happy 4th + 19 weeks

bell pepper baby status!

 1 week away from being halfway there!? man. seems like after the 1st tri passed time really took off.  i have SO much i want to get done and now that i feel like going hard again (k, not too hard!) and accomplishing some long-term goals with Fit Foodie Le, LLC that's what's on my agenda.

* HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!! *

 i got up early before the house woke up to get in some cardio and yoga, but the yoga class started later than i expected, dang.  i can't walk past a dumbbell without picking it up sooooo,

[video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="http://fitfoodiele.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/cake-by-the-ocean.mp4"][/video]

i did a few moves from my prenatal workout plans including this one that targets your glutes, one at a time.  it also challenges your balance, which works your core!  try it with or without a dumbbell and remember:

• keep your knee behind your toes at all times.

• sink down into the heel of the leg you're working to really activate your glute and hamstring. 

• keep a flat back during the entire move.  workout how you'd like to look. nobody wants to walk around with terrible posture, right!?  that always reminds me to fix my form. 

current 2nd tri woes:

numbness! 

most times i wake up these days, my hands, wrists, or even my entire arm(s) are numb and tingling and i have to lay there and wiggle my fingers like a mad woman until it goes away.  so annoying!  ever since Father's Day, i've felt way more fetal movement, my tummy is popping out a lil' bit more, my breasts are sore/swollen more often, and my areola have darkened.  growth spurt!  i read that the numbness has to do carpal tunnel syndrome from the swelling that compresses the nerves in my wrists.  it tends to get worse as the pregnancy progresses. great! lol.  i could probably cut back on my salt and up my water a bit more to help fight the swelling and that's what i plan to do.

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for the 4th, i baked up some lemon pepper, Weber Garlic Sriracha, and BBQ sockeye salmon,and grilled up some colossal BBQ shrimp.

 we hit up HEB after church the day before and it was a maaad house!  sample stations every couple of feet and people everywhere getting ready to party.   both the salmon and shrimp were on sale for 7 bucks and some change per lb; what a sale!

Chiso and i had a lil' too much fun on snap chat during our samples shopping trip (add us! fitfoodiele):my bump gets me extra samples, weeeeeethat ice cream concluded our sample fest!  i also grilled up some corn and lean, ranch turkey sliders with homemade guac cause Chiso requested burgers with his fireworks!  i really wanted some baked beans but by the time i finished all that i was TOAST and ready to sit down.  in addition to meal prepping for our 6 Pack USA clients and my postpartum moms, i am learning how to seriously get IN and OUT of the kitchen quicker by the day.  shortcuts are everything when it comes to meal prep! else you could spend way more time than you need in the kitchen and i don't have any to spare.  don't give up on meal prep and stay consistent. it will soon become second nature to you. our brothers and sisters came over with their kids and all the little cousins had a blast eating brownies and dodging watching fireworks. good times! 

Q:  what was the highlight of your 4th of  july?

K E E P   U P   W I T H   U S !

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sundayeth-fundayeth

 a few people on Instagram thought i was referring to almond milk at first i'm sure, LOL. but nope, good ol' breastfeeding.  i.... miss it.  i went for 19 months with Chiso and i plan to go just as long if not longer with the rest of the Egwuatu clan (when He says it's time).

so it's sunday, which means it was sunday-family-fun-day for us!  you can make ANY day  family fun day, of course.  just as long as you make it a point to spend time together as a family doing whatever makes you guys happy.

my bro-in-law treated us and some more fam to Great Kahn for dinner today- it's been a while!  forgot how awesome this place is.

so it's like a big salad bar. first you pick your carbs ( i chose brown rice and tortillas as you can see),

then you pick your veggies. i went crazy and stuffed that bowl to the max.  spinach, tomatoes, baby corn, zucchini, pineapple, green onion, bok choy, onions, bean sprouts, mushrooms, bell peppers, carrots.....

then you pick a seasoning. or two. or all.  i took a spoonful of every. single. one.  so serious.

then the proteins!  which are of course, yes, raw.  when we visited for the very first time, i thought this was super unsanitary;( but i got over it. shrimp, Alaskan cod,  and sliced chicken breast tenderloin.

finally, you choose a sauce!  you should know by now how i ate mine! on tha siiiiiiiide! i trust no sauce.

what a beautiful stir-fried master piece!  they throw it all on the grill and cook it up.  it was so tasty, and the price is right @ 8.99 for the lunch special.

