My first gift for my blog... Time to make a new cake!

Today, I was picking up my son from school and as every Friday I get to see my girlfriend Tammy as she is picking up her daughter.  I look forward to our walk to the playground, and although the catch-up chat is short, it is always a pleasure and full of laughs!

As I got out of my car, Tammy came walking up to me with a basil plant and gift bag.  She is a doll.  I absolutely love the fact that she used the same bag and tissue paper that I used a week ago to give her a fitness treat of gliding discs.  We quickly decided this bag would be our signature gift bag for each other and we laughed.  I didn't know the reason for the gift, and quickly realized she loves to give as I do, so the reason was then understood.  Who doesn't love to surprise someone with a thoughtful gift?  I know I sure do.  She did give me a hint and told me it was silly and for my blog.  I didn't open it until I got home, and silly was the last thought that crossed my mind.  I was touched by the thoughtfulness of her gift as she knows I like to make cake out of beans, and love to cook, so why not throw in some fresh basil and salsa!  Tammy and I have been friends for 14 years, yet life situations took us down different roads, and it wasn't until this year that our path's crossed again!  And I couldn't be more blessed and thankful.

Miss Ta-Ta, I love you woman.  Thank you for being you, and always making me laugh!!!!!!
Perhaps a chocolate salsa black bean cake is coming your way....

                                          Love2LiveFit

Quick and easy Friday morning breakfast special!

A simple twist on my Friday Morning Special... I added frozen mixed organic berries in place of the frozen strawberries.

These pancakes are quick, easy, and delicious.  Recipe is as follows:

3/4c. egg whites
1/2c. oats
1/2 scoop strawberry protein powder (you can choose any flavor)
1tsp. strawberry extract
1/4c. thawed mixed organic berries
1 packet truvia

Mix all ingredients in a blender (I use our party bullet) except 1/2 the berries and the truvia.
Makes 7-8 pancakes.
Top with warmed berries and sprinkle with truvia.

Calories: 318
Fat: 4g
Carbs: 39
Fiber: 5g
Protein: 35g

Love2LiveFit....
Now its time to get the boys to school and hit the gym for Friday Booty Spa Day!!!

How I turned the day around.

Today started as most do.  Coffee maker beeps, a stretch & morning mantra, and I'm out of bed before my alarm goes off. Tipped toed into the bathroom, being as quiet as possible not to wake my fiance who is always awake the moment I move,  and got dressed for my morning coffee and spin.
The morning's events unfolded as usual with getting the boys ready and to school, then heading back home to train my clients.

This morning however, was foreshadowed with elements of stress, more then anything brought on by those wonderful hormones so many of us woman in our forties experience.  I went about my routine, and when my 11:00a.m. client rescheduled I figured it was a chance to kick my own butt and knock this mood out of me.

Its a wonderful crazy thing when I began a workout and 10-20 minutes in my mind tells my body No, just quit.  Today that feeling came on strong.  It was hot and I wasn't feeling the energy, but I honestly can't recall the last time I quit a workout.  So what did I do?  I started to super-set my workouts and gave myself "active rest", which is really no rest at all.  The active rest for today's workout, 5 burpees.  And one hour later, I was in for an over a 400 calorie burn and 135 burpees!!!  A first for me.  A magic little pill those burpees were today.  I do believe when I hit 60 burpees the energy really started to zoom.  I felt like a beast, yes I was in Beast Mode!!!  What does beast mode get you?  100% stress relief, a clear mind, and calm soul!

I had started a 30-day burpee challenge 32 days ago, and fell a tad behind.  So I figured it was the perfect moment to finish that challenge and for falling a tad off track with the challenge I should have to pay by going above and beyond the 70 burpees I was suppose to complete 2 days ago.  I never intended to do 135, but once I started zooming and that beast mode was in full force, I just couldn't stop.  What really got me pumped up today was that I was working shoulders.  I never thought my shoulders could take the heat with weight-lifting and burpee active rest.  But I tell you, beast mode is a beast for a reason!!!

My point to this story?  Never give up!  Now, do I expect you to bust out 135 burpees during your workout? No.  But, don't give up.  Our mind's are Very powerful!!!  They will talk us out of a workout way before our body will.

The gym is my happy place, the workouts, the sweat, the burn, the energy... the amazing way I feel when I'm done, nothing compares to that!!!

Love2LiveFit

Breakfast Creation

So simple and delicious.  As I was making the boy's pancakes this morning, I really wanted to make some for myself (my usual cleaner version), but always save those for Friday mornings.  So I decided to tweak my normal recipe, omitting certain ingredients in order to keep the calories down, and macros where I wanted them, and came up with these amazing tacos that I made with only 4 ingredients.

1c. Egg whites
1/2c. oats
2 slices ham (nitrite free)
Tapatio hot sauce

In a bullet mixer, blend 1/2c. of the egg whites and the 1/2c. oats.  Save the other 1/2c. egg whites for the filling.
Pour the mixture into a heated skillet, making two pancakes.  In a seperate skillet, add the diced ham and other 1/2c. egg whites, and scramble.
Fold the pancakes in to taco shells and fill with the scrambled egg whites and ham, and splash with tapatio.

Calories: 280
Fat: 4g
Carbs: 28g
Fiber: 4g
Protein: 30

What's a hungry girl to make with a bunch of grilled chicken prepped and ready eat?

