
4. Roll mixture into 30 1-inch meatballs. Place on prepared baking sheet.
5. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until no longer pink in the middle.
6. Serve with your favorite sides. ---- I mixed mine with some brown rice and it was devine!

Strive For YOU

SO many people strive for perfection, never find it, and beat themselves up over it. We see women and even young girls trying so hard to be like the girl on the cover of magazines, starving themselves or OVER working out. This is NOT how you do it, and you should never strive for perfection. Strive for loving yourself. For feeling comfortable in your skin. For rocking that bikini or cute top. For feeling healthier. For having more vibrant skin.
I have never had a perfect bod...y by any means, but there was a time that I loved my body before I was pregnant. Afterwards, not so much. I felt overweight, ugly, out of shape, and ashamed. I hid myself, even from my own fiancé, which definitely took a toll on our relationship. I began to shrink inside myself more every day.
Long story short, I found myself! I started working out and eating the food my body needed. The weight started coming off, and my personality grew again! I am NOWHERE near perfect and am not even back at my pre pregnancy body, BUT I love myself again! I don't have abs or chiseled biceps, but I have cute curves and a flatter tummy that I did. I am NOT perfect, but I love me.
‪#‎strive‬ ‪#‎perfection‬ ‪#‎loveyourself‬ ‪#‎health‬ ‪#‎beautiful‬ ‪#‎progress

Non Scale Victory

Non scale victory! I have always been super uncomfortable in bikinis bc I dont think I look good in them bc of having a pudgy belly. Well today was no different when I packed my suit, but we were swimming at my dads and no one but us would be there since we are house sitting. Im pleased to say that I felt ecstatic and surprised when I saw the pics! I think my clean eating and workouts are definitely working! ‪#‎nonscalevictory‬ ‪#‎bikini‬ ‪#‎beachbody‬ ‪#‎21dayfix‬ ‪#‎cleaneating

Almonds!

Almonds are SO good for us! I try to eat almonds every day!
9 Benefits of Almonds:
1. They reduce heart attack risk by 50%.
2. They lower cholesterol.
3. They protect artery walls from damage. ...
4. They help build strong bones and teeth.
5. They provide healthy fats and aid in weight loss.
6. They lower the rise in blood sugar and insulin after meals.
7. They help provide good brain function.
8. They nourish the nervous system.
9. They alkaline the body.
‪#‎almonds‬ ‪#‎healthtips‬ ‪#‎healthysnacks

Frozen Mint Chocolate With The Healthy Kick!

We all deserve treats sometimes right?! I think we do!
This recipe is oh-so-simple, yet oh-soooooo tasty. Tastes like mint chocolate chip ice cream!

Frozen Mint Chocolate (163 calories)
1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology®...
1 cup water
1 cup ice
⅛ tsp. mint extract

#chocolateicecream #chocolate #healthyicecream #shakeology

Home Made Guacamole

Home Made Guacamole!
1 1/2 tbsp coarsely chopped red onion
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/8 tsp salt
1 garlic glove...
1/2 small jalapeno pepper
1 ripe avocado
1 tbsp cilantro leaves
2 cherry tomatoes

It is delish!! Did you know avocados are really good for you? Benefits of avocados are:
Healthy cholesterol level
Healthy blood pressure
Healthy blood sugar
Healthy pregnancy
Cancer protection
Aids digestion
Healthy heart
Healthy brain
Healthy eyes
Anti-aging
WOW! Get to eating those avocados!
‪#‎avocado‬ ‪#‎guacamole‬ ‪#‎recipes‬
‪#‎healthbenefits 

Meal Prep Madness!

What is one of the bigger hurtles when trying to be healthy? When watching my family, friends, and others on a daily basis, I have noticed one of the biggest struggles everyone has in their health journey is eating properly! While I love eating healthier foods, like fruit and veggies, it has still been difficult for me because I will find myself tired or busy with no time to cook! So then I will grab easy fast NOT healthy choices, like pizza, fast food, burritos, spagettios, lunch meat sandwiches etc. NOT GOOD! So then how do we get past that?! How do we avoid those moments where we just don't have time to cook, are too tired after work, or we are simply being lazy?

MEAL PREP!!

The world of prepping my meals has completely changed the game for me. I am now prepared daily and can avoid those ridiculous choices that I though were good ideas! Endless options at my fingertips! Now I am guessing you're saying "I don't have time to meal prep!"

WELL, something that helps my prepping is first having a meal plan! One thing a lot of people do (I was guilty of it at one point too) is over complicating it. Simplify your meal plan for the week. What I do is have a few different meal plans that I follow that I rotate week to week so that I do not get bored! No one wants to get bored of their meals. Here are some of mine! I am currently using the LOVELY color coded one for my 21 Day Fix Extreme program.

Now that you have an idea of what it is like to make a meal plan, there is the meal prepping itself. As you see in my meal plans I repeat certain things daily and then rotate other things every other day. It allows for more options and less boredom. Another way that I make the repeats better is by changing things about those. For example, when I make my daily oatmeal, I change out the fruit in them to make them more enjoyable!

Some good pointers to follow when meal prepping are:

1. Choose a day to prep that will work with your schedule! Have your groceries already there and laid out! Once you get used to prepping it takes less time. Weekly shopping will also cause less waste. Invest in some reusable containers to store food as well.

2. Pick familiar and favorite recipes (healthy obviously). You will be used to it and it will make it faster and easier to do.

3. Use fresh food. Make your meal plans to match the season to save money as well. If you use the current seasons fruits and veggies, itll be more affordable and tastier!

4. Make kitchen gadgets your new best friend! I use a MagicBullet myself. You can also make great use of rice cookers and crock pots. Also make sure you have cutting boards (or plates lol), sharp knives, strainers etc to make it easier.

5. Have the family join in.  It takes me a lot longer to prep my meals when I do it alone. When my boyfriend helps, I get more options, more servings, and its so much more fun!

Now you are ready to be a prep machine! Play around with it, use different seasonings to make variety, and look up healthy fun recipes. When we made my Turkey Meatballs for a couple weeks worth, we seasoned them three different ways for variety and froze half of them. Also getting some things like Mrs Dash seasonings that are salt free, maybe some steam fresh veggies, and dried fruit will help simplify it even more. Remember when using dried fruit to use less than you might with fresh fruit. The sugar is more concentrated when it is dried out. Another thing I do is drink Shakeology on a daily basis to provide my daily nutrients and to give me a healthy snack that will increase my energy, curb some of my not so good idea cravings, and is even helping me lose weight!

Welcome to Meal Prep Madness! Enjoy it and allow it to simplify the nutritional side of your health journey! Add me on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/HollywoodKO474 to connect if you would like to learn more tips or have any questions!





#mealplan #shakeology #healthy #recipes #mealprep #tips