Stuffed Sausage Jalapeno Poppers

Ingredients:
Recipe makes 12 servings
1 ground beef or turkey
1/2 pound ground pork sausage
1/4 onion
1 tomato
6 mushrooms
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 pound large fresh jalapeno peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded
1 (8 ounce) bottle Ranch dressing (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
Place sausage in a skillet over medium heat, and cook until evenly brown. Drain grease.
In a bowl, mix the sausage, cream cheese, and Parmesan cheese. Spoon about 1 tablespoon sausage mixture into each jalapeno half. Arrange stuffed halves in baking dishes.
Bake 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until bubbly and lightly browned. Serve with Ranch dressing.

Tip: 

You can also wrap the jalapeno after it has been filled with bacon. It changes it up a bit for something different. 

You can also use turkey bacon or turkey sausage for lower fat and calories, along with Greek cream cheese for added protein. 

I add vegetables in mine: tomatoes, garlic, onion

TIPS for Eating Out

Its Friday and I'm sure your weekend is packed with picnics, graduation parties, birthday parties or dinner at a restaurant. As I'm writing this sentence my blood pressure is already starting to rise because I know that all of these things are filled with high fat, sugary, and hard to resist temptations. The last birthday party I went to the menu consisted of nachos, subs, candy, cake, ice cream, enchiladas, high calorie lemonade and I am sure many other things that I tried not to look at. So needless to say there was not much for me to choose from. I did my best to keep it clean. People kept giving me weird stares and offering me cake and cookies. I politely declined and drank my water and ate my fruit. When I got home I prepared myself a healthy snack.

To keep from having to stress every time you go out in public to a restaurant or an event here are some tips fromTosca Reno's Stripped book to keep your blood pressure in check!

Planning is best, when you are out you always need a game plan. You should avoid eating out as much as possible because once you enter a restaurant you surrender control over what is in your food.

1. Develop an "I don't have to eat it all!" Mindset. Make up your mind before you go that you don't have to get the most bang for your buck by cleaning your plate. KEEP YOUR GOAL IN MIND.

2. Satisfy hunger only-Don't Gorge. Eat for the purpose of satisfying your hunger, but no more.

3. Start small and green. Start your meal with a salad, without dressing. Use a spritz of lemon or some balsamic vinegar.

4. Broth is best. When there is no salad option have a broth based soup.

5. NO BREAD PLEASE! Remember this is not helping you achieve your 10 pound weight loss goal.

6. Clean Cooking techniques rock! Look for entree options featuring steamed or raw veggies and grilled, baked or roasted meats or fish. If they aren't listed, ask the server to prepare it that way. Oh and don't always trust the low fat or fat free symbols.

7. Portion control is in. Have a good look at your plate when it arrives. Ask for a doggie bag and split your meal in half.

8. Fletcherize. The practice of chewing each mouthful a min of 25 times. It gives your body a chance to recognize when you are becoming full. (This is very hard to do when you are with kids, because you never know when they have had enough and you will have to leave your meal behind to take the kids out).

9. Zero Tolerance. You want to avoid alcohol because sugar can derail you in the most powerful way. Have sparkling water with lemon or lime slices.

10. Stop before the end. Think of your plan to shed those pounds, if you can't resist something sweet ask for a dish of fresh fruit and leave it at that!

If you doubt your ability to resist restaurant offerings then pre-eat! Then when you go to a restaurant or social event you don't have to worry about what's on the menu and you can focus on socializing.

If you can't resist the dessert table then pack a few clean cookies in a Ziploc bag and pull them out with your coffee while everyone else is eating their sugar laden cookies and cake. If you have to go through a drive through, familiarize yourself with the menu. Never super size and make smart food choices by ordering grilled chicken and a side salad. Cut up the chicken and place on salad and go with olive and vinegar dressing or, low fat balsamic.

One of the most difficult things to manage while following a healthy lifestyle is your social life. So surround yourself with family and friends that support what you are doing and are not sabotaging your efforts. Instead of going out drinking or to a restaurant here are some alternatives.

Meet a friend at the gym
Have a game night at home with healthy clean snacks
Batters up- organize a kickball or softball game in your neighborhood or with the kids.
Volunteer together at a local charity
Meet at the park for a walk or bike ride
Do a Zumba Class together

Go to a free "Fit Club Class" -coming soon: to sign up message me.

Eating clean and creating a healthy lifestyle doesn't have to mean that you are becoming a boring person. There is so much more to experience than food and drinks! Live outside the box and you will have people wondering what you are doing because your energy and personality are on fire!!!

Pasta Puttanesca

Just because you're eating healthy doesn't mean you have to forgo your favorites. This pasta dish made with tomatoes, olives, and capers will satisfy your cravings.

