Memorial Day Fun and Recipes!!

For many of us Memorial Day is the official start of Summer, celebrated with BBQs, Picnics at the park, and parties by the pool!! This also usually means a pretty heavy spread when it comes to the food!! While this is all good in moderation keep in mind that it adds up quickly!! Typical BBQ food consists of hot dogs and burgers, potato salad (approx 180 cals), macaroni salad (approx 250 cals), baked beans (approx 140 cals), desserts and drinks!! Just in your sides ALONE you just consumed 570 calories...YIKES!!!! So let's not freak out...let's make a game plan for how you're going to get through the holiday weekend and stay on track!!

First of all sit down and list all of the events that you will be hosting or attending. This way you can see CLEARLY what you're working with! 

Even though it is a holiday weekend make sure you still get in your planned workouts. I know it's easy to want to give yourself a break but what good would that do? Start your day off right and give yourself that energy you'll need for all of the weekend's festivities!! If Sunday is your "rest" day, but you're heading to the park for a picnic or BBQ try a few of these playground workouts while you're playing with your kids, I promise they wont disappoint!! 

Luckily I have a pretty low-key weekend but I'm still sitting down and planning it out. Saturday night we will be grilling steak, asparagus and zucchini and for dessert we will be having strawberry banana creams. I have learned to season and prepare healthy foods that taste amazing so I feel good knowing that I'm not only feeding my guests food that is healthy but that is also tasty and full of flavor!! I also don't feel deprived by having to prepare one menu for everyone else and one that follows MY meal plan.

Sunday morning we have church then off to the grocery store for our weekly shopping and meal prep for the week. I will get up at 6am to do my workout and plan the meals for the week so I can get just what I need at the grocery store and nothing extra! If you don't keep tempting foods in the house then you can't eat them...just sayin ;) Once I get home from the store I will wash, chop and bag my snacks and meals for the week and batch cook my oats, eggs and meats. I'll most likely throw on some TurboFire Chili in the crock pot so I have dinner already done for Tuesday!!

Monday we don't have any real plans but I'm so excited to just lay out and RELAX!!! This year we'll be having grilled chicken and veggies and a yummy watermelon, mint and feta salad. Its so cool and refreshing!! I'll also have some chopped veggies and hummus to snack on since its a favorite of all and fruit infused water for dinner. This is something that I discovered last year and it's SO yummy!! It adds a little flavor and vitamins to your water with nothing artificial! but my main focus is to really spend time with my family!

Recipe and Pics from The Blond Cook

Ingredients

• (1) 7 pound (approximate) seedless watermelon, chilled
• 1 cup fresh chopped mint leaves
• 2 cups crumbled feta cheese
• 1/2 cup honey
• 2/3 cups lime juice
• 2 teaspoons sea salt

Instructions

1. Cut watermelon away from rind and chop into approximately 1 inch cubes. Remove any seeds, if any. Place in colander to drain while you're preparing dressing.
2. Whisk together honey, lime juice and sea salt for the dressing.
3. Gently stir watermelon chunks with mint and feta cheese.
4. Drizzle dressing over salad; gently stir to incorporate dressing

Ingredients:

2 Lemons

8 Strawberries

Water

Ice

Directions:

Slice lemons. Quarter strawberries. Add ingredients to pitcher with ice and water. Refrigerate for an hour. 

I also want to note that it is OK to have a sweet treat!  I firmly believe in the 80/20 rule.  80% of the time you want to stick to your healthy eating routine and then 20% of the time you can have what you would like within reason.  This boils down to one meal per week.  Not one entire day of indulging but one meal!!  Eat what you would like and do not feel guilty about it!  You earned it because of your hard work and you deserve to enjoy without reservation!!! I will be having my cheat on Monday! S'mores are one of my all time favorites and a family tradition I would like to have with my son, I'm SO excited!!

