Grilled Flatbread Pizza

OH MY was this GOOD. I really out did myself this time with my pizza making. There were two simple tricks: grilling the flatbread on my panini press until it became crispy and sauteing my veggies in coconut oil before putting them on the pizza. It really made the difference.

• 1 Light Flat Out wrap
• 1/4 cup of pizza sauce
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1/2 broccoli
• 1/2 cup sliced bell peppers
• 1/4 cup sliced onion
• 10 Yves Pepperonis 
• 1 tsp coconut oil

Preheat oven to 425. Grill flatbread on panini press until crispy (spray with coconut oil). Saute veggies in 1 tsp coconut oil until tender. Lay flatbread on aluminum oil and spread pizza sauce. Layer with 1/2 the cheese. Next, add pepperonis, veggies, and the rest of the shredded cheese. Lightly spray with coconut oil, then sprinkle oregano. Bake for 6-8 minutes, making sure not to burn the flatbread. Let cool for 5 minutes, then slice and enjoy!

I really love making homemade pizza because you can play around with the ingredients and make it however you like. Plus, it's much easier to calculate the nutritional value if you are making it yourself!

Happy Cooking :)

Grilled Chicken Quesadillas

Haven't posted in a LONG time, but here's a new recipe that I whipped up today - grilled chicken quesadillas. YUM!

• 1 Flat Out Light Wrap
• 1/2 cup Mexican Blend Shredded Cheese (I used Weight Watchers)
• 4 oz grilled chicken tenderloins, cubed (I used Sanderson Farms)
• 1/2 cup broccoli
• 1/2 cup bell pepper
• 1 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Black pepper, cayenne pepper, for seasoning
• 2 tbsp reduced fat sour cream, for dipping (I used Breakstones)
• 2 tbsp salsa, for dipping

Preheat oven to 400. Grill chicken in a skillet in 1 tsp of olive oil until cooked through (don't worry if they are not fully cooked b/c you are going to put the oven anyway). Saute veggies until tender. Layer half of the cheese on half of the flat out wrap, layer chicken, veggies, and top with the rest of the cheese, then fold shut. Transfer to a baking sheet and bake in oven for 5 mins. For added crispiness, grill on a panini press for about 2 mins until you get those "grill lines" (SO WORTH IT). Enjoy with your favorite sides!

Note: For added kick, mix taco seasoning with sour cream for more of that Mexican flavor.

The entire meal was only 438 calories!

Transformation Tuesday

Guess what today is? Transformation Tuesday!!! I didn't know if I had any before pictures that were full body pictures, but then I found one from April 2012 and didn't realize how much bigger I was. I used pic stitch to put my "Before and After" picture on Instagram. The after picture was taken on April 7, 2013.

Before and After
April 2012 ---> April 2013

DO NOT GIVE UP! Even if you have one bad day, don't let that ruin the progress you have made. This took me a year to get where I am. Not because it was easy, but because I never gave up. It's ok to cheat every NOW and THEN. Start small by changing your eating habits or walking a mile every day so it's easier to stay on track. Whatever it takes to get healthy and happy, DO IT. Pinterest and motivational blogs helped me get inspired enough to where fitness became my new love rather than partying and eating really unhealthy choices. It's ok to love food, but find healthy alternatives to your favorite foods. I have found a new love for not only fitness but cooking as well. I make all of my meals to make sure I know what I am putting in my body. If you're going out to eat, plan ahead so you can make wise choices. Sorry for rambling, but I remember the picture on the left and how I was just starting my journey. I can't believe how far I've come and how much happier I am. Just remember tomorrow is a new day to start getting healthy. Don't wait to start :)

Love,

Chels

Margaritaville Restaurant & Casino Biloxi

Sunday was my day off from the gym so my family and I (minus my sister) decided to have a family outing at Margaritaville in Biloxi, MS. This time of the year is the best time to go because they have a marina with tables, a bar, and a stage. You can just sit out there, soak up some sun, and listen to some music. I can't wait to go back!

Marina

Family & boyfriend

Keith & I

New summer clothes!

Love,

Chels

Shrimp Fajitas

This has got to be my favorite healthy meal for the time being. I have literally made this meal 3 times this week. It's super simple and can be tweaked to your liking! You can double the recipe if you want. I make enough for myself and usually have left over veggies that don't fit in the tortilla and just eat them on the side or share them :)

Ingredients

• 6-8 frozen or fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined with tail off
• Half of yellow and orange bell pepper, sliced (you can use whatever color pepper you like)
• 1 small onion, sliced
• 1 tsp safflower oil
• 1 low carb tortilla (I used La Tortilla Factory)
• 2 TBSP of avocado

Directions

Slice veggies and saute in a medium saucepan with 1 tsp of safflower oil over medium heat for about 6-7 minutes, occasionally tossing them to allow for even cooking. After veggies are softened and browned, put them aside. Place the shrimp in the same pan and cook about 1-2 mins on each side, making sure not to overcook. You want them browned but to still have some orange/pink color. Once shrimp are cooked, mix the veggies and shrimp together to blend flavors. Take your tortilla and lay flat on a plate. Take 2 tablespoons of avocado and spread on tortilla and lay shrimp and veggie mixture in the middle. Roll into a burrito and heat in the microwave for about 10 seconds. You can cut the burrito in half or eat whole, but I like to cut mine because I feel like I'm eating more ;). Enjoy!

