Today is tuesday and I’m writing for tomorrows blog. I had to write and complain about my workout. I did my treadmill workout since Tuesday is my cardio day. So, I start with  5min warm up at level 3(walk) then ran at level 5 and each minute increasing the speed by one for 22min….27 minutes into workout so then I walked for 3 min.

Now, the real work begins….time to sweat!!! I pick up the pace into a sprint burning more stored fat (have plenty of that!)

At 30 min, I sprinted for 1min, then walked 1 min… I mean really sprinting!!! Kicking my butt literally, I was running so hard my heels were kicking my butt.  So, I remember I hit 43 min and time for my walk and I was suppose to sprint again at 44min. but I was so fatigued that I walked another minute. I was really feeling it today. Sweating bullets and wondering if maybe I still wasn’t up to doing the full 20 minutes of sprints??? I could just quit now, I did my 45 min. workout but, I didn’t. I pushed through it and made it to the 50 min. mark. Legs trembling and drenched in sweat but, oh so happy I stuck it out. Then, I did my Pilates legs routine….working inner and outer thighsJ but by then, I was ready to hit the floor.

Recouped with a swiss chard roll filled with shrimp, cauliflower, asparagus, feta and a little olive oil

Drinking lots of lemon, ginger water today because here’s the thing…. Think of your body’s stored fat like cold bacon grease. Once you heat it up by burning calories you have to have enough water or liquids to flush it out otherwise, the fat will cool down and stay put. You need to push the toxins out of your body through hydration.

Tonight for me is zero calorie noodles with a vegan pesto sauce and shrimp. (and lots of veggies)

I feel good though. Until tomorrow!!!

                                                                     Wednesday

Kids were off of school again “snow day”…Now I’m ready for spring.

Here's what we do on our snow days:

                   Thursday

Today’s workout: Cardio~ a great spin class. A new instructor and great friends!!

Then some great ab work.

Workouts are getting a little easier….I mean it’s getting easier for me to breatheJ

Madison doing the plank:) That's mammas girl!!

Enjoy your Thursday and Tomorrow is Friday!!!

Updated Recipes

Good Monday morning! It is absolutely beautiful out this morning.

I have made a few updates to my recipe section.

I will be posting our dinners for the week, snacks…. some great breakfast foods. I hope you take the time to check them out!! Some great stuffJ

Today workouts:

Cardio ~ I did hills this morning on the treadmill

Strength ~ I worked inner/outer legs with back/ bi’s

Teaching a mega Pilates class (to include, body weight and weights)

I hope to post a more active workout schedule to follow.

Now getting ready to have breakfast with one of my favorite little men “Luke”!

Enjoy your day everyoneJ

Bionutrient Food Informational talk & health benefits of garlic and cauliflower 2/20/13

Good Wednesday morning. Last night my husband and I had the best “Date Night” ever. We went to an informational talk on how to Increase the Nutritional Quality in your home grown food. The best hour out we’ve had in a long time.

The speaker (Dan Kittredge, executive director of the Bionutrient Food Association) was very informative, knowledgeable, and very convincing!

The Main highlights of the night were:

·        Focusing on the higher nutritional value of foods grown rather than the quality

·        Start with the soil (nutrient dense soil produces nutrient dense foods)

·        Sickly looking plants produces sickly and inedible foods

·        Even when shopping local farmers markets, look for colorful foods, healthy looking produce, leaves, stems.

·        Getting the most nutrients out of our foods to prevent diseases and to sustain a healthy vigor life!!!!

So, I’m still trying rid my body of my sinus infection: Upped my consumption of raw garlic. I just added freshly grated raw garlic into my olive oil salad dressing to put on my salad and fresh veggies (my lunch)

Also, added cauliflower into our meals for all its health benefits. I have the websites down below for you to check out.

GARLIC:

http://zeenews.india.com/news/health/healthy-eating/explore-the-health-benefits-of-

garlic_20296.html

CAULIFLOWER:

http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/8-health-benefits-of-cauliflower.html

For dinner I made a wonderful egg bake:

Eggs mixed with black beans, can tomatoes, sauté onion, asparagus, spinach then mix all together and pour into a glass baking dish over a bed of “riced” cauliflower and bake  at 350 for about 40 min. or until eggs start to brown.

          Yesterday’s                                         Today’s

Workout for the day!!!                              Workout

Ran 30 min on the treadmill.                    Interval training: sprinting

Weights for back and bi’s                        Plyo’s and heavier weights

Ending with a great stretch.                   Some pilates/yoga core stretching fusion

Enjoy your Wednesday everyone!

PRESIDENTS DAY 2/18/13

HAPPY PRESIDENT'S DAY!!!

Ok, ok, ok….I am still alive. LOL!! I found out that I had a sinus infection then, the antibiotics the Dr. gave me caused an allergic reactionL so, I am still recovering unfortunately…. Lots and lots of yoga, rest and relaxation. I am dying to run again, I even bought new shoes!!! Now, I just need to get better. Ughh!!

I hope all of my friends, family and viewers are in good health. I never thought this would happen to me since I am so healthy otherwise.

I don’t eat dairy (if I do, it’s not from cows, ie… sheep or goat) I eat right, and exercise and get lots of rest.

