6X26 Goal Update && A Selfie :)

Hello!! Took my first "selfie" on my new iPhone 6+ JUST for you!! :)) 

Sorry I haven't updated about my 6X26 goal! I've officially been 26 for a week today and I'm happy to report that I DID fit in a six. However it wasn't comfortable orrr flattering, so back to protocol I go after my birthday trip to New Orleans and my new goal is to be a size 6 (comfortably) by our trip to San Fran in 1 month. 

I can totally do it!! I promise to update more often during my next journey towards my goal! 

Some of you may be asking, "aren't you upset that you didn't fit comfortably in a six by your 26th? I mean wasn't that your goal?" To those of you that might be thinking that, my answer to you is I am beyond proud of how far I came in such little time. I feel like a million bucks -- I just happen to still be a million bucks that is wearing a size 8 baggy jeans because I refuse to have a muffin top in a 6. :) 

I have a ton of energy, I feel awesome, I'm craving HEALTHY food - so to me it's a win win! 

It's always important to be proud of yourself in my opinion. So I am! Now time to focus on getting there for this next goal!! 

Talk to talk soon! I'm working on some new recipes for yall! 

Recipe Makeover - Spinach Dip

Let's all be honest for a second, okay? 

Getting in the daily greens can be TOUGH, especially if you aren't just a lover of greens, and the lovely salad does get real old from time to time, and if I have to saute spinach with my food one. more. time. I'll....you get the idea.

So basically, I am always trying to think of ways to get my greens in and this recipe I found below is a fun new way!

I found the original recipe here & modified it to fit Stimulock Protocol. (pinned here as well)

Spinach Dip: 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of frozen spinach - thawed
• 1 cup 1% cottage cheese
• 1 tablespoons onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoons garlic powder
• sea salt to taste 

Directions:
1. Using a blender, blend the cottage cheese until it is smooth and creamy2. Put the cottage cheese in a large mixing bowl, and add all other ingredients. Stir well.

I ate this today for lunch with my 1 cup of raw squash chips (just squash cut in thin slices). Gives it a nice crunch and all you really taste is the dip. Which, by the way, tastes like ranch dip, so I'm a fan!

***For all of you "EWW, Cottage Cheese! BARF" people - I feel ya, I'm not a fan of the chunky stuff either, BUT this is totally worth it, plus there are no chunks! 

REMEMBER: If you eat this as your lunch, it counts as your protein, and to only eat cottage cheese 2-3 days a week because of its high sodium content.

What did you think? What yummy veggies did you eat with it? 

Recipe Make Over - Pizza Spaghetti Bake

I don't know about y'all, but I crave pasta, like a lot. So the easiest recipes for me to play around with are the ones that have all the pasta goodies w/out the fatty/carby noodles. 

Last nights dinner was

Pizza Spaghetti Bake - I found the original recipe here on Pinterest, but knew I needed to make a few modifications in order to be able to have it be "protocol friendly". 

Serves: 3-4   (1C & 1/2 should give you the correct serving size)

Ingredients

• 1 large spaghetti squash (about 600 grams)
• 1-2 pounds lean ground beef or turkey (I use 2 in order to make SURE I get my 5oz)
• ½ yellow onion, diced
• 1 cup pizza sauce (no sugar added) (or make the protocol recipe in the back of your Stimulock Book) 
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• sea salt and pepper, to taste
• 3 eggs, whisked
• (optional: add anything you like with pizza: veggies,basil, etc.)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Option 1 - Cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise. Place spaghetti squash cut side down on a baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the skin of the squash gives when you press on it. Then reduce oven heat to 350 degrees. 
3. Option 2 -  I always prep the morning of by cutting my spaghetti squash in half width wise, place it "hole down" in a crock pot of about 3 inches of water, put it on Medium heat for 8 hours. It's ready to scrape out into the dish when you get home! 
4. Once squash is done cooking, remove threads and place in baking dish.
5. Place a large pan over medium heat. Add beef/turkey and onion. Cook until pink no longer remains.
6. Add pizza sauce, dried basil and sea salt and pepper to the pan and mix well.
7. Add meat mixture to the baking dish and mix well with spaghetti squash threads.
8. Lastly, add whisked eggs to the baking dish and mix everything together until you can no longer see the eggs.
9. Place in oven and bake for 1 hour or until the top of the mixture forms a slight crust that doesn’t give when you press on it in the middle of the dish.
10. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Once again - This is an AWESOME protocol dish. This one and my "shrimp scampi pasta" are two dishes I would eat anytime, on Stimulock or not...yea, they're that yummy. 

