Eat all the RED SLAW!

This post is going to be a little sideways…but HEY, I’m a little sideways!

I was soo excited for 4th of July! And it was actually the best one we've had in quite a while! 

Our friends were coming over! They were bringing BBQ and banana pudding!

I wanted to contribute, so I made a vegetable plate and my favorite…RED SLAW!!!

Growing up, thats the only way you ate BBQ…with a side of red slaw and some hush puppies. Being the responsible adult that I am, I’ve been trying to cut carbs and didn’t want to carb overload all my friends. So I surpassed on the hush puppies and made red slaw instead!

I made a huge deal about it. I asked the entire world of Facebook for the best recipe. My mouth drooled as I bought all the ingredients. 

Not one time did I stop and think…”Oh wait…does everyone eat red slaw with their BBQ?”

I made it because I LOVED IT! I made it because it was tradition to eat red slaw with BBQ! I made it, like most cookouts, as a way to bring people together!

We spent hours at the pool, enjoying each others company, and trying not to let the “mid-afternoon nap” strike us! But even then…not once, did I ever think the red slaw wouldn’t be a hit with everyone!

I had this confidence built up. I made such huge deal about this slaw to myself! 

We all managed to wake up from our post-pool slumber and eat our 4th of July meal!

As I was making my plate, I felt the need to justify the reason we had slaw and gave everyone an “out” to not eat it!

“It’s what we do in Shelby”
“It’s ketchup based”
“I only eat it on BB!, I don’t like it by itself”

I heard myself giving all the excuses to why they aren’t eating it.

But in reality, I LOVED IT! I ate the SHIT out of it! I even made my own pork shoulder again tonight (July 5th) just so I could eat the slaw on my sandwich AGAIN!

And as I was eating my SECOND sandwich tonight, I wondered….

Why did I justify my reason for making the slaw?!

Why did I give some reasons why it would be bad?

Why did I apologize before anyone even ate it?

And I had an AH-HA moment! If I’m enjoying and doing what I LOVE, then why do I care if anyone or everyone hates it. I still loved it enough to have more tonight!

So my challenge to you is this…stop justifying yourself to your friends. 

If you enjoy something, do it! If that something you do brings you joy, do it….ALL THE TIME! 

If you’re making changes, and reaching your true potential, keep being a bad ass!

If you like mayonnaise on your fries, eat it…in moderation of course! ;) (Another thing I got made fun of)

My point….Be PROUD of who YOU are and QUIT SQUANDERING what makes YOU AWESOME to meet the needs of others who may never understand!

I encourage you to make and eat more red slaw with a grin on your face.

XOXO, Haley 

Insanity MAX:30 Results

This is the first workout in a really LONG time that I've committed to from START to FINISH in a REALLY REALLY REALLY long time!

I always find excuses and let life get in the way, but this time....I CHALLENGED { MYSELF } to make { CHANGES } and [ NOT STOP ] until I met them!

Except for the whole "Not wanting to hit 150 again," I had no specific weight-loss goals when I started! I DID NOT want to get hung up on weighing myself everyday and focusing all of my energy on that! {Ladies...we know how that scale can HAUNT us}

I did, however, want to fit back into my SIZE 6 jeans (which I did a few weeks ago & even fit into some SIZE 4 shorts last night)!!!

But when it boils down to it...the SOLE REASON I started Insanity Max:30 is because I JUST WANTED TO GET BACK TO A PLACE WHERE I WAS HAPPY BEING IN MY OWN SKIN!

And I can say...WITHOUT HESITATION, I am extremely PROUD of myself for sticking with INSANITY MAX:30 and AMAZED at how great I feel!

Like I've said before, I'm not posting my results to BRAG, but I'm posting my results to SHOW that ANYONE who really wants to make CHANGES in their life...will have to CHALLENGE themselves in ways they never thought were possible!

I never completed the first Insanity! I never completed the second Insanity Asylum...both because they were "too hard"! BUT THIS TIME was different, I knew I needed a CHALLENGE! I found an ACCOUNTABILITY group and the days I didn't feel like working out, I would jump in the ONLINE group and talk with some other people and before I knew it...I was working out (sometimes at 11:30 just to get it done before midnight)!!!

