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

Lemon and Apple Pasta Salad

15-20 minutes

4 servings
240 calories per serving
Vegan, gluten-free

Ingredients
4 cups of sugar peas
1 cup gluten-free small noodles
3 red apples
15 fresh basil leaves
1 lemon
2 tbs coconut oil
Sea salt
White pepper

Directions
Boil water, cook the whole wheat (grain) pasta as directed, drain, then set aside to cool.
Steam the sugar peas 8-minutes, then set aside to cool.
Zest half of the lemon (cut out little strips of the outer layer of the peel). Press the lemon and set aside.
Slice the apples into long and thin pieces. Place in a bowl, add the 2 tbs of melted coconut oil, juice from the lemon, the zests, salt and pepper.Toss together with the basil leaves, sugar peas, and pasta. Enjoy.

Emotional Eating

Everyone comfort eats now and then. Sometimes it is in small ways, such buying an ice cream cone as a pick-me-up after a stressful day at work or nibbling on chocolate when you are hormonal. While small doses of stress eating aren't necessarily physically dangerous, they can quickly develop into a habit. This habit can lead to weight gain or prevent you from losing weight. Comfort eating is particularly problematic when it is the primary way you calm and soothe yourself. The good news is that there are ways to stop comfort eating before it harms you physically and emotionally. Listed below are 3 common questions about comfort eating.

How Can I Tell if I am Emotionally Eating?
There are 4 tell-tale signs of comfort eating.

1. You eat when you are not physically hungry. Consider how long ago it was since you ate. Was it 3 hours ago or a half hour? Is your body sending you any clear signals that you are hungry? Is your stomach grumbling? Are you low in energy?
2. It is hard to find food that satisfies you. For this reason, you don't stop eating when you are full. You may find yourself scavenging for food or eating things you don't even like.
3. Cravings are triggered by an emotion such as anger, anxiety, or boredom etc.
4. Comfort eating has a mindless component to it. You may not enjoy or taste the food because you are eating it mechanically, as if in a trance. Imagine sitting in front of the TV mindlessly popping chips into your mouth. 

Why is Food so Comforting?
There are many reasons food can be so seductive in moments of stress.

• Biology.  When you are stressed out, your body is flooded with cortisol, a stress hormone, which makes you crave carbohydrates, sugar and fatty foods. Food is soothing due to the chemical changes it creates in your body. Chocolate is an excellent example.  Chocolate boosts the "feel good" neurotransmitters and chemicals in your body that make you more alert and excited.
• Tune Out. Eating can be distracting. It can take your attention away from whatever is bothering you emotionally.
• Beliefs. You may also be conditioned to believe eating can ease pain. Many media ads push the therapeutic value of food.  For example, a commercial may urge you to buy a particular candy because it will bring you "bliss" or "happiness."
• Convenience. We enjoy things that are easy and convenient. Vending machines and fast food restaurants are always close at hand when you are fretting.
• Entertainment. It is difficult for many of us to deal with boredom and anxiety. Preparing food and eating it can be entertaining and fills gaps in time.
• Good Vibes. Emotional eating may be linked to your childhood. Perhaps home baked cookies or macaroni and cheese automatically trigger positive or comforting memories from the past.

How can I Stop Emotional Eating?


Thankfully, you can break the habit of emotional eating. It takes practice and finding creative, new ways to calm and successfully soothe yourself. The goal is to rewire your brain to identify non-eating behaviors as comforting.

Step One: Be Aware.
Much of emotional eating is so unconscious that it happens automatically or below your awareness. Before you jump into changing this behavior, keep a journal. Write down where and when you stress eat. The office? Late at night? When you are alone? Are there any patterns that you notice? Every time you eat, ask yourself how physically hungry you are on a scale from 1-10. If you are a 6-10, it's likely that you are physically hungry. A 3, for example, would signify that you are stress eating.

Step Two: Replace.
If you take out stress eating, you have to put something in its place. Write down a concrete list of all the healthy, non-calorie related activities that give you a quick pick-me-up on a tough day. Here a few simple examples.

