Protein Packed Snack

One of my biggest struggles when it comes to my diet is getting enough protein and eating on the go.  I tend to be on the go a lot and I'll admit it, I have been really bad at planning and packing snacks to go.  After a long day of running around, I am starving because I haven't had anything to eat and I haven't had enough protein.  This usually leads me to eat anything in sight once I get home because I am so hungry.  Diet fail. 

I really struggle to come up with good, healthy, protein packed, gluten free snacks that I can pack in my purse and take with me on the go.  In the last few weeks, I have noticed that my boyfriend always has protein bars, protein powder or some sort of granola bar with him at all times.  In his pockets, his car, at home, at work, no matter where he is, he has access to protein filled snacks. There is no excuse why I can't do the same thing.

I am usually pretty good about packing protein powder and a banana with me for after the gym.  But why not buy an extra container of protein to put in my car or keep in my desk at work? That way I have no excuse to eat poorly when I am in the mood to snack at work or on the go.

I have also been keeping my eye out for a gluten free protein bar that actually tastes good.  On Instagram, I see a lot of people raving about Quest Protein bars.  I was pleasantly surprised to find out they are gluten free, have over 20 grams of protein, under 200 calories and 17 grams of fiber.  Not bad!

This weekend, I stopped at GNC and bought four bars to try out.  The only one I have tried so far is Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.  This bar is gluten free, 190 calories, 8 grams of fat, 17 grams of fiber and 21 grams of protein.  First bite was ok.  Tasted kind of like your typical protein bar, pretty dense and dry.  The guy at GNC said I should try microwaving the bar for 10 seconds and it will make a big difference.  So, I gave that a try today. WOW, SO GOOD! Literally tasted like I was eating a fresh baked chocolate chip cookie.  For someone who has not ate gluten for a year or any sort of real tasting cookie, this was really delicious.  Perfect protein packed, gluten free snack for on the go!

Can't wait to try the rest of the Quest protein bar flavors, perfect to kick my sweet tooth and get in my protein for the day.

Jess

Pictures From the Weekend

I haven't posted in a while.  Life has been busy and I have bronchitis.  I have been laying low from the gym, but still managing to eat pretty healthy.  I am officially down 40 lbs!  I am hoping to start feeling better soon so I can get back in the gym and lift some weights!

Here are some pictures from the last two weeks! Spent lots of time shopping to try to find a dress for a wedding.  Proud to say I now fit into 4-6 size dress, down from 12-14 last year.

New Dresses! Size 4-6! 

Supplements before the gym

Cinco de Mayo Margarita

Margarita with a friend

Sadie girl

Chicken Fajitas

New bed frame and comforter

New workout outfit

My handsome boyfriend

Love this

Tom and I

New Nike Frees

Jess

Tuesday Night Sweat Sesh

Started out with C4 and Creatine

1 Hour of hills on the elliptical

Shoulder Press

Leg Press

Hamstring Curls

Leg Extention

1,224 Calories

Finished with Protein, BCAA's, Creatine and a Banana

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Transformation Tuesday

Thai Chicken Salad with Peanut Sauce Dressing

Recipe Adapted from: Pinch of Yum.  I made some changes to the ingredients and also made this salad gluten free and I made the dressing a little more sweet.  If you a vegetarian, feel free to substitute the chicken for tofu.  

I absolutely love Thai food and often crave it.  I have been waiting for a recipe to satisfy my Thai and peanut sauce cravings.  This recipe did the trick for me! Love it because it was crunchy from the cabbage and the peanuts and the dressing gave it so much flavor!  I usually try to stay away from peanut butter because it contains so much fat, but I found I didn't need to use too much of the peanut sauce dressing on the salad because it was thin and so flavorful.  I ate this salad for dinner and I have enough for about three more meals. Looks like I know what I will be having for lunch tomorrow!  I really enjoyed this salad and I hope you do too!

