Cancer Sucks!!! Project Sam

Hey gorgeous humans! I need your help in a project that I am starting, but let me give you the backbone to the story before I ask for your help...

The other night, Saturday to be exact, I was fortunate enough to meet one of the most beautiful souls I have ever met. Her name is Samantha, she is a 15 year old young lady battling cancer. She was diagnosised with a type of Leukemia more than two years ago. She has fought to stay alive, but more so she has fought to be positive on a daily basis. She spent her whole freshmen year of high school in the hospital, and yet still smiles and laughs. She is honestly one of the most beautiful people I have ever met.

While she was telling me her story, I felt such a strong connection to her. I know a lot of you will think I sound crazy, but it felt like I was supposed to meet her, it was fate. I don't use the word often, maybe ever, but that night sparked a drive in me to help make a difference in children's lives. This is where you're help is needed.

I have been putting a project together, Project Sam, that will help other children in Sam's shoes smile and feel carefree if only just for a day. The first assignment in this project is Halloween! So many children are stuck inside a hospital on Halloween, unable to dress up, trick or treat, or enjoy the festivities. Halloween has always been a favorite holiday of mine, and when Sam was telling me that she missed Halloween because she was in the hospital, my heart broke for so many reasons. 

I have learned that our time here is not infinite, but it is also not completely finite. We never know when our time to leave earth is going to be, we never know when an obstacle like cancer might get in the way of us living our lives how we would like. I know there are a lot of people reading this who have battle cancer, both young and old. You are some of the strongest people I know. Not because you were sick and I feel pity for you, but because you are brave. You were faced with the chance that life might not go on too much longer when most people never even think about dying, and yet you perservered. These children, innocent, loving, and full of fear they should never be facing at such a young age, deserve to live and enjoy life as much as they can given their state of health. 

So here is what I am asking you to donate, both new or used: costumes, accessories, candy baskets, candy, and decorations. Why? Halloween is right around the corner, and everyone deserves to have the chance to enjoy it. With everything that is donated, I will go to local hospitals to donate any of the goods received, and bring Halloween and trick or treating to the children. 

The fourth quarter of the year is a season of giving and thanks. Let's start early this year, and start with Halloween instead of waiting for Thanksgiving.

All goods can be sent to:

Christina Fichera

1400 22nd Street

Sacramento, CA. 95816

Please help me spread the word by sharing this, or simply asking friends and family to donate as well. Think of how many lives will be happier this Halloween because of YOU.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!!!

Peace & Love,

Christina :)

Summer Timeee & The Grilling's Easy...

I LOVE SUMMER! Seriously though, what's not to love? Long warm days, tan skin, beach hair, and most of all AMAZING food!

Grilling is one of the easiest and most efficient ways to cook a meal. I also love that, generally speaking, when you grill it is outside, so your house doesn't warm up like it does when an oven or the stove is on. Another reason why grilling is so fantastic is so much of what you cook on a grill is light and healthy, but super satisfying. (Which isn't always easy!) Oh and usually there are WAYYY less dishes! Tonight I am going to share some things that I love to grill, and how to prepare them.

Balsamic Marinated Grilled Portobello Mushroom

Ingredients:
Portobello Mushrooms
Balsamic Vinegar
Sea Salt
Fresh Ground Pepper

Portobello mushrooms can be marinated two different ways; you can marinate it over night, or marinate it for a shorter time.

When you marinate it over night, it tends to have more of a balsamic vinegar taste to it since the balsamic really gets to set into the mushroom. Whereas marinating it for a shorter time you still get the flavor but it is not as prominent. Personally they were both amazing to me, but if I knew I was going to be grilling mushrooms tomorrow night, I would marinate the mushroom over night, or at least prepare it in the morning.