• One-Minute Fix:  Sip black tea. A study in the journal of Psychopharmacology found that subjects who drank black tea experienced a 47% drop in their cortisol levels, the stress hormone that makes you crave food, compared to 27% among the subjects who drank a placebo.
• One-Minute Fix: If a foot rub would hit the spot better than a snack, try self-message. It can be as simple as sitting down, taking off your shoe and placing your foot over a tennis ball. Rub your feet, one at a time, over the top of the ball until they feel relaxed and soothed. According to the study in the International Journal of Neuroscience, self-massage slows your heart rate and lowers your level of cortisol .
• One-Minute Fix: Mindless eating soothes raw nerves by numbing out emotions. Munching gives you a moment to zone out from daily commotion and stress. Instead, actively choose a healthy way to clear your mind. Try a quick breathing exercise. Slowing down your breathing can trick your body into thinking you are going to sleep, which in turn relaxes your body. Close your eyes. Stare at the blackness of your eyelids. Slowly breathe in and out. Count each time you inhale and exhale. Continue until you get to 10. 

Step Three: Practice!
There are many ways to calm yourself without calories, such as journaling, meditation techniques, connecting with others, self-message, distraction, guided imagery and ways to pamper your senses. Try out these techniques when you aren't craving food so you get them down pat before you really need them! You wouldn't want to learn how to swim in rough water. Nor do you want to learn the art of soothing yourself without food on a very stressful day. With practice, you can end emotional eating.


(Credit: DrOz.com)

Eating for best long-term results

I get so many people who want to eat clean but don't know where to start. How many servings a day! What is a complex carb, is Corn a vegetable? So hopefully this will clear the air just a bit! Tosca Reno the author of the Eat Clean Diet calls her meal plans, cooler plans! She has different cooler plans based on the type of results you want to get. So today I am focusing on Cooler plan #2, which is for steady weight loss and maintenance once you goal weight is reached. So this is basically the plan I stick to year round at this point! This will give you a good idea of what to eat and when!




What is it? This IS EATING CLEAN! Do this year round for steady, healthy weight loss. But this plan can also be used for maintenance. Here's why: when your body begins to approaching its set point (its genetically predetermined healthy weight) you will find that weight loss will stop or slow.

The occasional treat (glass of wine, piece of chocolate, ect) is permitted in limited amounts. Unhealthy sugars and fats are not recommended.

How it works:
Follow the eat clean principles as listed below
What to do:



Eat more- eat six small meals each day.
Eat breakfast every day, within an hour of rising.
Eat a combination of lean protein and complex carbs at each meal
Eat sufficient (two to three servings) healthy fats every day.
Carry a cooler packed with clean foods each day.
Depend on fresh fruits and vegetables for fiber, vitamins, nutrients and enzymes.
Adhere to proper portion sizes.

What to Avoid:
Avoid all over-processed foods, particularly white flour and sugar.
Avoid all chemically charge foods.
Avoid foods containing preservatives.
Avoid artificial sugars.
Avoid artificial foods such as processed cheese slices.
Avoid saturated and trans fats.
Avoid sugar loaded beverages, including colas and juices.
Avoid or do your best to limit alcohol intake.
Avoid all calorie dense foods containing little or no nutritional value. I call these anti-foods.
Avoid super sizing your meals.



Complex Carbohydrates from Fruit and Vegetables:
6 portions each day. A portion is:
1 cupped handful or a piece of fruit such as berries, grapefruit, melon, apples and mangoes.
2 cupped handfuls of vegetables including broth based/vegetable puree soups.



