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Whatcha Eatin’ Wednesday

FREE Salad (& Dressing ) Recipes!

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Oh. Em. Gee! This dressing is MONEY! I’m looking all over my house for things to put it on! Celery, carrots, spoons, bowls! I don’t buy dressing of any kind anymore, I just find it so much easier and healthier to make my own. Not to mention the artistic freedom I have, creating works of salad-topping art! Typically, I work in oils and vinegars…until my latest discovery…

Creamy Avocado “Ranch” Dressing!

avocado_ranch

*This recipe was inspired by a dressing recipe from “The 21 Day Fix”. I just had to tweak a few amounts and ingredients for my taste!
 
 

WHAT IS THE 21 DAY FIX?!

 Ingredients

  • 1 medium avocado (cut into chunks)
  • 1 C. non-fat Greek yogurt
  • 4 T. finely chopped herbs (I used dill, chives and parsley)
  • 2 garlic cloves (minced)
  • 3 T. freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/4 C. low-fat buttermilk (more to adjust consistency if desired)
  • Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste (lots of pepper for me!)
  • 1/3 C. extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

  1. Place avocado, yogurt, herbs, lemon juice, buttermilk, garlic, salt and pepper in a blender; cover (duh!). Blend until smooth.
  2. Continue blending avocado mixture, slowly adding oil until well-blended. *Use more buttermilk if you prefer a thinner consistency.
  3. Store in the frig, tightly covered, until ready for use. I filled a pint Ball jar to the top!

*This is tasty on salads, but also a great dip for raw veggies – and spoons! 😉

Best News: There are only 34 calories in 1 Tablespoon of this dressing…so go ahead and have 2!

Bestest News!: All of the ingredients are SUPER clean and healthy. I bet you can pronounce EVERY one of them! Well…”herbs” can be a little tricky. The “H” is silent! 😉

Unlike THIS chemical ____ storm ingredient list! YIKES! What the heck is disodium inosinate? My spell-checker doesn’t even recognize those as words, let alone FOOD! Blech!

HVR_OrgLht_8oz_71100-00576

EAT REAL FOOD!!! 

What’s on SALE this month?!

 

 

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Yes YOU!

21 Days, COMPLETE fitness and nutrition plan, AMAZING results!

*UPDATE: Limited Supply! Base kits have sold out until the end of March! Challenge Packs still available…read below!

Now there’s a program that makes losing weight so simple and easy to follow, you’ll never have to diet again! Counting calories and points can be a PAIN! You won’t need to do any counting with this program! And the workouts are just 30 minutes/day! Everyone can find 30 minutes!

Watch this video:

What about results?

21Results-Collage

Order HERE!

 

What is the 21-Day Fix?

A total body reset with ‘normal foods’! 🙂 The 21 Day Fix was designed to be tough and effective. But it’s also a program that takes the guesswork out of weight loss. It’s a unique portion-control system combined with easy-to-follow workouts that fit into anyone’s busy schedule.

The program’s trainer, Autumn Calabrese, has designed a plan that is the key focal point in this 21  day program. As you may know already, the Beachbody Ultimate Reset is a power 21-day total body cleanse that will give you insane results! However, the menu and foods can be quite intense and over-whelming. Well…good news. Autumn took the 21-Day Reset philosophy and broke it down using more traditional foods and meal planning. Also, unlike the Ultimate Reset, you are still able to workout with the 21 Day Fix! YAY!

The Meal Plan

When you purchase the 21 Day Fix, you will get portion-controlled containers to measure all of your food. Furthermore, Autumn outlines everything so you don’t have to do any kind of counting. If it fits into the container, you can eat it! Just fix, go and eat! What I like about the program is that she realizes that the ideals behind the program are not short-term. This has to work in real life! So she allows you to have things like chocolate and wine! You will develop behaviors during the 21 days that will become habits that will turn into a healthy lifestyle! Anyone can do this program! And you can do it again and again. As long as you want results, or whenever you need a short re-boot, this is your go-to program!