To Marinate and Grill the Mushroom:
1. Pour a little bit of balsamic at the bottom of lidded container and swish the mushroom cap around in it.
2. Lay the mushroom head down, with its fibers showing.
3. Pour more balsamic into the mushrooms fibers and use your fingers to get it into the crevices gently.
4. Add a little bit of salt and pepper.
5. Put it in the fridge to marinate for the preferred amount of time.
6. When you are ready to grill your mushroom, start by preheating the grill to low-medium heat.
7. Place the mushroom head down on the grill with the fibers facing up. Let it cook with the top down for 6 to 7 minutes.
8. Check on the mushroom to see if there are grill marks on the cap. If there are grill marks, turn the mushroom over to grill on the other side. If not, continue to grill for another couple minutes and then turn the mushroom.
**NOTE: When you turn the mushroom over, use some of the leftover balsamic to pour on top of the mushroom cap.
9. After another 6 to 7 minutes, take the mushroom off the grill, and Enjoy!

Grilled Zucchini

Possibly my most favorite grilled veggie ever. SO simple, SO delicious, SO incredibly satisfying!

1. Wash zucchini well.
2. Trim off both ends of the zucchini and cut the zucchini down the middle.
3. Put the zucchini face down on a grill that is preheated and on low-medium heat. Grill for about 6 to 8 minutes on the cut side of the zucchini, flip them and cook for another 4 to 5 minutes.
**OPTIONAL: For extra flavor, you can brush the zucchini with a bit of olive oil and salt and pepper, but it is not necessary.

Green Bean Grill Pack

In a couple weeks, I will do a blog on the variety of grill packs one can have. They are truly one of the most amazing and easiest ways to enhance a meal.

Ingredients:
Minced garlic (I cheat and get the pre-minced garlic in a jar)
Sea Salt
Pepper
Foil

Preparing and Grilling:
1. Rip a piece of foil that is big enough to fold over your vegetables.
2. Place your cleaned green beans in the center of the foil.
3. Add a tablespoon of garlic, a pinch of salt, and some fresh ground pepper to the green beans, and mix well with your hands.
4. Fold up the bottom and top of the pack (horizontally) so that it makes a gate. Next, fold in the sides and roll it together tight, then fold in the bottom and top tight too.
5. Place on a low-medium heated grill for about 10 - 12 minutes.
6. Enjoy!

Nothing screams summer like grilling outdoors, listening to music, and enjoying a glass of wine!

CHEERS! :)

Meatless Monday: Lentil Street Tacos

I don't know about you, but I get cravings for foods like I am 6 months pregnant. (I'm not pregnant at all) My body just craves food, hence why I am a fat kid at heart. Before my weight loss journey began, I let myself indulge in any and all foods my body craved. On the top of that list was pizza! Mmm I have loved pizza my whole life. Once my journey began, I worked hard to satisfy my cravings with healthy alternatives. Sure, it's not always the same taste, but my cravings are usually fulfilled beyond what I had hoped for.

The other day I started craving street tacos. Corn tortillas, meat, salsa, onions, cilantro... GET IN MY BELLY!!! Since I've stopped eating meat approximately four months ago, I have been having to think of even more creative alternatives to my already creative alternatives. ;) (More about my choice to go vegan in later posts.) I wasn't feeling tofu, and as much as I was kind of feeling black or pinto beans, it wasn't going to be enough to fulfill this craving I was having. As I roamed through my cupboards, which I do often, I came across some green lentils. That was all the inspiration I needed to create bomb.com meatless street tacos!

Lentils are filled with protein and fiber, making them nutrient dense! I took these for lunch this today, and they are a WINNER!

Ingredients
Serving Size 12 Tacos

1 cup green lentils
1 can diced tomatoes
1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
3 large garlic gloves minced
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 a large onion diced
1/2 cup cilantro
1/2 cup salsa verde
12 blue corn or corn tortillas

1. Pick over lentils and discard any bad lentils, then rinse the lentils in a fine strainer.
2. Drain the liquid of the diced tomatoes into a measuring cup. Fill the rest of the measuring cup with water up to 2 1/4 cups.
3. In a saucepan, add the tomato and water mixture, diced tomatoes, lentils, garlic, and cumin.
4. Bring to a rapid simmer, and then reduce to a light simmer and cooked uncovered for 30 minutes.
5. Dice onions and cilantro.
6. Add water to make sure lentils are just covered, cover the saucepan with a lid, and continue to cook for 30 minutes. *Note: At this point check on lentils every 15 minutes to ensure they do not overcook.
7. Remove the lentils from the heat, leaving the saucepan covered for 5 minutes.
8. Salt and pepper to taste.
9. Serve on blue corn or regular corn tortillas, topped with salsa verde, onion, and cilantro.

