P90X3 is NOT the kid sister workout

P90x3 is released next Tuesday December 10th.  I was an "Insanity" girl myself and never tried the original P90X.  I was always turned off by the hour and a half long workouts.  Now that p90x3 has been created and it is only 30 minutes I day It looks like it has my name written all over it.

Below is a beachbody description of the new program:

All good things come in threes, but be warned: P90X3 is far from a trilogy. No, P90X3 is NOT the kid sister workout. It’s the workout that took notes from it’s siblings, then condensed, and accelerated to become the most dynamic and fastest workout yet.

The ultimate excuse busterTime is the biggest excuse. P90X3 solves that. Every workout is 30 minutes and the clock starts the minute you push play. Before you can say “drop and give me 10,” it’s over and you are one workout closer to the six-pack of your dreams. 

Muscle acceleration explainedMany P90X fans were hooked on the science of muscle confusion – which introduced variety to the workouts and prevented plateauing. P90X3 takes a hint from that success and from studies showing the most dramatic body transformations happen within the first 30 minutes of exercise. Enter muscle acceleration, a Tony Horton-approved highly-structured schedule with an incredibly high level of intensity and an unprecedented variety of moves. The gurus behind P90X3 combined exercises and added some twists to maximize your time and keep every muscle challenged for a full 30 minutes.

Say goodbye to boredomWhich brings us to the fun-factor. Host, world-renown fitness ledgend, Tony Horton does not disappoint. With his witty one-liners and can-do mantras, he’ll simultaneously have you laughing and fired-up to bust out that final rep. Along with the constant entertainment, P90X3 has the most workouts of any Beachbody program. With 16 workouts in the base kit, they switch it up before you have a chance to consider boredom. From cardio to strength to pilates to MMX, there is something for everyone. 

The ideal P90X3-erIt may seem lofty to proclaim, but P90X3 is indeed a workout for everyone.  Everyone searching for tighter abs and leaner muscles, that is. But fitness novices and experts need not be afraid by P90X3’s come-one-come-all invitation. You don’t have to have any previous P90X experience in order to get killer results. For the beginner, the variety of workouts in P90X3 is the perfect place to discover their fitness style. If the move can be modified there is a cast member showing you how. But don’t expect to be an expert on day one. (Yes, fitness veterans will still be challenged.) As Tony says, ”You don’t get off easy, you just get to finish faster!” 

It doesn’t stop thereAnd of course there are some bells and whistles too good to ignore. First off, the Coach exclusive: If P90X3 is purchased through a Coach any time from December 10th – 31st (including Challenge Packs), the customer receives an exclusive P90X3 baseball cap. What better way to spread the word about this revolutionary program?

And last but not least, we have the app: Yes, now for the first time the P90X app is available on Android and iOS (will be available 12/10 on Android) The app includes P90X guided workouts, tools to track your reps, weights and progress. Launching soon, is the P90X3 addition – which brings you workout specific tracking modules, scheduling options and the motivation you need to power through the 90 days. P90X3 scheduling and tracking will be available on the app for Android on 12/10 and is coming soon for iPhone. Check out the app and get ready to bring it!

The program comes with resistance bands and a chin-up bar is recommended but not required.  I will be forming a challenge group of only 5 people starting January 6th.  It will be a private online group for support and motivation.  If you want in message me quick.

Look me up on facebook to stay in the know: https://www.facebook.com/GetHealthyWithKelsey

or check out my beachbody site: www.teambeachbody.com/kelseyschott

Time Will Do the Talking

 

This week I relearned a song called "Time will do the Talking" by Patty Griffin.  I just found out that she is touring and will be coming to Madison, Wisconsin in January.  It doesn't look like I will be able to go but, being that she is one of my favorite artists, I have always wanted to see her live.

I am happy that I decided to dedicate time everyday to playing the guitar again.  It was once a really important part of my life.  I would play every day but since I had kids I found myself playing less and less.  Now, my calluses are forming again, I'm slowing getting better and the kids enjoy it.  You can see them running around in the back of this video.

In other news, a new group begins the T25 10 week challenge tomorrow.  I am anxious and excited for these 5 challenge groupers.  If you missed this group but want to make the next one please send me an e-mail or check out my Beachbody website. 

