What's all this Paleo and Whole 30 talk about??

Whole 30 program

The Paleo Diet

Have you been hearing a lot about the Paleo and Whole 30 lifestyles lately? Well you are NOT alone!! While these concenpts and plans are not new, they seem to be making a HUGE comeback now...and you may ask but why NOW?? Well that's because so many people are focused less on calorie intake per day and more on eating wholesome clean foods!!!

Are you wondering if you should go Paleo? Here's a great video from team BeachBody to explain more!

So what do you think?? Is Paleo for you???

Here's a great Paleo recipe to get started!!!

Super-seeded Paleo nut bread

....So are you ready to get started??? if so, here's a great simple cheat sheet if! I will be updating and posting lots of great info along with recipes and tips, so stay tuned as I go on this journey too!!

Mason Jar salads: An easy and quick lunch or dinner!!...and all Fix approved!!

So I keep seeing posts and pins on how to make a mason jar salad and knew I needed to try this!!! I am busy all week with work and now that school is here, dinner is gonna be near to impossible to have an hour to cook since the minute I am off of work I will be running with the kids until bedtime!! So on Sundays I will do all my prep work then be ready for the week!! The only thing that i needed to cook was my chicken and corn, then i divided them into 5 containers for the week!! I found this recipe for marinades and spices for my chicken and it looks delicious!!

• lemon juice or vinegar (apple cider adds a fun flavor) and yellow mustard... add some garlic or onion powder, salt/pepper to your taste -- all those are freebies -- mix 'em up and throw it in a gallon size plastic bag with the chicken.
  
  suggestions/tips - stab chicken breast with a fork a few times to let the flavors soak in and don't let it marinade longer than hmm....12ish hours? If it sits in the acids too long, meat gets tough. Or put into the fridge and it could go maybe up to 24 hours before it gets tough.
  
  to cook: spray your oven safe dish with the cooking spray, empty the bag into the dish, cook at 350 until an oven thermometer registers an internal temp of 165.

This will be the perfect grab and go meal for lunch or dinner all week!! 

I got my mason jar salad containers at Target, bit Walmart and Michael's also has them.  This big pack was only $9.99!!

Now i can make 5 and be prepared for the week! 

Now how to stack the salad! It's best to pile on with the dressing on the bottom if you wish to add a Fix dressing..otherwise you can premake a dressing and then add that in at the end..using your orange Fix container :)

Here is one of my favorite Fix dressings!!

Here is how i prepared my mason jar salads with ingredients listed in the order they were added to the jar:

• Dressing first (1 orange)
• Corn (1 Yellow)
• Garbanzo beans (1/2 yellow-only in 1/2 the jars)
• Almonds (1/2 Blue)
• Chicken, cooked and cut up (1 Red)
• Feta Cheese (1/2 Blue)
• Spinach/Greens (1 Green)
• Salad dressing, in separate container if not added in on the bottom (1 Orange) 

Here is my finished product!! This looks amazing and I am super pumped about this for the week!!

Once again this shows that a little bit of planning gets you far!!!

I am just super excited that I will just be grabbing and going for the week! Double win:)

Day 17 of August Tidbits and end of Summer vacay recap!!

Wow what a great relaxing week in sunny Palm Beach!! I did all the things that i wanted to do which were:

1. Relax

2. Read a book

3. Sit by the pool/beach

4. Have no worries!

Now doesn't that sound so un-like me though?! So how was my exercise/eating while on vacay I am sure you want to know! Well I was sure to start everyday with the healthiest meal of the day: Shakeology!! I brought my portable mixer and it was 1,2,3! Ahh those beautiful mornings oceanside!! How fast you start to take advantage of its beauty after a week in!!

I also made sure to get in SOME workouts while here, but really i was exercising everyday by being active in the pool and ocean!! I wanted to make sure and stay on track but to also give myself much need R and R!

  

Oh and i didn't go anywhere without my fave T25 shirt! I have to say this top always gets me the most conversation started!!

Now: biggest challenge for me while on vacation...How was my eating?? Well i made sure to stay as close to my Fix plan as I could! Which means on top of my AM ShakeO i always had either a big salad for lunch or dinner! I had the most unbelieveable summer Salmon salad in Lake Worth!! In fact, i had salmon more this week than i have had all summer! Blackened salmon with fresh fruits and vegetables is absolutely the best!!! 