Voila! Enjoy!

Please tag @afatkidatheart in your picture on Instagram if you make these and hashtag #afatkidatheart so I can see all your yummy creations!

RAW: My Weight Loss Journey

Ever have those moments in life when you don't feel like you are where you are supposed to be in life? That you have worked so hard and this is where you ended up? Ever feel like it can't get better than what you are doing, even though you absolutely hate it? Circle back two weeks ago when I was sitting at my desk at work, I am a Human Resources Generalist, about to start bawling my eyes out because I did not want this to be my life anymore. I hated sitting at a desk, I hated being in such a structured position, and I hated that I had value to contribute and yet I was constantly looked at as a small fish in a big pond. At that moment, I made the decision to quit my job and focus my attention to the things I love: Nutrition, Fitness, and Beauty.

I started my weight loss journey two years ago, in March of 2012. It was when I had finally told myself that I was not happy with who I was, and instead of complaining about it, I was going to change it. I am 5' 2" and at the time I was nearing 150 pounds. I have a body type where I do not necessary get rolls of fat when I gain weight, I just get very thick. I was in a size 8 in pants, and they were beginning to feel uncomfortable on me. I could not justify buying new clothes because I was too big to fit into the ones I had. I want to add, that I know I did not look horrible, or ugly for that matter, but I was uncomfortable, and most of all I was unhappy. 

When my mom died in 2004, I was 17 and just graduated high school. I through myself into school, extracurriculars, and part time jobs to keep me busy. I kind of swept it under the rug instead of dealing with it. What I didn't realize was that I was emotionally stress eating, binge eating, and purging. I was trying to ease my emotions by controlling them, but I was only hurting myself more. I also did this because I suffered from being insecure due to events that had occurred in my life both before and after my mom died. I never felt like I was good enough, pretty enough, worthy enough. Until this past year I had still continued to suffer with these insecurities, food addictions, and disorders.

When I began my weight loss journey in 2012, it was not all rainbows and unicorns. I experienced moments of defeat, heartache, and unhappiness. It took me over a month to lose even a pound, and I was so completely discouraged. I kept wanting to give up, but then I would look at myself and cry and knew that if I gave up, I couldn't say I was trying so I had to stick to it. When I went to the doctors in the beginning of May 2012, I had dropped 10 pounds. Sad part is, I had been so focused on being negative about myself and to myself, I couldn't even realize how much I had accomplished.

It was at this time that I decided to put the scale away. I only used the scale at the gym, and I would only weigh myself on the first of each month. By September I had lost another 20 pounds, and from there I would lose another 15, and get down to my lowest weight of 105. At this point I was pretty much bulimic. I would barely eat, workout all the time, and then binge eat, feel bad about it, and purge. I could not see that I was unhealthy because I thought I look great, even when everyone told me I was too thin. I could pull off size 00 shorts and yet I still thought I was fat. 

In September of 2013, I competed in my first triathlon. It was the first week that grad school started back up. Two weeks later, I had a breast augmentation done. I was unable to workout for a month, not even speed walking. At first I thought I was going to die without being able to workout, but looking back it was the best thing that has happened to me. During the fall semester, I worked full time, went to school full time, and was President of the MBA Networking Association on campus. I was so busy I didn't even have time to workout, and in addition to not working out, I was eating out of convenience. Now that might sound horrible, but what it helped me do was get to a weight that was healthy for me and helped my brain take a break from obsessing over what I was eating and how I was going to work it off. 

I now weigh between 112-115, I am still a 00, but I actually fit into my clothes, and sometimes they are a little snug and I am okay with that. I have curbed myself from being bulimic, I have learned to listen to my body, I eat whole foods, and I have never felt better about myself or my life, maybe since forever.

This journey has made me want to help others change their lives but in the healthiest way possible. I want to bring the happiness I feel everyday to those who can't seem to feel it at all. This blog, along with my company, will give insight into healthier lifestyles, so that not only women, but men and children can feel the best about themselves and the lives they are living.

A Fat Kid At Heart represents the journey that I have made, and that I hope you choose to make with me.