Grilled Shrimp Kabobs

Ingredients:
Shrimp
Mushroom
Pineapple
Sweet Peppers
Bacon
Salt
Lemon pepper marinade
Lemon pepper seasoning

Directions:
Marinade shrimp in lemon pepper marinade (Lawry's).
Wrap shrimp with bacon.
Place ingredients on kabob. 
Sprinkle with lemon pepper seasoning and salt to taste.
Grill 10-15 minutes or until shrimp are pink. 
Serve hot!

Beef-Stuffed Zucchini (Turkey works well too)

Ingredients

4 medium zucchini
1 pound ground beef or turkey
1/2 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup marinara or spaghetti sauce
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided
Additional marinara or spaghetti sauce

Directions

Cut zucchini in half lengthwise; cut a thin slice from the bottom of each with a sharp knife to allow zucchini to sit flat. Scoop out pulp, leaving 1/4-in. shells.
Place shells in an ungreased 3-qt. microwave-safe dish. Cover and microwave on high for 3 minutes or until crisp-tender; drain and set aside.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Remove from the heat; stir in the marinara sauce, egg, bread crumbs, salt, pepper and 1/2 cup cheese.
Spoon about 1/4 cup into each shell. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 4 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Then broil it for 4-5 minutes, watch it carefully to be sure it doesnt burn. A thermometer inserted into filling reads 160° and zucchini are tender. Serve with additional marinara sauce. Yield: 4 servings.

Nutritional Facts

2 stuffed zucchini halves (calculated without additional sauce) equals 394 calories, 21 g fat (10 g saturated fat), 134 mg cholesterol, 602 mg sodium, 19 g carbohydrate, 4 g fiber, 33 g protein.

Egg Muffins

Egg Muffins!!! These are one of my all-time favorite & EASY meal-preps.

Spray a muffin/cupcake pan w/ non-stick spray.

Fill with ANYthing you want: ham & broccoli, chicken & carrots, spinach w/ feta & tomatoes, steak & bell peppers....whatever you have in the fridge. 

(Note: add all veggies RAW - they will cook to perfection during the baking process)

Mix approx 1 egg per/muffin in a blender w/ a splash of milk. Pour directly into each cup just below the rim.
Top with shredded or sliced cheeses of your choice.

Bake at 425 degrees for approx 20 min.
Let cool before removing from pan

These can be stored in your fridge for up to 3-4 days! Simply warm in the microwave for a quick breakfast on-the-go!

Credit:
[High Protein Foods on fb]

Stretching!

As you age, your muscles tighten and range of motion in the joints can be minimized. This can put a damper on active lifestyles and even hinder day-to-day, normal motions. Tasks that used to be simple, such as zipping up a dress or reaching for a can off of the top shelf, now become extremely difficult. A regular stretching program can help lengthen your muscles and make daily living activities easier.

Everyone can learn to stretch, regardless of age or flexibility. Stretching should be a part of your daily routine, whether you exercise or not. There are simple stretches you can do while watching TV, on the computer, or getting ready for bed. If you are doing strength training exercises, stretch in between sets. It feels good and saves time from stretching at the end of the workout!

It does not have to involve a huge time commitment, but stretching can end up giving you huge results! Here are just a few of the benefits you can expect from a regular stretching program:

• Reduced muscle tension
• Increased range of movement in the joints
• Enhanced muscular coordination
• Increased circulation of the blood to various parts of the body
• Increased energy levels (resulting from increased circulation)

Stretching is important for people of all ages! One of the greatest benefits of stretching is that you’re able to increase your range of motion, which means your limbs and joints can move further before an injury occurs. Post-exercise stretching can also aid in workout recovery, decrease muscle soreness, and ensure that your muscles and tendons are in good working order. The more conditioned your muscles and tendons are, the better they can handle the rigors of sport and exercise, and the less likely that they'll become injured.

Stretching comes naturally to all of us. You might notice that if you have been sitting in a particular position for a long time, you stretch unconsciously. It feels good! In addition to that good feeling, a consistent stretching program will produce large gains in flexibility and joint movement. Be kind to your muscles and they will be kind to you!

Credit:

[Spark people]

Chicken and Veggie Fajitas

This delicious restaurant favorite is easy to make at home! Our version is healthy and packed with a rainbow of vegetables.




