Mango Salsa Salmon

I know, I'm bad at taking pictures of my food!!

                               
Once again, a very EASY, fast recipe that you won't regret making.
(If you like salmon)

For the mango salsa, all you need is;
1 Mango
1/4 red onion
1/2 Tomato
1 Jalapeno (I usually skip this because Tyler is a sissy. Shhh.. Don't tell him)
1/2 Green Pepper
1/4 Cup cilantro
1 Lime

I through it in my Ninja. I'm sure any blender will do. If you like your salsa
a little more chunky, I'd advise using just a knife and your hands.:)

For the Salmon I don't have specific measurements. Tyler and
I usually just eat a 4 oz. piece each.

Preheat the oven to 400. Grab a cookie sheet and lay out  enough aluminum
foil to cover the salmon. I drizzle a little bit of olive oil on the tin foil where
the Salmon will lay. Put the Salmon where the olive oil is and cover with
salt and pepper. Don't be afraid. I use a ton on mine. Then add a pinch
of dill seasoning. I then put a slab of butter and a slice of lemon on
the top. Fold up the salmon in the tin foil and cook in the oven for just
10 min. 
                                                                     

Prep Work

All Done! So yummy!!

After everything is all cooked, I serve the salmon and mango salsa
over brown rice. Add a vegetable! I usually just do a delicious green
salad. It ties everything together very nicely.

A Compliment Goes a LONG Way

It's interesting to me that we as women aren't only tough on ourselves,
but on each other as well. As I think about why we do this,
there's only one answer that comes to mind.

JEALOUSY!!

You can try and convince yourself that this has nothing to do
with why we tear each other apart, but it's a fact Jack!

Sometimes putting other's down makes you feel better about
yourself. Believe me, that feeling is only temporary. If I'm being
honest with you and myself, I've done it many times. Trust me,
when those hurtful words come out, it says more about yourself
then the person that's being spoken about.

I've recently read a quote;
"The jealous are troublesome to others,
  but a torment to themselves."
                           -William Penn

We should be each other's biggest allies. We understand
each other's deepest desires. Instead of speaking with your
other friends about how dirty "her" house is, maybe consider
why it's dirty. If a friend gained a few pounds, love them.
They might be going through stress that you don't understand or
know about. You can't take back words that are said. I've had
many conversations that I wish I could take back. Whomever
I spoke about doesn't deserve the harsh words that I said.

My goal is to become more like Christ, to love everyone as Christ
loves them, and to see those who surround me as Christ see's them.

Don't be afraid of those who challenge you to be better. Don't be afraid
to give a compliment and put a smile on someone's face. Don't be afraid
to gracefully receive a compliment.

Remember: We are each other's biggest allies!

A Work Out Filled with Cardio

I'M NOT A PERSONAL TRAINER! However, I know a good work

out when my shirt is covered with sweat and I'm out of breath.

I've done some research and found an article that stated that in certain stages

of life, the frequency of lifting weights and cardio should change. 

Me, being in my 20's, if I want to achieve certain goals that I have set for myself

I need to do 3x a week 60 min. cardio, and 3x a week do 30 mins. of

weight lifting followed by 30 mins. of cardio.

LIFTING IS IMPORTANT FOR WOMEN

You aren't going to turn into hulk. Lifting actually burns more calories 

after you leave the gym.

Today was obviously my cardio day so I did:

30 min. on the treadmill. Equaling 3 miles. (10 min. miles)

20 min. of the stair master. I went hard 4 min. and eased up every 2 min.

I once again hoped onto the treadmill and did 10, 30 sec. sprints at 12 m/hr.

I then did abs.

3 sets of 50 crunches on a medicine ball

3 sets of 1 min. plank

3 sets of 25 Russian twists

If you're looking to mix up your cardio day try this out. I promise 

your shirt will be drenched. Push yourself, there's nothing better then 

the feeling of knowing you couldn't have done anything more!

