Push.

There are many things that inspire me to work hard in life. The moment when you feel like you can't possibly do one more thing for the day then - push - it's done; that is when I find my peace. The space in time that you know you just did something, above what you mentally were telling yourself you could or could not do.

There's a gal I know who I've looked up to for a few years now, Sara Christensen. Sara has been someone that has inspired me to always do better, be better. Someone who I see always pushing in a new direction, growing and creating. Sara has created Shine Healthy Living and will be opening a studio in So Cal soon. Sara shares below what brought her to a better way of life and what her inspiration has been. Thanks SC!!!

Sara and her boyfriend, Nate, in Sedona, Arizona

Don asked me to share with you my vision and big idea for Shine Healthy Living, a business that I'm really excited about opening in Southern California. Health and fitness has always been a part of my life to some degree or another, but a slight health scare several years ago drove me to dig in deeper and really do my homework.

What I found was alarming and a huge wake-up call.  I realized that living a stressful life and eating the standard American diet was just about the worst thing I could be doing for my health. I thought I was taking pretty good care of myself with my vegetarian diet, normal weight, and pretty active life - but the insane stress and inflammation I was creating in my body with what I was eating was really taking it's toll. 

I made some radical changes in the stress-reduction area: I sold the business that I ran and owned for 10 years. I got divorced. And I put the care of myself first via regular exercise and the very best nutrition. I got certified and started teaching Spinning and Zumba. I started eating mostly organic fruits and veggies and made a fresh, green veggie drink part of my daily diet. I stopped eating dairy and white flour. It was the best I had felt in my entire life - both mentally and physically! 

Then I started thinking how I could bring this knowledge and good feelings to others. Shine Healthy Living is going to be a place where people can go for fitness, friendship, and fun. The fitness component will be a offering of many different types of group exercise classes (indoor cycling, yoga, boot camps, Zumba, pilates) and small group personal training. There will be an emphasis on educating people on whole food nutrition via seminars, recipe sharing, cooking classes, and grocery store tours. 

For those people who are serious about their health and need a little extra help, we'll have coaches available to work one-on-one with people on creating health plans - and then sticking by their side to put those plans into successful actions. All that good stuff will be done with a huge emphasis on fun and laughter and celebrating each other. Think of it as recess for adults! 

Please visit us at www.shinefitstudio.com.  I invite you to join in on the fun!

The Protein Pancake

With the new workout regiment comes a new eating regiment. I've never really done things halfway and tend to jump in full force.

This recipe comes from an amazing friend, who like me, has no idea of what slowly easing into something means and goes straight away for the top (eh hem, CMG).

My breakfast consists of a serving of protein, a complex carb and a simple carb, along with copious amounts of coffee. This pancake, topping and a cup of coffee do the job marvelously.

The best part is the kids love it and I couldn't be happier with that.

Ingredients:
4 egg whites
1 whole egg
1/2 cup uncooked oats
1/2 banana
1/2 to 1 scoop VCore S'mores Protein Powder - by Complete Nutrition
Cinnamon - as much as you like, I use a ton (optional)
Capful of Vanilla

Topping:
Can mash up other half of banana or eat plain. Once a week I put SF syrup on my pancake (rebel!).

Use a small amount of coconut oil to grease your pan. Blend all ingredients together (or whisk) and pour into heated greased pan. Let pancake cook, cut into fourths and flip each section. Top with banana, SF syrup or enjoy plain!


Fine print: The actual pancake does not look as beautiful and tempting as the one pictured but come on, the one picture would have you doing cardio for two hours to burn off and no one really likes two hours of cardio.

Changing Direction (but no pivoting and cutting)

I blew out my ACL on July 4th and tore my medial and lateral menisci. Had the reconstruction on the 18th and began recovery. It wasn't pretty. I don't take well to resting and recovery. I wasn't able to workout. It was depressing.

When I finally stopped feeling sorry for myself, I resolved to the fact that throughout the next six months I'd have to find a new way of working out. Under strict orders from my PT and surgeon I could not cut or pivot, jump or run. 

I decided to go back to my roots and weight train. Found a great trainer, a routine, a new eating plan (and new obsessive goals). Ohhh do I feel better. 

It took one week, one workout back at the gym to feel better. I honestly don't understand how people do not move their bodies in exercise (medical limitations excluded, I do get that). How can you not want to feel better than your current state - whatever that current state is? I am so much of a better person, better mother, better partner, better employee and just a better version of me when I work out. I sleep better, eat better, fit into my clothes better. I honestly think it's the only hour in my day that my mind isn't doing ten twenty fifty things.

I've never once worked out and thought, "Wow, that was a waste of time".

So, why do you workout? Maybe a better question for yourself - why are you not?

Vanilla Chai Shake

My Vitamix has me in a whirl this weekend. So far I've made; hummus, chocolate avocado pudding and pops, almond milk, green smoothies (this one needs work), orange sorbet and this amazingly delish shake.

This shake really is incredible, the perfect blend of chai spices to sweetness. I drank mine in about two minutes. Didn't have ground cardamon so I crushed a pod and threw it in. Added a bit of honey, which made it a bit too sweet for me, next time I'll omit.

A must make for anyone that loves chai! I'll for sure work this recipe into an ice cream.

http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2012/04/27/vanilla-chai-breakfast-shakes/

Summer Melt and Coolin Down - Orange Sorbet

I thought that my ice cream, sorbet, cold stuff addiction was due to being prego's over the summer with both kids. What I've come to realize is, I just love cold, fresh, simple ingredient stuff when it's hot.