Do you have a Support System?

Who are the people you can count on most in your life? 

Mine is my family. Through all the ups and downs in life, they have been the one constant thing in my life that has been positive and unchanging. My sister and my mom are my best friends because they love me for ME. No matter what I say/do or what we fight about, we are always there for each other, which has helped me a lot in my weight loss journey. I haven't been happy with my weight in a long time, but they have helped me stay on track to achieve my goals. I motivate them to be healthy and workout, which in turn, motivates me to do the same. If you have a great support system, then you know how important it is. Don't let other people get in the way of your goals. There will negative people, whether they are close to you or not, and people who try to put you down because they are insecure with themselves. Don't let their negativity stop you! Remember that you are getting healthy for YOU, not anyone else.

Another great support system in this journey has been inspirational blogs that I have stumbled upon using Pinterest (Special credit to Undressed Skeleton and Muffin Topless). Without Pinterest, I really would not be where I am today. There are so many great recipes and workouts you can find on there that led me to challenge myself in the gym. I started seeing small changes in myself. First, the number on the scale, then people start to notice, and soon after that you're having to buy new clothes. Losing the first 20 pounds was easy, but losing the next 20 seems impossible. Consistent clean eating and working out in the gym 5 days a week is getting me to where I want to be. I feel better than ever and nothing can stop me now! Find your support system and never give up on yourself because you CAN DO IT!

"We accept the love, we think we deserve."
Perks of Being a Wallflower

Mom, Sister, Me, Dad @ Bonefish Grill in 2011

Mom, Me, Sister @ Cosmo's in Orange Beach, AL in 2012

Straight flexin ;) - taken today

Body Pump! Sorry I don't look happier. I promise I am, I just didn't want to be so noticeable taking a pic lol (taken today also)

Bison (Buffalo) Burrito

I recently ordered Grass-fed Bison from Tropical Traditions because they were offering 40% off, and I have been interested in trying it so I just couldn't help myself. Bison is much healthier for you in terms of lean meat. It has 2 grams of fat per 4 ounces as opposed to other lean ground beef, which has about 10 grams of fat. Bison is also much sweeter tasting and cooks differently than ground meat. However, if you put it in a skillet, it cooks the same way except you don't need to drain the fat because it's so lean. Tonight, I decided to whip up something involving ground bison. I had NO idea what to do so I started by sauteing diced onion, sliced green bell pepper, and diced mushroom, and the rest is history. Here's the ingredients list!

• 1 lb ground bison
• 1 small diced yellow onion
• 1 green bell pepper, sliced
• 1 cup mushrooms, diced
• 1 tsp safflower oil
• Half can of 14.5 oz diced tomatoes 
• Half can of 19.5 oz black beans
• 1 TBSP garlic powder
• Dash of pumpkin pie spice
• Dash of cinnamon
• Half an avocado (optional)
• Sour cream (optional)
• Shredded cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup for each tortilla
• 4 tortillas

1. Heat 1 tsp safflower oil in a large saucepan. Saute onion, bell pepper, and mushroom until soft. 
2. Heat bison in a saucepan until it starts to brown. Once the majority of the meat starts to brown, add the sauteed veggies to the skillet of bison.
3. Mix together with black beans, tomatoes, garlic powder, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice. Cook until meat is browned. I'm not exactly sure on the timing but if it's brown and no longer red, you're good to go.
4. Heat the 4 tortillas in the oven at 350 for about 5-7 minutes. This part is optional but I think it's worth it.
5. Spread a TBSP of the avocado on 1 tortilla, then add the bison mixture down the middle of the burrito, top with cheese and sour cream if desired, then roll into a burrito. Enjoy!

I cooked these for my mom, dad, boyfriend, and myself. I must say I was very pleased with the results and will definitely be making this again! You can play around with this recipe as much as you want based on your taste, but you will be happy with whatever you decide. 

:)

Shrimp Fajitas & Matchbox 20

Sorry it's been so long since my last blog post! When things get crazy, some things get put on the back burner, but I'm sorry this was one of those things! Anywho, this past weekend my sister and I went to L'auberge Hotel & Casino in Baton Rouge to see Matchbox 20. The event was outside and luckily it didn't started drizzling until the end of the concert. Nevertheless, we had a blast!

Now for my recipe of the day. I decided to make Shrimp Fajitas for lunch for me and my mom. I bought a pound of unpeeled shrimp, fresh pre-cut fajita veggie mix, and tortillas to make the fajitas.

• 1 pound unpeeled shrimp (of course, you need to peel them and rinse them)
• 1 tsp safflower oil
• 8 oz of mixed veggies (green, red, orange, and yellow bell pepper and onion)
• 2 La Tortilla Factory tortillas
• Half an avocado
• 1/2 diced tomato
• 1/3 cup of cheese, if desired
• 1 TBSP salsa

1. Peel the shrimp, and season with garlic powder and lite salt in a non-stick pan for about 2 mins on each side. Be careful not to overcook them.

