Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup

I would be lying if I said that I wasn't excited to try out my new soup bowls from a holiday gift exchange! Great recipe that my family (yes, even my kiddos loved). Will probably try to spice it up a little more next time!

What you need:

• 8 6-inch corn tortillas
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 cups slived celery
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 4 medium chopped tomatoes
• 6 cups of low-sodium organic chick broth
• 3 cups chopped rotisserie chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
• 1 1/2 cups sliced carrots
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp ground chili powder
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp ground pepper
• 1/4 c. chopped fresh cilantro
• 4 tsp. crumbled feta cheese

What you need to do:

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Line large baking sheet with parchment paper
3. Place tortillas on baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until toasted and crispy. Remove from oven. When cool, break into pieces. Set aside.
4. Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat.
5. Add onion and celery - cook until onion is transparent
6. Add garlic, cook for 1 minute
7. Add tomatoes, cook for about 5 minutes or until tomatoes are soft - set aside.
8. Add onion mixture, 2 cups of broth and half of the toasted tortilla pieces to blender. Blend until smooth.
9. Add blended mixture to large saucepan. Add remaining 4 cups broth, chicken, carrots, oregano, chili powder, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat to medium low and cook for 10 minutes.
10. Top each serving with cilantro, cheese, and remaining tortilla pieces.

ENJOY!

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Turn your Resolutions into Results

Although I don't believe you need a Monday, a new month or a new year - it can't help to tap into that 'new' motivation! I know I will be - I am already thinking about my New Year goals - for my family, my marriage, my career, my body, coaching, and financially - yep, I think about all these things! I  want to know how I can be better all the way around! And I want to kick this off with you!

So what is this group all about???

• Everyone including myself is committed to a workout program (not sure where to start? no worries, we will figure it out together!) - I will be continuing my Hammer and Chisel schedule
• Everyone is committed to checking in the group daily!
• I am going to teach you how to meal plan and prep weekly - as well as include budget tips!
• Daily motivation, accountability, 1:1 coach support
• Recipes for your entire family!
• Positive mindset activities

Lets do this! Let's kick off the New Year with a game plan! I know for me personally, I spent year after year making the same resolutions - but I realized, you can't live the same year over and over again and call it a life... thinking about that, really made me dig deep and soul search.. it is so true, and yet sad - I am not going to live another year on rewind and replay.

January 4th is our preseason start date - during this week I will give you daily tips and tricks to being successful during the Challenge!

Ready?

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Hammer & Chisel - Week 2 Recap

My hard work and dedication on meal prep day was a huge success! I saved a ton of time, money and calories. And I am happy to report, I stuck to it... I am also happy to report that the Traill family is one week butter free - now I get it, butter can be good for you... but between the temptation to me and the cross contamination risk to Kate (who is dairy intolerant) it is a good move for us! We really focused on food this week - and our favorite hit was my panko breaded chicken - the girls thought they were eating chicken nuggets, I thought I was eating chicken parm! Win Win (or winner, winner, chicken dinner in the words of Aubrey!)


 And like the rest of you, we have had our fair share of holiday parties and temptations! By following my holidays tips, I am happy to report - they have been pretty much a non-issue! This upcoming week with Christmas Eve and Christmas - I have a plan! And I think that is key, if you go in knowing you are going to have a cheat meal, you might go crazy, and eat everything in sight. When really you should go in having goals and intentions! For example, on Christmas Eve we always have steaks and a baked potato bar - I will skip the baked potato bar and put my steak on a salad with greek yogurt ranch! Perfect! Still a treat, but without going overboard. On Christmas, my plan will be to have a shake before I leave. And practice portion control  I'm going to skip wine, go with 2 cookies and lots of water! Again, still a treat but without going overboard!

As far as the workouts went, it was a challenge to press play after night shift. I am not going to lie, I did not feel like it. My brain was in a fog during an agility workout in Chisel Agility, but I did my best - sometimes that is all you can do! My favorite new move came during Hammer Conditioning - burpees with weighted rows! Check it out!

 

The key for this busy week will be prep! I moved my rest day to Christmas, because I just know myself! On Christmas Eve, I am also preparing for Christmas by doing a modified Shakeology Cleanse Day (having steak instead of chicken).

 

 

 

Meal prep has become a family affair! I bring the girls kitchen in with our their dishes and it keep them busy for awhile, at least! I used to think I didn't need to food prep because I only work 12 hours a week outside the house, but that doesn't mean I am not busy! And I get caught up in excuses to why I can't cook, or want to grab something not on my plan! I also found that prepping food for the girls was also key! This keeps me 100% out of the kitchen, with the exception of breakfasts!

I am loving sharing my journey with my challenge groups - we are all at different parts of our journey, but we all support each other! We form friendships, cheer each other on, inspire and motivate one another. My groups are forming and filling up quick - reserve a spot today!

 



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Spinach & Turkey Lasagna Roll-ups

Hello Pasta Lovers! Better yet, this was perfect on meal prep day - easy and reheated perfectly!