Thank you food prep Sundays... They always make for a quick and easy lunch.  I eat a lot of the same things on a daily basis, yet try to change them up a tad.
Today lunch consisted of:

5oz. Grilled chicken breast
3oz. Green leaf lettuce
2oz. Roma tomato
1oz. Avocado
Splash of Tapatio

Calories: 216
Fat: 7g
Carbs: 6g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 34

Other great things to mix in would be Fage, shrimp, spinach, hard boiled egg, or maybe low-fat crumbled feta:)

Love2LiveFit

Morning breakfast scramble... Food and Life!

Mornings are busy... trying to squeeze in a cardio session, get 2 boys up, showered, dressed, fed, and ready for school, and still squeeze in breakfast for myself.  Keeping oats, eggwhites, salsa, veggies, and a variety of lean proteins on hand definately helps to throw together a quick, clean and tasty breakfast.

I usually always have eggwhites and oats for breakfast, and change up the mix-ins so I don't get bored. Today's creation was as follows:

1/3c. oats
3/4c. eggwhites (I like the Kirkland brand from Costco because they come with 6 cartons in the box)
2 slices of Hormel, Nitrite-free smoked ham
1c. zucchini
2Tbsp. salsa
Cooking spray

I chop up the ham and zucchini and throw it in the pan and lightly cook them.  Then pour the eggwhites on top.  Once the eggs are completely cooked I mix in the cooked oats (just mircrowave them in a small glass bowl with enough water to almost cover them) and salsa.

I know eggs and oats may sound like a weird combo, but give them a try, if you like both of them seperately, you'll probably love them together as much as I do.

Calories: 236
Fat:3g
Carbs: 25g
Fiber: 5g
Protein: 25g

This is a great way to start out the day and keep you satisfied and avoid a mid-morning energy crash!
Love2LiveFit

Food prep Sunday always pays off.

5oz Grilled chicken breast atop 1c. steamed broccoli, with 2tbsp. low-fat ricotta, fresh basil, roma tomatoes, and crushed red pepper flakes...
Simple, clean, and delicious!

Every Sunday while I have my morning coffee, I fire up the bbq and grill my proteins for the week.  I'm sure my neighbors wonder who the heck is bbqing at 7:30 or 8 in the morning... Me!!!:)
While my chicken, turkey, or turkey patties are grilling, I get my eggs boiling and the fruits and veggies veggies prepped for the week, make containers of nuts, bake a cake, and whatever else we may want in our food plan for the upcoming week.  It is  a big time saver for our busy weekday schedule and the kids and my hub bub to be enjoy it as well!

The Cake... Clean Treat!

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
5eggs
1c. Fage
1tsp. baking
1/2tsp. baking soda
6tbsp. cocoa powder
6tbsp. Pb2 (powdered peanut butter- can be purchased at Whole Foods, Complete Nutrition, Smiths)
17 Tiny twists pretzels, broken into pieces.
2tbsp. natural peanut butter (100% peanuts only)
1/2c. raw honey
Cooking spray

10min. prep, 40-45min bake
Pre-heat oven to 325.

In a food processor or blender, mix the 5 eggs and black beans until well blended.
Add the remaining ingredients except the pretzels and natural peanut butter.
Pour mixture into a mixing bowl and fold in the broken up pretzels.
Pour into a square 9x9 metal baking pan sprayed with cooking spray.
Microwave the peanut butter for 30 seconds, and drop small amount into the batter and swirl with a knife.
Bake for 40-45min.
Let cool on wire rack for 15min. then run a knife along the edges to release and place cake onto the wire rack.  Allow to cool completely, then cut into 16 squares.

Servings: 16

Calories: 118
Fat: 1g
Carbs: 15g
Fiber: 2.5g
Protein: 6.8g

Love2LiveFit.... Enjoy!

Black Bean Chocolate Cake... Sweet Treat!

5 eggs
1 can (15oz) Black beans, rinsed and drained
1tbsp vanilla
1/2c. raw honey
2tsp. truvia
2tsp. sugar-free Torani chocolate syrup (optional)
5tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
2tbsp. Pb2 (powdered peanut butter), optional
2tbsp. brown rice chocolate protein powder (or any kind of chocolate protein powder you have on hand)
1tsp. baking powder
1/2tsp. baking soda
1/4c. mini chocolate chips

For the topping:
1/4c. mini chocolate chips
1/2tsp. shortening
Sprinkles

In a food processor or blender:
Blend beans and eggs until pureed, then add:
Vanilla
Honey
Truvia
Chocolate syrup
Cocoa powder
Pb2
Brown rice protein
Baking powder
Baking soda

Pour mixture into bowl and fold in 1/4c. mini chocolate chips.
Spray a round cake pan with cooking spray, and bake in a pre-heated oven at 325' for 40min.

Let cool and remove from pan.

In a microwave safe bowl melt 1/4c. mini chocolate chips and shortening for 30-45seconds.
Stir mixture and pour into a ziplock bag.  Push the melted chocolate to one corner of the bag and poke a small hole to drizzle the chocolate over the cake.  Immediately cover with sprinkles of your choice.

Prepare to be amazed how delicious this cake is!!!
Love2LiveFit

Booty Spa Day

The weekend is upon us and if anybody is at all like me and indulges a bit over the weekend then as always it is a must to get the gym time in!!!  I always do a killer leg and glute training on Fridays.  My friend and I call it our booty spa!

Warm up:
Hip flexor stretches
Clam shells 2x50/side

Super Sets: 3x

Step ups/Hip raises
Bulg. Split squats/Donkey kicks
Squats/bridge hip raise
Walking lunges/plate slide

Run The Rack (RTR)
Plié squats
Rdls
Goblet Squats

And that's a wrap!!!:).

Love2LiveFit