Yogurt Bowl

Snack Ideas

This is too good to be true. Having a late night craving for something sweet? I promise you this will do the trick. All you need is three ingredients. Mix together in a bowl. And Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1. 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
2. 1/2 cup of fresh raspberries
3.1 tbsp of sliced raw almonds

I know it calls for raspberries & almonds but I am just not a huge raspberry fan. I opted out and added strawberries with cashews. Delish!! Even Dexter wanted some.

 

Cucumber and Tomato Salad

I love getting a new Beachbody program, with every challenge pack you receive a nutritional food guide with all different meal recipes to try. When i was looking for new recipes to try I stumbled upon the Ultimate Reset book, and i forgot how many good recipes are in there. This little dish is simple and light.

Ingredients: 

-1 cucumber, half peeled in alternating strips, sliced in thick half-moons

-1/4 small container ripe plum or cherry tomatoes, each cut in half

-1 tbsp chopped red onions

-2 tbsp red wine vinegar 

-1 tbsp balsamic vinegar 

-1 tbsp lemon juice 

-2 tsp extra virgin olive oil

-1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

-1 tbsp chopped fresh basil leaves 

-Himalayan salt (to taste)

-Herbal seasoning (to taste)

Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and toss well. (serves one)

 

This works perfect as a side dish to a party. If you are making more just double the recipe.

Light and refreshing!!! Enjoy!

Chicken Bake

Oh meeeeeee GOSH!! This meal is amazing and so simple anyone can make it. And I mean anyone!! Trust me, this girl has no skill in the kitchen (just yet) but its literally a couple simple steps and BAM your done! Working all day and have the husband/boyfriend/girlfriend/wife home. Have him get the veggies, chicken, spices out and mix it together. Simple, quick, and teamwork!

Ingredients:
* 2 skinless chicken breasts chopped into 2 inch cubes
* 1 lb red potatoes chopped into 2 inch cubes
* 1/2 bunch asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
*  Peppers sliced into 1 inch pieces
* 1 onion sliced
* 1/3 cup fresh basil
* 4 garlic cloves sliced thin
* 1.5 tbsp olive oil
* 1 tsp fresh chopped rosemary
* Ground pepper for taste
*1/2 cup of chicken broth if you want

**add any veggies you want, we also added green beans.

Directions:
*preheat oven to 400 degrees and add chicken, potatoes, veggies, basil, garlic, chicken broth, and olive oil. Sprinkle with rosemary add pepper if wanted. Cook for approximately 45 minutes, turning every once in a while, until tender. ENJOY!!!

Mexican Turkey Burgers

This is what you get when you are sitting home alone on a Friday night, and your kiddies (cat&dog) are sleeping

I love anything Mexican so I decided to do something different for dinner tonight. Trying to become a cook since I sort of have too. Mexican & burgers?!?! So how did it all turn out.....
 

Time to prep

Ingredients: 

*lean ground turkey 

*any veggies you want (i used green peppers & onions)

*extra virgin olive oil

* taco seasoning 

Directions: 

*cut the amount of  veggies you want 

*place ground turkey in mixing bowl

*add a little evoo to your turkey

*add veggies

*start by adding 1/2 packet of seasoning (depending on how much seasoning you will want)

*add a little evoo to the pan and cook (you can use a grill, but it was too chilly for me to do that)

Something simple and quick. Different from your everyday burger, all because I was bored one night.

Let me know what you think!!!!

Hope you enjoy!

Clean Eating Chicken Noodle Soup

What's the best type of food to eat when it's a cold, gloomy day here in Western PA? Certainly anything that is going to warm you up right away.  I was craving soup this afternoon, so what better way then making homemade chicken noodle soup. Chicken Noodle Soup can be loaded with flavors and a ton of salt , which yes of course gives you the flavor but is really not good for you.

Everyone of course is going to have their own version of soup, but I found this recipe today and gave it a try!

INGREDIENTS:

- 1 tablespoon olive oil

- 1 large onion : chopped

- 2 large leeks : chopped

- 6 small carrots : peeled & sliced

- 2 parsnips : peeled & sliced

- 4 cups chicken broth (no sugar added)

- 4 cups distiller water

- 4 large chicken breasts : cut into bite size pieces 

- 1 teaspoon garlic powder

- 1 tablespoon marjoram 

- brown rice or noodles : cooked separately according to package directions

DIRECTIONS: (makes approx. 16 cups)

- using a non stick pan, sauté the onions, leeks, carrots, and parsnips in the olive oil until the leeks and onions wilt (5-7 minutes).

- transfer your vegetables to a large soup pot and add your broth, water, and herbs. Cook for half an hour.

- add chicken breast and cook for another half an hour.

You of course can choose to add different herbs and vegetables. I added celery instead of the leeks and parsnips. Also, I only used garlic powder and added a little bit of black pepper. Fit it to your likes, what you like and don't like. 

And enjoy on a cold day!

A Time To Give Thanks And Give Back!!!!