Total Time: 23 min.
Prep Time: 10 min.
Cooking Time: 13 min.
Yield: 4 servings, about 1½ cups each

Ingredients:
8 oz. dry whole wheat spaghetti
1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
4 anchovy fillets, drained
1 (14.5-oz.) can diced tomatoes, no added salt
¼ cup pitted chopped Spanish (or Greek) olives
2 Tbsp. capers
1 tsp. dried oregano leaves
¼ tsp. crushed red pepper
1/3 cup chopped flat-leaf (Italian) parsley
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation:
1. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Set aside. Keep warm.
2. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat.
3. Add garlic, anchovies, and crushed pepper; cook, stirring frequently, for 3 minutes, or until anchovies melt into oil and completely dissolve and garlic is tender.
4. Add tomatoes, olives, capers, oregano, and parsley. Bring sauce to a boil. Reduce heat to low; gently boil for 5 to 8 minutes.
5. Add pasta to sauce. Toss gently to coat; cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes, or until heated through.

Nutritional Information (per serving):
Calories: 311
Fat: 9 g
Saturated Fat: 2 g
Cholesterol: 9 mg
Sodium: 618 mg
Carbohydrate: 50 g
Fiber: 2 g
Sugar: 3 g
Protein: 13 g

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

P90X3 Portions (per serving)
2½ carb/grain
½ protein
1 fat

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

21 Day Fix Portions (per serving)
2 yellow containers
½ red container
1 teaspoon

21 Day Fix 3rd week!

I'm getting down to the last few days of the fix!  I'm getting really excited about weighing in and measuring myself.  This is my third day of doing double workouts and my Body is crushed! I can see a lot of changes in my body,  I definitely have new muscles.  I am sold on the eating plan.  I will be sticking to it for a lot longer than 21 days.  In fact I see it as my new lifestyle.  Lol, what a cliche, but it's the truth! The containers are way more easier than counting calories , points, and weighing my food. I am a bit worried about the last 3 days of not using any salt,  Yuck. I am going out today to get seasonings from sprouts.  I am buying the seasonings in the book.  I'll let you know how it goes. 

Click this link to watch the video about 21 Day Fix! 

21 Day Fix Group Challenge

I was doing P90x3 faithfully when I came across a group challenge to do “The 21 Day Fix” by Beach Body. I decided to jump in and just enjoy the ride, and I absolutely love the program. I really liked the P90x3 program as well. However, the nutrition plan on the 21 Day Fix is so easy and it doesn’t feel like you are depriving yourself of food! I am not hungry and I get everything, including carbs! I paused the p90x3 program temporarily till I finish the “21 Day Fix,” but I am going to start back up again in 2 weeks. I will be continuing the nutrition plan from “The 21 Day Fix. In fact it is so simple and I will use it the rest of my life! It really teaches you the right way to eat.

My results: I lost 15.5 lbs and 10.25 inches in the three weeks I did the 21 Day Fix. I actually did not do very well on the weekends, it was during the Easter Holidays and I ate a lot of things I shouldn't have. Plus, Iover ate a lot. So I would have had better results if I would have stuck to my guns lol. However, I am not at my goal weight, so anyone that is smaller, will not get these kind of results if the "cheat." Please keep that in mind.

With 21 Day Fix, losing weight has never been simpler—or faster! Anyone can have success with this simple program.

What is 21 Day Fix?

• A 21-day program of simple portion control and 30-minute workouts that anyone can do

• Simple, fast weight loss—no weighing food or counting calories, carbs, or points

• You can lose up to 15 pounds in 21 days

What makes 21 Day Fix unique?

• Portion-control containers take all the guesswork out of losing weight

• It's the simplest way to control how much you eat

• 30-minute workouts that anyone can do and fit into everyone's busy life

Who is the 21 Day Fix for?

Men and women who:

• Want to lose weight

• Don't want to make long time commitments

• Have tried and failed at complicated diet plans

• Don't want an extreme fitness program

• Have started their weight-loss journey with Shakeology®

• Are new to fitness, dieting, and weight loss

• Don't like "off-limits" diet plans or deprivation

What's included?

• 7 color-coded portion-control containers

• Shakeology® shaker cup

• 6 easy-to-follow 30-minute workouts

• 21 Day Fix Start Here quick start guide and workout calendar

• 21 Day Fix Eating Plan that shows you exactly what to do

• 3 Day Quick Fix Guide, Autumn's secret weapon for fast weight loss

• Dirty 30 bonus workout

• Exclusive! Your customers will get a FREE bonus workout—Plyo Fix (a $19.95 value)—

when they order through you

How does it work?

• The Eating Plan shows you how to use the portion-control containers

• Simply put your choice of food in the color-coded container—if it fits, you can eat it!

• Do one 30-minute workout per day according to the Fitness Guide

• Follow the simple plan, and you can lose up to 15 pounds in 21 days

Why should you use 21 Day Fix?

• To finally lose the weight and keep it off

• To lose weight quickly before an event or vacation

• To learn what healthy portions really look like

• To find out how easy portion control and weight loss can be

Yes! My customers who purchase 21 Day Fix through me will get a FREE bonus workout—Plyo

Fix (a $19.95 value).