Bell Pepper Flowers

These are supposed to turn out real pretty with the egg yolk centered in the bell pepper, but I tried to flip mine and made a big mess. But the flavor is so good and next time maybe I'll get it to look more like a flower.

Slice bell pepper into rings.
Sautee rings a minute on each side (I used raw butter but ghee or oil will do) .
Crack an egg into each ring & fry.
Add toppings to garnish such as cheese, seasonings, spinach, basil, etc.

You Can't Out-Train A Bad Diet

Did I catch your attention with that picture? That would be my typical snack or even breakfast in the past- but no more! I'm here to tell you that you CANNOT out-train a bad diet. You truly are what you eat from the inside (how you feel) out (how you look).  I have family, friends, and clients that will argue with me on this...feel free to leave your comments here and we'll debate. But if you are starting a new training regimen please learn from some of my bad habits and save yourself some agony. Here is my story in a nutshell: Over the years I've trained my body in many different ways and changed my eating habits just as many times. I've been a competitive swimmer, trained for Ironman, and have spent many hours a day teaching Spinning, Running, Zumba, and Bootcamp-style classes. I've been a meat-eater, sugar addict, vegetarian for most of those years, and vegan. Along the way my build has at times been average, skinny, muscular, and it's even been 'more to love.' I've also been sick often with a shoddy immune system, to say the least. It's not until my diet is cleaned up that my body responds in all the right ways, rewarding me with good health, stellar physical performance, and ideal body composition. It's really not rocket science! Clean up your diet and the rest falls into place.

This post is not meant to be full of big words and data. I want to keep it simple because I believe that health is quite simple. This is as science-y as I'll get on you: Although calories in (food) and calories out (exercise) factor into body composition, you cannot exercise your way to healthy. And vise versa- if you eat well you still need to move your body to maintain muscle mass, bone health, cardiovascular health, etc. If you stick within your allotted calories or points or however you might track food you're likely to reach your goal of weight loss, gain, or maintenance. However, this is no indicator of true health. First, find definitions of 'healthy' and 'fit' that resonate with you. Does getting to a certain number on the scale tell you if you've reached that health and fitness status you are trying to achieve? The number on the scale or the amount of points allotted in your diet program does not mean there is an absence of disease or a presence of healthy organs, muscles, and cells in your body. Next, take steps to truly get healthy and fit. This should be a combination of things, not just one product you take, exercise you do, or diet you follow. You'll likely need a team of experts and resources to help you get there.

You can pay me to be your Personal Trainer and we can workout seven days a week together. You will get stronger, leaner, more flexible and better coordinated but you will not be healthy if you leave our sessions and eat junk. I don't mean potato chips and Twinkies junk, I mean any food that isn't nourishing to your body functioning optimally. Not being a Registered Dietician I will not tell you what specific foods to eat, but I bet with a little heart-to-heart, soul-searching, and brainstorming we can come up with a new way of eating that suits you better than what you are doing now.

Try asking yourself before every bite or sip you take "What is this doing for me?" If you are happy with the answer then keep it up, great job! If you don't know the answer, go find it! And if you are unhappy with the answer it's time to reach out for help and make some changes!

Take a serious look at your life. Ask yourself if you are truly making healthy choices for your body. Running, Spinning, doing CrossFit, Barre Method, and Pilates are all great but are you sabotaging your health by not eating well? I sure don't have all the answers when it comes to food but I am eager to share what I know in regards to goal-setting, meal planning, kitchen raids & replenishing with nourishing new foods, grocery store visits, food preparation, and of course mixing it all in with some exercise! If you are not at a place where you're willing to dig deep, release, and grow then now is not the time for us to partner up. But get in touch with me today (because the new you is not a procrastinator) if you're ready to cultivate change for yourself and just need some tools to help you in the process.

