Never Give Up

Things have been so off and on here at Southern Fit Liz and I wanted to give a little insight as to why. It's extremely personal and I battled back and forth whether I should share this. Maybe someone else is going through a hard time and this will help someway, somehow. 

I went through a tough time in 2014, suffering a miscarriage in late August. It really affected me in a big, deep way that I honestly was not expecting. I thought I was not ready for a baby - I am a worrier - I didn't have extra funds, extra space in my apartment, insurance, etc. I was stressed about it from day one. But each day I grew fonder of the idea of expanding our family. It seemed like everything was going to work itself out. I mean, who is ever, honestly ready?

So when I went in for my first 8 week appointment with Hubs I was excited. By this time we were talking about names, I was shopping for baby bags, I was in full on prepare-mode somehow. We saw the baby and heard the heartbeat and really, really liked my doctor. Everything was going to be great!

Sadly, that day when I got home from work I was bleeding and I knew what was happening. It was the most awful form of disappointment I have experienced to date. And I wish this on no one. To add insult to injury I had to have a nearly $3,000 D and C procedure. 

This lead to me having resentment towards Hubs (unwillingly), restarted a pattern of over eating and led to what I think to be clinical depression. I let all those things happen for months. Without the will or want to fight the bad in my life, I let it take over me. I was chronically late for work, oversleeping, overeating, over drinking, all to avoid feeling feelings. I didn't want to go through the tough emotions, as I never have. 

A co-worker commented on how 'miserable' I seemed all the time and something inside me clicked.  I started to realize that I can't waste my time acting this way. Maybe the things in our life are supposed to happen to us. Maybe I needed to go through this. Maybe I didn't... I don't know. What I do know is that every day that I am alive, with a job, with my health, with all of my limbs and my mind and my freedom I am living a life worth living. 

I swear I know how cheesy all this sounds but realizing that you are in charge of your life and your happiness (or lack of) is the most wonderful thing. I have the power every single day. I can make every day a good one, even though it's not easy everyday. I'm not happy? I can change it. I'm overweight? I can change it. I don't like my job? I can change it. 

I can do anything I want with my life. I have just never tried. 

So I am on a mission to make my life a good one. I can't control everything, I will always be short, with thin hair and have an affinity for animals in need. I want to be happy every day, so I am making a conscious effort. I want to be healthy, so I am working out and actually trying to make better choices. I want my marriage to work, which takes work, so I am trying to reconnect with my husband.

I just feel like I have discovered some secret in life - you really can have what you want, you just have to work for it. But, as they say, nothing good comes easy.  

Costco Haul

Hope you all had a lovely Valentine's Day <3

This weekend I went to Costco to get some no-cook basics for the week.

• Naked Kale Blazer Juice, $6
• Pineapple, $3
• Chicken Tikka Masala, $12
• 12 Organic Honeycrisp Apples, $13
• 10 Stuffed Chicken Patties, $12
• 12 chocolate strawberries that were devoured before the photo shoot, $12 

I really love Costco for some healthy-ish, mostly organic, quick options. Plus, samples. Yum. 

Stocked up on some gum to sooth my sweet tooth. 

Look how cute this is! 'Soul Mates' blushing bronzer in the shade 'Carrie & Big' - I DIE.  

My two first crushes - handsome and funny, oh my! Loved the 40th SNL Special. 

Rawfully Organic Co-op

Rawfully Organic Co-op is an all organic food co-op in Houston that I have been wanting to try for years now. The company was founded by Kristina, who is still there to greet you with a hug when you're standing in line and explain the process to newbies like me.

The co-op requires that you place your order by the night before pickup and pay online. You can choose a full share, a half share, or a fruit share. They also have produce available for purchase while you wait in line and their wonderful fresh juice - Fully Raw Juice. Every week an email is sent to subscribers to give you an idea of what produce will be in that weeks box. 

I split a half share with my bff, just to dip our toes in the co-op water. It was $48, which means $24 per person - which is very fair pricing for organic (some local) produce, compared to Whole Foods.

Our box with some juices we picked up!

Creepin'. Our half share box included bok choy, baby bok choy, cucumber, cauliflower, 7 bananas, romaine lettuce, kale, pint of baby tomatoes, avocado, bag of carrots, 2 grapefruits, 2 tangelos, oranges, pears, apples and pineapple. Taste the rainbow, folks!

We were so happy overall with the experience, the fresh produce that we got, the price and the experience! It was fun to have a reason to get out and about on that beautiful Saturday morning!

That's me, in my robe, room a mess, drinking my juice this morning! It. Was. Amazing. The juices are $8 each and raw, cold-pressed, fresh juice. The green juice above reminded me of 'green aid' from Whole Foods if you are familiar - but better, fresher, just so good!

We also bought a juice called Cotton Candy which was pineapple, ginger and apple. It was, without a doubt, the best juice I have ever had in life. So good - sweet but not too sweet. Delicious! Perfection! Can't wait to go back and get more. 