Edie's new Crocheted dress

My husband has been away on a business trip for the last two weeks.  This is the longest he has been apart from us and I have been adjusting to life like this.  Thankfully my mom and grandmother decided to fly to Minnesota and visit with me for a few days.  We busied ourselves by crocheting and chit chatting.  I finally finished a project that I began last March, a pinafore dress for Edie.

I made some big mistakes with this dress but I just kept going.  Now that it's finished I regret not going back to make it right.  Oh well, it still looks so cute on Edie.  I added a cute daffodil flower and finished it with a covered button on the back. 

I found this free pattern for Angle Wings Pinafore on the website BevsCountryCottage.com

Top 5 Reasons to Join My Next Weight Loss Support Group

The Holiday season is upon us.  This year lets vow to at least maintain weight!  Join my "Healthy for the Holidays" Weight Loss Support Group is commit yourself to the challenge.  Group starts Nov. 18th, order by Nov 12th.  Here's the good news, the workout is only 25 minutes a day.  Yes, you have time for that!

Pictures from my weight loss journey this year.

3/16/13             7/15/13              11/9/13

Top 5 Reasons to Join "Healthy for the Holidays" Weight Loss Support Group.

1) It WORKS! Many people in my past challenge groups have lost 10 pounds in the first T25 phase alone. Just follow the workout calendar, put the right DVD in each day and Shaun T will train you personally. You don't have to worry about what move comes next and you will never get bored.

2) FAST! It's easy to find 25 minutes. For me it fits right into nap time and still gives me time to shower after.

3) EFFECTIVE! Seriously. New science shows that when you workout this way you don't need to put in an hour at the gym. In fact, you could probably be finished with your workout within the time that it took you to drive to and from the gym.

4) AFFORDABLE! It's cheaper than a gym membership that statistically, you won't get your money's worth out of anyway. Plus, you can redo the T25 program later without having to pay for more membership dues.

5) SUPPORT!! Be apart of something bigger. Join a group of people who are all in this together, working toward a goal of greater health, positive attitude and a happier life. You can do this! We can help you stay on track.

There are two spots left to join.  Email me, comment below or click here to order.

As Cold As it Gets

 

 

 

Last week was Halloween!  John was a race car driver who enjoyed racing to every house for Trick-or-Treat and Edie stayed home with Dad to pass out candy.  Proud Mom moment: John said thank you at every house.                                                                                                                                                                                        

I finished up week two of Body Beast and focused on stocking the freezer.  I'm no stranger to freezer cooking.  It's genius!  What's that? You've never heard of it?  How do you live without it?!  My technique is to prepare dishes ahead of time and fill up the freezer.  Then, I take the next month or so off from working hard in the kitchen because who really wants to be in there longer than they have to?  Yes I still go to the store but I don't have the big cart full and hefty receipt to go with it.  Instead, I just replenish fresh fruits and veggies.  Sometimes people call it Once A Month Cooking or OAMC.

 

 Fully Stocked Freezer                                                

 

When I first began freezer cooking it was in preparation for baby #1.  I filled the freezer with meals I thought would freeze well and were very filling which was... Italian!  I made lasagna, manicotti, baked ziti and stuffed shells.  It was great but... fattening.  After that I expeimented with other casserole dishes for the freezer and read a few cookbooks on it from the library.  Then, I decided to try Slow cooker freezer meals.  When a fried introduced me to this post from savingyoudinero.com my mind was blown!  I quickly assembled the meals in gallon sized freezer bags then neatly stacked them in the freezer.  Each morning, after my cup of coffee, I would select a bag from the freezer, run it under warm water for a few seconds so that I could release it from the bag, then plop it in the slow cooker.  8 hours later... BAM, home cooked meal. 

But, my problem with this method was meat...meat...and more MEAT!  I just didn't want to be that big of a carnivore and it certainly adds up on the grocery bill.  Alas, I compiled a list or vegan freezer meals.  Last week I made multiples of each recipe, one per day.  We ate it for dinner and I put the rest in the freezer.  We have over a months worth of food in there now.  I won't make only these 5 meals the whole month because there will be times that I just want other things.  But It feels so good to know that there is always SOMETHING to fall back on. 

Making freezer meals really frees up time during the day which is good because my workout program Body Beast is in full swing.  I am also busy forming my next T25 challenge group that is set to start on November 18th.  Any extra time I have now can be devoted to reading books, singing and playing guitar with the kids.  I have continued my journey of learning one new song per week.  Here I am singing my version of Patty Griffin's "As Cold As it Gets" which I think is a perfect title for my prepared winter meals in the freezer. 

