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

Shake Pops

SWEET TOOTH SATISFIED

True confession time:  I have a massive sweet tooth!  I love sweet treats of any kind....cupcakes, ice cream, cookies.....oh my.  But my biggest weakness?  CHOCOLATE!!!  Mmmmm, yummy!!!  Whenever I go to a restaurant and feel the need to order a dessert (chocolate or otherwise), no one better come near it.  I make it very clear to everyone around me that I do not share dessert!  If they want some, they better order their own!  When it arrives at the table, it's all mine.  Get your spitty fork away from my dessert, ya hear??  

So, with my rigorous exercise and nutrition regimen in place, and because I am working VERY hard to lose weight and be fit, there really is no room for decadent treats.  Woe is me.  Summer is my favorite time for "the bad stuff", too.  Good news, however.  I believe I may have come up with a solution to this problem.  Shake pops!!!  Recently, my awesome Beachbody Coach had mentioned that she wanted to try making Shakeology into frozen popsicles.   I decided to "borrow" the idea and give it a try.  How perfect would this be?  I decided to make one of my very favorite things in the whole wide world into a frozen dessert!

The first thing I had to do was head to the Dollar Tree and buy some popsicle molds.  These particular molds are teensy (probably only 2 ounces each pop), but they will do the trick (I'll just be able to eat more than one)!

Next, I made a blender full of Shakeology.  For this one, I did not use my usual Almond Milk, but opted for 1% milk instead (1/2 cup) - just in case my (nut allergic) child wanted to sample one.  In this case, I was willing to share.  I also used 1/2 cup of water.  For fruit, I added about 1/2 cup of frozen strawberries and 1/2 cup of frozen mixed fruit (to include peaches, mango, pineapple chunks and more strawberries) as well as 1 scoop of chocolate Shakeology.

Once blended, I poured the concoction into the popsicle molds.  There was plenty left over too, so I poured the excess into an ice cube tray.  One never knows when one might need to refresh a Shakeology with a frozen Shakeology cube!

Deliciousness in the making!

Next step, is of course, putting the lids on the molds and popping them into the freezer.

So colorful!

A few hours later, the treats were ready!  I was excited.  My assessment?  It tastes a little different than a traditional Shakeology shake (not as chocolaty), plus it's a little grainy (due to the water content).  I gotta honestly say, it's not a sugary, decadent treat, but it's okay.  It isn't a fudgesicle, an ice cream or a naughty frozen dessert, but it will definitely do the trick when sweet cravings overtake me and my self-control is nowhere in sight.  The beauty of Shakeology is that it contains so many awesome ingredients, and it helps to reduce cravings.  I will definitely be tweaking this recipe until it at the utmost of perfection and I will definitely be keeping my readers posted when perfection happens!   

Give it a try and let me know how yours turns out!


~Cheers!

Drinking the Green!

Happy St. Patty's Day one and all!!!  Everyone is Irish for the day today, right?  


This morning, I believe a little leprechaun showed up at my house, whispered in my ear and told me to get in the mood to have a Greenberry Shakeology.  Let me just say, I like Greenberry, but I LOVE Chocolate more.  In my opinion, Greenberry is more of an acquired taste and not my normal "go-to" flavor; however, I do enjoy it as a change of pace every now and then.  Greenberry has a fruity (and obviously berry) flavor, and when mixed properly is very delicious.  If you can get past the fact that you're drinking something green, you're good to go.   


So today, I am raising my glass of health and deliciousness in honor of St. Patrick, the Irish, and all things green!  

Mango-Nana Greenberry

1/2 cup frozen mango chunks

1 banana

1 cup water

1 cup ice (or more - to taste)

1 serving of Greenberry Shakeology

Blend for a few minutes in the blender!

Grab a glass, pour it in, and drink it!

~Don't forget your green straw!!!

Energy Dog!

About a month ago, I made the commitment to buckle down and start INSANITY over again from start to finish (having gone through the entire workout twice before, I was ready to push myself again).  For those of you who don't remember, INSANITY is a series of workout DVDs from Beachbody which you do in your home.  It's intensity is unmatched by anything I have ever tried before, guaranteeing you incredible results in a mere 60 days (using nothing for resistance but your own body weight).  It's awesome!  To keep myself motivated this time around, I joined an online group.  We all started INSANITY on the same day (1-31-11) and are there to support and encourage one another on our journey through this INSANE workout!!