Complex Carbohydrates from whole grains and starchy carbohydrates:
2-4 portions each day. A portion is:
1 scant handful of high-protein, sugar-free cold cereals, such as clean muesli or granola.
1 handful of cooked cereal
1 piece of whole grain bread or wrap (Sante Fe tortilla wraps from Costco are a great option)
1 handful sized serving of sweet potato, yam, banana, corn, carrots or squash

Lean Protein
6 portions each day. A portion is:
1 cup or handful of dairy products such as low fat soy, almond, hemp, rice, or skim milk, cottage cheese, kefir, yogurt cheese or plain fat free sugar free yogurt.
1 scant handful of raw, unsalted nuts (also a healthy fat)
2 tablespoons of all natural nut butters such as almond or peanut butter (also a healthy fat).
1 palm sized portion of lean meats
good quality, sugar- and chemical- free protein powder (hemp, soy or whey).

Beverages:



2-3 liters per day of fresh water with no sodium
Clear herbal tea (unsweetened)
Black coffee in moderation
Green/Black tea

Sweeteners: Use in moderation. Avoid Artificial Sweeteners.
Agave Nectar
Maple Sugar Flakes
Rapadura Sugar

If you would like even more support please sign up on he right of the page and I'd be glad to provide you with daily motivation and support to help you accomplish your health and weight loss goals! I have lost 30 lbs to date with clean eating and regular exercise. No starvation just healthy whole meals. As you can see above this picture is an idea of some of the foods that I enjoy on a regular basis!!! I would be glad to add you to my weekly newsletter!!!


Have a great day!

Heather's Roasted Cauliflower Mash

This twist on mashed potatoes is made with a non-starchy veggie, no cream and butter—and yet, it's every bit as yummy as your traditional mashed potatoes.

Total Time: 50 min.

Prep Time: 5 min.
Cooking Time: 45 min.
Yield: 8 servings, ¼ cup each

Ingredients:
1 (2-lb.) cauliflower, cut into small florets, discard stem
4 tsp. olive oil
1 tsp. sea salt
¼ tsp. granulated garlic (optional)
2 Tbsp. low-sodium organic vegetable broth

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 400° F.
2. Wash cauliflower and pat dry.
3. Place cauliflower in large baking pan. Drizzle with oil; toss gently to coat. 4. Season with salt and garlic.
5. Bake, stirring halfway through, for 40 to 45 minutes, or until tender.
6. Place in food processor; add vegetable broth. Pulse until smooth.

Nutritional Information (per serving):
Calories: 46
Fat: 3 g
Saturated Fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 319 mg
Carbohydrate: 5 g
Fiber: 2 g
Sugar: 2 g
Protein: 2 g

P90X/P90X2 Portions (per serving)
1 vegetable

Body Beast Portions (per serving)
2 vegetables

Frozen Yogurt Cupcakes

These strawberry-banana flavored frozen yogurt cupcakes are a perfect sweet treat and less than 100 calories each!

Total Time: 4 hrs. 20 min.
Prep Time: 10 min.
Cooking Time: None
Yield: 12 servings, 1 cupcake each

Ingredients:
3½ cups nonfat plain Greek yogurt
2 Tbsp. raw honey
6 medium strawberries, pureed
½ medium ripe banana, pureed
36 dark chocolate morsels (about 2 Tbsp.)

Preparation:
1. Place 12 silicone baking cups on a baking sheet. Set aside.
2. Combine yogurt and honey in a medium bowl; mix well.
3. Place 3 Tbsp. yogurt mixture in each baking cup.
4. Top evenly with strawberries, banana, and 2 additional Tbsp. yogurt mixture.
5. Top each cupcake with 3 morsels.

6. Freeze for 4 hours, or until firm.
7. Remove from freezer 10 minutes before serving.

Tip: You can make this recipe using silicone baking cups, a silicone muffin pan, or a regular muffin pan. When using the regular muffin pan, to remove cupcakes, dip the bottom of the pan in hot water for 20 seconds.

Nutritional Information (per serving):
Calories: 63
Fat: 1 g
Saturated Fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 5 mg
Sodium: 24 mg
Carbohydrate: 9 g
Fiber: 0 g
Sugar: 8 g
Protein: 7 g

P90X/P90X2 Portions (per serving)
1 single snack

P90X3 Portions (per serving)
½ carb/grain
½ protein

Body Beast Portions (per serving)
1 protein
½ fruit

21 Day Fix Portions (per serving)
1 yellow container

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

Sweet Potato Salad

This salad is topped with hearty sweet potatoes--a super-food that is high in beta-carotene, potassium, and manganese. Pumpkin seeds add extra crunch!

