SMOOTHIE SEASON~MY FAVORITE!!

It's that time of year, folks. Whether we are ready or not~it's not too late so don't put off starting just because it's right around the corner. For those of us who have been "started"...it's time to kick it up a notch into HIGH GEAR!! One of my absolute favorite snacks this time of year is smoothies!! There are a gazillion recipes out there for them but I prefer to come up with my own concoctions. There are a few simple rules to follow when making your smoothies in order to make sure you have all the proper nutrients but not too much! The basics are:
* liquid- 1 cup (8 oz) is all you need. It's one serving.
Unsweetened Almond milk, Flax milk, Soy milk, Coconut milk, Fat Free Milk, Coconut water, or even just plain water.
*Carb~ there are a lot of variables here depending on when you are drinking the smoothie but I simply prefer uncooked, raw Oats. 1/4~1/3 cup. If it's after a hard workout or run I'll add a banana.
*healthy fat~almond butter or other natural nut butter 1 tsp., coconut oil 1 tsp., 1/2 avocado
*Whey~I never, ever, ever make a smoothie without Whey protein!!

other additives: flax seeds (ground), kefir (unsweetened, organic, low fat), berries & other fruits (frozen are perfect, Greens (spinach is my favorite)


I'll be sharing some of my favorite recipes with you~play around and be creative!!!

YUMMY~

Jess

Chicken Taco Salad

This salad is fantastic!! Enjoy!Who needs Taco Bell...:-)...:-)

 Two Chicken Meat Muffins***
6~7 Romain Hearts cut into bite size pieces
1/2 c. black beans
1/4 fresh avocado chunks
1/4 c. goat cheese
Tiger hot sauce to taste OR salsa


***
~1 lb. ground chicken (organic/free range if possible)
~2 eggwhites
~1/4 c. whole grain breadcrumbs (Ian's)
~1 tsp. each of ground cumin, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, & smoked paprika.
~1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
~few douses of Tiger hot sauce

Sprinkle tops of muffins with more smoked paprika if desired prior to baking!

Bake 350 for 45 mins. in muffin tins~makes 6!!

Be creative when using the mexican flavored muffins~makes wonderful wraps, salads, pasta salads, etc. Have fun with it!

Broccoli & Eggs~

Eggs with a side of Broccoli or
Broccoli frittata . There are quite a few ways to enjoy this super breakfast. Try it~you won't regret it!! 

Spinach Pasta

Who doesn't love pasta? I certainly do especially with an Italian hubby~So, I cook two different types of pasta so I can enjoy it also. I always cook extra and measure it out in bowls for lunch the next few days. Add leftover sauce or enjoy with tuna or salmon drizzled with lemon juice and a 1/2 tsp. EVOO.....Yummy!

REMEMBER: 1 serving of pasta = 1/2 cup......measure it out until you know what that looks like!!

An Appointment with YOU~

As we move more into fitness, first things first~MAKING TIME for yourself. Everybody says the same thing..."I dont' have time to work out". No one has time~you have to make time. I literally have drawn up a workout calendar that specifies exactly what to do each day. Once that cycle is complete I make a new one and change it up a bit.  It's on my fridge right in front of my face. If I don't put it on the calendar and schedule it like an appointment then it doesn't happen. Also, figure out what time of day is best for you and stick with it. The only part of the day when I have time is very early in the morning. If I don't go then~I won't go. I prefer the hours before the regular day begins, that way I don't feel guilty about taking time away from my other obligations. The hours between 5 am ~ 8 am are MINE!!

Now for those of you with kids~I hear it all the time..."I have kids, I don't have time to workout". Ladies, everyone I know has kids and I can't even imagine how tough it is .  I've got to tell ya~I'm amazed at what some of you are able to accomplish. Most work full time, run businesses, have multiple children, some have multiples, and you still  make time for taking care of yourselves. I'm in awe of your ability to manage it all~sometimes I struggle without having the lil people in my life, so kudos to you. You are MY inspiration and help keep my tail on track....:-)

So, make sure to write it down. Try and stick with somewhat of a schedule to make it easier. Once you have a routine down you'll be more likely to stick with the plan. Remember~failure to plan is planning to fail.

Hugs~

Jess

Food for thought: 

Consistency is key to success. It takes 2-3 weeks to create a habit! Summer is just around the corner so make your habits count...:-)

FINDING YOUR "THING"

Morning everyone~ As I sit here on Sunday morning, awake before the sun comes up, waiting to get out the door to run 12 miles~I can't help but think of a time in my life where I had things I loved to do but not really a thing, MY thing that truly made my soul happy! My husband has always had his thing ~golf, of course, but me? I have many, many hobbies I love and do them often, some seasonal such as gardening or sewing, reading or cooking, but never something that I was so passionate about that it was life changing~I'm so proud to say that, at 35 years old, I finally discovered MY thing~RUNNING. Once you discover your passion, outside of family, work and children (for you moms), something that is all yours, it will change your life and open you up to things you never thought were possible.  I hope to encourage you to look deep inside yourselves or challenge you to try something new, in hopes of discovering yours~everyone needs that something~oddly enough, I discovered mine by trying something new!!

As I'm finishing up the last 2 weeks of my  third half marathon training  program, I am amazed at how far I've come. I've actually become a pretty decent runner and am continuing to grow. I've never felt so proud of anything in all my life. There's something about crossing that finish line that gives me goose bumps and makes my heart sing~and my eyes cry..:-) Yep, to this day, I still cry after every big race!!  There's so much adrenaline and emotion inside my little body and I haven't quite figured out what to do with it or how to process it....LOL. I'm determined this time to cross the finish line with a smile on my face!!

It's funny how everything sort of just falls into place. I have worked out for years but never felt really passionate about it. Two and a half years ago, when I discovered running, that's the point where my life truly changed. Now, it all goes hand in hand. Running has fueled my love affair with health, fitness, and nutrition and it has all come together. My knowledge, self esteem, and  strength (both physically and mentally) have all grown as a result. That's why I feel so inclined to share my experiences~My philosophy is this and I say it often: If I can do this....YOU can do this (or whatever THIS is). I see so many people struggle in many ways and I only hope to encourage you to get up, get out, try something different, challenge yourself to grow~or rediscover something that you once loved but have let fall to the wayside. You deserve to feel great~both inside and out. Watch yourself transform from the outside in....It's truly amazing.

Just a little motivation and inspiration for you today!!! Have a great week ahead!

Jess

Food for thought:
You can achieve anything you put your mind to if you just try. Most people don't even try, not just with fitness, but with life in general. If you feel stagnant~do something, anything to get yourself going~I promise you, It WILL be worth it....xoxo