 

The Workouts

The program consists of 7 different workouts. Each workout lasts just 30 minutes and they are mixed up over the 3 weeks. The workouts can be done anywhere with very little equipment. Many of the moves are done with just body-weight. You’ll want a couple of hand-weights, and that’s about it. You’ll do a little of everything: yoga, pilates, strength-training, plyometrics, etc! The workouts are basic enough for beginners and challenging enough for more advanced users.

 

Test Groups

Initial test group participants, with people who stuck with the program, lost up to 10-15 pounds! And the weight loss won’t come from starving or depriving yourself! You’ll eat healthy, balanced meals, with plenty of calories. This is Beachbody’s first program to place equal emphasis on the nutrition AND fitness components…together!

I have a test group slated to start February 17! There’s still time to get your program and join the group for support, accountability and motivation! As of yesterday, base kits have sold out and are expected to begin shipping again at the end of March. BUT, challenge packs (with Shakeology) are ON SALE in February only, and still available for $140, which is like getting the program for $11! And you can order yours HERE!

To sign up for the Test Group, please provide your information below.

 

 

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Open Letter to….

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This is a letter I was asked to write to a group of people in another coach’s challenge group who are struggling with self-confidence, body image issues and other feelings of negativity about themselves. They are either starting, re-starting or continuing on a journey of health and fitness. I was happy to share my story with them, and thought that it was worth sharing here, too.

“Dear Challengers,

I was honored when _____ asked me to write to you about my experiences and my personal journey with health and fitness.  I applaud you all for either getting started, or continuing on your own personal journeys. It’s not always an easy path, but it’s so rewarding…you’ll begin to WANT to keep going!

Even though I had always considered myself a fairly ‘healthy’ person, I didn’t realize that I had a lot of work to do! I have been pretty active my entire life, and enjoyed eating healthy foods, but as I approached my 40’s…it just wasn’t enough. I was slowly gaining weight, month by month, pound by pound. I was doing the same workouts, and eating the same kinds of food, but it just wasn’t working anymore! I tried to convince myself that it’s just what was meant to be. I couldn’t do anything more about it than I already was. I was kidding myself.

In the process, I was also becoming more unhappy and depressed by the day. I wasn’t happy with the way that I looked or felt. I wouldn’t allow a single picture of myself to be taken, and if there was…I would delete them! Isn’t that awful? Can you relate?

So I did something weird…I decided to put the cart before the horse, in a sense, and signed up to be a Beachbody coach in order to START my journey, and be accountable along the way. I started with Chalean Extreme and TurboFire, and lost 16 pounds and 20 inches! But I wasn’t done yet. Then I did Les Mills Pump, and then Insanity…and lost a grand total of 24 pounds within about 6-8 months! I’ve done several other programs since, to maintain and continue to get stronger each day.

I’m not done with my journey! I will never be done. This is a new lifestyle for me and my family. Seeing my success, my husband has now lost 25 pounds and looks and feels better than ever! We are both healthier and fitter than we were when we got married 20 years ago. We’ve made so many changes in our daily lives. We eat much healthier foods. We’ve eliminated most processed foods entirely. Working out is a priority, and we often do it together, which is so fantastic! It didn’t happen overnight. This all took time, persistence, failures, re-boots, etc…but I was committed no matter how long it took me.

As a result, my confidence is better than ever. I actually allow pictures of myself to be taken now, so there’s evidence that I am part of my family! I’m a happier, healthier mom for my four kids, and they’re all learning how to eat healthier, and be healthier, too!

My message to you is to keep going! Whether you stumble, or fall – just pick yourself back up and keep going. Make small changes every day, and celebrate your successes! Set small, achievable goals every day. Plan, schedule and prioritize! Once you start to see results, you’ll be addicted to the process!

