5 Steps to Starting Your New Years Resolution

New Years is so so so close! Say goodbye to 2014 and say hello to YOUR YEAR! This will be the year that we work harder than ever to achieve our dreams. Now, I can't help you pay off your student loans, but I like to think that I can help you with your resolution to lose weight/get healthy/get fit. I'll be posting my resolutions soon, but first let me help you get started on yours!

1. Think BIG then SMALL. You might want to lose 100 pounds total. That's a great goal! But that might not happen in 1 year and thinking so far ahead can make you give up. So start small with monthly goals. Saying you want to lose 5 pounds in January is a goal that you can achieve and will inspire you to keep working hard!

2. See where you're at. Weigh yourself, and then do a little research to find out what a HEALTHY weight for you should be. It is important to be realistic about your health, no matter how hard it can be.

3. Set yourself up for success by staying accountable. Join a program like Weight Watchers, or download an app like My Fitness Pal or Lose It! These are all great ways to track your calories and activities. By seeing exactly how much you are eating and what healthy portions look like, it will be easy to see why you gained weight and will put you on the path to eating right.

4. Join a gym/workout program. Diet is the most important place to start, but you will see faster and better results if you get that body moving! It will also really improve your overall health. There are a TON of programs and challenges out there on the internet. My personal favorite is Blogilates (review for her program will be up in a few weeks). You can also buy programs like Insanity. There is also the option of combining different things and creating your own program!

5. Do it with a friend! Having a workout buddy makes you more likely to go to the gym and will keep you more accountable. It is also nice to have someone that knows what you are going through and can keep you motivated and on track!

What are your New Years Resolutions? Comment below or tweet with #bodyaspirations

Recipe: Healthy Chicken Rice Bowl

This dinner fills me up every time I make it and really helps fulfill my Chinese food cravings!

What You Will Need: 
4 Oz. Boneless Skinless Chicken
1 1/2 Cups Frozen Veggies
3/4 Cup Instant Rice (cooked)
1/2 Cup Chopped Lettuce
Zero Calorie Cooking Spray

Directions:
1. Grill chicken on the stove top with any seasoning of your choice (I use hot sauce!). When cooked all the way through cut into small pieces.
2. Make rice according to directions on the box. Usually boiling the water, adding rice, turning off heat, and then sitting for 5 minutes until rice is fully cooked.
3. Steam Veggies on stove top with any desired seasonings,
4. Mix all together with lettuce and any other toppings.
5. Enjoy!

Makes 1 Serving

Variations: 
You may use brown rice instead of white, steak or fish instead of chicken or add things like soy sauce or teriyaki sauce for flavor. Additional toppings can include tomatoes, salsa, or some cheese.

Stats:
345 Calories
48g Carbs
4g Fat
28g Protein

Friday Check-In December 26

I thought it would be nice if I could give you guys an update every week. I want any readers to be able to get to know me and know that they are not alone in their temptations, struggles, and indulgences. I'd love to hear in the comments how your week went and what your weekend plans are! This is the last Friday of the year! Next Friday I'll give you all my stats (this will happen the first Friday of each month) so that I can see any progress that I made.

If you are comfortable please leave your stats next week as well. I want us to feel like we have a safe environment here!

Working Out: I've been having a lot of trouble staying motivated to do my workouts everyday. I haven't skipped one yet, but man it is HARD to get myself to do my Pilates! Running isn't too bad (I ran 7 miles on Monday!) But I know my Pilates is super important for toning my body. Honestly, I think I'm just getting tired of this month's calendar and am getting excited for the new monthly workouts. Also...winter really just makes me lazy.

Eating: I have been staying on plan pretty well, but the days surrounding Christmas included some cheat meals and snacking, though I added some workouts to balance it out. Christmas was a little extreme (we had homemade pizzas this year and cookies, fudge, peanut butter balls, and chocolate covered cherries.) Thankfully I stopped myself before there was no turning back! haha.