Total Time: 1 hour 15 min.
Prep Time: 15 min.
Cooking Time: 30 min.
Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1½ tsp. red wine vinegar
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
½ tsp. raw honey (or pure maple syrup)
1 dash Himalayan salt (or sea salt)
1 tsp. chopped fresh herbs (like basil, oregano or parsley) (to taste; optional)
1 medium baked sweet potato, peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes
1 medium green apple, diced
½ medium red bell pepper, diced
1 stalk green onion, finely sliced
2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh cilantro
4 cups fresh arugula
2 Tbsp. pumpkin seed kernels, toasted (or chopped raw walnuts)

Preparation:
1. Combine oil, vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt, and herbs (if desired) in a medium bowl; whisk to blend.
Set aside.
2. Combine sweet potato, apple, bell pepper, onion, and cilantro in a large bowl; mix well.
3. Drizzle dressing over sweet potato mixture; toss gently to blend.
4. Place even amounts of arugula on two serving plates; top each with sweet potato mixture and sprinkle with pumpkin seeds.

Tip: Bake fork-pierced sweet potato at 450° F for 30 to 40 minutes or until just tender. Do not over bake; cool.

Nutritional Information (per serving):
Calories: 236
Fat: 11 g
Saturated Fat: 2 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 194 mg
Carbohydrate: 32 g
Fiber: 6 g
Sugar: 16 g
Protein: 5 g

P90X/P90X2 Portions (per serving)
1 vegetable
½ carb/legume & tuber
½ fat
½ fruit

Body Beast Portions (per serving)
1 starch
2 vegetable
1 fruit
1 fat

Turn Your Hobby and Passion Into a Business!

I am so excited to actually be turning my hobby and my passion into a thriving business. I actually own my own health and fitness company! I get so excited about waking up each day and working with my challengers, helping the people around me meet their goals and help them feel better about themselves! The cool thing is this, I started out as a Beachbody customer. Loving their workouts and recommending them to several people, I realized I could be doing what my up-line coach was doing, and make my hobby into a business! I help as many people as I can, at the same time, I am eating clean, staying accountable, and bringing in extra income to help get my husband retire. What a dream come true!

Yes I work hard, but I work for myself, on my own terms, when I want to, and I set my own goals based on my priorities and not someone else's. I answer to myself, my vision and my passion! I am in the best shape of my life, I am enjoying where I am- on the way to where I am going, I help others every single day and I wake up at home. I am so thankful to have this opportunity!

If you have ever considered helping others, making your hobby of fitness into a business, becoming a coach or even owning your own business, then I invite you to consider coaching! Whether you are interested in the 25% coaching discount or you are ready to be your own boss, or even somewhere in between... shoot me a private message for the details and I would be glad to share with you some more information!

I am part of the #1 Beachbody coaching team in the Beachbody company and my up-line coach (who is the #1 coach) runs an apprenticeship program that will take you step by step in learning how to become the best, and most successful coach you can be. I have a few spots left in my May 5th Life by design coach apprenticeship program! Is this your time to shine?

Application for Masterpiece in the Making

Setting Up for Success!

Lots of people are trying to eat better,... trim off some extra pounds gained over the holidays, or get beach-ready for a moment in the sun. Eating better is hard, and many people get frustrated, fall short or give up. Here are some key ways to make your eat better stick.

1. Set Goals: It starts by having clear and realistic goals. Write a list of things you want to change about your diet. Also incorporate goals that you may have regarding your body and plan your diet around those goals. I recommend setting present goals, short term, and long term goals. If you try and do everything all at once you can be overwhelmed and want to quit. Take it one goal at a time if need be, and one day at a time, this isn’t a race. You may also want to write reasons why you want to make a change in your eating habits. You might share your goals with others who will help you meet them. You can put your goals where others can see them “on the fridge, at work” to motivate you to work harder. This will also get others behind you and involved in your new routine. As you achieve your goals, check them off. This will give you a sense of accomplishment and add excitement leading to your next goal.