What you need:

• 9 cooked whole wheat lasagna noodles
• 2 cups chopped baby spinach
• 2 cups ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
• 1 egg
• 1 clove of minced garlic
• 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 lb ground turkey, cooked
• Low Sodium Spaghetti Sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozerella

What you need to do:

1. Preheat over to 350
2. Mix ricotta, spinach, parmesan cheese, egg, garlic, Italian seasoning, and pepper in a bowl.
3. Add cooked turkey and set aside
4. In a baking dish, place 1 cup of pasta sauce on the bottom of the dish so the bottom is evenly covered!
5. On a cutting board (wax paper, whatever!) - lay out the lasagna noodles
6. Spread cheese mixture evenly over each piece of lasagna.
7. Roll one strip of lasagna at one end and roll all the way up and place in baking dish, seam side down
8. Continue this process with all lasagna pieces
9. Top lasagna rolls with sauce and mozzarella cheese.
10. Cover with foil
11. Bake for 40 minutes

Don't Get Tangled Up in Holiday Weight GAIN!

The average American gains 7-10 pounds during the holiday season! I thought the average would be like 3-5... but 10 pounds! Wow... How do you stack up during the holiday season? Do you really ever lose it all?

 

The holiday season can be really difficult - from food pushers, to lack of sleep, to stress, get together, and the emotional difficulties that can also come with the holiday season. For many, this is a time of emotional stress and sadness, causing emotional eating. Let's face it, we are programmed to eat when we are happy, sad, stressed, tired, and on and on...

First and foremost, if you go into an event and plan on 'winging it' you will crash and burn... no way to sugar coat this one! Here are a few more of my personal holiday tips...

One tip I forgot to add was to say 'no' to food pushers... no I don't want to try it, no I don't want a bite, no I don't want any left overs --- but thank you! If you had a food allergy or were avoiding the food for a religious reason, you wouldn't think twice about saying 'no'. So this is your new 'lifestyle' treat it like one!

I constantly remind myself that fit is forever and flavor is temporary.. or as my momma used to always say "moment on the lips, forever on the hips!"

For more tips and support or for help losing the holiday weight - groups are enrolling now... Apply here to be considered! Space will be limited!

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Hammer & Chisel Week 1

I think I will start off by saying - this program in 7 days has surpassed all my expectations and is my soul mate workout! I will admit, I was a little concerned about the length of the workouts (T25 spoiled me!) but it has not been an issue! I'm enjoying the workouts so much that they are flying by!

 

Setting up my workout space in my bedroom was key! I slept in my workout clothes so I literally ruled out of bed and pushed play!

I did battle some sore muscles - well a lot of sore muscles actually! It was a long time since I did a
weighted workout and I have been feeling it... best kinda pain though! Funny story, I was at work one night (Tuesday, actually) and I had 2 patients ask me why I was limping!!! I felt it with every patient I helped move, every drain I bent down to empty, and every time I got up from sitting in a chair (which wasn't often!).. I did order Recover to help with muscle soreness and I can't wait to try it!










The one thing, I am disappointed in is - myself... I didn't follow my meal plan the way I had hoped! 2 cheat meals, too much wine, maybe some butter (okay, yes - there was butter!).. I just know I can do better and with a March cruise and  Febuary fit mom photos - I need to buckle down... I learned what worked and didn't work from week 1, and made some improvements week 2! The biggest thing was adding a meal prep in for my girls - I would be going about my day, thinking I didn't have to make dinner when really I did need make something for them! It is so important to me that they eat healthy, balanced diets - so on their dinner menu this week is turkey spaghetti, homemade baked chicken strips and grilled chicken (thank goodness they both love grilled chicken!)



I was lucky enough to have a helper today and together we prepared over 15 meals! Not including breakfasts (because we make the eggs fresh daily) or snacks (but we did pre-portion and baggie them all up!) PHEW! Successful day to help set up for a successful week!


Week 2 Meal Plan!



Prep Work Completed!




I love that I have an amazing support team - including my accountability partner and group! We keep each other on track, give each other new ideas and recipes and I couldn't do this without their support! If you are looking for support like this, please fill out my application below!

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Onion Baby-Baked Potatoes

It is no secret... I love butter - my hardest craving to kick! Every time I try to make a regular baked potato, I tell myself I won't put butter on it "this time" and guess what??? I always to... So I gotta switch it up!  Delicious and simple as can be! You can use red potatoes and cut them as well!

What you need:

• Baby potatoes (red or multicolored)
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil (amount depends on how many potatoes you are making, you need just enough for a light coating)
• Dried Minced Onion
• Onion Powder
• Dried Parsley
• Dash of Garlic Powder

What you need to do:

1. Preheat oven to 400
2. Spray glass baking dish
3. Place washed potatoes in the dish, single layer
4. Drizzle lightly with EVOO
5. Sprinkle on onion powder and minced onion
6. Bake for 40 minutes
7. Enjoy!

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