Carrot Cake - 80 Day Obsession Approved

It is not a lie when I tell you the meal plan for the latest Beachbody program, 80 Day Obsession, scared me.  Not only did I have to eat at specific times, but I have specific foods group combinations to follow.  Who wants to eat a veggie at 4am?  Who wants to eat at 4am period?

Fortunately, I am in a test group with the creator of the program and there are lots of recipes and tips shared daily.  This recipe was shared by a fellow coach and I am so grateful because it is the perfect pre workout meal.  My body can easily digest it at 4:20am and allow me to press play at 5am.  Plus, it's quite tasty.

My pre workout meal consists of 1 protein, 1 veggie, 1 carb, and 1 tsp.  I was ready to eat eggs, spinach, and toast every morning, so this carrot cake bake is a welcome addition.

The recipe is simple and you can easily double, triple, etc...the batch.

I have tweaked the recipe a bit from the original - not by much because I am NOT a baker.  I'm also not a professional photographer as you'll see by my pics ;-)

I use pasture-raised eggs.  They are more expensive, but I'm willing to pay that for the quality and the fact that the hens are treated better....at least I am hoping this company is.

I used matchstick carrots, so I pulsed them for a few seconds in my Ninja first.  It breaks them up and makes them like a shredded carrot consistency.  I didn't pulse my zucchini in this pic because I shredded it.  When I use the pre shredded zucchini (when I'm feeling lazy), I will pulse for a few seconds to break up the big noodles.

This Maple Cinnamon spice is my favorite!!!  I ran low so I used this and regular cinnamon.  There's a code at the bottom of this post for 15% off the spices I use :-)

I used a combination of rolled oats and quick cooking oats - I usually just use rolled oats but I ran out.  I don't think I have a preference for this recipe, but I typically use rolled oats - gluten free, of course :-)

Mix it all together.

 Pour it into your desired pan.  I used a 9x9 baking pan.  You could easily make these as muffins or mini loaves.  I just prefer to use this pan and cut them into equal pieces.  I would recommend removing from the parchment paper and allowing to cool.  Store in fridge or I'm sure you could freeze portions.

I like to heat mine for 45 seconds and top with a tsp of all natural peanut butter.  Delicious, healthy, and works for me at 4:20am :-)

Carrot Cake - 80 DO Approved
1 serving:  1 red, 1 yellow, 1 green, 1 tsp
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup shredded zucchini, squeeze with cloth to remove excess water
1/4 cup rolled oats, gluten free
2 eggs, slightly beaten
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp Maple Cinnamon Spice **
1/2 tsp  vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350.
Mix ingredients together.  Pour into muffin tins, mini bread loaf, or a casserole dish (if making a large batch).  Bake for 20 - 25 minutes.  Top with 1 tsp of nut butter.

**Use my promo code DESANTISFITNESS for 15% off your order!

Saddest part of my morning.....

2018 is here.....now what?

I was never one for the hullabaloo for New Years Eve.  All this excitement to stay up way past my bedtime to watch a ball fall (very slowly, I might add) and then everyone yells and smooches.  I never really understood the attraction.  Except when I really young and we stayed up until midnight and went outside and banged on pots and pans and yelled Happy New Year!!  Our neighbors loved us ;-)

Then you have the Resolutions.  Yeah, because those always work out so well.  I don't remember 1 resolution that I actually made that I kept...no wait, that I actually remembered come February.  Not.a.one.

This year, I did manage to stay up and watch some big ball fall and then text my family a Happy New Years text (personal, I know) and went to bed.  The next day I woke up to everyone's social media posts about their resolutions and this and that....I guarantee if I ask them today, a majority of them will have forgotten about them or quit already.  That's why they're my friends ;-) <3

Now, don't get me wrong - I love the idea of looking back over the year and set new intentions.  Moving forward.  For me, resolutions aren't that.  Resolutions are crazy thoughts that are usually out of my reach and set me up failure.  I recently read this thought "....resolutions seldom work because they are based not the type of person we're tired of being rater than who God wants us to become."   YES!

Instead of creating resolutions, I decided to focus on who I want to be and more importantly, who God wants me to be.   I love this simple act of choosing 1 word to make your focus for the year.  1 word that can't be broken as easily as resolutions.  1 word that will guide my decisions and choices.  1 word to help me stay on the path God laid out before me and not the path I feel should be taken.

My word is not a big, fancy word.  It's something that caught my eye the other night while I was sitting at my desk.  I have a word magnet puzzle that I received in a Faith Box (monthly subscription) and I kept coming back to this 1 word.  When I pulled the word down and stared at it in my hands, I was over come with emotions.  I felt like this past year was a struggle, especially the last few months, and I haven't been able to put my finger on the reason.  Until the other night.

Restore.

My word is restore.  I need to be restored with my friendships, business, running, and more importantly my relationship with God.  I need to be restored.

