Time to get back at it.....

For many of my friends, family and those who follow me you all know me to be a hard worker.  Someone who gives it her all and goes for it with everything I have.  I tend not to back down from many challenges nor do I back down from anything or anyone coming against me.

As this year comes to a countdown of hours left I have been faced with the reality to really review the last year of my life and evaluate where I was, where I was headed and where I ended up.

As a part of growing up, yes I am still growing at 41, it has came to my realization as of today that I spent most of 2014 chasing things.  People, dreams, expectations and ideas other people had for me.  Some of it was good, some of it was not.  I do not regret the year but I regret what I allowed to fall apart..... my standard of living a healthy life as well as pushing those around me in theirs.

So, I am going to get back on the wagon and force myself to stay on it.  Time to refocus on myself, my fitness and helping those around me.  No more chasing, no more grasping and no more putting myself last.

This upcoming weekend I will do what I have not done in a LONG time... I will cook my food for the week.  I will create my caloric intake and I will create the meals that will get me there.  I will create my plan for my caloric burn to achieve my daily/weekly deficit and I will begin to live the lifestyle I thrive in... a healthy one.

If you find yourself in the same position I am in and if you feel lost, then please... feel free to follow along.  I will TRY and post my weekly menus and workouts so that anyone out there can follow along too.  Make sure you have no food allergies and understand each weight movement.  I am NOT responsible for you if you hurt yourself or if you eat something that makes your face blow up!  I am not offering personal menus for anyone and I can not adjust if you do not like a food.. please do not ask.  I am simply giving you the option to follow along and change your life too.

Isn't it time we start living the lives we were meant to live?

Happy New Year!

~Mellie

Breakfast:

·         Mellie’s Banana Pancakes OR Mellie's Oatmeal 2014

·         Green Tea, no sugar of any kind added

Am Snack:

·         1 apple

·         1 scoop of protein

·         Green Tea, no sugar of any kind added

Lunch:

·         Mellie’s Turkey Chili 2014

·         Green Tea, no sugar of any kind added

PM Snack:

·         1 scoop protein

·         Green Tea, no sugar of any kind added

(Drink one scoop of ARM immediately after a weight workout only)

Dinner:

·         Mellie’s Meatballs

·         2 cups of spinach

·         Green Tea, no sugar of any kind added

PM Snack: (1 hour to 30 min prior to bed)

·         1 scoop of protein

Mellie’s Banana Pancake Breakfast

Ingredients:

• 1 scoop Vanilla Protein shake
• 1/4 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 dash sea salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 small ripe banana, mashed
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk
• 1 teaspoon safflower oil, (divided use)
• Sliced banana and raspberries (for garnish, optional)

Directions:

1. Mix Shake, oats, flour, baking powder, and salt in medium bowl: set aside
2. Beat eggs in medium bowl: stir in mashed banana and almond milk
3. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients: mix well
4. Heat 1/2 teaspoon oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Pour about 1/4 batter into skillet for each pancake; you should be able to fit 2 or 3 in pan at once. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until bubbles form on top. Flip with spatula and cook for 30 seconds.
5. Add remaining 1/2 teaspoon oil and repeat with remaining batter.
6. Serve warm; garnish with bananas and berries if desired.

Makes 1 Serving

Mellie’s Oatmeal 2014

Ingredients:

·         2-1/4 cups water

·         1 pinch sea salt

·         1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

·         2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk

·         1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

·         1 tablespoon slivered almonds

·         1 tablespoon dried cranberries

1. Heat water and salt to boiling in medium saucepan. Reduce heat to low; add oats; cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes or until water is just absorbed. Remove from heat; let stand for 5 minutes.
2. Add almond milk
3. Sprinkle with cinnamon and top with almonds and cranberries.
Drink with a protein shake

Makes 1 serving

Mellie’s Meatballs

Ingredients:

• Cooking spray
• 1 1/2 pounds lean ground Turkey
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 3/4 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
• 2 tablespoons all natural tomato sauce (no sugar added)

Directions:

1. Preheat over at 400 degrees. Spray a large baking sheet and set aside.
2. Combine all ingredients into a large bowl and mix well.
3. Roll mixture into 30 1″ meatballs and place on sheet.
4. Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Makes 6  Servings – 5 balls each serving

Mellie’s Turkey chili 2014

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon olive oil
1 1/2 pounds lean ground turkey meat
1 medium red onion, chopped
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 Tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
1 (15 oz.) can kidney or pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce (no sugar-added variety)

Directions:

– Heat oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add turkey, onion, bell pepper, and garlic.
– Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until turkey is no longer pink.
– Add cumin, chili powder, salt, and cayenne pepper; stir and cook for 1 minute.
– Stir in kidney beans and tomato sauce; bring to a boil.
– Reduce heat to low and gently simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 min. or until thickened.

