Kickin chicken, Hawaii, and harassment

Hello everyone! It has been a while since my last post. I hate to say that I had lost focus for a while on my weight loss journey, but I'm back at it now. I will be requiring myself to make frequent blog posts to share my progress. Knowing that I have a responsibility to share progress encourages me to be more strict. I've designated 1 day a week to be "weigh-in" Wednesday, so if I haven't made a post by Thursday morning please do me a favor and hound me :). I need my friends and family to help me hold myself accountable. I will also be sharing recipes that I've used to help me stay on track. Most of these recipes will be very low carb, and my hope is that I will be able to help someone else that struggles like I do. 

I love my job! With that said, the folks in my department love to EAT! We celebrate and mourn with food. Today is our manager'a 50th birthday, so guess what that means? If you guessed FOOD, you're 100% correct. Snack day at its best, along with an ugly Hawaiian shirt contest to emphasize the theme, Hawaii 5-0! Cute right? The recipe I chose was a low carb one, and unfortunately, I am not one that measures when cooking, but I'm going to do my best to explain in a way that allows you to recreate this delicious snack food. 

Kickin' Buffalo Chicken Spirals

Ingredients

1 pack of low carb tortillas (8ct)

1 8oz pack of cream cheese softened

Any blend of shredded cheese (I used Colby jack)

Franks Red Hot Sauce

Pace Picante Salsa

3 precooked chicken breasts

Ranch

Shred chicken and place into a bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of ranch

Add 2 tablespoons of Red Hot

( taste is the best way to tell if you have enough of each) add more or less accordingly

Place softened cream cheese in separate bowl.

Add 2 tablespoons of Franks Red Hot and 1/4 cup of Salsa

Mix well. 

Spread cream cheese mixture on tortilla, add chicken, then sprinkle cheese.

Roll up tight

Repeat for remaining tortillas

Place in refrigerator over night or in the freezer for 1 hour.

Remove and cut into bite size sections.

Super easy and delicious, and they will be a hit!! 

Adjust hot sauce according to your taste buds ;) I like mine a little milder. 

Hope everyone has a happy Monday, and remember to harass me if I haven't made a post by THURSDAY on my Week 1 results!

Change

Change...I think this is the most thrown around word in every person's vocabulary (besides the "L" word of course). We never have enough, need more, wish someone would, and hate it all at the same time. I am guilty myself, of always preaching about change, but running a mouth will not make anything happen. You cannot continue to do the things you've always done, the way you've always done them, and expect different results. I always have these wonderful ideas in my head with no real way to implement them, and if I do try to implement them, I never follow through. My work partner always says, "the only thing constant around here is change." While we complain about things always changing, we demand more changes. 1 truth is that we're human, and we are NEVER satisfied. The 2nd truth is that without change we wouldn't evolve, grow, or learn. 2013 is my year for change. I am forcing changes into my life because I am finally over seeing the same results. I went "crazy" last week and cut up all my credit cards. Yup! Just call me weird. Now THAT is something I can be proud of. Now to evict the many lbs of unwanted fat that have taken up residence in my lower belly, upper arms, thighs, & face. Watch out fat..eviction notice is on its way!!! & change is definitely hap-nin-nin (haha Jess that one is for you!!!)  I'm promising myself changes that will be beneficial to me & my family. When I promise change, I will follow through. I don't have a choice anymore...this is something I HAVE to do.

Side note: My first 5k is on March 30th! I am so excited to be running the Color Run in Nashville with all of my favorite people!!!! yay!

Times Gone By...

     I hate to be the ungrateful one, but I will say that the 1 thing I remember the most about 2012 is heartbreak, pain, sadness, sickness, and brokenness. I'm not sure I've ever been more ready for a year to end a new one to begin.

