What Not #77

STAY TUNED!!

((Photo Source:  http://www-hce.stjohns.k12.fl.us/media/sample-page/under-construction-kids/))

Tasty Tuesday Treat #77

Last week, I posted this picture on Instagram for two reasons.  The first was to share my giddy-ness about organizational food prep via Beachbody.  The second was to tease my followers who were waiting for new healthy recipes.  While I am still "Type-Aing" with excitement about my containers, I finally can share what I have been mixing up in my kitchen.

For those who are not familiar with the Beachbody Portion Control Containers, they are a fantastic way to dial in your nutrition while focusing on your physical fitness.  "Each container corresponds to an essential food and macronutrient group, and is sized to deliver just the right amount of food to help you always get your best results.*" While everyone will have a slightly different breakdown of daily container amounts, its is safe to say that we all will need at least 1 blue, 1 red, 1 green, 1 yellow and 1 purple.

In my blue, red, green containers, I packed up a delicious egg salad made without mayonnaise.  Instead of placing the salad on a piece of toast, I filled my blue container with sunflower seeds to add some depth to the dish!

In my yellow and purple containers (plus 1 tsp), I treated myself to an almond butter sweet potato mash with roasted apple pieces.  To make my mash, I roasted a small sweet potato until tender.  I then blended that mixture with 1 tsp of almond butter in my Nutribullet.  To roast the apples, I diced 1 small apple into bite sized pieces.  I tossed the apples with a bit of cinnamon before baking them in the oven @ 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Such a sweet treat!

If you would like to start "color coding" your way to food fun, check out my Beachbody page that has a direct link to the Beachbody shop!

Mindful Monday Inspiration #78

Having been under a rock for the past few years as it relates to podcasts, I have finally come to realize how AMAZING they are and how powerful their messages can be.  I first stumbled upon the Ultimate Health Podcast and began binging their 200+ episodes.  I then was introduced to The Life Coach School Podcast by a fellow BeachBody coach and was immediately inspired to better myself physically, mentally and professionally.  Since most things come in 3's, I balanced out my podcast favorites with the Balanced Blonde's Soul On Fire Podcasts.  Jordan, the Balanced Blonde, interviews incredibly interesting guests in a way that feels like BFF's are chatting over a cup of coffee.  

This morning while listening to an old episode, Jordan's guest, Kelly Leveque, spoke about beginner and experienced students in her fitness classes.  Having been a workout fiend for about 10 years, I consider myself pretty experienced when it comes to running, spinning and body weight training.  I do not consider myself, however, experienced in anyway shape or form in yoga.  I just began my practice about 2 years ago, but took a loooong hiatus after becoming pregnant with my son. (Side note:  Yoga is wonderful for pregnant women, however, I was nervous to continue my hot yoga practice while pregnant because of the temperature and the negative effects it has on unborn babies.)  

The message that Kelly conveyed was that using props or crutches in a fitness routine DOES NOT mean a person is a beginner, rather she is more in tune with her body and her ability to perform certain moves/poses/position/etc.  Wow!  My mind was officially blown!  

Countless times, I have felt like I HAD to do each sprint in third position while spinning or felt as though each chaturanga was MANDATORY in my yoga flow.  What I failed to notice was that I was not increasing my expertise by doing so, but rather hurting myself by not listening to my body.  In reflecting, I probably looked more like a novice by pushing myself in those ill prepared moments rather than the shining star I hoped to be.  

It is with this new outlook, I want to share a quote that has been written countless times by many fitness professionals, but holds much more meaning today than ever before: 

 "Workout SMARTER, not HARDER."  

Fitness Friday Fact #77

Health and wellness was not always at the forefront of my life.  In fact, for the first 20 years, it was not even a thought that crossed my mind.  Sure, I tap danced and was a member of my high school swim team, but I was better known as the girl who “walked” during a track and field try-out.  Not only was my physical activity lacking, I truly believed that vegetables we flavorless demons and that a solid meal was best prepared at a fast food restaurant.  It was not until I graduated college that I came to appreciate a morning treadmill session and was able to de-demonize vegetables. 

Since 2008, I have focused on health and wellness through working out and learning to cook balanced meals.  I have also received my Health Coach certification through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and became a certified SPIN instructor and Personal Trainer.  Such a lifestyle made it easy to be considered a pregnant enigma; powering through a difficult SPIN workout just two days before giving birth to my son in November of 2016.  That title was not something that I bragged about, but rather, used as an example to illustrate the easy pregnancy that I had been granted.  Despite what seemed to most as effortless, my road to motherhood was not easy and was filled with hiccups afterwards, as well. 

For months, despite clipping into my bike or clocking miles on the treadmill, I didn’t feel like myself.  I felt like I had taken residence in a body that was the polar opposite of what I had known just a few months before.  Such insecurities led to a great deal of self-doubt and a ton of self-deprecation, but at the end of the day, cuddling my son reinforced the inevitable, I was stronger than ever before.

By channeling that realization, I have been able to start my “comeback!” I have developed a new workout normal with Beachbody!  These workouts include light weights and yoga. More importantly I have increased my physical strength and have become a powerful mama that my old self would be inspired by!

Coming Soon...

Stay Tuned For A BRAND NEW Spin 

on Wellnesswheels.blogspot.com

((Photo Source:  https://www.smartkitchen.com/blog/benefits-of-cooking-at-home/))

Tasty Tuesday Treat #76

Having learned early from my beach loving family, a perfect summer day is spent gazing at the ocean and soaking in the sun.  During those hours, conversations are shared, good books are read and simple beach bites are enjoyed.

Yesterday, before plopping down into the sand, I prepared a new beach bite that was a spin off of this roasted sweet potato sandwich.  Rather than lathering on thick pesto and crumbled blue cheese, I made a ricotta/honey spread that acted as my "mayo."  For my next layer, I added 1/4 of a cup of roasted sweet potatoes, topped with thinly sliced green apples and some roughly chopped kale.  

I can honestly say that it was love at first bite!

((Photo Source:  http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/roasted-sweet-potato-sandwich-with-apples-pesto-kale-and-blue-cheese/))

Mindful Monday Inspiration #76

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