2. Have Realistic expectations- Any diet plan needs to work with you and not against you. You need to be realistic when setting up the parameters of your new diet. Your plan needs to work for you and your situation. It needs to fit your schedule and your budget. If you don’t follow your budget, your cooking costs will get too high and you will have to withdraw from the diet you set up. If you don’t cook for your schedule and your eating times you will find yourself without food and scrambling to find a healthy choice. So be realistic with time, and give yourself extra time to prepare food, or have food pre-packed. Also know that obstacles can and will come into your path from time to time to derail you and your progress, so don’t think that everything will be easy and will just happen. This takes work.

3. Be Proactive - Make a list of healthy foods you enjoy, and what foods you can take with you to work, in the car, school, etc. You can create entire menus revolving around where you will be at what time of the day. Never give yourself an excuse to not have something available for you to eat, no matter where you are when you are supposed to have a meal. Always keep healthy foods on hand. If you don’t you will probably eat whatever is available at the time whether it be fast food, office treats, etc. This can throw off a diet plan and get you in the habit of making bad food choices and eat whatever is fast and convenient. Know where you will be at what time of the day, when you are open to cook, to eat, to shop for groceries, and plan accordingly. When you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

4. Consistency is key - Most people respond well to consistency. Make a plan and stick to it. Try to eat at around the same times daily and keep to the same portion size and caloric intake.. Your body will recognize this pattern and in turn keep your metabolism burning and your energy levels will stay high. You will feel better, and get in a healthy routine. It is easy to sabotage yourself by grabbing nasty snacks to meet uncontrolled cravings. The time you spend on planning and consistency is a true investment that will benefit you for the rest of your life.

5. Be flexible - Of course, even the best plans fall short at times. Life can sometimes get the best of all of us. Sometimes your eating routines need to change. Where you can, try to plan ahead for these events and have items on hand you can take with you when you’re in a rush or are eating out. Example: Bag of almonds, protein bars and shakes, fresh fruit. Also educate yourself on nutrition through the internet, books, and magazines. You can use this knowledge to help you improvise and find foods that are compatible with your diet, for example if you are out with friends or stuck with no time to cook. Find items that are less time consuming that you can take with you in a pinch.

6. Don’t be so hard on yourself -Nobody is perfect all the time. If you mess up, miss a few meals, or even have a bad couple of days, just pick yourself up and get back on track. You’re doing this for you, and the added stress of not living up to your own expectations can lead to a total diet derailment. Being healthy and eating healthy does not mean you can’t enjoy foods not on your meal plan. So don’t be so hard on yourself. YOU CAN DO IT!

7. Stick with your plan - It takes time to develop healthy behaviors. After about a month of eating better consistently, you will have developed a habit. You will find that everything you initially may have had a hard time doing becomes more effortless and be a normal part of your day to day life.

8. Have fun - Eating right takes dedication, commitment and sacrifice. Don’t stress yourself out over small bumps in the road. You have the power to change any negative into a positive, and you have the choice to have a positive outlook regarding any situation you find yourself in. Find fun ways to keep yourself motivated. Get friends and family involved. Set challenges at home, with friends, or at work to start eating healthier. Take the time to cook and try new and interesting recipes. You are making change for the better, so why not make it enjoyable.

9. Give yourself praise - You are not a dog so don’t reward yourself with treats. Realize that changing your eating habits can be a daunting task for anyone. Just think how long you have had your current habits and know that changing those habits will not happen overnight, but with time. Congratulate yourself on any healthy changes you make, you deserve the praise. Praise builds confidence and makes you feel good about the healthy choices you are making, and in turn help keep you on your path to betterment.

10. Don’t rush into this - People always start with the best of intentions and will try and do everything at once. They get overwhelmed and quit before they really even started. Small changes add up and can make a huge difference. Work on one thing at a time and keep adding to it. Before you know it you will have many healthy habits that incorporate together to make a healthy lifestyle and a healthier and happier you.