Sonny's bowl was FULL of jalapeños unsurprisingly.

this was the bro-in-laws bowl.

then this happened afterwards as it often does. fro-yoooo!  i went light because dairy's aftermath on my body is not something i look forward to the next day:( so i got a little bit of no sugar added chocolate and vanilla fro yo, some crushed Oreos, slices almonds, sprinkles, and mini chocolate chips.

Sonny got no sugar added vanilla, crushed Oreos, peanut m&m's, and..... gummy bears? oh, ok :shock:"

new flavors up in Swirll - iced mocha and creme brulee!  Chiso loved them both.  he's a sampler, just like his mama.

Q: what are your favorite fro-yo toppings and flavors??!? birthday cake is still #1 in my book.

on a sugar high!!

speaking of sugar, here are those instructions for the homemade dark chocolate PB2 cups:

• melt 8 tbsp dark chocolate (i used malt sweetened dark chocolate from the bulk bins of HEB).

• spoon 1 tbsp of melted chocolate into the bottom of 4 different empty muffin cups (you can use liners if ya want).

• pop into the freezer for 15 minutes.

• fill with whatever your little heart desires!  a tsp of PB2 mixed with unsweetened vanilla almond milk went on top of my frozen dark chocolate bottom layer.

• top your filling (make sure it's completely covered around those edges) with another tbsp of melted chocolate.

• freeze for 25-30 more minutes

• SWALLOW!

i only left mine in for 15 minutes the second time and it exploded when i tried to make a clean center cut lol! leave it in for the full 25-30 so the filling can harden too.

who needs some monday motivation? *raises hand*. have you been tested lately?  every day, huh!  whether it be something or someone, expect it.  how you handle it is what's most important... and that's what God is waiting and watching for.  before you let your flesh try to battle these minute annoyances on its own, hold that thought, hold those words, and go to God with it first.  He will set everything up for you to overcome it- the place, the time, your surroundings,  your words... He'll not only fix it, but He'll give you complete peace about it afterwards.  our mouths and actions can get us in trouble when we do or say things that are not of Him.  i don't know about you, but i need to be reminded of that CONSTANTLY cause my flesh has a whole heck of a lot to say these days!  can you relate to that quote^ up there?  only to an extent, right?  cause some things NEED to be vocalized.  but before you unload on somebody,  let Him decide the when, where, what, how, why, and who!  put your pride aside and do it His way, first.

nite!

le

savory protein-packed albacore tuna cakes....and stuff

it is NOT tuesday already!!! seriously?  please, come back with me to the weekend for a sec.

it started with this awesome quote above by Jim Rohn. when a quote hits home and find myself reading it over and over again, i GOTTA share it.

if you're satisfied with being unsatisfied, stop complaining and UPROOT YOURSELF.   take comfort in knowing that you have the power to change your situation for the better, especially if you are unhappy  with the way things are.  less talking, more action!!

we met up with a few of our 6 Pack USA clients that morning for body fat testing and progress checks, then hit the gym, together! we make the effort to work out together at least once a week, minimum.  it's our kinda date.  this man pushes me like NO OTHER.  buttons and all :lol:  but it brings out the best in me as well as fantastic results.  i always see more progress in my body working out with Sonny vs. solo.  working out with a partner (or sig. other) provides:

*support

*encouragement

*partnership

*motivation

*accountability

*companionship

*friendly competition

choose a workout partner that truly pushes and inspires you to do better and go harder.  friends don't let friends SLACK!

