Mandy and Jace

A couple of years ago when I started to lose weight I decided that I didn’t want to “diet”. I knew if I did one of those fad diets where I deprive myself of the things I love I would fall right back after it was done. So I decided to make a lifestyle change. I started counting calories and gave myself 1500 calories a day. The first 6 months or so was killer. I was used to eating pizza, chicken fried steak and burgers for lunch and that just wasn’t going to cut it. Just one of those dishes exceeded my daily amount. I ate cereal for breakfast and salads for lunch but those got old pretty quickly. Soup became my best friend. I would either eat canned soup or if I had time I would make a big pot at the beginning of the week and eat it all week. I allowed myself one snack in the afternoon so I wasn’t starving before dinner. At dinner I went ahead and ate what I wanted just small portions and lots of veggies. I found by not depriving myself I didn’t binge when I actually did get to eat it.



It took about a year but I lost 12 lbs and now the 1500 calorie limit isn’t a problem anymore. I see foods in calories now. That juicy burger looks like 600 calories to me. That venti mocha frappuccino that I would get every day after lunch now looks like 500 calories. I was super organized back then but I kind of slacked off in the last 6 months. So I decided in order to lose that last 5 pounds I needed to get organized again. Now, at the beginning of we week I make, package and label all of my daily food except for dinner. I put everything in Tupperware or baggies and label the front of them with the calories, meal, day and time that I need to eat them. I give myself a little wiggle room if I go out to lunch with friends but otherwise I don’t eat anything that is not labeled for that time.




I have also started running. I am doing the Couch to 5k app on my iPhone. Hopefully at the end of this I can accomplish one of my goals and run a 5K. I have never been a runner so It’s a slow process for me but I’m doing well and between the organized food and running I have already lost 3 pounds.

My goal is to be healthy and fit. I only have this one body that God gave me and I feel like when I fill it with bad stuff I am not respecting Him. I read something the other day that I can’t get out of my head. He said, “It was on that day that I began to understand that I am a steward of the body (temple) that God has given me…and how I take care of it tells the world what I think and feel about Christ.” Talk about a slap in the face! You can read the rest of the article here and here.

I know my methods won’t work for everyone but I feel like you may be able to take little tidbits here and there and create your own healthy lifestyle. Remember it doesn’t happen over night. It took me a full year to lose some weight and get used to the lifestyle. I promise though, it is worth it. You will feel and look so much better and you will be so proud of yourself.

Good morning! We had another good weekend here. Jace’s mom is in town to see her family so we took her out to the shooting range to play a bit and Sunday we hung out with our amazing friends. I got to thinking the other night while I couldn’t sleep that I am truly in love with my life. God has blessed me with an amazing husband, a great family on both sides and awesome friends. I love that I can be my quirky self and no one cares. I was never the cookie cutter girl. I dress differently than most girls, I decorate differently, and I act differently but I want to say a big thank you to all my friends and family for embracing it and letting me grow into who I am now.

Ok, enough mushy stuff. Here’s this weeks meal plan.
Tonight: steak, mashed potatoes and corn
Tuesday: something on the run. We have a praise and worship conference at church.
Wednesday: pork fajita quesadillas
Thursday: take out after practice
Friday: date night

Happy eating! What are you guys eating this week?

Every Texas girl needs to know how to make a killer pot of beans. They are staples in all potlucks and BBQ’s everywhere and I promise when you walk in with a great pot of beans everyone will love you. This recipe is really easy and delicious. I usually make mine in a big pot on the stove, but sometimes if I’m too busy I’ll throw all the ingredients into my crock pot and let it go. The only thing that could make them any better would be a cast iron skillet full of cornbread. Is your mouth watering yet?

Another cool thing about pinto beans is they are a great source of protein and lots of other nutrients. Since I am trying to eat healthier, I really like getting the most nutrients out of what I’m eating without adding more calories. I have a couple of tips and tricks to make any bean better for you.

• Rinse and soak the beans for at least an hour before eating

Beans contain phytic acid. Phytic acid binds to beans and decreases the body’s ability to absorb the nutrients. When you soak them you wash that acid away, making them better for you. I figure if you are going to eat them you mights as well get the most nutrients out of them you can.

• Add a little bit of Kombu

Don’t freak out on me when you read this but Kombu is a dried seaweed. When you add it to your beans during cooking it decreases their… uh… gasousness, tendorizes them and adds calcium, iron and B vitamins. You can buy it online here and learn more about it here and lots of other places if you search for it. I promise you can’t  really taste it but it does add a little more depth to the flavor. You don’t need it but it does come in handy.

Pinto beans
4 cups dried pinto beans
4 slices bacon, optional
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons pepper
2 thumbsize pieces of kombu
water


The night before you want to cook the beans (or at least an hour before) soak the beans in water. When you are ready to cook them rinse them well and pour them in your pot. Pour enough water into the beans to cover them by 1-2 inches. put in the raw bacon, salt, pepper and kombu and bring the beans to a boil. When they are boiling reduce to simmer and cook for 2-3 hours or until they are tender. If cooking them on the stove keep an eye on them so they don’t run out of water. Add more if necessary. I leave it in, but If you want to you can remove the kombu before serving.

Happy Monday! I really wanted the weekend to be just a little bit longer. We did some really fun stuff and I could have used another day to relax. Saturday we went to the Midland Shooters Association and became members so we can go shoot whenever we want. Then Saturday night we went on a double date with our good friends Chad and Jamie and saw True Grit. There was some mixed feelings but all-in-all it was a really good movie. Sunday after a great service at church we went to the range to shoot. I think it was a successful weekend!

We have a great menu this week. I am making a brisket for the first time and also we are making tacos, which are always a favorite around here. I’d really like to know what everyone else is eating this week. I’m always having a hard time trying to come up with new recipes and ideas. If you have a meal plan or just something you know you are making, leave a comment letting all of us know. Also, if you have a website you are getting the recipe from leave it also so we can all try it. Then when you can’t decide on what to eat just open up any of my old meal plans and scroll though everyone else’s recipes.

Here’s this weeks plan.
Tonight: brisket, pinto beans and some kind of veggie
Tuesday: pork tacos, rice and guacamole
Wednesday: sauteed chicken and lemon pasta
Thursday: take out after practice
Friday: date night

Happy eating!