Almost a new year y’all!

Hey everyone! So, it’s almost the end of 2013. This year has been a lull year…nothing to great about it..nothing too bad about it either for me. I had some low points in my journey for better health and I’ve had some high moments.

I’m now down 20lbs and exercising regularly. I have splurged a lil on the holidays and will splurge a little tomorrow night, but I have not let that start some out of control spiral eating of unhealthy foods. I’m going to enjoy new year’s with family, good food, and fun. I’m making taco soup, stuffed jalapeno poppers, and sopapilla cheesecake for dessert! Yum! See below for the recipes!

I’m also starting to get serious about my training for my 5k in February that I signed up for. I intend to run at least half of it. I’m starting a biggest loser competition at work that I’m excited about. So far I have 10 other ladies doing it with me. And one of my closer work friends is going to be my accountability buddy! We’re going to have weekly health and fitness challenges that will hopefully keep folks going. I’m really looking forward to it!

For Christmas my awesome hubby got me the scale I wanted that can read body fat %, bone and muscle mass along with weight. It’s pretty neat. While the numbers aren’t where I want them..I know I’m getting the tools to keep track and stay on the right path to a healthier me! He also got me some new workout dvds that I’m looking forward to starting to! For those of you wondering what they are…I really enjoy the Hip Hop Abs workouts, so hubby got me level two and the cardio/ab max workouts! That’s 5 new routines to learn.

I also have insanity to try when I feel I’m ready to move up to it. I still haven’t been able to complete a “real” push up yet…so when I can accomplish that goal, I’ll move on to Insanity!!!

Well, I’m staying positive and really looking forward to improving myself in 2014! Happy New Year’s Y’all!

Recipes

Taco Soup:
1lb cooked ground beef or shredded chicken
1 can pinto beans
2 cans black beans
1 can corn (drained)
1 can diced tomato (Hunt’s with onion is my favorite)
1 can rotel
1 packet ranch seasoning
1 packet taco bell taco seasoning

Mix all ingredients in a pot and heat to medium then reduce and simmer for 20-30 minutes

Jalapeno poppers:
20-25 jalapeno (seeded and sliced in half lengthwise)
1 package 8oz cream cheese
1/2 package of parmesan cheese
1 package of mild sausage

Cook and drain sausage. On low to medium heat add cream cheese and parmesan to cooked sausage. Mix until cheese is melted.
Spoon sausage mixture into jalapeno halves
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until sausage is browned on top

Sopapilla Cheesecake:
2 packages crescent rolls
2 packages cream cheese
1/2 cup butter melted
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
cinnamon

In a 13×9 greased pan roll out one package of crescent rolls
Mix cream cheese, vanilla, and sugar
Spread mixture over crescent rolls
Unroll other can of crescent rolls and spread over the top of mixture
Pour melted butter over the top and sprinkle with about 1/2 cup of cinnamon/sugar mixture
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes

~Charity 🙂