If you are in great shape, change up the speed or mileage! Don't let me hold you back. ;)

One of My Favorite Meals

This is not the best picture, I know. However, I promise you won't regret making this!
All you need is:

2 Chicken Breasts
1 Can of corn
1 Can of black beans
1 Can of diced tomatoes
1/2 Can diced green chillis
2 cups of brown rice

You can either boil and shred the chicken or put some olive oil in a pan and cook it that way.
The rest is easy! Add the corn, chillis, and tomatoes. Drain and rinse the black beans then add
them to the pan of deliciousness. Let everything heat up and add whatever seasoning you'd
like. I always use garlic salt with salt and pepper. You all have creative minds, so I'm sure you
can think of some other yummy seasonings to add!
Put all this over rice and SHABAM! You have an amazing meal that took you at the most
20 min.

Hope you all enjoy! If you try this and add something let me know! I'd love to try
your version.

Becoming the Best You

I've had a lifetime filled with being overly critical of my body. When

I was in second grade, I hated my hairy legs. In third and fourth grade

 I hated the fact that I was starting to get boobs and was a little chubby.

In fifth grade I was constantly crouching in pictures because I was
embarrassed that I was a foot taller then all my friends. Sixth grade I
believed that every girl was more beautiful then me.Seventh through
 my senior year in high school, I believed I had thunder thighs and envied
 all the girls that had long slender legs. Even now I pick my body apart.

However, my goal is to look at myself in the mirror and love every part of my
 bodythat Heavenly Father has created. 

I've changed the name of my blog from My Journey to be Fit, to My Journey

to Becoming the Best Me. It sounds a little cheesy, I know. But I've

done that for a very important reason. Now that I'm out of middle and 

high school I get to observe those who are embarrassed of  their height,

weight and pant size. I recognize more then ever that those insecurities don't
 stop at the age 18. Self deprecation/self hate, continues all through
women's lives. We have this intense need to be perfect. A lot of the time,
this need of perfection, is not for ourselves but the approval of our peers.
Who decides what perfect is? I see these mothers who are constantly picking
 at their bodies after having children, instead of embracing that fact that they
have those amazing, sweet spirited babies in their lives. Now,

all the mothers reading this are saying to themselves, just wait until you have kids.

Well, to be honest, I can't wait for that day. For someone who has been 

having troubles having children, some stretch marks don't sound so bad. 

This brings me back to my original question, 

Who decides what is perfect? 

If you look at the media, to be perfect, you have to

be a size two. Did you know Marilyn Monroe was a size 12? She was a sex icon. All

women envied her. I read a very disturbing quote from the magazine Allure. They are 

quoting a model named Liz Hurley.

"I've always thought Marilyn Monroe looked fabulous, but I'd kill myself if
 I was that fat...I went to see her clothes in the exhibition, and I wanted to take

 a tape measure and measure what her hips were. (laughter) She was very big."

Wow! 

If that doesn't get you thinking about how messed up our media is, then I don't know what will. 

This is the kind of message that media is not only sending to us, but our daughters.

I'm am genuinely worried about women as a whole. I don't want my daughters 

to hate their bodies. I don't want to hate my own body. God didn't give us these beautiful

creations to destroy with our constant words of distaste and hate.

As you can tell, this has been weighing very heavily on my heart and mind

for the last couple of weeks. I want to better myself and help women as a whole appreciate 

what they have been given.

I'm not saying. "love yourself, eat bad and don't work out". I'm saying, "love yourself

in the process of becoming the best you."

Don't hate yourself every time you have a doughnut. Don't beat yourself up if the scale shows

two more pounds than yesterday. Be nice to yourself and the beautiful creation that 

you are. 

On this blog I am going to share my work outs, healthy recipes, some yummy treats 

and the things that I am doing to work on loving myself. 

I hope I can touch someone's life, change some mind sets and help women, as a whole, 

become what they've always wanted to be.