P90 is Coming!!!

Another workout program is being released next week and I am seriously excited about this one!!

There are so many people in North America who are severely overweight and obese and are afraid to start a workout program because of how intense it is.  Their fears hold them back from achieving a healthy life. I get it!  Workouts are scary, especially when you see these super fit people in them who have amazingly chiseled abs, super toned legs and a perma smile!  It's intimidating!

This workout was specifically designed for people who have never worked out a day in their life. 

For people who are obese.

For people who do not want a crazy intense program.

For people who only have 30 minutes a day to workout.

For people who are ready to make a change.

For people who are tired of being overweight.

For people who want to have the energy to play with their kids.

For people who want a workout that is doable.

For people who want to be healthy.

This is a gateway program for you.!!

Tony Horton, the creator of America's most popular fitness programs—P90X®, P90X2®, 10-Minute Trainer®, and P90X3® has out done himself with this program!

Simple cardio, simple resistance training, simple eating and portion control!

*** I am giving away a copy of this new program to the NAILED! Ladies Who Lunch and Habitat for Humanity NCR, event on Monday September 22!

Delicious Hearty Granola Bars

My kids can be picky eaters and it makes me a little crazy. I get it, new foods are scary and little taste buds are not as matured as mine are but come on kids! It drives me crazy when they outright refuse to even try something different! I sometimes will bribe them with a marshmallow if they try a bite of a new veggie or try my new concoction of a smoothie. (Yes I said marshmallow. And if you have never bribed your kids with a marshmallow or another highly unhealthy treat than kudos to you for being Super Mom :) )

My kids love brussel sprouts, mind you they are tossed in butter and crispy bacon but they still eat them! But they wouldn't even try a bite of my granola bars until I bribed them. My Chloe loves all foods and is always my taste tester! I'm pretty sure she will eat anything except eggs, and I don't blame her, I have to be in the right mood to eat eggs.

Last weekend I tried out this recipe I found on ohsheglows.com for 'Feel Good Hearty Granola Bar's. I was nervous, as I always am when trying out a new recipe but they turned out amazing and are the perfect 3pm snack or after school snack to keep kids calm while you make dinner (and drink a glass of wine ;) ). They are loaded with so much deliciousness it's pretty amazing that these little bars are so healthy for you! No sugar, no flour, no eggs! But they do have nuts so keep them at home :)


Recipe (adapted from www.ohsheglows.com)
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Servings: 12-16 bars

Ingredients:
1.5 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3 medium/large bananas)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups rolled oats
1/2-3/4 cup dried cherries or raisins (I used 3/4 cup of raisins)
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup shelled pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon sea salt or fine grain sea salt, or to taste

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Lightly grease a large rectangular baking dish (approx. 8.5" x 12.5") and line with a piece of parchment paper so the bars are easier to lift out. I didn't have any parchment paper left but was able to get the bars out in one piece just by gently flipping pan over.
2. In a large bowl, mash the banana until smooth then stir in the vanilla.
3. Place the rolled oats into a food processor and pulse until the oats are coarsely chopped (but still with lots of texture). Stir oats into the banana mixture.
4. Chop the walnuts and stir these, the raisins and the rest of the ingredients into the banana-oat mixture until thoroughly mixed.
5. Spoon mixture into prepared dish. Press down until compacted and smooth with hands until even
6. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, check at 20 minutes, bake until firm and lightly golden along the edge. Place dish on a cooling rack for 10 minutes then carefully slide a knife to loosen the ends and lift out. Place granola slab on a cooling rack for 10 minutes and once they are cool you can cut the slab into bars.

These bars turned out really well! I love them and will definitely be making them again!

Healthy Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

"Back to school. Back to school, to prove to Dad that I'm not a fool. I got my lunch packed up, my boots tied tight, I hope I don't get in a fight. Ohhhh, back to school. Back to school. Back to school. Well, here goes nothing." Adam Sandler - Billy Madison.....one of my favourite movies ever!!

Last year more times than I care to admit. my kids would come home with most of their lunch and snacks uneaten which would make them super grumpy (think hangry) while I got dinner ready. This year I am making snacks for their lunches that I know they will love, while also making them healthy and sneaking vegetables into them!  Muwhahaha!......yes I sneak vegetables into my kids foods because let's be honest here, not all kids like all vegetables.  So sometimes you have to be a ninja mom with your baking skills ;)

I found this recipe and fell in love!  So many healthy ingredients and zucchini!  My kids loved it and only one of them noticed the zucchini....

Thomas: Mom, what's this green stuff?
Me: Ummmm, do you like them? (totally stalling here because I know if I told him it was zucchini, he would not eat them!)
Thomas: they are so good but what's this green stuff?
Me: Oh it's just magic.
Thomas: Oh ok!  Mom you are the best cooker baker ever!
Me: **heart melts**

Side note: I only have one hand mixer but have 7 beaters and only one of them fit in my hand mixer.  How does one lose just ONE beater?