Surround yourself with positive people, books, etc. Learn as much as you can about making healthy choices you can live with every day! Share your journey – ask a friend or loved one to join you. Keep a journal and document your thoughts, troubles, joys and achievements. Take monthly progress pictures to refer back to – trust me on this one! You’ll be glad you did it! Find exercises, workouts and physical activities that you LOVE! You might have to try a hundred things before you find your ‘soul-mate’ workout, but it’s out there! Try hiking, biking, walking, jogging, a new exercise dvd, etc….You might find SEVERAL! And that’s even better!  But whatever you do, never stop trying. You are worth this journey, your family is worth it, life is worth it! Consider the alternative! I know I want to age with as little pain and illness as possible, and there’s only ONE way to do that! You can’t control everything, but you can control your health. You owe it to yourself to be as healthy and happy as you can be!

When you struggle, remember WHY you started. Write down your goals, today! Write down your WHY, too! WHY are you trying to be healthier? When you have a ‘why’, you have a reason to commit, and recommit if you need to, every single day.

I wish you all the very best, and believe that you can all achieve anything you set your minds to! Go ahead and blow your own mind!

-Angie”

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Baked Chicken Tenders

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NO MORE CHICKEN NUGGETS!

I’m taking a stand!

Yes, the kids LOVE them, and they’re quick and easy to make when you’re short on time, but I’m done. I have begrudgingly purchased them over the years, but I won’t anymore! The cleaner I eat, the more grossed out I become about the foods that I’ve continued to allow the kids to eat.

Do chicken nuggets pass the ‘Grandma Test’? In other words, would my Grandma have served these to her family…NO WAY! Because it’s not real food.

The kids were a little angry with me initially, but then I introduced them to this recipe, and now…they fight over the leftovers and don’t even miss that big red package that used to take up SO much space in my freezer! Yes, they’re a little more work, but they’re worth it (the chicken AND the kids)! Oh, and the grown-ups will LOVE them, too! 🙂

Homemade chicken tenders

6 servings

  • 4-5 boneless, skinless chicken breast – cut into strips (or use the pre-cut tenders!) chicken_tenders (1)
  • 2 C. whole wheat panko bread crumbs (you can use whole wheat bread crumbs if you can’t find the panko)
  • 1 C. parmesan cheese
  • 1 t. Italian seasoning
  • ½ t. garlic powder
  • ¼ t. cayenne pepper
  • ¼ t. pepper
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 – 1 C flour (I use wheat/white blend)

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • Spray a large pan with cooking spray.
  • Whisk eggs in a shallow bowl.
  • Combine bread crumbs, parmesan and seasonings in another bowl.
  • In a third bowl, add flour.
  • Take chicken pieces and roll in flour, shake off excess and add to egg mixture, then press into the breadcrumb mixture until thoroughly coated on each side.
  • Set on the prepared pan. Continue until all of the chicken is coated. Lightly spray the top sides of the chicken with cooking spray.
  • Cook for 12-15 minutes. Remove pan from oven, flip pieces over and return to oven for another 12-15 minutes.

VOILA!

 

Nutritional Info

1 serving: 290 calories, 30 grams protein, 20 grams carbs

*A good dipping sauce is mustard (regular and/or Dijon) mixed with honey. I just mix the 3 together, using about equal portions of each – just eyeball it. 🙂

WHAT’S ON SALE?

CURRENT GROUPS

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Bringing It!

Ok…holidays are finally past us, and I might be able to find a spare minute or two to blogging again! Especially now that I started P90X3! With workouts that are only 30 minutes, I should start to have a little more spare time.

Yesterday was my official Day 1! I’m working with a test group with 9 other X-ers hoping to get some killer results in HALF the time it took with the original P90X! So far so good!

So here’s me BEFORE the workout! This is how I look the first thing in the morning, looking a little disheveled! But hey, it’s one of the many reasons I love my home workouts! No need to get pretty to go anywhere (although I guess it defeats the purpose when I record myself and then post the video for everyone to see…Oh well!)