I had to THROW OUT all of my "It's too hard" or "I don't have time" EXCUSES and make things HAPPEN!

I made it happen and YOU CAN TOO!

If you really want something...YOU will do WHATEVER it takes to MAKE IT HAPPEN! If you are like me, and need to CHALLENGE YOURSELF and THROW OUT THE EXCUSES.... I am HERE to HELP YOU! Just ask!

NON-SCALE VICTORIES!!!

Gotta love NON-SCALE VICTORIES!!

I went to the mall yesterday to JUST get my eyebrows done! <<<-----Only trust those awesome ladies!!!

However...because I'm ME, I couldn't resist a good sale or OLD NAVY!!!

Just decided to do a little browsing and came up on these little ankle pants that were just perfect for those summer nights and got a little upset when I couldn't find a SIZE 6 in them!

Soooo....again being ME, I said, "Hey, you busted your butt doing Insanity Max:30! Just give it a go and try on those SIZE 4's!" 

And GUESS WHAT...

THEY FIT!!!

And people always tell me those silly AT-HOME workouts wouldn't work for them!!! They worked me and I BETCHA they will work for you!!

Connect with me on FACEBOOK or INSTAGRAM  and I can help you get started with your NON-SCALE VICTORIES!!!

Or sign up with me as your FREE BEACHBODY COACH!!!

Thai Chicken Bowl

This is seriously my FAVORITE recipe!!! It's my version of one of my favorite dishes at my favorite restaurant here in St. Pete, but now I don't have to pay $15 for it!!!

If I'm being super healthy...I will leave off the wonton strips and use Siracha only (no mayo)!!!

Hope you enjoy!!!

Faith. Fitness. Food...Oh My!

I'm PLANNING AHEAD and I recently came across a friend's status that really touched home for me...

For the last 3 weeks, I've been focusing on my personal growth, both physically, mentally, and spiritually, and honestly, I've seen some AWESOME changes in all areas!

I've been working out consistently!
I've been taking control of my cravings, thanks to the book "Made to Crave"
I've stepped out of my comfort zone to do things I have been led to do!
I've grown closer in my relationship to God!

All in all, it's been a great 3 weeks, BUT when I read my friend's status, she mentioned something about RIVERS vs. RESERVOIRS.

Lately, I've been a RESERVOIR because I've been focused mainly on my self...AKA retaining all the knowledge to myself just like a reservoir retains water! And personally, I think it's okay that I've focused on myself because  I needed a few weeks to focus on myself...

BUT...

I want to be a RIVER! I want to let the knowledge I've gained these past few weeks flow into the next person and the next person!

I know there are several people out there, who like me, are afraid to try new things because they are afraid to fail or afraid what their family may say or simply afraid they won't be able to change at all!

This weekend, I've been working on creating a GROUP that focuses strictly on the areas I've been working on myself! 

FAITH ---> Growing closer to God using the book "Made to Crave"
FITNESS! ---> Taking care of your temple by exercising to a program!
FOOD! ---> Resisting temptations/cravings & focus on clean eating!
FELLOWSHIP! ---> Develop friendships that help us grow better together!

It will be a group in where we GROW TOGETHER! The group is open to anyone who wants to take control of their life in all areas mentioned and become a better version of yourself!!

Who's ready to take control of their life!??!? Message me for the details!

The group won't start until February, but I just felt like I needed to put this out there for everyone wanting to be better!

First 3 people to commit to A NEW YOU, will receive a FREE GIFT from me to help you along this journey!

Healthier Shrimp & Grits

About 2 weeks ago, I started reading "Made to Crave," and working out to Shaun T's newest program, Insanity Max:30. First, the book has really changed my way of thinking about food and Max:30 is just a plain ole insane workout that I'm loving! 

 I started a Free Clean Eating Challenge Group with a few other ladies and we spent the week uplifting each other to make healthier food choices, swapping recipes, and just having fun week staying positive! One of my friends, Andrea was in the group and shared this Buffalo Cauliflower Bites recipes and it looked DELISH! I'm not a huge fan of Buffalo flavored things, but the CAULIFLOWER sparked my interest!
 
