The Positives of 2009

tashaaa_x3 @becomingTHEyou i met some really amazing people because of a common interest :]and I got a car. That was really freaking positive ;]

smashley_ashley @becomingTHEyou meeting some amazing friends, completing my first semester of senior year, holding a real job, learning my self worth slowly

ItsStacyDuh @becomingTHEyou meeting one of my best friends and seeing/meeting honor society

Excerpt from Self

Cook once, eat healthy all week

Want slimming, mouthwatering meals in a snap? Easy! With this speedy plan, you can whip up five tasty homemade entrées in no time. Each dish comes with freeze-and-reheat instructions so you can relax and dine well every night of the workweek. There is such a thing as nutritious, delicious fast food!

By Wendy Giman

From the October 2009 Issue

Day 1: Adobo Glazed Mini Turkey Loaves
Day 2: Vegetables and Chick Pea Ragout
Day 3: Spicy Thai Soup with Lime Shrimp
Day 4:Cheesy Shrimp Enchilada Bake
Day 5: Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie

Adobo-Glazed Mini Turkey Loaves

(7 loaves, 2 per serving, 3 for shepherd's pie)

Ingredients:

Loaves:

• 1 slice light wheat bread, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 pound ground turkey (dark meat)
• 1/2 pound ground turkey breast
• 1/2 cup Onion and Garlic Mix
• 1/2 cup Broccoli and and Red Bell Pepper Mix
• 1/2 cup frozen peas
• 2 egg whites
• 4 1/2 teaspoons tomato paste
• 4 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder

Glaze:

• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons adobo sauce
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 3 tablespoons low-sodium chicken broth
• Juice of 1/2 lime
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Preparation:

Heat oven to 350&Deg;F.

Loaves
Soak bread and milk in a bowl for 10 minutes. Combine remaining loaf ingredients in another bowl; add bread and milk; mix well. Scoop 1/3 cup of mixture into each of 7 nonstick muffin tin cups. Bake 10 minutes.

Quick tip:
While loaves bake, prepare glaze by combining all glaze ingredients in a bowl; also make sauce for enchilada bake.While loaves bake, prepare glaze by combining all glaze ingredients in a bowl; also make sauce for enchilada bake .

Spread 1 tablespoon glaze on each loaf. Continue to bake until internal temperature reaches 160°F, 15 to 20 minutes more.

Quick tip:
While baking, begin ragout and Thai soup .

Remove loaves from oven; let cool. Set aside 3 loaves for the shepherd's pie. If not serving immediately, cover remaining loaves and freeze. To reheat Microwave on high 3 minutes or bake at 375°F for 30 minutes.

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Vegetable and Chickpea Ragout

(2 Servings)

Ingredients:

• 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
• 1 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 cup Onion and Garlic Mix
• 1/2 cup Broccoli and Red Bell Pepper Mix
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 4 artichoke hearts in water, drained and quartered
• 1/2 cup frozen peas
• 1/4 cup sliced black olives
• 1/2 cup whole-wheat penne, cooked
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

Preparation:

Simmer tomatoes, chickpeas, Onion and Garlic Mix, Broccoli and Red Bell Pepper Mix, salt, oregano, pepper, pepper flakes and ½ cup water in a medium pot until liquid reduces by half, about 20 minutes. Add artichokes, peas and olives; cook 10 minutes more.

Quick tip:
While cooking, make the filling for the shepherd’s pie. If not eating immediately, pour into an airtight container and freeze. Otherwise, toss with penne and basil and serve.

To reheat:
Microwave on high 2 minutes; stir; microwave 2 minutes more. Mix with penne and basil.

_______________________________________________________________

Spicy Thai Soup with Lime Shrimp

(2 Servings)

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cups Mashed Sweet Potatoes
• 1 cup Onion and Garlic Mix
• 1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon green curry paste
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 cup Lime Shrimp
• 1 cup frozen peas
• Juice of 2 limes, divided
• Slices from 1/2 lime

Preparation:

Blend Mashed Sweet Potatoes , and broth in a blender until smooth; pour into a medium pot over low heat. Whisk in curry paste and ginger. Cook 10 minutes.

Quick tip:
While cooking, arrange the enchilada bake and prepare the topping for the shepherd's pie.

