YOU ARE A BADASS!

There are days when I need a good read to bring me back to reality and to help keep me working toward my goals and dreams.

THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!

Excuses keep us from being who we are out of fear and doubt.  

What do you choice?

YUMMY RECIPE!!!...

CAULIFLOWER CRUST PIZZA

INGREDIENTS

• 1 small to medium sized head of cauliflower - should yield 2 to 3 cups once processed
• ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• ¼ cup low-moisture mozzarella cheese
• 1 egg
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon basil or rosemary, minced (or dry)
• ½ teaspoon oregano, minced (or dry)
• 1 cup tomato sauce or paste (mixed with water)
• 1-2 cups mozzarella cheese

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 500 degrees F.
2. Remove the stems from the cauliflower and cut into chunks, Place the cauliflower into a food processor and pulse it until it resembles the texture of rice. If you don't have a food processor, you can use a cheese grater or chop it very finely.
3. Microwave the processed cauliflower uncovered in a microwave safe bowl for approximately 4-5 minutes on high. Remove it from the microwave and allow it to cool for at least 4-5 minutes (trust me don't rush this step!). After the cauliflower is slightly cooled, place it in a kitchen towel and squeeze all the liquid out of it. Be sure to squeeze as much liquid as humanly possible. 
4. Combine the cooked cauliflower, egg, garlic, cheese, and seasonings. Stir until a dough texture forms. Spread the cauliflower mixture out onto lightly greased parchment paper or a pizza pan in the shape of a pizza crust. 
5. Bake the crust for approximately 10-15 minutes (depending on your oven), or until the crust is golden and crispy. I cooked mine for approximately 15 minutes. After the crust is golden remove it from the oven and add your toppings, I used marinara sauce and cheese for a simple margarita pizza. 
6. Place the pizza back in the oven but this time turn on the broiler, bake for about 2-5 minutes until the cheese melts. be sure to keep an eye on it because the broiler can burn the cheese quickly. 

You can also add any toppings you want!

ENJOY!

NEGATIVE VS. POSITIVE MINDSET...

Lately I have stumbled in my nutrition and workouts and felt like giving up BUT when I was scrolling through my pics I saw the before photo of my very first day that I started this journey and I realized that I have come a long way.
Not only physically but emotionally and mentally as well.

My mindset used to be thoughts of..."Am I doing the right thing?"  "Will I ever reach my goal?"  "Am I strong enough?"  "What if I fail yet again?"

NOW my thoughts are...."yes I can"  "You are strong enough" "Don't look back"  "Keep going!"

The best decision I ever made was believing in myself and taking that first step.  That was the most unselfish thing I could do and I am thankful I did.

There are bad days but it is my choice on what my mindset will be...

Do I let the negative get me down and stay there?
                              OR
Do I use that as fuel to get fired up and go for it?

I have been in the negative and it was a miserable place...I choose to get fired up!

STOP AND REMEMBER YOUR WHY...KEEP GOING!

In March of 2014 I decided that I needed to make some HUGE changes in my life and one was quit drinking.  I knew I had a problem when all I could think about was that first drink and how fast I could get that buzz.  When my husband was gone I drank as much as I could as fast as I could in the time I had...I even made myself sick to drink more and the cooking sherry didn't have a chance.  
One of the hardest but also rewarding journeys in my life and YES I still have hard days BUT I REMEMBER WHY I STARTED AND HOW FAR I HAVE COME and that keeps me going!

In September of 2014 I started thinking about another change I NEEDED to make in my life BUT I kept making excuses about why I shouldn't take care of myself..."it is too hard" "I don't have time" and the big one "it costs too much."
But then I saw a pic of myself and wanted to cry. I was embarrassed and disgusted with myself...why did I let myself get like this? I was so damn stubborn that I could not and would not see what I was doing to myself. 
Then in September of last year I FINALLY decided to take that first step and I am so very thankful I did.
YES...I was worried about the cost BUT I looked through our budget and saved up and took that first step and I will NEVER go back! How I feel now compared to how I felt then is a BIG DIFFERENCE.
Has it been hard?...YES! Have I wanted to give up?...YES! Do I have bad days?...YES! BUT I REMEMBER WHY I STARTED AND HOW FAR I HAVE COME.
The feeling of being able to look in the mirror and smile is so huge! Knowing that I am taking care of ME is the best UNSELFISH thing I can do!
This journey has been filled with triumphs and trials BUT I refuse to go back and be the person I once was!
WE ARE ALL ON A JOURNEY....WHERE IS YOURS TAKING YOU?

GIVE UP OR KEEP GOING?

The past couple of weeks have been hard....I have not been doing my workouts and my eating stinks.  What should I do?

I have two choices...
1.  Quit and go on with my life
2.  Get up off my butt and remember why I started and keep going

Which one do I choose?
*The first one sounds so much easier and what I am used to
*The second one sounds harder BUT I know I would regret it

WHICH ONE?

Well...I choose the second...why?   Because I remember what it was like to quit before and I hated that feeling.
WHY would I want to go back to where I was?  WHY would I want to stop moving forward just because of hard days?  WHY would I want to give up on me?  WHY would I want to stop being better than I was yesterday?

I NEED to remember why I started.  I NEED to remember how I felt back then and keep going.  I NEED to quit sabotaging myself with my own thoughts.  I NEED to remember that I make my own choices.  I NEED TO REMEMBER THAT I AM DOING THIS FOR ME!!!

DO NOT FEED THE FEARS...KEEP GOING!

I KNEW that this is what I wanted to do but doubts kept flooding my head.  Would my journey help others...can I really do this???

I have always been afraid of being me and I kept thinking that being like everyone else was better than being who I am.  It was really hard to get out of my comfort zone and start sharing my struggles and taking that step of faith.

It did get easier but there were days that the doubts and fears would be overwhelming...I HAD to get out of my own head and keep doing what I loved to do.  Helping others and paying it forward was something I really cared about.

I had two choices...
1.  Continue feeding the fears and stop following my dream OR
2.  Continue to share my journey and help others believe and love themselves again
WHICH ONE SHOULD I CHOOSE???

I chose number 2 because I was NOT going to let my fear and doubts continue to stop me like it has done for years.  I KNEW that I was becoming a better person inside and out and I did not want to go back.  Even if it took one day at a time or one minute at a time...I was going to keep going!

I WAS NOT GOING TO GIVE UP ON ME!

More to come...

THE JOB THAT CHANGED MY LIFE...

I prayed and prayed about this new journey I was going to go on and the door stayed open so I thought I would give it a try.

I was so scared and wondered "would I make a difference?"  I started to work on me and make my own transformation and share with others.  In the process I started to see and hear people believing in themselves and accomplishing their goals was and is such a blessing!

To be a part of an amazing family and to have such caring and loving people in my life is amazing and at first I felt like I was in a dream.

I cannot tell you how much this opportunity that came into my life has helped me change on the outside and inside.  To be a part of such an incredible group of people is awe inspiring.  My heart is so full of blessings!

I am so thankful for the choice I made but like any other job it comes with hard days...can I do this?

More to come...