Much love,
Amanda

Roe, Breakfast of Champions

I've discovered a new breakfast food thanks to the yogurt man at the local Farmers Market. He typically sells me a bunch of dairy items I'm obsessed with, but I'm trying switch it up and ease up on the dairy. He had something new to offer this week so I, being the adventurous eater that my husband still doesn't believe I am, tried it without hesitation. He sold me 2 tubs and I was on my way.

Once home I cut up some cucumber and tomato and served it up for Mom and me with dinner- yum! I couldn't help but think this is the solution I've been looking for to get off the dairy laden breakfasts that have been my norm since returning to work four months ago.

So the new breakfast of champions to get me through my early morning interval training and run workouts is...Taramosalata! Supposedly it's Greek for roe with potato. This particular version is salmon egg, potato, lemon, and a wee bit of olive oil (yes, a 'wee bit' 'cause it's made by my Irish yogurt man). I don't know the exact nutritional value and don't really care- it's got enough protein and carbs to fuel my workout and start my day out right.

What's the most adventurous food choice you've made lately? Do share!

Apple Sammies

My most favorite thing to do at the store these days is make nut butter (it's so much fun that I struggled deciding whether to post this under 'Food' or 'Fun'). At the new Lazy Acres grocery store I get to choose the nuts, pull the magic lever, and warm nut butter piles into my plastic tub! It's like frozen yogurt swirling its way into a cup, only healthier. My baby loves to watch this process too and gets all giddy at the nut butter machine.

There are several nuts to choose from but cashews are the only raw nut offered, so cashew butter it is. I sliced an apple all cute, slathered on the cashew butter, and added another apple slice on top. And there you have it- healthy filling apple sandwiches! I enjoyed mine post-workout but it will make a good snack anytime.

Death To The Black Pants

When is it time to throw a pair of pants away- black stretchy yoga pants? About ten years ago while in college I paid good money for two pairs of Victoria's Secret yoga pants. I think they were two for $40, which was a lot for me to spend on pants back then. Gray Pair is still in excellent shape because, well, gray just isn't as flattering as black so they've hardly been worn in ten years. But Black Pair...here is the story of beloved Black Pair.

Black Pair was adopted one day from the mall. It was love at first sight- we made such a great match since Black Pair helped me look long and lean just like anything from Victoria's Secret should do. We were inseparable during those young college years of studying in comfort and attending Kinesiology classes that required the occasional workout. Then we got a job at The Belmont Athletic Club in 2003 and we were together a lot more often. Black Pair really liked the gym so we got another job at Beach Cities Health District's Center For Health & Fitness so that we could be together even more. Then I went to Spain. I brought Black Pair along too and we enjoyed many jogs around Parque del Buen Retiro.

After college we still had many happy times together. I stuffed 'em into my Roxy boots on rainy days, wore 'em to yoga once in awhile, and slipped 'em on over my speedo during my swim phases. But then another brand of workout and comfort wear came into my life and Black Pair got buried in the bottom of the Black Pants Drawer, rarely to be seen. I felt bad, but they just didn't compare to my new loves that never seem to fade or show their wear the way Black Pair has. Black Pair just hasn't aged gracefully.

But lo and behold did they come in handy while pregnant! Black Pair had a rebirth and was suddenly back in the mix making its way back into regular rotation amongst all the others in Black Pants Drawer. That same comfort and coziness I remember from my early college years was back. But oh no! Some moths must've enjoyed Black Pair while I wasn't, 'cause now there's a hole burrowed into one if the seams! I know I didn't split those pants while pregnant, definitely must've been moths or spiders or something in the drawer. Well I continued wearing Black Pair through my pregnancy and that hole didn't budge, thank goodness.

Had I remebered how to sew maybe they'd still be here today. But once the baby was born Black Pair just sagged and didn't do this mama any justice, so they just had to go. I left them on the closet floor for a few days not quite ready to let go. But there's no room for Black Pair anymore- we just don't have room to keep things around for sentimental value. So I said thank you and good bye and tossed Black Pair in the trash.

It seems like the end of an era, but I'm ready for new adventures with new pants of fun bright colors and fabrics!