The workout scheduled for tomorrow is "Upper Fix"...I don't remember what this workout consists of...just hope that it is not full of push ups. Those are my nemesis! But, whatever it consists of, I will give it my all!
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Back to Basics with 21 Day Fix
Yesterday was the start of another Beachbody Health Bet where you commit to exercising a minimum of 3 times a week and drinking Shakeology a minimum of 5 days a week and logging them in the My Challenge Tracker App for 4 weeks. At the end of 4 weeks, those completing the requirements will win an equal share of a minimum $2 million dollar pot. Last Fall ,the first Health Bet was run and participants won a whopping $16.33. Not a lot of money but shows that there were a lot of people who completed the Challenge and hope that they continued on the path to leading the healthy and fulfilling life that Beachbody promotes.
The program I committed to for this Heath Bet is 21 Day Fix, the first Beachbody program I tried and had success with. I did start using my colored containers to measure my portions and balance out my nutrition but went to the gym for a Body Pump class instead of doing the first workout on the calendar, Total Body Cardio Fix. This morning I did the scheduled workout and forgot how hard it really is. A little 30 min workout, including the warm up and cool down, burned 299 calories according to my Garmin M400...and that is doing the workout low impact and using modifications so that I do not further injure my torn meniscus. What I find so impressive about Beachbody workouts is that they always have a "Modifier". Someone on the DVD who shows options for each exercise so that everyone, at any level of fitness, can do the program with success. Autumn Calabrese, the trainer, encourages you with motivational quotes the whole time and really makes you push hard.
The workout scheduled for tomorrow is "Upper Fix"...I don't remember what this workout consists of...just hope that it is not full of push ups. Those are my nemesis! But, whatever it consists of, I will give it my all!
The workout scheduled for tomorrow is "Upper Fix"...I don't remember what this workout consists of...just hope that it is not full of push ups. Those are my nemesis! But, whatever it consists of, I will give it my all!
Sunday, January 8, 2017
Chicken "Tortilla" Soup in the Instant Pot
I am sure that everyone's Mom had an old-fashioned stove top pressure cooker back in the day. That old heavy pot that you sealed and placed the pressure regulator weight on top...and warned that you had to release the pressure slowly or it would explode. Yes, that thing that scared me so that I never used one. Fast forward to the 21st Century and the inter-webs are full of blogs talking about the Instant Pot...basically the branded electric, programmable pressure cooker. The tool that will speed up your meal preparation for your family. Well, the price dropped around the Thanksgiving holiday so I jumped at the chance and ordered one and have been saving recipes to adapt and experiment with.
Recently, my husband and I picked up some Chicken Tortilla Soup from Costco and I thought it would make an excellent lunch on this chilly day but needed something without all that excess sodium and added sugar. With some thawed out chicken breasts, although they might have been able to be used frozen, and pantry staples, I managed to whip up a tasty substitute with my new Instant Pot friend. The "Tortilla" is in quotation marks as no tortillas were used to reduce the carbohydrates.
Ingredients
1 Tbsp coconut oil
1 white onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 10 oz can of Ro*tel tomatoes
1 15 oz can of black beans, rinsed
1 1/2 Cups frozen corn
4 Cups chicken broth
3 Tbsp Southwest Mrs.Dash
2 chicken breasts
Directions
Melt oil on "saute" temperature and add onions and garlic. Saute until onions are translucent and soft. Add the rest of ingredients, seal, press the "Soup" function and walk away. This is when the "magic" happens. The Instant pot came to pressure and cooked for about 20 mins. I let i sit about 10 min NPR before I released the rest of the pressure. Remove chicken breasts, shred and return to the soup in the pot. Adjust spices to taste and top with shredded cheese, green onions or topping of choice.
Recently, my husband and I picked up some Chicken Tortilla Soup from Costco and I thought it would make an excellent lunch on this chilly day but needed something without all that excess sodium and added sugar. With some thawed out chicken breasts, although they might have been able to be used frozen, and pantry staples, I managed to whip up a tasty substitute with my new Instant Pot friend. The "Tortilla" is in quotation marks as no tortillas were used to reduce the carbohydrates.
Ingredients
1 Tbsp coconut oil
1 white onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 10 oz can of Ro*tel tomatoes
1 15 oz can of black beans, rinsed
1 1/2 Cups frozen corn
4 Cups chicken broth
3 Tbsp Southwest Mrs.Dash
2 chicken breasts
Directions
Melt oil on "saute" temperature and add onions and garlic. Saute until onions are translucent and soft. Add the rest of ingredients, seal, press the "Soup" function and walk away. This is when the "magic" happens. The Instant pot came to pressure and cooked for about 20 mins. I let i sit about 10 min NPR before I released the rest of the pressure. Remove chicken breasts, shred and return to the soup in the pot. Adjust spices to taste and top with shredded cheese, green onions or topping of choice.
It really was a tasty and hearty soup that will be great for quick lunches during the week.
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
"Upgrade" for 2017
It has been quite a while since my last blog post and think it's about time I start to do it regularly again for my own journey or "Upgrade". In reading my favorite blogs and Social Media postings of people I follow, instead of making New Year Resolutions, everyone seems to be choosing a "Word for the Year" to focus on. It took me a while to decide on what "My Word for 2017" would be until I decided on "UPGRADE".
The Oxford Dictionary defined Upgrade as:
"To raise (something) to a higher standard, in particular improve (equipment or machinery) by adding or replacing components"
I don't need any components replaced yet, while my knees sometimes think otherwise, I am going to keep "upgrading" myself by making little changes and improvements to my operating system. I will be true to myself and make the little changes I need to make to be the best version of myself. Not a "New Me" but an "Upgraded Me".
Looking forward to "Ruth 2.0" or, more realistically, "Ruth 55.1" as it has taken me 55 years to become who I am today!
The Oxford Dictionary defined Upgrade as:
"To raise (something) to a higher standard, in particular improve (equipment or machinery) by adding or replacing components"
I don't need any components replaced yet, while my knees sometimes think otherwise, I am going to keep "upgrading" myself by making little changes and improvements to my operating system. I will be true to myself and make the little changes I need to make to be the best version of myself. Not a "New Me" but an "Upgraded Me".
Looking forward to "Ruth 2.0" or, more realistically, "Ruth 55.1" as it has taken me 55 years to become who I am today!
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