Healthy turkey and bean Spanish dip

You can't always judge a recipe by it's looks. This may not be the most beautiful creation one has ever seen, but it is absolutely delicious. And it is by no means your average type of Spanish dip. I love Spanish/Mexican food. It is one of my favorite options for treat meals, so what could be better than being able to create something that is much healthier for you and with a fraction of the calories?! This was my first time trying to create this and lucky for me it worked! That rarely happens.

• Half a pound of 99% fat free ground turkey
• 2 cups of frozen or fresh spinach
• 4 tablespoons of organic enchilada sauce
• 1/4 cup of crumbled feta cheese
• 3 tablespoons of Desert Pepper Black Bean Dip (or spicy salsa of choice)
• 1 can of fat free re fried-beans (pinto or black bean)
• 1/4 cup of water
• Healthy chip option of choice (I prefer sweet potato tortilla or baked Lentil)

What you do:

• Spray frying pan thoroughly with nonstick spray
• Cook ground turkey via stove top
• When the turkey is about half way cooked, add the spinach, enchilada sauce, and water and continue cooking via stove top
• While that is cooking, spray a small baking pan (I use 8 x 8) with nonstick spray and place re-fried beans beans on the bottom

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees
• Once turkey is finished cooking and the ingredients are thicker and not too watery, add the salsa of your choice to the mix, stir, and then pour everything into the baking pan over the beans

• Top with feta cheese
• Place in oven and bake for 10-15 minutes
• Carefully remove from oven, let cool for 5 minutes, then enjoy!

My Weekly Nutrition and Training Plan + Progress Picture

The below nutrition plan is what I eat Monday through Friday. Saturday and Sunday during the day I still eat clean but will eat whatever is left over or what I have around my apartment. Two nights a week I have "treat" meals - whatever I choose. They are usually Saturday and Sunday night, but it does vary. I switch up my eating every week. I plan the week before what I want to have for meals, make the grocery list, and prep the food on Sunday's. A lot of times people will ask me if I get bored eating the same thing everyday. The answer is no. It is only 5 days a week that I eat the same thing. I eat to live - not live to eat. It took me a long time to come to that.  I also do this to save money. I live alone so I can't really cook tons of different things during the week because it's too expensive and will go bad. There are also ways you can switch up your eating day to day. Like my Quest Bars for instance; I eat a different flavor everyday, same with my yogurt. You can read here for meal prep ideas!

Total down (since 11/25/13):  54 pounds!

Meal 1 (7:15 AM)

2 slices of turkey bacon and 1/4 cup of plain grits with pepper.

I always buy the cleanest type of bacon I can, it's worth the price.

Meal 2 (10:30 AM)

1 pack of Kay's Natural protein chips and fresh grapes

Meal 3 (1:15 PM)

Meal 4 (4 PM) - [Pre-workout]

1 Quest Bar and an apple

Gym: 5-6:15(30)

Meal 5 (6:30 PM) [Post workout]

1 cup of Light and Fit 80 calorie Greek yogurt with fresh strawberries and chia seeds

Meal 6 (8:30 PM)

4 oz. Turkey meatloaf with fresh asparagus, and dark red kidney beans.

Bed time: 11 PM

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

Sunday: (Rest) - done!

Monday: (Rest) - done!

Tuesday: (Weights) - done!

-25 minutes of cardio: StairMill ( HIIT: 150 SPM for my work and 60 SPM at rest. Work is 60 seconds, rest is 90 seconds)

-10 minutes cardio: Elliptical (Incline 9, Resistance 10)

-Weight Circuit:

   -Shoulders: 3 x 15

   -Back: 3 x 15

   -Biceps: 3 x 15

   -Chest: 3 x 15

   -Triceps: 3 x 15

    Sample workout

-20 minutes cardio: Elliptical (Incline 10, Resistance 9/12)

Wednesday: (Core)

-30 minutes of cardio: StairMill (80 SPM regular work and 70 SPM with skipping every other step, 60 SPM for resting work - alternating all 3 levels every 3-4 minutes. Rest work is only 1 minute)

