Chicken Soup for the Soul "Shaping the New You!" by Rebecca "CB" Hill

Hi, Fit Moms! I’m really excited that Barnes & Noble has invited me to do a book signing for Chicken Soup for the Soul; Shaping The New You! The book signing will be next weekend, so if you’re in the LA area – please come by!

BOOK SIGNING DETAILS:

Saturday; February 5^th

2:00 – 4:30 p.m.

Barnes & Noble

13400 Maxella,

Marina del Rey, CA 90292

(310) 306-3213

A few days ago I interviewed several beautiful women for this blog as we continue to pursue and explore Deepak Chopra’s questions of “Who Am I? What do I want out of life? What is my purpose?” I will share their thoughts with you in a few weeks and we will continue to discuss these questions because I really think the more we know ourselves and what makes us happy – the less we will rely on food to fill our emotional needs. We will explore this more later because right now I have to get ready for the book signing, so I will leave you with one of my stories that was published in Chicken Soup for the Soul; Shaping the New You.



This is the story of the first time I traveled to Maui with Kiana to shoot ESPN's "Kiana's Flex Appeal" and how Kiana ended up giving me the nickname “CB.” Happy reading and hope to see you at the book signing!



Cheeseburger in Paradise



You can’t really be strong until you see a funny side to things.

~Ken Kesey

My name is Rebecca but my nickname is “C.B.” which stands for cheeseburger. I got the nickname C.B. several years ago when I was working on a television show in Maui, which is gorgeous -- just an absolute paradise! I was the personal assistant to ESPN television fitness star, Kiana Tom. We were in Maui for two weeks shooting her popular exercise show, Kiana’s Flex Appeal. Let me tell you, two weeks is a long time to hang out with “fitness people,” especially if your idea of a good time is a brownie sundae followed by salty potato chips. I was a bona fide junk food addict stranded on an island with “health nuts” who, from my perspective, seemed to be from another planet.

The entire cast and crew stayed at a luxurious resort called the Grand Wailea. The resort was expensive so we were required to share a hotel room with another member of the production team. My roommate’s name was Julie and she was in charge of Kiana’s wardrobe. (Kiana’s wardrobe, by the way, consisted of itsy-bitsy bikinis and workout shorts. I always found it amusing that Julie’s full-time job was taking care of bikinis that were so small I could have put three of them in my wallet!) Anyway, Julie was a fantastic roommate and I had a great time working on the show… except for when it came time for breakfast, lunch or dinner.



For breakfast everyone enthusiastically drank protein shakes or ate oatmeal while I desperately scanned the craft services table hoping for a doughnut that might have accidentally been delivered. There was never a doughnut to be found -- the closest thing I could find was a whole wheat bagel. “Oh well” I thought, “at least it’s the right shape!”

When we’d break for lunch, I’d watch in disbelief as everyone “oohed” and “ahed” over grilled chicken breasts and steamed vegetables. I’d pick at my food claiming that I was “not that hungry.” After we’d wrap for the evening, the cast and crew would make plans to go out to dinner together. Most nights I’d claim to be “exhausted from the sun” or say that I “had too much work to do” just so I could have a few hours to myself. I’d diligently work on my laptop as my roommate Julie got dressed to go out to dinner with the others, but the minute she’d leave the room I’d call room service and order a cheeseburger and fries. I’d salivate just waiting for the cheeseburger to be delivered! I was always struck by how high my room service bill was but it was a small price to pay for “real” food! I’d scarf down the cheeseburger in no time and then hide the evidence by walking my tray with the dirty dishes down the hall and putting it in front of someone else’s hotel room door.



The production company had paid for our hotel rooms in advance but we were responsible for incidental charges like phone calls, in-room movies and room service so I figured I’d just quietly pay my room service bill at the end of my stay and no one would be the wiser. What I didn’t realize was that this hotel offered a special feature where you could review your incidentals on the TV in your room. I also didn’t realize that Julie would be checking our room’s bill to see how expensive the phone calls she had been making to her husband had been. I was in the shower when I heard Julie yell, “$100 for cheeseburgers? That can’t be right -- I’m calling the front desk!”