Occasionally, people in the group have questions that pertain to other things besides the workout itself.  Last week, one of girls in the group had a question about energy bars.  She was looking for ideas for something in the 300 (or under) calorie range which tastes great.  Of course I recommended the P90X Peak Performance Protein Bars which I have mentioned previously; however my suggestion was overshadowed by a genius recipe suggestion by one of the other group members.  I've named it the Energy Dog.  It's delicious, nutritious and even humorous.  Who would've thought, a snack that delivers a punch line??  So thanks to Chris for your ingenuity.  Many of us in the group have tried and loved it and it deserves proper recognition.  So here it is,

The Energy Dog

It is soooo simple.  Take 1 slice of whole grain bread (try to use bread where there is no mention of sugar or high fructose corn syrup, or the words enriched or bleached in the first five ingredients).

Spread one tablespoon of natural peanut butter or other nut butter on the bread (as you can tell by the above photo, I used almond butter).



Peel a whole banana and place on the bread.  Roll up the bread to resemble a hot dog.  Chow down!!

Altogether, this meal/snack packs about 300 calories.  It's an energy powerhouse for sure.  

Bananas consist mostly of  (natural) sugar and are high in fiber making them ideal for an immediate and prolonged source of energy.  Bananas also are low on the glycemic index (do not have a negative impact on blood sugar) and contain antioxidants.  Bananas are extremely high in potassium (but low in sodium) making them perfect at reducing risk of high blood pressure and stroke.  Oh, and did you know that bananas can help with improving your mood?  Bananas contain tryptophan, an amino acid that can be converted to serotonin - which can lead to improved mood!  If the look of the snack doesn't cheer you up, the tryptophan will! 

Almonds also are full of fiber, protein, are rich in antioxidants and help to reduce blood pressure and blood sugar.  Studies show that although nuts are high in calories, nut lovers are less likely to be overweight than those who avoid nuts (perhaps due to the high protein and fiber content which lead to a sense of satiety).

Everyone knows that fruits and veggies contain antioxidants, but not everyone realizes that whole grains are also sources of these key nutrients.  Whole grains also reduce risk of heart disease, decrease cholesterol levels and blood pressure and help to regulate blood sugar.

So, all in all, the Energy Dog is a perfect, nutrient-packed, natural food solution to a quick snack or meal on the go!

Grab one today!!!

Mooooooove Over Feedlot Beef!

About a year ago, I watched the movie Food Inc..  If you haven't already done so, I highly recommend you watch it.  It's a "must see" for everyone who lives in this country.  Food Inc. is a documentary about our nation's food industry and how drastically the business of food production has changed in the last 50 years.  It also shows how our food supply is (surprisingly) controlled by only a small handful of very powerful corporations who (sadly) are putting the almighty buck ahead of our health and well being.  One large part of the movie is devoted to the disappearance of the quintessential American farmer.  It's actually very sad and shocking to see that most of our nation's small farms are a thing of the past.

After watching Food Inc., I sat back and reevaluated how I shop and what I eat.  I knew I needed to make a change.  You cannot watch Food Inc. and not be affected by it.  Yes, my family eats meat.  Yes, we purchased it from the grocery store.  Yet, we had no idea where it actually came from or what harmful steps may have gone into the process.  I decided I needed to be a more mindful consumer.  It seemed like a huge undertaking for me and I knew I couldn't change everything all at once.  These types of changes are best when taken in "baby steps".  Our diet already includes many organic choices, we read labels, and try to be more aware about what we put into our bodies.  I thought a wise next step for me, in this evolution was to change how I purchased beef. 

Our family eats red meat about once a week.  I was interested in finding a way to purchase beef in bulk, from a local source I felt comfortable with.  I needed this source to assure me it was practicing healthy and humane standards for animal growth and production.  Upon searching, I located a wonderful small farm near where I live.  I contacted the farmers, Paul and Tina Schmid at River Rock Farm about purchasing "bulk beef" for my freezer.  The farm has a small herd of Angus which were originally derived from a plantation in Maryland.  It's a farm that's been in operation for over 40 years.  They raise their herd under 100% organic conditions, feeding them a diet of 100% grass (no grains, no unhealthy antibiotics or hormones).  The animals are grown to their full size in the proper amount of time they need to get there - about 2 years.  I felt good about this choice and asked to be put on their customer list.  They even invited me to visit the farm to see where the animals happily "graze along the banks of the river".  I thought that was a nice touch, yet figured I'd wait for that introduction until it arrived in the little white paper-wrapped packages.

In November, I received my order.  It came frozen, cut, wrapped and labeled to my specifications.  It filled my chest freezer.  The beef I purchased is healthier than "grocery store beef" in that it (being from a grass fed animal) offers a higher amount of healthy fats and a lower amount of the unhealthy fats.  I certainly noticed it has a different taste, and it's one we've grown accustomed to and are thoroughly enjoying.  We are hoping it lasts at least through the summer.

As a consumer (and a human), I highly recommend you be more mindful of where your food comes from, how it is produced, and the steps that were taken to get that food to your table.  You may find some very surprising things along the way.  The shocking truths you may discover just might change your life forever.

~Always striving to live a Fit Full Life! 

Busy Busy!!

So, I try not to be a complainer or live in a negative way, but I'm going to let you in on a little secret.....I LOATHE the word "busy".  It just drives me bonkers.  "Busy" grates on my nerves like fingernails on a chalkboard.  When people say "I'm always so busy" or "I was too busy to (fill in the blank)" or especially "I have no time for that because my life is just so busy" it makes me want to scream!!  The last time I checked, we all have the same amount of time every day.  24 hours in one day.  168 hours in one week.  I understand there are people who have a lot going on.  Jobs, kids, activities, housework, family obligations, yadda, yadda.  What I fail to understand is why some people feel that their "busy" outweighs everyone else's "busy".  Why do some people use their "busy" as an excuse (as in "I am too busy to exercise" or "I am too busy to eat right")?  168 hours in a week (and how we use that time) is all about choice, not a scheduling issue.  Despite a full schedule, obligations, a seemingly endless list of "to dos", people have to be willing to make a choice - especially when it comes to making time for exercise, or properly planning nutritious food options.  Yes, it does take a little time.  Yes, it does take scheduling.  Yes, it does take effort.  If everyone would just be honest from the get go and drop the word "busy" from their vocabulary, I think I can live with that.  If people would just tell it straight (as in) "No, I don't exercise because I don't want to get up an extra hour earlier in the morning" or "I don't prefer to eat healthy options because I am too lazy to shop for or prepare it" at least it's straightforward honesty and no more bogus "too busy" excuses.    

If you are willing, ready and able to make the choice to open up your sechedule, my advice is to honestly look at the 168 hours you have in a week.  Figure out the amount of time you devote to everything you do in life: work, eat, sleep, play, family, miscellaneous tasks.  Be truly honest with yourself.  I am 100% sure there will be time left over somewhere in there to devote to a regular exercise program and the effort it takes to eat right.  The question remains, how much of that time are you willing to give yourself ?  If it means improving your health, your body, your outlook on everything, your life......aren't you worth that extra time?

Be honest with yourself and others.
Drop the word "busy" as an excuse for everything.
Start moving.
Start eating right.
Start LIVING!
  

A Healthy Snack or Occasional Meal on the Go

Trying to eat 5 small meals a day can sometimes be a challenge.  If you live a full life like me, you're not always home (or are lacking the energy) to prepare the requisite protein/complex carbohydrate/fat combination that a clean, healthy diet requires.  Normally, I wouldn't recommend a product that comes "from a box" as I prefer food in its most natural state.  (The more a food has been processed, the more I try to avoid it.)  However, let's be realistic, shall we?  We all want a simple solution, something easy, that's good for us, and that we can just quickly grab and go, am I right?  Besides Shakeology (which is one of my very favorite things in the whole wide world), another quick snack or occasional meal option would be the Peak Performance protein bars offered by Beachbody.  These bars were made in conjunction with fitness guru Tony Horton (of P90X fame) and it's been said that he was meticulous about getting it just right.  Good news too!  Beachbody has recently reformulated these bars to have less sugar, more natural ingredients and no trans fats.  Each bar contains around 260 calories and packs in over 20 grams of protein.  In my opinion, they taste much better than other performance/sport bars on the market. 

Order a box of these delicious bars today.  They will give you the nutrients and energy your body needs while delivering protein to help you gain the lean muscle you're looking for!!

~Cheers!