Yogi Tea

Ummmmm.  I'm just gonna come out and say it.  All of this clean eating is slowly turning me in to a hippie.   I mean, I just ordered a nut milk bag to make my own almond milk for heavens sake. I've been researching  baby wearing and gmo's.  I might even be considering cloth diapers. GASP!   I love it though.  Its a throwback to my Oregon roots. 

 So, side note I've just realized I do that a lot.  I look like a hipster?  Its cuz I grew up in Portland.  I justify every Nike purchase because they are from my hometown.  My love of sunshine comes from growing up without any sunshine.  Oregon.  Love it. 

But back to being a hippie.  Besides being "forced" ;) to eat really delicious pizza and homemade ice cream at my baby shower, which led to the return of pms and therefore the justification of frozen yogurt and a raid on my mom's cinnamon bears stash, I have done really well.  Haha!  Eating clean has become so much more to me than getting in to booty shorts, which is a whole different post.  I love how I feel and I love the effects it has had on other areas of my life.  All those cinnamon bears gave me was some zits and a stomach ache.  I think it also made me more anxious about baby coming.  

So what is a hippie to do when faced with a stomach ache and an anxious heart?  Yoga, obviously.   I've really loved doing more yoga this year.  It challenges me to be more present and focused, and gives me determination more than any other kind of exercise I do.   So Monday night I brewed some yogi tea, sat in baby's space and refocused.  My to do list shrank.  My priorities shifted back to where they need to be. 

My stomach ache is gone.  My anxiousness has been replaced by excitement and clarity. I still have the zits but with a little help from apple cider vinegar those will be gone soon too. I highly recommend being a hippie.    

And yogi tea.  

Yogi Tea

2 quarts water

15 whole cloves

20 black peppercorns

3 cinnamon sticks

20 whole green cardamom pods, split

8 slices ginger 

1/2 tsp black tea (decaf)  

Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil in a 3-4 quart pot. Add cloves and boil for one minute. Next, add cardamon, peppercorns, cinnamon, and fresh ginger root. Cover and boil for at least 30 minutes. For best flavor, cover and simmer for 2 to 3 hours, adding more water if needed.  When ready, remove from heat, add black tea and let cool. Strain tea. When ready to drink, mix 1/2 cup tea and 1/2 cup milk of choice and warm it up.  Sweeten with honey to taste.  Can be stored in the fridge or even frozen.

Yogi Tea is a health-promoting beverage and a tonic for the whole body. It strengthens the nervous system, energizes the body, clears the mind, and is both a remedy and preventive measure for colds, allergies, and other illnesses.
via Yoga Yoga

Let the adventure begin...

Baby brother is almost here.  Its getting real.  He has a space of his own waiting.  The space is in my heart and in our arms and in the guest room/baby room.  

I feel flighty and unsure of where to start on my suddenly urgent to do list.  But I know they are just things to do.  So I think about him instead.  I think about how calm he is going to make me.  Which sounds funny to say about a baby and all that comes with one.   But its true.  

I think about us.  The different versions of us.   We have been three for so long.  But we were just the two of us even longer than we have been three.  And already it feels like there has always been four.   The four of us.  I like it.

I think about her.  And my heart hurts.  I know her heart is going to hurt too. She is strong and brave and kind and loving.  She will be ok.   I just hope she knows how much we love her.  And can 't even begin to let her know how much she is a part of us.   Part of our happiness.  Part of our story.  Part of him.

There are so many things to do.  But the quiet moments in my thoughts are what are getting me ready.  

<<<>>>

I'm ready.  Let the adventure begin.  

Round Three Done!

How did Round Three of the 24 Day Challenge go? I'm super stoked with how it went for me and I'm ready to take on March.   Now that my knee is at like 95% I feel like I can actually do the challenge how I intended it to be as far as working out goes.  But getting serious about "eating clean" is what I credit my results with.  So here's my results just for this 24 day challenge.

STOKED!! Now times that by two and thats what I've done since January 10th.   And technically I dont really know how you add up how many inches I've lost.  I mean it all depends on how many places you measure right? So does that mean if I measure more spots I lose more inches?  Who knows. All I know is its proof that doing all the right things works.  And that probably 80 percent of those results are just from changing what I eat.  Crazy.  But true.  

How did it go for you?  

24 Day Challenge Round 3. Bring it.

So I know I was going to post this yesterday.  I was thinking how nice the 4th would be for a start date. Finish up on the last day of the month and all.  So we can either pretend that we did or we can start today.  Either way in 24 days, if you really commit, its gonna rock.  