Total Time: 53 min.
Prep Time: 15 min.
Cooking Time: 7 min.
Yield: 4 servings, 2 fajitas each

Ingredients:
1 tsp. chili powder
1 dash sea salt
½ tsp. ground cumin
½ tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. olive oil, divided use
4 (4-oz.) raw chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, cut into ½-inch strips
½ medium green bell pepper, cut into thin strips
½ medium red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
½ medium yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips
½ medium red onion, thinly sliced
1 yellow (or orange) carrot, sliced thin
1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
8 (6-inch) whole wheat (or corn) tortillas, warm
½ cup fresh tomato salsa (pico de gallo)
Lime wedges (for garnish; optional)

Preparation:
1. Combine chili powder, salt, cumin, garlic powder, and <i>1 tsp.</i> oil in large re-sealable plastic bag.
2. Add chicken; mix gently to coat. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
3. Heat remaining <i>1 tsp .</i> oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Empty contents of bag into skillet; cook, stirring frequently, for 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Add bell peppers, onion, and carrot; cook, stirring frequently, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender-crisp. Remove from heat.
5. Add lime juice; mix well.
6. Top each tortilla evenly with chicken mixture and salsa; garnish with lime wedges if desired.

Nutritional Information (per serving):
Calories: 326
Fat: 9 g
Saturated Fat: 2 g
Cholesterol: 73 mg
Sodium: 722 mg
Carbohydrate: 32 g
Fiber: 3 g
Sugar: 3 g
Protein: 28 g

P90X/P90X2 Portions (per serving)
1 protein
½ carb/grain
1 vegetable
½ fat

P90X3 Portions (per serving)
1 protein
2 carbohydrates
1 fat

Body Beast Portions (per serving)
2 proteins
2 starches
1 fat
1 vegetable

21 Day Fix Portions (per serving)

1½ green

½ red

1 yellow

½ blue

Water Challenge!

What’s the big deal about water?

The Earth is 70% water. Your body is 80% water. It stands to reason that water is some pretty important stuff – right?

Water is the bodies transportation medium. It’s how it moves EVERYTHING around to different parts of your body…everything. Water is used to move nutrients to your 100 trillion cells in your body. Water is used to move waste & toxins from your cells, to leave your body. Water is used to wash fat from your body. These things have to
get out somehow right? They don’t just evaporate away! So water moves good things around your body, and water moves waste and toxins and fat out.How much water is enough?

Rule of thumb to follow: 

drink 1/2 ounce for every 1 pound of your weigh, everyday. That’s .033 liters per 1kg you weight.
Examples:
150lbs. Half = 75. So 75 ozs each day
250lbs. Half = 125. So 125 ozs each day

Metric
68kg x .033 = about 2 liters day
90kg x .033 = about 3 liters each day

Things to expect
- You will pee more…Welcome the pee! That is how your body removes the toxins and the fat from your cells and your body. Help it out. I drink tons of water and I pee…deal with it! It’s temporary – the excess peeing will stop withing a week. (Your pee will be very light yellow, almost clear – by the way)


Pee Time!

- You’ll have more regular, easier to pass, bowel movements
- More energy!
- You’ll be less hungry
- Many of you will lose an inch or 2 from your waist.
- Many of you will lose 5-10 lbs (REALLY!)
- Your skin will become more clear
- Less joint pain
- You’ll have less annoying body sweating (more water = less excess sweat!)
- A few of you will become bloated. That’s not because you are drinking too much water. It’s caused by a lot of gut activity now that you have the proper amount of water. That’s causing some gas, and it’s trapped. And of course it’s temporary.

FACT: When your body has a shortage of water, it takes water from less important places (joints) to use in more important place (brain).

Here are 10 reasons why you should drink more water each day:

1. Perfect For Weight Loss
(water has no fat, no calories, no carbs, no sugar and can help act as an appetitie suppressant)

2. Keeps Your Heart Healthy
(if you drink adequate water each day, studies have shown that it will decrease your chance of a heart attack).