I jumped out of the shower with soap still in my hair and said, “Wait. Actually, that’s correct. I’ve been ordering cheeseburgers.” I started laughing as I told Julie how I’d been ordering cheeseburgers from room service, then hiding the trays down the hall. She was laughing so hard when she called Kiana that she could barely speak. Then Kiana started laughing too and by the morning it had all become a big joke on the set. In a way it was a relief because it allowed me to eat my beloved junk food out in the open my last few days in Maui. As a matter of fact, on one of the last days of shooting I did go out to eat with the cast and crew. We were at a beautiful high-end restaurant so I ordered an exquisite pasta dish, but when my food came and the waiter lifted the fancy silver dome lid that was covering my food, it was revealed that someone had snuck out and gotten me a cheeseburger, then bribed the waiter to serve it to me instead of the pasta. Everyone laughed -- especially me as I happily ate the cheeseburger!

Kiana still affectionately calls me C.B. but a lot has changed these days. I lost over 40 pounds through Weight Watchers and I recently became a circuit trainer at Curves gym. When new members say, “I just don’t know if I can do this,” I always reply, “Trust me. If I can do this, you can do this!” And when they ask for advice on what they should eat I hear myself saying things like “Oatmeal is good.” And “For lunch and dinner you probably want to have some protein like grilled chicken or tofu, and be sure to eat your veggies!” At first they look at me like I’m from another planet but I know that will change. I’m living proof that with time and dedication new habits can be formed and taste buds can evolve. That doesn’t mean that people suddenly become “perfect.” I’m not. I still eat the occasional cheeseburger or doughnut but I’m more aware of my actions now than I used to be. It’s still a struggle for me to stay away from fried foods and sweets but as I’ve grown older I’ve realized that everybody has challenges in their lives -- food is mine. I take it day-by-day -- sometimes hour-by-hour. And I’m okay with that because I’m proud of how far I’ve come since the day I got caught eating cheeseburgers in paradise!

~Rebecca Hill

KIANA KALE SOUP RECIPE

Kale: a highly nutritious vegetable with powerful antioxidant properties; considered to be anti-inflammatory. Contains sulforaphane, a chemical believed to have potent anti-cancer properties.

Did you know that only 10% of Kiana’s Library of Exercises, Workout Routines, Recipes and Tips are free online? GET ACCESS to all of her ever growing files and Library HERE:  KIANA’S FLEX APPEAL ONLINE PROGRAM.

KALE SOUP



Here is a favorite recipe I love to make. It is so healthful and it is impressive to serve. It makes me feel good to know I am feeding my family this healthy and oh so delicious, hearty soup. It is filled with fresh vegetables and the wonder vegetable: Kale. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

2 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves minced garlic
2 large carrots, peeled and diced
4 ribs celery, diced
2 tsp. rosemary
1 lb. butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch chunks
1 cup canned chopped tomatoes
6 cups low sodium chicken broth (no msg)
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
4 cups kale – remove stems, rinse and rough chopped
1 14.5 oz can cannellini beans drained
6 3/4 inch rustic bread (mostly crust works best)
3 oz. Fontina cheese cubed
6 Tbs. grated Parmesan

Directions:

In large soup pot, heat oil over medium heat. Cook onion, garlic, carrots, celery until soft appx. 12 minutes. Add rosemary, tomatoes and stock. Braing to a boil, add bay leaf, salt and pepper. Cover, lower heat and simmer until squash is soft appx. 25 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Add kale, beans and cover for 10 minutes. Remove bay leaf. Spoon into oven safe bowls and cover with torn slices of bread-using mostly crust (it will be mushy if you use only the soft inside part of the bread.). Put a little broth onto bread, sprinkle parmesan and Fontina cheese on top. Bake until soup is bubbling, cheese is melted and bread is brown and crunchy appx. 25 minutes. Serve with side salad or on it’s own.

Veggie Tacos / "Eating a Rainbow Day" / Guest Post by Firefighter AL

This picture was sent to FitMomTV.com and Kiana.com from a Fit Dad, Firefighter "Al," showing us their healthy veggie tacos he and his Fit Family made for dinner.

