My Little Container Garden

Growing up, my mom planted a garden.
Dad or Grandpa would come disk it or field cultivate it with the tractor and then we'd plant it.
Sweet corn, tomatoes, peppers, and green beans were a given.  Always.
I hated planting it, but what I hated even more was pulling weeds.  AH!
I always said that I would NOT be having a garden when I grow up.

Ya know what I think?
I think that all the things you say you're not going to do as a child, you end up doing and ENJOYING it!
I said I would not cook.  I would not plant a garden. And I would not have boring walls in my house.
Well...all three things have happened.  And yes, I like them.

When I moved into my own place, I wanted to spruce the place up, so I got a pot and some flowers.
Then when we moved to St. Louis, my mom helped me pick out flowers to plant at our apartment.  
I wanted to try container gardening, but we didn't have enough sunlight or space.
So I waited until we had a house.
Now I think I bug my husband with all my ideas of things I want to dig up and plant. :)

I went home in April for Easter and my mom took me over to the greenhouse in the country that we always go to.  
Ever since I was introduced to Betty Rocker, I started cooking with fresh herbs.
I decided that I wanted to grow some herbs in my container garden, so I picked some up at the greenhouse, along with tomatoes and peppers.

I went to Menard's one evening after work and picked up some pots, soil, and a few flowers.

We have this rock in the front of our house that is maroon...and matches our shutters.  
I actually want to get rid of it and replace it with mulch, but I assume that project will happen next year.
Anyway, I stole some of the rock and put it in the bottom of my pots.  I just wanted to make sure it would drain well.  It's not necessarily needed, but what the heck...

Then I added the soil to the pots.

Here it is after I got all the plants planted!

And here it is today:

I've got 4 Roma tomato plants, 4 plants of red peppers, and 4 plants of yellow peppers, a pot with sage and thyme, a pot with 4 basil plants, a hanging pot of 4 cilantro plants, and two pots of flowers and a boot (soon to be 2 boots) of strawberry plants.

I am very excited to hopefully make tomato sauce and salsa this year, as well as use the herbs to cook with! :)
Oh and I just got the tomato cages today...I color coordinated them with my pots.  I'm cool like that! haha!
I'm pretty proud of this cute little container garden.  I can't wait to reap the harvest!

Do you have a garden?  What have you planted in it?

Meal Prepping

It is no secret that I have been meal prepping for the past several months.  I typically post pictures on instagram, so if you follow me on there, you've probably seen them.

I've had several people ask how to go about meal prepping, so I thought I'd share my process.

I meal plan on the weekends.  I plan my breakfasts, lunches, and suppers.  I write out exactly what I plan on eating and then make my grocery list from that plan.

I generally make a list of all of the dishes that I need to cook/bake/prepare for the week and the amount of time it will take me to complete them (from prep to cook).  This helps me use my time wisely so that I'm not in the kitchen all day long.

I pretty much use my whole counter space when I'm prepping and cooking.

After the food is cooked, I split it all up into containers for the week.  I use my meal calendar to tell me how many containers of each food I need for the week.  

I am not a morning person at all.  So this helps me in a couple of ways:  

• I can pack my lunch box at night and just grab what needs to go in there according to my calendar; OR
• I can just grab it in the morning.

Either way, it's super quick and I don't even have to think about it.  

When I don't meal plan or meal prep, I feel like my week is all out of whack.  This helps me keep on schedule and helps me achieve my goals (both fitness and for the week).

If you try meal prepping, let me know how it goes!!

21 Day Fix: Week One

I've been doing this new program called 21 Day Fix.

You've probably seen me talking about it on facebook.

I just completed my first week of it and can I say that I feel great!?

This program is super easy to follow.  

You eat and you workout.

It's that simple.

I am so obsessed with this new program because of a few things:

1.  It comes with color-coded containers and an eating guide.  This isn't a an eating guide that tells you what to eat and when.  It's an eating guide that gives you ideas of what to eat and you choose your menu and when to eat.  It tells you how many times to fill your containers during the day, which is based on a calorie goal.  However you don't count calories or points or anything.  Super easy!