 

VEGAN FREEZER MEAL PLAN

 

Raise the Roof Sweet Potato Lasagna.  From Engine2Diet.com  X4

I love this dish.  It's filling, flavorful and unlike any other dish I've had before.  But it's involved and takes me a long time to make.  I multiplied this recipe by 4.  I found that since it takes so much effort anyway I might as way multiply it and have it premade for future enjoyment. 

 

Snobby Joes from Post Punk Kitchen X4

This dish is super easy and just as yummy as the real thing.  My family just calls it "sloppy joes" because we are not that snobby.  After a big pot is made et it cool then fill quart sized freezer bags and lay flat in freezer to stack.  Once frozen you can turn them on there side to fit better if you need to.

 

The 3 recipes were taken from a website called EllensKitchen.com.  You can find them as part of this list here.  I found these recipes to be bland so I doctored them up with added seasoning as I saw fit.

 

OAMC Vegetarian Cabbage Roll Casserole [X3]

(serves 10)

4 cups cooked brown rice
1/2 cup olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 cups mushrooms, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cups sunflower seeds
1 head cabbage, shredded
4 cups tomato juice or tomato puree
Optional sweet-sour tang:
1/3 cup brown sugar (add to sauce)
3 tablespoons cider or rice wine vinegar (add to sauce)
1 cup raisins (add to rice with mushrooms) In deep, heavy pot saute onion, pepper and mushrooms in oil until tender. Add garlic and seeds. Add rice.
In large pan layer 1 cups juice or puree,then 1/3 of cabbage (approx.) then 2 cups rice and vegetable mixture.
Repeat twice. Pour remaining juice or puree over top. Cover and freeze.
To serve, place directly into 350 degrees oven from freezer. Bake 1 1/2 - 2 hours or more until cooked through.

 

*I made half f the recipe the "sweat and sour" version and half of the recipe regular but I added Italian seasoning.

 

 

OAMC Tamale-Style Corn Casserole [x3]

All the sauce can be prepared at the same time, but because of the difficulty preparing the cornmeal mush, in the home kitchen you should make each recipe of the mush separately:
(serves 10)

3 cups corn meal
1/2 cups soy flour
8 cups water
salt to taste (up to 1 tablespoon)
6 cups whole kernel corn
2 cups chopped olives
1 cup onion
2 cups tomato sauce
1/2 cups diced green chilis, or more to taste (optional)
4 cups cooked beans (can be cold, or drained, rinsed canned beans.) Optional (not on shopping list); 2 cups shredded cheese, added as topping last 20 minutes of cooking Mix the cornmeal and the soy flour together thoroughly. Boil water. Add corn meal mix. Cook over medium or lower heat until the consistency of mush, about 40 minutes, stirring very frequently to prevent scorching or sticking and set aside.
Saute onions, add corn, olives, and diced green chilis with tomato sauce over medium high heat until onion is transparent. If mixture boils down too much add water. Stir in the cooked beans.
In foil-lined or oiled casserole dish (4 quart)(or 2 9x13 pans)(or 4 8x8 pans), layer half of the mush. Pour vegetable mixture over this. Top by spreading on the remaining corn mush mixture. Cover, freeze.
Place directly into 350 degree oven from freezer. Bake 2 hours or until hot and cooked through.

If thawed overnight in the refrigerator, the large dish takes about 1 hour 15 minutes.

 

*I followed the cormeal mush recipe included on the cormeal container instead.  For the filling I added jalpeno and anahein peppers as well as cumin and cayenne pepper seasoning.  The next time I make it I will use less cornmeal per casserole to allow more filling.

 

OAMC Stuffed Peppers for the Freezer

OK, so everything else is cooked and assembled. This is the cleanup dish: everything left can go in here! Each batch makes 10.

