Enjoy The Journey!

I have been working on this recipe for a while... It all started when I was looking for a slow cooked pork recipe that did NOT include a bunch of super sugary bbq flavors and ingredients. I will say that the best cut of meat for this is boneless country style ribs. But those babies are loaded with excess fat and calories and not my favorite for a regular week night recipe. So I leaned it up a bit by using a pork loin instead and it turns out great. * This was made in a Le Creuset Dutch Oven but you can finish it in a crock pot. Crock pot instructions are included below. INGREDIENTS: Pork Loin 2-5 lbs 2 TBS olive oil 1/2 cup of red wine 1 Bag Peeled Organic Carrots 1 Bag of Parsnips 1 whole white  or yellow onion. 1 carton of organic beef stock 6 whole garlic cloves  Package of grape tomatoes Two bay leaves Homemade  Montreal Steak Seasoning   Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Start by heating up the oil heavily seasoning Montreal...

Smoothies! I try to get as many servings of fruits and vegetables throughout the day as I can. A smoothie can be a yummy way to get your greens and fruits in! They are hydrating, can make your skin glow and give a great energy bump to your mornings! One of the biggest problems I have found though is that I either don't put enough veggies in, or it turns out to be a total sugar/calorie bomb with all of the extras I tend to add for variety. I once read that the ingredients inside your blender should be the same amount that you would eat on a plate. So as you add your ingredients, keep in mind that as you blend, the ingredients will easily shrink and condense into a "1 Glass" serving. But you might be eating alot more than one serving.

I teach 3 classes a week at the gym and we often spend the first few minutes of class discussing health or nutrition questions. Last week we were talking about what to eat when you really want junk, also known as how to love the food that loves your body. General Tso's chicken, french fries, ice cream, pizza... oh the list goes on and on.... If you are trying to improve your eating and possibly your waistline it's handy to know how to cook! Here is the number one thing I learned to make that "diet" a lot less like one and still have the flavors you love. CHASE FLAVORS, NOT FRANCHISES: Craving a slice from your favorite pizza place but know that the extra dough and salt will make you feel awful later? Focus on what you want... Is it the dough? Is it the sauce? Is it the melty mozzarella and romano salty goodness? Eat the part you crave and sub the rest with something healthy! Check out recipes for portabello pizzas, pizza on an eggplant, pizza on an english muff...

I freaking love this commercial... But guess what.. Quinoa (pronounced Keenwah even though I like to call it Kweeno) does NOT have to taste like a "dirty ole tree branch". Quinoa is a seed that is eaten like a grain. It is extremely high in protein and fiber with lots of other great stuff like flavonoids that are antiviral and antiinflammatory. It is full of amino acids (for recovery) and magnesium. It comes in 3 main varieties: Red, White, and Black You cook it by boiling it like rice. I like to cook it in chicken or vegetable broth instead of plain water. I find it takes on a flavor similar to those chicken flavored rice packets we used to eat in college when you cook it this way. Goodbye tree branch! I made this recipe last week and it lasted the whole week as a solid side for my lunches and dinners throughout the week. It's a little bit crunchy, sweet, salty and fresh. I messed around a bit with the flavors and didn't follow this recipe exactly but sinc...

  Congratulations on finishing up the first month of 2015! You succeeded in doing it with a bang. It has been great to see so many new faces in the gym and old ones returning. We love the energy in the gym this time of year. Our resolution for 2015 is to keep it going all year long! The Wellness Festival in January was a great time to recharge and remind us all  why we work so hard to stay healthy and active. My new personal favorite motto is : “I practice indoor training for the outside world”   This was a quote from Tony Horton when he was in town for the festival. There were a few things that he talked about in his Friday night keynote speech that really hit home and are worth a  share if you didn’t get a chance to go. Do your best and forget the rest: Work hard in the gym, trust the program you have chosen and don’t worry about the chatter around you from friends, social media , or the rest of the outside world. I f it isn’t going to help you get ...

I posted a recipe last year for almond floured cod and have made it dozens of times since. Here is the updated and improved recipe! Ingredients 2-4 large cod fillets (I get mine from costo fresh and the split them into portions large enough for a week night meal for 3, then vacuum seal them and freeze for later use.) *All measurements are approxamite depending on how many fillets you are making 1-2 eggs 1/4 cup of shredded Parmesan cheese Salt and Pepper 1 cup of Almond Flour ~ Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.   (I am really liking the Green Life non stick pans from Walmart, they are non stick, oven safe and cheap!) Cod fillets should be defrosted and dry, you can place them on a plate with a paper towel to soak up the extra water. ~Slightly beat the eggs in a bowl large enough to dredge the fillets. ~Mix the almond flour, parmesan, salt and pepper in another bowl of the same size. ~Heat an oven safe non stick pan on the stove on medium heat. ~Dredge a fi...

  Body fat testing.... How do Bio-electrical Impedance and skin calipers work?  BIA is one of the quickest and easiest methods for predicting body fat It is measured when a very small electrical signal carried by water and fluids is passed through the body. Impedance is greatest in fat tissue, which contains only 10-20% water, while fat-free mass, which contains 70-75% water, allows the signal to pass much more easily. By using the impedance measurements along with a person's height and weight, and body type (gender, age, fitness level), it is possible to calculate the percentage of body fat, fat-free mass, hydration level, and other body composition values. Why they can be inaccurate. Using BIA to estimate person's body fat assumes that the body is within normal hydration ranges. When a person is dehydrated, the amount of fat tissue can be overestimated. Factors that can affect hydration include not drinking enough fluids, drinking too much caffeine or al...