Slow-Cooker Pork Carnitas

This recipe was kid-tested and family-approved.  Just yesterday! 

I love a recipe that is versatile and easy to throw into the crockpot too.   Mexican-themed meals are also easy to make 21 Day Fix-approved.  Add some vegetables, a tortilla, some fresh salsa and some avocado and you're all set.

And, if anyone takes my leftovers this week, they're in trouble! 

21 Day Fix Approved Slow-Cooker Pork Carnitas

3 lbs. of pork loin
1-1/2 cup of low-salt organic beef broth (or water)

Pork Rub:

• 2 tbsp. chili powder
• 2 tsp. cumin
• 2 tsp. onion powder
• 2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. red cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Coat inside of crockpot with nonstick cooking spray.

Pour broth into the bottom of the crockpot.

Combine spice ingredients for the rub, and rub all over the pork loin.  Place into the slow-cooker and cook on low heat for 6-8 hours.
Remove pork loin from slow-cooker and shred.  Return to slow-cooker and stir, to combine with juices.

Measure out your RED container, and then serve with your favorite toppings, or simply on a salad!

Enjoy!

ALL THE BEST,

Weekly Meal Plan: 3/16/15 - 3/22/15 AND What's Next?

Weekly Meal Plan: 3/16/15 - 3/22/15 AND What's Next?

Well, Week #2 of the 21 Day Fix Extreme has gone without a hitch.  Still digging the workouts, still feeling plenty of soreness, and still thankful to get back to my weights! 

SO -- what is next?  ANOTHER round of 21 Day Fix Extreme!  Since I've loved the program and have been seeing such GREAT results:  both personally AND from my online accountability group participants!  (If interested, see the details at the end of this post.)

If you are interested in exactly WHAT I've been eating, in more detail, check out this video that I made.  I talk in more depth about the colored containers and what *I* have been putting in them each day:

I should win an award from the most awkward YouTube "thumbnails".  Seriously.

Anyway.  I'm excited!  This week is my FINAL week of the 21 Day Fix Extreme.  My meal plan for the coming week is below, with a few details and links to help you out, too. 

 

Monday:  Mini-Meatloaf Mexi-Muffins
Tuesday:  Leftovers
Wednesday:  Greek-Spiced Grilled Chicken (Mediterranean seasoning recipe from 21DF book)
Thursday:  Turkey Meatballs with Marinara and "Zoodles" (Meatball recipe in 21DFX book)
Friday:  Fend-For-Yourself
Saturday:  Hot Turkey Sausage with Peppers and Onions
Sunday:  Fish (or Shrimp) Tacos (modified to fit the plan)

If you would like to participate in one of my monthly 21 Day Fix or 21 Day Fix Extreme online accountability groups, get in touch with me here.  Don't delay - my next group is filling up FAST!

>>>NEXT GROUP BEGINS ON MONDAY MARCH 30TH!<<<

 

Make it a fabulous week, friends!

ALL THE BEST,

Spicy Mexican Shrimp AND my Week 1 Results!

This recipe was a HUGE hit with the whole family!  We will definitely making this one again.  So easy, and the shrimp have so much taste with this spice combination.  I served this with rice on the side. 

Want a tip to S T R E T C H your grain serving?  Add cauliflower rice to it!  I did a mixture of cauliflower rice and actual rice.  This dinner (with a side of roasted broccoli) was SO filling. 

21 Day Fix Spicy Mexican Shrimp

Spicy Mexican Shrimp

• 4 red containers of raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1/2 tsp. cumin
• 1/2 tsp. paprika
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. onion powder
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1/4 tsp. red cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 cup low-sodium, organic chicken broth
• 1-1/2 tbsp. coconut oil

Mix spices together.  Coat prepared shrimp with spices and coat thoroughly. 

Heat coconut oil in a large pan.  When the oil is hot, sauté shrimp until cooked through. 

Remove cooked shrimp to a plate and cover to keep warm.  Add chicken broth, and use spatula to scrape up cooked bits from the bottom of the pan.  Once broth has reduced just slightly, add shrimp back to pan and heat.