Here are a few other ideas you might enjoy for your holiday weekend gatherings!! 
Thai Shrimp Skewers, 
Clean eating BBQ sauce, 
Black Bean Burgers
Triple Berry Summer Salad
2 Ingredient Cookies
Creamy Santa Fe Chicken Salad Cups!

Have a happy, safe and blessed holiday weekend with your loved ones!!

For MORE recipes and other helpful tips friend me on Facebook and Pinterest!!

Memorial Day Weight Loss Challenge - 21 Day Fix Style

Ok ladies!! The weather is warming up, the shorts are in the stores and the bikinis are lining the racks!! Are YOU ready!?!?!? I know I'm not...4 weeks post partum and I have some  work to do!! But I need YOU...I need some MAJOR accountability if I want to see some pretty good results by Memorial Day and I want to help you get them too!!

I'm by no means an expert with this program but I have had a pretty great transformation last year and I'm ready to do it again. I feel very comfortable using the containers in a way that I can whip up a family friendly dinner of Chicken Fried Rice or Chicken Enchiladas so that we can keep the family happy AND keep ourselves on track! I PROMISE this is NOT going to be a boring meal plan!

I was going to wait to start my next group in May but then I realized that if we start April 27th (NEXT WEEK) that we will have AMAZING results by Memorial Day!! So what do you say? Lets kick off the Summer right and be able to enjoy some treats for the holiday weekend!!! Oh yah...I'll be giving you lots of recipes too so you can healthy, 21 Day Fix friendly option too!

BUT I'm ONLY taking 10 women to join me this round. I want to be able to check in with each and every person and have a small group vibe....so don't wait!!

So how do we get started???

If you're SERIOUSLY interested in joining me on this journey to lose 10-15 pounds in the next 21 Days then here are the requirements:

1.  You are required to have ME as your COACH through Team Beachbody.

 

2.  Then together WE pick a fitness program that fits your needs. Either the 21 Day Fix or 21 Day Fix Extreme

 3.  You are REQUIRED to replace 1 meal a day with Shakeology ONLY for the duration of the group. Once it is over you can decide if you have enough healthy recipes in your pocket to prepare meals without needing Shakeology or if you find it’s convenient and it takes care of 1 meal you can keep going!  Yes, 3 years later my husband and I drink Shakeology daily!

 4.  Then, it is required that you participate in the online closed group daily.  Each day I will share a tip, recipe, motivation or recipe.  We will address everything from emotional eating to staying on track during the holidays.    You check in, rate your day and get your inspiration for the next 24 hours.  We all keep each other accountable.  You can log in whenever you want. 

I will be there for you during the good times and the tough times!   My job is to see you through from start to finish and help you succeed at changing your lifestyle.  I will share with you the recipes that my family loves along with the quick easy recipes that don't take a lot of prep

We will start our plan and prep week on April 27th.  That means we will “clean house”!!   Set our goals, give you recipes, a meal plan outline and suggestions and together we will start working out the following MONDAY!

If you have any questions shoot them to me on Facebook

Fill out the application below to be considered for this group!

Meatloaf Cupcakes with Sweet Potato Frosting

My family LOVES meat and potatoes...I think I make meatloaf at least once a week but I was tired of the same ol', same ol' and decided to spice things up a bit! I didn't do much other than change the look of one of our favorite dishes, but something about the idea of having "cupcakes" for dinner made for some very clean plates and a very happy mommy. Last night wasn't a battle and I LIKE THAT!!! The best part is that it was still 21 Day Fix friendly and it took less than 30 minutes from fridge to table!! I hope your family enjoys it as much as mine does!!

Ingredients
* 1 pound lean ground turkey
* 1 egg
* 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
* 1/2 cup and 2 tbsp ketchup (separated)
*2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
* 1 large sweet potato
* Almond milk
 
Directions
(Preheat over to 350)
1. Combine turkey, egg, bread crumbs, 1/2 cup ketchup in a large bowl and mix well.
2. Divide meat mixture into 6 large balls and put in regular sized cupcake tin.
3. Mix 2 tbsp ketchup and 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce and top muffins equally
4. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees
5. While muffins are baking wash large sweet potato and poke several times with a fork. Microwave for 5 minutes, flip and microwave another 3-5 minutes until totally soft.  Peel potato and add some almond milk....I just eye balled it but put in about 2 tbsp at a time until soft. Blend with electric mixer.
6. When muffins are done, plate them and top with 1/6 of the potato and ENJOY!!!

