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Let’s Get Thankful!

PiYo!!!

Save $70 or $95! YOU decide!

PiYo was such a great program to pair with my marathon training over the summer. All of the strengthening, stretching, flexibility and toning with ZERO impact! It’s been great for challengers who can’t take or don’t WANT the jumping, and joint jarring that comes with some of the other programs.

In November, you can save $$ when you get started with the challenge pack, and you can save even MORE $$$ if you get the challenge pack WITH the wildly popular “3 Day Refresh”. Whether you do it now, or save it for the day after Thanksgiving, you’ll be SET up for success!!! The average American gains 7-12 pounds over the holiday! If you set yourself up now, you’ll LOSE at least that much, and feel amazing BEFORE the New Year!

Option 1: Save $70

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PiYo + Shakeology (click on image) Save $70 vs. buying each separately

Click HERE to order Option #1.

 

Option 2: Save $95! Kick it up a notch and KICKSTART your results with the 3 Day Refresh!

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PiYo + Shakeology + 3 Day Refresh (click on image) Save $95 vs. buying all 3 separately!

Click HERE to order Option #2.

It’s very common to lose 5-7 pounds with the 3-Day Refresh! Might be a perfect solution to Thanksgiving dinner regret!

Check out these awesome results from one of my PiYo Test Groupers! 🙂

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Have questions?

Email me! 

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Easiest Peasiest Homemade *Slow Cooker* Chicken Soup

Do you ever get a hankering for some homemade chicken soup, but you just don’t have the time? VOILA! I’ve got the answer, and I found it by accident! That is usually how I get my best ideas…accidentally. 🙂

I started out this recipe as something totally different, and then halfway through decided it would be chicken soup. And it was so easy! The kids and the husband ALL loved it – there was some definite bowl-licking going on!

easy_chicken_soup

And so…here’s what you do.

Ingredients

    • 2 lb. Chicken Thighs OR breasts
    • ½ T. sea salt
    • ¼ t. Pepper
    • 1 t. poultry seasoning
    • 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
    • 5 C. Chicken Broth
    • 1 C. chopped carrots
    • 1 C. chopped celery
    • 1 C. chopped onion
    • 2 ½ C. wide egg noodles *optional (to keep the carbs down use kale instead! apx 4 cups, stems removed and chopped)
    • Additional Salt and Pepper, to taste
 

Instructions

    1. Place the chicken in the bottom of a crock pot. Sprinkle the salt and pepper and poultry seasoning over the chicken.
    2. Pour the chicken broth into the crock pot.
    3. Cook the chicken on high for 4 hours.
    4. After 4 hours the chicken should be very tender. Remove the chicken from the crock pot and place in a bowl.
    5. At this point, if you desire, you can strain the broth in the crock pot through a fine mesh sieve(if you want a broth free from any debris left from the chicken). Add the broth back to the crock pot after straining.
    6. Turn heat back to high.
    7. Lightly shred the chicken cover and refrigerate.
    8. Add the carrots, onions, and celery to the broth and cook on high for 2 hours.
    9. In the last 30-40 minutes of cooking, add the noodles OR kale to the soup. *Adjust time as needed to make sure noodles/kale are cooked and tender.
    10. Check the seasonings and add more salt or pepper as necessary.
    11. Add the chicken to the soup and allow to reheat for about 10 minutes.
    12. Enjoy!

My Current Groups

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Plans for Weekly Meal Plans

So I’ve heard from enough people that they’d be interested in my weekly meal plans, that I’ve decided to start sharing them again. I’m starting with this one here, but I’ll be sending a weekly newsletter, available for FREE if you’d like to receive it every weekend, in time for shopping and planning for the week ahead. Just provide your information below, and you will receive next week’s meal plan via email.

I am a believer in a 5 dinner plan for the week. I have a list of typical breakfasts, lunches and snacks that I almost always eat from, and that just leaves dinners. I have found that we really only need FIVE dinner plans, leaving room for one night of leftovers and one night that is a flex night – either a date night, dinner out, dinner at a friend’s house, etc. There is almost always SOMETHING that comes up like that. So plan for 5 meals, and I think you’ll find that will be enough for the whole week!