Turn heat to medium. Add Lime Shrimp and peas; stir frequently until shrimp are cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; add lime juice (from 1 1/2 limes). If not eating immediately, pour into an airtight container and freeze. Otherwise, serve, garnished with lime slices.

To reheat:
Microwave on high 4 to 5 minutes, stirring halfway through. Stir in juice of 1/2 lime.

_________________________________________________________________

Cheesy Shrimp Enchilada Bake

(2 servings)

Ingredients:
Sauce:

• 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup Onion and Garlic Mix
• 4 chipotle chiles, finely diced
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Enchiladas:

• 3 corn tortillas, halved
• 3/4 cup Broccoli and Red Bell Pepper Mix
• 1 cup Lime Shrimp
• 1 cup 75% shredded fat-free cheddar (4 ounces)

Preparation:

Heat oven to 375°F.

Sauce:
Combine all sauce ingredients in a bowl.

Enchiladas:
Pour 3/4 cup sauce into the bottom of a 10" baking dish. Press both sides of tortillas into sauce, then place 3 tortilla halves on top of sauce. Add half of Broccoli and Red Bell Pepper Mix, half of Lime Shrimp and half of cheese. Layer on remaining 3 tortilla halves, Broccoli and Red Bell Pepper Mix and Lime Shrimp. Pour remaining 1 1/4 cups sauce and cheese over shrimp. If not eating immediately, cover tightly and freeze. Otherwise, bake 20 minutes, covered with foil. Remove foil; bake until cheese bubbles, 10 minutes more.

To reheat:
Bake, covered with foil, at 400°F for 25 minutes. Remove foil; bake until cheese bubbles, 5 minutes more.

________________________________________________________________

Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie

(2 servings)

Ingredients:
Filling:

• 3 Adobo-Glazed Mini Turkey Loaves , mashed
• 1 cup Broccoli and Red Bell Pepper Mix
• 1 chipotle chile, diced
• 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Topping:

• 1 1/2 cups Mashed Sweet Potatoes
• 1/4 cup Onion and Garlic Mix
• 1 teaspoon light butter
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 cup chives, coarsely chopped

Preparation:

Filling:
Combine all filling ingredients in a bowl; mix well. Spread into a 10" pie plate.

Topping:
Combine all topping ingredients except chives in a bowl. Spread on top of filling. If not serving immediately, cover and freeze. Or bake at 400° until top browns, about 20 minutes. Garnish with chives.

To reheat:
Microwave on high for 4 minutes or bake at 400°F for 25 minutes. Garnish with chives.

the positives

tashaaa_x3 @becomingTHEyou I reorganized my room today so that it can be more functional, and i can be more functional in it :]

smashley_ashley @becomingtheyou got some errands done that i normally put off

"Health in your 20's"

Excerpt from Marie Claire

5 Health Move Musts

-Dr. Michael Roizen

The health choices you make now will dictate your health in the future; start being healthy today and you'll feel the positive

1. GET A LIFE.

People who feel a sense of purpose in life and a responsibility beyond taking care of themselves—like organizing adopt-a-thons at the animal shelter or throwing not-to-be-missed soirees for friends—tend to deal with stress better than those who don’t, Dr. Roizen says. These activities give you a strong sense of self and a support system to ground you when stress strikes.

2. FLOSS.

Everyday. Not flossing can increase chances of periodontal disease, which could increase your risk of giving birth to a premature or low-birthweight baby. Inflammation from periodontal disease can also set you up for heart disease.

3. LEARN TO COOK.

This makes you more likely to eat at home, which is better for your heart and your weight than living on takeout.

But one warning: Most people use too much oil when they sauté and end up deep-frying food accidentally, Dr. Roizen says. For two boneless, skinless chicken breasts, you need no more than one-and-a-half tablespoons of oil.

4. STOP SMOKING.

Other than major life stressors nothing ages the body like cigarettes. Quitting is the best thing you can do for yourself—and your health, and your looks …

5. WALK EVERYWHERE.

A daily, brisk, 30-minute walk is the closest thing we may get to a wonder drug

The Positives

kristi_crow @becomingTHEyou hanging out with my cousins and telling family stories!