Will you help give back to America??

Every month Beachbody always have a promotion for a challenge pack that they put on sale. But I have to say this month by far takes the cake for BEST PROMO EVER!!!! We as a business really focus on paying it forward to others with helping them reach their health and fitness goals, but now we also are giving back to those in need.

This is straight from the CEO himself:

This month, we’ll be working with the nonprofit organization Feeding America and have created an opportunity to give back through our “Give and Receive” November focus.

Here’s how it works:

“Give”: For every Success Club point you generate in November, Beachbody, LLC will give $10 to Feeding America. That equates to a $10 donation for every Shakeology® HD order and $20 for every Challenge Pack sold!

There is no limit to the amount Beachbody will donate and we’ve promised a minimum of $250,000 with a goal of $500,000. I'd love it to be a million or two.

And you'll love this: Each $1 contributed will pay to distribute 9 meals to the needy - including kids and the elderly. So if we want to make this a Thanksgiving with real meaning, we have work to do now.

Because every Success Club Point this month is helping provide 90 meals to people in need. That. Is. Huge.

What's in it for you besides the feel good of giving? How's this:

“Receive”: New & existing Customers and new Coaches who buy ANY Challenge Pack in the month of November will receive a $20 coupon to apply to a future purchase. PLUS, Coaches who achieve Success Club 5 or 10 will receive a $10 coupon for every Challenge pack sold – up to a max of $100. (Sounds like a good way to pay for your P90X3 doesn't it?)

"Give & Receive". Love it.

To keep you informed of how we are tracking and what YOUR contribution is to this meaningful drive we'll be posting this thermometer which tracks total Success Club Points together with the number of meals provided.

I told you this was by far the best promotion Beachbody is doing for everyone. I am so blessed to work for a company who's main priority is helping others and giving back. This is such a rewarding job, that I wouldn't even consider this "work". Let's give back and PAY IT FORWARD!!! Giving a gift of health for yourself and giving back to those in need! Sounds like an awesome way to pay it forward this holiday season. So blessed! Ask me for more information on getting involved!!!!!

 

Tis the season to be blessed, grateful, and thankful!!

Weekly Update: Beta Week 4

 

 

 

If you have been following my progress and my journey you know I have been working out with Shaun T every morning bright an early. Focus T-25 has been my program of choice. It has been challenging. It has pushed me to my limits and really allowed me to see myself push harder. And teach me that I can do more than I actually think I can.

 

 

People may call me crazy but I just say I am determined. With my work schedule to get my workout, in enough time to get ready for work, etc I get up anywhere between 4-4:30. And I can't lie sometimes it really is hard to get up that early, but it is the only way I will not make excuses. If I don't then when I get home I know it will be harder for me to do it. It is hard to work all day and then come home to working out and getting prepped for the next day. I will not compromise on a workout. That is "my" time. It is my stress reliever, it is a time for me to clear my head and get my mind set straight before starting my day. I love everything about how I feel when I am done.

Week 4 Beta Schedule:
Monday-Rip't Circuit
Tuesday-Dynamic Core
Wednesday-Core Cardio
Thursday-Dynamic Core
Friday-Speed 2.0 & Upper Focus

I did Speed 2.0 Friday and decided to do Upper Focus Saturday morning. I love lifting weights and upper focus is a favorite of mine. I started to lift heavier and push myself one step further Saturday. And let me tell you, my shoulder/chest area...SUPER SORE, which I know it is working, but woah baby my arms are sore. The one thing I will say I noticed a difference is from stretching. This week I skipped the stretching and my muscles were really sore compared to when I actually stopped a gave myself a three minute stretch. Stretching is really important when you are going to workout so intense like that.

 

I'm struggling with eating. I just can not pin point it. I always ALWAYS have my Shakeology for breakfast & lunch is on key as well. When I get home dinner is good too, but then its the after dinner hours that get me. I am not sure why. I know it is wrong and I shouldn't have it, but sometimes it doesn't stop me. It is almost like you have it looking at you right in your face telling you to eat it. Or is it possible to lock your kitchen cabinets right after dinner, because I am highly starting to consider it. Truthfully, I don't feel stressed or like I have a million things going through my head. And I know I'm not, so I am not sure I know what the word is to describe how I am feeling. My work situation has not been the greatest right now, so maybe that is a factor. I am not sure if I am feeling upset, disappointed, angry, hurt, it really is hard to go into work everyday and pretend like things are okay. I mean you spend practically your whole day there, you want some interaction right?! I think right now I am feeling confused, because I want to be accepted, but then again I am being myself and why should I have to change myself. So in the end I am confused.. but everyday I go into work with an open mind and tell myself positive thoughts. Some situations you can just not change.

 

Challenge yourself. Push yourself to your limits. You are your greatest competition. You never know what you are capable until you try!

 

Are you looking for help on your own personal health and fitness journey? I would love to help and personally mentor you. Please feel free to E-mail me for any help or questions.