Shake It Up Baby!!!

Motivation of the Day: Nothing Tastes Better Than Healthy Feels

Nothing Feels Better than Staying Healthy!

I have just finished my morning workout, jumped into the kitchen and made a post workout shake and video. I absolutely love my post workout shake…WHY…because it is my heavier shake full of fabulous nutrients like whey protein, fiber, yogurt, nuts, and fruit…OH SO SHAKE GOOD. My body is definitely ready for this powerhouse after my workouts & it is a fast way to supply my muscles with the much needed fuel that my workout depletes. I get an instant satisfaction drinking my post shake and it keeps me going for the next 2 ½ hours when I WILL be eating another healthy meal. Did I tell you I LOVE to EAT….YES YES YES….but I am stressing this over and over because it truly is a HUGE part of what keeps me looking the way I do. The shake may start my day, but believe me, I will be eating another 5 meals before this day is done;) In my refrigerator is already prepared chicken breast, spiced brown rice, steel cut oatmeal, and I always have veggies, fruits and raw nuts on hand. It is important to know that by eating, your metabolism is in the “ON” mode and burning calories efficiently. I ensure that my body is always fed and my metabolism is always turned on….I feel great throughout the day, never hungry, always satisfied, and full of energy. I never want to allow my engine to be turned off…YUCK…no calorie burn, let’s keep the fat in storage, low sugar levels which means cranky & no energy, sluggish, headache, and just an overall “POOH” feeling when healthy foods are not eaten throughout the day. This girl will enjoy my shakes, my foods, and be able to conquer my workouts and everyday tasks….and I am not kidding when I say…that it makes me FEEL GOOD to EAT STAY HEALTHY FOOD. So….is it difficult to live like this…NO…it feels too good not to. Have a fabulous Stay Healthy Tuesday!


My Workout of the Day:


ARC interval for 20 minutes


Bodywork…I repeated this one cycle 6 times


One Leg Squats with a Kick Up (3 count with 1 kick up at the end) 7-10 reps per side
Plyometric Split Lunge Jumps 20 reps
Biceps Curls 12lbs @ 15-20 reps

My Nutrition of the Day:


Coffee, one cup please


1-Post Workout Shake

POST WORKOUT SHAKE. ENJOY THE VIDEO!

2-Powered Up Oats (Whey/raisins/walnuts/cinnamon)
3-Albacore tuna with mustard on Sprouted Organic Toast
4-Sweet Potato & protein ball
5-B/S chicken breast topped with salsa & avocado
6-Protein pudding






IF YOU ENJOYED THE POST, LIKE IT, AND LEAVE ME A COMMENT. STAY HEALTHY!

For The Love of Peanut Butter…YUM!!!!

Motivation of the Day: Change Does Not Happen in One Day…But What a Beautiful Day to Start!

I LOVE PEANUT BUTTER

I absolutely love organic peanut butter and it is a regular nutritional intake for me every day. I take it straight from the tablespoon or mix it with my whey protein to make my protein ball snacks. I am very creative with my fabulous fats…..YES….I have many. I also maintain this body with other good fats like almond butter, walnuts, flax meal, extra-virgin olive oil, and avocados. Tonight I will be having grilled salmon for dinner which is full of Omega 3 fatty acids. Did you know that the good fats help to burn the bad fats….imagine…..fats have received lots of bad press, but what is important to understand is that there is a difference between the fats that are great for your body and fats that contribute to the ruin of your body. Getting back to my love for peanut butter and what I want you to understand. I LOVE peanut butter…did I say that….BUT I eat it in proper proportion. The issue is the importance of eating good fat, which I do, but not to extremes of sitting with a spoon and eating the whole jar…YIKES. Now that would not allow me to maintain the ME I am today, and in fact, I would not like to see any kind of ME that would sit and eat a whole jar in one go on a regular basis. Good fats have so many health benefits to include reducing heart disease, stroke, hypertension symptoms, depression, joint pain, skin ailments, and an immunity boost giving protection from so many illnesses to include Alzheimer’s disease. I believe and call my fabulous fats the MIRACLE nutrients ….I mean just take another glance at the previous sentence. I realize that my love for peanut butter is not included in the Omega fats but just check this out….research has discovered that the monounsaturated fats in peanut butter are extremely good for the heart and health in general. In fact, five major studies confirm that eating peanuts or peanut butter can lower the risk for coronary heart disease by lowering the total cholesterol, specifically the bad “LDL” cholesterol and triglycerides. This is a BIG YAHOO in my peanut butter agenda. If you have not noticed…I love to research on every topic health related so today you not only get to enjoy my personal share about my love affair with peanut butter, but also learn about the benefits. Mom was not far off making my PB & Js on whole wheat growing up and to this day, I enjoy the taste, the texture, and the satisfied feeling that peanut butter gives me. Another personal share about my peanut butter….I mix it in my protein pudding every night and have it before bed….fabulous treat for muscle recovery and I never wake up due to being hungry. For the Love of Peanut Butter…SPOON UP;)

My Workout of the Day:


30 Minutes of Cardio on My Stair Stepper


Bodywork: repeated each set 3x (my intervals are included in the video)


Set 1



Lows Rows Help Keep my Back Strong & Protect My Neck

 Cable Low rows 30lbs @ 20reps                                 
Low jacks 3 jump 1 (15 reps) - Interval


Set 2
Tube Triceps Kick Backs 20 reps @ medium resistance
Modified Burpees 20 reps - Interval


Set 3
Lunge knee tucks @ 20 per side - Interval
1 leg squat thrust ups @ 10 reps per side




My Nutrition of the Day:


Coffee please – one cup




My Healthy Fats

 1-Post Workout shake (fruit/yogurt/nuts/fiber/whey)
2-Powered Up Steel Oats (1/2 scoop of vanilla whey mixed in)
3-Sweet Potato (got to have it) and 1 protein ball
4-Small tuna wrap with avocado/mustard
5-Grilled salmon & fresh green beans
6-Protein pudding




DID YOU LIKE THE POST....LET ME KNOW AND STAY HEALTHY!

