Black Bean & Sweet Potato Quesadillas

Ingredients:

10 large flour tortillas (I use mission carb balance)

1 Extra Large Sweet potato, peeled and cubed

2 cups black beans (can use homemade or canned)

1 lb fajita chicken, diced

3 T. onion, chopped

2 T. jalapeno relish (optional)

1 T. garlic, minced

Dash of cumin, chili powder, dried cilantro, chipotle red pepper powder, garlic powder, sea salt

1 package of shredded Mexican blend cheese

Plain Greek Yogurt and salsa for topping

Directions:

Prepare beans and chicken according to your favorite recipes (I use my own homemade black beans or Kuner's Southwest Black Beans. I use John Soules Fajita Chicken strips and Dice)

If using packaged chicken only heat until warm. It will get hot when you heat quesadillas.

Boil sweet potato for about 4 minutes. While sweet potatoes are boiling heat 1/2 T. oil in nonstick skillet. Add onion, minced garlic and jalapeno relish cook until translucent. After 4 minutes drain the water from the potatoes and add to the onion mixture. Season potatoes with seasonings and fry until they can be easily mashed.

Build quesadillas by laying tortilla flat. One on half spread about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of sweet potatoes, top with 1/4 cup beans, 1.5 ounces of chicken and 1/4 cup cheese. Fold in half and either make in skillet with a little olive oil spray or use griddler (I love my Cuisinart 5-1 griddler/panini press) Cook until tortilla is slightly crispy and cheese is melted.

Sriracha Deviled Eggs

Spicy twist on delived eggs!

Ingredients & Directions:

4 hardboiled eggs, sliced in half

Mix yellow with 1 T. Plain greek yogurt 1 T. Sriracha sauce, 2 T. Jalpaneo relish, dash of dry mustard and salt and pepper to taste. Full half a with mixture sprinkle with red pepper or paprika. 

Homemade Froyo!

This weekend we wanted some cherryberry but they were already closed when we got there so I decided to make us some at home! The first one was so tasty I made more with other frozen fruit we had in stock. The outcome was 3 awesome homemade frozen yogurts! Peanut butter banana, strawberry cheesecake and mango pineapple!

Peanut Butter Banana

Ingredients:

2 bananas sliced and frozen

1/4 cup (more as needed) vanilla almond milk, unsweetened

1/4 cup powdered peanut butter

1-2 drops of stevia (optional) 

Directions:

Throw it all in the food processor and pulse until smooth and creamy. 

Strawberry Cheesecake

2 cups sliced strawberries, frozen

1/3 cup vanilla greek yogurt

2 T. Sugar free/fat free cheesecake jello

(To avoid artificial sweeteners you could substitute the yogurt and cheesecake for cottage cheese)

1/4 cup vanilla almond milk, unsweetened 

1-2 drops stevia (optional) 

Directions:

Throw it all in the food processor and pulse until smooth and creamy. Add more almond milk if needed. 

Mango Pineapple

Ingredients:

2 cups mango and pineapple, frozen

1/3 cup greek yogurt

1/4 cup (more if needed) vanilla almond milk, unsweetened 

1-2 drops stevia (if desired)

Directions:

Throw it all in the food processor and pulse until smooth and creamy. Add more almond milk if needed.

Each recipe serves 2 and all are under 150 calories per serving. 

Happy New Year!

Have you ever googled the meaning of a word that you know exactly what it means? I sometimes do that with common words or phrases when I'm in deep thought. Today being January 1st, I've heard and seen "Happy New Year" all day and of course being in the fitness industry I've seen lots of goal setting and New Year's resolutions for healthier and fitter 2015. So as I'm thinking what does it really mean to have a Happy New and how does that apply to my goal setting for this year? So I googled the meaning of the words that make up the common phrase.

So this is my conclusion when you say, "Happy New Year" you are saying that the next 365 days are not old but they are recently born, built or created and they are going to be filled with enjoyment because of your situation. So when I think about the concept of resolutions for the New Year I'm filled with such great hope and optimistic because it can be anything I make it to be. I have the chance to create an amazing year and build something great. Now adding the concept of New Year's Resolutions with Happy New Year.  If a resolution is resolving something or finding a solution, it makes the assumption their is a problem to be solved or resolved. So if we are looking to make a new year's resolution maybe we should start with looking at what we need to fix or if there is not a problem how can we improve? We should stop throwing around resolutions that may or may not fix the problem or improve our situations. Let us look deeper and find the route cause(s) so we can create real solutions and make 2015 a year filled with enjoyment and to not only build a great year but a great life. This is my challenge to you. Take some time at the beginning of this new year to recognize areas that could use some improvement and take time to be honest with yourself and maybe even discover for the first time what the real problem is so you can come up with a real solution. Sometimes being honest with ourselves is the hardest thing to do but if we want to be the best version of ourselves that we can possibly be honesty is a necessity.

Have a Happy New Year!

