My Favorite Chicken Recipe

I am no lover of chicken.  I grew up around cows and eating lots of beef.  When I met my husband, I called him the chicken lover of the world.  He would eat grilled chicken breast over brown rice with a bit of salsa on top.  Now, some of you may like it, but just gag me!  I couldn't bring myself to get that down. 
Once we got married, it became my mission to find chicken recipes that I liked and would make my new husband happy.  I will make chicken drenched in cream of mushroom or marinara sauce just to mask the chicken taste.  So, when I stumbled across a version of this recipe I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't need to put any kind of liquid or sauce to digest it.  I've definitely made adjustments to it so that it would be as "Clean" as I could get it.

1 pkg. boneless, skinless Chicken Thighs (Walmart has a package that's about 16oz. and it perfect for dinner for 2 and leftovers for the next day.)
2 TBLSP. low sodium Soy Sauce
1/3 cup Organic or Whole Wheat Bread Crumbs (Whole Foods carries this)
1 tsp. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
1-2 tsp. Garlic Powder (California Style)

In a bowl put chicken, soy sauce, red pepper flakes, and garlic powder.  Mix together and put in refridgerator for a few hours.  I've only seasoned it for about 30 minutes one time, and it turned out just fine.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Dredge the seasoned chicken thighs in the bread crumbs and place in a 9x13 pyrex.  Cover with foil and bake covered for 40 minutes.  Uncover and bake for another 10-15 miuntes just to crisp up the breadcrumbs.  Enjoy!

I calculated everything out and for about 4oz. of chicken its 152 calories. 20g of Protein. 6.5g fat.

I'm Training Them Well

She has been begging to get on this machine for weeks.  It just so happens that we walk by it every time we go in the gym and every time we leave.  So, I caved the other day.  And now she thinks she can workout!

Personal Training...Could I be one?

I've had a personal trainer since the beginning of November.  My workout partner and I have trained consistantly with her two to three times per week.  Well, give or take a few weeks for Christmas, some surgery, illness, kiddo's illness, and vacations!  So, maybe, consistant is a strong word.  But regularly..yes we have!  She has taken my mind and body to heights I've never thought were in me.  I feel strong and healthy.  I look at food, and life in general in a complete different light.  I think and consider what goes into my mouth and I plan my days around working out.  Its amazing how I feel and crazy how I feel when I eat bad for a few days or don't workout for several days.

Weight gain has not really been a problem for me.  But a health nut or gym rat...I was not!  Once I had my girls and had gained over 60 pounds during pregnancy, it just didn't come off so easily.  Then, when my girls were 15 months, we moved 6 hours away from family and friends to a new town.  Hubby got a new job and I was home full-time with the girls. 

That first winter we were here, was a huge struggle for me.  The girls were sick, I mean a lot!  We didn't even take them to Mommies Day Out in the month of December because it was so bad.  One of the girls was even in the hospital with pneumonia and dehydration that month.  I got depressed and ate!  I definitely put on some pounds those cold months.

That next summer I joined the gym and started working out.  I really just went to the group exercise classes.  And I lost some weight, then in August 2009 my foot started hurting.  Turns out I had a stress fracture and that was it!  I started eating, I did nothing and I gained some weight.  Once out of my cast boot I topped out at over 140 lbs.  Needed new clothes to wear and I felt very uncomfortable in my skin.  By March 2010, I started early morning bootcamp.  Then by the summer, I worked with a trainer online who would email me my meal plan and workouts.  I dropped some pounds and some inches too.  But I hit a wall.  Couldn't break the 130 lb.  And I was still the same size I had been back in April or May.

That brings us to November, and when I got my workout partner and we started with our trainer.  And if you read the 1st or 2nd post on this blog...you know the story.

I've been contemplating for a few months now if I want to become a personal trainer.  I would love to be able to help other Mommies or friends that are just in a funk.  I would like to  be able to inspire others to like working out, feel better when they eat healthier, and have an overall feeling of peace with their bodies.  I know, a lofty goal, but if they can feel 75% of how I feel, it is LIFECHANGING!  So, my goal for the summer would be to become a personal trainer.

I'm Obsessed...

with the Panera Bread Thai Chopped Chicken Salad.  I could probably eat this 3-4 times per week. However, in reality, I eat it about 2 times per week.  For a half order only, which requires the manager to come a swipe this card in the register, it's $5.36.  I usually only get the half salad because its only 200 calories and 7 gm of fat.  It hits the sweet spot and I'm a happy girl!  If only it was less expensive because I'd eat it way more!
It has a bit of a spicy bite to it, so not really for those who don't like a little heat.

It's Great to Have TWO 4 yr olds!

In late January I hurt my shoulder...Fast forward to April.  MRI showed I had a partial tear.  So, my orthopedic surgeon decided he would inject it with a cortisone shot.  Well, that happened last Tuesday.  And my girls were with me.  It was a followup appointment and I didn't realize he would do the injection right there.  The girls saw it all.  And because they are such geniouses, they can work my IPhone better than I can...I got documentation of the whole episode!  Yay, because who would want to forget the day your shoulder was injected and later that evening you couldn't even bathe half of your body!

I Dislike Cardio

I am only working out with my trainer one day this week. And it won't be till Thursday. So, being freshly motivated I figured I would do weights on my own on Monday and Tuesday. Monday was chest, shoulders, and triceps. On Tuesday I did legs. Apparently I did a good job because both my upper and lower body is sore!! So, today being Wednesday, I thought hey just cardio today. 
I get bored super easy when I do cardio on my own.  So, my plan was to start with the treadmill, move to the rowing machine, then on to the eliptical, and finally what I called the revolving escillator (or the stairclimber).  I did each machine for 7 minutes and then repeated the whole process.  Which was a grand total of 56 minutes of cardio...all by myself!  I was sweaty, red faced, and the worst part about the whole thing was that I put my I-phone in my sports bra while rowing so I could continue listening to my music and in the end it STUNK!!
Word to the wise:  Soak said I-phone cover in sink with Woolite for about an hour and it smells fresh again.

Happy Wednesday!

The Wishing Well Aerobathon

Last Saturday I participated in an Aerobathon.  The donations raised benefit a local charity in our area.  I believe they raised over $7000.  The picture above is me, and my friends Jennifer and Carrie.  We did Zumba for what was supposed to be an hour and a half.  I stopped at the hour mark.  I was hungry and my little girls were ready to go.  But I did get my sweat on and burn some calories.