 

So Day 1 was TOTAL SYNERGISTICS: a total body, core-focused workout. I love how efficient this workout is! You will move from one exercise to the next, no jumping or high-intensity moves, but my heart rate was really UP there! I also love the variety! For 30 straight minutes there wasn’t a single REPEAT exercise! Since this happened yesterday, I can tell you that today I am definitely feeling it in my core, as well as my legs, back, shoulders and arms. TOTAL body goodness!

Here is me AFTER:

Today is Day 2 and the workout is Agility X! I’m ready to get to it and then I’ll tell you what I think. 🙂

The P90X3 Challenge Pack is on sale through the month of January. Click HERE!

And if you’d like to join my next challenge group, click HERE!

 

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‘Tis the Season to Pay the Bills!

I’m going to show you something, not to brag, but to share with you what I was able to accomplish last year, this same time of year, in 2 months of helping others with health & fitness – something I LOVE to do! AND, I had only been coaching for 3 months at this point!

earnings

 

This year…I’m hoping to double this amount! No, it’s not $20,000 or anything, and maybe it doesn’t seem like a lot, but for a stay at home mom of 4, this extra income has made a BIG difference! I was just hoping to earn a little extra ‘fun’ money for the family, but now I see the potential is MUCH bigger than I even imagined!

When I decided to become a fitness coach, I had a lot of questions, fears and hesitations. However, it has been one of the most positive things I have ever done! I have lost 24 pounds, and lots of inches! I’ve gotten in the best shape of my life – as a 42-year-old mom! :O The best part is that I’ve helped others lose weight and get fit, and made a nice income doing it! I have become a better person by helping and serving others.

I have been able to pay bills, and earn some extra income for my family – we were able to go on a nice family vacation this year because of the money I’ve been able to earn as a coach! AND an extra $1500 after Christmas last year came in VERY handy!!

I can teach you how to do what I do! You do not need to be a nutritionist, or a personal trainer or a fitness professional. You do not need to be at your goal weight. You just need to be interested in helping others, while you help yourself!

I have a 30 day New Coach Training starting Monday January 6. I have a couple of spots open for anyone interested in:
1) helping others
2) health & fitness
3) getting in the best shape of your life
4) being your own boss
5) working when, where and how you want
6) earning extra income – All while having FUN!

*If you want to start 2014 as a more physically and financially fit version of yourself, message me ASAP for details.

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Let the Cleaning Begin!

I’ve got some cleaning to do! Wrapping paper, boxes, and my belly!

If you’re like me, you had a great holiday with your family and loved ones. And maybe that included eating some foods that you don’t normally eat…or more of them than you normally do. Either way, you may have that bloated, full of regret feeling today. I know my husband is regretting the 3 1/2 cinnamon rolls, box of chocolates and the countless cookies and other goodies he enjoyed yesterday, and is moaning about today!

He wasn’t alone, I did my share of tasting this week too! 🙂 I can avoid sweets and treats pretty well, cause I don’t really like them much. But the french bread, pasta and various dips and snacks sure tasted good!

So today is a new day, and I am definitely feeling it!

So, I started the day with a good old-fashioned detox smoothie! Detox_smoothie

Ingredients

  • kale
  • spinach
  • green apple
  • blue berries
  • strawberries
  • pineapple
  • 1 C. water
  • 1/2 C. ice

BLEND! (I have a Blendtec, so I keep the peels on the apples and throw the kale in – stems and all!)

You might find this surprising, but it was actually quite tasty! Plus, it just tastes clean and healthy! It was JUST what I needed this morning. I’m sure I’ll be enjoying this several more times this week, and whenever I’ve had a little TOO much fun.

 

Of course nutrition is KEY! But add daily workouts, support and accountability and you have the perfect recipe for SUCCESS!

Check out my upcoming groups if you have some health & fitness goals, and you’d like some help and support to reach them.

CURRENT GROUPS

What’s on SALE this month?

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P90X3 is HERE!

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It’s finally here! P90X3 is on-sale, and I’m pretty excited about it! I wasn’t sure initially how I would feel about it, but the more I hear and read, the more excited I am to go for it!