How did you like it?! Yummy right?! 

Bye Y'all!

6X26 UPDATE

Geeze,

Sorry friends, I haven't updated yall in a while. However - I AM DOING GREAT! 40 something days strong and I feel amazing. My weight is coming off slower this time because I don't have as much to lose as I did last time, but I feel like a million bucks and I can tell that I am losing inches like crazy. I'll measure this weekend and give you an update on just how many.

17 days until I'm 26! 

My 8's are loose, so I am headed in the right direction. Even if I don't "fit" in a 6 by my 26th birthday I am CONFIDENT that I did SO well and will be 100% happy with how far I came in such a short time.

Then when I get back from my "Golden Birthday Trip" I will get back on Stimulock, finish up, until I reach my goal, then lock this new weight in! <- MOST IMPORTANT PART

I'm excited! Sorry about not updating sooner!!

(Here is a photo of how skinny my face has gotten! YAY) I'm so happy that I haven't cheated ONCE! It hasn't been easy but BOY is it worth it! 

How are you doing?! Have you reached your goal? How are you feeling? More energy? Less cravings?!

Recipe Make Over "Shrimp Scampi Pasta"

Yall....SHUT THE FRONT DOOR.

For real, I made this last night and am HIGHLY considering making it again tonight...

Shrimp Scampi Pasta - I modified the recipe here to meet Stimulock Protocol

INGREDIENTS

I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spray (to taste)

14 - 18oz of Cooked Shrimp 

Minced Garlic (and/or garlic powder)

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

2 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (optional)

2 medium zucchini, cut into noodles (get God's gift to Stimulock Clients here)

Sea Salt & Pepper to taste

Chopped parsley, for garnish

Directions:

Place a large sauté pan over medium-low heat.

Put everything into pan 

Cook until "Zoodles" are to your liking. 

This is 2 servings!! ( YUM ) 

Like it? Cook it and let me know what you think!!

The Struggle is REAL

The Struggle is REAL yall.

I am doing really well, down 4.2lbs since Monday and feeling great, but these
co-workers of mine keep bringing in these sweets!

I walk in on Monday, head back to the kitchen to refill my water bottle and BAM - chocolate covered Oreos and rice crispy treats...ON STICKS. It would be so easy to just grab 10 and eat them, BUT I didn't. By Tuesday afternoon they were all eaten and I thought I was in the clear.

NOPE.

One of our sweet new interns at work decided to bring in home made brownies. Can't a girl get a break?

Then Wednesday rolls around and one of our new team members brings in, listen to this...fruity pebble rice crispy treats.

I can't make this stuff up yall. IT HAPPENED. Bam, Bam, Bam, I felt like I was in a boxing match with Sugar and I was about to get knocked out.

Through will power, and just sheer ignoring the sweets I made it through.

I walk into the kitchen this morning - a whole new tub of chocolate covered oreos were making their appearance.

I'm going to start bring a gallon of water with me every day so I can avoid the kitchens. (Disclaimer, I don't have to drink a gallon every day, I choose to because I really like water, and it makes my hair grow!)

I personally chose today, after seeing the new sinful cookies, to make a longer trip to the other kitchen to avoid them at all cost.

A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do.

Bye Yall - Hope sugar isn't stalking you this week.

6X26 - Challenge

Hey sweet friends!

It's been a while since I have uploaded any new recipes, or really just anything for that matter.

Sorry about that. Life has been a fast ride recently giving me very little time to just sit down and blog.

Never-the-less, here I am and I have an exciting goal to tell you all about!

My 26th birthday, which also happens to be my Golden birthday is on September 26th, and I have set a goal to be a size 6 by my 26th (6X26). With the help of the Stimulock System I know that I can get to my goal in no time!

I just have to be determined to get this last bit of weight off and get to my goal.

Nothing that is given to you in life is as sweet as something you had to work for, and trust me I like sweets. I have a mean sweet tooth, so this goal IS going to be accomplished and it IS going to be oh so sweet!

Some of the obstacles I might face will be planned trips in August, my best friend coming to visit in just a couple of weeks, and then the ever dreaded weekends. Don't get me wrong, I love the weekends, but I like the routine of work days...they help keep me on track and focused vs. my mind wondering off to candy land.

I just need to be prepared for those few times when sticking to protocol might pose a few challenges, and I will be A-OK!

Feel free to follow along in my journey. I hope something I share will help you in your Stimulock journey as well!

Let's GetFit together!

Bye Yall!