We are living in a have-it-all, have-it-now world. Access to anything you desire is literally a key stroke away.

There’s one-click ordering. There’s food delivery in 30 minutes or less. There’s credit available with the swipe of a card.

More so than any time in history, we have forgotten the art of sacrifice.

Can you blame us? Mainstream marketing tells us hundreds of times each day that we should have it all, and that we should have it right now.

The problem with this have-it-all-right-now mindset is that real accomplishments require sacrifice and delayed gratification. And these real accomplishments are where true satisfaction is found.

Think about it for a moment. When was the last time that you felt proud of something that you’ve done? I doubt that it was for the shoe purchase that you just one-click ordered online :) More likely it was for a big project that you tackled at work, or a meal that you cooked for your family, or an 8K (or marathon!) that you finished.

Those proud moments have one thing in common: they all required sacrifice and delayed gratification. You gave up your time, you invested your attention and efforts, you put in the miles.

And then you achieved your goal and experienced that sweet satisfaction.

Learning how to sacrifice and delay gratification, rather than getting something right now, is a skill set. This skill set can grow as you use it more often. Just like a muscle that becomes stronger under resistance, your ability to sacrifice your immediate needs in favor of a larger accomplishment will improve the more you use it.

Sacrifice and delayed gratification are the name of the game when it comes to getting into great shape. Get comfortable with sacrifice and you’ll achieve any goal.

I know that’s not what any of us want to hear. We’d prefer the one-click-to-dream-body button over months of a controlled diet plan and challenging workouts. But by embracing and enhancing your ability to sacrifice you’ll gain traction on all of your big life goals, including getting that dream body.

I’m here to help you achieve your fitness goals. Yes, it’s going to require that you put in hard work and sacrifice, and I’ll be there with you every step of the way. Call or email me today to get started.

Slow cooker recipes like this one are fantastic for two reasons. First, it’s a nearly effortless meal. Throw everything into the slow cooker in the morning, and then come home to a hot meal in the evening. Isn’t that pretty much like having a personal chef?

Second, there’s a lot of flexibility in the ingredients you can use in a recipe like this. Don’t have butternut squash? Use pretty much any other type of winter squash or even sweet potato. Don’t have chicken thighs? Sub in beef or pork. No onions but have a bunch of bell peppers? Chop ’em up and throw ’em in!


Planning ahead by making dinner in the slow cooker is a fantastic way to stay on track with your healthy eating plan. 

Courtesy of RealHealthyRecipes.com

What you need
Serves 8

2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
3 bell peppers (any color), thinly sliced
1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 (4oz) can green chiles, chopped (I use mild!)
1 (14oz) can diced tomatoes
1 (16oz) jar green salsa
4 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup cilantro, chopped plus more for garnish
1 Tablespoon ground cumin
1 Tablespoon chili powder
1 Tablespoon fajita seasoning
2 teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
Large lettuce leaves
Avocado, sliced

Instructions

1. Combine all of the ingredients, except the lettuce leaves and avocado, in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 5 hours.

2. Remove the chicken thighs, shred with a fork, and mix back in. Serve, using a slotted spoon, on the lettuce leaves. Garnish with sliced avocado, chopped cilantro and a sprinkle of fajita seasoning. Enjoy!

Nutrition
One serving equals 202 calories, 6g fat, 589mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate, 5g fiber, and 20g protein.

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