Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies! Delicious!

I have been CRAVING sweets today and decided to search the web for some clean eating desserts...this cookie recipe I found is delicious and only 110 calories per cookie! AMAZING!! And it's gluten free for all you friends with gluten allergies i.e. Heather Anne :) Enjoy!

1 cup Almond Butter (I used peanut butter, didn't have almond butter)
3/4 cup Sucanet (I used organic white sugar)
1 large egg
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
dark chocolate to liking

Preheat oven to 350. In a medium bowl mix together first 5 ingredients. Add chocolate chips. Drop dough by spoonfool in a greased pan. Bake 10-12 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes on baking sheet then remove onto a cooling rack and cool for another 15. Yummy!!

The Human Experience

Every morning while I'm getting ready I like to watch a new documentary on Netflix...most the time they're about food and weight but today I decided to watch one in a different genre. It was called The Human Experience. If you haven't seen it I highly recommend it. I loved it and learned so much. I had a little awakening while watching it and wanted to share. As human beings it is in our nature to think about ourselves and our needs on a daily basis. Thinking about ourselves is a natural part of life but when we get so caught up in our lives and forget to look outside of us that's where we go wrong. I am guilty of this everyday. In this documentary a group of young adult men decide to look outside themselves and experience life in a totally different way, in the shoes of their fellow men. I won't tell you the experiments because I want you to watch it but I will tell you that I realized a lot about life. No matter how hard the road life is meant to be joyful. We are meant to experience pain and hurt and sadness but are also meant to experience joy and love and life. I thought about this in terms of my weight loss journey that I have been on for a little over a year now. There are days when I just don't want to get out of bed and gripe the whole way to the gym and at the gym. Days when I get frusterated with the weight I STILL have to lose and how hard it's going to be. After watching this documentary I realized that I have NOTHING to complain about. My life is almost perfect compared to some of the individuals they interviewed yet they were still smiling. One individual said, "There is nothing that bad to keep a smile off my face, I'm alive aren't I? Yes, I have leprosy. Yes, my family left me. Yes, I look different but I am able to experience the sunlight, and converse with my fellow brothers and sisters in our leprosy colony." I am determined to reach outside my box and find joy in EVERYTHING! I am determined to work through the pain of running, the pain of lifting, the pain of heartbreak and keep going. Be strong. At least we're a live!! It's a beautiful journey. :)

Chuckwalla...

Mel and I FINALLY got to go on a hike today! We took "the loop" at Chuckwalla..at least I think that's what it's called :) It was a beautiful morning and a great start to the weekend. I love going new places and being in nature. I'm so grateful I have the ability and opportunities to do so.


Mel got SO excited when we saw a Desert Tortoise! It was pretty awesome!
Mel and I on our hike..Love her!

From May '10-July '11 :)

Shoulders!!

For all those out there on your own weight loss journey you all know what it's like to step on the scale and see the numbers keep going down...THE MOST EXCITING THING EVER!! Well, the next best thing? Watching your body transform and discover muscles you never saw before. Tonight while waiting to leave for bootcamp I decided to take a few pics and I was pleasantly surprised at what I saw...SHOULDERS!! What!? Holy crap! I was so excited! I could feel them but haven't yet SEEN them! They're coming along nicely if I do say so myself :) It was a very exciting night!
On a different note...the world of "weight loss" has been amazing lately. Very challenging but extremely exciting! A lot of firsts have happened this week. Monday I started to count calories again (so I guess kind of for the second time, but it's been over 6 months since the real first time), Tuesday I wore a tank top to bootcamp for the first time, Wednesday I attempted to jump rope (for the first time in YEARS), and Wednesday night I bought scrub pants in size M for the first time!! It's been a wonderful week! A week of realizations and of firsts! Life is meant to be enjoyed and we're here to learn how to love every minute (even through difficult times). I am extremely blessed. Blessed with an amazingly supportive family and friends. Blessed with the ability to workout until I puke. Blessed with the strength and determination to keep going! Life is good.

No more 2XL!

2 week goal...I DID IT!

A few weeks ago Marth and I had an intense workout that involved crying and frusteration and more crying so Marth being who she is (she's not one to coddle your feelings), she looked me in the eyes and said, "K, then let's change something. If you're not happy with it do something about it! You have until July 7th to accomplish a short term goal. Think about what you want that goal to be and get back to me." NOT what this chica wanted to hear AT ALL! I'm a sensitive person. Sometimes I just need to be loved but Marth, knowing me so well did the right thing. And I'm so glad she did. We made a goal to lose 5 pounds in 2 weeks, July 7th was the deadline. I weighed in once a week and guess what?? I did it! I'm finally in the 170's!!! And not only am I in the 170's, things have started looking up ever since I set my sight on a goal. A short term goal, yes, but a goal none-the-less. I learned these last two weeks that if I don't set goals I'm only working toward the end...the end that says, "k, you have 65 more pounds to lose, go!" What!?! Not motivational. By setting this short two week goal I felt I could accomplish it. It wasn't out of my reach. And I've gotta tell ya, people have noticed. Five pounds might be five pounds but it sure does make a difference. I'm so grateful for a friend who kicks my butt!

Finding peace :)

Peace...the one thing I feel like I have been lacking these past few months. Peace within myself and feeling at peace with my life and the direction it's going. It's truly an amazing thing to feel at complete peace with ones self. One thing I can say I've never felt. I have never felt content with my outward appearance. I know that outward appearance isn't everything but it definetly doesn't hurt if you love what you look like right?? Today, I finally felt a little slice of peace with who I REALY am. Who Angie Turner is. I am not defined by my weight. I am not defined by beauty or outward appearance. I am defined by how I treat others. How I love others. I am defined by kindness and service. Today I realized that I am a daughter of God and that He loves me no matter what but for ME to love MYSELF I need to keep on this journey. To prove to myself that I'm worth that love. Today I found just a little bit more peace within myself. The peace that will keep me going day after day.