My actions, my decisions will be guided through this word:  Restore.  If the activity is not going to help me restore or reinstate the feelings of connectedness with my friends, my business, or God, then it's not the right path.  I know that this may take me outside of my comfort zone a bit, but that is clearly needed!  I've been stuck for a while and I am getting way too comfortable here.  It's time to move onto healing and being RESTORed!

I'd love to know what your One Word for the year will be!

Healthy Holiday Habits

The holidays can be a joyous and beautiful time but they can also be filled with stress, anxiety, frustration, and too many treats!  So I'm sharing with you, my 5 tips to avoiding the unwanted extra bloat, weight, inches, and if you're like me, the unnecessary feelings of disappointment and self hate.

I am not an expert - just someone who has gone through many holidays eating her feelings away and starting the new year feeling depressed and bloated.  These are things that I do to avoid getting myself stuck in that dark, sad place.

Whether you are hosting or are heading out for a party, never start on an empty stomach.  Eat something small like a piece of fruit, a small piece of bread with peanut butter, a hardboiled egg, a health food shake.  I will make 1/2 of a shake to help fight off the hunger pains for a bit so I'm not heading to the food table as soon as I get there.

If you're like me, you like an alcoholic beverage or 2 or maybe 3 during a holiday party.  Make sure you are hydrated before you start drinking and have a glass of water in between the alcoholic drinks.  The water will also help keep you full so you're not heading back to the buffet table multiple times.....which leads me to my next tip....

Make 1 trip to the buffet table and start with fruits and veggies.  Load your plate up with fresh fruits and vegetables and then head to the other goodies.  Limit the dishes that are full of carbs and sugar, like casseroles, chips, crackers, cookies, beer, wine....yes, all the good ones.  I know that these foods taste good, but these will leave us feeling bloated and tired.

That's right - you read that correct!  Don't skip dessert, but make sure it's worth it.  There are so many desserts that we can have all year long, so why eat it at Christmas?  Treat yourself to that dessert that is only made once a year.  If you must have more than 1, take small portions (few bites each) so you can enjoy each one but not feel stuffed at the end.

The holidays are tough enough, you don't need to beat yourself up over a few extra treats.  Be kind to yourself.  Know that you may eat or drink more than you really should.  Tomorrow is a new day - start fresh and follow these tips again.

I hope these tips are ones that you can incorporate into your daily lives, but especially during the holidays.  If you have any questions, please leave a comment :-)

Faith over Fear

It's 9:30pm and Hurricane Irma is bringing her lovely self through Northern Florida and will be here for a while.  I wasn't worried or nervous until the sun started to go down and darkness fell.  Why is it that the dark makes everything scarier?

It's times like this that I am reminded to walk by faith, not by sight.  To trust that God has everything in control.  That's what I'm doing tonight - trusting that God has use wrapped in His arms and will keep us safe.  <3

Sometimes our fitness journey can feel like we are in darkness.  We feel alone and not sure of which direction to head.  In those moments, remind yourself to trust the process.  Trust the tools you have in front of you and keep going.  The moments that we can push through and fight through the darkness, those are the moments that build our strength.  Those are the moments that help us build our confidence.  

Don't be afraid of the darkness.  Remember that God is with you through everything - trust Him.  

Summer Picnic Survival Guide

Let's be honest, I could have titled this: "How to not overeat 365 days a year" ;-)  I struggle with my nutrition more than anything else.  I don't mind getting up early and working out.  I will whine but I love going for a run.  I also LOVE to EAT, but my body doesn't respond well when I eat everything in sight.  The summer months bring picnics, holiday celebrations, and vacations....all with delicious, sometimes not so good for you, treats.

I thought I'd share my tips and tricks for enjoying the picnics and still fitting into your pants at the end of the night :-)   Note:  I am not a nutritionist, just someone who has found these tips through trial and error in creating Healthy Habits.  Take them for what they are worth!

Before the event:
1.  Exercise - don't complicate this step.  Keep it simple - go for a walk, press play on a 30 minute workout, play outside with your kids, ride a bike.  Do something to get your heart rate up and the blood pumping and oxygen flowing to your brain - so it'll help you make wise decisions later when choosing your food ;-).  You can find 100's of workouts on Beachbody On Demand.  Workouts range from 10 minutes - 90 minutes, with weights and without, low impact to high intensity - the possibilities are endless.  You can try it for FREE for 14 days, so you can be ready for the 4th of July if you sign up today!

2.  Drink your Shakeology - I will have a shake while I drive to a picnic or about 30 minutes before if I'm hosting.   You'll find that you will be full and not running to the food table as soon as you get there.  It's a great way to make sure that at least 1 meal that day is full of nutrients and vitamins that your body needs to be healthy.

3. Plan your meal - if you're hosting, you have the option to create a few dishes that are healthier options for you and your guests.  You can't stop what other people bring, but you can make sure there is something good for you!  If you're not hosting, then try to decide what foods you will eat and stick to that plan the best you can.

