Help! I've fallen...and I can't get back up!!

I'm in completely new territory. I've moved back to my beloved New Orleans (not the issue). This is my first time I've shared a living space in a while-I'm temporarily living with family. I've taken a new job, my first outside a fitness setting in 12+ years. And I'm at my first "desk" job in 15 years. Lots of firsts. 

I'm off my routine, to say the least. 

Living with family, I'm surrounded by food I wouldn't normally keep in my own home. For me, out of sight is definitely out of mind. If a craving should arise, my hatred for driving would normally me deter me from going out to the grocery to get it. Such is my hatred for driving. 

At work, although I am on my feet most of the day, I am relatively inactive. I've been lucky enough to have held a job in a health club for most of my adult life. So my life was active-meetings usually involved a fitness session and healthy eats. My current job has neither a yoga studio or weights, TRX bands nor Crossfit box. We frequently run for Starbucks (lattes, frappucinos, and pastries)-several times a day-and order lunch daily (Po-boys, fried food, bagels, wings). 

Have I mentioned I'm also completely off my sleep schedule? I am a firm believer that this is just as detrimental as simple carbs to your health and weight. My regular schedule has me asleep by 10 p.m. and awake by 6 p.m., without an alarm. Of course, it helped that my bed in my last two homes was positioned beneath a window that had the sun shining in my eyes upon sunrise. 

At home and work, this is what I see: 

Lots of it. No bueno. 

Chips, cookies, cupcakes, donuts, coffee drinks, carb-y meals = Sugar, sugar, sugar, sugar, sugar, sugar, sugar. 

I hate math but I do speak food & fitness:

Sugar + Inactivity = Fat butt 

So, there you go. 

I'm lucky to still work for Pure Barre New Orleans, and to be teaching yoga and Pilates again soon. But: 

Energy in = Energy out

There has to be balance with your food and fitness. Even a 5 minute burst several times a day, all out. I know that right now, I am eating a lot more sugar than my body is accustomed to. So I have "Wheat Belly". I'm maintaining, but I'm soft. And I don't like soft. So I can take the shortcut: 

Joking. 

And I can remember this: 

I don't even know if this is true. But it terrifies me enough. 'Cause I don't burpee. Not even once. 

I'll choose "clean up my act". Make a new routine. And find balance in this new situation, however temporary it is. No excuses. And you're here to keep me accountable. I'll keep YOU posted. 

Chia Pudding

There are a ton of recipes on Pinterest for Chia Pudding. I decided to test one out and put my own spin on it. At the grocery today, I saw a package of rice pudding and I got a craving for it. So, voila, inspiration for the chia pudding. Here is the recipe I followed:

1 cup of milk of choice (I used organic vanilla almond milk)

3 TBSP chia seeds

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon 

Whisk together ingredients in a bowl and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, whisk the ingredients again to fully incorporate. 

Garnish with raisins and heat for a warm treat!

Super easy, right? For a little fatty acid/protein boost, I added a few chopped walnuts. You could add some shredded coconut, too. 

Holiday Diet & Fitness: Simplified

Image from Pinterest

Holiday season has crept up on us and it's a short one this year. I honestly don't even have my tree up yet. I've been in and out of town, busy playing dance mom during Nutcracker season, and the hustle and bustle of everyday life continues on. There are a lot of you out there that may have gained a little during this season (including myself-holiday carbs have added holiday bloat) and you may want to make excuses or put off shedding the weight. My answer: DON'T. It's so easy to give yourself a free pass, because you can hide it under winter layers, because you still have Christmas and New Year's parties to go to, etc. It's much easier to stay ahead of it all by maintaining or even (gasp!) upping the intensity of your workouts. I know your time is limited. You can workout anywhere and make yourself shake and burn. With Pinterest, YouTube, and all of the websites out there you can surely find one to work in15 minutes. My advice? Do it first thing in the morning before your day gets in the way and you have the chance to make excuses on why you don't have time. During lunch, work in a walk instead of staying inside (as a plus, you may get some vitamin D if the sun is out and that will help to fight off the flu, too!). 

As for me, I'm working in extra intense bursts of strength training all throughout my day, even if it is for just a minute or two. Little by little, a little means a lot. Every little bit gets you closer to your goals, so even if it's just a minute make it count and do some push ups, air squats, lunges, core work, etc. 

And remember, you control what is on your plate and how much you eat of it. Take less than you think you are going to eat. We all get big eyes at holiday parties, especially buffet style. Don't forget to eat an extra dense meal, high in fiber (like steamed veggies), to keep your appetite at bay before you step out. Chase each cocktail and/or plate of food with 8 oz. of water to keep things in moderation & balance. And you just may come out alive. :)

Avocado Egg Scramble

I know that breakfast can be one of those hard to deal with meals. You run out of breakfast ideas that don't include a starch-based carb. So, I'll keep posting breakfast recipes to keep you going!

In the morning, I like to start with a bottle or glass of water with the juice of a lemon and a teaspoon of bee pollen. It's like taking a super detox/allergy relief/vitamin. Bee pollen can also be a great chaser after a workout to help speed recovery and build muscle faster. It's a great addition to any meal plan! 