"Adding crunchy veggies to tacos is a healthy way to add texture and crunch to your tacos. By eating a wide variety of colorful fruit and vegetables, you easily increase the range of vitamins and minerals you eat. I see radishes - they are naturally spicy and are perfect for Taco Tuesday! Thank you for sharing and inspiring millions of viewers in 100 countries! Looks yummy!" says Kiana.
Share your photos with us: info@fitmomtv.com

Sugar Junkie Blog by Rebecca Hill. “It’s Not Just a Love of Cupcakes…”

Sugar Junkie Blog by Guest Blogger and published Author, Rebecca Hill.

January 23, 2011

Rare is the day that I’m at a loss for words, but …I’m at a loss for words. Meditation is hard! (At least it is for me.)

The first day I meditated my cat, ‘Anais the Siamese’ started crawling all over for me so ½ way through my meditation song I gave up and just started playing string with her and feeding her ‘Turkey Treats’. The second day as I was trying to follow Deepak Chopra’s instructions and contemplate “Who Am I?” I started fretting, which turned into panicking because the person I am is not exactly the person I expected to become; and it is certainly not the person my family and childhood/high-school/college friends expected me to be. For the most part, I like who I am; but as I thought about my true beliefs, I found it hard to breath as I imagined the full force of how disappointed my family and many friends would be if I were completely straightforward with them about how liberal my views really are. And as I started panicking at the thought of losing my family and many of my friends my first thought was “I really need some cupcakes.” which reinforced my suspicion that my struggle with my weight is not really “what I’m eating”, it’s “WHAT’s EATING ME!?!” I’m wondering if that’s true of any of you? I’m sure we’ve all got different types of issues going on in our lives but I think it’s probably these issues (not simply a love of cupcakes) that leads us to do things like eat a dozen cupcakes in the grocery store parking lot after a bad day. (Please tell me y’all sometimes eat cupcakes in the grocery store parking lot too…do you?)

In any case, the third day I meditated, I fell asleep.

I wanted to see if others were having any luck answering Deepak’s question so I turned to my friends to see how they were doing with it. My girlfriend, Cheree said, “When asked to answer the question ‘Who am I?’ I initially thought in broad stoke single words like brave, caring, fun. Then I dove a little deeper because those single word descriptions are so general and all really don't apply every day to who I think I am, I'm still discovering myself! Everyday, if I really take a moment to think of my reactions, my honest feelings about what is happening to me or around me, my actions in my career, marriage and friendships, I come to the realization that I am in process of becoming my personal best for each day. That is who I am, my own personal best. And I will be better tomorrow and will not be defined by a single word, group or philosophy.”



As for the challenges of quieting my mind long enough to meditate, I reached out to my favorite yoga teacher in the world – Wendy Hartley. Wendy said, “The purpose of meditation is to watch and observe your thinking mind. Through the power of your breathing you can slow your thinking. The longer you sit (for me it is in the 20-30 minute mark where there is a lot of space between my thoughts) the more you get to release the nonsense and see with greater clarity. The natural state of our mind is to think and create. But with concentrated focus we are better aware of what we are entertaining. I like the idea of pondering the big questions, but usually the answers to those big ones come when your mind hasn't been "forced" let's say, but spontaneously enters stillness (like right before sleep for example) or meditating without expectations. I do love Deepak's work. The mind may not even quiet in a whole hour of sitting, but practicing awareness to your thinking patterns gives you the power to change. Happy sitting. Have Tom practice too.”



So, then I asked my husband, Tom to try meditating. It did not go well for him either… Seems a cat was bothering him too!



(Thanks for reading my blog. If you have time, do contemplate what my yoga instructor Wendy said and try to find time to meditate; I really do think meditation is important and I will continue to try to make this practice a part of my daily life too. Also, please ask yourself, and try to answer Deepak's question “Who Am I?“ in the comments section below. Maybe start the sentence with, “I am….” (then fill in the blank and see what you come up with.) And remember, you can post your comment as “Anonymous” if you’re not ready to claim yourself yet. Have a good week! – Rebecca)

Rebecca Hill is the author of “Confessions of an Innkeeper” and “Don’t You Worry, Don’t You Cry.” Her stories have also appeared in Redbook Magazine and in several Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies.  


http://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Soup-Soul-Encouraging-Fitness/dp/1935096575

40 Things You Don't Know About Me / Kiana Tom

Fit Mom Exercises & Workouts

Here is a video player that has all of the Exercises & Home Workout routines you can do at home. The videos are updated regularly with new videos, workout routines and my favorite exercises. Scroll through the videos and try a new exercise. Enjoy!