(21 Day Fixers: This recipe makes 4 servings and each serving of shrimp counts as 1 red and 1 tsp.)

And, if you've been following my journey with the 21 Day Fix Extreme - here are my Week #1 results in the video below!

If you would like to participate in one of my monthly 21 Day Fix or 21 Day Fix Extreme online accountability groups, get in touch with me here.

If you give this recipe a try, please let me know.  I would love to hear how it went!

ALL THE BEST,

Weekly Meal Plan -- 3/9/15-3/15/15

Well, I've wrapped up the first week of 21 Day Fix Extreme!  I have to say -- I love, love, love these workouts!  I have really missed lifting weights, especially with doing Insanity Max: 30.  My body responds so well to weight-lifting and its been great to get back to it.

I won't really be weighing or measuring myself (I don't think, anyway) until the end of the 21 days - so stay tuned for my results.

A funny fact for you:  Did you know that I never before made it past Day #5 with the 21 Day Fix nutrition plan?  I was a 21 Day Fix failure! 

I don't know why - I just had a lot of trouble sticking to the food plan.  And, it wasn't the plan itself -- it was ME.  I just wasn't "ready" .... ready to commit to it 100%.  This time, I am READY.  My accountability group is also helping to keep me strong, along with the help and support of my two wonderful Coach friends who are doing it alongside me.  We message each other frequently during the day!  That accountability and support make all of the difference.  "Build a fortress of accountability."

You can follow my daily 21 Day Fix Extreme video updates on my Facebook page.

Weekly Meal Plan -- 3/9/15-3/15/15

My first week went really well, so I'm excited to be planning out my meals for the second week of this program, using some recipes from my blog.  If you have any questions, please let me know! 

21 Day Fix Extreme Meal Plan

Here are some of the recipes that I will be using this week (for dinners at least), from my blog.  Enjoy!

Monday:  Baked Greek Yogurt Chicken
Tuesday:  Leftovers
Wednesday:  Slow-Cooker Pork Chops and Vegetables
Thursday:  Classic Crockpot Chili
Friday:  Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Boats
Saturday:  Fend-For-Yourself
Sunday:  Quinoa Turkey Taco Bake

ALL of these meals are 21-Day Fix compliant.  If you would like to participate in one of my monthly 21 Day Fix or 21 Day Fix Extreme online accountability groups, get in touch with me here.  New group starts SOON!

If you have any questions about my meal plan or about any of my recipes, please comment below.  I want to hear what you think, if you try any of the recipes.  I want to hear what you're eating this week, too!

ALL THE BEST,

Need Something Sweet? Chunky Monkey Parfait

I NEEDED something sweet today.

Ever have one of those days?  Maybe it was that the kids had a "snow day" today, so my normal routine was a little off?  Who knows?  It doesn't really matter why.

But, you can enjoy a treat on the 21 Day Fix Extreme plan! 

And, so I did. 

Note: You must serve this in a wine glass.  Just because. 

Chunky Monkey Parfait

1 red container Greek yogurt
2 tsp. nut butter
1/2 banana
1 tsp. coconut oil
Dash of cinnamon
1 tsp. organic honey
1-1/2 tbsp. natural unsweetened coconut

Heat coconut oil in small pan.  Slice banana and sauté in oil and cinnamon for 3-4 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix Greek yogurt and nut butter thoroughly.  Put into lovely wine glass.  Top with sliced bananas, sprinkle with coconut, and drizzle with honey.

Heaven in your mouth -- enjoy!

(Counts as: 1 red, 4 tsp., 1 purple, and 1/2 a blue.)

Would love to hear from you if you try this! 

ALL THE BEST,

The Scale is a Liar.

The Scale is a Liar.  A. Big. Fat. Liar.

 

I finished sixty days of Insanity Max 30 about five days ago.  Woo hoo!

 

And, I subsequently shared my 60-day photos with my online accountability groups.  The positive support and comments I received were overwhelming.  I owe my fitness friends and supporters much gratitude.  Love you all!

 

 

See the joy and excitement in my face above upon completing the sixty days?  I do!

 

Sixty days of Insanity Max: 30 -----> behind me. Man, oh, man!   Sweat, tears, and cursing (maybe just a little).