Serving info:
1 serving is 1.5 muffins topped with sweet potato

Fix Containers
1.25 Red, 1.5 yellow

Mom's on a Mission Accountability Group

As a BUSY mom I know that making time for myself takes a little bit of effort and it's NOT always easy! We are pulled in a million different directions and the last thing we want to worry about is what we are eating, where we are going to find time to cook it and how to fit in our workout. I also know what it's like when you dont make time for those things and your find yourself wishing you had made some time to workout and eat healthy so that you could fit into a pair of those cute jeans or little dress for that special occasion or just feel comfortable without having to suck it in to get those pants on or the muffin tops spilling over! 

I know!  I remember vividly covering up with big baggy sweaters and sweat pants to try to hide it all. When we would gather for family pictures I was always looking for some niece or nephew to stick on my lap to hide the rolls. I get it!!  You’re tired! I've had a baby who hasn't slept through the night, I've had to get up early for work and I've had to attend a million other obligations. And for these very reasons I was hesitant to invest in a fitness program, especially Shakeology because I was afraid I wouldn't like it or that I wouldn't finish the program or even worse START. We had a new family, mortgage, car payments and bills so I didn't want to waste money that could be used on other things.  I know exactly how you feel!!  I took forever to try Shakeology!  I had never done a meal replacement shake so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.  However, I finally decided I had nothing to lose except maybe a few pounds....ok 50 pounds! But I knew if I didnt at least START I couldnt see results so I figured I’d give it 30 days and see what happens.

 

What did I do??  Well, I finally decided enough was enough.  I committed to TurboFire, drank Shakeology and learned about clean eating!  I lost 18 pounds and 12 inches in 3 months.  I have completely changed my life and my family’s lifestyle.  My husband has committed to the programs right along with me.  My son see’s the importance of exercise and even asks if he can do jumping jacks and burpees with us.  Yes, at 3 years old he completely recognizes what we are doing.  I love that we can be the role models of health and fitness for him.

To have this transformation has seriously been amazing and it has truly inspired me to pay it forward for moms just like YOU!  Regardless of how old you are or even if you have kids, I want to help you create a healthy lifestyle for you and your family.  I want you to lead by example and show others it can be done.  I am going to teach you how to plan healthy meals that are 30 minutes or less, make snacks that are healthy, tasty and will keep you full and to stay motivated for the next 60 days! My goal is to help you find a balance between treats and staying on track.  In the blink f an eye Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas will be knocking on our door!  Of course you want to enjoy the holidays and you CAN with the 80-20 rule.  That means 80% of the time you are on track and 20% you get to enjoy!  Together we will decide what is most important, what we are going to stick to and when we will allow ourselves to ENJOY!

  

This is a lifestyle change NOT a diet!  You can live a healthy life and still enjoy those special moments!

 I know this sounds AMAZING, so where do we go from here?? 

 Requirements:

 1.  You are required to have ME as your COACH through Team Beachbody.

 2.  Then together WE pick a fitness program through Team Beachbody that fits your needs, based on your fitness level.  Not to worry, I have something for you!

{21 day fix, T25, Chalean Extreme, P90X3, Turbofire, Insanity, Piyo, ect...}

 3.  You are REQUIRED to replace 1 meal a day with Shakeology ONLY for the duration of the group. Once it is over you can decide if you have enough healthy recipes in your pocket to prepare meals without needing Shakeology or if you find it’s convenient and it takes care of 1 meal you can keep going!  Yes, 3 years later my husband and I drink Shakeology daily!

