Ingredients:

4 peppers

1 pound ground beef/turkey

1 pkg. taco seasoning

1/2 cup water

1 cup brown rice (cooked)

1 can black beans (drained)

1 cup salsa

1 cup corn

1 cup Mexican shredded cheese

Directions:

1- Cut off the top of the peppers and clean out the inside.

2- Place in baking dish and cook at 350 for 20 minutes.

3- While peppers are cooking, brown hamburger – then add taco seasoning and water.

4- After meat is prepared- add corn, black beans, rice, and 1 cup of salsa.

5- Put filling into cooked peppers.

6- Top with cheese and cook for 15 minutes.

7- ENJOY!

The weekend is definitely my trouble/struggle time. I’m home more than I am throughout the week. I’m not as active and on the go! But I hate to see all my hard work throughout the week go to waste. So I thought today of my 3 big things I focus on during the weekend to help stay on track!

Goodness my family is big into pasta.. So I am always on the lookout for healthy but delicious pasta recipes– if you’re like me too, look no further!!! Give them healthy baked penne a try next time you’re craving Italian!!

Ingredients

• 1 box Whole Wheat Penne
• 1/2 C parmesan cheese
• 24 oz. marinara sauce
• 1/2 lb Ground Meat or Meat Substitute
• 1/2 c Italian Cheese blend
• 1 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
• 1 tbsp Honey
• 1 tbsp Italian Seasoning
• 1 tbsp minced garlic

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Prepare penne according to box.
3. While penne is cooking, brown meat.
4. Once meat and penne is done, combine in a large mixing bowl.
5. Add parmesan, sauce, vinegar, honey, seasoning and garlic and mix.
6. Pour into a large casserole dish and top with Italian Cheese.
7. Bake for 20 minutes.
8. Enjoy!

If you are following the fix plan it is also 1 purple container (the marinara sauce), 1 red container (the meat), 1 yellow container (the pasta) and 1 blue container (the cheese).

1 year between these two pictures– the changes I see are incredible.. Yes I’ve lost weight and inches on this year journey with Beachbody programs and coaching– but the confidence I have gained is more than I could have imagined! So today, I want to give you my top 3 ways that health and fitness coaching helped to boost my confidence.

#1- Coaching held me accountable to my own health and fitness goals.. How could I encourage others to start a journey of exercising and clean eating if I wasn’t doing so myself? So no matter what- I have to show up every single day and push play and drink my Shakeology in order to be proof of the product for my challengers. Then in turn, I feel healthier- have more energy- and just feel better about myself which BOOSTS up my confidence!!!

#2- A key part of health and fitness coaching is personal development. Whether that’s reading a book, listening to audio tapes, or downloading podcasts– but this activity has forced me to dive into books centered on building confidence. These actions have helped me realize that what others think really does not  matter! All that truly matters is how I FEEL ABOUT MYSELF!!!! Haters don’t pay your bills– you pay your bills!!! Somebody talks crap about you or mocks you– guess what– they are JEALOUS!!!! True story!

#3- Lastly- the coaching opportunity has helped me reconnect and establish the strongest relationships I have had probably ever (besides my bff from high school). This has re-kindled a few relationships from high school with long lost friends. But it has created new and strong relationships based on making each other better, not tearing each other down. And I’m not sure about you- but when you feel like you have a female friend or 10 in your corner no matter what– you pretty much feel on top of the world! This winter was rough for my daughter and our family- in and out of the hospital several times with RSV, croup, ear infections, etc. The only people who truly and genuinely reached out to make sure we were ok, besides family, were my Beachbody coaching friends. My other supposed “friends” never reached out at all– now that says something about this community!!!

I am not a naturally confident person. I have had self-image issues for as long as I can remember growing up. But this opportunity to get into the best shape of my life and to read and work to build that confidence has drastically changed how I look at myself and my life! Haters gonna hate, but they aren’t going to hold me back no more!!! 😉

Ummmm HOLD UP.. Do you see what I see??

I’ll tell you what I see– one of my favorite pairs of jeans with NO BULGE!!!! I used to wear flowly and loose shirts with these jeans because my pre-Tater and post-Tater pooch would hang over! But I refused to not wear those jeans!!!

Today– put those baby’s on after probably 2 years– no exploded can of biscuits looks today folks!! Don’t mind me while I’m over here doing a happy dance!!!!

Skillet meals are my absolute favorite! One pot–handful of ingredients–less than 30 minutes– SIGN ME UP!

Serves 4