8-10 large green peppers (or tomatoes or onions if you prefer)
4 cups cooked grain, rice, barley, millet, quinoa
4 teaspoons parsley
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
3 cups tomato sauce (half for stuffing, half for topping)
1 cup jicama, chopped (may substitute 2 cans drained sliced water chestnuts)
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 peeled cucumber, chopped
4 green onions, chopped (green and white parts)
1 cup fresh mushrooms, chopped
1 cup sunflower seeds
Hollow peppers (or tomatoes or onions); steam until semi-soft. Steam by placing colander in heavy pot over 2-3 inches of boiling water. Put green peppers in colander to cool.
Mix remaining ingredients with half of tomato sauce. Stuff vegetables.
Place in zippered plastic freezer bags to freeze. Freeze remaining sauce in separate zippered freezer bag bag. To serve, place stuffed peppers in oiled casserole dish, thaw overnight in refrigerator. Cover with remaining sauce. Cover dish. Bake at 350 degrees, just until hot.
Try this at least once with the cucumber, even if you have not had cooked cucumber before. The cucumber provides a little moisture, which is a benefit in cooking, adding to the moisture of the mixture in the pepper.

 

*I added extra sauce and Italian seasoning

 

I like to put these meals into smaller casserole dishes.  Often times I buy the set of 3 small foil containers from the dollar store.  The smaller servings work better for my family because I don't like having all of the leftovers from a big lasagna that we have to eat for 3 days. 

 

Now that the freezer is full I am all set to continue the Body Beast program without having to fuss over dinner and I have time to form another T25 challenge group set to begin on November 18th.  E-mail me if you would like to join.  It's the perfect time to start a new workout routine and help prepare yourself against any holiday weight gain.  I am only taking 5 people for the group.

 

 

Brave Moms Make Brave Kids

 Jack and I in Venice (Sept 2013)

It's been two months since I last blogged.  What have I been doing?  I spent 2 weeks parading around Europe and returned home to catch and recover from the flu.  Then, I visited family in the Ohio Valley and most recently had the pleasure of attending Momcon, a convention for members of the faith based group, MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers).

I'm not sure what the proper blogging protocol is.  Do I go back and talk about these great experiences or move forward?  Today I move forward. 

When I moved to Minnesota I joined a local moms group called MOPS.  It stands for Mothers of Preschoolers but it is for any woman who is the mother of a child ages 0 to 5 years old.  MOPS has been a great way for me to meet new people and share stories with others who are also going through this crazy roller coaster called mothering.  Last winter it was a lifesaver for me and one of the only times that I got out of the house during the week.  At the end of the summer I was contacted by the steering committee and asked to fill the role of Publicity Coordinator.  I was happy to join steering and I feel blessed that I was also able to attend MOMcon last weekend. 

Our New Ulm MOPS crew at MOMcon

A highlight for me from MOMCon is something that speaker Jen Hatmaker said, "Brave moms make brave kids."  She also said that "we need to parent diligently but not fearfully because fear can make an already hard job of mothering harder still."  I think that so much if being a mom today can involve worrying about everything in our children's lives.  We spend much time trying to make our children feel safe and comfortable but we forget that we don't want them to grow up to be safe and comfortable, we want them to grow up to be BRAVE, to go forth in God's power and not be scared to make a difference in the world!

So I'm not going to worry so much for my kids anymore.  But I am going to show them how I am not afraid because fear hold us back and I am all about moving forward.

New Goals:
1. PLAY one new song every week.
2. CREATE one new art project every week
3. EXERCISE 6 times a week
4. LEARN something new about myself by reading personal development and devotional books daily
5. PRACTICE everyday to be a better person and set a good example to my children

As it turns out there was a MOPS meeting this morning but the kids and I woke up sick so we stayed home and learned this new song instead.  We are in love with the album "Good Morning my Love" by Vered.  Here am I singing the song "Sunday."  Like I said, I'm sick, so my voice is scratchy and it has been so long since I played guitar that I no longer have calluses on my fingers.  But, oh well!  I can only get better and I have to start somewhere. 

 

 

Check out our MOPS- New Ulm Facebook page and click "like" to get updates about events and meetings.

3 Days

 

• 3 great programs on sale
• 3 challenge groups forming
• 3 days left to register.

On September 2nd a challenge group will be starting for each of these programs.  A challenge group is a small group of five people who are following the same program and starting on the same day.  Holding each other accountable and sharing your successes and struggles is a sure-fire way to see results.  For questions about any of theses programs or challenge groups e-mail me at kelseyschott@gmail.com.  Or, to order a program and register for the challenge group click on the links at the bottom of this page.

                                 My Body Beast "Gym" in the kitchen/dining room.
 