Do some weekend meal prepping, for quick and easy breakfast, lunches and snacks that you can grab and GO!

Click HERE for this weeks meal plan.

 

Subscribe to my FREE Weekly Meal Plan Newsletter

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Qurazy for Quinoa & Quale?

Kale (not quale!) –  I took that joke TOO far! 😉

I was in the mood for a Mediterranean salad the other night, and didn’t really feel like looking for recipes on-line, so I just made this one up! And oh MAN was it delicious! My husband and I gobbled this up and fought for the left-overs. (Slight exaggerations occur on this blog from time to time). Oh! And this is super easy, too! And I’m all about easy!

kale_quinoa_greek_salad

 

Here’s what you’ll need:

 

Greek Quinoa Kale Salad

Makes 8 servings

  • 1 c. Quinoa (I used red and brown – for fun!)
  • 2 c. water
  • 3 c. chopped kale (I used curly leaf for this recipe)
  • *1/4 t. kosher salt (optional)
  • 1 long cucumber (or 2 regular)
  • 6-7 roma tomatoes (or whatever tomatoes you like!)
  • 1/4 C. chopped red onion
  • 2-3 T. chopped fresh parsley (or 1 T. dry)
  • *Optional add-ins: kalamata (or black olives), light feta cheese

Dressing:

  • 2 T. extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 T. red wine vinegar
  • juice from 1/2 fresh lemon
  • 1-2 cloves garlic – minced
  • 1 t. Mrs. Dash, Spike or any other all-purpose seasoning
  • salt & pepper (to taste)

Directions

Prepare quinoa according to package instructions. Set aside to cool. While the quinoa is cooking, place the chopped kale in a large bowl. *Sprinkle with kosher salt. IMPORTANT STEP: Massage the kale! WHAT?! Yep…I promise, it makes ALL the difference! Simply rub together, smash, toss and smash for a few minutes and the texture becomes much softer and better for salads! Chop the cucumbers, tomatoes, onion and parsley. When the quinoa is cooled, transfer to a big bowl. Add kale and chopped veggies. Whisk the dressing ingredients together and pour over everything. Toss gently. Add optional mix-ins like olives and feta cheese.

Tell me that’s not delicious!

If you’re following the 21 Day FIX…one serving counts as 1 yellow, 1 green, 1 orange (olives), 1 blue (feta), 1 t. (olive oil)

If you’re NOT following the 21 Day FIX, but you’re interested in doing the 21 Day program that’s helping people lose 10 – 15 pounds in just 21 days, than you’re in luck! I’m starting a new 21 Day FIX group on Monday October 6 where you’ll learn how to incorporate foods like this, as well as daily 30 minute workouts, and get GREAT results in just 21 Days! Fill in the info below, and I’ll tell you how to get started.

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My Boyfriend Does it AGAIN!

I ❤ this guy!

TONY IS AT IT AGAIN!!! (He’s a busy guy!)

Jamie_P90

He has a *BRAND NEW* program coming out in 2 weeks!

P90 ➡ “The ON-SWITCH to Fitness!”

And I am starting a TEST GROUP on Monday October 6!


In an early test group, Jamie (picture) lost 71 pounds! And she’s still going!

 

Who is this program for?

This program will be for anyone who:

▪thought that the other P90 programs were more than they could handle!

▪is recovering from an injury.

▪hasn’t worked out for a decade!

▪just wants to maintain what you’ve got without killing yourself!

10614136_790841117632882_7526919216381636848_nWhat will you get?

You’ll get 10 workouts + 1 BONUS workout when you order through me! You’ll also get access a full SIX weeks before everyone else!

 

 

 


READY!?

 

Click HERE to get FIRST access to this program AND news about the TEST GROUP!

 

 

 

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From Tony:

“Here’s something you thought I’d never say . . .