ItsStacyDuh @becomingTHEyou I worked out today... twice :)

smashley_ashley @becomingTHEyou realizing that i'm almost down a size in jeans

"Think You're Hungry? It Could Be "Fake" Hunger"

Excerpts From Glamour

Think You're Hungry? It Could Be "Fake" Hunger

By Sara Gio

If you ate a balanced meal or substantial snack less than 2 hours ago and you think you're hungry, you're not--you're either a.) thirsty, or b.) restless/emotional.

*Hunger Due to Eating the Wrong Food:

"Symptoms include craving high sugar foods or feeling 'hungry' soon after eating a meal," she says. "If you just had a big meal that is high in simple carbohydrates and did not contain fiber, protein or healthy fat, all of which help provide a sense of satiety, you may have experienced a drop in blood sugar.

In this case, have a healthy snack, such as a piece of fresh fruit and nuts, or cottage cheese or celery and peanut butter or 1/2 of a sandwich on whole grain bread)."

*Hunger Due to Sleepiness:

According to Blumenthal, two major hormones, leptin and ghrelin, affect and control sensations of hunger and fullness. Daytime fatigue may lead people to overeat (often, high sugar, nutrient poor foods) in an attempt to get an extra surge of energy. It provides only temporary relief, which is soon followed by a crash in energy levels and a resurgence of “hunger” leading to more snacking, increased sugar cravings, etc….a vicious cycle.

If you are feeling mid-afternoon hunger pains, try: a brisk 10 min walk around the block (fresh air helps, as does exercise, to boost alertness and increase circulation), a cup of green tea (high in antioxidants and low in caffeine relative to coffee), a 1/4 cup of almonds and a small apple (high in protein, healthy fat and carbohydrates, low in sugar, and a good source of magnesium and fiber). Even taking a few deep breaths can help curb fatigue!"

The Positives

stephumz @becomingTHEyou I finally figured out good and personal xmas presents for my good friends :) made me feel good!

ItsStacyDuh @becomingTHEyou exercised tonight. and feel really good about myself :)

smashley_ashley @becomingTHEyou spent a really nice day with my stepmom and stepbrother without any awkwardness or issues...finally

nnyleitsrik @becomingTHEyou realizing that i have a plan for my life and that i'm not going to be stuck where i'm at for forever

"Holiday Gifts to Give Yourself"

so I was reading in Redbook yesterday and found this article...I wanted to share parts of it with yall :)

"7 Holiday Treats to Give Yourself"
(Leslie Yazel)

4. Doodling: not so sketchy after all

Even the most diligent of workers can succumb to scribbling during dull meetings or long phone calls with Ma. But compulsive doodlers, take heart. A new study finds that when asked to recall detailed information, doodlers remember more than nondoodlers. Research suggests that creating those funny little designs requires just enough of your brain's effort to stop you from daydreaming, an activity that's much more taxing on your mind and therefore a bigger distraction. So the next time your boss calls a staff meeting, pick up your pen to stay alert.

6. A two-second smoothie

You always plan to make yourself a healthy smoothie in the morning, until — oops, wait, the yogurt's gone bad and the ice cube trays are empty. Enter Yoplait's new Frozen Fruit and Yogurt Smoothies: Toss these frozen pieces of fruit and yogurt into your blender with a cup of milk for a delicious drink that packs a full serving of fruit for less than 200 calories total. One $3.29 pouch makes two 8-oz smoothies in flavors such as Strawberry Mango Pineapple and Triple Berry. It makes drinking to your health almost too easy.

7. A can't-say-no excuse for girls' night out

You always suspected that your girls' nights kept you sane. Guess what? They could even save your life. Researchers in England and Australia who reviewed recent studies on being social confirm that it makes people happier, boosts our memory, can improve recovery from illnesses or a stroke, and even ups our resistance to the common cold. "Groups are central to mental functioning, health, and well-being," says Alex Haslam, Ph.D., of the University of Exeter — even more so, perhaps, than diet or exercise, the researchers say. So tell that to your hubby the next time he asks, "Going out again?"