Recipe (adapted from www.ambitiouskitchen.com)
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20-25 minutes
Servings: 12

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour

1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

2 small to medium ripe bananas, mashed

1 teaspoon melted coconut oil

1/4 cup honey

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 egg whites

1 cup shredded zucchini (about 1 medium zucchini after the water has been squeezed from it)

2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce

1/3 cup plain greek yogurt 

1/2 cup mini or regular chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners and generously spray inside of liners with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Squeeze shredded zucchini of excess water with a paper towel! This is an important step, once the water is squeezed out, re-measure to make sure it is 1 cup.
3. In medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon; set aside.
4. In bowl add the mashed banana, oil, honey, vanilla and eggs; mix until smooth.  Add in zucchini, applesauce, and yogurt and beat again until well combined. Slowly mix in dry ingredients until just combined. Remember not to over mix the batter -- it helps them stay moist! Gently fold in 1/2 cup of chocolate chips.
5. Evenly divide batter into muffin cups.  Bake for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Remove from muffin tin and place on rack to cool.  Enjoy!

I am who I am

I want you all to know that I have daily struggles just like you! I try and be as honest as I can on this page so you can know that you are not alone in your journey.

I struggle with eating well consistently. In my first round of the 21 day fix I lost 12lbs and the second round, I wasn't as committed as I was in the first round and only lost 3lbs. Food has been my go to place for when I was sad, angry and upset. I am trying very hard to change that but still find myself walking towards the kitchen when I get upset.

I eat really well during the week but then on the weekends I struggle. I have gotten a lot better; rarely eat fast food, cut down big time on my chocolate and candy intake but I still eat a bit of it on the weekends. I use food as a reward for doing really well during the week, which I need to change! It's just sabotaging all my hard work and it makes me feel like crap!

For a long time I wished I had a different body, a different metabolism but now I am embracing it. I was given this body and I have to make the most of it. There is no point in not being happy with what I have, it just makes me upset and sad. I know I will never be a size 2 or 4, or even a 6 ( I have wide hips!). I know I have to be consistent with what I eat or I will gain weight very quickly. It's taken me some time to figure these things out and now that I have, I feel a lot better about myself and where I am going on my journey.

Please know that I am not perfect! I will never be petite. I will always love chocolate. I will always be curvy. I will always love french fries. I will never be a size 4.

But I will always be me and I hope I can inspire you to be you, to be happy and find your own love for health and fitness <3

Benefits of Lemons!

Hi Fit Fam!!! I love adding lemon into my water! There are so many health benefits to adding lemon to your water, it's pretty amazing!!

Lemons are packed with nutrients including vitamin C, B-complex vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and fiber. (Fun fact: they contain more potassium than apples or grapes!)

1. Gives your immune system a boost.
Lemon juice is full of vitamin c which gives our immune system a HUGE boost!. The level of vitamin C in your system is one of the first things to decrease when you’re stressed, which is why experts recommended taking an extra vitamin C during especially stressful days.

2. Keeps your skin blemish-free.
The antioxidants in lemon juice help to not only decrease blemishes, but wrinkles too! It can also be applied to scars and age spots to reduce their appearance, and because it’s detoxifying your blood, it will maintain your skin’s radiance.

3. Helps you lose weight.
Lemons contain pectin fiber, which assists in fighting hunger cravings.

4. Aids digestion.
Lemon juice not only encourages healthy digestion by loosening toxins in your digestive tract, it helps to relieve symptoms of indigestion such as heartburn, burping, and bloating.

5. Excellent source of potassium.
Lemons are high in potassium, which is good for heart health, as well as brain and nerve function

6. Cleanses your system.
It helps flush out the toxins in your body by enhancing enzyme function, stimulating your liver.

7. Freshens your breath.
It also helps relieve toothaches and gingivitis. Because the citric acid can erode tooth enamel, either hold off on brushing your teeth after drinking lemon water or brush your teeth before drinking it.

8. Reduces inflammation.
If you drink lemon water on a regular basis, it will decrease the acidity in your body, which is where disease states occur. It removes uric acid in your joints, which is one of the main causes of inflammation.

9. Gives you an energy boost.
Lemon juice provides your body with energy when it enters your digestive tract, and it also helps reduce anxiety and depression. (Even the scent of lemons has a calming effect on your nervous system!)

10. Helps fight viral infections.
Warm lemon water is the most effective way to diminish viral infections and their subsequent sore throats. Plus, with the lemon juice also boosting your immune system, you’ll simultaneously fight off the infection completely.

Not only are the benefits of lemon water endless, it’s one of the most substantial yet simple changes you can make for your health!!!

Healthy or Unhealthy - the choice is YOURS!

A lot of people messaged me about the P90X3 & Focus T25 sale and then are shocked by the "sale price"......

So I have to say this:

1. If you have the money to be UNHEALTHY, then you have the money to be HEALTHY!
2. YES the sale is a HUGE savings compared to normal price (normal price for shakeology + either P90X3 or Focus T25 = $249.50.....cost right now $180 = savings of $69.90)
3. Taking care of YOU is an INVESTMENT for you, your future and your family.
4. What I do is FREE, but you have to get the equipment. I spend a lot of my time and effort working with my challengers in my private facebook groups which is at NO cost to you!
5. You basically have two choices; you can invest now to get healthy and in shape or pay later for medications, doctors visits, hospital stays...the choice is YOURS.



So for those who are COMMITTED to making a change and done with excuses... there is only one day left to get in touch with me about P90X3/ Focus T25 to get into my next challenge group.

**taking a step off my soapbox**