11. Focus on the journey and not the destination - To live a healthy lifestyle is never easy. In order to enjoy this lifestyle with all the ups and downs, we must enjoy the process and the journey on the way to our destination. Once we hit our destination we immediately look to the next mountain top and we either want more, or worst case scenario we think that we have accomplished all we need to and we relax on all of the things that got us there in the first place. Take pride in small victories along the way, they add up.


12. Measure Success and Set New Goals: Making successful changes means measuring your progress towards your goals and recognizing your accomplishments. As you meet short-term goals, you can plan the next steps with more confidence. Constantly re-strategizing your goals takes long-term visualization. That long-term vision needs to be broken down into doable steps.




Now go out and make a difference in your life today!! Did you enjoy this article? Would you like to receive more support from me on a daily basis?! Ask me about my next challenge group! Together we can set goals and achieve them!!

P90X3 is so different then the original!

So I am on day 63, of the 90 days with the famous Tony Horton in P90X3! I love it! It is just enough time to get the burn just right and leave you feeling like you spent an hour in the gym! I will post by before and after pictures at 90 days! Follow my page for the updates.
The first week or so I was so focused on the moves I didnt realize how Tony is in this series. The original P90X I did not really enjoy, there was to many weights and it was way to long! I encourage you to try this one with an open mind, it is completely different! Besides, there is a money back guarantee...who can eat that?! Not amazon, E-bay, craigslist or any other entity that sells his products! So enter to join in on my next Challenge group, it is coming up quickly, May 19th 2014! Summer is only 60 days away!

Featuring 30-minute workouts that get you ripped fast, P90X3™ !

What is P90X3?

• An extreme workout program designed to burn fat, build lean muscle, and get you ripped in  30 minutes a day.

 • The latest creation by extreme fitness expert Tony Horton, who found a way to help people get  exceptional results with shorter workouts.

 • Explosive 30-minute routines that are packed with dynamic, high-intensity moves, designed for maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

Who is it for?

 • People who have a hard time keeping up with a workout program because their schedules are jam-packed.

 • Those who enjoy extreme workouts, but don't like to waste time even when they're not busy.

 • Men and women who simply enjoy shorter workouts that still get them in the best shape of their lives.

 • Fans of Tony Horton and other extreme Beachbody® programs like INSANITY®.

What do people love most about P90X3?

 • Major studies show that you get the most out of a workout within the first 30 minutes.

 • Even those people with incredibly tight schedules can always find 30 minutes a day to work out.

 • Most moves in this program can be modified, so literally anyone at any fitness level can do P90X3.

Exclusive! My customers will get a FREE Bonus Workout DVD, P90X ONE on ONE® "On One Leg."

It's an entire workout on only one leg! Just when you thought you had seen it all from the Master of Muscle

Confusion™, he comes at you hard with a little twist. A $19.95 value—FREE to my customers only!

21 Day Fix Grocery List

I can honestly say that I might be in love with the 21 day fix meal plan!  Well okay I will be totally honest I AM IN LOVE WITH THE ENTIRE PROCESS.  Lets face it, it's easy, its simple, its basically fool proof.  If you stick to the things on the list of approved foods and you keep it basic you can't go wrong.  Plus I really dislike counting calories so the fact that I can tally up my containers and check it off each day is much more my style.  Now 4 rounds into the fix I don't even use the containers anymore.  I can see very clearly what a proper portion size should look like on my plate.  My body really has a much better system of regulating my feelings of fullness and I truly do have energy. 

The thing that I really like is that it perfectly aligns with clean eating!  I still follow the exact same guide of having a protein an a complex carb at each meal. 

So I get asked questions all the time about what a grocery list should look like.  While I can't tell you to go out and buy EVERYTHING on this list, I am going to give you an idea of the general things that you are going to be using on a daily basis for the fix.  The quick reference guide below really helps as well.