3. Keeps You Energized
(being dehydrated can zap you of your energy and make you feel tired)

4. Natural Headache Cure
(some headaches are caused by lack of water; drink more to prevent and treat headaches)

5. Healthier Skin
(many celebrities swear that one of their best beauty secrets is drinking a lot of
water each day for clear and glowing skin)

6. Cleansing Effects
(water is used by the body to flush our toxins and waste)

7. Be More Productive
(water helps your body perform at it's best, including during exercise. Dehydration makes it hard to be as productive and active as you can be)

8. Digestion
(not only does water help organs to absorb nutrients better, it can also help with stomach acid problems)

9. Helps prevent/treat constipation
(sufficient hydration keeps things flowing along your gastrointestinal tract and prevents constipation. When you don't get enough fluid, the colon pulls water from stools to maintain hydration -- and the result is constipation)

10. Protects and cushions your vital organs, including your heart.

Credit:

[http://www.tone-and-tighten.com/2013/07/what-are-benefits-of-drinking-water-10.html]

[http://www.resetyourbody.com/waterchallenge/]

The New Coconut Craze

A medium sized coconut yields 1400 calories, with 13 grams of protein, 60 grams of carbs, and a whopping 133 grams of fats. You’ll also get 36 grams (144% RDV) of dietary fiber.

Coconut 101


In Sanskrit, coconuts are called“Kalpa Vriksha”, which translates roughly as: the tree that gives all that is necessary for living.[1] This is an appropriate description for this plant that can keep you going, no longer how far your race.
Nutritional Data

The coconut is one of the most nutritionally dense whole foods in existence. There is good reason to associate them with desert island survival – Gilligan and the professor had all they needed to last as long as they did. It is not just a cliche. In short, these burly stone fruit will keep you alive.


Source: USDA, Google
Health Benefits
Boost your metabolism. – A study reported in the Journal of Nutrition [2] found that coconut oil boosts your metabolism. In brief, study participants who consumed two tablespoons of coconut oil per day burned more kilojoules per day than a control group who did not.
Can kill germs and viruses. Almost half of the fatty acids found in coconut oil are composed of lauric acid. Lauric acid kills bacteria, viruses, and fungi, thus helping you to stave off infections before they take hold. An increased resistance to cold and flu is yet another reason to put this fruit in your rotation.
How to Eat a Raw Coconut
Get/drink the water inside - wash your screwdriver, awl, or spear. Look for a soft spot in one of the coconuts eyes. Pound your solid, sharp object of choice through one of those targets. You want that coconut water you hear sloshing around so be careful not to spill it. Pour into glass and enjoy.


Breaking open the coconut - We suggest you just put the coconut in a plastic back, take your hammer/hatchet, and smash it against the floor. Or, without a hammer, go outside and find a sharp ledge or corner and do some smack smack rotate, smack smack rotate. Take advantage of the weakness you just made by punching a hole into the shell.


Scraping the coconut meat – This is nothing that can’t be achieved with a spoon, wrist strength, dexterity, and persistence. Work the spoon behind the white flesh meat portion, and use the shell as your leverage to pry the coconut meat away from the shell in pieces. This is pretty time consuming. Heating the coconut at 400F for 20 minutes, and then letting it cool will help.


Other Cooking Methods

The white fleshy part of the coconut is known as the ‘meat’, and can be used either fresh or dried in cooking and baking.

In addition to the meat, you can use the coconut to obtain coconut water, milk (different than the water inside), flour, and oil. Coconut oil is a wickedly nutritious alternative to olive oil, much better than butter, and far superior to margarine.


Coconut flour is a healthy way put a coconut flavor into your baking, while allowing you to go gluten-free. Coconut flour contains 5 grams of fiber per 2 tablespoons, while at the same time only having 2 grams of total and saturated fat. Adding coconut flour to baked goods lowers the glycemic index, which is the measurement of the rate that a food increases blood sugar. Foods with a low GI value are less likely to cause sugar spikes and crashes.
Sources

[1] http://www.coconutrepublic.org/quotable_notables.php

[2]Fife B. (2004). The Coconut Oil Miracle. New York: Avery.
Papamandjaris A, MacDougall D, Jones P. Medium chain fatty acid metabolism and energy expenditure: obesity treatment implications. Life Sciences 1998;62: 1203-121.

[3] http://www.spartan.com/food-of-the-day/food-of-the-day/coconut/