 4.  Then, it is required that you participate in the online closed group daily.  Each day I will share a tip, recipe, motivation or recipe.  We will address everything from emotional eating to staying on track during the holidays.    You check in, rate your day and get your inspiration for the next 24 hours.  We all keep each other accountable.  You can log in whenever you want. 

We will be there for you during the good times and the tough times!   My job is to see you through from start to finish and help you succeed at changing your lifestyle.  I will share with you the recipes that my family loves along with the quick easy recipes that don't take a lot of prep

We will start our plan and prep week on October 20th.  That means we will “clean house”!!   Set our goals, give you recipes, a meal plan outline and suggestions and together we will start working out the following MONDAY!

14 Week BUMP-Date

Not too much to report this week. It's been pretty smooth sailing, I can't complain! We did have three days where we had different contractors coming for various products so it was SO important for me to get up and get my workouts in early. I cursed my alarm each morning at 5am but by 6am when I was done I was thanking my will power for kicking in. I didn't beat myself up for missing my workouts and it wasnt hanging over my head making me feel guilty all day.

We had one of our routine ultrasounds this week and it was SO exciting!! We got a clear shot of "Baby Olaf" (My son has temporarily named him ;) ), but we still have about a month to find out the gender of our little peanut! I refer to her as "she" because it just doesnt feel right to say "it" lol. She was pretty sleepy but when I would cough she would stretch her legs out and move her arms all around. I was truly in heaven all day and couldnt stop looking at her pics! We checked out the farmers market and enjoyed an AWESOME Quinoa Bake for dinner...Check it out here!

How Far Along? 14 weeks

Size of Baby: About the size of a lemon. About 3 1/2 inches and about 1.5 oz. 

Gender: We find out in about  weeks. I can't wait because this pregnancy has been so different I want to see if all the gender stereotypes are true!
Weight Gain: I have gained 5 pounds so far. I think...I try not to get obsessed with the scale as can easily happen but I like to make sure I'm keeping myself on track.

Maternity Clothes: Not yet but have been eyeing the box in the garage. I need to get it out to see what I have and what I need to get. I'm loving my maxi skirts for going out. Nice and stretchy and flowy :)

Nursery: Not sure yet, waiting to find out gender first. 

   

Movement: Not yet, doctor said around 16-20 weeks it should start. I'm very anxious for this!

Symptoms: This week I feel great! Nothing to complain about and energy is back, thank goodness!!

Sleep: Still sleeping on my stomach and I thank my lucky stars every night because this is the easiest way for me to fall asleep. PLUS we have massages later in the week and I SOOOO badly want to enjoy that

Cravings: Nope nothing this week. Continue to eat clean and I allow an occasional treat but for the most part try really hard to stay dedicated. Not only for it to be easier to lose the baby weight but I also feel that it is SO important to give the baby nutritious foods not bad foods. 

What I Miss: This week it has been my E&E for SURE!! I've been sticking to my 5am wake up call and its a lot harder to push through without it but no caffeine for Baby Olaf!!

Best Moment This Week:  Having a lot of fun with my son and just being in the moment. We got to bake brownies, we played a lot of games and puzzles and even made mud pies in the back yard. I know in the very near future we are going to have a new addition and I never want him to feel like he's being pushed out or replaced so I am trying to have as much quality 1:1 time as we can have each day. 

Looking forward to: Our 5 year anniversary trip later this week. My hubby and I are getting away for a couple days and I cant wait to relax, get a massage, eat at a "fancy dinner" that doesnt have a childrens menu and balloons!!! And just spend 1:1 quality time with him unplugged from everything else!

Plan for this week: This week I'll be switching things up a bit. With traveling to my parents early in the week and then our trip later in the week its easier for me to work out to T25. I may have to modify, I havent done this program in several weeks but its the easiest program to bring with us on the road without needing to bring weights etc. I'll also be following my meal plan and bringing as much healthy snacks/meals with us on our trip so I can really indulge for our anniversary dinner and not feel guilty for it!!