2. Saute the veggies in 1 tsp of safflower oil, until soft, which is about 5-7 mins. Then set aside with the shrimp.

3. Take half an avocado and spread it on the tortilla (not too much, just a nice thin layer). Then add sauteed veggies, shrimp, diced tomato, cheese, and salsa and roll into a burrito.

4. Pop it in the microwave for 15-20 secs just to get it nice and warm.

5. Enjoy!

Banana Pancakes

Hello everyone! Sorry I did not post anything yesterday. I had a busy day! I went to an interview at the University of New Orleans for the counseling graduate program I am applying to and didn't have much time after I got back. However, that morning I made my favorite "pancakes". All you need are two ingredients: banana and egg whites. Except for my take on the recipe, I use a scoop of vanilla protein powder to give extra added protein, a TBSP of PB2 powdered peanut butter (I got this from Amazon), and blueberries to top them off. The good thing about this recipe is that it's versatile, but as long as you have the basics - the banana and egg whites - you are good to go!

Ingredients

• 1 Banana
• 3 Egg whites
• 1 TBSP PB2 (optional)
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (optional)
• 1/2 cup blueberries (or whatever fruit you like)
• 1 TBSP maple syrup or honey (optional)
• Cinnamon, sprinkled over pancakes (optional)

1. Put the banana, 3 egg whites, 1 scoop of protein powder, and TBSP of PB2 in the blender and mix until smooth.

2. Heat up a small skillet on medium heat and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Pour enough mixture in the skillet to be a somewhat thick pancake.

3. When the pancake is cooked well on the bottom (make sure it's not too burnt), use a spatula to carefully flip the pancake. (This part is tricky!)

4. You can make either 2 big pancakes or 3 smaller pancakes (just depends on how much mix you use per pancake). Top pancakes with blueberries and sprinkle with ground cinnamon. If you'd like, you can add 1 TBSP of pure maple syrup.

5. Enjoy! I'll post the pictures I took during the process.

Sauteed chicken and veggies

Hello everyone! I hope you had a great Sunday because I know I did. I went to one of my favorite group exercise classes - Body Pump. It's a full body barbell workout that improves strength and transforms your body by focusing on low weight loads with high repetitions (you can use more weight if you choose). After my hard workout, I stopped by the grocery store and grabbed some Chicken Tenderloins by Harvestland and fresh green beans. These tenderloins were some of the best I've ever had. My sister introduced me to the skinless chicken breasts by this brand, but today I discovered these bad boys and decided I wanted more of a chicken strip than a whole breast. SO good!

Ingredients

• 1 package of chicken breast tenderloins
• 1 TBSP of low sodium soy sauce
• 1/2 TSP chili powder
• !/2 TSP garlic powder
• 1/4 TSP ground cumin
• Cooking spray
• 1 TSP Safflower oil (or any oil you have on hand)
• Fresh green beans, amount depends on how much you want
• Large ziploc bag
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Any veggies you would like to saute

1. For the chicken, I rinsed each tenderloin and cut off any excess fat, which was very simple since it's already super lean. I sat them aside and then got a large ziploc bag.

2. In the ziploc bag, I put 1 TBSP of low sodium soy sauce (I used Kikkoman's), 1/2 TSP of chili powder, 1/4 TSP of ground cumin, 1/2 TSP of garlic powder and tossed chicken in the bag to help coat each piece. You can adjust each ingredient to your own taste.

3. Set a skillet on medium heat with 1 TSP of Safflower oil (or you could use any oil you have on hand), then sprinkle a little salt over the chicken, to taste.

4. Cook the chicken on each side for about 3 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. You can also toss in any veggies you like - I tossed in a few mushrooms and sauteed them with the chicken.

5. After chicken is cooked on each side, set on a plate to cool. While your chicken is cooling, prep your fresh green beans to cook in the skillet (I used the same skillet I cooked the chicken in).

6. Set the heat back to medium and put the green beans in the skillet. Then, sprinkle black pepper and garlic powder over the green beans, to taste.

7. After a few minutes, the green beans will start to brown on each side but make sure they are easy to poke with a fork before you turn off the heat. This should take a little over 5 minutes.

This meal is very simple and delicious. The chicken is perfect and reminds me of a teriyaki dish. Plenty of protein to satisfy your body after a hard workout. You can even pop a small sweet potato in the microwave to get a good source of carbohydrates or boil some brown rice to mix with the chicken and veggies. Here is the finished product. Enjoy!

Bacchus Mardi Gras Ball 2013

Hello world! :)

For my first blog post, I would like to introduce the most important person in my life, Keith. This is a picture of us from the Bacchus Mardi Gras Ball 2013 in New Orleans. It was our first time going and we had no idea what to expect. Nonetheless, we had a BLAST! My best friend's boss gave us 2 tickets and provided alcohol and food for the whole night. I even got a throw from Emeril! Here's a few pics from that night.

Keith & I

Brit & I with our Bacchus swords!

Our drink table

The parade came through the Convention Center and
right in front of our table!