Other: I've been moving ALL of my books (over 3 shelves full) over to my boyfriend's house a few boxes at a time. I am SO CLOSE to being done and they look so great in our office. For Christmas I got some great gifts, but most needed for me was an actual yoga mat! No more rug burn for me!!

Non-Scale Victories: When I was Christmas shopping I also tried on some jeans to gauge my new pants size, and I am now a size 5! Less than a year and a half ago I was a 17, so this felt so great. Another victory was running a 10 minute mile without stopping and without feeling dead at the end. I've been running 5 minute miles for a while, but this week it just started being..easy, so I'm starting to challenge myself again!

How was your week? Comment below or tweet at me at @txmandaxt with #bodyaspirations

Recipe: Egg in a Basket

It might be obvious by now but I REALLY love breakfast foods! They are a great way to get in some healthy carbs, fats, and protein! This is one of my all time favorites.

What You Will Need:
1 Medium Egg
1 Slice Bread
1 Slice Ham
Zero Calorie Cooking Spray

Directions:
1. Spray pan with cooking spray and allow it to heat up at medium heat.
2. Take bread and tear out a medium circle in the middle, place bread on pan.
3. Place the ripped out piece of bread off to the side on the pan.
4. Crack egg into the hole you created. Once is is cooked on that side, flip it as well as the cut out circle.
5. Once egg is fully cooked put everything from the pan on a plate.
6. Pan fry your ham to your liking.
7. Serve and enjoy!

Makes 1 Serving

Variations:
You may use any type of bread of your choosing, turkey instead of ham, or just use egg whites. I like to put some hot sauce on top for extra flavor!

Stats:
158 Calories
14g Carbs
6g Fat
10g Protein

5 Tips for Staying Healthy During the Holidays

Staying on your diet and eating healthy can be difficult at anytime, but it is especially challenging during the winter holidays. The urge to stay in your warm bed eating cookies and milk all day is very strong. The holidays are great and you all deserve to celebrate and take part in all the festivities which enjoy the delicious foods. But there is no reason to overdue it and make the holidays a time of regret and loss of progress. So here are a few helpful ideas to help you stay on your plan and be in control during the holidays.

1. Grab a small plate. Most plates are way too big for healthy serving sizes. A small plate can handle your 6 oz piece of ham, a scoop of mashed potatoes, gravy, a roll, and green beans. Filling up a large plate with these foods likely means you are overeating!

2. Avoid spending days in pajamas. That includes leggings! It's okay to get comfortable but it is easy to ignore that extra weight gain if all of your clothes are stretchy. Put on a nice outfit, go to a holiday party. Be proud of your progress and you will work harder to maintain it.

3. Don't Skip Workouts. There is almost always time for a workout!! Even if you can only fit in 15 minutes here and there, it is worth it. That extra serving of mashed potatoes taste better without the guilt of skipping a workout.

4. Try not to snack! Instead eat a proper dessert with everyone else. You will end up eating more if you are taking a bite or two every time you walk by the treats.

5. Plan your meals! If you know you REALLY want to splurge during a party or a dinner, then try to plan how much you will consume. Then incorporate some extra workouts and healthier eating around the event to keep your progress on track.

Recipe: Baked Apple Oatmeal

This is a really easy and simple recipe that is very convenient to whip up every morning!

What You Will Need:
1/4 Cup Instant Oats
1/2 Gala Apple
1 tsp Cinnamon
2 tsp Zero Calorie Sweetener
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/2 Cup Water

Directions:
1. Chop the apple into small pieces so that they can soften easily and put them into a microwave safe bowl.
2. Mix in the oats, Cinnamon, sweetener, vanilla, and water.
3. Microwave for 3-4 minutes
4.Stir again and enjoy!!

Makes 1 serving

Variations:
You can add any fruit or nuts that you desire, use milk instead of water, or use real sugar. This is just my personal preference!

Stats:
115 Calories
14g Carbs
1g Fat
2g Protein