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On a Quest for Good Protein Bars?

I’ve been thinking about trying out one of the bazillion recipes out there for copycat Quest bars, and in the end…wouldn’t you know it…I kinda did my own thang!

But the results were pretty darn tasty if I do say so myself!

I actually made 2 batches: one chocolate chip cookie dough, and one chocolate brownie batter!

And I’ll show you how I did it, so that you can try it, and/or change it to your tastes, TOO!

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 4 scoops of your favorite vanilla protein powder (about 1/3 cup a scoop) – I used Beachbody whey.  (I’m thinking you could use Shakeology for these too! For some extra nutrients!)
  • ¼ cup natural nut or seed butter of choice (smooth, not crunchy) – I used peanut for this batch.
  • 1/3 (I used Stevia, less if you like – feel free to sub honey, agave, etc…adjust water accordingly)
  • 2-5 tbsp. water (add 1 T. at a time, add more or less as needed)
  • ¼ cup oat flour
  • optional extras: I added 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips for my chocolate chip cookie dough batch, and 2 T. cocoa powder for my brownie batter batch. Experiment adding other fun ingredients like cinnamon, vanilla, dried fruit, etc…

 

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Directions

  • In a large bowl, combine the protein powder, oat flour, nut butter and sweetener together. Add quest5water 1 Tablespoon at a time – If using Stevia (dry sweetener) you’ll need more water than if using honey or agave.
  • Stir together – get your hand in there to smoosh it all together until you can form a ball with no little bits coming out.
  • Scoop out the dough onto a piece of wax paper and shape into a rectangle.
  • Cut into 5 bars and refrigerate for 30-40 minutes until firm.
  • ENJOY!

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quest3

Refrigerate & ENJOY!!!

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And for those of you following the 21 Day Fix…here is your container count!

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For more information about the 21 Day Fix & the 21 Day Fix Extreme…

*Check out some of the before and after pictures, transformations and testimonials!

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21DFX_BUTTON

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For traditional calorie counters:

quest_bar_nutrition

For more family friendly recipes and meal plan ideas, get my FREE weekly meal plan email! Sign up below.

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Summer BODies Forming NOW!

Now that we’re THIS close to spring…my mind naturally goes to end-of-summer-quotes-pinterest-3SUMMER! It’ll be here before we know it! So…are you ready? Have you pulled out those shorts from last season. UGH! I don’t know about you…but how many times have I tried on last year’s clothes only to find out they don’t fit!!! Is there anything worse than that?

No. There isn’t.

I have spent spring days on my bed, just about in tears, because every article of clothing I pulled out of the box from the basement was either too tight, too small or too short. How could that happen in just 6 short months?! SO frustrating!

But we’ve got time! And where there’s a will, there’s a way! You provide the WILL, and I’ll provide the WAY!

DEAL!?

Maybe you’re worried that you don’t have the time. I get it! I’m a busy mom of 4, and it can be done. You just have to adjust your priorities a little and put yourself at the TOP of your list! Two and a half years ago I stopped putting myself dead last, and my life has done a complete 180! When I spent some time working on me, the result was that everyone got the BEST of me! I’m a better mom, wife and friend, and it’s because I started taking care of myself along with everyone else.

Now it’s YOUR turn!

summer_bodies

Starting Monday, April 6, let’s get down to business!

Where do you want to be in June? Do you have a favorite sun-dress or summer outfit that is hanging in your closet that you are desperate to wear this year? Focus on that, and let’s get to work!

Some fellow coaches and I are going to be hosting a private support & accountability group on Facebook. We’ll be working out, eating clean, and keeping each other on track for 30 days! We’ll be sharing daily tips, recipes and motivation to help you reach your goals.

These groups work so well. Every month I have participants who share such amazing success stories! Losing 10-20 pounds in one month feels incredible. And for many, it’s just the beginning of a new healthy lifestyle! Over and over again I hear the same thing from my fellow busy moms. They tell me that it’s the first time in a very long time that they’ve made themselves a priority and that it feels AMAZING! They have more energy and confidence and just have a more positive outlook on life in general. It’s so empowering!