I will be making this at home for sure:)

Another great thing about vacay is the no-rushing of everyday life!! Since we start full-blown school and sports mode next week everyone needs some downtime!! The mind and body need rest! I gave up my 5am wake-ups for a week and i welcomed it greatly!! Me and the hubby did couples massages and it was great to have an 11-year old middle schooler that can actually "baby-sit" for an hour now!! Things are looking better while on vacay compared to the "baby" days:)

One lesson we all learned though: August in Florida is wicked HOT!! You can't really lay out and NOT be in the water! Oh and there is rain-and Heavy rain- every day in the afternoon! Unfortunately we experienced this our last two nights so we missed out on a huge family pic..but we did grab some beach-side pics on our last morning:) the mornings here are just breath-taking! Look at these munchkins!:)

I LOVED our family pic!! But most of all- i LOVED that after having three kids i was up close and front in a bikini pic!!! How many moms can say that?? I work really hard every day making the best healthy choices along with 30-minutes of exercise-that's all it takes!! And i believe that all women are beautiful- no matter our shapes or sizes! I am teaching my girls that being strong and healthy is how we all should be!!! This strength comes from within!!! As moms, all we really need to achieve amazing results is to eat clean, whole core foods with treats occasionally of course :) along with 30-60 minutes of daily exercise! And most of all to learn and LOVE your body and YOUR self first!! I have so much more energy now then I did when i was 40 pounds heavier and I am truly so much happier!! There is no magic number, pill or potion...it just comes down to commitment and dedication and you will SUCCEED!

So I am onto my last week of PiYo: Week 8! Back to eating at home, dinners (sort-of), insane nights and homework and more homework! But after this week i realized we are ready for a fresh start! We are renewed and ready for a new school year!! Bring  it on :) until our next vacay..how many days LOL??

Here's a great collection of crockpot recipes to kick off the new school year! I love new beginnings!! 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/455708056017805232/

Oh and hooow good is it to be back home...here's to a new week!!

And last but not least....day 17 of August tidbits! enjoy :)

Announcing...Mom's Biggest Loser Challenge!!! Starts Sept. 2nd!!!!!

It's time mama's!!!! Summer is quickly coming to an END and that means it's time to get our LIVES back!!!! Our kitchen's, our homes, our TIME!!! What better way to kick off the kid's back to school then with a mom's biggest loser challenge!!!! This one is gonna be good!!! You pick the program, make me your personal coach and COMMIT to succeeding and losing that extra summer weight!!!!

What IS all involved with the Mom's Biggest Loser Challenge?
Starting Sept. 2nd, YOU commit to a whole month of exercise and PROPER nutrition!!! The best part is, YOU pick the plan!!

You commit to staying on track health-wise for a month and myself and 4 other BeachBody coaches will commit to keeping you motivated and supported with clean eating recipes and meal plans.  You can join while doing T25, 21 Day Fix, 3-Day Refresh kick-off, PiYo, Shakeology Challenge or Clean Eating Challenge with exercise a minimum of 4 days a week. You got the kids back in school, now get yourself back on track. So grab a friend or workout buddy and join TODAY. These challenge groups ARE THE MOST effective and GREAT way to stay accountable!!! They are a lot of fun and motivating. Oh and did I mention that it's all FREE?

 To be included in this Biggest Loser Challenge you will need to first complete these 3 steps:
 1. Join and register assigning me as your personal coach to you: it's FREE!
 2. Fill out my Getting to Know you Survey,
 3. Pick your workout/eating plan!!
 4. Once all the above steps are complete, I will add you into my closed FB group!

Here is the first step: Assign ME as your personal coach! Its FREE and takes a second:
Join HERE!!!

Here is the link for Step 2:
Getting to Know you survey!!

Step 3: Once the above two are complete, please post Done and I will add you in!!!!

Please share to all :)
The more the merrier!
And follow me on Blogspot, Facebook and Instagram!!!

And my BeachBody website for great info on ALL of our amazing products!!
CLICK HERE:

Staying on track while on vacation!!

So we are headed on our last family vacation for the summer to sunny Florida!! Which means lots and lots of tempting foods and drinks, and also the temptation to really sit and DO nothing!! Sounds like a true vacation right?? well for me, weeks like this can be a MAJOR setback!! If I don't stay on track I will come back 5-10 pounds higher, and that is NO LIE!! It HAS happened!! So what is my key and goal for this week: PLANNING!!!

Being prepared is your biggest key to stay on track!! This won't mean that i will be neglecting myself or suffering, NOT AT ALL!! what this means is MODERATION!! That means still exercising every day (and taking advantage of NOT being rushed) and running on the beach, and following my Fix eating plan as closely as I can, though of course still allowing myself some much needed ice cream!!

