THM Recipe: Chicken Pepper Spinach Stir Fry (E)

I came up with this on my own after getting home from my exercise class.  I was hungry, and dove around in my fridge until I came up with this!

Chicken Pepper Spinach Stir Fry - E     (Print This Recipe!)

1tsp. coconut oil
1 chicken breast, cooked, sliced into thin strips
1 bell pepper (any color will do, I used orange), thinly sliced
2 handfuls spinach leaves
2 TBS. fish sauce
ginger, to taste
red chili pepper flakes, to taste
1 cup brown rice, cooked

saute the pepper and spinach in the coconut oil.  When cooked through, add in the cooked chicken breast slices.  Pour fish sauce over the veggies and chicken, and sprinkle the ginger and chili flakes on top.  Stir all together for about a minute or two.  Set aside.

Cook the brown rice, or heat up pre-cooked rice.  Place on a plate, and place the veggies and chicken mixture over it.  ENJOY! 

*you can either use pre-made brown rice, or minute brown rice.  (make sure there are no off-plan ingredients added)

Living with PCOS

After doing extensive research (including reading 7 books on women's hormones and 3 books specifically on PCOS), I have decided to start using natural supplements as well as stick to a PCOS-friendly diet and exercise program.

I have been put on Metformin ER, but the side effects are just brutal.  Nausea, Upset stomach, Bloating, Gas, Diarrhea,...I mean...it's terrible.  Why live like this when there is a natural alternative called Inositol?  I found a compounding pharmacy online that makes a supplement powder called "Ovasitol" which is a dosage of both D-chiro-inositol and Myo-inositol.  You need a 40:1 ratio of D-chiro-inositol to Myo-inositol;  and Theralogix has measured it all out for you!  You just dissolve one packet in water or other beverage once in the morning, and once at night.

I also am taking these different vitamins and supplements:

Women's daily vitamin gummies

Taking a daily vitamin makes sure you are getting all of the basic vitamins and minerals needed for a healthy body.  I use Alive! Women's.  It has a small amount of inositol. 

Fish Oil gummies

Studies have shown a great decrease in cholesterol numbers when taking a fish oil...mainly Omega 3.  I take NatureMade fish oil gummies.  (no matter how much flavor & sugar you use, it still tastes like fish oil.)    It can also help insulin resistance to disappear, lowers high triglycerides, manages testosterone, and aid in weight loss.  (looking back now, I think I'll just stick to the capsules.  I don't need added sugar in my diet.)

CoQ10 gummies

This is an antioxidant that supports healthy energy and metabolism;  both of which are greatly hindered when you have PCOS.  I use VitaFusions CoQ10 gummies. (In the future, I will stick to capsules to eliminate sugar and sugar substitutes.)

Evening Primrose Oil

Studies have shown that taking Evening Primrose Oil can greatly reduce the bad period symptoms often experienced with PCOS.   I use Up & Up (Target brand).

Biotin

This little supplement helps in decreasing insulin resistance, reversing hair loss, lowers cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as a number of other benefits.  I use Up & Up brand.

B-Complex

B-vitamins are helpful in so many ways!  Some help with metabolism, other help with energy, and still others aid in glucose tolerance factor.   I use Up & Up brand.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a natural anti-inflammatory.  It is helpful in weight loss.   I use a local natural food store's brand.

Chromium Picolinate

This supplement helps keep blood sugar levels stable.   I use my local natural food store's brand.

Calcium & Vitamin D

I found a vitamin that is a combination of Calcium and Vitamin D3 at Target, so I'm taking that as well.  I got the Target brand of bottle.  It contains 500 tablets.

I have found some amazing websites for women suffering from PCOS.  Here are a few, PCOS Diva, Hello PCOS, and PCOS Diet Support. These ladies all suffer with PCOS, and have done extensive research themselves.  You can get PCOS specific suppliments and such from PCOS Diva.  You can sign up to get a monthly subscription box filled with goodies, samples, and tips for those with PCOS from the Hello PCOS website.

The books I have on PCOS are A Patient's Guide to PCOS, The PCOS Diet Plan, and 8 Steps to Reverse Your PCOS. They are so detailed and explain the condition in great detail, as well as provide meal plans, recipes, and ideas to help treat your PCOS.   

A Homeschool Update

Hey there!  I'm just doing a small update of our homeschooling.  I already did a post on how we switched curricula and that we are LOVING the new curriculum HERE. 

Kayson is my 5-year-old, and he is in kindergarten.  He is absolutly IN LOVE with school!  He even wants to do it on Saturday and Sunday!  The most exciting thing happening for him is that he can read!  He is so excited, and sounds out big words in other books just so he can practice reading.  I am so proud of him and his love of learning!

