Pure awesomeness!!!!

This is one of the best kitchen appliances I have ever bought. I HIGHLY suggest getting it!! You can do so many different veggies throught this magnificent contraption. There is a slot for making "thin noodles," as seen on the right, and "thick noodles," as seen on the left.

I bought mine from Bed Bath and Beyond, but they are also at Walmart, and probably cheaper... dang it.

I've made meat sauce, meat balls, side dishes, etc with these yummy zucchini noodles. I still have not tried using any other veggie because I love the zucchini noodles so much:-) But when I do, I'll keep you updated on the yumminess!

GO GET ONE NOW! Please and thank you:-)

Best healthy meatloaf ever!

I am one happy girl right now!!! I made this meatloaf about a year ago... and could NOT find the recipe again for the life of me. It was so delicious, healthy, and easy to make. Well guess what I just found, THE BEST MEATLOAF RECIPE EVER!!!

It's a paleo recipe, meaning: gluten, grain, dairy, sugar free. There's no bread crumbs, milk, nothing! Yay! I've made this a couple times. Once with turkey bacon, and Liquid Amino Acids to replace the Tamari (http://bragg.com/products/bragg-liquid-aminos-soy-alternative.html). Once following the exact recipe with Tamari and regular pork bacon. I'm telling you it's amazing!

If I had to pick between the two... I actually liked the turkey bacon and liquid amino acids better than the tamari. But both freaking rock!

The recipe actually makes two servings, so I made one loaf, put the rest in the fridge, and cooked the other half the next night. It will freeze well too, so I may just save the second one for later:-)

What I love about meatloaf is you can make it beforehand, separate into Tupperware and just grab and go:-) How many times do you think I will repeat that statement while I'm blogging?? 

Enjoy!!

http://goddessinthehouse.com/2013/01/bacon-wrapped-paleo-meatloaf-recipe/

Be the Motivator

One of my VIP clients sporting my gym shirt in honor of me:-) 

It takes courage, strength, determination, and discipline to take your health and wellness into your own hands. For some people just getting out of the house is a feat. Sometimes we need a little push to get moving. Have you ever thought about how your journey could encourage someone else to better themselves?

Here is my challenge for you: Ask someone to get moving with you. Whether it's to take a hike, go for a walk, take a yoga class, zumba, lift weights... the possibilities are endless!!

Be the one who get's them moving and encourage a healthy and happy life:-) You never know the friendships you will develop or the great memories you will create. Accountability partners are a great way to keep motivated!!

Love one another, love yourself, eat clean, keep moving!!

Getting Back to Normal

I have been sick for over three dang weeks... for someone who rarely gets sick, the past couple weeks not only kicked my butt, but I had to fight feelings of defeat.  Every part of me wanted to work out and feel normal again. I ached to do a work out of my own, sweat, and feel great about what I had accomplished that day. Showing my clients proper exercises was about all the energy I could muster up. Then it would be home, still a healthy supper, and bed for me.  That made me start to think:

So many people have told me, "I haven't been here for a while (the gym) because I got sick and once I got out of the routine, it's been hard to start back up." Now, I  know you all think I'm some sort of freak of nature, but logically that sentence makes NO SENSE to me. When I get sick, the second I feel better I can't wait to get my butt to the gym to sweat out what feels like the last remaining germs and say hello to a healthy me again! It feels so good to remember what it's like to work out and get life back to normal.

Sometimes I start slow with a yoga class or an bike ride. Don't misunderstand my point here, it's not to get back to the gym and do a super hard work out that burns you out so fast you can't even see straight.  Nor are you supposed to kick your butt in the midst of being sick. The point is to get your body moving the second you feel well. Listen to what it needs, if rest is still a priority, take a couple more days. Or go for a leisurely walk, the fresh air will also help rejuvenate the spirits! Never let yourself get out of that habit or make more excuses.

You have heard me say it before, we are all living this thing called life, and we all could make up excuses.