T25

 

The Brand spankin' new program that has everyone talking is T25.  Why? because you lose weight fast and you have time for it.  It's only 25 minutes long!  In a T25 Challenge group that started 3 weeks ago my friend Grace had lost 9 pounds already and my friend Stephanie says she is able to wear a pair of capri pants that haven't fit for the last 2 summers.  Beachbody just released a new infomercial about T25 so you may be seeing it on T.V. sometime soon.

 

 

Turbo Fire

 

Turbo Fire has been wildly popular for the last couple of years.  It's tough, fun and with the awesome trainer and motivator Chalene Johnson.  For the month of August a Turbo FIre Challenge pack is only $160.  That's the cheapest it has ever been and you get to try Shakeology for 30 days too.

 

 

 

Body Beast

 

This program is all about building muscle.  It is 90 days long and you can expect to gain around 10 pounds of muscle.  My husband Jack and I started Body Beast in June.  We did it faithfully for the first month and were blown away by our results.  I followed the "lean" program.  Weights are needed for Body Beast but you can still complete the program with minimal equipment.  I used only a stability ball, 5, 8, and 10 pound weights for the first month.  As I got stronger I started holding two weights at once in one hand.  Now I have heavier weights and a workout bench and I am ready to refocus and start again from the beginning.  I know that weight lifting seems a little out of my comfort zone but I really enjoyed these workouts and as I built muscle I burned fat faster.  Plus it was nice to be able to eat MORE food as long as I was eating healthy and clean.  I want to have a toned, strong body so I need to lift weight to achieve that.

 

Body Beast is only $160 for the month of August.  When I bought it in June it was $225!!  So this is a big savings and I look forward to having others join me.

 

 

 

All of these programs are going to help you get stronger and burn calories but Body Beast focuses more on building muscle by lifting weights.

A picture of me doing Body Beast in the basement.

 

To order any of these challenge pack and sign up for the challenge group click on the links below.  Deadline to register is August 28th.  Challenge group begins on September 2nd.

 

 

 

 

 



The Game Changer

visit my website

KelseySchott.com

Exercising goes way back for me.  I remember when I was in the first grade my sister Jana and I would get up at 6 am to do "Mousercise" from the Disney Channel.  From there it progressed to Tamilee Webb's "Buns of Steel" videos in the 6th grade.  I loved dancing, sports, and running.  By the time I was in high school I began drinking meal replacement shakes and have been off and on ever since. 

I thought this pear shape that I have was just apart of me, genetic.  My thighs have been jiggling and rubbing together since age 12.  "So what?" I thought, "That's just me."  I knew there wasn't anything more or better that I could be doing because I was exercising and eating healthy. 

The thought occurred to me two days ago that I have never been this thin or felt this good.  I had to make a emergency trip to Target on Monday night to buy size 2 jeans and Xsmall workout pants.  I have actually been having trouble keeping them up during my runs.  Never in my life have I worn extra small anything and for once there is a slight space between my thighs.

I turn 29 next month, I have two kids and I am in the best shape of my life, better than in high school.  The one difference in my life is not the level of exercise that I am doing it's the Shakeology that I have been drinking every day since April.  Shakeology has been a game changer for me.  The health benefits in that one nutrient dense drink are amazing.  Even if I get slightly off track on my diet I am still able to maintain my weight.  The stats on that one single drink are hard to believe: 9 serving of fruits and veggies, all the daily recommended vitamins and over 70 additional super foods.  Perhaps what even more amazing is what isn't in Shakeology: no GMOs, no preservatives, no chemicals and no animal products (if you choose vegan). 

People believe that "protein shakes" are synonymous with Shakeology.  But no shake product even comes to Shakeology and what it does to fuel your body with dense clean nutrition. No GNC product, Gym product or grocery store "meal replacement" shake can compare.  It comes with a "bottom of the bag money back guarantee" so it's risk free to try.
Watch this 3 minute video and hear what Beachbody's CEO Carl Daikeler says about drinking it every day.

 

E-mail me or visit www.myshakeology.com/kelseyschott for more info.

Pet Portrait

WWW.KelseySchott.com 

Meet Atticus.  I was commissioned last month to paint of portrait of this dog.  It was a labor of love.    I studied Fine Art at Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, Ohio.  Since Moving to Minnesota and having two kids, I haven't been painting as much as I would like. 

To paint this piece I hired a babysitter for the whole day.  It worked out so well that I hired her to come back the following week too!  Now I am looking into putting the kids into day care once a week so that I can paint.  It is important to me so I want to make time for it and I am thankful that my Beachbody coaching income to help cover the cost.