     You see for all 24 years of my life, there has been this man that I considered a rock, as a constant in my world. He would shower me with kisses, hugs, and more love than anyone could ever image. He would kiss away my boo boos, share stories, laughter, strawberry candies, IBC cream soda, ice cream from the ice cream man, take me shopping, spoil me, let me shoot Mr. Clean bottles with a BB gun, and most of all never judged me as anything other than perfect. He would always think of the little things. He complimented new hair styles, new clothes, and he always noticed if you'd lost a little weight. Although some may have viewed him as stern or harsh ( with his former Marine background), he was nothing but gentle and sweet when it came to his grandbabies. This man always had a smile on his face, and even when he wasn't feeling well, he did all that he could to make everyone feel like it was all going to be okay...and then June happened. June 2012 was when my families worst fears came to life.. My sweet Granddaddy was diagnosed with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm which is a horrible, aggressive cancer. In my eyes, he was handed his death sentence. This horrible disease is a mix between a lymphoma and leukemia with no cure and no answers. We watched him get weaker and sicker as the days went on. In and out of the hospital, but I swear whenever I saw him he always put a smile on. We spent as much time as we could with him, and let him see his great grandchildren as much as the doctors would allow (due to the severely weakened immune system)..needless to say..you all know my story here doesn't end well. On November 28th, around 10:30 in the morning, this man who has always been there for me, was called home. He put up the biggest fight, and he kept fighting until we told him it was okay to let go. I cannot describe to anyone the amount of pain that I felt at that moment and that I still feel today. Without Granddaddy, everything is just a little empty...just a little bit colder..He took a part of my heart with him that day, and I will not be whole until I can be with him again sometime. It hurts. It's hard. Sometimes no matter how hard I try, the tears still spill over the dam I've built throughout the years, but I have a wonderful support system, and though this has been painful for my entire family, we have been there for each other through every tear, every sob, every memory, and every fear. I appreciate them more than my words could ever explain...

2012 has taught me many things..
1. Life is so very short.
2. Do not take 1 thing for granted.
3. You can never say "I love you" too much when you mean it.
4. Make time for your family
5. You always have time for a goodbye kiss or hug
6. Staying angry doesn't solve anything
7. 3's are much worse than the 2's
8. my 3 year old will repeat things especially cuss words.
9. if Friends are real friends, they aren't friends at all, they're family
10. we don't decide our fate
11. You never know until you try.
12. CANCER SUCKS!


Pardon my language, but I would like to give 2012 a swift kick in the ass!

I'm eager to see what journey's 2013 has in store for me. If I made it through the storms of 2012, I know I can make it through any valley or shadow of 2013. Bring it on....just Bring it on.

Emotions

"Roller Coaster"

You control me.

You're a RULER, a DICTATOR,
an ASSHOLE, a RELATOR.

You're a SHOULDER, strong CHEST,
warm BREATH, wet KISS.

TIMID, I peek
you're NEVER there
My walls fall,  BREAKING down,
and you are EVERYWHERE.

YOU taunt me from every CORNER.
I feel TEARS then I LAUGH
I feel ANGRY then SAD
Before I know what's happening
again, I LAUGH.

YOU have this hold
a grip so TIGHT
It's PAINFUL
It HURTS
It ACHES
It BURNS

Just when I think I'm DEAD.

It's COOL
It's REFRESHING
CALMING
HEALING

I shake my HEAD
and once again EVERYTHING
is NORMAL.

You're a RULER, a DICTATOR,
an ASSHOLE, a RELATOR.
 You're a SHOULDER, strong CHEST,
warm BREATH, wet KISS.

I weaken for YOU.


-written by me. Ashley Lanford Berchekas 19 July 2012.

Me vs Me

Hello friends,
     Unfortunately, I'm sad to say that the reason it has been so long since my last blog post is because I fell off of my get healthy train, but as of today I've re-boarded with a new partner. Yep, that's right, my hubby has finally decided to get on the train with me. It means a lot that he's making a life style change with me because it's extremely difficult to keep it up when you're doing it by yourself. I've been searching pinterest high and low for low calorie, low glycemic recipes. I'm trying to bring a variety of foods into our new lifestyle because I know the hubs will get very tired of eating the same things.If any of you have delicious low-cal or low glycemic recipes, please send them our way. (I prefer fairly simple recipes that don't take too long to prep and cook considering the limited amount of time we have for dinner, baths, and bed after work each day)

     I've started taking a Zumba class 1 time a week at my dad's karate studio. It is so much fun!!! It's a really amazing workout without the feeling of it being a work out. I feel like I'm just dancing around having a great time with some amazing girls. My husband takes this opportunity on Wednesdays to do some weight training while watching his wife shake it and sweat to death (sexy huh). As of today, I've started Jillian Michael's 30 day shred, which I have been told has worked wonders for many people. I have high hopes, as I know my worst enemy through all of this is and always will be...ME.

