Saturday, December 12, 2015

Protein Bites - a Healthy Snack!




Oh. My. Word. If you are looking for a delicious and healthy snack, especially around this time of year, then you will want to try these protein bites!! You can customize them anyway you please, and they are so yummy, you will definitely want more than one! My kids even love them, so they are a great thing to make ahead of time for a snack; they can even help make them!!

 I will give you the basic recipe I used from Pinterest, and then give you some ideas for add-ins that you could use as well! I recently made these alongside some fudge for a Christmas event I did, and it was not only nice that there was a healthy option for dessert, but they all loved them and asked for the recipe!! So, even if you are headed to a cookie exchange, here is a healthy option you could bring! Tastes like dessert!! And of course, I love anything with peanut butter in it! Enjoy!!

Protein Bites
Gimme Some Oven
Adapted from Smashed Peas & Carrots

Yields: About 20-25 balls, depending on the size

Ingredients:
1 cup (dry) oatmeal (like old-fashioned oats)
2/3 cup toasted coconut flakes
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup ground flax seed
1/2 cup chocolate chips or cacao nibs (optional)
1/3 cup honey or agave nectar
1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Stir all the ingredients together in a medium bowl until thoroughly mixed. Cover and let chill in the refrigerator for at least half an hour.
2. Once chilled, roll into balls of whatever size you would like (about 1 inch is what I did.) Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Here are some ideas for add-ins:
Different kinds of chips (butterscotch, milk chocolate, white chocolate, cinnamon chips)
Different nut butters (almond butter, sunflower seed butter, cashew butter, etc.)
Different sweeteners

You could probably add in all sorts of different things to your liking, like dried cranberries, raisins, dates, different kinds of nuts...the possibilities are endless and depend on your likes/favorites!

These are so yummy and simple to make, you may want to make a double or triple batch! They will go fast!

Enjoy!




Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Pork Carnitas


Oh.My.Gosh. Yum!!

I have been so busy lately, and so for my meal plan this week, I wanted to find healthy, 21 Day Fix approved, slow-cooker meals!! A lot of nights, I just don't feel like putting the effort into making dinner! I wait until the last minute, start dinner late, or just don't even have a dinner plan until late! So I was so excited to just pick mostly slow-cooker meals for this week, and take the stress out of meal prep, planning, etc.

I was searching through Pinterest for 21 Day Fix approved dinners and slow-cooker dinners, and I found this amazing recipe for Pork Carnitas from a fellow Beachbody Coach!! It is the simplest to put together, and it was AMAZING!! One of my favorite things I have made...ever!! I just love meals that have something cooked, but then you add fresh ingredients to it...really makes the flavor pop and the flavor in these Pork Carnitas was out of this world!!

So, here's the recipe!! My family loved it, so it was a winner in my book!



Pork Carnitas
From Melanie Mitro's Blog

Ingredients:
3 lbs. Pork Loin
1 bay leaf
1 1/2 cups of water

For the Spice Rub:
2 Tbsp. Chili Powder
2 Tsp. Cumin
1 Tsp. Ground Coriander
1/2 Tsp. Cloves
1 Tsp. Onion Powder
1 Tsp. Garlic Powder
1 Tsp. Sea Salt
1 Tsp. Oregano

Directions:

1. Mix all the spices together, except the bay leaf.
2. Rub down the entire pork loin with the spices and place in the slow cooker.
3. Add in the bay leaf and water and cook on Low for 6-8 hours. Watch the pork to make sure the water doesn't absorb, or else it will dry out. If you have to add more water, then please do so!
4. Pull the pork apart with 2 forks; it should pull apart easily!
5. Put the shredded meat back in the slow cooker, so it can mix in with the juices!



You can use any toppings that you like for the Carnitas!! If you are eating clean, or doing the 21 Day Fix (which is clean eating!), then you will want to adjust your toppings accordingly!! Here's what we had on our table for the whole family!

-Corn Tortillas - browned
-Flour Tortillas
-Romaine lettuce, chopped
-Sharp Cheddar Cheese
-Fresh Avocado
-Fresh Cilantro
-Guacamole
-Sour Cream (Or you could have plain Greek Yogurt, if you are eating clean)
-Salsa of your choice

Cilantro-Lime Dressing (LOL, I just realized that I left this part out!! I'm so bummed, but they were still AMAZING!!)

Greek Yogurt (she doesn't say how much to add, so just add 1/2 cup at a time, until it looks right! One reader said she used 1 1/2 cups!)
1/4 cup Fresh Lime Juice
1/4 cup Fresh Cilantro, chopped
1 Lime, cut into wedges, for garnish


You could also add black beans, refried beans, diced tomatoes....really the possibilities are endless! And that's what makes this so family-friendly as well... people can fix them to their liking! You could even serve this over rice!! And it makes for great leftovers...I can't wait to have this for lunch!

Enjoy!




Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Healthy Holiday Tips


Well, the holidays are officially upon us, and it is definitely the season for parties, lots of food, and holiday treats! While there is nothing wrong with enjoying some of these things, leaving all caution to the wind and indulging in everything can be a problem!! And you will definitely reap the consequences if you indulge in everything!! So today, I wanted to give you some practical tips for NOT gaining the holiday 15!

1. Make a plan for each festivity. Decide ahead of time what you will allow yourself to eat, and what you want to stay away from. Without any guidelines, you will be tempted to overflow your plate, and will go home bloated and disappointed!

2. Get accountability for this season. This is where my Challenge groups can be a huge support! I encourage my Challengers to post for accountability before a tempting event! But you can ask a friend, spouse, or someone who also has goals to hold you accountable to your guidelines!

3. Keep your eyes on your goal! I have found that if you FOCUS on how much you're being deprived, how much you wish you could indulge, and how miserable you are, then chances are, you'll give in. But if you FOCUS on what you're working towards, what your goals are, and how good decisions at this event will bring you closer to your goal, then chances are, you'll succeed!

4. Commit to a workout program! That's also where my Coaching and recommendations for a workout program come in!! I love to hear people's fitness goals, help them with a couple solid recommendations, and help them get into a program that's right for them! If you are following a schedule and want to finish your program to get those results, that will also help to keep you on track!And each workout program also comes with a nutrition plan!



5. Eat healthy most of the time! You can control what you take in most of the time. Besides those parties and special events, plan for healthy breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks, and be careful to stick to that during the week, so that when you do have a special event, a few treats won't completely derail you!!



So there you have it! I know I could come up with more ideas, but for easy convenience, I figure that 5 ideas is enough to go on! If you truly want to reach your goals, amidst this holiday season, then stick with me, and I'll help you achieve them! I've got a group of ladies who are all working towards their goals, and encouraging each other along the way! Want in? Fill out this form, and I'll get back with you!!

https://steph4given.wufoo.com/forms/z1vf6znx03uidy5/

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Welcome to Fit Fuel!



I am so excited to launch my new blog, Fit Fuel! Let me tell you a little bit about myself!

I have struggled with my weight for several years. I would try new things, but ultimately, would fail. I didn't really know what to do, or how to do it, I just knew that I wanted to lose weight and feel better about myself.

A few years ago, a good friend, Carolyn Green, contacted me and introduced me to Beachbody. I didn't really know what Beachbody was, or what Shakeology was, but once I talked to her, I was sold!! I got into one of her online Fitness Challenge groups, and lost 17 pounds in 2 months!! And as they say, the rest is history!!

I started going through the Beachbody workout programs, and loved how they were a whole workout program (not just one workout DVD to do each day), how each program included a nutrition plan, and how you can get results from following these plans!!

Now, over the years, I have definitely still struggled with my weight. But I now know what I need to do to get the results I want! The 21 Day Fix is probably the most effective program since it has a different workout for each day of the week (focusing on different areas), has a simple nutrition plan with color-coded containers (to help you eat clean and in the correct portions), and then you add in the support network of a Challenge group on Facebook, and you've got a recipe for success! This is the program I'm currently going through!

In October, I did a program called the Ultimate Reset, which jumpstarted my health and nutrition again! I lost 13 pounds and 9 inches in 3 weeks! It is a strict, 21 day plan where you take specific supplements at specific times, eat exactly what is prescribed (you prepare each meal), and you don't workout, or at least you don't workout strenuously. I was so grateful for that program, because it showed me the crazy discipline that I had, that I can stick with something hard, and that I could get results!! I was ecstatic!

Check out what that program is here: myultimatereset.com/steph4given

So, what do I hope to show you in this blog?

I hope to share my health and fitness journey with you!

I want to feature healthy recipes! I am a foodie by nature, and if I'm going to be successful in my weight loss journey, I have to find healthy, delicious recipes! I'll share them with you!

I will be sharing my next Fitness Challenge group that I will be hosting! If you are ready to start your health/fitness journey, I'd love to be a part of it!!

I hope to share health/fitness tips with you! As I find new tips and tricks, and find what works for me on my health journey, you can bet I'll share them here!

So, if you would like to be a part of my journey, get inspired by new recipes and fitness tips, or just like reading about my progress, then please subscribe to my blog, and be inspired!!