This painting was worked from a photo reference.  The client emailed me some of her favorite photos and we chose one that worked the best.  Check out my website for pricing information as well as a gallery of my other pet portraits and paintings. 

If you would like a portrait of your pet in watercolor or oil then e-mail me your favorite photos and we will get started from there.  It takes about one month for me to finish a painting and ship to you.

Here are photos of the different stages of the Atticus painting:

Drawing.

Underpainting

Adding color

 

 Finished oil painting

 

I set-up my studio in the garage so that I could enjoy the nice weather.

 

T25 Challenge Group

 

The T25 Challenge Group starts Aug 5th.  Tomorrow is the last day to register and purchase before the price increases.  E-mail me for more information or click on the picture to purchase.

Size 14 to a Size 2 ...WHAT!?!?

Check out my website

KelseySchott.com

I bought a ridiculously bright orange pair of pants at the Mall of America this weekend.  It's summer clearance time and the bright colors are marked to move.  The large racks at the back of the Gap had all sorts of fun super skinny capris.  The kids were fussy so I quickly grabbed a pair of 6's and then thought "what the heck" and took the size 4's to the changing room too.  I was shocked that the 4's actually fit.  I was just beaming as we left the store. 

The excitement continued the next day and I decided to wear my fancy new pants in New Ulm's Bavarian Blast Community Parade.  I pushed the kids in the double stroller as part of a Mother's of Preschoolers (MOPS) float. 

I couldn't wait to tell my friend, and fellow challenge grouper, Mary what size my pants were.  She said "umm, I think that style is supposed to fit tighter."   What? You mean I should have bought the 2's!  Now that's just crazy.  And she was right because by the end of the parade I was having trouble keeping them up!

How does a person go from a size 14 pants to a size 2 in just four months?  As amazing as that is, it is not impossible or unhealthy and it doesn't happen by drinking a magic potion or taking a strange pill.  It's happens by giving your body the proper nutrients, exercising daily, dedication and the support and motivation of others. 

I was apart of a private Facebook group, or challenge group, of people all doing Insanity.  The group helped hold me accountable and it was fun to hear of each others positive changes and results.  When the final days of the challenge approached, I started feeling sad and decided that I wanted to keep the motivation going by becoming a Beachbody coach, starting a new challenge group and also forming a general motivational group called K.C.'s Fit Club. 

Right now I am forming another T25 challenge group and still have 3 spots left.  On the video there is a helpful person doing easier modifier moves.  It is ok to follow her until you feel more comfortable doing the full move or you can talk to me and I can help you find a program that is right for your fitness level.

My first T25 challenge group started 2 weeks ago and I can't get over how quickly challenge groupers are seeing changes in their body, dropping weight and losing inches.  My cousin Alana has lost 4.5 pound and 4.5 inches and my good friend Jessie said "my love handles are gone."  Sure it's only been two weeks and yes it's only 25 minutes a day but the moves are smart and effective and combined with the proper nutrition found in Shakeology going from a size 14 to a size 2 doesn't seem impossible anymore.  If I can do it, you can do it!

 

Click here to order T25 and join my next Challenge Group starting on Aug 5th. 

 

 

 

Or sign up for a free membership and let me be your coach for free.

 

 

 

Vegan Week

 

 

"Kelsey, you are looking great!" 
                                      
                                       ..."Oh thanks, I recently lost weight."

"No I have seen you since you lost the weight but
you are just looking really good today!"

That was a part of a conversation I had at the library with a friend this week.  Could it be because I went vegan??  I don't know but I have been feeling AMAZING lately.  Somehow my head feels clearer.  I was even brave enough to take the kids to the library, the post office and the store by myself.  The librarian commented on how it had been so long since she has seen us.  Could it be that this vegan lifestyle is helping me in many areas of my life.  Jack said to me today, "how have we not tried this sooner?" 

He has been doing great too.  I am once again blown away by the support that my husband gives me.  I get a notion in my head and tell him about it and before I even finish explaining my thoughts he is onboard and ready to help.  He has always been that way though.  Whether I told him I wanted to do cloth diapers and teach the kids sign language or said we were spending one of his vacation weeks biking all the way to Washington D.C. he always asks "when do we start?"