     I've said it before, and I'll say it again..I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. I know I will reach my goal one day, as my assistant manager always says "little by little" we'll get there, and now I have my biggest supporter on my team!!!!! So excited for this journey to begin again...

The first step is always the hardest

Hello friends!
     It's been a short while since my last update, however LOTS has happened since then. My exercising has slowed unfortunately (my own fault) however, I've kicked it back in high gear!!! My eating healthy has continued, I feel I've done pretty well with it. My best friend is getting married next weekend and in 2 weeks time my dress is too big, so today I am taking it to get it altered, and imagine this, it's being taken IN not let OUT! What a sweet victory this is. My work pants are becoming dangerously close to falling off my rear-end through-out the day. Another sweet victory I might add! :)

     On March 10th Bethany and I made  a surprise trip to Auburn to visit Kelle for her birthday!! What a wonderful trip it was. Even though I worked all day and we didn't make it to Auburn until 9:00 that night, we had an amazing time, and the look on Kelle's face when we walked in was worth the entire craziness of the day! So, we had an awesome time with awesome friends, and a much needed mini-vacay away!!!

     Oh and the whole reason for my blog post today was to share my new adventure with you all. Yes, another adventure. I took my first step into my weight-loss journey and my journey to financial freedom and those were the two hardest things I've ever done. Now, to assist in my getting out of debt, I have become an Independent Thirty-One Consultant. I'm just getting started and some days I wonder if I know enough people or if I'll be able to have enough parties to reach my goals, but my faith tells me it will all work out in the end. So here I am, booking parties, saving money, and gettin' healthy. This beautiful life has taught me so much already...and to think...I'm only 23 and a half!!!! Oh what a life this will be to tell my grandkids about someday :)

Sincerely,
The most blessed girl on the planet!!
(well that's how it feels)

Ps.-if your interested in hosting a party, purchasing items, or becoming a consultant like me, you can email me at aberchekas1447@att.net or check out my website www.mythirtyone.com/berchekas

Lesson Learned

Hello Friends,
    I have exciting news! I bought my first weight set today! I went out in search of an economical way to purchase small weights (3lbs, 5lbs). In my most un-favorite store, coughwalmartcough, I discovered a $30 dollar weight set by none other than, Jillian Michaels, whom I love! It included 2-3lbs weights, 2-5lbs weights, and 2 8-lbs weights nestled on a plastic tray for easy storage and transportation. It also included a Jillian Michaels DVD for weight lifting. I have not viewed the DVD, but I have used the 3lb weights, and I must say they are awesome. They're easy to hold onto, and for a beginner like me 3 lbs is perfect.

      Now for the lesson learned...on Sunday I was a very bad girl! The hubby and  I had been working around the house for most of the day. He changed the oil in my car, and we cleaned and packed up old clothes in Nick's room. Lunch time rolls around and neither of us feel like cooking. So, (here's the bad girl part) we drove down to McDonalds (i know you just cringed in your seat). I had a double cheeseburger and some fries. Delicious while it lasted...however I was so sick to my stomach all day yesterday, and even the sight of food made me feel sick. I know that the food wasn't bad because Jon ate the same thing, but after much thought I realized it had been more than 2 weeks since I've eaten fast food. I must admit I used to eat it probably twice a week. (Horrible I know, but I feel better when I let out the truth) So, McDonalds is the devil. You absolutely won't see me in that drive-thru probably EVER again! Lesson Learned.

With Love,
Ash