Tonight we had my cauliflower crust pizza with a tomato base “Cauliflower Rice” . Yum!!

The kids are off this week so, we are busy, busy!!!

Today was “Mall Day”

Tomorrow is “Movie Day”

Wednesday/Thursday is “Hang out with friends day”

Friday we are leaving for the weekendJ



Blizzard 2013 "Cauliflower Pizza Crust" 2/9/13

Well we made it through the storm. Here's a look back over the past 24 hr.

We ate:

Blueberry Muffins
½ cup coconut flour, sifted
½ teaspoon celtic sea salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
6 eggs
⅓ cup agave nectar
⅓ cup grapeseed oil  *** I used coconut oil
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen

1. In a small bowl, combine coconut flour, salt and baking soda
2. In a large bowl, combine eggs, agave, grapeseed oil and vanilla and blend well with a hand blender
3. Mix dry ingredients into wet, blending with a hand mixer
4. Gently fold in blueberries
5. Place batter into a paper lined 12 cup muffin pan
6. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes
7. Cool and serve

Makes 12 muffins

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

Serves 2; Adapted from Your Lighter Side.

Ingredients:

1 cup cooked, riced cauliflower
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp crushed garlic
1/2 tsp garlic salt
olive oil (optional)
pizza sauce, shredded cheese and your choice of toppings*

Directions:

To "Rice" the Cauliflower:
Take 1 large head of fresh cauliflower, remove stems and leaves, and chop the florets into chunks. Add to food processor and pulse until it looks like grain. Do not over-do pulse or you will puree it. (If you don't have a food processor, you can grate the whole head with a cheese grater). Place the riced cauliflower into a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 8 minutes (some microwaves are more powerful than others, so you may need to reduce this cooking time). There is no need to add water, as the natural moisture in the cauliflower is enough to cook itself.
One large head should produce approximately 3 cups of riced cauliflower. The remainder can be used to make additional pizza crusts immediately, or can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.
To Make the Pizza Crust:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup cauliflower, egg and mozzarella. Add oregano, crushed garlic and garlic salt, stir. Transfer to the cookie sheet, and using your hands, pat out into a 9" round. Optional: Brush olive oil over top of mixture to help with browning.
Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes.
Remove from oven. To the crust, add sauce, toppings and cheese. Place under a broiler at high heat just until cheese is melted (approximately 3-4 minutes).
Enjoy!
*Note that toppings need to be precooked since you are only broiling for a few minutes.

We prepared:

We played, relaxed and worked out

Luke relaxing and reading:)

Madi getting a little run in:)

Luke in the snow playing!

Thunder helping rob clean off the deck....had our driveway plowed:)!

And now the clean up....

Ok Enjoy the weekend everyone. Looking forward to next week!!

slow and heavy 2/7/13

This morning I have been planning and preparing for the major storm coming!!! Somewhere around 18+ inches of snow, where do I begin?

·        Food (check)

·        Back up heat & electric (check)

·        Books (check)

·        Family time…..priceless!!!

Today’s workout is continuing my slow and heavy to help recover and rebuild my immunity. Back/Bi’s and back of legs(hamstrings)

Tomorrow weather permitting is my busy, busy day of classes. Then, waiting for the storm.

Menu: Not too exciting for me this week.

Breakfast: same greek yogurt with pineapples, walnuts, cinnamon & agave.

Lunch: ??? either leftover hummus, soup or salad

Dinner: leftover dinner from last night which is a basil/cauliflower pesto sauce over roasted veggies.

Friday is Pizza nightJ

Then, I’m thinking of making chili for the weekend!

Ok, Enjoy your weekend everyone!!!

**I will post pictures of our storm**

Health benefits of Pineapples 2/5/13

Good Tuesday morning!!! Today is my first day of getting back into the routine after my upper respiratory infection. So, I am starting out light….doing housework as my cardio (up and down the stairs, vacuuming, mopping, scrubbing, etc) and then doing some slow heavy weights(chest/tris and legs) working the bigger muscles. My goal is to rebuild, repair, and recover….not to over do, over stress and over work my immune system.

1^st )  my immunity building breakfast: plain greek yogurt with pineapples, nuts and cinnamon and a berry smoothie…

·        We all know the wonderful health benefits of greek yogurt; great gut flora, (probiotics) higher protein, calcium.

·        Pineapples contain bromelain which helps to thin mucus secretion. Also, pineapples help breathing in general by thinning the blood and therefore; improving circulation. And a great immunity builder. Pineapples are also a great anti-inflammatory!

·        Walnuts…well what can I say! They taste great and have omega 3.

·        My berry smoothie is made with silken tofu(or greek yogurt), almond milk, frozen strawberries, blueberries, a banana, spinach, flaxseed, vanilla extract and cinnamon. Blend and enjoy!!

***So look at all those healthy foods to help build and recoverJ

Lunch will be some sort of soup. I need something warm

Dinner- spinach avocado salad with a vegan pesto salad dressing( olive oil, nutritional yeast, walnuts, basil and lemon)

Also, tonight is skiing again.

Enjoy your day everyone! Stay healthy and strongJ