‘Kalyn’s Kitchen’ Articles at Sweetnicks

Mystic usually comes over for dinner on Tuesdays because his kids are with their Mom. I had a plan of what I was going to make for dinner. Chicken, vegetables, bacon pinwheels… then 6 pm came last night and I was still working. And freezing. And.could.not.get.motivated. I have had this perpetual chill that I have a hard time getting rid of and I really just wanted to change into sweats, comfy socks, and crawl into bed. I settled for sweats, comfy socks, and a call for pizza.

I felt super guilty. If I ever do take-out, leftovers, or something completely uninspired, I try not to do it on Tuesdays. Just a silly mini goal of sorts. Of course I cook other days too, but I figure a homecooked meal cooked by someone else is always appreciated. Especially a single parent.

I even had all the groceries to make the dinner last night. So tonight I made good, and all seven of us enjoyed the meal-that-wasn’t-yesterday instead.

If you’re playing along with our Eat.Live.Be. reboot, this week’s inspiration was to come from somewhere online. I actually found the chicken recipe on Pinterest, but it originates from Kalyn’s Kitchen. If you’re not familiar with Kalyn’s Kitchen, the focus is on the principles of the South Beach diet. With New Years’ resolutions nearly on the horizon, I’m sure legions will be reupping their interest in South Beach, so Kalyn’s site is a great resource if you’re heading that way. Although I don’t follow South Beach, I liked the concept of the chicken. Similar to a Chicken Parmesan recipe, it’s baked though, instead of fried, and even more healthy with whole wheat bread crumbs.

Although it’s supposed to marinate all day (I did mine for 5 hours), outside of that, the recipe is super simple, making it an ideal entree for a busy weeknight. The chicken is relatively tender, and packed with flavor from the olive oil and garlic. Seven out of seven ate it tonight, with five going back for seconds. Considering some of the picky eaters around the table, these are excellent results, trust me. I added a side of roasted vegetables and plain spaghetti with red sauce, and it was perfect.

You can find the recipe right here.

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When it comes to meeting any goal head-on, whether it be health, fitness or otherwise, you absolutely, positively have to be prepared going in. If not, you are just setting yourself up for failure. Guaranteed. How can you succeed if you don’t have the proper tools?

The difference between the impossible and the possible
lies in a person’s determination.
– Tommy Lasorda

Since I started my massive “Cate overhaul” over a year ago, I’ve had friends ask me how they can get started. What I have been doing is not rocket science. I armed myself with the best tools possible for what I wanted to achieve and committed to it. I have given this nearly everything that I can, and then some, and have reaped the rewards because of it. But it’s nothing special. You can do it just as easily. As long as your going-in position is all about preparedness. How could you possibly succeed otherwise?

A good beginning makes a good end.
– English Proverb

You have GOT to have a good pair of sneakers. It doesn’t mean that you have to spend a fortune on them either. Truth be told, my go-to Zumba sneakers are a pair of $15 Danskin sneakers from Wal-Mart, which The Neighbor Husband calls my “lunchlady sneakers.” Hey, they do the job. So do these Rykas. I heart Ryka, a brand made for women by women. They mold to your feet like no other. Whatever your exercise routine is, make sure you get the proper sneakers for your activity. I have a few pairs I swap out, but have a soft spot for Ryka. In fact, I am still hanging on to my favorite pair, even though the holes in them mean my feet automatically get wet when it’s raining outside. Just can’t give them up.

“Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude
from achieving his goal, nothing on earth can help the man
with the wrong attitude”
– Thomas Jefferson

If you are heading out of the house for your work-outs, get thyself a gym bag. Again, it’s not about how much you spend. Five Below has some great Nike ones. Mine comes from TJ Maxx and was a whopping twelve bucks. Fifteen months later, even though I’ve grown tired of the design, it’s still going strong and is washable, a huge plus in my opinion. I keep my gym membership cards in the zippered pocket, as well as my iPod headphones, a few dollars and a couple granola bars, so the bag is ready when I am.

What you have to do and the way you have to do it is incredibly simple. Whether you are willing to do it, that’s another matter.
– Peter F. Drucker

Whatever your work-out of choice is, make sure you have the proper equipment before embarking on a new program. If you don’t, there will always be an excuse. Whether you need kettlebells (my newest obsession), resistance bands or a jump-rope, arm yourself with the necessities.

“There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.”
– Beverly Sills

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Whether you’re on Weight Watchers, visiting Curves or a gym rat, the refrain is very commonplace … drink water, drink water, drink water. You are supposed to drink half your weight in water ounces a day. And that is if you’re not working out. Are you drinking enough? And if you’re working out, it should be even more. My Spin instructor said 40 ounces of water for 40 minutes of spin. And get yourself a refillable water bottle. Please. Enough of the disposable bottles. It kills me to see a garbage bin filled with them at the gym. First, they should be recycling them, and second, so much unnecessary waste. I’ve gone through a bunch of reusable sports bottles to find my favorite. These are from Costco. They were $18 for a package of three (although they have gone on sale for $15/set before). They are BPA-free and completely and positively leak-proof. They have a clip so you can attach them to your gym bag. Nick even takes one to school every day. Love them.

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Recipe: Parmesan Chicken with Garlic and Herbs

Preparing for Success