Being the SOUTHERN girl that I am, I have been CRAVING some SHRIMP & GRITS lately! 

BUT....I didn't want to sabotage all of my healthy eating and working out by stuffing my face with a bowl of yummy deliciousness of cheesy grits!  

After Andrea posted about the Buffalo Cauliflower Bites, a light bulb went off and WAHH LAHH, I decided to try replacing the grits with cauliflower! 

And much to my surprise...I FELL IN LOVE!

There are definitely some kinks to work out in figuring out the serving size, but overall a SUCCESSFUL RECIPE!

So for all those pretty ladies begging for the recipe...here you go! QUICK, EASY, & DELISH!

 INGREDIENTS: 

• Head of Cauliflower
• Large Shrimp, tail removed (I used 6-8)
• Sliced Mushrooms (I LOVE mushrooms, so I piled these high)
• 2-3 Green Onions, chopped
• 1-2 Slices of Turkey Bacon, cooked and crumbled
• Low Fat Cheddar Cheese
• Clove of Garlic, minced
• Low Sodium Old Bay Seasoning 
• Coconut Oil or Olive Oil

RECIPE:

1. Cook turkey bacon and place aside; crumble once cooled down.
2. Chop cauliflower into chunks and toss into a large saute pan with about an inch of water; cook on medium heat for 10 minutes or until cauliflower starts to get a tad bit translucent.
3. While cauliflower is cooking, chop up mushrooms, garlic, and onions.
4. Heat coconut oil in saute pan; add mushrooms and garlic and cook for around 5 minutes (really your preference on how you like your veggies, soft/crunchy).
5. Toss shrimp with Old Bay Seasoning and add to the mushrooms and garlic and cook until pink. 
6. While shrimp is cooking, drain cauliflower if needed and mash with potato masher. I didn't whip them only because I wanted to mimic the texture of the grits, so I left some pieces unmashed! 
7. I added a BLUE container of cheese (21 Day Fix portion control containers), but if I had to guess, it would be less than 1/4 cup! 
8. Start plating your bowl....1 cup of cauliflower "grits," 1 cup of the mushroom and shrimp mixture, sprinkle on some additional cheese, onions, and bacon!
9. TAHHHH DAHHH: Healthier Shrimp & "Grits"

ENJOY & HOPE YOU LOVE IT TOO!

 

 

Quinoa Veggie "Fried Rice" Recipe

Oh my, my mouth is watering just thinking about this recipe! 



I found this recipe on, where else but, PINTEREST! The original recipe was found HERE!

The best part of this recipe...it's can be completely altered to fit your veggie needs! 

There is no meat in this recipe because it already PACKED with PROTEIN, but can definitely be changed to incorporate meat!

For lunch, I had it without chicken, but if I needed a quick dinner, I just grilled up some chicken to go with it!

Now for the DISCLAIMER....if you are small town NORTH CAROLINA GIRL and you LOVE your local Japanese restaurant's SHRIMP SAUCE (or if you aren't from Shelby, people call it YUM YUM SAUCE), it would be PERFECT on this dish! 

HOWEVER...if you are reading this, it probably means you are looking for ways to start incorporating more healthy dishes into your weekly meal plan. SOOOO....it's probably not the best to DROWN this awesome recipe with that mayonnaise/sugar based sauce! 

And besides....this recipe doesn't even need it and was still TOTALLY TASTY without it!

Ok I'm going to stop making your mouth water and get right down to the recipe and how I altered it! 

The original recipe called for regular olive oil and that's what I have in my spray bottle, but when it came to sauteing the veggies, I mixed half coconut oil and half sesame oil for more flavor! There is something about that combo of oils that give any dish a little bit more of an Asian flavor! I always saute my veggies in that combo now!

You can also eliminate or add any veggies you like! I had some leftover brussel sprouts, chopped them up, added them to this dish! 

This recipe is sooo flexible and SOOO YUMMY!