Fionna is 7 and is doing 1st grade with her 6-year-old brother, Tiernan.  They both are liking Christian Liberty Press and their favorite subject is History.  They learn Bible stories from the first happenings in History, and color pages.  Fionna is great in Math, although she likes to rush through things.  Tiernan is great in Phonics, and can get pretty much every page and every pronunciation correct! 

Mama is loving homeschool!  I have a pretty solid routine now where I switch back and forth between Kindergarten subjects and 1st Grade subjects.  It works well, and things go pretty smoothly every day. 

I look forward to the day when I will have at least 10 years under my belt. 

Meet My Family...

This is just a quick post to share the "About Me" page on this blog.  If you're wanting to know a little more about me and my family, you can do so HERE:  About Me. 

Why it's Good to Shake up Your Exercise Routine

I have found that I love numerous different exercise modes.  I like Zumba, PiYo, RIPPED, Kickboxing, Jogging, & Yoga.  Those exercises are all so different, which is good!  Mixing up your routine makes your body work harder.  If you do the same thing every day, your body gets used to it, and it doesn't work as hard as it once did.

I did Zumba and PiYo last night and I can attest to the fact that it was HARD.  Not because I don't exercise...because I do. (I try to get in at least 3 days per week.)  It was because I was so used to running or doing RIPPED class, that my muscles got a bit used to that.  Zumba is aerobic, and PiYo does a lot of stretching and holding positions.  I have been doing PiYo at home, but doing a live class is actually quite different.  My instructors mix up the pattern every week, so you're not doing the same routine every single time.  My RIPPED class also mixes up the routine weekly. Some days are alot harder than others.

 And that is the point.

You want your muscles, your body, to have to work hard every time you exercise.  The harder it is to catch your breath, the harder your body is working.  When you're sore after a workout, it means you did as much as you could, and then some.  It's good to push yourself.  It's good to try new things as well!  I've been able to do things I thought I would never be able to do! 

When you first start out exercising, everything is hard.  But as you slowly work your way up to do harder and harder things, it proves that you are making progress.  Workouts don't get easier...YOU get better.  So, if you've fallen into an exercise rut, try something new, or shake up the routine. 

What exercises have you found enjoyable?  Please share in the comments below! 

What I'm Thankful For This Year

It's Thanksgiving!  The day of the year where we gather with family and friends and thank God for all of the blessings He has given us in the past year.  So, here are the things I'm thankful for this year.

1.  My God

2.  My Faith

3.  My Husband (Bram)

4.  My Children (& our dog, Dixon)

5.  My Family

6.  My Friends

7.  My Job (wife & mother)

8.  My Hobby (crochet)

9.  My Health (even though it's been rough)

10.  My Blog Readers

I hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving!  

Trim Healthy Mama Thanksgiving Round Up - 2016

As promised...here is a Trim Healthy Mama Thanksgiving Recipe Round Up!  I've taken delicious recipes from different bloggers.  I've put them all into categories, and will link to each blog at the bottom of this post.  All recipes are links to the recipe page on the blogs they come from.
 

Turkey:
 *other than roasted turkey

Dressed Up Turkey Soup
Creamy Turkey Soup


Side Dishes:

Maple Pecan Glazed Brussel Sprouts
French Onion Tartlets
Sweet Potato and Apple Hash
Mashed Cauliflower
Loaded Baked Fauxtato Casserole
Spicy Nutty Trail Mix
Sweet Pumpkin Casserole
Green Bean Casserole
Grain-free Classic Stuffing

 
Breads: 

Pumpkin Bread
Herb Biscuits
Fluffy Sprouted Wheat Rolls
Braided Garlic Breadsticks


 Sauces/Condiments:


Southern Dressing
Turkey Gravy
Cranberry Sauce
Pumpkin Butter 
Cranberry Sauce (2)


Desserts: 

Pecan Pie Bars
Mapple Caramel Pie
Pumpkin Fluff
Pumpkin Cheesecake w/Caramel Pecan Sauce
Cranberry Apple Crisp
Pumpkin Bars
Pumpkin Cream Cake


I hope you all have a happy and very blessed Thanksgiving this year!  If you have an amazingly delicious, THM-friendly Thanksgiving recipe...please share in the comments below!

*Recipes shared from these amazing blogs:
Mrs. Criddle's Kitchen, Joy Filled Eats, Briana Thomas, Wholesome Yum, Measuring Flower, My Table of Three, Joyful Jane, Chrissy Benoit in Love, An Ordinary Housewife, The Coers Family, My Montana Kitchen, & Wonderfully Made and Dearly Loved.