Here is an idea of my Fix menu and what I plan on eating this week!

21 Day Fix weekly menu

What I LOVE most about this program though is that it is so do-able while on vacay!!! It's not a diet, so you are not feeling like you are starving or neglecting yourself!! This plan is eating wholesome, core foods, not over processed junk!!!

The first thing I do when i get in is hit a foodstore!! We have a kitchen which makes it so much easier!!! I also pre-bought 24 Quest bars so I have these while at the pool and also for the plane rides, or when you get off the plane and are famished :) I may be a little weird with my foods, but nothing is worse then being starving and having nowhere to eat!! That leads to one thing: DISASTER!!

My plan is to eat breakfast and lunch in our condo, then do dinners out!!I love Florida dining out! it's so carefree and FUN!! I am hoping to eat lots of fresh fish and salad :) ahh and wine!!

Here are some great breakfast ideas while on vacay also!

Here are some great snacks while at the pool:

READ HERE: 11 healthy snacks at the pool!

I cannot wait to relax on the beach, swim and read some GREAT BOOKS, like this one!! I am really more and more convinced that so much disease AND OBESITY can be prevented if we JUST eat clean, and better!! :

For more information on this unbelievable program and how you can achieve results like mine:

 CLICK HERE

I am so thankful to God for the gift of family, health and the opportunity to have a family vacation!!! I try and live by this motto every day because every day truly is a gift!!

Getting ready for back to school!! The importance of good nutrition :)

School is almost here, WE GOT THIS MOMS :)

With school about to begin in just two weeks (insert BIG smile), I always get into the planning mode this time of the year!!! I like finding new and healthy ways to get my kids the veggies and fruits that they need without all the processed, added sugary crap that THEY want!!!
I came across some ideas on Pinterest today and wanted to share!!

This one I LOVE!!! My kids LOVE to pick and choose their own things, whether its clothes or foods! This chart is great because the child can pick and choose! FABtastic idea :)

Great lunch ideas!!!

Our bodies need healthy wholesome foods!!!

Now I know, I know, the first things you are saying is: My kids wont eat anything healthy like that!!

Well first, let's ask Why Not?

Is it because:

1. You are NOT eating it? If so then bad-bad you, we all need our whole core foods to make this machine (our body) work right!! Seeing is believing and your kids will only mimic what they see YOU doing!!! So bust out the fruits and veggies and EAT THEM!!
2. They don't taste good?? Well I beg to differ!!! Fruits are FULL of natural sugar and taste FANTASTIC!! But if you have your child choose fruit snacks over a whole, fresh fruit the child will naturally pick the fruit snacks because of something called: Marketing :) Think about it: How many commercials about apples and pears are out there!!!
3. Now onto veggies...the common negative food for all!!! I like to start with the more sweeter veggies: carrots, sweet peas, sweet potatoes (hence see the sweet in all of them)..then we go to salads and so on...the vegetable should be the staple of each meal, NOT the heavy starchy carbs!!! With childhood obesity at an all-time high, our kids are suffering!! We nourished them for 9 months in the womb, but why are we feeding them crap outside the womb??
4. Lastly, get the JUNK out of the house!!! The kids are the same as you!!! if you know cookies are a trigger food for you, it's no different than how your child feels!! So GET IT OUT!! out of site, out of mind!! And listen, they may pout and complain and complain and cry..WHO CARES!! Who is the parent on this one?? No one will go hungry, trust me!!! If they don't want to eat, then don't, suit yourself..trust me that will only last so long :)

Proper portion servings at meals :)

Here are some of my favorite staple good foods that I love to give my kiddos for lunches also:

• Carrots
• String cheese
• Sliced pepper strips
• Skinny popcorn
• natural applesauce
• oranges
• apples
• all berries
• whole wheat crackers

The list could go on and on!! This is NOT to say that we only eat like this..that is NOT what I am saying at all...it's like everything else in life..a healthy balance of it all...

Feed your kids like you feed yourself, or wish you ate :), and everyone in the home will succeed :)

Week 6 on PiYo and week 2 on the Fix eating!!

Week 6 is Done!!

I cannot believe I am onto week 7! Two more weeks and my 8 week PiYo initial launch is complete!! But I don't want this program to end!!! My core strength is off the charts..I seriously may be able to hold a plank for 10 minutes now..hmm sounds like a challenge LOL!