also, being able to see Sonny across the (weight ) room  is....nice.  even if we are both doing our own thing on opposite ends of the gym, i take comfort in knowing he is simply there.

afterwards, we went on another date.

a lunch date.

to my fave Greek spot in Houston, Niko Nikos!  peak or off-peak hour, it don't matter.  they stay busy because the food is that good.

i started with the greek salad- it's automatic.  it was topped with a block of salty feta, calamata olives, tomato, red onion, peppers, and a splash of their famous vinaigrette dressing.  i usually get my dressing on the side, but they never load it on ridiculously and i have always appreciated that.  their salads are always cold, fresh, and crisp.

the salad was followed by a spinach & chicken pita loaded with lots of feta and melted mozzarella.

ok....as much as i LOVE me some cheese, it was too much.  i watch my sodium intake and because i had just murdered that block of feta on my salad, i was good in that department already.  soooo, i definitely took some off before i dove in.

this one's at the top of his list...the massive, impressive, Hercules Plate.

like mother like son! i'm always reaching over my own plate for Sonny's food too.

i sure wish i had read this statement straight from their menu while we were there:

'We challenge you to finish it: Gyros, Souvlaki, Chicken kebob served with tomato, cooked onions, bell pepper, mushrooms, tzatziki, yalandji dolma and two pita breads.'

cause Sonny KILLED IT.  maybe we could have gotten free dessert or something!? i'll ask next time.

after church and teaching my gym class on Sunday, we sped over to a kiddie b-day party for Titus, the Engineer!  he turned the ripe ol' ago of TWO. happy birthday big boy!

Chiso will be two in May, and i plan to do a similar type of party, meaning, somebody else will be doing all the work this time!  nothin like last year's 1st birthday party at all!

Chi chowing down on cheese pizza.

once home again, meal prep sunday was in full effect.

i did a combo of grilling and roasting for my vegetables this week.

even had some egg-plant up in the mix!

i also made egg-plant 'fries' by slicing the starchy veggie into fry sized stalks, seasoning them with Mrs. Dash no-salt garlic & herb, and placing them flat on a baking sheet, 7 minutes each side. different and tasty!

roasting and grilling over steaming, ANYDAY.  brussels sprouts, multi-color bell peppers, and egg-plant for the next few days.

last nights dinner:

savory, protein-packed albacore tuna cakes

the stuff:

• 2 cans albacore tuna, drained
• 2 egg whites
• 1 heaping tbsp 0% greek yogurt
• 1 heaping tbsp course ground mustard
• 2 tbsp red bell pepper, chopped
• 2 tbsp yellow, orange, or green bell pepper
• 1 tbsp cilantro, chopped
• juice of half a lemon
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tbsp Mrs. Dash no-salt garlic & herb seasoning ( i like lots!)
• 1 tbsp green onion, chopped
• 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper

do this: * in a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and mix very well.

* coat a medium heated pan with no-stick cooking spray

* scoop out some of the mixture and place it in the hot pan, pressing it down flat, like a pancake.

*cook 4-5 minutes on each side or until done and cooked through!

that topping is just 0% greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic powder, and sriracha.  i didn't measure, but play around with these components to make a dipping sauce to your liking!

i made 8 cakes, and these are the stats for 1:

if you hadn't noticed yet, 

SO,  i started a new section up there titled FFL approved!  but you noticed already, right!  that page will be filled with all things health and fitness that i have either eaten, worn, or used myself!  e.g. good ol' PRODUCT REVIEWS!!!  i mean i've really been doing them all along, but this time the products will be mostly complimentary which i appreciate TREMENDOUSLY.  sooo, head on over there if you haven't already... there's more to come. way mo!

**p.s. if you make ANY of my recipes, i'd LOVE to see them! how? take a pic and post them to the Fit Foodie Le Facebook Fan Page, or Instagram it and tag me to it -----> #fitfoodiele. **

le