As you may know, I am one of the freaks of nature who opened P90X and finished all 90 days! It was hard! The workouts were long and tough! One of the workouts was 90 minutes long! Ain’t nobody got time for that! I had a baby and a toddler and 2 other kids at the time, but I was determined to get it done! Sometimes I had to split it up into 2 chunks depending on the day and the mood of the children.

But, I can’t argue with the results that I was able to achieve with it…so was it worth it?! Absolutely! Would I do it again? I think not. I do some of my favorite workouts from time to time, just adding them into my routine here and there (one of the perks of being a workout DVD collector!). I just don’t see myself tackling that 90 day schedule again anytime soon! 🙂

before-after-P90X-Collage

So NOW…with P90X3, we’ll be able to get the same results in HALF the time! Sign me up! I am looking to mix up my routine again, and this seems like JUST what I need! This is a 90 day program and the workouts are a mere 30 minutes!!! EVERYBODY has time for THAT! It will even come with access to an app for tracking and planning!

Check out some results from the test groups.

P90X3-Test-Group-Results

Here’s why it works!

Muscle acceleration explained
Many P90X fans were hooked on the science of muscle confusion – which introduced variety to the workouts and prevented plateauing. P90X3 takes a hint from that success and from studies showing the most dramatic body transformations happen within the first 30 minutes of exercise. Enter muscle acceleration, a Tony Horton-approved highly-structured schedule with an incredibly high level of intensity and an unprecedented variety of moves. The gurus behind P90X3 combined exercises and added some twists to maximize your time and keep every muscle challenged for a full 30 minutes.

Here’s what I can tell you about P90X3:

  • It is NOT a graduate program. ANYONE can do it, regardless of whether or not you’ve ever done a P90X workout.
  • There will be modifications so ANYONE can keep up!
  • Variety: 16 different workouts
  • Only 30 minutes
  • Eliminates almost ALL excuses!
  • Still full of that Tony Horton humor that we all love/tolerate! lol!
  • You’ll need just some weights and resistance bands.

Special Offer!

From December 10-31, the Challenge Pack will be on-sale for $180 (after that it will go up to $205).  With the challenge pack, you will get the base program, plus 30 day supply of Shakeology (HD) as well as a 30-Day VIP Team Beachbody Club Membership for personalized meal planning and additional support. *The Challenge Pack price saves you about $100 versus purchasing these items separately!

But wait…there’s MORE! 😉 If you order through me, from December 10-31, you’ll receive a super cool P90X3 hat! Bonus! 🙂

Challenge Group starting Monday, January 6!

For anyone who invests in a challenge pack, I will be offering a support and accountability group for as long as you stick with the program! This group is a FREE service I provide to my customers, and it works! You get a FREE coach who will work with you everyday and help you reach your goals! I will stick with you and provide the daily tips and motivation you’ll need to get it done! Maybe you’ve tried other workout programs in the past, and had trouble sticking with it. This group will give you the support you’ll need to get it done this time! If you want to join the P90X3 group in January, and start your year off strong…fill out the form below!

 

 

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Black Friday DEALS Today!!!

Yes, it’s only Wednesday, but Beachbody is announcing Black Friday Deals TODAY! And here they are! These are INSANE prices and will likely sell out super fast! Last year, some of the deals sold out in 1-2 hours! I’ve got my eye on a few of these. I might have to give myself some early Christmas presents!

Black Friday Deals!

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  • Turbo Fire for only $29!!!
  • P90X WITH a pull-up bar is just $119
  • Hip Hop Abs – $10!!?? WHAT!?
  • Insanity, the Asylum with a free pull-up bar is $89!
  • Tai Cheng, a low-impact workout program, for only $59!

There will also be some GREAT deals on Derm Exclusive! I use these products every day and REALLY love them!

I’m also looking at some of the great deals on equipment like mats, benches and balls!

And don’t forget supplements like E&E (Energy and Endurance) a pre-workout formula, Fuel Shot and M.A.X. Creatine.