Hardcore workouts aren’t for everybody. I mean, what if you just want to lose 20 pounds? Or get back some of the muscle tone you had in college. Maybe you just want to get out of bed in the morning without a backache. For that all you need is something straightforward. Fundamental. Doable.

That’s why I created the NEW P90 workout.

Whether you used to be in shape and feel fitness has now passed you by, or you’ve never worked out a day in your life, my P90 workout is your easy-to-follow way to lose substantial weight, have the energy to run and play with your kids, and feel better in everything you do—without the agony of high-intensity exercise.

P90 is the result of everything I’ve learned in 20 years.

Here’s the key . . . In as little as 25 minutes a day, P90 will help you completely change your body—not by working you harder—but by keeping it simple. Simple cardio. Simple resistance training. A simple approach to portion control. I won’t say these new workouts are easy . . . but they’re a whole lot easier to get done now. And that’s how P90 will help you finally get the body you want.”

—Tony HortonCreator of P90X®, P90X2®, and P90X3®
now brings you the NEW P90® workout.

 

Nathan lost 26 pounds!
Nathan lost 26 pounds!

Elle lost 24 pounds & 23 inches!
Elle lost 24 pounds & 23 inches!

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Get on the list to be notified and join the TEST GROUP!

 

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Sweet Potato, Black Bean, Kale Quesadillas

I have been meaning to post this recipe for quite some time! Finally, today while I was out running 16 miles with my cousin-in-law (is that a thing?)…we had a llloooonnnnggg time to talk about things! Somehow or another, the topic turned to “sweet potatoes”. It reminded me that I LOVE sweet potatoes…and loving sweet potatoes reminded me that I have this awesome recipe I really wanted to share!

As per usual, I started with a couple of recipes from the world-wide internets, and made it my own. Feel free to do the same, but I assure you… this one is da bomb!

sweet_pot_quesadilla

 

Sweet Potato, Black Bean, Kale Quesadillas (4 servings)
    • 2 medium sweet potatoes – peeled and cut into 2 inch chunks
    • ½ teaspoon cumin
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • 1/4 t. chipotle chili powder (or cayenne)
    • ½ tablespoon olive oil
    • 3 cups chopped kale
    • 1/4 C. diced sweet (or red) onion
    • 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
    • 4 Ezekiel tortillas (or large whole grain)
    • 1/2 C. shredded cheddar cheese
    • sea salt
For sauce:
  • 1/2 C. non-fat Greek yogurt (I like Fage)
  • 1 avocado
  • 1/2 C. salsa
  • 1/2 lime (juiced)
  • *BLEND until smooth
Directions:
  1. Add the potatoes to a medium saucepan and add enough water to cover the potatoes. Add ½ teaspoon of sea salt to the pot. Boil or steam potatoes until tender (about 15 minutes). Use a potato masher to mash the potatoes. Add another ¼ teaspoon salt, cumin, chili powder, and chipotle seasoning. Mix until well combined.
  2. In a medium skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. When hot, add in the kale and onions. Cook for about 2 to 3 minutes, until the kale is bright green and tender. Add the mixture to the bowl with the mashed sweet potatoes. Next add in the black beans and mix until well combined.
  3. Place the tortillas on a work surface. Use a spatula to smear about ⅓ to ½ cup of the filling on half of the tortilla. Top with a couple of tablespoons of the cheese (or to taste). Fold the empty half of the tortilla over the filling to form a semicircle. Repeat with remaining tortillas.
  4. Wipe out the skillet you used for the kale and set over medium high heat. When hot, spray lightly with non-stick cooking spray. Place an assembled quesadilla in the pan and cook, flipping once halfway through, until both sides are browned and the cheese is melted. Cut into triangles and serve with the sauce.

Want MORE clean recipes?

Sign up below for my FREE 7-Day SlimDown Plan! You’ll get recipes, shopping lists, meal plan, and workout suggestions. Participants who follow the plan lose up to 5-7 pounds!

