FaiLuRe

There are things I love about eating healthy, exercising and using It Works! products....
 - I feel great!
 - I am giving my kids a healthy start
 - I am teaching myself how to manage food and exercise. 

Here is the deal...I spent the last 2 weeks being frustrated that I was not loosing more weight.  I was just sitting at 191.4, I was working out, eating nothing I "wanted" and missing diet coke.  I was day away from giving up...I was ready to just stop working at everything.  I cried all the way to work last Friday morning.  I gave up and had a rough weekend, diet coke and carbs re-entered the family.  I felt devastated, defeated and sad.  I was so sad that I had "failed" that I had "given up" and then my friend sent me a note about giving up when progress was slow, not paying attention to the fact that slow progress is still progress.  So, I am not going to let the stress of life and frustration of no weight loss get to me...I am not going to let it stop my drive and my discipline.  I am capable of doing this...I am stronger then my vises or my emotions!!   

I saw this today...I love it.  What I want now is

I also loved this one...new butt on the horizon :)

https://healthytogether.myitworks.com

emilyulmer22@gmail.com

-E

I love chicken!!

1/3 cup lemon juice

1/4 cup olive oil

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

2 large cloves garlic, chopped

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

4 chicken breasts

Mix the ingredients in a medium mixing bowl,  Place the chicken in the marinade.  Marinate the chicken for 2-4 hrs (not more then 6 hrs) just trust me...grill the chicken.  Cut up the chicken into bite size pieces.  Put over romaine lettuce with Cesar salad dressing (I prefer Maries' brand)

Sometimes I like sprinkle a little parmesan cheese!

ENJOY!!

-E 

ThOughTs On a ThUrsDaY

I was looking at pictures today at work, and I ran across this one.  I am almost embarrassed to even post this.  I think sometimes I forget how far I have come. 

So, I am choosing today to look back and be grateful for how far I have come and all the work that I have done.  I am so grateful I have these pictures to look back on and see where I have been...I never ever want to forget!

-E

FiGhT cLuB

Have you ever had one of those days, where you just battle with yourself?  All weekend long I struggled.  With being a mom, a wife, a friend, food, you name it I struggled with it.  As soon as 1 little thought comes in my mind, the next follows shortly after.  "I am not a fun mom, I don't have balloons for the party"  " I am not a fun wife, because I have a hard time riding on a motorcycle".  "I am fat".  I am not pretty"...you get the picture. 

I end up feeling like it is Fight Club in my head.  Not like crazy, multiple personalities crazy, but like I have to fight with myself to stop the train to negative town. 

I remember watching an Oprah where she talked about climbing a mountain.  She said, it is important to keep your eye on your goal, the top of the mountain, but that it was important to stop and enjoy the view, give yourself credit for where you have been, how far you have come and what you have accomplished.  Even when I think about that it is still so hard to stop the negativity.

So, I decided to take a deep breath and just soldier on.  I cant say it was easy or all of a sudden I was not struggling, but I made it through the weekend.  I cried and I still wish I had lost 15 lbs this weekend, but I did not.  I am slowly but surely losing the weight and am making decisions that will make myself and my family healthier.

Enjoy the journey, don't let Fight Club get in the way, you have got this!!

For info on my products: https://healthytogether.myitworks.com

Contact me: emilyulmer22@gmail.com

-E

Chicken Broccoli Awesomeness

I was looking for something different tonight for dinner...I had chicken and broccoli so I Googled, and this is what I found.  It is a low carb chicken broccoli bake.  It was so quick and so super easy.  I made a few alterations from the original, but it was tasty!!

Chicken Broccoli Bake
4 chicken breasts cooked and cubed
3 cups broccoli florets
1 medium onion, diced
1 clove garlic, diced/pressed
8 ounces softened cream cheese
1 cup chicken broth
1  1/2 cups shredded  (I used sharp cheddar)
2 tablespoons fried onions (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 X 13 pan with non-stick spray.
Place chicken and broccoli in a large mixing bowl. I used raw broccoli; I like mine to be crunchy. If you like your broccoli to be soft, steam it in the microwave 2-3 minutes first.
Saute onion and garlic in olive oil with salt and pepper. When onion is soft and slightly brown (about 3-5 minutes), add cream cheese to saute pan. When cream cheese is melted, whisk in chicken broth until the mixture is smooth. Allow to simmer for about a minute, or until sauce thickens slightly.
Add cream cheese and onion mixture to chicken and broccoli. Mix well. Add 3/4 cup of the shredded cheese and mix again. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Spread evenly in baking pan. Add remaining 3/4 cup cheese on top. Bake for 25-30 minutes until cheese is melted and casserole is bubbling.  Add the fried onions and bake 5 minutes more.

ENJOY!!

-E

tHe BeAuTy Of WhO yOu ArE

Webster tells us that the definition of woman is: Feminine quality or aspect

It does not say, big boobs or high heels and pearls everyday.  It does not say anything about anatomy or outward beauty.  Feminine in history meant, sweet and kind, thoughtful and charitable.  We are not the sum of our "parts", we are more than that.

I have spent the last 5 years saying to my husband "I want to be fun like I used to be" or "I want to find the old Emily".  I would spend time every day tearing myself apart, inside and out.  I was never good enough and I was never going to be good or fun again...

Last week I realized that I am not the sum of all my parts, I am the sum of all my roles.  I don't know why I spent so long depriving myself of defining myself BY my roles.  My children are my greatest accomplishments, why oh why would I not want to own that.  I am different, God needs me to be different, my children need me to be different, my husband needs to be different and I need me to be different.

I am so grateful for my roles

- mama

- wife

- working mother

- housekeeper

- sister

- daughter

- friend

- church member

I choose today to let my roles define me, instead of running from them toward someone that does not exist anymore.  I am Emily and my roles enhance who I am, they don't take away.  They make me better!  Embrace your roles and embrace your change as you become what God needs you to be!!

Dove make a video.  It is amazing, beautiful and inspirational.  Please watch it, then share it!

http://realbeautysketches.dove.us/

emilyulmer22@gmail.com

-E

TiTaNiUm

"I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose fire away, fire away ricochet, you take your aim fire away, fire away you shoot me down, but I won't fall I am titanium you shoot me down, but I won't fall I am titanium"

This was my song today...I was having a rough time thinking I could make it through my workout today at lunch.  I had so many things to do, I was tired, I am not in good enough shape...all those bad thoughts you think, or at least I think.  This song came on and it was my jam!!  I actually started crying at the end of my workout.  I had done it...I was not too tired, I was strong enough I had done it!!  It was as if I had found a strength I did not know I had.  It was amazing.  I was sweaty and gross and happier then I have ever been working out!! 

Some days it is easy, but most days it's not... get up, go to work, workout, get the kids, clean the house, make dinner, do the laundry, serve at church, spend time with the little people I created, spend time with the man I am crazy about and some where in there pee :)  As I listened to the song while I was running, I just kept saying, "I can do this, I can do this".  If there is one thing I wished I could give to my loved ones and friends that would be a belief in themselves.  No matter what life has to toss at you, believe in yourself.

Christopher Robbin said to Winnie the Pooh

"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

I love this quote so much, I had it in L's room in our first home!!  We all should remember...

**I have another amazing recipe I will post tomorrow so check back!

For info on my products please check:

https://healthytogether.myitworks.com 

or email me:

emilyulmer22@gmail.com

-E