Words of Wisdom by Deepak Chopra (with a few additional thoughts by Rebecca Hill)

January 16, 2011

Two weeks into the New Year and I’m wondering how your New Year’s resolutions are going? As for mine …at this point, I can’t even remember if I made any. Did I? Oh yes, (just re-read my own blog): #1 was that I was going to learn to find acceptance even if I didn’t understand a difficult situation in my life. #2 was that I was going to learn to love the squat machine at Curves!



Well, girlfriends, unfortunately neither resolution is going swimmingly well which is what led me to re-read an article my friend, Suzanne shared with me several weeks ago. In this article, Deepak Chopra expresses his thoughts on New Year’s Resolutions. You can read the entire article at:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-conversation-20101226,0,3358554.story

Or you can just peruse this excerpt: (I know you Fit Moms are busy!)




Do you (Deepak Chopra) participate in the annual ritual of taking stock at the New Year?



I take stock every three or four months. Every four months or so, I take a week off to be in total silence, to look back and see what I should be looking at in the future. For me, it would be a quarterly ritual.



Do you think there's a way for people to make their resolutions stick?



Yes. I think if they go beyond motivation and find true inspiration, then the resolutions will stick. So for me it's to go to a deeper level, and that's why I place so much importance on this idea of silence. I'm not saying everybody should do it, but even if you took five, 10 minutes of quiet time every day or every other day or once a week and asked yourself simple questions like, who am I? What do I want? What is my life's purpose? Is there a contribution I can make to my community or to society? What kind of relationships do I want to have? What is my idea of well being, and how can I achieve it?





I don't ask that you even know the answers, but if you start to do this kind of reflection, it has a very interesting way of not only moving you to the answers but of changing your behavior. So instead of saying, I'm going to have all this willpower, and I'm going to try so hard, which is all mental fatigue, reflective self-inquiry spontaneously leads to change.





I’m intrigued by what Deepak Chopra says because it ties back into my suspicion that meditation really is an incredibly powerful way to shape and guide our destinies. So, while I will continue to work toward my New Year’s Resolutions (and I hope you will continue to work toward yours too!) I do want to circle back around to a topic we were discussing a month or so ago on this blog. The need for “Quiet Time.” Most of us cannot take a week off every 3-4 months to fully vet the larger questions of life, but I do hope we can all try to find at least 5 minutes once per day to ask ourselves the questions Deepak Chopra poses in this article: Who am I? What do I want? What is my life's purpose? Is there a contribution I can make to my community or to society? What kind of relationships do I want to have? What is my idea of well being, and how can I achieve it?



I know you’re all incredibly busy women but my intuition tells me you will be a better mother, a better spouse, a better employee, a better boss, a more fulfilled person (and that you will achieve all of your goals, including your health and fitness goals more easily) if you can find 5 minutes each day of “you time” to think through these questions. I’m going to try it (again) too. I keep failing to make mediation and prayer a part of my daily life, but if I can make it part of my life, I think good things are going to happen for me and for those I love. I hope so anyway.



I leave you with good wishes for the week ahead and with several peaceful images from my dad’s beautiful African art collection. I also leave you with a few suggestions for music to use in your meditation practice. Brian Eno, Harold Budd and Tim Story all have many great instrumental pieces that are perfect for meditation. And, I also enjoy meditating with two songs my husband, Tom wrote: “Quiet Time” and “Thinking To Much.”  Each of Tom’s songs are about 5 minutes long so I’m posting them on this blog in case you need something mellow to help you time your meditation.

Thinking Too Much

Quiet Time



Try to meditate at least one day this week, okay? And please let Kiana and me know how it goes!