 

FREE 7-Day SlimDown

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Take THAT!

I am always SO inspired by the pretty food pictures and delicious sounding recipes on Pinterest. But let’s be real…they NEVER really turn out as pretty as the picture, RIGHT?!

Well…not this time bub! I was so pleased with how pretty this dish was when I made it last week…I had to take a picture of it. In my opinion…it is a work of art! But was it worth ALL of the effort…

take_that

I do believe it WAS!

It really wasn’t ALL that difficult. Just a little time consuming to slice and place all of the veggies just so. So here is what I did for a 9 x 13 inch dish:

Take That Pinterest

  • 1/2 medium sweet onion – diced
  • 3-4 garlic cloves – minced
  • 2-3 zucchinis
  • 2-3 yellow squash
  • 5-6 roma tomatoes (Or adjust depending on the size tomato you want to use.)
  • olive oil
  • 3 T. chopped fresh basil
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • freshly grated parmesan cheese (Or a little sharp cheddar would be good, too.)

Directions: Preheat oven to 400°. Drizzle the bottom of a glass pan with a little olive oil. Saute onions and garlic in a little olive oil for 3-4 minutes. Meanwhile, slice up all of the veggies! I used a knife, I didn’t want them to be paper thin (using a mandolin would be ok…but just don’t use the thinnest setting). Place the slices int the pan in an alternating pattern. Sprinkle the top with sea salt, pepper and the fresh basil. Cover with foil and cook for 30 minutes. Take out, remove foil and sprinkle on a little freshly grated parmesan cheese!

TA Die For!

Take a picture of YOUR masterpiece and share it with me HERE!

Like this recipe? Want MORE?! Join me on Monday, August 18 for my FREE 7 Day Slim Down group on Facebook! Past groups have lost an average of 5-7 pounds…in one week! You won’t be starving either! We’re eating 5-6 meals/day of good, clean foods!

What’s Included?
✔Daily Meal Plan
✔Shopping List
✔Daily Support
✔Accountability (in a private Facebook group)
✔Daily workout suggestions (or just commit to 30 minutes/day!)

DEADLINE TO SIGN UP Friday August 15th!

Click here for more information and get signed up ➡ CLICK HERE

 

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FREE 7-Day Slim Down!

 

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! slim_down-pic

If you’ve missed out on previous FREE 7-Day groups, now is your chance! Or…maybe you saw such GREAT results the first time, you want to do it again!? FANTASTIC!

The last time we did this, participants lost an average of 5-7 pounds!

FREE Clean Eating 7 Day Slim down!

What’s Included?
✔Daily Meal Plan w/recipes!
✔Shopping List
✔Daily Support
✔Accountability (in a private Facebook group)
✔Daily workout suggestions (or just commit to 30 minutes/day!)

DEADLINE TO SIGN UP – Saturday July 12th!

Fill out the information below and you will receive an email with additional information and sign up details!

 

*Only non-coaches, and those not already working with a coach.

Challenge Application

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Week 1= DONE!

So I said that I was going to attempt weekly marathon training updates, so update I shall!

Week 1 is in the books! This is my fifth time training for a marathon, but I’m still just as nervous about it as I was the first time! It’s been four years, but I never swore it off forever – like so many do after their first one. I actually knew I’d do it again, I just wasn’t sure when. When is now! I don’t have any nagging injuries (knock on wood) and except for the asthma, I don’t have anything that will prevent me from at least making it to the starting line (knock on wood)!

I’m following my tried and true Hal Higdon Novice Marathon Plan. Why, you ask, am I using the Novice plan for my FIFTH marathon? Well…all I’m really concerned with is getting up to the mileage I’ll need to run the marathon. That means a slow and steady progression, with a few taper weeks, up to the LONG run, which is 20 miles. That happens a couple of weeks before the big day, and then I’ll taper again until the race.

