Everyone Needs Chocolate for Breakfast

Yesterday morning I just decided to try something different for breakfast. My typical breakfast is my delicious chocolate Shakeology blended with homemade peanut butter and a frozen banana....I love it! And if it's not that it's usually a green smoothie. I very seldom have anything other than these two things.

But out of my adventurous-ness came this super quick and easy breakfast bowl.

Chocolate Quinoa Breakfast Bowl

• 1 cup milk (any kind works, but I prefer some kind of milk over water for that creaminess)
• 1/2 quinoa, rinsed
• 1 scoop chocolate Shakeology (blend of 70+ whole food & superfoods)

Rinse quinoa in a fine mesh strainer. Add milk, quinoa, and chocolate Shakeology to a pot. Stir to mix in the Shakeology. Bring to a boil, then cover and turn down the heat to low. Cook for about 15 minutes.

I added some milk over my chocolate quinoa and ate it just like that. My mother-in-law and 2 of my brothers-in-law had theirs with milk and a little sweetener. So there are so many options to serve it! I thought it would be good to maybe mix in some homemade peanut or almond butter with sliced bananas.

But this was a huge hit! We all loved it! My husband was jealous that he didn't get to try any because he had to leave to work before it was done. This is probably going to become a breakfast staple, especially now that fall is setting in.

I had about 1/2 a cup and I was full all morning long! I love the fact that I was getting such an amazing dose of protein with the quinoa and the Shakeology....it was the perfect combo!

I hope you enjoy!!! :)

Working on a Healthier Me!

For the past two years I have really been trying to get myself healthier. I've done two sprint triathlons and have tried to make healthier choices in food. But nothing was sticking! I don't know why.

I'm sure I could find excuse after excuse as to why I'm currently the heaviest I've ever been in my life! Would you like to hear them? Maybe some of them you've used before,

• I'm a SAHM and I get bored, so I eat.
• There is no sunshine here in the Northwest, so I've been really depressed and don't really care about things like working out.
• I don't handle my stress very well, so therefore, I eat or crawl inside myself and, again, don't care about life.
• It's too hot inside our home to workout, especially with no AC!
• Having family live with us, off and on, for the last two years has not been good for my eating habits.

And on and on. Back in April my friend mentioned something on Facebook about a fitness challenge group that she was going on. I really liked the idea of having a support group that you checked in with each night and the fact that my sister decided to do it with me helped, too. :)

So in April, I took my "Before" pictures and I wept! How did I let myself get this way?! I was truly heartbroken. Believe me, the negative thoughts were FLYING at me! I felt a constant barrage of them...hourly!

I was determined to change. THIS was now MY time and I was going to MAKE it happen! I wanted to see results.

I did INSANITY for 60 days and absolutely loved it! It was more challenging than anything that I had ever done! I also made Shakeology a meal, once a day. And I loved it! I was feeling more alive than I ever had! I felt more energized and able to keep up with my 3-year-old. Those ugly tentacles of depression were keeping their distance. I wasn't feeling as irritable and annoyed with things. It was great!

But it wasn't all glorious! There were a few days were I was literally balling my eyes out during one of the workouts. I was just an emotional wreck! It's funny how your body works when you start making lifestyle changes and how it can mess with your emotions as well. There were also mornings that I did NOT want to get up and do anything!

I just kept pushing. And pushing! I made it through all 90 days and it completely changed my life! I'm definitely NOT where I want to be and, sure, I would have LOVED to see more drastic results, but I MUST CELEBRATE what I have done!

I lost a total of 7.5 inches overall and a total of 2.7lbs! I was in shock when I saw the scale because I had been maintaining my weight throughout the entire challenge...until that last day! So, again, I know my numbers aren't huge and dramatic (YET! ;) ), but "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass"!

Today, I'm starting this!

There is another challenge group starting on the 19th of August! Contact me if you would like to join and take this new journey with me! :D