The Positives

smashley_ashley @becomingTHEyou going to the gym this morning even though i was a little bit hungover, but still completing and having a great workout

ItsStacyDuh @becomingTHEyou taking a creative, yet healthy, walk this afternoon. exercise and pictures :)

The Best Things in Life are the Ones You Work Hardest for.

This is kind of a mantra that I try to live by, because it seems to make life seem a lot better. So many times we struggle just to get by, and to get through everything but need to realize that out of our toughest struggles come our greatest triumphs.

I was a spoiled child when I was younger. I still am, but when I was little my parents showered me with gifts and materialistic things. It was probably to compensate for the fact that my mother was a drug addict and when she wasn't buying me stuff she was putting me through my own version of a living hell because of the way she acted. My senior year was the end of her addiction, and it was really bad in the end. We had no money what so ever because her drug abuse was sucking us dry. We we're just about to lose our house, and it was time for Homecoming. My goal senior year was to go to all of the dances because it was my senior year and I had only been to 1 so far.
But, Homecoming is expensive. IDK about other places, but in Vegas HC is like the pre-party for prom. Fancy dresses and limo's and expensive dinners galore. I wasn't allowed to work because it screwed up my grades my junior year, but my parents let me wash dishes at the fair for the 6 days it was in town, and I worked about 52 hours in those 6 days, making $7 an hour. I was exhausted, and my hands hurt so bad because they were all sorts of messed up because of constantly being in water and scrubbing the crap out of pans that were caked with lasagna.

But let me tell you it was all worth it. I paid for EVERYTHING myself, and went with my best friends and I seriously had the best night of my life. It didn't matter that the guy I was practically in love with didn't ask me to HC, or that he was in our group with his stick thin, blonde haired blue eyed date, because I had a blast with my best friends.

We went to the fancy dinner, took our amazing group picture, danced all of our makeup off (and the girl wasn't so pretty without her makeup, just saying) then took the limo to game works to play in the arcade for ever, then back to a friends house to have some more fun. No lie this was probably the best night of my life. I went through a huge ordeal with my parents getting them to let me go in the first place, then working my butt off to get there, but in the end, the entire struggle was the thing I was proudest of.

So keep working hard, we are all working towards goals, and they may seem so far away right now, but this is what we are here together for. We can all get through it together, and in the end we will succeed in working towards our greatest triumphs <3

"No Harm Eggplant Parm"

so i know i posted this in one of my blogs already, but i figured i'd post it up here and share it this way as well...i really like finding alternate recipes to heavy foods and when they taste good, i get really excited...so for those of you who like eggplant parm, here is a recipe for "no harm eggplant parm" from Hungry Girl

From Hungry Girl

Ingredients:
1 large eggplant
1/2 cup egg whites (about 4 large egg whites)
1 cup Fiber One bran cereal (original); ground to a breadcrumb-like consistency in the blender
1 cup canned tomato sauce w/ Italian flavoring (such as Hunt's Tomatoes Sauce with Basil, Garlic & Oregano)
1 cup shredded fat-free mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup reduced-fat grated parmesan-style topping
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
Optional: dried Italian seasonings (basil, oregano, etc.)


Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Slice ends off of eggplant, and cut it lengthwise into 1/2-inch strips. Use a paper towel to blot eggplant slices on both sides (to remove excess moisture). Spray a large baking pan with nonstick spray. Season crumbs with garlic powder, salt, pepper and, if you like, additional seasonings. Coat eggplant slices on both sides -- first with egg whites, and then with Fiber One crumbs. Place slices flat on the baking pan, and cook in the oven for 30 minutes. Then, flip slices over and bake until browned on both sides (about 10 minutes longer). Remove pan from oven, but leave oven on. Spread 1/4 cup of sauce over the bottom of an 8" X 8" baking dish sprayed lightly with nonstick spray. Arrange half of the baked eggplant slices evenly over the sauce. Continue to layer ingredients evenly in this order: sauce (1/4 cup), mozzarella and parm topping (half of each), sauce (1/4 cup), eggplant (remaining slices), sauce (1/4 cup), and cheeses (remaining amounts). Cover dish with foil and return to the oven. Bake for 25 minutes, or until heated throughout. Allow to cool slightly, and then cut into quarters. Enjoy! MAKES 4 SERVINGS

Serving Size: 1 generous portion (1/4th of recipe) Calories: 170 Fat: 2.5g Sodium: 872mg Carbs: 29g Fiber: 13g Sugars: 5g Protein: 15g POINTS® value 3*

I haven't tried to make this using chicken yet (because we keep kosher in my house) but I'm sure that if you wanted to make a lower fat, lower calorie chicken parm, you could sub chicken in for the eggplant in this recipe and it would taste fantastic.