Proteins (red)

So when you hit up the store stick to lean proteins like

Fish- Salmon & Tilapia

Fresh Chicken Breast

Turkey Breast

Eggs

Lean Ground Turkey

Pork Tenderloin

Flank Steak

Protein Powder

Veggie Burgers

In all conscience I stay away from red meat, processed lunch meats, turkey bacon and ham slices.  I know it's on the list but when it comes to clean eating and nutritional value the things I have listed above are much better options.  Turkey bacon, lunch meat, and ham all are higher in sodium and can cause you to retain water. 

Fruits (purple)

Apples

Pears

Berries like Strawberries, Blackberries, Raspberries

Oranges

Watermelon

Cantaloupe

Kiwi

I usually stayed away from bananas, mangos and grapes during the fix because they are still a good source of natural sugar but they also tend to be on the higher side.  So if I do have one of those I only do 1 per day.  As you get closer to your weight loss goal this becomes very important to shedding those last few pesky pounds.

Vegetables (green)

Green Beans

Celery

Asparagus

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Spinach

Peppers

Onions

Tomaos

Squash

cucumbers

Lettuce

I also typically do not eat carrots because they are also higher in sugar.  I stay away from corn as a vegetable and if I eat it then it goes into the starch category.

Complex Carbohydrates  (Yellow)

Brown Rice

Quinoa

Oatmeal (not instant in the packet) Rolled Instant Oats

Sweet Potatoes

Red Skin potatoes

Black Beans

Pinto Beans

Couscous

Ezekiel Bread

Whole Grain Tortillas

I know that on the complex carbohydrate list there are bagels, toast, pancakes, waffles and other breads.  But what I can say is this, from a nutritional standpoint even whole grain still turns to sugar in your stomach, it will not keep you full and offers little benefits.  Think of food as fuel.  Quinoa, sweet potatoes, Ezekiel bread are great sources of whole grains that are very natural and will give you fiber, fullness and nutrients where a waffle or piece of toast is more of a filler.  Again, you can pick and choose and yes it is allowed but its up to you to decide how you want your results to play out.

Blue

Healthy Fats and Cheese (blue)

Unsweetened Coconut

Raw Unsalted Almonds

Raw Unsalted Cashews

Hummus

Goat Cheese

Feta Cheese

Avocado

This is definitely a category that I used to go way over!  I used to eat hummus, almonds and cheese all in one day and it was totally killing my progress.  I actually eliminated cheese from my diet and saw that I was less bloated and more lean during that time.

List of other ingredients that I used frequently:

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Coconut Oil

All Natural Peanut Butter, only ingredients are peanuts and a little salt.

Almond Butter

Almond Milk if you want that for your Shakeology

Chia Seeds

Sea Salt

Pepper

Chili Powder

Onion Salt

Garlic Powder

Garlic

Seltzer Water- Love the Deer Park and La Croix if you have a hard time drinking water.

Green Tea

Honey

Greek Yogurt

Cinnamon

Slivered Almonds

If you would like more support in your 21 day fix journey or you would like to start your 21 day fix journey please complete the application below to be considered for my next 21 day fix accountability, support/challenge group!

Clean Chicken Wings

INGREDIENTS
Creamy Lemon Mixture:
2 dozen chicken wings
Spelt or Kamut flour for dredging
2 tablespoons paprika
Garlic powder
Sea Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Pinch red pepper flakes
Bay leaf
2 lemons, halved
10 roasted cloves garlic
1/4 cup chopped fresh oregano
1/4 cup light beer
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
PREPARATION:
Rinse the chicken wings in cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
Place flour in a shallow platter and season it by adding paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix well.
Dredge the wings in the flour – that means roll the wings around in the flour to coat every bit of them.
Heat oil in a skillet and brown the chicken wings on all sides.
Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside on a platter.
Add pepper flakes, bay leaf, lemons, garlic, oregano, beer and chicken broth to the pan.
Cook for 2 minutes to evaporate the alcohol.
Return the chicken wings to the pan.
Cover the pan and simmer for 15 minutes, or braise in a preheated 375 degree oven for 20 minutes until the wings are piping hot.
The wings will be spicy enough on their own thanks to the seasonings but if you want a dipping sauce use a homemade ketchup which can be seasoned the way you like.