In this week alone Jack has lost over 4 pounds even though he didn't stick to his workout schedule.  Being vegan for him has different obstacles than for me.  I am at home all day and cook all of my own meals.  If I want or don't want something I make it happen.  But for him he has business dinners and company luncheons with meals provided.  He said that being vegan at a restaurant is either extremely easy, because you only have one option, or impossible.  Often times even the "steamed" veggies are soaking in butter and sprinkled with cheese.  We didn't beat ourselves up about it though.  He still ate the vegetables after attempting to pick of the parmesan and I still ate a Luna bar that said "may contain traces of milk."

I learned this week that being a vegan is not hard.  I was expecting something completely different.  I imagined myself eating meals of only side dishes and being hungry all of the time.  That wasn't the case and if I felt hungry I ate.  It was freeing to not have to count the calories or weigh 3 oz of chicken breast.  I ate whatever I wanted as long as it didn't contain any animal products and I made sure I stopped eating when I felt gently full.

Arm yourself with a repertoire of new plant based recipes and you will be surprised with how much you enjoy it.  My friend told me that it is a common misconception for people to think that being a vegan is limiting when in fact many people limit their diet more by eating meat because they fall into a rut of eating the same meals every week.

Just because being vegan may not be the lifestyle that you grew up with does not mean that you can't adopt the lifestyle now.  I am so thankful that Shakeology has to vegan flavors too.  I knew that I could start my day off with the nutrients that I needed to have the energy to get through my workout and not need coffee.  Do I think that I am going to go vegan forever?  ...probably not.  I am such an all-star couponer that I have a freezers worth of turkey burgers and chicken breast.  I plan on making 1 to 2 meals a week that contain meat.  I am open and happy to have a plant based option and I couldn't be happier with how I feel. 

If you want to make a lifestyle change but need help with the proper food choices I can help you.  Join my next challenge group starting on July 29th and I will help you make the necessary changes to start your fitness and wellness journey on the right foot.

Email me for more information.

some of my vegan meals this week:

Vegan Meal Plan

 John and I on the trail at Blue Mounds State Park

I had a fun filled 4th of July and holiday week.  We took out the camper and spent some time at Blue Mounds State Park in Luverne, MN.  Our meals included classic American cookout cuisine which meant lots of grilled meat!   Sure it was yummy at the time but now I am feeling sluggish.  I recently saw the documentary Forks over Knives on Netflix and I was inspired to make a change this week and go vegan... at least for the week.  Being a vegan means that you go without any animal products and eat only a plant based diet.  No meat, dairy, or eggs. 

 

I posted on Facebook and asked my friends what their favorite vegan recipes were.  I formed the plan below by searching through all of there wonderful suggestions.  Making a meal plan for the whole week (whether it is vegan or not) can take time but it is not rocket science.  It will make a big dig difference on being able to stay on track with your diet. 

 

I usually make my weekly meal plans on Sundays, then do the shopping for the week so that Jack can help me in the store with the kids.  This week required quite a bit more planning and I wasn't able to get it all done yesterday so I am starting a day late.  Since today is already Monday and I just got back from the store... I am going to start on Tuesday and finish up next Monday.

 

Vegan Meal Plan

TUESDAY
Breakfast-  Mix 1 scoop of Tropical Strawberry Shakeology with 8 oz of water or almond milk.
Snack 1 -  One handful of almonds, dark chocolate (at least 75% cocoa) and a banana
Lunch-   "'Tuna" Salad.'  (Recipe below)  I adapted this recipe from the book The 30-Day Vegan Challenge: The Ultimate Guide to Eating Cleaner, Getting Leaner, and Living Compassionately  by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
Snack 2 -  Luna Bar
Dinner- "Snobby Joes"  from the blog Post Punk Kitchen www.theppk.com

WEDNESDAY
Breakfast-   Mix 1 scoop of Chocolate Vegan Shakeology with 8 oz of cooled coffee.
Snack 1 -  Refried beans on one whole wheat tortilla with salsa
Lunch-  "African Stew"  (Recipe below)  Also adapted from the 30-day Vegan Challenge book.
Snack 2 - Hummus and veggies
Dinner - "Oven Braised Acorn Squash, Carrots, and Mushrooms over Spaghetti"  from www.veganmotherhubbard.com

THURSDAY
Breakfast-  Mix one scoop of Tropical Strawberry Shakeology with 1/2 Cup of mango chunks and 8 oz of coconut milk in a blender with ice.
Snack 1-  One handful of almonds with dark chocolate and a banana
Lunch- Leftovers and Vegan Morningstar burgers.  (I had a coupon for these)
Snack 2 -  Hummus and Veggies
Dinner- "Raise the Roof" Sweet Potato Lasagna"  from www.Engine2diet.com.

FRIDAY
Breakfast- One scoop of chocolate vegan Shakeology with a teaspoon of peanut butter mixed in the blender with 8 oz of almond milk.  (My Fav!)
Snack 1 - Refried beans on one whole wheat tortilla and salsa.
Lunch- "Roasted Chickpea Salad" found on the Oh She Glows blog.
Snack 2 - Luna Bar
Dinner - "Vegan Pepperoni and Mushroom Pizza" also found on the vegan mother Hubbard blog.  I was not able to find a meat substitute for peperoni at my grocery store and I am also a little confused about the crust.  The package I bought says contains "trace amounts of egg and dairy."  John was crying so loudly in the store that at this point I just grabbed the package and threw it in the cart.  I figure trace amounts wouldn't matter for now and if I want to get more serious later I can.

SATURDAY
Breakfast- One scoop of Tropical Strawberry Shakeology blended with 8 oz of almond milk and a banana
Snack 1 -  Almonds and dark chocolate
Lunch -  "Hawaiian BBQ: Teriyaki Chickpeas"  from HappyHerbivore.com
Snack 2 - Luna bar
Dinner-  "Black Bean and Sweet Potato Quesadillas"  from Engine2diet.com

SUNDAY
Breakfast - one scoop of Chocolate vegan Shakeology with 1/2 cup of strawberries blended with 8 oz of almond milk and ice.
Snack 1 - refried beans on a whole wheat tortilla with salsa
Lunch - "Tagine of Moroccan Vegetables with Couscous" from Lifeisapalindrome.com
Snack 2 - Hummus and Veggies
Dinner -  "Alfredo" from OhSheGlows.com

MONDAY
Breakfast- Mix one scoop of Chocolate Vegan Shakology with 8 oz of water or almond milk.
Snack 1 - Refried Beans on one whole wheat tortilla with salsa
Lunch- " 'Tuna' Salad".  (Recipe below)  I adapted this recipe from the book The 30-Day Vegan Challenge: The Ultimate Guide to Eating Cleaner, Getting Leaner, and Living Compassionately  by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
Snack 2- Hummus and Veggies
Dinner- "Spaghetti Squash and Eggplant Marinara" from my friend Azia's blog: http://mamasgotabigbelly.blogspot.com/ Most of these recipes can be found on my pinterest page on the board titled vegan.

 

This is quite a bit more recipes than I normally make for one week.  For the sake of variety I thought it was important to make something new everyday.  Normally my family is big on leftovers to eat the next day.  This week if I have an over abundance of leftovers I plan on freezing them. I also plan on eating lots of salads and veggies from my CSA box this week including this recipe for a kale salad from Engine2diet.com

 

Do you have a favorite vegan recipe?  Follow along with me and this meal plan this week and let me know what you think.

 

African Stew

 

2 yellow onions

3 garlic cloves pressed

2 red bell peppers diced

2 teaspoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 C smooth or crunchy peanut butter

3 sweet potatoes peels and cut into 1/2 in cubes

two 15 oz cans kidney beans drained and rinsed

one 15 oz can diced tomatoes

4 cups vegetable stock

1/2 teaspoon salt

 

Sautee onions and garlic with olive oil until soft.  Add bell peppers, cover and cook 5 min more.  Stir in the brown sugar, ginger, cumin, cinnamon and cayenne pepper and cook for 30 seconds more.

 

Stir in the peanut butter and distribute it evenly throughout. Add the sweet potatoes, kidney beans and tomatoes and stir to coat.  Add the vegetable stock, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until the sweet potatoes are soft, about 30 minutes.

 

 

 

"Tuna" Salad

 

2 15 oz cans of chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup eggless mayonnaise

1 medium red bell pepper finely chopped

2 carrots finely chopped

2celery stocks finely chopped

2 tablespoons fresh parsley

1 Cup walnut halves, chopped

1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard

 

Put the chickpeas in the food processor and grind them into small flakey pieces.  In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients and mix well.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Serve as a salad or on a sandwich.