I don’t actually do scheduled “tempo runs” and “intervals”, etc. My method is very unscientific. If I feel good, I run fast. If not, I don’t. If I get an itch, I’ll pick up and sprint for a spell, if not, I don’t. That’s it. I’m not trying to win…just survive.

 

The other reason is that I don’t want to give up some of my other workouts. I love lifting weights and I love doing other cross-training workouts, especially my favorite DVD workouts. I have been doing The 21 Day FIX workouts, since finishing P90X3. And right now I’m looking forward to PiYo, which is set to be released this week! I excited to pair this program with my running schedule because I ALWAYS need help with flexibility and strengthening. 🙂

Ultimately, I don’t care so much about my finish time, I just want to arrive in Chicago healthy, strong and capable of finishing. If I have a good day…GREAT!

I’m also trying to run this time a little more au natural. I will, however, be wearing clothes. I just mean I’m trying to avoid the fuel of the past. I used to rely on Gatorade and GU shots for hydration and food for long runs, but these days I’m just not that into food coloring and massive amounts of corn syrup. I’m trying out some cleaner, more natural alternatives…so we’ll see how that pans out. So far I’ve discovered that I’m not a BIG fan of the way plain coconut water tastes. I could choke it down, but I might need to doctor it up a bit! I’m looking for ideas on the interwebs!

So this week’s schedule consisted of 3, 3 mile runs (I did 2 of them, and walked on another day). And my long run today was a 6 miler. It’s easy now, the weather is nice and the miles are short…but boy when it gets hotter and the miles get longer…it’s going to be rough!

week 1Today’s LONG Run Report

Weather Conditions: sunny, warm, almost perfect ☀

Injury Report: NONE (knock on wood!) ✔

Nature Sightings: loads of wildflowers ❀ ✿ and 1 chalk drawing of male genitalia (does that count as “nature”?)

Songs that Inspired: “Let it GO” by Elsa ❄

Passers-by: friendly, smiles, though not a lot of “hello’s” 🙂

Chaffing: mild

On a Scale of 10: 8 – Legs felt good, it was a success.

 

 

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SO SUPER EXCITED!

Jennifer_fcThis is REALLY exciting for me! When I started coaching and then blogging almost 2 years ago, I started following a blog called Fat Chick to Fit Chick. I loved the way that Jennifer wrote, she’s HILARIOUS and insightful and full of wonderful pop-culture references! I LOVE funny people and all things funny! Besides that, she is so dang inspiring! Her transformation and her journey had me hooked! I have also used many of her recipes and workout ideas!

In short…LOVE HER!

So…I’ve been following her blog for quite some time. And I also follow her on Instagram and Facebook. I truly admire her. She has a sweet little girl she calls “Tink” and her husband Tim is hilarious, too! It’s funny how you feel like you sort of get to know these people you follow on Social Media, and to me, she had become a bit of a celebrity!

Therefore…when I contacted her about doing a Challenge Group with me, and she said YES! My heart was all a flutter! 🙂 She has been intrigued by The 21 Day FIX, so that is the program that she and her husband Tim will be doing in my next, very special edition, Challenge Group! You know I’ve talked a lot about this program in other posts, but I truly can’t say enough about it! I’ve seen SUCH amazing results with it! It is SO effective because it combines Fitness AND Nutrition! And let’s be honest…NUTRITION is the key! You can work out until you’re blue in the face (though I wouldn’t recommend it), but if you fall apart in the kitchen, you’re just not going to see results! You’ll get handy, color-coded portion control containers. So no need to count calories or points! If it fits in the container, you can eat it! And don’t worry…you won’t be hungry. Most participants are shocked at the amount of food they CAN eat! *There’s even a container for chocolate and wine! BAM! The workouts are quick (30 minutes!) and perfect for ANY level! They are basic; no fancy equipment needed, and no difficult choreography.

*If you’d like to join Jennifer, and ME, we’ll start on Monday, June 30. The deadline to join and order will be next Friday, June 20th.

Just fill in the info below, and I’ll give you the details you’ll need to join, and I’ll save you a spot!