*”Quiet Time” and “Thinking Too Much” are performed by the harmony duo, CAUFIELD, which consists of American singer-songwriter, Tom Caufield and German-born vocalist, Yasmin Tanriverdi.   http://www.caufieldmusic.com/cmt/78.html

Fit Mom Freebie! $35 to spend at CSN Stores

Every Fit Mom loves to shop, right? Well, here is a fun chance to win $35 to spend at CSN Stores in any of their 200 online shops.

ACTIVE KIDS ARE FIT KIDS!

Every Fit Parent knows that active kids are fit kids. But sometimes, I don't have the time to take them to the beach or park. So when my 1st daughter turned 3, I put in a beautiful wood swing sets and outdoor play area in for her to enjoy. Now, she and her little sister play together. This way, I could be at home working, doing stuff around the house while they played outside (aka no TV or video games-Love it!)

To Celebrate Active Fit Kids and Fit Mom TV, CSN Stores has generously contacted us to offer a $35 Give Away to a lucky Fit Mom to use at any of their 200 stores online.



TO ENTER:

1. Simply follow Fit Mom TV on 5 of the Social Media Links ON THE RIGHT SIDE BAR.

2. LEAVE A COMMENT AFTER THIS POST telling us what you'd buy at CSN Stores.

3. Check out the wonderful swing sets at CSN Stores

The winner will be selected on February 14th Valentines Day by random drawing.  Good luck and be Fit and Fabulous Moms!

:60 Tip: Whole Wheat Pasta vs. Refined Pasta

Whole wheat vs. white blend pasta:

Whole-wheat-and-white blends are made with a mix of whole-wheat and refined flours. Because they are a blend of the two, they are less chewy than 100 percent whole-wheat varieties, but still offer more nutrition than traditional white pasta. "The texture is light and moist, even my kids love it!"

Regularly choosing whole-grains over the refined type is associated with numerous health benefits, including lower blood pressure and reduced risk of many chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Three ways to determine if a pasta is 100 percent whole-grain:
Check the ingredients list. All grains/flours should be preceded by the word “whole.” Brown rice and oat flours are automatically whole-grain.
Check the front of package. It should clearly state “100 percent whole-grain” or “100 percent whole-wheat.” Make sure you specifically see “100 percent” on the label!



Look for products that contain the orange WHOLE-

Suggested brands to try:
Mueller’s 100 percent whole-wheat pastas
De Cecco 100 percent whole-wheat pastas
Hodgson Mill 100 percent whole-wheat pastas
Eden Organic 100 percent whole-wheat pastas
Heartland 100 percent whole-wheat pastas
Eden Organic 100 percent Whole-Grain Kamut & Quinoa Twisted Pair
Eden Organic 100 percent Whole-Grain Rye Spirals
Hodgson Mill gluten-free brown rice pastas

Fit Mom of the Month: Katy Smallwood

My story....what makes me a fit mom you ask??? Here goes:


2007 Was a Very “good”? Year…life lessons learned I am submitting my “story”, my “journey” my “tale” in hopes that other women in similar situations know that despite some crummy odds and seemingly HUGE challenges you can achieve your best, most fit and healthiest self and have a great life.

The year was 2007, I was pregnant and on bedrest with my second child. My pregnancy was considered “high risk” due to my pregnancy induced condition called “polyhydramnios” as well as being over 35-advanced maternal age-blah who wants to hear that? Basically, from week 20 on my amniotic fluid levels rose to dangerously high levels.  I was literally about to pop! Usually, amniotic fluid decreases as a pregnancy progresses. Reasons for it were varied but weekly ultrasound and non stress testing showed my little girl, Maggie, was completely “normal” by all visual accounts. That said, my gut told me that all was not “typical”.

Maggie was delivered a week early due to my condition. Within 24 hours she was diagnosed with Treacher Collins Syndrome. She earned her ticket to the NICU within 24 hours of being born. If you google TCS, you will get freaked out. It can be very drastic, disfiguring and debilitating. Lucky for us, Maggie’s was and continues to be moderate. She is Deaf but wears hearing aids. Early on she had some medical issues related & unrelated to TCS. Today, she is a thriving, sassy and tough little girlie who charms and endears everyone she meets. I am blessed….but the story does not stop there… …

When Maggie was 5 months old I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. What? Me? Cancer? I had to stop pumping (due to TCS with her small jaw she couldn’t latch and therefore couldn’t nurse…I pumped for 7 months…).I had a total thyroidectomy with multiple lymph node removal in November 2007. Due to complications with my calcium & magnesium blood levels I stayed in the hospital for a week…versus the 24-36 hr stay we had anticipated. That said…I am blessed that I had and continue to have the best medical care from amazing doctors.

