June 23, 2017

Fitness apparel sale!

Hey friends! Do you use Cartwheel for Target? If not, you need to! Heads up, this weekend only, there is fitness apparel on sale for 30% off! 

 

June 14, 2017

Blender!

A blender is by far my favorite kitchen tool. THIS ONE specifically! It does SO much and it KNOWS how long it needs to blend a specific food/drink. I use it for my shakes in the morning, I use it for making cookie dough, for blending up muffin batter, and for any frozen drink or popsicles! 


 




 


June 8, 2017

Get outside and get moving!

It's that time again! The time when the GORGEOUS outdoors is calling my name! On the weekends, I don't usually do a traditional workout. Instead, I like to get outside and eat moving with my family. Your children are watching you, looking for healthy habits. Be a great example to them and have fun while you're doing it! Children can go with you on pretty much any outdoor workout, a walk/jog/run, a hike, playing some sports at a local park, frisbee, swimming. What can you think of to do outside with the kiddos?!

For the kids...
Swimming: If you're going to use a floatie, and opinions are different on this so do what you like, I've always recommended these ones  so I can get a good swim going while my littles play with me!

Jogging: my faaaaavorite stroller is this one ! And the tray attachment  is a MUST.

Stroller fans come in handy too!

Which baby products do you recommend for outdoor play?

This post contains affiliate links and I may be compensated a small percentage. The opinions are my own and I was not compensated for writing this. 

June 1, 2017

Squats and Salads!

This month is my annual 30 DAY SQUAT group. I love these free Facebook groups because it's such a fun way to meet like minded people. Get out of your comfort zone and join a Facebook fitness group!

May 9, 2017

Lift some weights!

Ladies! Cardio is my fave. You know, the endless running, in my case panting while running! Instead, I like to focus my efforts on strength training and weight training, which also increases your endurance/stamina and builds muscle to burn fat! Did you know that lifting weights can actually cause those muscles to CONTINUE burning fat long after your workout is completed? And I just feel very powerful after a lifting session.

You are NOT going to bulk up! And lifting anything lighter than your purse is futile. No point. If I were you, I would grab 2 sets of dumbells, one light set and one heavy set. For your light set, please don't lift anything lighter than 5 pounds. And your heavy set can be whichever weight is going to challenge you. I started with 6s to be honest, then moved to 8s. You can do 10s, 12s, 12.5, 15! Whichever you're comfortable with!

I love these!! The flat surfaces make exercises where you rest the weight on the floor in between reps MUCH easier. 


*This post contains affiliate links and I may be compensated a small amount. 

April 27, 2017

Get rid of the junk

Hey all! Thursday Mini Challenge- Whos' in?!

It's time to DE-JUNK your home!

Saying goodbye to treats and guilty pleasures is probably the hardest part of the fitness process! Everyone has a secret stash of goodies tucked away in the cupboard (or closet if you're a mother). If you don't have this stash, I'm in awe of you! For me, it was always a big ol' bag of chocolate chips, and it's just sitting there, waiting for the day I lose my willpower. I recently had to stop buying it because I couldn't resist!

I'm going to make your day right now and tell you that every meal plan you'll ever see me recommend will include desserts. So you're not having to say buh-bye to everything, hold tight! I've got your back with some recommendations coming for amazing (and clean) snacks and desserts! But now is the time to de-junk your kitchen of most of it. Keep a few things that will go along with a clean eating meal plan. Get rid of anything processed and junky, like chips, bye bye cheetos.

When you’ve got goals to meet, don’t let anything get in your way. We will naturally reach for the convenient snack, and it's always the least healthy! Don’t leave something in your cupboard just waiting to de-rail you!

If your family still wants their treats and snacks, hey I've got teens, I get it, just keep their snacks separate from yours. And keep them out of eye level for you! My trick is to place them LOW in my cabinet in a non-transparent container. It's all a mind game, out of sight, out of mind!

Make a commitment to de-junk your home as part of this Squat Challenge and it will take you into July with a great start for a healthy lifestyle!

April 5, 2017

Zucchini Meatballs and Spaghetti

This is a huge hit! Not only could I eat these by themselves, like pop one in my mouth and call it day, but my husband said they were good and my 15 year old son thought there was meat in them! Winning! 

 



  • olive or coconut oil


  • 2 garlic cloves, minced


  • 3 medium unpeeled zucchini, grated


  • 1/2 tsp pink Himalayan salt


  • 1/8 tsp black pepper


  • 1 tbsp fresh chopped basil


  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs


  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning 


  • 1 large egg


  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese


  • Jar of marinara sauce


  • Whole wheat spaghetti, zoodles, or your noodle of choice



  • DIRECTIONS:
    Heat the oven to 375°F. Spray a large rimmed baking sheet with coconut or olive oil spray or brushed on. 
    Add 1 tsp of olive or coconut oil and minced garlic clove in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté 1 minute. 

    Add the grated zucchini, season with salt and pepper and cook on high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently.

    Transfer the zucchini to a colander to get rid of any excess water. I use a thick paper towel or cheese cloth to press the excess water out of the zucchini.

    In a mixing bowl, beat the egg and add the Parmesan, breadcrumbs , seasoning, and basil. Combine zucchini into mixing bowl. 

    Form the zucchini mixture into 12 balls about 1 1/2 tbsp each, rolling tightly and transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Cook until lightly browned on top, about 20 to 25 minutes.

     

    Heat the sauce in a large deep skillet to warm the sauce hen add the meatballs to the sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.

     
    * I cooked these with beef meatballs for my family. I added whole wheat spaghetti because since I was serving them zucchini meatballs, I didn't want to push my luck with zoodles also, but this would be ah-maze-ing with zoodles. My son thought there was beef in the zucchini meatballs anyways! 


    Make it vegan: Use 1 flax egg and nutritional yeast as Parmesan.