See you next week!!
XOXO

21 Day Fix - 3 Day Quick Fix with Meal Plan

As if the 21 Day Fix program isn't awesome enough on its own, they went and added a 3 Day Quick Fix at the end!! 

This 3 day quick fix is something you would use if maybe you want to drop a few pounds for an upcoming wedding. Maybe you want to make a splash at the beach this weekend. Or maybe you need a reboot to stop a few bad nutritional habits. This is not something you want to do for any longer than three days, but if done occasionally, it's a great way to lose a little weight fast.

You can definitely use this at any time as I mentioned above and also at the end of each round of the 21 Day Fix so you can get a boost on the results for the next round! It can be pretty challenging, so be ready for it. And don't worry! If this is too restrictive for you then skip it! You will still get AMAZING results just by following the program as it is designed!!

So here are the deets...

*Space your meals approximately two hours apart

*Steamed veggie options recommended are broccoli, asparagus, green beans, zucchini, cucumbers, or bell peppers

*Seasonings allowed are lemon and lime juice, vinegars, and spices. NO SALT!!

*Oatmeal can be flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg or ONE packet (1/2 tsp) of Stevia

*Drink at least one gallon of water a day. Spread it out as much as possible, starting with a glass when you first wake up. It will help you feel full while it flushes toxins from your system

*Drink the extra-virgin coconut oil with meals. To prepare it, place the desired amount into a microwave save bowl and zap it for 10 to 15 seconds

*Coffee or tea is okay to drink, but avoid creamers and sweeteners - except stevia. Again, you can use one packet or 1/2 teaspoon

*Again, no need to alter your workouts. The 3 Day Quick Fix can be used anytime. It is also recommended using it during the last three days - and ONLY THREE DAYS for maximum results!

Since I'm doing this with my hubby I cooked up a big batch of steel cut oats, chicken, turkey and veggies and we portioned them out into tupperware containers for each day. For this part of the program especially I feel its super important to get the meal prep done ahead of time. You may be feeling a little hungry, a little busy etc and just want to grab an apple or handful of crackers but this is GAME TIME!! It's SO important to stay on track....it's ONLY three days!

Here is the MEAL PLAN... there is no need to adjust your workouts - or the rest of your life, for that matter. Just follow this simple eating plan for three days by eating these foods, measuring them out using the corresponding containers. You will ONLY use the yellow, green and red containers for the next three days!

FEMALE
Meal 1  - .... Steel Cut Oatmeal (cooked) .... Egg whites (4)        * 1 tsp coconut oil    
Meal 2  - .... Steamed yams                     .... Grilled chicken

Meal 3 -  .... Steamed Veggies                 .... Steamed fish

Meal 4 -  .... Steamed Veggies                 .... Grilled chicken      * 1 tsp coconut oil  
Meal 5 -  .... Steamed Veggies                 .... Steamed fish          *1 tsp coconut oil

Meal 6 -  .... Steamed Veggies                 .... Ground xtra-lean turkey  *1 tsp coconut oil
MALE
Meal 1  - .... Steel Cut Oatmeal (cooked) .... Egg whites (4)        * 1 tsp coconut oil    
Meal 2  - .... Steamed yams                     .... Grilled chicken

Meal 3 -  .... Steamed Veggies                 .... .... Steamed fish

Meal 4 -  .... .... Steamed Veggies           .... Grilled chicken      * 1 tsp coconut oil  
Meal 5 -  .... Steamed Veggies                 .... .... Steamed fish   * 1 tsp coconut oil

Meal 6 -  .... Steamed Veggies                 .... Ground xtra-lean turkey  *1 tsp coconut oil
 

So we're officially off and running. This morning I weighed in at 149.5 and I'll keep you updated on my progress. Check back on Monday to see how we did!!

If you have any questions or would like more info on the 21 Day Fix program please don't hesitate to reach out and shoot me a friend request on Facebook!!

If this looks like something you're ready to jump in on I'd love to have you join us for our next 21 Day Fix Challenge group!! Fill out the application below :)