2.  The program comes with workout DVDs.  There is a 30 minute workout for each of the 21 days.  And let me tell you...THEY WORK!!!  I was so sore for the first 3 days!  But it's a good kind of sore, because it lets you know that your body is getting stronger.  And the workout calendar is fab!  It tells you what workout to complete on each day.

3.  Autumn Calabrese, the creator of the program, instructs you on each move.  This is great for those who haven't done a whole lot of training before.  Doing the exercise correctly ensures that you won't injure yourself and you're getting the most out of it.

4.  There are modifications for each move.   This is especially great for those days that you're extremely sore and need an adjustment for the 30 minutes.  You can still get a great workout with these modifications, so it makes it that much sweeter.

I wanted to post my meal plan for the whole first week.  It is sooo much easier to follow the plan if you've got your meals planned out for the week.  If I don't have a plan, I will fall off the wagon in an instance.  Meal planning is the reason that I can stay on track...that and not buying junk to eat at the grocery store.  :)

If you're interested in this program, email me at TheFitnessPrincess13@gmail.com or connect with me on my facebook page, The Fitness Princess.  I would love to talk with you about it!

Our Challenge Pack discounts and free shipping deals have been extended through this weekend (3/2)!  So act fast if you want to take advantage of them!!

Anyone can do this program...beginner, intermediate, or advanced fitness "student" (because we're all still learning, right?).  And anyone can stick to a plan for 21 days.  It's as simple as that!  I can't wait to share my results with you at the end of my 21 days!!

**Also, sign up for my brand new newsletter here!  You'll receive information before anyone else!!  Get helpful fitness tips, recipes, and even workouts!**

Clean Eating: How to Keep on Budget

After a couple of weeks of break, I am back with the continuation of my clean eating series!!
Did you miss the first part?  No worries!

Find out what clean eating is.
Find out what the benefits are of eating clean.
Find out how to get started.


One thing that I have heard so many people say over the last year is this:  "Eating healthy is sooo expensive."  Yes, eating healthy can be more expensive than eating packaged foods full of ingredients that you have never even heard of.  But spending the money on food now is waaaay better than spending money on doctors, medications, and hospital bills later.

I truly believe that I am worth investing in.  My health is worth investing in.  That may sound selfish, but in reality I think it's also selfless.  I want to be the best person that I can be for my family...that includes spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically.  I want to be able to live a long, healthy life.

But eating healthy doesn't have to be expensive.  
Here are some tips for keeping your health in the budget:

1.  Shop meat sales!  The grocery stores have meal sales quite often here.  Depending on the week, you can get beef, chicken, and seafood for a decent price.  We eat a lot of meat in our house, so when I can find a really good deal, I will stock up.  Then I'll freeze the meat in portions so that we have options to choose from in the future!

2.  Find a cooperative near you!  A friend of mine told me all about the local co-op that she was a part of.  You can get almost anything through this co-op including fresh dairy from a farm over in Illinois.  One thing that I really like is that the co-op supports local farmers, and if you know me (a farmer's daughter), then I will of course support the farms!  During the winter, it's harder to support local since basically nothing is in season.  But come Spring through Fall, they have such fresh produce.

I got all of this produce for just $20.  Our co-op orders every two weeks, and I personally order about once a month.  There is a lot of produce to last us a while.  Emails are sent ahead of time to let us know what is in the basket for the week, and then another email is sent to share different recipes using those ingredients.  I plan my meals around the produce that I will be receiving in the basket.

If you're in the St. Louis area, check out St. Louis Community Helpings Co-op to find a group near you!

3.  Shop your pantry.  After you've started eating clean, you will get the hang of it.  As I mentioned above with meat sales, I like to stock up.  This goes for anything.  I might have purchased grapes for the week but didn't eat them all that week.  So I will eat them the next week.  When you're meal planning for the next week, open your fridge and freezer to see what you have in stock already.  This will not only help you save money, but also clean out some room!

4.  Plant a garden.  I cannot wait to be able to start planting my "garden" this year.  I won't have a huge plot of land like my parents do, but I am going to try container gardening this year!  I can definitely cut down on my grocery bill by growing my own peppers, tomatoes, basil and other herbs.  I have started a list of things that I want to grow, so I can be prepared when it is time to plant.

These are just a few ideas to help you save money!  What do you do to save your family money when eating healthy?

Questions?
Leave them in the comments and I'll respond!

Clean Eating: How to Get Started

Two weeks ago, I talked all about eating clean and what it means to me.
Last week, I shared the benefits that I have felt since changing our lifestyle.

This week I want to help y'all get started!

Here are a few tips on changing over to a clean eating lifestyle.

1.  First thing you must do is define what clean eating means to you.
Is it eating whole foods?  Is it eating less processed foods?  Is it eating all organic fruits and veggies?  What does it mean for you and your family?  Have a plan before you get started so you know exactly what you are going to eat and what you will not be eating.  If you have kids or a spouse, I would encourage you to let them in on this discussion so they know what to expect going forward.

2.  Clean out your pantry.
Get rid of all foods that are processed.  It's just easiest to clean it out and start fresh.  But you don't have to feel guilty for throwing food out.  Why not find a local food pantry to donate your unwanted food to?  When I did my cleanout last July, I also got rid of the foods that had gluten in them, because I went gluten free.  I gave the unopened packages and canned items to our food pantry at church!  I may not have wanted them, but there are others that will take those items!

3.  Meal Plan.
If you plan out each meal for the entire week, you will know exactly what you are going to eat and when.  This not only helps you out when it comes time for meal time, but it also helps you stay on track with your eating!

**I wrote this post on meal planning over a year ago.  Since then, our eating habits have changed, but the principle is the same.

4.  Write out a grocery list and stock your pantry with new clean eats!
Things to include:

• fresh fruits and veggies
• lean meat and fish 
• healthy fats {olive oil, coconut oil, nut oils}
• frozen fruit

Be sure to read nutrition labels.  The shorter the ingredients list, the better.  Can't pronounce an ingredient?  Don't eat it!  Avoid anything with added sugar.

This is a great article to help you decide what to eat:  Real Food Defined (The Rules).

Questions?

Leave them in the comments!

Clean Eating: The Benefits

Last week I started a series on eating clean.
Did you miss it?
You can find the first post here.

Today I want to share a little bit more of my story.
When I was in second grade, I started getting headaches.
I had my eyes checked and they were fine.
In fact, I didn't get glasses until I was 21.
Happy Birthday to me...

The headaches just became part of my life.
In 6th grade, I was taking so much ib profen for these dang headaches, I remember my mom telling me that I couldn't have anymore.
She was afraid that I had become addicted or immune to it.
Those next couple of weeks were painful.

I got my first migraine in 6th grade...I started seeing fuzzy stuff and then I could only see half of things.
I remember being at Walmart and asking my mom why I could only see half of her face.
She immediately knew that I was going to have a migraine.

A large part for changing my eating habits were to see if I could rid the headaches.
I was so tired of getting them...and there was never any point of taking painkillers.
They didn't really work.

I did lots of research and read lots of testimonials about getting rid of the headaches, and how having a cleaner diet helped tremendously. 
So, I thought I'd try this "clean eating" lifestyle for a bit.
Like I said before, I cut processed foods out of my diet, including gluten and dairy.

After four weeks of this lifestyle, here are my benefits to eating this way:

1.  No more headaches!  I'm not kidding.  I really got rid of them this time.  I used to carry Excedrin in my purse because I never knew when I'd get a migraine, but I no longer carry any kinds of pain killers with me.  This was the BIGGEST improvement for me!  Life has been so much better since I didn't have that "nagging headache" to carry around with me.  Even if I didn't feel any other benefits from eating this way, living without headaches has been totally worth it.

2.  I lost weight and most importantly, inches!!  In just the 4 weeks, I lost 10 lbs and 11 total inches.  I felt SO much better in my clothes because my body was shrinking.  It's really not about what that number on the scales says, but rather how you feel in your own skin.  And I feel fabulous!  I got through my plateau that I had been on for 6 weeks, which was a great feeling!

3.  No more naps!  I don't feel like I need a mid-day nap in the afternoon.  I have a lot more energy, and I'm not prone to getting that "mid-afternoon slump" each day.  I can come home from work each day and feel like I have enough energy to do the chores, make supper, and workout.  That was huge for me.