 Here's my week in review :)

Never miss a Monday!
I love this motto!! I love waking up bright and early and getting my workout in before everyone else in the house is awake!! Monday it was PiYo Drench time!! But I had prior commitments this morning and knew I would NOT fit my workout in until the evening!! All day i wanted to do it, but due to work I knew there was no squeezing it in!!! Ahh relief though when it finally came to my PiYo time :) It truly is my ME-time!!

Week 2 My Daily exercise schedule:
Mon: PiYo Drench

Tues: rest day

Weds: hardcore on the floor

Thurs: Buns

Friday: i doubled! 21 Day Fix Total Body Cardio Fix and PiYo Sculpt

Sat: switched PiYo for a 4-mile run and then 25 mins . of Fix Flat Abs

 

Here was my menu for the week:

Here's a GREAT clean treat!!

Coconut Cream Larabars

15 Medjool Dates
1/2 cup almonds
1/2 cup cashews
3/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
2 T coconut oil
2 T water

Mix the almonds, coconut and cashews in the food processor until fine. Then add the dates, oil and water and pulse until a dough forms. Line an 8X8 pan with parchment paper leaving enough room for some to come out the sides. That way, the bars will be easy to remove and cut with a pizza cutter. Press down the down so that it is packed well and place in the fridge to set. It will take an hour or two. Slice and eat. These should keep in the fridge for a couple weeks.

Here's my usual go-to AM treat! Fills me up until lunch! And i need that because i do NOT ever want to feel hungry!! For this recipe, I use one scoop of Strawberry Shakeo..1/2 frozen banana...8oz water ..and 8oz ice! I mix it all up in my Nutri-Bullet and voila!! Love it!!

I have to say to pick a favorite PiYo workout is hard! I just love them all! I love the music.I love the strength..i love the stretch! Here is one of my faves though..PiYo Sculpt: PiYo Sculpt uses so much Legs and Core strength..it's amazing!

So that brings us to Sunday!! I found this yummy Shakeology chocolate pancakes recipe!! This sounds like a great weekend treat!

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10154479622520182&substory_index=0&id=191306845181

Combine them with these loaded egg white muffins and you are all set to go!!

http://pinterest.com/pin/395331673513986228/

Here is also a great recipe I found for a healthy pizza!! Enjoy:)

http://instagram.com/p/riYpgJyixu/

Have a great week all!

No Excuses: PiYo week #5 and 21 day Fix week in review :)

Monday July 8, 2014-Sunday August 3, 2014:  

Week in Review!!!

I love Sundays!!! I love Sundays because it's a day to regroup and start fresh for the upcoming week! A little bit of prep work goes a long way when you are planning on succeeding for the week ahead!  I don't believe in excuses...anything is possible when you put your mind to it!

This past week with food and workouts went great, except for yesterday when we were at parties all day!! Another week in the books and now we are here in August already!!! It's just so crazy how fast the summer has gone!! PiYo is going great and in addition my gals needed a little 21 Fix day refresh :) so we kicked off our final summer challenge!!  My second round of the 7-day Clean Eating Challenge also kicked off this past Weds. and is well under way!!!

Our 7-Day Clean eating challenge is filled with a week of menus, lots of great recipes, support and accountability and we LOVE it!!!! Join me twice a month to be included in our closed FB Clean eating challenge for 7 days and see how great you feel, inbox me for more details!!

Here was my workout schedule this past week:

It worked out great and I took 2 rest days:

Monday: PiYo Sculpt

Tuesday: Rest Day

Weds:  PiYo Sweat

Thurs.:  Piyo Drench

Friday: Off

Sat:  PiYo Buns (love this one) and 21 DF Dirty 30 (again LOVE this killer workout)

Sun:  PiYo Strength Intervals (21 minutes of hell, lol) and 21 Day FIX Lower Fix (30 mins of leg hell)!!

So I am off to week 6, I cannot believe it!!!! This time has gone so fast and I seriously cannot believe all the strength I have gained from PiyO!!! TRULY THE BEST WAY TO SCULPT our bodies is from our OWN bodies and I 100% agree this!! Check out my awesome muscles!!!

Here is a GREAT clean breakfast recipe for Blueberry Muffins submitted by my good friend Renee this week..I tried it this AM and absolutely loved it!!:

1/4 c oats
1 egg
Handful of blueberries...
Dash of cinnamon
Splash of milk for moisture
Can add 1tsp of brown sugar (I omit)
Microwave in a mug for about 2 min.

Quick Blueberry Muffin

For more info on how to join me and others in our PiYo journey: CLICK HERE

Have a great week y'all!!! And remember: