I know I post about the right way the eat, the best way to exercise, the products that make it easier, and how much I LOVE to workout, but alas, even I hit roadblocks along the way! I achieved some amazing results with the Ultimate Reset almost a month ago, I maintained my weight loss for 2 weeks, then I went on vacation. I informed my inlaws that I was currently eating Vegetarian but if it was easier I could add a little meat back in... I quickly learned that it is tough for a meat lover to say no to BBQ lamb, ribs, steak, chicken curry, chicken stuffed pasta... night after night. I took some recipes with me and had great intentions of buying beans, quinoa and some other staples to make some great meals but there was so much food already in the fridge and food is expensive in Hawaii! I DID load my plate with veggies, avoid the chocolate covered macadamia nuts and drink my Shakeology, but that wine glass kept getting filled up and I have developed a strong love for Gin & Tonic! The day before we came home we celebrated my son's birthday with the most decadent chocolate cake I have ever tasted (maybe because I hadn't had many sweets in a month) and it has taken me over a week to recover! I know I have a weakness for baked goods but wow, I didn't realize it was quite so bad! I have been over snacking since I got home, and that zucchini loaf I baked... well I ate almost a whole loaf myself in less than 24 hours! I can see exactly where the 5 pounds has gone... right to the roll around my middle... which I had pretty much rid myself of before my vacation. I have some dresses to rock next week and I have created myself a problem!
Last night was Turbo Kick class and I kicked myself back on track. I love how I can burn a bazillion calories in one hour and I love how that feeling makes me not want to overeat! I started today a plate of fresh fruit, then a great weight workout with ChaLEAN Extreme then a 20 min HIIT cardio with TurboFire. 4 thin crisp wasa crackers with almond butter followed by Tropical Shakeology for lunch (instead of hot dog and chips at my son's scout camp wrap up). I am feeling refocused and ready to get back on track immediately (despite the craving for some red wine tonight).
I plan to enjoy myself at my Beachbody Summit meeting in Las Vegas... how could I not. But I will also be exercising (with Tony Horton, Shaun T, Chalene Johnson & more), sharing healthy food with my fitness friends and burning some extra calories with evening dancing!
I look forward to adding my red wine back in upon my return and baking some zucchini bread to enjoy with some control and willpower. Life is a balancing act. We all need to find a way to make our health a priority but going overboard one way or another doesn't usually work. Baby steps, adjustments and compromises will be necessary. It is time to buckle up and get this show on the road.
I will be focusing my nutrition on Michi's Ladder to help me stay on track. My Nutrition Challenge group I had planned for June 20th will be pushing back until July 2nd to allow for some preparation. There are some basic ground rules for the challenge that I would love to share with you and lots of accountability to help you stay on track. If you want to start focusing on you nutrition today then check out the Michi's Ladder guide and send me any questions you have. Start by taking before photos and body measurements too so you have something to look back on and see your accomplishments!
If you want to really put a focus on your nutrition then check out the Ultimate Reset, which is truly an experience in getting your body on track that everyone should experience!
The Zucchini is making an appearance in my garden already! I LOVE Zucchini stir fried, baked, stuffed, mixed into savory or sweet and I really love zucchini bread! Upon returned from our vacation I found 4 BIG zucchinis so it was time for the bread! I have a family recipe that I have "cleaned up" which I will post later but I made this one yesterday and my family loved it!
Ingredients:
3 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup ground flax seed
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp Himalayan sea salt
3 eggs
1/2 cup oil (I used coconut oil)
1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce (or just 3/4 cup oil)
1/4 cup raw agave syrup
1/4 cup honey (recipe called for 3/4 cup honey, no syrup)
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups grated zucchini
1 cup chopped nuts (pecan, almond or walnut)- I didn't use upon the request of my daughter but I can tell it would have been delicious with some walnuts!
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F for lg loaf pan or muffins.
Blend the dry ingredients.
Make a well in the center and pour in the eggs, oil, honey and vanilla. Stir just until mixed - do not overmix.
Fold in the grated zucchini and chopped nuts if using. Pour batter into greased loaf pans or muffin holders and bake until a toothpick comes out clean.
Large loaf pan 50-60 min
Muffins 15-20 min
My advice is to cut a piece and hide the rest ;) It is delicious and healthy but NOT calorie free by any means!
I had a few cups of leftover grated zucchini so I have been cooking it in the frying pan with some frozen veggies then cracking an egg over top and a sprinkling of feta for a delicious lunch!
