30 Day Challenge Complete!

I DID IT!! I finished the 30 Day Keaira LaShae New Year, New You Challenge!  Not only did I finish - I finished well!  I am officially down 13.4 pounds and 14 inches!!!!  What a great accomplishment.  There are days that I didn't want to.  There was a day I missed so I did two days worth in one (don't recommend that).  But I didn't give up.  Keaira LaShae is an incredible motivator and I am thankful every day that I found her.  Next week I am going to start on her Summertime Fine Challenge.  That will take me through February.  In the meantime, I will keep active with Daily Burn.  Hope February is finding you accomplishing your goals as well.  Shoot me a line!  Let me know how your journey is going! 

Using your bounty

I participate in a co-op group called Bountiful Baskets where every 2 weeks I order and receive a basket full of fresh fruits and vegetables.  Sometimes, I receive interesting items that I have never cooked with before.  As you should know by now, I am ALWAYS up for a challenge.  The particular item this week that was new for me was artichokes.  Now, I like this flavor.  I like it on Papa Murphy's pizza (I know, I know) and I love them in Spinach and Artichoke dip.  I have never made this other than the packages you can buy that contain about a million calories and even more grams of fat.  So...I took to the handy dandy internet to see if I could find one that I could actually eat.  There are very few that actually use fresh artichokes (perhaps due to the work involved to get to the heart).  I did find one though so I will try it and let you know.  If you want to try it in the meantime, you can get the recipe here!  My next basket arrives on Saturday - can't wait to see what's in that one!

"Won't" Power

Sometimes I feel like I am the only one fighting this fight.  Am I the only one?  I sometimes think my whole world revolves around my next meal and making sure I get my workout in and "No, thank you I don't need a piece of cake to go with my coffee".  I find myself wondering how anyone keeps on track with so many food pushers in the world.  I think it comes down to shear "won't" power.  That's right "'won't" power.  I WON'T allow anyone to take away my success.  I WON'T succumb to pressure about my eating habits.  I WON'T apologize for becoming a better person.  I think it's about this time when the willpower kicks in.  I WILL overcome any obstacle put in front of me.  I WILL finish what I started.  I WILL achieve my goals.  Do you have the "won't" power to face your challenges head on?  Do you have the willpower to be successful?  I do.

She's trying to kill me

OK not really.  But being a superhero is NOT an easy task.  Just ask Keaira LaShae.  In case you don't know, Keaira is a fitness trainer, dancer and singer.  The woman is amazing and has given me hope.  Hope that one day I will have arms and abs just like her.  I initially "met" her on Daily Burn (which I love).  She has a MOVE series on there that is the ONLY workout of any type that has kept my interest for more than a week.  Sooo... when I found out that she had put up a 30 day challenge on her YouTube channel, I thought... Hell yeah!  I'm in.  You can check it out here http://www.youtube.com/superherofitnesstv.  Honestly, it's awesome.  I am on Day 5 right now and, like a superhero, I am pushing through.  Not giving up.  But it's hard.  What I love most about her videos is that she will say "This is no joke, I am tired".  That is real.  Right now, she is my inspiration to get up at 5 am and workout.  Now that's saying something!