4.  No more bloating.  A lot of times, after eating, I just felt really full.  I may not have even eaten that much.  I really noticed this after eating ice cream a lot.  My tummy would hurt and I'd feel like I needed to go put sweats on.  After cutting gluten and diary out of my diet, I really realized how crummy I was feeling and how much better I felt without it.

5.  I know exactly what I am putting into my body.  Before, I never really cared about what went into my body.  But after doing my research, I found that the foods with the least amount of ingredients, the better.  

6.  My brain fog has been lifted.  Do you ever feel like you are just in a daze?  I felt like that all the time before the switch.  Eating real, unprocessed foods helped lift that daze.  I am more alert and can think clearer now. 

I love the way my body feels.  I have learned to feed my body to nourish it, rather than to just eat because I want to or am bored.  It's a different way of eating, since not many talk about eating to nourish.  I haven't felt this good in a long time, and all of those benefits that I listed above are completely worth giving up processed foods. 

Questions?
Leave them in the comments and I'd be happy to answer them!

Super Bowl Party Tips

The Super Bowl is coming up on Sunday and I've been thinking about it all week.
Not because I care about football, but because I know that there will be many parties.
Parties where there happens to be a ton of junk food and lots of other unhealthy options to consume.

Via

I've come up with just a few tips on how to have a successful Super Bowl Party and stay on track towards your goals!

1.  Eat before you go.  If you eat something before you head out the door, you won't be as hungry at the party.  You get to still eat what's on your meal plan, and have fun at the party.

2.  Take something that you know you can eat.  If you make something to take to the party that you know you will eat, then you won't look like a fool for not eating.  It's a win-win. You can eat what you brought, and you won't have to face others asking why you're not eating.

3.  Don't stand, sit, or converse near the food.  The closer you are to the food, the more tempted you'll be to eat it.  If you truly want to stay on track, sit on the opposite side of the room.

4.  Keep a glass of water with you.  The more that you sip on your water, the fuller you become.  You won't feel the need to eat much.

5.  Scan all of the options before putting something on your plate.  If you choose to indulge, take a look at the different options and choose something that is most appealing to you.  Be mindful of what you're putting into your mouth.

6.  Just because you put it on your plate doesn't mean you have to finish it.  Don't feel tempted to finish everything on your plate just because the voice of your momma in your head is telling you to.  Eat until you feel satisfied, not stuffed.

Don't let one night of overeating ruin all of the hard work that you've put in working towards your goals.  It is one night.

A Clean Eating Series: What Is It?

Last April, I knew that our little family needed to make a change in our food choices.

Since making that change, I've seen significant amounts of benefits to eating healthier.

I've had a lot of thoughts floating around in my head that I've been wanting to share when it comes to eating "clean."

When the term "eating clean" came out over a year ago, I rolled my eyes every time that I heard it.

I still had a "weight watchers mentality."

That mentality was that I could eat anything that I wanted within moderation.

I'm not saying that it is a bad mentality at all...because many people have found that it works.

I just had a change of heart in the end.

I started modifying our recipes to include more fruits and veggies.

I knew that as long as I was working out that I would lose weight.

That's what happened in college.

I started working out and I lost a few pounds...but nothing like I had before.

I was stuck at a plateau for 6 weeks, so I finally did some research and decided to try eating clean.

Many people have very many views of what eating clean means.
I had to figure out what worked for our family and our lifestyle.
First and foremost, it's NOT a diet.
*I really hate the word diet.*
"Diet," as defined by dictionary.com is "such a selection or a limitation on the amount a person eats for reducing weight."

I am not limiting the amount of food that I eat.

I am simply learning what foods that I should consume to be healthy.

I am changing the way that I eat...it is now my lifestyle.

**You can't get healthy without eating healthy.**

Some people feel very opinionated to be only eating fruits and veggies that are organic.
Others feel that they should be eating minimal processed foods while others won't eat anything that is processed.
Some say they only eat gluten free while others think that you shouldn't eat gluten free if you don't have a reason to (celiac/gluten intolerance).
There are SO many opinions about what it means to eat clean.