The “wake” from having a wacky thyroid then no thyroid left me overweight, depressed with my hair falling out, fingernails that wont grow and generally bloated & unattractive. I was tired, achy …but still happy to be here…happy to be alive. No matter how early cancer is caught or how “slight” it is made out to be it is still in YOU. In your body. It coats every cell of your body and brain. The overall feeling when you are diagnosed is “get it the heck out”.  But, I SURVIVED!

So, I decided to “take the bull by the horns”…and so my story continues…  …

Spring 2008…  Thru Golds Gym I worked with the best personal trainer…ever…Dan G. I am still in touch with him and can ask him anything-STILL. He was a “gift” for me.  In his personal trainer wisdom he told me,”If you want to lose weight, change your diet. If you want to change your body lift weight”. And so the first exercise he ever had me do was a barbell squat in the big scary squat rack. I haven’t looked back since. And…squats are still my fave exercise….



The last leg of my journey…October 9, 2010. I placed first in Womens Figure Overall Novice Class and Womens Figure Overall 35+ classes at the “Charm City Classic Bodybuilding & Figure Competition” held in Baltimore, MD.  I knew then I was bit by the fitness bug and wouldn’t be returning to my previous self…

Then, on October 23, 2010 I placed 3^rd in the Open Tall Division at the Yorton Cup Nationals in Bethesda Maryland, a pro qualifying event. I got into the best shape of my life…ever. I ate clean and continue to do so. I turned my workouts into my therapy, my stress reliever. And, it propelled me to a place that just a few months earlier had seemed, well…impossible. Nothing is. I really feel like my experiences have taught me to live life like I mean it. I am a better mother, wife, friend, daughter because of all I have been through. And, I hope my journey helps someone just like me see that they can do it, too…
Thanks for taking the time to read about my journey! It means a lot to me!

Sincerely,"Fit Mom" Katy Smallwood



Be the next Fit Mom of the Month: Submit yourself or a Fit Mom friend to be featured. Please send a few of your favorite photographs and your Fit Mom Story to email: info@fitmomtv.com

:60 Fit Tip: 5 seconds to better health

Here is a 5 second Tip to take better of yourself...



Flax seed oil comes from the Flax Plant (hm, that makes sense, doesn't it?)  Flax seed oil contains both Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acides.

I use it everyday because it is good for practically every system of the body, such as the immune system, circulatory system, reproductive system, joints, nervous system and the cardiovascular system. You can buy a bottle of it at any health food store, I buy mine at Trader Joes or Whole Foods. It comes in soft gels or liquid form, I prefer the liquid form: it's a convenient way to add a little to your protein shake. Adults need only 1-2 Tbs. There really isn't any taste, and an easier way to increase your intake of Omega 3 Fatty Acids than taking fish oil-yikes!  Flax Seed Oil does so many great things for your body: it helps your body recover after training, helps lower cholesterol, and even helps make your nails strong!  Stay Fit!

[caption id="attachment_2476" align="aligncenter" width="220" caption="Back in stock! Fit Mom shirts in new colors, styles & sizes!"][/caption]

Recipe: Healthy Tortilla Soup: "Best I've ever tasted!"

Hi Fit Moms! I had to share this new recipe with you~

Today I got home from the gym, from a business meeting, errands and then picked up the kids from school. I didn't feel like going to the market. It has been very cold here in Los Angeles, CA about 40 degrees. That is freezing to a Hawaiian native. I thought that a nice, healthy, hearty, hot soup would be perfect.

In my household, I plan special dinners every night. My husband L-O-V-E-S Mexican food so he wanted Taco Tuesday. For me, weekly tacos are a bit much so tonight I made Tortilla Soup for the very first time. It turned out AMAZING! I Fit Mom-ified it (of course) and wanted to share the recipe with you. It's super easy and tastes better than any I've had in a restaurant or in Mexico! Enjoy!