Makes 4 servings 1 ½ cup each

I am.....

If you have been following my blog you know these cards are called the I Am...... Cards.  The idea is to pull a card each day to read a positive affirmation to fill your mind with.  By focusing on positive thoughts, you can change how you feel and the way you think.  It's a simple way to experience life in a new and exciting way, and to explore your mind with the thought behind the "I am".... card of the day.

I am....flexible.

  

When I pulled this card I laughed out loud at the message. I was JUST told last night by someone I am just getting to know that one of their observations of me was that I was able to adapt to most circumstances, which of course for me goes hand in hand that I am flexible.

"Your comfort zone is not a place that you want to remain in. 

Dare, discover, be all that you can be." ~ Catherine Pulsifer

Yes, there are MANY areas in my life where I am flexible.   I think when change comes down the pipeline I am quick to express my likes or dislikes about the change and then I am also quick to get the new change into my head and adapt in any way I need to so that I can continue to succeed in my life. 

Of course for the most part if I had the choice I would really not want a lot of change in my life.  Like most people I get myself into my comfort zone and I want to stay there and enjoy the security of feeling safe.  For me, and for most others, my comfort zone relates to my anxiety level.  The lower my anxiety the greater the comfort zone is for me and human nature keeps me there. No one wants to feel anxious, high levels of stress or have feelings of insecurity.  But in life, as we all know, change is always inevitable..... Good or bad. 

There is a type of anxiety that is good for us all, it's called Optimal Anxiety.  This is a higher level of anxiety that pushes us to perform better and do more. Anyone who has ever set a goal and pushed themselves knows this level of anxiety is what gets us to a new accomplishment level.  But it's a known fact that too much anxiety and our bodies shut down and we do less than what is typically normal for us. 

Being flexible in simple situations in my life has allowed me to be more flexible and adaptable when changes I do not foresee coming happen. Continually allowing myself to step out of my comfort zone in small ways reminds me that if I can be flexible with these little changes then I can really focus on the big changes and allow myself to brainstorm and problem solve the bigger issues.  

For me getting out of my comfort level is a learned skill.  I tend to be an A to Z girl. I will go from one end of the scale all the way to the other end without a blink of an eye.  This is what needs to be done; this is how I am going to get there and then BOOM.. I am there.  What I tend to forget is all the area in the middle.  There is so much to learn from the middle, there is so much to experience and so many people and other opportunities there too.

As I think about my life and my routines I think of new ways that I can change those routines up to have more life experience thus forcing me out of this comfort zone I am currently in.  It's the little changes that we can make that will really change us.  Here are some of the changes I am going to try and focus on to get out of my current comfort zone:

I am going to try and do everyday things differently.  My daily routine is pretty much the same each weekday.  But what if I changed the hours I worked, or the hours I went to the gym.  What if instead of working at the same gym each day of the week I went to other locations and experienced the workouts there and the people?  What new doors could that open up for me?

I tend to go to the same places for food or drink that are in my comfort zone.  The staff and other patrons know me there.  I know the menu and the choices and I know that satisfied feeling I have going to those locations.  But what if once or twice a month I went somewhere new?  What new foods could I try, what new people and cultures could I experience? 

I am going to slow down when making choices in my life.  As stated before I tend to be A to Z.. I really want to see what's in the middle and see what it has to offer.  Typically I know when I do not like something; I will move past it and never look back.  But what if I gave it two or three more chances to really experience it and perhaps learn something new about myself.  I do not want to be so quick to just make my decision and move on.  I really want to learn to slow down in the moment.  

I am going to stop fearing fear.  Fear protects me but it also hinders me and prevents me from living the life I am meant to live.  It can be overwhelming at times and it can also be so faint I do not really grasp that fear is keeping me in a place I no longer want to be at.  As I begin to understand the fear in my life and address it, rather than pretend I am strong and it's not there, I know the more I will be able to break free from it.

These are only a few ideas that I have to allow myself out of my comfort zone and be even more flexible.  But once we get into our minds that it's possible we can really begin to make big positive changes.  

I always want to be flexible.  I always want people to know I am flexible and as long as I am not taken advantage of they can count on this from me.  Being flexible is a good thing and a quality I want to continually improve on.  

What areas are you flexible on and what areas do you need to work on?  Can you make a list of changes you want to make and take the steps necessary to make them?   Of course you can!  

Make today the FIRST day you allow yourself out of your comfort zone and be just a little more flexible and then continue to build on that daily in any way you can.

We all have the ability to live the life we were meant to live, let’s start doing it sooner than later!

~Mellie 

 

 

I am......

If you have been following my blog you know these cards are called the I Am...... Cards.  The idea is to pull a card each day to read a positive affirmation to fill your mind with.  By focusing on positive thoughts, you can change how you feel and the way you think.  It's a simple way to experience life in a new and exciting way, and to explore your mind with the thought behind the "I am".... card of the day.