For us, it was starting out slow...
I stopped buying some processed foods, but others I thought were fine.
I figured as long as I was eating "healthy" processed foods that I would be okay.

Then I read an article and found that I had 5 of 10 symptoms that I could possibly be gluten intolerant.  Whoa.
I did a bit more research to make sure that it wasn't just that article that said those things...and it wasn't.
So I purchased this food plan to help me out with a gluten sensitivity test.
I completed 4 weeks of being gluten free, and added some foods with gluten back into my diet.
I found that it made me sick. Blech.
I also found that I felt WAY better and could think clearly when I was eating real, whole foods.
Oh and I also got off that dang plateau.

I really love this quote from Chalene Johnson (creator of TurboFire) regarding whole foods:

"Whole foods are foods in their natural state, foods that are unadulterated.  If you can pick it from a tree or vine, if you can pull up or pinch off a vegetable from a plant in the ground, you are looking at a whole food.  Food in this state is food that hasn't been altered.
Whole food has its enzymes available for health because it is a whole food.  Whole foods contain all the enzymes and nutrients in the proportion nature intended for our health.  If you consume whole foods your body feels whole and nourished.  Whole foods diminish cravings, swelling, chronic pain, arthritic symptoms, digestive issues, and make weight loss and weight management easier."

So for me, eating clean means eating real food.
I have eliminated {almost completely} all processed foods from my pantry.
I avoid gluten, specifically wheat, at all cost.
And what I really love is a juicy steak and some yummy grilled veggies. :)

The best thing I could have done for myself is to really research all the different components to eating healthy (gluten, clean eating, whole foods, etc) before I made a decision on what I was going to do.  I like to be informed before I make a decision, so I feel like I have made the best decision for myself.

Questions?
Leave them in the comments!

Coconut-Seared Shrimp with Kale, Avocado, and Fresh Salsa

Yay!  It's back!! Friday's Fabulous Foods!

This week I have a phenomenal recipe for you.  I actually found it here.  I changed it up a little bit to make it more cost effective for my family.

Ingredients:
5-10 stalks kale, washed and destemmed
1 avocado
A package of shrimp
Coconut Oil
1/2 fresh lemon

For the fresh salsa:
1 tomato
1/4 white onion
1 T cilantro
1/4 fresh lime

Directions:
I like to make my salsa first, because it takes up the most time.  Dice the tomato and onion.  Finely chop the cilantro.  Squeeze the lime over and mix together.  You can add some fresh ground pepper or sea salt if you would like to.

Add the coconut oil and turn the skillet to a medium heat.

Evenly sear the shrimp (or scallops as the original recipe calls for) on both sides.

Prep the kale and use it as the base of your plate.  Slice the avocado and divide it between 2 plates.  Place the shrimp over the greens and top with 1/4 cup fresh salsa.  Squeeze 1/4 of a lemon over the top and serve.

This recipe serves 2.  It is so yummy AND healthy!

There's Got to Be Something More, Right?

A while back, my mom came up to visit for the weekend.

My parents don't get the chance to come up very often because they farm.

Farming takes up a good 9 months out of the year where you're really busy.

So when they randomly come up, I don't take it for granted.

My mom came by herself and we just had a weekend to do whatever we wanted. 

It was a lot of fun!

We had great conversation...especially about health.

One particular conversation stuck out to me, and to this day, I still think about it a lot.

One might ask why I decided to make the choice of eating healthier 

or why I started to work out.

And when you get past the shallowness of the answer, "To lose weight," there's still something so much deeper.

(**I'm not saying that the purpose losing weight is shallow...I'm only comparing it to my thoughts on this topic.**)

When I was younger and attending Sunday School at my church, I remember so many times reading these verses:

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your body."

Romans 12:1

"Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship."

Romans 6:13

"Do not offer parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness."

After reading those, I always had questions.  What does it mean to offer your body in worship?  I know that I can sing songs in worship, give my offering as worship...but what else?  My body is a temple, so treat it as such.  Don't have premarital sex.  I got it...I knew all those things.  But there's got to be something more, right?

My mom told me a story that day, not too long ago.

It was a story that totally clicked with me...one that gave me an "a ha!" moment.