New Year, Fresh Start

At the first of the year I purchased this Suja 3 day cleanse from Costco. I thought that this was a great deal, since it was $20 and I buy mine at Target for $3.99 each. This boxed set came with 9 juices and a meal plan guide for your detox - this was not a cleanse without food, hooray!

The meal plan included encourages you to eat 3 clean, healthy meals during each day and even comes with several recipes, which I really liked. Now I am not going to lie - I totally did not follow their food guidelines but instead placed these into my regular meal plan, replacing some snacks with these juices.

The box it comes in at Costco with the included meal plan and directions. 

Suja Organic Spicy Lemonade - Drink upon waking 30 minutes or when you get hungry. This was way less spicy than I thought it would be and pretty sweet  but it was easy to drink and pretty good - like lemonade sweetened with maple syrup and a dash of spice. I had no problem starting my day with this juice!

Suja Organic Green Greatness - Drank 30 minutes before lunch or mid-morning snack. This was by far my favorite of all the juices - I just love the fresh, 'green' taste - like 'Greenaid' from Whole Foods almost. I drank this at about 11 every day before my lunch. 

Suja OrganicVanilla Nutz - Drank 30 minutes before dinner or as afternoon snack. I should preface by saying that I hate bananas. That being said, I did choke this down on day 1 and then gave the other two to my friend. It tastes like sweet banana milk and there is really no other way to describe the distinct flavor. 

Bottom line: I don't think this is a crazy, super detox but I do think it's very do-able for anyone. Anyone can commit for 3 days. Anyone can eat 3 meals and 3 juices. And while you might not loose 10 pounds or be stuck on the toilet, eating clean for 3 days straight is good for everyone no matter how you slice it. I love this because it encourages good, healthy eating habits!

Have you tried a juice cleanse?

Easy Chicken Soup (For The Twenty-Something Soul)

I have been down for the count with bronchitis for the past week. And while my sweet Hubs would get me anything I ever wanted to eat, all I was really craving was homemade soup. Something without weird, processed chicken and without 1 million grams of sodium. I also had no energy and very little ambition to do anything tedious. So, I made this up!

Chicken Soup, serves 6-8

Meat from 1 rotisserie chicken, skin removed
1 red onion, chopped
Baby carrots (to liking, I added half of a large bag)
6 stalked celery, sliced
2 potatos, peeled and diced
4 qts. low sodium chicken broth
1-2 clove garlic, minced
2 tbsp evoo
Salt/Pepper to taste

1. In stock pot or dutch oven, heat olive oil on med-high and add garlic and onions. Cook until fragrant (or translucent if you are sick, like me, lacking the ability to smell)
2. Add the rest of your ingredients and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to simmer for at least 30 minutes. Could simmer for 45-90 minutes if you needed and/or wanted to.

Optional
1. This would be great served over noodles or rice. I used potato to bulk this up since Hubs is GF, rather than using noodles, but I think that would have tasted great!
2. Add avocado once plated.

YOU. ARE. DONE.
Feel accomplished.
You made soup.
In under an hour.
Bam.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend! More posts coming soon!

Pumpkin Pie Green Smoothie

Is there anything better in the world than spinach that tastes like pumpkin pie?! I don't think so.

Pumpkin Pie Green Smoothie, 1 serving
2 handfuls raw baby spinach
1/2 C pumpkin puree
1 C ice
1 C water
1 scoop protein powder, (I used Cinnamon Swirl Cellucor)
1 Tbsp agave, honey or your sweetener of choice
1 Tsp pumpkin pie spice

Blend until smooth (I use the 'Smoothie' setting on my Blendtec Blender) and enjoy! Perfect way to get into the holiday spirit for me!

Trader Joe's Haul

I got all kinds of goodies this TJ trip - and I only spent about $80 for food for a week! BAM. 

Left to right:

TJ Butter Chicken - best frozen dinner

Fig & Olive Crisps - try it with Brie cheese

TJ Organic Canned Pumpkin - for all kinds of uses!

TJ Crunchy Slaw Salad - one of my all-time favs

Pasadena Salad - excited to try this!

KIND Strong bars - love a savory snack option!

TJ Mandarins - great snack

Greens & Seeds Salad - seemed so fall appropriate with butternut squash and pom seeds

Organic Avocados - great price at 4 for $4

TJ Reduced Guilt Tortilla Chips - for chicken tortilla soup this week

TJ Shredded Mexican Blend - for chicken tortilla soup this week

Organic Limes - for chicken tortilla soup this week

Organic Eggs - they taste the best!

TJ Mozzarella Cheese Sticks - best string cheese of life

TJ Black Beans - for chicken tortilla soup

TJ Triple Ginger Snaps - fav cookie ever

Gorgonzola & Walnut Salad - sounds so good!

Brussel Sprouts - YUM

TJ Chicken Fried Rice - Hubs loves fried rice, thought we'd test it out

Cranberry Apple Butter - don't judge me, had to try it

I did go to Sam's and get our rotisserie chicken and baby spinach but I like mixing it up at the grocery store - going to TJ's usually means that I get pre-made stuff and then I don't have to meal prep my lunches aka I had this Sunday off!