As your coach, I will help you choose a workout and/or meal plan option that will work best for you! There are some GREAT sales going on right now! Save $90 on Turbo Fire (one of my FAVORITE workouts – helped me lose 16 pounds!), Focus T25, and the brand new option: BEACHBODY ON DEMAND (#BOD)! This month, when you try Shakeology, you’ll get your first 3 months access to the entire Beachbody On Demand library for FREE! It’s all part of the Beachbody Club Challenge Pack offer. I’ve been having a lot of fun with On Demand workouts all from my laptop, phone, tablet and smart t.v.! And we have even put together a 30 day hybrid workout plan for you to use (if you want to) all from different workouts that are available On Demand! 🙂

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There are LOTS of other options too…no matter what you might like (cardio, weights, stretching & strengthening, or all of the above!) So, if you are ready and you would like to join me in my April 6th challenge group and get even more support and accountability to help you reach your health and fitness goals this spring please complete the application below.

 

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JUST LAUNCHED!!! Insanity Max:30

Max30_nowavailable

Fingers crossed that there will be no sell-out of this program, but act fast just in case!
Base Kit Insanity Max 30 Includes:
  • 12 Workouts on 10 DVDs
  • 150 NEW moves
  • “Nutrition to the Max” Guide
  • “No Time to Cook” Guide
  • 60-Day “Max Out” Wall Calendar so you know which workouts to do each day
  • Max Out Guide
  • Bonus Workout “Sweat Fest” if you order from a Coach
Deluxe Kit Insanity Max 30 Includes:
Everything the Base Kit includes (not sure if the Bonus workout is!)
Plus 3 more workouts:
  • Max Out Abs
  • Max Out 15
  • Max Out 360 Abs
AND…
  • Mat
  • Shaker cup
  • Calipers to measure Body Fat
  • And YES….those color-coded portion control (21 Day Fix) containers!
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PRICING

Base Kit  – Retail $119, Club Member $107.87, Coach $89
Deluxe Kit – Retail $239.70, Club Member $215.73, Coach $179.78
*Challenge Pack – $180
A STEAL, because you get Shakeology + the NEW Insanity Max 30.
A one-time order of Shakeology by itself, with shipping (because there’s no $2 shipping deal if you’re doing a one-time order) would be somewhere in the ballpark of $150 depending on where you’re located. So it’s like getting Insanity Max 30, a program that gets RESULTS and you’ll have it for life, for $20-30. Or you could think of it as getting the discount on Shakeology. Either way, it’s a great deal!!NEW Coaches can sign up with the challenge pack, save $39.95 on the sign-up fee, AND start saving 25% right away as well as earn a 25% commission when friends and family buy through you!
Psst…I’ll teach you HOW!
EMAIL ME FOR MORE DETAILS! ➡ angieinprogress@gmail.com

*When Shaun T was asked how is it different from Insanity and T25, he said essentially (i.e. not direct quote) it’s his only program that truly pushes you to test and track your limits so you can improve your fitness level. But he went on to say “ANYONE CAN DO THIS PROGRAM” because you can choose to see the modifier the whole time and because you can get more done in less time than Insanity (which is easier time-wise and mentally); yet it’s more intense than T25. He went on to say the modifier moves are still very effective to sculpt your body and admittedly in some instances MORE effective in building muscle and fitness than the jumping!
Check out this video preview!

 

You can order with the following links: 

Challenge Pack

Coach Sign-up + Challenge Pack

Deluxe Kit

Base Kit

 

*Be PATIENT with these links! There are a LOT of people all trying to order TODAY! Please let me know if you have any trouble, or questions!

Also…TODAY is the LAST day to save on Black Friday Specials! Prices as low as $5.95! Save 50%-80% on popular & programs!