Serves: 4

Time: 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 2 chicken breasts
• 1 small head of cabbage
• 2 carrots
• ½ cup of cilantro
• ½ cup of peanuts
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tbsp sriracha
• 2 tablespoons tamari (or soy sauce)
• 2 tablespoons vinegar
• 2 ½ tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 tablespoon oil
• ½ teaspoon fish sauce
• ½ cup natural peanut butter
• ½ cup water

DIRECTIONS

1. Bring pot of water to a boil.  Add chicken breasts and boil for 15 minutes.  Once chicken is cooked thoroughly  let cool and shred the chicken.
2. Meanwhile, chop cabbage into thin pieces and place in large bowl.
3. Peel the outside of the carrot and discard. Peel the entire carrot and then chop the carrot strands in smaller pieces.  Add to large bowl.
4. Chop cilantro and peanuts then add to large bowl and mix.
5. In a small bowl, add garlic, sriracha, tamari, vinegar, sugar, lime juice, olive oil and fish sauce.  Whisk until mixed well.
6. Add peanut butter and water.  Whisk until smooth.
7. Add cool shredded chicken to salad mixture, toss.
8. Top with peanut sauce dressing.
9. Enjoy!

Jess

Ingredients

Chopped Salad

Enjoy!

Southwest Salad with Cilantro Honey Lime Dressing

This recipe was adapted from The Garden Grazer.  I made changes to the dressing to make it a bit more sweet.

Time: 15 minutes

Serves: 4

INGREDIENTS

• 2 romaine hearts, chopped
• 1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 can of corn, drained and rinsed
• 1 orange pepper, chopped
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes - chopped
• 1 bag of precooked sliced chicken - I used John Soules Foods Chicken Fajita
• 1 1/2 cup cilantro
• 1/2 cup of plain non-fat greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 1/2 tsp vinegar
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1/8 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Chop romaine, orange pepper and cherry tomatoes then place in large bowl.
2. Add in black beans and corn. Mix salad.
3. Cook chicken until warm.  I cooked mine in the microwave for about 3 minutes.  My chicken was frozen precooked chicken, so it did not take long to warm up.
4. For the dressing, place cilantro, greek yogurt, olive oil, lime juice, honey, vinegar, garlic and salt in a blender and blend until smooth.
5. Add chicken to the salad and then toss with the cilantro honey lime dressing.
6. Enjoy!

I really enjoyed this salad.  Since I used precooked chicken, this was a very quick weeknight meal.  

Hope you enjoy!

Jess

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Ingredients

Blend Salad Dressing Ingredients

Chop Vegetables

Enjoy!

Confidently Dressed

Ever since I started this journey to lose weight and find my happiness, I have found a new love for shopping. Not sure it's a good thing!  The more comfortable I feel in my own skin, the more I enjoy dressing up and putting more effort into my appearance.

Before I started this journey to lose weight and get fit, I literally hated my body.  I didn't want to be in family pictures, I didn't want to try on clothes, I didn't even want to be around people and I even felt like I was too fat to even go to the gym.  I used to only wear black because I felt like it hid the obvious - the fact I was overweight.  I refused to buy new clothes that actually fit me because that meant I had to face the fact that I had gained weight.  So I covered myself in black clothes that were too small for me hoping no one would notice.

Along with all of my fitness goals, I have a couple other goals for myself this summer. Wear a bikini and wear dresses. I have always envied those girls who wore dresses.  A girl in a dress represents a girl with confidence to me.  I have never been one to wear dresses during the summer because I have always felt they draw too much attention to my body and that was the last thing I wanted.

I was talking to a friend a couple weeks ago about wishing that I was one of those girls who could rock a dress. Their response, "Why can't you?".  Good question.  I feel like I finally have the confidence to wear a dress and pull it off.  I always assumed I had to be skinny to pull off a dress, but in reality, the only thing I have been missing is confidence.

So lately, I have been buying dresses.  Summer dresses, cocktail dresses, casual dresses - you name it! I want to have casual summer dresses to wear to the park, cocktail dresses to wear out to a nice dinner and a cute party dress to wear on my birthday this summer. The last time I wore a dress on my birthday was when I turned 21, which was almost four years ago! This summer, I will be turning 25 and I am going to rock a cute party dress!

I have lost 35 lbs now and that does make trying on clothes more enjoyable.  But most important, I am finally comfortable in my own skin and I have the confidence to rock a dress!

Jess