30 Day Kick-Start begins January 12th

I am so excited to introduce to you my very first ever online coaching program, 30 Day Kick-Start! This program is designed to help you make healthy and lasting changes for long-term results. This program is not a quick fix solution (there are no quick fixes), it is not an extreme approach to dieting or exercise. It is an approach that is moderate and will provide lasting results if you continue to implement the things you learn. If you are ready to make changes in your life that will create lasting results and if you are sick of yo-yo dieting this program is for you! 30 Day Kick-Start will provide you with accountability, motivation and practical approach to achieving your goals! Space is limited so sign up now!

Start your new year off going the right direction! 

WHAT YOU GET:

-30 day workout plan

-Nutrition guidelines

-Recipes

-Group accountability

-Daily motivation

-Success tips

-Weekly prizes and Grand Prize winner!

What do I have to do?

-Be ready to commit yourself to a healthier version of you

-make healthy choices everyday

-workout everyday

-be ready to commit yourself both physically and mentally to making healthy changes

 How much does it cost?

This is my first ever online workout program so it is an awesome introductory offer-$30 for 30 days! Space is limited so sign up as soon as possible!

Want to participate for FREE? Refer a friend to join with you. Once your friend signs up you join for FREE! You can also participate for FREE by purchasing ANY Beachbody product from my retail page but it is not required!

How do I sign up?

Click Here to create a free account. Once you have created the free account. I will send you a paypal invoice. Remember if you purchase any product you are automatically entered into the kick-start program at no additional charge.

Once you are signed up you need to email a before picture, picture of the scale with starting weight and body inches. This is not required but you must do so in order to be eligible for prizes. You will receive an email with instructions.

This is NOT…

extreme 30 day diet and exercise plan

quick fix

crash diet

It IS…

It IS a kick-start to healthy lifestyle

It IS a practical approach to real weight loss and fitness

It IS accountability and motivation 

Kick-start your journey in the right direction to healthy version of you with the 30 DAY Kick-Start!

30 Day Kick-Start begins on Jan. 11^th! Hurry and sign up now!

You will be given weekly workout plans and recipes. All workouts are 45 minutes or less and can be done at home with limited equipment.  This is my first ever online workout program so it is an awesome introductory offer-$30 for 30 days! Space is limited so sign up as soon as possible!

Click Here to see my very first blog post and more before and after pictures! If I can do this, I promise you can too!
 

30-20-10 mini circuits

30-20-10 mini circuits

Circuit 1

30 standing knee to opposite elbow 

20 reverse lunges

10 Pushups

Repeat 3x

Circuit 2

30 squat jumps

20 plank hold front raise 

10 tricep dips

Repeat 3x

Circuit 3

30 sit ups

20 burpees

10 glute bridges

Repeat 3x 

Southwest Chicken Salad

This recipe is fool proof! So easy and yummy. Serve over a salad or on whole wheat bread. For extra goodness top it with a little cheese and avocado. 

Ingredients

13 ounces shredded chicken (could use can or rotisserie chicken)

1/4 C. Salsa

2 T. Greek yogurt, plain nonfat

2 T. Cilantro avocado yogurt dressing (by bolthouse farms)

Splash or two of lime juice 

Garlic powder, onion powder, cumin and salt to taste.

Mix it all together and let chill for 1 hour before serving. 

Try not to skip the cilantro avocado ingredient-if you can't find it at your local store just double the Greek yogurt. You could also add fresh cilantro! 

This stuff is my favorite! 

Makes 4 servings 

Nutrition:

My grown up "lunchable"

If I don't have a way to heat up my lunch this is my favorite lunch. I also really enjoy this as dinner, if I'm getting home late and don't want anything too heavy.

And it all fits in a nice Rubbermaid container-I can fit mine in my purse (my purse might be on the large side 😉)

2-3 ounces of deli turkey meat (I absolutely love Dietz and Watson gourmet lite turkey breast)
1 light string cheese
8 Almond Nut Thins crackers by blue diamond (The pepperjack cheese flavor is my favorite but they also have Cheddar, Smokehouse BBQ, Ranch, lightly salted-choose your favorite)
1/2 apple sliced
12 Red Grapes
6 Rainier Cherries (when I can find them)

There you have it! My grown up "lunchable"

Nutrition Stats:
Calories: 275
Fat: 7g
Carbs: 35g
Fiber: 3g
Sugar: 23g
Protein: 19g

Cherry Pineapple Smoothie

Cherry Pineapple Smoothie 

Ingredients:

1/2 C. Frozen cherries (I used dark sweet)

1/3 frozen banana, sliced

1/2 C. Pineapple

1 scoop of Vanilla protein powder (or you could substitute 1 C. Greek yogurt or low fat cottage cheese)

1 C. Coconut almond milk

1/2 C. Ice

3-4 drops of stevia 

You might add more water for desired consistency. I like mine really thick. 

Blend together until smooth and enjoy! 

Notes:

The more ripe the banana the better the smoothie! When banana start turning brown I will slice them up and freeze them and have them on hand for smoothies. Ripe banana=extra sweetness in our smoothie! 

Countdown Workout

Holiday rush got you pressed for time? Here is a quick at home, no equipment 20 minute workout. Great for traveling too!

AMRAP=as many rounds as possible

Go hard and fast for 20 minutes and your done!