If this is your first time to do the challenge or need a little refresher I'll break it down for you a little bit.  You are going to eat clean, drink water, sleep 8 hours and exercise every day for 24 hours***.  On the first day take your measurements.  If you fully commit I promise you will see a difference.  I'll give it to you straight though its gotta be 100%.

  No matter how healthy you are eating, there is probably something you could do better.  Get on pinterest, search clean recipes and go to town.  Your taste will change and your gut will thank you.  The best tip I've learned is you have to be prepared.  Always have an idea of what you are going to eat and don't leave home without a snack in your bag!  Also eat enough food!! I think I might karate chop the next person that tells me they are eating 1200 calories.  That is how much your body needs just to function.  If you are exercising you need to eat more.  Or your body will eat your muscles.  Seriously.  The best calculator I have found is this one.  Get the worksheet, fill in your numbers and it will tell you how much you should be eating every day. I'm going to warn you that if you are eating as clean as you can it can be hard to eat enough.  Healthy food is pretty low in calories but way more filling.  My go to if I need to eat more is a peanut butter sandwich- one slice of bread, natural peanut butter and honey.  Also protein is your best friend now.  Yay.  

I drink 100 ounces of water a day.  No you won't float away.  Yes you might go to the bathroom more at first but your body adjusts really quickly.  Just try to finish an hour or more before bed so you don't have to get up in the night!  If you are drinking 64 ounces, try 72.  Up your intake by 8 ounces and see what happens.

I'm not going to lie.  The eating clean is the most important part.  But if you want to get muscles you have to move them.  Here is where the only *** is.  You need to have rest days.  Mine is Sunday, and I think for most of you that works best too.  So you are off the hook from exercising one day a week.  You earned it!

Count backwards from the time you have to get up and go to bed.  Give yourself an extra half hour to wind down and actually go to sleep.  You can't give it your all if you are tired!

Here is a link to download your measurement sheet.  If you have any questions please ask!  Let me know here or on facebook and we'll rock it together!  Round three is on!  

Five Things For Friday: Clean Recipes

If you don't have a foam roller can I just tell you... GO GET ONE!  It will be the best frenemy you have ever had!!

Ok guys.  You know my goal is to get in to some booty shorts at some point this year.  I've been trying really hard to keep my diet super clean.  I am on MyFitnessPal {my username is Jennwarnick} every day putting in my stuff and trying to eat a lot of veggies and protein.  I've made my diary public so you can check out what I've been eating for ideas.  I've had a couple people ask me for the recipe links of stuff they have seen me eating on there.  So here are a few of my faves I thought I'd share...

No bake energy balls from Gimme Some Oven.  

I work out first thing in the morning and since I try to stay in bed as long as possible I don't have time to eat any breakfast.  Not that I really want to either.  I'm still waking up and jumping around on a full stomach is no bueno.    So I started keeping these in the fridge.  I just grab a couple every morning on my way out the door and they give me just enough pep to make it through my workout.  She has a couple different varations on her site you should try them all out. 

Ginger Cilantro Baked Tilapia from The Kitchn

This is probably my favorite dinner right now.  It is so easy and we all love it.  Well, Ivy just likes her tilapia baked plain but loves it when I make this dinner.  I just use the frozen tilapias from Costco.  The longest part is cooking the brown rice to go with it.  

Source: biggest-loser-recipes.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Biggest Loser Pancakes

This is our new go to pancakes.  I add about a half teaspoon of baking powder to the mix.  They are really yummy and super filling.  Even Ivy who could probably win the world championship pancake eating contest only eats three.

Sweet Potato Pancakes from The Gracious Pantry

These are on my list to try.  I am loving sweet potatoes right now and these just sound way yummy to me.  If you are looking for a good source of clean eating recipes check out The Gracious Pantry.  Tons and tons of good information on there.

  
Crockpot Tortilla Soup by Chef in Training

Umm this is our favorite soup.  To keep it clean you need to nix the all the cheese and sour cream and tortilla chips.  Try making your own by just cutting up some corn tortillas and tossing with a little bit of olive oil and salt.  Bake at 400 until crispy.  We also add avocado.  I cut out the chile powder so Ivy will eat it.  I also have just used diced tomatoes and some onions instead of Rotel.  Might be awesome for the Super Bowl eh?  

Have a fun weekend!  And I'd love any other recipes that you have been loving so go ahead and share em! Also I'm thinking Monday is a good day to start Round Three of the Ruffled Sunshine 24 Day Challenge.  See ya then!