SHOP 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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FREE – Five Day – SHAPE-UP!

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Yep! It’s FREE!

Next week:

March 17-21

Give me 5 days and here’s what I’ll give you!

  • A FREE 5 – day meal plan with recipes AND a shopping list!
  • Daily Support
  • Daily Motivation
  • Daily Tips
  • Daily Accountability

We’ll have a private group on Facebook for daily communications and accountability. You will be amazed what you can accomplish in 5 days! We’ll all commit to exercising a minimum of 30 minutes each day. Combine that with the daily meal plan, support, accountability and your TOTAL dedication and you might just knock your own socks off! The last time I did this plan…I lost 4 pounds, in just 5 days! It’s not uncommon to lose 5-7 pounds! You won’t be starving either. I am not a fan of starving myself! EVER!

*This group is for NON-coaches only, and for those who are not currently working with a coach.

Interested?

Fill in the information below to get ready to SHAPE-UP! 🙂

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Three Reasons March is YOUR month!

Make it happen in March!

3 Reasons why March is YOUR month!

 

1. The 21 Day FIX is on sale for 3 more days! 21dayfixCPheader

If you order in February, you’ll receive your program in March and be ready to CRUSH it in just 21 Days! My current test group participants are LOVING this program and dropping and average of 4 pounds/week! That means 10-15 pounds in just 21 days! And the best part is, nobody is starving, or struggling to figure out what to eat, because it’s all laid out. You just fill up the containers, and eat! And the workouts are perfect for anyone, at any fitness level! You’ll do a little of everything, in just 30 minutes/day! This is truly the COMPLETE package! And for 3 more days, you’ll save $70!

To see a preview video, click HERE. To order, click the button at the bottom of this page.

PURCHASE THE 21 DAY FIX HERE!

combatpack2. Les Mills Combat is on sale TOO!

There was such a HUGE demand for the 21 Day FIX, that the program was initially selling out, and Beachbody wanted to make sure that there were enough sales to go around! I have done Combat, and I can tell you it’s a TON of fun! If you like total body conditioning with a focus on martial arts, using awesome music and FUN trainers…this one is PERFECT! You’ll save $70 on the challenge pack through March.

To see a preview video, click HERE. To order, click the button at the bottom of this page.

PURCHASE COMBAT HERE

3. New support group starts March 10!

What is a challenge group? It’s a private group on Facebook for anyone who wants a little extra accountability and support. We workout and eat healthy foods. I share daily tips, recipes and motivation to keep you going until you reach your goals! And…it’s FUN! Deadline to join is March 3. Spaces are limited. Click HERE to get your name on my list! HURRY! Summer is less than 4 months away!

 

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Pumpkin Granola

pumpkin granola

I was busy in my kitchen yesterday! Sometimes, I just get in the mood to put on an apron and go to town! I made whole wheat grandmas_apronpizza dough for family pizza night and while the dough was rising, I decided to make some homemade pumpkin granola. It turned out REALLY well, and even the kids give it a thumbs up! You can just pour a little milk on it and eat it like you would cereal, or you can sprinkle some on top of your Greek yogurt, maybe add some fresh fruit? I enjoyed popping it into my mouth by the handful – just making sure it was edible…you know! It’s just part of the job. 🙂

Pumpkin Granola

makes 25 servings

Ingredients:

  • 5 C. old-fashioned oats
  • 3/4 C. quinoa
  • 1 t. pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 t. cinnamon
  • 1/4 t. nutmeg
  • 3/4 t. sea salt
  • 1/4 C. honey
  • 1/2 C. pumpkin puree
  • 1/4 C. applesauce
  • 1/2 C. 100% pure maple syrup
  • 1 t. vanilla extract
  • 3/4 C. dried cranberries (or any combo of dried fruits)
  • 1/2 C. pepitas (or any combo of chopped nuts/seeds)

Directions:granola_pan

1. Preheat the oven to 325°. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper, and set aside.

2. In a large bowl combine oats, quinoa, spices and salt. Mix well.

3. In a medium bowl, whisk together honey, pumpkin, applesauce, maple syrup, and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and toss together until evenly coated. Spread the mixture onto the baking sheet.

4. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the pan and stir the mixture. Bake for another 15-20 minutes or until the granola is golden and crisp. Remove from the oven. Stir in the cranberries and pepitas. Let the mixture cool completely before storing in an air-tight container.

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Nutrition

Per 1/3 C. serving

140 calories, 4 g. protein, 26 g. carbs

 

 

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What’s for Lunch?

tuna_sandI’m packing up a lunch for today. I will not be tempted by the snack bar, or the fast food restaurants on the way to my destination. Even if the kids are whining in the back, “Please Mom”, they’ll say. “Heck no”, I’ll say. I’ve got tuna salad today. I made it and packed it myself.

I haven’t always been a ‘packer’. The last year has changed the way I look at a road trip, or a day away from home. I used to say,”ah, we’ll just stop and eat someplace along the way”. Nothing good ever comes of that! I have not eaten from a drive-thru in almost a year! I work too hard on my health and fitness to sabotage all of that with grease and sodium! Plus, I have a fridge and pantry all stocked with very edible and pack-able foods. It might take an extra 10 minutes before we leave, but it’s worth it. Not to mention, when we DID hit the drive-thrus, I was ALWAYS the car that had to pull ahead and wait for our food. So those 10 minutes would’ve been spent waiting for our pink slime and leftover chicken bits anyway! *I do occasionally give in to the kids pleas…sometimes they just gotta have their hockey pucks and fat sticks. Blech!

So on to the tuna…I’ve made this tuna, and even posted about it on Facebook about a zillion times! It’s a stand-by lunch for me. It’s really simple and a great way to make it without the mayo!

Tuna Salad (makes 2 servings)

Ingredients:tuna-fish-sandwich-funny-someecard

  • 1 can very low sodium albacore tuna
  • 2 T non-fat Greek yogurt
  • 1/4 avocado (mashed)
  • 1 t. dijon mustard

Mix-ins:

  • diced onions
  • diced celery
  • diced pickle

*Whatever crunchy bits you like!

I like to eat mine either like an open-faced sandwich. Sometimes I’ll just scoop it into romaine lettuce leaves. Or I like to have it in an Ezekiel tortilla.

Nutitional info: 1 serving (just the tuna salad) is about 150 calories, 3 g. fat, 20 g. protein, 8 g. carbs

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Presto Pesto!

pestoI was just asked to share this recipe here on the blog, so that is just what I’ll do. Funny, because I just thawed out some of these babies yesterday to make dinner (I’ll share that one, too!) I LOVE pesto! My husband and I both do!

When I was in my 20’s, so like a million years ago, I was a waitress at an Italian restaurant. This was my first experience with pesto. My husband initially gagged at the look of it, it’s not the prettiest site! But once he tasted it, he was hooked! He ordered the same pesto dish EVERY single time he came in to see me – which was a LOT of pesto! 😉

So…now I just whip it up myself. Easy peasy!  I get fresh basil and garlic (sometimes the garlic scapes, which work well too!) at the farm where we are CSA members (community-supported agriculture). After I make a big batch (and a little goes a long way!), I like to freeze it and then pop out a few cubes at a time for different dishes I make. You can spread it on pizza, add to soups and sautéed veggies, chicken, fish… lots of stuff! Check out how easy it is to make it!

Pesto
Add to food processor (a blender will work too, might just take some stopping and starting):

  • 2 C. packed basil leaves
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1/2 C. pine nuts (walnuts work well too)
  • 1/4 C. grated parmesan
  • 1 t. lemon juice
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  1. *Give it a whirl just to blend
  2. Drizzle 1/4 – 1/2 C. Olive oil while spinning until desired consistency.
  3. Yum!