- 3 sets of 45 second planks

- 3 sets of "Russian Twists" with a 10 pound weight plate

- 3 sets of 20 crunches

- 3 sets of 20 heel touches

- 3 sets of  10 elevated leg crunches

-10 minutes of high intensity interval training: Tredmill (Work: 2 minute walk on a speed of 3.2 MPH with an incline of 12 [the highest is 15] Rest: 1 minute walk at 0 incline and a 3.4 MPH speed. Alternate)

-10 minutes cardio: Elliptical (Incline 9, Resistance 10)

Thursday: (Weights)

-15 minutes of high intensity interval training: Tredmill (Work: 2 minute walk on a speed of 3.2 MPH with an incline of 12 [the highest is 15] Rest: 1 minute walk at 0 incline and a 3.4 MPH speed. Alternate)

-10 minutes cardio: Elliptical (Incline 9, Resistance 10)

- 3 sets of 45 second planks

- 3 sets of "Russian Twists" with a 10 pound weight plate

- 3 sets of 20 crunches

- 3 sets of 20 heel touches

- 3 sets of  10 elevated leg crunches

-10 minutes of high intensity interval training: Tredmill (Work: 2 minute walk on a speed of 3.2 MPH with an incline of 12 [the highest is 15] Rest: 1 minute walk at 0 incline and a 3.4 MPH speed. Alternate)

-10 minutes cardio: Elliptical (Incline 9, Resistance 10)

Friday: (Legs)

-20 minutes of cardio: Elliptical (Incline is switched between 1, 9, and 20. Resistance is switched between 9 and 10)

-Leg Workout:

   -Squats (4 x 15. Two sets of 55 pounds and Two sets of 75 pounds)

   - Leg Extension (3 x 15, 50 pounds)

   - Leg Curl (3 x 15, 110 pounds)

   - Leg Press (3 x 15, 270 pounds)

-10 minutes of cardio: Elliptical (Incline, 9 and Resistance, 9)

-Hard, long Stretch

Saturday: (Weights)

-20 minutes cardio: Elliptical (Incline 9/12/20 Resistance 10/11)

-Weight Circuit:

   -Shoulders: 3 x 15

   -Back: 3 x 15

   -Biceps: 3 x 15

   -Chest: 3 x 15

   -Triceps: 3 x 15

    Sample workout

-25 minutes cardio: Elliptical (Incline 9, Resistance 10/11)

The Hump Day Blog Hop!

Happy Hump Day everyone! We are halfway through the week and the hump day camel is too freaking cool, so lets have some fun and a blog hop to celebrate.

This is a little different than a link up. To participate, simply add your blog link. There is no required entry or anything like that. This is about networking, making new friends, and finding new blogs.

All I ask:

1) "The Hump Day" blog hop button button be displayed anywhere on your blog page or a specific entry with a link back to me or the weekly co-host. (Please do this. These blog hops take a lot of work and preparation.)

2) You don't have to follow me, but in the words of Blake Shelton: it'd sure be cool if ya did.

3) Please follow the co-host. I love helping and promoting these amazing women in the blog world! I do this to not only meet new people, but help my friends make new friends and readers.

4) Mingle with your fellow Bloggers.

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<a href="http://www.fitnessblondie.blogspot.com" title="The Hump Day Blog Hop"><img src="http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a593/fitnessblondiel/humpday_zps418f63f6.jpg" alt="The Hump Day Blog Hop" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Please join me in welcoming this weeks co-host and my partner-in-health Tricia @ "Tricia's (Mostly) Healthy Lifestyle"

My First New York Times Best Selling Book!

I have always stated on my blog how I love to write. If I didn't, I probably would not have a blog. Yanno. However, my love for writing has been embedded in me since I was a child. As I was recently helping my mother move, I stumbled upon my very first masterpiece from when I was 6 years old. I am very excited to share it with you all! If you would like to purchase an autographed copy, please email me. 

... because the only thing that mattered to me were the acrobats because I was obsessed with gymnastics growing up. PS: I am the blonde. 

... Illustrating is my true gift in life.

... LOOK AT THAT LION! Also, I guess that is a carpet floating in the air. I mean I get it, that could happen.

... What? Didn't you know that acrobats sword fought... in a water?!

... The ringmaster has true style.

... I dreamt on my bed that looks like pubic hair and a slice of cheese.