Homemade isn't so hard!

I was doing a sugar experiment the other day for some of my challengers and it was then I realized just how much sugar my children were eating on a daily basis. I even thought I was buying the healthier versions of some of their favorite snacks but even these "healthy snacks" were loaded in sugar. It was in that moment that I decided it wasn't enough for me to just pay attention to what I was eating but I had to do a better job paying attention to what my children are eating as well. 

It is so easy to get busy, not plan and just buy whatever food is easiest and usually not healthy. It is easy to just buy Go Gurts and Nutri Grain Bars and hand them out like candy...which is exactly what it is like. So I decided that I was going to look into and see what I could make myself. I decided that I need to re-vamp breakfast and snacks the most

So for breakfast this week I am offering Banana muffins or pancakes. Both of which I made myself. I made banana and oat muffins and buckwheat pancakes with added 100% natural peanut butter. I froze the pancakes and placed the muffins in bags and refrigerated them. 

I also made homemade granola bars. I used oats, melted 100% butter, wheat flour, shredded coconuts and Ghirardelli semisweet chocolate chips ( I was going to make my own chips, but couldn't find all the ingredients and decided I would try that another weekend! LOL) I baked them for 16 minutes at 350 degrees...sooo yummy!!!

I then made homemade crackers to replace the Gold Fish- these are sooo simple and delicious!!! I used wheat flour, parmesan cheese, shredded cheddar and some melted butter and baked! sooo good! I have to stay away from them!

 

I felt so good when the day was done and I knew my pantry and fridge were stocked full of healthy snacks and treats for my kids to eat during the week. It felt even better this morning when I saw my kids eating and enjoying their healthy breakfast! It was totally worth the time and the effort to have the peace of mind of knowing what exactly my kids are eating! I think the only thing is next week  I am going to double up the recipes because I have feeling after taste testing yesterday some of these snacks won't last long!!! 

My Struggles

I grew up in a very loving home, went to a good school, played sports and had a bunch of friends. On the outside I was completely normal, but no one knew the turmoil I struggled with on the inside. As I started to turn into a young woman my loving home started to fall apart; my parents were drinking a lot and fighting and my sister was dealing with emotional issues and it caused a lot of trouble. I felt like an outsider and couldn't wait to get away to and go to college. I started to deal with the turmoil of my home life by ignoring it and pretending it didn't exist instead focusing on my weight and body image. All I could think of day and night was how much I weighed. I would often skip meals, use laxatives and eat a very limited diet. I worked out 2-3 times a day including sports practices. I was constantly obsessed with my weight. The number on the scale defined me in every moment and aspect of my life.

As I went on to college and entered into the working world the obsession never stopped. I had just came to the conclusion: In order to eat I had to workout. I didn't care what I ate, over eating wasn't my issue...I under ate and over worked out. I would beat my body up trying to get it to comply with where I thought it should be. I would run endless miles and push my body to new limits trying all kinds of sports and activities. But no matter how hard I worked or how great everyone else thought I looked...I was never satisfied.

The obsession and the worry started to eat me alive. I was so tired of working so hard and not seeing the results I wanted. I was so tired of worrying about my weight and my body all of the time. I actually took a break. After I had my second baby I really slowed down on taking care of myself. I was consumed with the kids and started to do the opposite of what I had done all those years...now I wasn't working out at all and I wasn't caring what I ate. I remember having a cold and going to change the baby and I was out of breath! Out of breath from taking care of the kids? No way that was it. I felt so horrible in that moment. I knew I was not taking care of myself if something so simple could make me feel so weak.

For months I had been seeing people getting amazing results using the 21 Fix Program. I had been curious, but never took the plunge. After that day I decided I had nothing to loose and everything, but maybe a few bucks and a few pounds. It was the best decision I ever made.I started to think of it as not just buying a workout program, but as investing in my health and in myself. I feel like you are either going to spend money somewhere either now taking preventative health actions or in the future at the doctors paying for bad health to be restored. I decided I wanted to pay now instead of later so I started to get back on track and taking my health into my control in a positive and healthy way. I started eating a balanced diet and only worked out once a day. And because I followed the program I saw results. I was amazed.

Having workout programs at my disposal that I KNOW will get me results gives me the peace that I don't have to worry about how long I workout for or how many times a day. Having a healthy meal replacement shake, Shakeology and following a meal plan that I know I can implement on a daily basis, helps me eat breakfast daily and stay focused on healthy eating without obsessing and worrying about a number on the scale.

I now weigh less than I have in years.But more importantly,  I am actually happy with my body. For the first time in a long time, maybe really for the first time ever, when I look in the mirror I can see I am getting stronger. When I look in the mirror... I like what I see. I am happy and comfortable in my own skin. And that feeling is priceless. 

The freedom I have found and look forward to continuing to find through Beach Body has been life changing. I had such an amazing experience with my first program I went on to to become a Beach Body Coach and am now blessed to help others get onto a healthy path as well. I am able to work from home and be with my kids while helping others and getting paid for it! I am so excited for what the future holds and bringing my dreams to reality! Invest in your health, invest in your wealth!