The Positives

for december 26, 2009

smashley_ashley @becomingTHEyou i had such a great time with my old friends at the bar tonight..didn't even matter that the guy had a girlfriend :)

The Positives

We need to look at the positives of our lives every day...i'm going to ask on twitter for people to tweet @becomingTHEyou good things that happened, things to be proud of, or lessons learned, at the end of every day...then the responses will be posted here. feel free to comment of course :)

So for today, December 25, 2009

CaraLikeWhoa @becomingTHEyou I taught myself how to crochet. And even though I am not too good at it, I feel like it expands my creativity! :)

smashley_ashley @becomingTHEyou i learned how to play rummikub..i suck, but its kind of fun :)

tashaaa_x3 @becomingTHEyou I spent all day learning about my new guitar and I successfully taught myself three chords. :] Progress, not perfection ;]


ItsStacyDuh @becomingTHEyou i'm late, but my photo editing is something i'm proud of & the comments i get on AHSF when i post pics mean the world to me

just venting..

So recently I have decided to go back to school and let me tell you it hasn't been easy. I'm the type of person who gets over whelmed very easily and knowing that there is like a billion colleges out there and the fact I wanted to live close to home made the process difficult, because there isn't that many school that are close to me but thanks to Ashley the process was a lot less overwhelming. So right now I am in the process of scheduling an appointment to meet with counselors at this one college. The other day I told my dad that I want to go back to school and I told him why I'm doing and everything and just like he always does he starts on how I should get a job and go to school and in a perfect world that would work but like I said before I get over whelmed very easily so going to school and working and trying to find time to hang out with my friends and have a life wouldn't work with me but he doesn't understand that. Me and my dad never see eye to eye he always makes me feel like crap like what ever I say or do is never good enough and he always finds the littlest things to bitch at me about. I try to just let most of it go but there's only so much one person can take. Well I think that's all the venting I need to do for now..lol

Move to the beat

so basically if I don't have music for my work outs, they suck beyond the realm or normal workout suckage...I like using song lengths to time things instead of the actual timer on the machine, or clock. Not only does it mix up my work outs, it also tests my own endurance. Usually if i'm doing something that you can adjust the resistance on, I adjust it after each song, but always move to the beat of the song, no matter how fast the song is, or how intense the resistance is; that way I really put my body to the test, challenge, and push myself harder if the beat calls for it.

Using this, my playlist varies so much..basically instead of just using fast songs, I can use any song that has a decent beat to move to. When I'm really going intense or need that boost of energy that music can give you though, I love to listen to 80's music, say from Def Leppard, Motley Crue, etc; I also love dance remixes of songs, and lady gaga and ke$ha definitely are included.

What...is this?

My friends and I decided to start this blog as a support for us becoming the people who we want to be. Sometimes, all it takes to keep on going is a little friendly motivation, inspiration, and/or ideas.

Blog any of this:
Weight loss ideas
Fun things to do
Things that make you happy
Problems
Ruts
Issues
Advice

This is a place to talk it out, discuss,share your knowledge and show the love.

We're all on our way to becoming strong and empowered, but feeling good about ourselves is a huge part of that, which we all deserve.

How this works:
If you have a twitter account, please follow us on @BecomingTHEyou
Participate by tweeting us positives every day, and with the friday follower spotlight
Read the blogs and comment on them...post up your own blogs to our blog if you've got something to share

There are many ways to contribute to this blog, even if you are not comfortable with blogging. To contribute and blog, please comment here, or direct message our twitter @BecomingTHEyou with your email address. You will be sent an invitation to start blogging with us.

If you aren't comfortable with the whole blogging thing though, you can always tweet things to us @BecomingTHEyou to be included, or comment anonymously on entries.

Please keep it positive though. Remember, this is all about friends supporting friends and showing the love.