People try to tell me it's easier for me because I work in the gym. Actually, sometimes that makes it more difficult. Not only do I work over 50 hours a week, I have to STAY even longer to work out!! I never get to leave the "job"... people are constantly interrupting my work outs to ask me questions. Or I see someone at the front desk who needs help, so I put a hold on what I'm doing to go help them. I could easily leave when I'm done training and say, "Uhg! I just don't want to be at work anymore." But I don't. I put in those extra hours to take care of myself. Like I said, we all have excuses... Plus I love my job:-)

Life rarely goes how we plan, and we always seem to get sick at the worst moment. Don't let it be easy for you to stop going to the gym. Don't let excuses get in the way of your health and fitness. Respect the body God has given you, take care of it and love it:-)

By the way, I am finally able to work out this week. Here is my slowly getting back into it routine so far:

Monday:
25 minutes stair-master on an easier level
Lat Pull Down 4x15
Seated Row 4x15
Hammer Curl with cable 4x15
(rotate between three exercises)

Tuesday:
1.5 hour Yoga Flow class

Wednesday:
30 minutes stair-master on medium level
Dynamic Warm Up
Woodchops with Body Bar 3x10 R/L
Glute Kick 3x15 R/L
Hex Bar Deadlift 2x15 medium weight
Straight Leg Deadlift on Smith Machine 2x15 medium weight
Incline Chest Press 3x15
Bench Dips 3x15

Fuel

Meet Jana!!

Meet Jana. She is an amazing specimen of a woman! Not only is she 66 years young, she is and should be an inspiration for all women! She hates when I tell people how old she is, but she looks so freaking good! Maybe it's the healthy lifestyle and clean eating that keeps her looking so good... hint, hint:-)

A couple days ago she called me after her fitness class. Apparently they were doing box jumps and she missed the box and scraped up her shin hitting the edge. If any of you have ever done this before, it hurts... bad. It also bleeds like crazy! The teacher was all over her asking if she was OK. I asked what she did, and she said, "I just slapped a band-aid on it and kept going!"  This, ladies and gentlemen, is my wonderfully crazy mother. Can you tell??!! By the way, the handsome man is my father:-)

If you have ever had the pleasure of meeting my mother, you will totally know where I came from. We are both health nuts and love to work out. My mother climbs 14er's in Colorado ( here is a link that describes exactly what a 14er is -  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteener ) AND does tons of group fitness classes like TRX, Pilates, and Fitwall.

First of all she needs an award for raising a fit throwing, stubborn, determined, and bull headed child like myself:-) But, I owe her for more than just raising me to be the woman I am today. My mother is the one who started me on this pathway to health and fitness. She got a me a personal trainer when I was in high school so I could get stronger for softball, and I fell in love. I also grew up with home cooked meals, home packed lunches, sugar in moderation, and always made me try everything she cooked at least one time. I was really lucky. Because of her, I am not a picky eater, love to cook, and take my own lunch to work. Remember, no matter how healthy you try to eat when you go out, it's never as good as making your own food at home!

My holistic approach to health, fitness, and nutrition also comes from her. We are that nerdy mom and daughter that could talk for hours about healthy recipes, nutrition information, vitamins, minerals, water, and clean eating. It's sad, but I think we send each other recipes and nutrition articles weekly!

My point in telling you about my mother is that you can get fit and healthy at ANY age! She has not always been a gym rat, actually it wasn't until recently that she joined a gym. My mom would stay active with hiking and getting outside to go for walks. But as time went on and she kept at it, more strength came along and she started trying new things.

She never thought she would have the strength --  "at her age" -- to do some of those group fitness classes. But after years of telling her to get her booty to the gym, she gave in and is now hooked on working out inside and outside!

My mother looks amazing! She is fit, healthy, and happy. A real inspiration for women of all ages to get over the fear of failure and find a healthy lifestyle that fits you best!

Get moving, eat clean, live happy!!

PS. My mother JUST texted me that she was getting up at 5:30 am on Mondays and Wednesdays to get to her FitWall class... that is a miracle!!! She hates getting up early! I am SO proud:-)