HI READERS!!!


Enjoy the February issue of Natural Muscle Magazine and my monthly feature on page 48!!!!



http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/total-health/nmfeb10webop/2010011901/



Stay Healthy!!!!



Darla:)

Stay Healthy Pizza.....It's Pizza Time and It's OHHHH So GOOD!!!!

YOU CAN MAKE THIS!!!!!

Hi Readers.....Just let me share that I am so excited to create and get these recipes to you. Join me being creative in the kitchen and knowing that there is no such thing as a mistake or perfection when letting yourself experience the touch, smell, and best of ALL...the taste of healthy food. I enjoy putting on fun music and singing away while I put together my meal.....life is just too short not to, and if you have a significant other to have a cooking party with....all the better:) So grab your ingredients, put on some music, and have fun with me in the kitchen.....let's go!!!!

Stay Healthy Pizza!!!

The Do Ahead Stuff.....

1 Seasoned and Grilled Boneless/Skinless Chicken Breast ( I marinate mine in Yoshida Gourmet Sauce, sprinkle with rosemary, sage, thyme, basil, bay leaves, and crushed red pepper and cook in a covered skillet and adding enough water to steam it during cooking process about 20 min)....If you are in a hurry, you can purchase seasoned boneless/skinless grilled chicken already cooked and ready to go.

1 or 2 whole roasted garlic cloves ( prepare by removing skin, cutting off tips to expose garlic, drizzle with olive oil making sure every clove is covered and even rub the oil into every inch of the clove, place face down in a muffin tin, cover in foil and bake at 350 oven for 30-35 minutes)...If you are in a hurry, purchase jarred minced garlic

Preheat oven to 350 or 400 (depends on oven)

Ingredients

2 Tandori Naan whole grain flat (bread native to India)....this makes a fabulous crust!!!

1 or 2 roasted garlic cloves, precooked as above or jarred

Pasta sauce (your fav in a jar )...I add crushed red pepper, basil, and bay leaf flakes to mine

1 bag shredded Italian blend cheese (optional)

Fresh Spinach Leaves (A bag of baby spinach salad works great)

1 boneless/skinless chicken breast, precooked as above or packaged, chopped

Red and yellow bell pepper (chop and grill on stove top in olive oil only until a bit roasted)

1 bag Sun Dried tomatoes

Fresh chopped green onion

Fresh chopped red onion

Jalapenos (optional)....I love to add a kick to mine


Let's Layer!!!

Place 2 Nan breads on your clean counter top, rub garlic clove into the bread until well covered, spread an even amount of sauce over each bread (I like a light to medium sauce coverage), sprinkle lightly with cheese blend or NONE at ALL (your call), cover the breads with spinach leaves (do not be shy...they shrink up), sprinkle each bread with cooked chicken breast, add grilled chopped peppers, add sun dried tomatoes (I love lots of these), sprinkle on the fresh green onion (do not be shy...they shrink up too), add fresh chopped red onions, and if you want the kick...add the jalapenos.





Bake directly on your oven rack in preheated oven for about 20 minutes...watch them about 15 minutes into the cooking process as not to burn the crust. Remove and let sit for about 5 minutes. Take your time and really savor the flavor of your creation.......


Stay Healthy!!!!

Darla:)

My Banana Oat Protein Pancakes for Breakfast!!!!!

YOU CAN MAKE THIS!!!

Good Morning Readers!

This morning I am sharing my breakfast with you. I am on a mission to show that eating healthy is easy and fun.....so get in that kitchen and let's go...

Have ready your griddle, spray with PAM, heat on low, otherwise your pancakes will cook too fast on the outside and be gooey on the inside, and a bowl. Nothing fancy....my tools here are a bowl and a fork for mixing.




You will need:

1 ripe banana

1 egg white

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup old fashion rolled oats

1 scoop whey vanilla protein

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tblsp flax meal

1/2 tblsp wheat germ

Vanilla soy milk (yes you can use n/f milk instead)

In your bowl, smash ripe banana with your fork until it stirs well and juices release, add your egg white, 1/2 tsp vanilla and stir again. Put the oats in your blender and grind until flour consistency and add to the wet ingredients in the bowl, add your vanilla protein powder, your flax meal and wheat germ, stir. The mix will be thick at this point. Add just enough soy milk to make the mixture pourable (careful not to make runny), so add a bit, stir and check. I like my mixture a bit "thick pourable". Pour 2 equal amounts of batter onto your prepared griddle, cook on one side a few minutes, (check for color by gently lifting an edge), if to your liking, flip over and cook the rest of the way. This recipe makes two large pancakes. I eat one and save one for the next morning so I do not have to cook. Really, this only takes about 10 minutes to throw together....you will be done before your tea or coffee is done brewing. Also, a time saver since you have an extra that you can have tomorrow, or for a snack later.


Let me know what you think....


Stay Healthy!!!!

Darla:)