Tropical Shakeology!

Tropical Shakeology Is HERE!!!!  
My shipment arrived on Saturday and I've since had a few opportunities to test it out!  I still am tweaking it to find out what recipe I like best (plus I've been out of Coconut Extract and didn't feel like driving to the store). But here's what I've tried (and liked best) so far.


Tropical Shakeology Smoothie
~ 2 cups water
~ Ice (at least one cup)
~ 1 scoop Tropical Shakeology
~ 1/2 banana
~ 3/4 cup frozen pineapple chunks
~ 4 frozen strawberries
Blend, blend, blend, blend, blend.....and this is what you get!

As soon as I buy some Coconut Extract, my next Shakeology meal will perhaps be:


Tropical Pina Colada
~ 2 cups water
~ 1 cup ice
~ 1 scoop Tropical Shakeology
~ 1 tsp Coconut Extract
~ 1 cup pineapple chunks (frozen or defrosted)


One more I would love to try is


Strawberry Lemonade
~ 2 cups water
~ 1 cup ice
~ 1 scoop Tropical Shakeology
~ juice from 1/2 lemon
~ 3/4 cup frozen strawberries


The tropical Shakeology is yummy, and very sweet!!!  This new flavor is 100% VEGAN and when you open the bag, it smells like fruit punch bubble gum.  The vegan protein source is raw sprouted brown rice and sacha inchi, and provides 15 g of protein per serving! Tropical Shakeology contains the same antioxidant/super-fruit blend, prebiotic and probiotic blend, digestive enzymes, the same phytonutrient/super-greens blend and adaptogen herb blend as well.  It also contains a fruit powder blend (strawberry, apple, banana, pineapple, and papaya) to give it its tropical flavor.  Tropical Shakeology provides:
Calories - 160 per serving
Protein - 15g
Fat - 1g
Sodium - 70mg
Carbohydrate - 20g
Dietary Fiber - 4g
Sugars - 10g
Cholesterol - 0   
Don't forget all of the benefits of replacing one meal a day with Shakeology.
~ Weight loss 
~ Improved digestion and regularity
~ Reduced cravings
~ More energy
~ Lowered cholesterol
~ Reduced risk for heart disease and other degenerative diseases
~ Improved mental clarity
~ Healthier skin, hair and nails
(Who doesn't want all that?!?)
Try it and see that 100% vegan nutrition is not only, DELICIOUS but truly is the healthiest meal of the day!!
~Cheers!!!

Sleep, it does a body GOOD!

This week is school break, which means VACATION!!!  No, my family isn't going anywhere exotic or exciting.  We've opted to just stay put in our cozy, wonderful home and relax the week away!  We're the type of people who go full speed, 900 miles per hour all the time.  This break couldn't have come at a better time!  I, for one am sooooo looking forward to sleeping, relaxing and resting!

My very first night of vacation, I slept a full 8 hours!  The second night, another full 8 hours!  It is a rarity for me to get that much sleep and I cannot even tell you how great I feel.  Combine that with a full weekend of sitting around doing very little, and I am a new woman!!!  We busy ladies (and mothers) often neglect ourselves, put ourselves LAST on our priority list and hesitate to give our bodies this most basic, precious human requirement - adequate sleep.  

Here are some benefits from getting proper sleep:


1.  Improves memory. 


2.  Live longer!


3.  Curbs inflammation.  Inflammation in the body has been linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, and premature aging.  Get your sleep and stay away from these awful side effects!


4.  Increase creativity.  You know how kids have the uncanny ability to come up with impromptu plays, little games or what have you?  They sleep A LOT (or at least my kids do).  Their brains are well-rested, therefore, the creative juices are flowing!


5.  Improve athletic performance.  No wonder I have been struggling with my workouts lately.  5-6 hours of sleep a night just isn't cutting it for this girl who needs 8+ hours to rock it out properly!  


6.  Improve grades.  No wonder my children are so smart! :-)


7.  Increase attention span.  For me, going through a day after getting a less than adequate night's sleep must be what it feels like to have AD/HD.  I have a very difficult time focusing and getting tasks completed.  


8.  Healthy weight.  Now here's the kicker!  We all want to be at a healthy weight, right?  Sleep the proper amount and it could be that much easier!


9.  Lower stress.  Duh.  I think we all know that.  A good night's sleep makes you feel calmer and less stressed.  That's a no-brainer.


10.  Avoid accidents.  


11.  Combat depression.  Raise your hand if you feel weepy and sad when you are chronically sleep deprived! 


Also (for me), when I get the proper amount of sleep, I feel happier, am a nicer person to be around (my family can attest to that), I feel like I can do anything, and the "Negative Nellies" disappear.  So pull those covers tightly up around your chin, close your eyes, snooze away......and don't feel guilty about those extra few hours of shut eye.


Happy Weekend!
Carrie 

Superbowl = Epic Diet Fail?

Survive the Big Game By Eating Clean!!!

When you look at the images above, what goes through your mind?  Looks good, right?  High fat, high calorie, typical game watching fare which is bound to set a focused, healthy eater off the rails.  I think - holy moly, that looks good, but it's gonna do a number on my waistline, my "life plan", and not to mention cause some next-day regret (and stomach pains).


Good news!  You CAN enjoy (what feels like) indulgent, high fat, high calorie snack food while enjoying the Big Game tomorrow!!!  Clean Eating Magazine posted some awesome cleaned up versions of typical game food.  I'm so excited to try them out!

The first recipe is for Skinny Skins - by preparing your potato skins this way, as opposed to the traditional, you save

285 calories!
29 grams of fat!
17.5 grams of saturated fat!
48 mg of Cholesterol!

Another one I cannot wait to try is Sweet and Crunchy Guacamole.  I heart guacamole, do you?  This clean recipe is vegetarian, gluten free, and easy to prepare!  

  
Finally, there's the Boneless BBQ Pork Strips.  What is it about men and meat?  I know I am not a huge fan of ribs and bbq sauce, but I know my husband would love this recipe.  

Preparing it this way saves:
100 Calories!
14.5 g of fat! 
6 g of sugar!
516 mg of sodium!


Think the Superbowl is just another excuse to drink tons of beer and eat high fat food?  Think again!  There is a way to clean up it's reputation, have a good time, eat yummy food and not feel awful (or terribly guilty) in the morning.  Here's a more complete  list of Clean Eating's Superbowl food.  


Enjoy the Game!!!
~Cheers