During the event:
1.  Fill your plate with veggies and fruit first.  Don't nibble on the chips and cookies, nibble on fresh vegetables and hummus or if you must have ranch, a small amount :-)

2.  Choose the leanest meat option or take a piece with you and ask them to grill it for you.  If it's a close friend or family, they won't mind helping you stay on track with your healthy habits.  

3.  Skip the bun!  If you can't resist the hamburger or cheeseburger, then have it without the bun.  Add lettuce, tomato, avocado, onion - it'll taste just as good and you'll feel better by the end of the evening.

4.  Drink WATER!  If you must consume alcohol, which I'm not opposed to at all, make sure you are also drinking water.  In between drinks, make yourself drink 8oz of water.   Especially if it's an outside picnic and the sun is beating down.  Stay hydrated.

5.  Try a healthier cocktail....I will add a splash of vodka to a LaCroix water - it's refreshing and without all the guilt.  I haven't tried any of these, but here are some recipes you might find useful.  http://www.skinnygirlcocktails.com/recipes#content

6.  Move away from the food tables!  Instead of standing within reach of the food tables, go play with the kids, go for a walk, or sit far away from the food :-)  Don't make it easy to reach out and snack.

7.  This one is the most important...ENJOY!  Have fun, just don't indulge so much that you feel unhappy and gross the next day.  If it's a food that you can have everyday, then skip it.  Make this a special event - choose smaller portions so you can have a sample of the foods you want.

I hope you find these helpful and if you have some to add, please comment below!  I'd love to hear how you stay focused with your healthy habits on special occasions!

Shaun Week is coming!!

I have a love/hate relationship with ShaunT.  I love this heart, but I hate his killer workouts :-)  I have completed Insanity Max:30 3 times, CIZE once, and have done a few T25 workouts and every time I am motivated and inspired by him yet I am ticked off at how much he's making me work! I am grateful for the results though, so I guess it's worth the pain.

I was really excited to hear that he has 7 brand new workouts (think ShaunT's greatest hits!) coming to Beachbody on Demand(BOD). If you're not familiar with BOD, it's Beachbody's online system of workouts, nutrition guides, meal plans, FIXATE cooking show, and so much more.  I stream all of my workouts whether I'm at home, work, or traveling.  I'm heading to Ireland next week so I'm thrilled that my gym can come with me :-)

This new 7 day program is about changing your life and transforming your mind and body.  It is about getting motivated to get connected to your fitness, to your mental journey and to continuing on with your progress and reaching your health and fitness goals.  Sounds awesome, right?!

WHEN DOES IT START?
The group begins Monday, June 12th and you'll access each workout live on BOD.  The workouts will be posted live that morning.  How do you get it?  You need to make me your coach and get Beachbody On Demand through me as your coach.

There is a great modifier to follow if you're worried about being able to complete the exercises. ShaunT has made sure that this new program is for everyone!  This is part of his huge heart - he wants you to start fighting for you no matter where your fitness level lies.

THE WORKOUTS:

Insane Basics

Pure Cardio Part 2

Insane Weights

25 Abs

BrickSanity

Speed 4.0

Dig Deep

We won't stop after the 7 days.  We will keep fighting and pushing to stay connected to our inner strength and beauty!

WHAT ARE YOUR NEXT STEPS?

This is going to be an incredibly awesome journey and I can't wait to get started and I'd love for you to join me!!  Are you in?  Do you want to join me?  

1.  Complete the application below to get the details on how you can join.

2.  I must be your assigned coach through Team Beachbody and I can give you the directions for how to do that.

3.  You must be willing to participate everyday for the entire week.

I can't wait to get this summer started strong with an INSANE FOCUS!  

Shakeology No Bake Bites

I have made Shakeology no bake cookies for a few years now and I've recently started tweaking the recipe.  Today, I made a new recipe and I'm addicted!!

If you haven't tried Shakeology yet, you really need to jump on the superfood smoothie bandwagon. Beachbody just released 2 new Vegan flavors and I am all about Cafe Latte.  I drank the regular formula but the vegan formula is SO MUCH BETTER!   It's smoother, has a stronger flavor, and makes my tastes buds smile at breakfast ;-)

I used the new flavor and the vegan chocolate to make these delicious bites.  All you need is 1 to help with the treat cravings....or 2 and you're not overdoing it on the sugar and junk.  Are you ready for the recipe?!

Shakeology No Bake Bites
Makes 16 - `18, 1 inch bites
Serving:  1 ball

1 scoop of Vegan Chocolate Shakeology
1 scoop of Vegan Cafe Latte Shakeology
1/2 cup of raw, natural honey (buy local)
1/2 cup of all natural peanut butter
1/2 cup of unsweetened shredded coconut (if you don't like coconut, substitute rolled oats)
1 tsp of vanilla extract

Throw all ingredients in a bowl and mix.  Form into 1 inch balls, set on plate/tray, and put in the fridge.  Let them sit for a few hours and then transfer to an airtight container.

For my portion control followers:
1 ball = 1/2 yellow, 1/2 tsp

Enjoy :-)