Ingredients

1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2  teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes

1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed chicken broth
1 3/4 cups water
1 can (15 ounce) whole corn kernels
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers
2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces
crushed tortilla chips
sliced avocado
shredded low fat cheddar or monterey jack cheese
chopped green onions
Directions

In a medium stock pot, heat oil over medium heat. Saute onion and garlic in oil until soft. Stir in chili powder, oregano, tomatoes, broth, and water. Bring to a boil, and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.

Stir in corn, chiles, beans, cilantro, and chicken. Simmer for 10 minutes. Ladle soup into individual serving bowls, and top with crushed tortilla chips, avocado slices, cheese, and chopped green onion.

by Express Email Marketing

Food for thought. True story.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

TRUE STORY: AT THE MARKET THE OTHER DAY A YOUNG GIRL ABOUT 10, VERY VERY OVERWEIGHT WAS IN LINE TO CHECK OUT. SHE WAS ALONE WITHOUT HER PARENTS.

SHE WAS BUYING A JUMBO CONTAINER OF GENERIC ICE CREAM, 10 PACKAGES OF COOKIES, CANDY, SUGAR SODA...YOU GET THE PICTURE.

IT REALLY AND STILL UPSET ME (EVEN NOW AS I TYPE THIS.) MY KIDS WERE WITH ME. WE WERE ALL SILENT (AND FOR MY KIDS AGES 4 AND 8 TO BE SILENT, YOU KNOW IT WAS QUITE A SITE.)

AS A MOM, I WANTED TO TAKE THIS GIRL IN MY ARMS, SHE LOOKED SO VERY VERY SAD AND EMBARASSED. DO WE INTERFERE AND BUT IN? DO WE SIT BACK? I WAS FROZEN.

THE CHECKER LATER TOLD ME HER MOM AND DAD SEND HER IN ALL THE TIME TO BUY THE SAME ITEMS. WOW. SO SAD.

WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT IF SHE KNEW BETTER AND TOLD THE PARENTS OTHERWISE? I COULD ONLY IMAGINE THE SCENARIO AT HOME OR WHAT THE PARENTS WERE LIKE BEING TOO LAZY TO EVEN GO GET THE JUNK FOOD....

LATER, IN THE CAR, MY KIDS TOLD ME THAT "THE GIRL SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN BUYING ALL THAT JUNK FOOD, IT IS UNHEALTHY." MY 4 YEAR OLD ASKED ME WHY HER MOMMY DIDN'T TEACH HER BETTER?

HMMM.

What makes you happy? Sugar Junkie Blog.

January 10, 2011

What started out as a simple question turned into a weeklong discussion between my girlfriends and me. “What makes you happy?” The reason I asked the question is that I think if we can get in touch with what makes us happy, then we may be able to turn to things (other than food) to enrich our lives.



I started the discussion with, “What makes me happy is spending time with my husband, Tom. Whether we’re out and about doing something really ‘fun’ or just hanging out in our apartment reading books or watching movies, I always feel happy, content and relaxed when I’m with him.”



I’m also happy when I’m ‘creating something’ whether it’s a book, a Chicken Soup for the Soul story, a Jib-Jab or this blog. When I’m working on a ‘project’ it’s the only time the question of ‘what am I doing here/ what’s the meaning and the purpose of my life’ quiets down in my head.

I’m also happy when I’m eating brownies…oops did I really just say that!?! Yes, unfortunately I did…a week ago today one of our Curves members rushed into the club and with all the aplomb of a great conspiracy leaned over my desk and said, “I need your help with something” as she slipped me a brown paper bag and whispered, “My brother gave me 2 brownies. I just ate one and I need to get rid of the other one. Can you help me?” I said “Sure.” and thought to myself “This is going in the trash the minute she walks out the door.” But as I was throwing it away I decided to peek in the bag “just to take a look” and it was a BIG, amazing, homemade brownie and (needless to say) it never made it to the trash. I counted the minutes until the club closed, pulled the blinds down, turned off some of the lights and ate the brownie. And it did make me happy…temporarily. Temporarily is the keyword –we’re not looking for things that make us happy “temporarily” –we’re looking for things that really feed our soul whether we need to be calmed down, inspired or invigorated. So, here’s what my girlfriends had to say in terms of what makes them happy:



My favorite yoga teacher in the world, Wendy, said she is truly happy, “When I am committed to my morning meditation, (even if that means only 5 minutes of sitting) I take inventory of my emotions and choices of the day before. This helps me fine tune what is working and what needs evaluation. My blood sugar is a major factor to how much my mind wants to monkey around. When I slow down carbohydrates after 3pm daily, I notice how much easier it is to get up the next day and not talk myself into a negative habits.”  Wendy also looks like she’s pretty happy when she’s hula hooping!



Maureen, who is an amazing singer and performer said, “I have worked very hard to create a life where I do what I LOVE for work AND play. By day I am a LMFT/Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist; nurturing, supporting and helping children and families; it’s the greatest job in the world!  At night, I am a performer; singer/dancer/musician. I made sure that my ‘day job’ AND my ‘night/weekend’ job nurtured my soul.  I never ‘sold out’ for money.  My first priority was to ‘be happy’ and I was blessed to have parents who instilled in me the importance of never chasing money, but chasing happiness. What makes me happy is waking up each day and knowing that what I do will influence, affect and touch the life of another person.  That is true happiness!”



My girlfriend, Mea said, “Being out for a walk alone with only nature and my thoughts makes me happy.  Feeling like I give each day my all and accomplished a lot makes me feel happy. Seeing joy on my child's face and being in the moment so that I can appreciate it for everything it’s worth makes me the happiest.”



And my girlfriend Heather said, “That's a loaded question. In no particular order...not just smelling the ocean air but breathing it.  Knowing I had a productive day and leaving my tiny little place in the world a little better than how I found it.  Doing something unexpected for someone and having it be appreciated (and they don't even have to know it was me).  The uninhibited feeling I have with my family and friends where I can say whatever comes to mind no matter how silly or how unflattering and knowing that they will unconditionally love me and always have my back even if they do not always agree with me. Fireworks. Wearing flip-flops makes me happy. Holding hands with someone I love. Daisies….daisies make me happy!”



Susan, who owns the Bed & Breakfast Hotels I work at, said, “Lots of things make me happy but a blue sky and clean cool air when I run and listen to rock music or guitar suites make me happy.”  “When my grandchildren run to greet me - kissing their sweet brown heads makes me happy, and walking into either hotel makes me happy. So good exercise, good family and good work should do it - and a hot bath for me.”





My sister-in-law, Cindi said what makes her happy is, “Taking action and accomplishing a goal! Be it fitness (a good workout that initially I didn't want to do but always feel SO good after) or a creative project at work (coming up w/a good design that I am proud of). Also a walk in my neighborhood on a beautiful day makes me happy. It puts me in such an appreciative mood ... of nature, wildlife, fresh air, blue skies, being healthy. I feel like I am in paradise and I consciously savor that.”



One of my very fittest friends (besides Kiana) is Liz. Liz said she’s happy when she’s, “Had a good workout…or more honestly the feeling I get AFTER a good workout; a pair of jeans that fit perfectly because of the workouts! I’m happy knowing that I am surrounded by family and friends who love and accept me for me. I also love dancing around the living room and singing with my 3 yr old niece, the giggles, the french fries…”



Wait, did Liz just say “french fries”!?! Yup, she sure did. So, maybe food can be a small part of what makes us happy. We are human after all and food is one of the pleasures of life. Given that two of my fittest friends do on occasion indulge in french fries, perhaps a treat every now and again is okay …as long as we know (really know and get in tune with the fact) that a brownie or french fries will never satisfy our souls like the company of good friends and family and that there are some pleasures that go further than food. Like Susan said, one of the true pleasures in life is “A hot bath!” I’m all for “ a hot bath” – believe it or not, I’d actually choose it over a brownie!



How about you? What makes you happy? We’d love to hear your thoughts and have you share your feelings too…what makes YOU happy!?!