*I can’t STRESS this enough…these sales will go very fast! If you want to take advantage, be early! The deals go live at 3:00 Eastern/12:00 Pacific. So when you’re ready to order, click the button below! BONUS: Any order gets you a FREE coach – ME! -to help you reach your goals! 🙂

click_here

 

 

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Your Pants Might Be On Fire!

I’m sorry…I’m going to have to call “b.s.” on a few things. Let me explain… pants_fire

If you could take a magic pill, right now, that would give you maximum life expectancy and maximum health and happiness…would you take it? I think you would! So, now that we have that cleared up…when someone gives up on their diet, or stops working out, they often walk around with their pants on fire, hoping nobody will notice. You’ll know their pants are on fire when they give one of the following ‘reasons/excuses’ for giving up:

I’m embracing my curves. Really?! But last month you were determined to get fit. You were fed up with not fitting into your clothes and decided it was time to change. But now…you’re embracing it? Nope…it got hard and you gave up. That’s it. And I get that! But let’s not try to fool anyone, and especially ourselves, by doing a complete 180 on the whole “curves” thing!

We’re all going to die anyway…might as well enjoy it while I can. And the only way you can enjoy your life is by eating very unhealthy foods and avoiding physical exercise? I don’t think anyone really believes that is the road to happiness.

I just don’t care anymore. I seriously doubt that. When you look into the faces of the people who love you, you care. You want to be there for them, and you want to be your best self. You care.

I don’t have time. Make time! Wake up a little earlier a few days/week.  30 minutes a day is all you need! Split it up if you have to! Surely you can find two 15 minute chunks in your day.

This is just the body that I have, I can’t do anything about it. Bologna! Genetics contribute…sure, but that’s not the end of the story. We all have the same body parts. When moved, these parts get stronger and leaner and your body WILL change shape. It’s hard…I agree. But can you change? Yes, of course you can.

I’m not fat, I don’t need to exercise. Not true either. Exercise isn’t just about your physical appearance, it’s about your internal health and fitness, too. This is a no-brainer right? Who lives a longer happier life? Mr. and Mrs. Skinny who never work out and eat like crap? Or Mr. and Mrs. Healthy who work out 3-5 days per week, and eat clean? Hmmm….I think the odds are in favor of Mr. and Mrs. Healthy!

I can’t afford a new program or gym membership. Are there any expenses you can cut? Going out to eat? Drinking? Fancy coffees? I bet you can cut out one bad habit in order to make a new workout program or gym membership affordable.

I’m too old. It’s too late for me anyway. Not likely! If you can breathe, you can do yoga, stretch, etc. Almost anyone can walk. And it’s NEVER too late!

So again, back to that ‘magic pill’. Why would you take the pill if it didn’t matter to you?! Of course it matters! If you’re going to quit, because it’s hard…call it like it is. Put on a new pair of pants and do a solid gut-check. It IS hard, because it’s worth it! It’s easy to quit. TOO easy! Your life is valuable and important. Anything that precious SHOULD be hard. Every choice you make, every decision to be healthy and do something positive for yourself is SO critical because it shapes who you are! And it affects everyone around you.

The good news is that it isn’t ALWAYS so hard. Starting is hard. Sticking with it is even harder! But here is the good news. Once you start feeling and seeing the benefits of all of this hard work, it gets easier. A little at a time you’ll start to notice that it’s not so hard anymore. In fact, it’s getting simpler and clearer to see that this is what you want and what you need for the rest of your life! It’s making you happy and focused and re-energized! The people around you will start to notice and then they’ll get inspired and want to make some positive changes for themselves. And do them a favor…if you see their pants catch on fire, at any point, let them know that we’ve all been there. You’ve been there and you know how to help them get past their excuses and get to work.

I know. I had personally used several of those excuses myself. But I have proven them all wrong. I am happier, and healthier than I’ve ever been, and sharing my experience is my passion. I’m loving life in my new pants!

*Join me in a challenge group, and I’ll help you get started. Click JOIN at the top of this page when you’re ready. 🙂