I am....capable.


As I drew this card out of the bag at lunch time I caught myself holding my breath.  Was it going to be a card that I would not be able to admit to?  Would it be a card that I would not relate to?  Would it be a card that would make me feel insecure about myself? (The complete opposite of the purpose of the cards, but a reality none the less) Or would it be a card that would allow me to celebrate myself?

The answer?  It's a card that I can relate with and makes me feel insecure about myself.

One of the things I love the most about myself is the ability to provoke the potential out of people.  I know most people that I know are not demonstrating all they are truly capable of and it's a gift for me to be able to look at them and coax them to their potential.  That could be in their relationships, their work, their weight loss or parenting.  Each situation depends on the person and what I observe in their lives. Most people daydream about a better lifestyle. They have in their minds what they think their life should look like and can almost see themselves doing it, but can not seem to get there. I try and look at them and find out what it is holding them back.  I try and determine what is stopping them from being all they can be?  I then will try and guide them just enough to show what actions they need to get there.  This makes me capable to motivate and provoke potential. 

What I struggle with is being capable in my own life.

The obstacles I allow to detour my own dreams as well as not being able to see the actions I need to take to allowing me to achieve my goals.  This is one of the most frustrating characteristics about myself.

I am a successful person in many ways. I do very well with my job and can manage myself and my goals surrounding it.  I raise good, solid children who are not lazy or entitled.  I am able to manage my household and ensure that all the key players are in place and all the requirements are getting done.  If faced with a challenge I can rise to it and overcome most of the times.  I was successful in changing my lifestyle and eating habits thus changing not only my body but my life.   Yet, when it comes to my daydreams and what I yearn for I only see the steps in front of me and find I am paralyzed to actually climb those stairs.  

Why is that? 

Why am I, or anyone else, able to be so driven and successful in so many areas yet not able to be capable of achieving even higher accomplishments and making our daydreams a reality?

There is a huge gap between what we want and what we do about it. 

For me I it comes down to a few questions:

How bad do I want it?
Is it enough just to know that it's possible, if only I were willing to push a little harder?
Am I content to know it is there and pretend that "one day" I will do something about it?
Or is it that I am too fearful because of the risk of embarrassment or disappointing others?

I live daily in a life where I know there are even bigger and better things waiting for me.  I understand that the decisions I make on a daily bases will either put me closer to those dreams or leave me in the same place I have been each morning when I wake up.  Each little decision I make will either support the change or it will support my fear of the steps.  Usually I remain in the same place until something dramatic happens in my life or around me that forces me to realize... "I want more than this!"  "I want more from myself!" 

Sometimes little moments in life such as the lyrics to a song, a quote, a story of someone who triumphed, can motivate me.  Or it could be that someones life has ended and I am left knowing they were not done living yet and not wanting this fate for myself.   When I find myself in this place, this is the time that I resolve to make changes and do something remarkable.

It's these moments when I have to really reflect and ask myself tough questions.  "Am I being the best me I can possibly be?"  And the answer is usually no, because I know there is so much more that I am capable of in this life.  I have to learn to take new steps, go in new directions and remove myself from the comfort of fear and allow myself to fail or succeed.  I can not continue my life wondering or daydreaming about other things I should be doing.  I can not continue in my life waiting for someone to come along and push me or discover me and hand me the keys to my dream.  I can not continue to allow the influences of others hold me back from what I want and know I can do.  I have to take new steps to move myself out of my current complacency and step into my potential.

I am tired of accepting less from myself than I know I am capable of.  My potential is a gift to the world, maybe not all of the world but a large part of it, and it's up to me and only me to get out there and share it....... every single day.

Just like working out became who I am and part of my lifestyle, my dreams need to as well and it's up to me each and every day to take it one step further to get to where I am going and want to be.

I am....capable.

Of many great things, and I am capable of overcoming many great things.  I owe it to myself to make it happen and so do you!


Go out and be remarkable today!


~Mellie

The Elf On The Shelf......

 Here are two days of Elf On The Shelf...

The one with his head in the bag was a lazy quick day.  The kids were gone to their dad's house that night so I just did this one real quick so when they got home from school Toto, our Elf, would be there for them to see.  They thought it was funny and talked about how he likes candy. 







This one was last night.  Of course the movie Frozen was the thought behind this one.  I just shoved him into the rolls or TP and then drew the face of the snowman and details on his body.  That is a really baby carrot as a nose.  I used my scissors to dig a hole in the roll and then just pushed the carrot in there.  The snowman's scarf are two colored pipe strings wrapped around.  And the gloves are being held up by two suckers on each side of the rolls.  Very easy, yet very fun!


Trying to write on the mirror so my kids would not reorganize my handwriting was the most difficult part, it looks like I have the handwriting of a serial killer. 

Have a great day!

~Mellie