Enjoy your zucchini!!! Also, check out www.100daysofrealfood.com for some great healthy recipe ideas!
I am enjoying a lovely family vacation in Hawaii right now! We are in a house with 3 families and so far am loving it. What could come up as an issue on day two? Food! There is a ton of healthy food in the fridge, I was able to enjoy a workout this morning, I even saw 3 turtles on a short snorkel trip! Dinner last night was delicious after a 7 hour flight but 4 cans of coconut milk and white rice? I suspect you have very little sympathy for me right about now!!! Tonight is BBQ lamb, did I mention I have been eating Vegan but LOVE BBQ lamb? No vegan tonight! There was a request for broccoli salad so I jumped to the rescue as we have no mayo in house and I refused to make it with mayo. Here is the recipe:
Broccoli Salad
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
2 tbsp homemade balsamic vinaigrette
5 cups broccoli
2 tbsp sunflower seeds
1/4 cup raisins
Combine yogurt and vinaigrette, toss to mix! I also added some feta cheese to please the masses :)
Balsamic Vinaigrette
1 clove garlic
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp agave syrup
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup balsamic vinaigrette
2/3 cup olive oil
Fresh herbs to taste
I usually add a little less oil and some water! Blend in blender or with hand mixer. Toss into salad!
Enjoy your healthy dinner!!!
Let's get healthy together www.GetFitWithNicola.com
I tried another great Vegan recipe the other night, this one might sneak in as a family recipe if they didn't see me making it ;) I would rate it a 9 out of 10. Prep was easy to do while I made turkey burgers for my kids... next time I will share with them!
Here is the recipe from the P90X2 cookbook: 1 tbsp olive oil
1 yellow onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 lb. organic tempeh, crumbled
3 tbsp chili powder blend
2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp Himalayan salt
1 15-oz can fire-roasted crushed tomatoes
1/4 cup tomato paste
2-3 tbsp maple syrup or agave nectar
1 tbsp yellow mustard
4 sprouted- grain buns or Sandwich thins
1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Saute onion, garlic, and bell pepper until soft.
3. Add crumbled tempeh and stir together to mix well. Cook for another 2 minutes.
4. Add chili powder, oregano, salt, tomatoes, tomato paste, maple syrup or agave and mustard. Stir well to blend together.
5. Cook for another 10 minutes with lid on to steam the tempeh.
6. Turn off heat and let sit for 5-10 minutes for flavors to blend together.
7. Serve on buns.
I heated up leftovers along with some kale and served them over brown rice pasta the following night and served my family meat sauce!
Just because it is Vegan does not mean it is low calorie! This is 4 portions and 1 portion has 535 calories, 18 g of fat, 72 g of carbs, 33 g of protein and 11 g of fiber.
It is now one week since I completed the Ultimate Reset. I decided before I was done that I would stick with the meal plan for at least a few more weeks and avoid animal protein for a little bit longer. I did great last week. I didn't even add coffee back in, no desserts, just a little bit of dried fruit when I needed a treat. This weekend I went camping with my family and ran into some complications. The boy scout camp was set up for meat lovers... or simply, people who think that animal protein plays a part in every meal... kind of like I thought until 4 weeks ago :) First meal I turned down the meat and added extra chick peas to my salad which worked really well. Second meal I asked for chick peas for breakfast... not bad with some fruit cut on top, but not delicious! I was offered Vegetarian options for future meals. This did cover the meat and chicken part but not the cheese and milk part which pretty much became my protein source in the rest of the meals. I decided that I would go with it, I would stick with part of my plan, and when I got home I would get back to where I wanted to be. I made sure I got my Tropical Shakeology in each day and I stayed strong in avoiding sugar... I even turned down campfire Smores two days in a row :)
I will be vacationing with family next week and I plan to introduce a few Vegan recipes to the group but, I suspect my "flexitarian" eating will need to be pretty flexible as I cannot make extra meals for myself for the duration of our trip. Yes, I know I could, but a happy family vacation is key combined with the best I can do!
I promised to start sharing some of my favorite recipes: Black Beans and Rice
3/4 cup cooked brown rice
1/2 cup canned low sodium black beans
1/4 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1/8 tsp ground chili powder
1 pinch ground cumin
1/4 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp Bragg liquid aminos (in place of soy sauce)
Himalayan Sea Salt (to taste) - get at Trader Joe's
While rice is cooking, heat beans gently in saucepan until very hot. Drain and return to pan. Add oil, spices, aminos and salt. Stir well. Gently fold beans into cooked rice. Serves 1
Serve with, 1/4 cup fresh corn, 2 tbsp salsa, 1/4 cup guacamole, 1 6" corn tortilla and a side salad or Kale steamed and squirted with fresh lemon juice, a sprinkling of Himalayan sea salt and 1 tbsp of pine nuts! (recipe from the Ultimate Reset week one)
That is a good sized meal, plenty of protein and delicious! Let me know what you think.