Avocado Egg Scramble

2 eggs

1/2 avocado, cubed at room temperature

2-3 sprigs of chopped green onion, to taste

juice of 1/2 lime

Freshly ground sea salt and pepper to taste

Scramble the eggs, sprinkling with salt & pepper to taste. Add the green onions just a minute or two before removing from heat to soften. 

Squeeze the juice of the lime on top of the cubed avocado. 

Remove eggs from the pan onto your dish and add the avocado mixture. 

That's it!! 

Now if I have some fresh salsa, I pour it on top and mix it in sometimes to keep things interesting. This is a satisfying breakfast that will definitely keep you until your first snack of the day, preferably within 2 hours of breakfast. Keep your metabolism going! 

Sweet Summertime Treats: Blackberries

Today I was lucky to catch the community garden at the health club where I work. I found the most beautiful, organic sweet blackberries. So I bought a package and brought them home for inspiration. And I made this:

Blackberries in a cloud of marscapone & honey

I simply took roughly a tablespoon of marscapone cheese and whipped it together with a little honey & cinnamon. Scooped the mixture into a small bowl and topped with the blackberries. It was delicious & satisfying-not a large portion, just enough to enjoy. Eat it slowly and mindfully, so many textures & flavors bursting from the small bites. Don't act like a baby and stuff your cheeks full of it. #savor

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (and good food!)

So here is the latest creation that I made on the 4th of July. I had been moving for a bit and wasn't cooking as much, transitioning between kitchens at my old and new place. I am pleased to say that I have a fabulous new kitchen, perfect inspiration for my inner (frustrated) chef. So lots more recipes and pictures to come!

On the Fourth, I had a menu of Arugula with honey & pears paired with a buttery chardonnay; for the entree I chose pan-seared sirloin topped with blue cheese & blackberry reduction paired with a fruity Cabernet Sauvignon; for dessert, I whipped up a little Marscapone drizzled with honey & a light dusting of cinnamon served over an apple tart. We ate the meal so quickly that I only got a picture of the salad. All else was demolished without permanent record. Afterwards, we languished in our food coma while watching dvd's and fireworks through the windows of my new home. It was a great way for me to celebrate life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and it brought new meaning to Independence Day for me. Vive La 'Merica!! 

Pear & Honey Arugula Salad

2-3 cups of arugula 

1 bosc pear, sliced thin

1-2 handfuls of Asiago cheese

2 handfuls of Pecans

Honey

Rinse the arugula and dry thoroughly. Place in large, shallow bowl or platter.

Arrange sliced pears on top of the leaves. 

Sprinkle pecans and Asiago on top of the pears & leaves evenly.

Drizzle honey lightly on top, evenly making a few passes.

Optional: garnish with freshly ground pink peppercorns for color & a kick! 

My friend ate this entire dish...it was a really large dish of it, too!! 

Blue Cheese Crusted Sirloin with Blackberry Reduction

For the steaks, I placed each in a medium heat pan with a little Kerrygold butter or ghee (I like using enameled cast iron cookware like Le Creuset & Le Chef). Sear a few minutes on each side for a good mid-rare steak (my preferred temp). 

Leave steaks in pan & sprinkle blue cheese on top. Heat oven to broil and place steaks inside, still in pan. Broil for 2-3 minutes, until the cheese browns slightly. USE AN OVEN MITT TO REMOVE THE PAN-IT WILL BE BLAZING HOT!!

Let the steaks rest and the cheese to cool. 

Place blackberries & honey (or sugar) in a small pan. Reduce while constantly stirring & smashing with wooden spoon. Once bubbly and liquid (mostly), pour on top of steaks & cheese. Serve immediately. 

Dessert is a breeze and this will pair well with pretty much any in-season fruit. You can get creative and add nuts to it, too. 

Honey-sweetened Marscapone with Cinnamon

Spoon out desired amount of marscapone into a stainless steel bowl. Whisk briskly with honey. Dust lightly with cinnamon and serve on top or on side of fresh, in-season fruit. Easy-peasy, lemon-squeezy! 

I cannot wait...I have a fig tree in my backyard and I'm eagerly awaiting it's harvest. Cross your fingers for me! If they produce a lot I will be posting lots of recipes!! So many options...

Remember that the best dishes are made with the freshest, in-season, local ingredients. This makes a world of difference in your cooking. Go to farmer's markets, stop at farmer's stands, and get inspired by the gorgeous food out there waiting to be picked!

Eating well on the move.

I've been moving this week into a great new home. Meal planning is a little off-that's life, just learn how to balance! I ate sushi last night-smoked salmon. Today, I made some ground meat with cumin and chili powder for a little southwestern kick, chopped up a tomato, green onions, cilantro and the juice of 1 key lime-all things I bought from the farmer's market this past weekend. I mixed it all together once the meat had cooled and it was delicious. A heavier dinner, but I need the nutrition since I was so on the go today, and the past few days. I'll post the recipe although really its just a little bit of this and that. I'll have leftovers for tomorrow and I'll have to make a new frittata since I've eaten all of the last one-4 servings, 4 breakfasts. I have a late morning so I'll have the time. FYI, working legs (workout) when you are doing a move that requires a flight of stairs with heavy boxes is less than ideal. I do not know what possessed me. No bueno.