Now bust out your ice-cube trays and fill ’em up! Once they’re frozen, pop them out and put them into a freezer bag and save for a rainy, sunny, or partly cloudy day! 🙂

So then yesterday I says to myself, “Self, let’s make some shrimp for dinner!”.

Pesto Shrimppesto_shrimp

  • 1-1.5 pounds raw shrimp
  • apx. 4 pesto cubes (thawed)
  • 7-10 wooden skewers (soaked in water to prevent burning) or metal skewers if you want to avoid soaking

 

  1. Combine raw shrimp with pesto and marinate a few hours in a bowl.
  2. Thread shrimp onto the skewers.
  3. Heat an outdoor grill or indoor grill pan over medium-low heat until hot. Be sure the grates are clean and spray or brush lightly with oil.
  4. Place the shrimp on the hot grill and cook until shrimp turns pink on the bottom, about 3-4 minutes.
  5. Turn and continue cooking until shrimp is opaque and cooked through, about 3-4 minutes.

We served these with Zoodles!

There you go Chris! I hope that helps you find what you were looking for!

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I’M BACK!

I’ve been MIA for so long because 1) It’s vacation season, and we chose remote locations this year, making any sort of computer-use completely impossible! And 2) I decided to update my blog and host it myself, giving me some bells and whistles I didn’t have before! So bear with me…as I try to figure it all out!

Back to vacations…

We had a great time this year camping with 7 of my high school girl friends and our camping2013 (72)combined 22 kids! I am always amazed that we manage to pull this off every year! The kids have so much fun, and we just get to enjoy each other’s company – even as we deal with leaky tents, bug bites, boo-boos and the occasional raccoon!

I do not fancy myself much of a camper, but I’m getting better each year. This year, I even stayed a little longer than I normally do. I decided to suck it up, and take one for the team, which made my “team” very happy! I managed to stay on track pretty well with food and workouts. I abandoned the cooler this fridge_campingyear for a full-on refrigerator! I packed it with lots of fresh fruits and veggies, and of course all of my standard Shakeology fixins! My fantastic Target find, personal Oster Blender was PERFECT! I blended my shake every morning either for breakfast, or after my morning workout. I love when I can stick to my routine. It just makes me feel better, and then I can relax and enjoy my vacation, know that I didn’t set myself back so far that I need to start over as soon as we get home. It’s a win-win!

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For workouts, I just packed my running shoes and some workout clothes and counted on some runs, walks or stair workouts. There is a BIG long stair case leading down to Lake Michigan, and I wore a path up and down them MANY times!  I went for a couple of runs, too. Running or walking is such a portable exercise! You really can do it just about anywhere and any fitness level! And when you do it on vacation, you get to see new things, smell new camping2013 (77)smells and it just feels good to get out and do something active!

Apparently, my pepper-eating technique was intriguing enough that one of the kids went home and asked his mom if he could eat a bell pepper the way that he saw me do it while we were camping. He thought it was pretty funny that I just picked it up and ate it like an apple! camping2013 (123)

All in all, it was a very fun trip! Between rain showers and thunderstorms, we managed to get some beach time! And we had a LOT of laughs and made some new memories that will be with us until next year, when we’ll do it all again!

StarvationLake-2013 (66)After that trip, we had a couple of days to unpack, unwind and then re-pack for a quick family get-away ‘up-north’. I wish we could have stayed a little longer, but we had a nice time relaxing, fishing, playing cards and board games, and just being together without the usual distractions.

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So…as summer winds down, I hope that you all found some time to relax, unwind, unplug and spend time with the people you love. I also hope that you have a healthy, happy fall and make your goals a priority. As always, if you need help getting started, don’t hesitate to ask. I’ve always got a new support group starting up each month. Want information? Click the tab “30 Day Challenge” at the top of this page.  Now I’m hitting the pool! I’m holding on to summer until the bitter end! 🙂

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