Please join me at www.GetFitWithNicola.com for weekly emails on health and fitness.
Wow! What a learning experience the past 21 days have been for me! I have known for a long time that the reason I hadn't found my hidden 6-pack was not because I wasn't fit enough, it was because I treated myself a little too often! I suspected that addiction to cereal had something to do with it... the love of nuts and dried fruit in the afternoon... the vanilla yogurt. The Ultimate Reset involved cutting out all animal products, all processed foods, and even most grains and proteins in the final week. I was not overly hungry due to the volume of veggies and fruit I was consuming, combined with healthy fats and fresh herbs for seasoning. I did not feel deprived as my family enjoyed steak for dinner and ice cream for dessert last weekend, I felt refreshed, unbloated and rejuvenated. I tried on a few pairs of shorts that a few weeks ago I struggled to close and now fit perfectly. Upon completion I am still not drawn to the forbidden foods. I am slowly going to add some foods back into my diet... maybe some plain greek yogurt to go with my fruit for breakfast, perhaps some eggs and definitely some fish to enjoy with the family later this week! and in a few short weeks I will surely find myself with a glass of red wine and perhaps an occasional morning coffee!
Something was causing a lot of belly bloat in the afternoons for me... I will try to figure that combination out so I can avoid future discomfort.
All in all I would highly recommend the Ultimate Reset to anyone who is trying to get their nutrition in order and to anyone who is interested in taking their body to another level in fitness and health.
Vegan meals will be a permanent fixture in my diet plan and I look forward to adjusting my families eating towards a similar focus as mine!
Are you looking for some simple ideas of how to eat a little more along the "Reset" lines? Start with simple steps like making your own salad dressings... easy and delicious! Creamy Garlic Dressing 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 3 cloves crushed garlic, 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, 1 tsp Himalayan salt, 1/2 tsp dijon, 1 tbsp honey or agave nectar. Place ingredients in a blender and mix on medium high for 30 seconds or until well mixed. Store in airtight container in refrigerator. If dressing solidifies when cold, let sit at room temp until liquid, then stir. Makes 8-10 servings.
Pick up some vegetables at a farmer's market and ask the farmer or google on how to prepare them!
Buy a packet of quinoa at Trader Joe's and follow the recipe on the back! I have bought two different kinds there and LOVE both of the recipes!
Buy a bag of Shakeology, drink it once a day for breakfast and see how much better you feel... if you aren't feeling better by day 20 I will help you get your money back!
Now is the time to make some changes... your body will thank you, your waist line will thank you, and your wallet will thank you when you save it major medical bills down the road! YOU are the only one holding you back!
Join me at www.GetFitWithNicola.com and let me help you work towards a healthier and happier you!
I can not believe how much I am loving the Ultimate Reset. The food is delicious, the timing rules for taking supplements are exactly what I needed to realign my snacking habits (sometimes you just have to wait), the guidelines for food choices along with the supplements are somehow helping me to burn away the stubborn weight that has been sitting on my lower belly, butt and thighs for way too many years.
I have 2 1/2 more days left on the Reset but I know I will not return to some of the eating habits I had before I began. Meat will now be an option, not a requirement! I have officially divorced cereal... there, I said it out loud! Maybe some homemade granola, definitely oatmeal, but no more highly processed cereal (someone should tell the pantry that I just restocked with 6 new boxes)! No more thinking that too much fruit is too much sugar. If it grows it is probably good! No more waiting until 4pm to pull something (meat) out of the freezer for dinner... advance prep is key to success!
I would imagine that the Reset meal plan would be pretty challenging for someone who is not entering it with some healthy food choices already in place. There are lot of vegetables involved, a lot of meal prep and planning ahead to stay on track, a lot of sacrifices if you are used to pulling through the drive through a few days/ week... plus no coffee and no added sugar!
I am excited to take my final measurements on Monday and share my results. I am excited to see how my healthier body will fare in workouts as I amp them back up next week. I am excited to work more with my family to make good clean eating habits a practice in ALL of our daily meals!
If you are interested in learning more about the Ultimate Reset, watch the video below and join my challenge group set to start in early June! I will help you work through the plan, stay on track and reach as much success as I have!
