Recently it was announced that I was one of fifteen bloggers chosen for an ambassadorship sponsored by MushroomInfo.com (AD) called the Mamavation #MushroomMakeover Challenge, and this honestly couldn’t have come at a better time. I’ve been beyond frustrated with my weight, and have been in constant discomfort every day. This was just the push I needed to make some much needed changes to my lifestyle!

It’s only been a week, and honestly I feel great. The food is delicious, I’m actually eating more than I usually do, but it’s steadily throughout the day rather that skipping meals then making up for it.

The challenge for me has been working out and getting through the workouts each day, but I’m stubborn and I make it work. A few weeks ago I sprained my ankle and even though my doctor has given me the okay to proceed I’m still wearing an ankle brace for added support.

What’s helped me immensely is scheduling my meals in advance and planning them out for the entire day. That way I know how much time is needed and I also don’t forget a meal or snack, which often used to be the case. In addition, I’m hydrating well by drinking 2-3 liters of water every day. This also helps with feeling full. I admit, I’ve been terrible at that for the past few years. I usually just drink coffee and rarely drink water, but I remember how much water I would drink with my last two pregnancies and how good I felt. So I’ve spent a lot of time this past week focusing on good habits, creating a schedule and building a workout schedule around my kids and family.

Thankfully I have some great coaches in my corner. For my workouts I’ve been using the Burn It-Build It-Cardio plan that Mamavation‘s personal trainer Mark Sedegie has developed, these can be found online and you can follow along! I’ve also used the meal plans that Corinne Dobbas, MD, RS has developed for us as a map for how my meals should be created. The first two days I chose meals directly from the plan and ate exactly what was specified. After that, I felt I’d gotten a hang of what we were going for, and got a little creative putting my own spin on them.

The point of the #MushroomMakeover is to makeover meals by replacing all or part of you meat with mushrooms. Mushrooms have a heart and meaty texture so any meal you’re making can easily be transformed. This is great to use or replace in lean meats that include ground beef or turkey. In addition to the recipes included in the included meal plans, I’ve also found some great recipes on the Mushroom Channel Pinterest board.

I created four different meals this week that incorporated mushrooms as a part of the recipe. I’ve shared each of these meals on my Instagram and Twitter, so be sure you’re following each week to see my latest recipes.

So far I’m feeling great and I’m loving the food. I’ve lost 2.5 pounds so far, and look forward to continuing this weight loss journey. I decided to share the recipe that was most popular on my Instagram this past week, so this time it’s these delicious Lettuce Wrap Tacos.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup yellow onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon chopped green chiles
• 1/4 yellow bell pepper, diced
• 1 teaspoon diced pimientos
• 1/2 teaspoon dry basil
• 1/4 teaspoon lemon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin
• 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup brown rice, precooked
• 1/2 cup red kidney beans, rinsed, drained and cooked
• 1/2 cup ground turkey, precooked
• 1/2 cup baby Bella mushrooms, diced
• 3 large romaine lettuce leaves
• 1/2 cup salsa
• 3 tablespoons pepper jack cheese

Directions:

Begin by heating olive oil in skillet over medium heat. Add onion, green chile, bell pepper, pimientos, kidney beans and brown rice. Add seasonings and saute together lightly until onion and bell peppers have softened.

Add mushrooms and precooked ground turkey. Heat until warm, then remove from stove.

Take the leaves and gently fill with the mixture. Add salsa and cheese.

Enjoy!

This post was created as part of the #MushroomMakeover 30 Day Weight Loss Challenge in which I am a financially compensated blogger ambassador for the Mushroom Council. The opinions are my own and based on my own experience.