Today's cool down of choice was a two ingredient orange sorbet using my  (drum role and angel chorus please),  VITAMIX! I'll have to write a separate post of how in love I am with this thing and keep a running list of stuff I've whipped out. Today was avocado fudge pops, sorbet, hummus and a green smoothie.

Any high powered blender I'm sure will work, if it can crush ice, you'll be okay.

2 oranges, peeled, halved, seeded
2 Tablespoons sugar - I used evaporate cain juice
4 cups ice cubes

1. Place all ingredients into Vitamix / Blender in the order listed and secure lid
2. Blend and serve immediately

Nutrition: per 1/2 cup serving: Calories: 37, Total Fat: 0g, Saturated Fat: 0g, Protein: 0g, Fiber 1g, Carbohydrates: 9g

Summertime Glide - Edamame Hummus

I love summertime foods. Fruit, hummus, salads, fresh veggies, farmer's markets, CSAs, gardens - all of it is perfect; and we've seemed to glide right into the summer love.

Tonight I'm filling you in on Edamame Hummus. I doubled the batch and my kids plowed through this in less than ten minutes, next time I'll triple it. Really, just one batch of this is certainly not enough.

This hummus has a fluffly texture which kind of reminds me of whipped cream cheese. I honestly don't think I changed anything about the recipe, it's excellent as is and nice change from the usual standard.

Recipe here

Make sure to buy GMO free soybeans, there are far too many reasons as to why for me to get into so I'll leave you with this click here.

Cookie Dough Dip all Healthy Schmealthy

I'm not sure where to start with this one so I'll just say it. 

This is a post for a recipe, for a cookie dough dip that tastes really, really good and it's made with chickpeas, it's also healthy. Enough said.

Saw the idea on Pinterest among many, many other ideas that I can only pin and dream of getting to and ended up on this blog. It's a huge score for me, finally someone that doesn't use white flour, sugar etc and can still land on a pretty decent dessert and sometimes down right awesome.

I've made her voluminous oats for breakfast every morning this week, with cocoa powder and a few other things.. will post that too - it's like eating chocolate pudding. 

Recipe here

My mods:

Heat the chickpeas for the smoothest consistency. Once you get them hot, rinse in hot water and drain. Add to processor and mix as directed.

I'm not a fan of stevia at all and have tried to be.. used maple syrup the first time and evaporated cain the second. I measured out the sweenter and added slowly to taste. I added extra vanilla b/c I like it. Used homemade almond butter, peanut butter makes it taste like peanut butter cookie dough (which really isn't a terrible thing). I also added cocoa powder to the first batch and it was ridiculous good, tasted like brownie batter. Used pretzels to dip into that one. I chill it in the fridge for a few hours before eating and it's much better than when it's warm. I also added the oats.

This cookie dough recipe is great with graham crackers too. Enjoy!

Healthy Cookies (that are really really really great!)

There are not many healthy dessert recipes that I love and think are amazing, this might be the first on the list. I've tried so many times in the past to replace this with that, sub out blah for blah and settled on the fact that dessert should be full on, savored in small bites and eaten like you're living in France - whatever that means.

I however, do not have the discipline for eating like a Frenchy and have resolved myself to not make (or purchase) anything over the top decadent. If I do, you'll find me stalking the kitchen for any random item as an excuse to grab a bite here and there.

Made these tonight and they are excellent not to mention, they are butter-less, flour-less, egg-less and just about sugar-less.

Stalk my kitchen I shall, but this booty will still be able to button my jeans the next day.

Bon appetite!

http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/nikkis-healthy-cookies-recipe.html

In Training and a Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal Recipe

In training. The past 4ish months I've been dedicating my oh-so-valuable free time to working out and getting my groove back. It's working. I hear people throughout my day talk about diet this, diet that. Plain and simple it is two things; what you eat- how much of it and exercise. Vigorous exercise. I'm not talking about walking on the treadmill or riding the stationary bike while reading a magazine. I'm talking about sweat pouring down your face stinging your eyes, feeling like you might puke if you push any harder yet still pushing yourself during every moment, further and stronger at each workout - kind of exercise. It works and it feels oh-so-good; so, that's why I haven't posted any recipes as of late - I've been kicking my own ass.

I have a list of stuff that I want to post up here to keep for easy reference and to share of course.. Cauliflower Mash, a new hummus recipe, Mexican Veggie Bake and a few others. For now, I'm sharing a great make ahead of time breakfast given to me by a great friend.

Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal

It's amazing, taste like pumpkin pie (I don't think it's a coincidence that she also gave me the crock pot apple steal oats recipe either). It's  easy, great to make ahead of time and best severed warm with a topping of Greek yogurt and a drizzle of maple syrup or berries (or all three!)

1 can of pumpkin

1/2 cup brown sugar (or whatever sug sub you use)

2 eggs

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice (i used a bit more, about 1.5)

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp vanilla

1.5 cups milk (I used almond milk)

2.5 cups oats

Mix in order. Bake at 350 covered with foil for 30 mins and uncovered for another 15 - 20. Not sure on the pan size I used but it was a smaller glass brownie dish. This will make it thicker and need a longer cook time, go about 10 mins over and check from there. The kids went nuts over this too - Enjoy!