• Increased strength.
• Increased confidence.
• Increased stamina.

 

Priceless.  It may not have been always pretty (hardly ever!), but I am proud to say I finished!  

 

To be honest?  I wasn't going to share my "before" and "after" photos publicly here in my blog, or on my Facebook page.  It felt humiliating.  And, scary.  And, somehow "icky".

 

BUT THEN.

 

I read what I wrote above.  And, I see that thrilled look on my face when I finished.  I am PROUD to have completed this program.  It was the hardest program I've done in at least 2 years.  And, I finished it.  I didn't miss one, single workout.  Even with our crazy, hockey-filled lives.  My nutrition was spot-on for about 90% of the program. 

 

Do you want to know what held me back from sharing my photos?  (Well, besides the unattractive "before" photo?) 

 

THE SCALE.

 

I lost one pound.  In 60 days.  One.  Pound.  Yes - you read that right.

 

But, you can't always trust the scale. Sometimes, you need to do yourself a favor and not listen to its insidious lies.

 

The scale can be a serious and negative addiction.

 

Your scale tells you one thing and one thing only -- how much you weigh (at this exact moment, on this planet).

 

The scale doesn’t tell you how much fat you have.  The scale can’t tell you if you’ve gained muscle. A pound of muscle is like a brick:  small and compact. A pound of fat is like a fluffy feather pillow:  bulky and lumpy. When you gain muscle and lose fat, your body gets smaller and tighter. Building muscle also makes it possible to drop clothing sizes without a big change in weight. Perhaps after a 60-day program, the scale says you lost 1 pound, which may not sound like much. Right?

 

BUT, what if you actually lost 8 pounds of fat and gained 7 pounds of muscle?  Hello?  That's GOLDEN.  That’s a remarkable improvement in your body composition, but you wouldn’t know it if you only used your regular bathroom scale to track your progress.

 

A-FREAKING-MEN.

 

The scale also shouldn't dictate how you feel about yourself.  On any given day.  It shouldn't determine whether you  have a negative day or a positive day.  If you are stepping on the scale daily -- STOP.  Especially if it really isn't working for you.  Just think about it.

SO, in the spirit of being transparent as a Team Beachbody Coach, and admitting that 2014 was the roughest year ever for me, fitness-wise (just due to life circumstances) ....... here I am.  In all of my sports-bra and tight-shorts glory.   Day #1 photos, Day #30 photos, and Day #60 photos. 

I don't see one pound lost here.  Do you want to know what I see?

• EIGHT INCHES lost.
• A tighter and leaner abdomen.
• Smaller arms.
• A booty lift.
• Leaner thighs and hips.
• A happier, healthier, more fit gal!
• And, someone who can hang with Shaun T. for 60 days!  Phew.

If you are interested in Insanity Max 30, or need any sort of fitness or weight-loss help and accountability, OR need help with your addiction to the scale -- please reach out to me here.  I would love to help you walk your journey to a better life.

ALL THE BEST,
xo
Christine

Baked Greek Yogurt Chicken

I have been seeing similar recipes to this, everywhere on Pinterest. 

So I thought it was time to give it a try -- and "health it up" a bit.  Oh my -- amazingly delicious chicken! 

It was super-easy to prepare, and it came out perfectly!  Tons of delicious flavor in this chicken and the Parmesan cheese makes it amazing!  Loved it.

21 Day Fix - Baked Greek Yogurt Chicken

BAKED GREEK YOGURT CHICKEN

Ingredients:

• 4 small chicken breasts (skinless and boneless)
• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp. dried parsley
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a bowl, combine all ingredients except for the chicken breasts. 

Place the chicken in a baking dish, coated with nonstick cooking spray.  Using a kitchen brush (a spoon will work too), brush the Greek yogurt mixture over the chicken.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until cooked through (depending on the thickness of your chicken breasts).

Enjoy!

(21 Day Fixers, each of 4 servings counts as: 1-1/4 red, and 1/2 a blue.)

If you give this recipe a try, please let me know!  I would love to hear how it went!

ALL THE BEST,