(Recipe Credit: Tusca Renos)

Crispy Chicken Bites Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 10-15 minutes
Yield: 6 servings (20 to 25 nuggets)



INGREDIENTS
3 x 6-oz / 170-g boneless, skinless chicken breasts

¼ cup / 60 ml oat bran

¼ cup / 60 ml wheat germ

1 Tbsp / 15 ml coarsely ground flaxseed

¼ cup / 60 ml coarsely ground almonds

½ tsp / 2.5 ml sea salt


½ tsp / 2.5 ml white pepper


Pinch garlic powder


½ cup / 120 ml water or low-sodium chicken broth


1 large egg white, lightly beaten




HONEY MUSTARD SAUCE
1½ tsp / 7.5 ml honey

1 Tbsp / 15 ml Dijon mustard



PREPARATION:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F / 232°C. Prepare baking sheet by lining with parchment paper or coating lightly with extra virgin olive oil.
2. Cut chicken breasts into nugget-sized pieces, about 1½ inches square. Set aside.
3. Next, combine all dry ingredients in a large container with a tightly fitting lid. Shake well. This is your coating mixture.
4. Combine water and egg in a medium bowl. Dip each piece in the water-egg white mixture. Then dip each piece in the coating mixture. Make sure each piece is well coated.
5. Place on the baking sheet. When all of your chicken has been coated and your baking sheet is full, place in the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden.

Tosca’s Tip
Use the almond coating on larger strips of chicken breast to make chicken tenders for the adults!

(Credit: Tusca Renos)

Focus T25

What is FOCUS T25?

• In-home workouts designed to deliver an hour’s results in just 25 minutes a day.

• The latest creation by fitness expert and former track star Shaun T—who brought 

   the world INSANITY®. 

• Fast-paced routines that are jam-packed with dynamic, hi-intensity moves designed for maximum
  efficiency and effectiveness.

Who is Focus T25 for?
• Busy people who want to work out less time but still get great results.
• Those who enjoy a high-intensity, no-nonsense program that makes every minute count.
• Men and women who want to work out just 25 minutes a day to get in the best shape of their lives.

What do people love most about FOCUS T25?
• Even those people with incredibly tight schedules can always find 25 minutes a day to work out.
• Major studies have shown that 30 minutes of exercise can be just as effective at burning fat and
  even more efficient than 60 minutes of exercise.
• There’s always a modifier on screen, so literally anyone at any fitness level can GET IT DONE
   with FOCUS T25.

What should be done after completing the FOCUS T25 Base kit ALPHA and BETA Cycles?
• The Deluxe Kit GAMMA Cycle, which includes the next 4 weeks of FOCUS T25 workouts and
   advanced tools to help your customers get advanced results. Or, from the very start, you can combine
  GAMMA WITH BETA to ramp up your 10-week results!

If you are my customer you will get the FREE bonus workout Core Speed. You will push hard, burn fat, and get shredded in record time with this exclusive DVD. It is a $19.95 value—FREE to my customers

For the month of April there is a promotional price of $180.00, that is a $95.00 savings, only for the month of April. 30-day money-back guarantee of the purchase price less s&h.

There will be a challenge Group starting May 19th, 2014. Order and get into the group before your time runs out! See you slimmer in just a few weeks :D!

Click Here to watch the video about Focus T25

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! 

Shakeology

So I have been using Shakeology for 3 weeks and I am in heaven.  I have not had any craving for sugar and it has completely helped me stay on track with the 21 Day Fix that I started two weeks ago!  I also quit drinking coffee, after 20 years of being an avid coffee drinker!  I haven't had one head ache and I even went cold turkey! Plus, it taste amazing and I have been mixing it with water? I have never been able to mix my protein with water, yuck.  Anyways, it's a must have! 

Click this link to watch video and purchase Shakeology.

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).