One that still makes me think...

On Wednesday nights at my home church, there is a supper before Wednesday night activities.

My mom often cooked for them, and even when she didn't, we still attended the suppers.

Our minister and his wife also attended those suppers.

One particular night, my mom was sitting by our minister's wife.

Mom noticed that she was portioning out her food and asked her what she was doing.

She had told her that the portion that she set aside was her "tithe" to the Lord.

She was giving that portion to Him, and she would eat the rest of her food.

Wow.

I had never thought about using your food as a tithe.

But as someone who loves carbs, that isn't a bad idea.

It put a whole new meaning on, "offer your bodies as living sacrifices."

She was sacrificing part of her food, what she really wanted to eat, to the Lord.

She was offering up her body as an instrument of righteousness.

That really stuck with me.

Even in my eating...I need to glorify the Lord.

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

It's no secret that I've been changing my eating habits during that last few weeks.

I want to put healthy things in my body, rather than feeding it crap.

So when I found a recipe for a healthier pizza crust, all systems were a go.

I LOVE pizza.  I could seriously eat it everyday.

That's how much I love it.

I will preface this to say that this pizza isn't like regular pizza.

It's a softer crust, so I ate it with a fork.

However, it doesn't taste like you're eating cauliflower.

It's just different.

I will also tell you that my husband loved it.

He said, "This is on the 'yes' list."

Meaning he would love to eat it again!

Ingredients:

*1 cup of cauliflower, cooked and riced

*1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

*1 egg, beaten

*1 tsp dried oregano

*1/2 tsp crushed garlic

*1/2 tsp garlic salt

*olive oil (optional)

Directions:

To "rice" cauliflower, I cut the stems off and cut them into florets and grated it with a cheese grater.  It worked better than I imagined.

But if you have a food processor, you can stick the head of cauliflower in there and pulse it until it looks like a grain.  Don't over-pulse it because then you might puree it.

Put the riced cauliflower in a microwavable bowl and cook it in the microwave for 8 minutes.

One large head creates about 3 cups of riced cauliflower (and I actually used it all).

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray.

Stir together the cauliflower, egg, and cheese (I used what we had on hand).

Add oregano, crushed garlic, and garlic salt.  Stir.

Transfer to the cookies sheet and pat out making a 9 in round.

(As you can see, mine was a little bigger than 9 inches since I used all the cauliflower.)

Brush olive oil over the top of it to help it brown in the oven.

Bake for 15 minutes.

Remove from the oven and add the toppings.

Place in the broiler on high for approximately 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

*Since you will be broiling it, all pizza toppings need to be fully cooked.*

Enjoy your healthy pizza!

A Little Too Fluffy Two

Well, A Little Too Fluffy Two is officially over.

I didn't win...but I did.

I'm six weeks better.

Via

I have a better understanding.

I have a better mentality.

I have new "insta-friends."

I have an encouragement system that I didn't know existed.

I am thankful that I started when I did.

Here is my "before and after," but really still-in-progress picture.

Please excuse my no-need-to-dress-up-for-the-picture face. :)

I think before-and-after's are important so you can see how far you've come.

It also gives me motivation to keep going!
During the challenge, I lost 7.4 pounds and 10.25 inches.
I've learned that the number on the scale isn't all that.

Sunday night I was thinking about goals for this week.

It's the end of June, and I'll be finishing up my #56milesinJune challenge this week.

I never thought I could do it.

And, well, it's still really to be determined if I really can...it's not the 30th yet. :)

However, as I was counting up how many miles I have left, I decided to make a few goals for myself this week.

So here they are:

-Finish the #56milesinJune challenge

-Workout on the elliptical every day this week

-Put 70,000 steps in this week (my goal is 10,000 per day...I wear a Fitbit to track this)

-Give this week my absolute best in eating and exercising

Just because A Little Too Fluffy Two is over doesn't mean I can quit making good decisions.

This is a lifestyle change.

It's not just for a little while...it's for life.

I want to be the best Beth I can be.

I have a lot of thoughts that I would love to share, but that will have to happen later.

How are you bettering yourself?

Are you making changes that you're going to thank yourself later for?