Winter Veggie Yum!

November 30, 2013 By The Sweaty Betties Leave a Comment

Serves 4

Ingredients:

2 zuchinni

1 sweet potato ( red)

1 tbsp fresh ginger

1 leek washed and cut in chunks

1 cup raw fava beans

1 tbsp curry powder

1 tbsp coconut oil

Half tsp paprika

1 tbsp sea salt

Half tsp nutmeg

1 cup raw arugula cut in strips

1 cup raw n toasted cashew nuts

Directions:

In a hot pot pour 5 cups water with all ingredients except arugula and cashews. Boil for 45 min. Let cool a for a few minutes and pour entire pot into the blender, blend on high for 3 min. Serve with arugula, cashews and cracked pepper. Yumm!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: clean eating, easy recipe, gluten-free, healthy, healthy meals, low-carb, metabolic, nutrition, recipes, veggies, winter recipes

My 3-Day Juice Cleanse

November 26, 2013 By The Sweaty Betties Leave a Comment

I was one of those people, whom if you mentioned a juice cleanse or fast, I would say:

“WHY do you need that? Your liver should detox everything… just make healthy choices! Duh!!”

Then…. I saw the movie “Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead”

I became a little more open-minded, yet still, strongly skeptical.

In the movie, a man goes on a complete juice fast for something like 90 days! It’s a little extreme, but he explains that he is getting enough calories and the juice is taking the concentrated nutrients from the fruits and vegetables.
I was intrigued enough to want to try it, or at least add a green juice to my daily routine.

However, I looked into juicers and got overwhelmed and then dropped that idea.

Ha!

So… in comes Skinny Limits!!

Two of my dear friends, Rebekah Borucki (Bexlife) and Sarah Dussault (Sarahfit), both did a Skinny Limits juice cleanse and review, and since I highly value their opinions and friendship… I totally asked them on the side,

“sooooo… tell me the truth… what did you really think?”

They both came back with REAL rave reviews.

Ok, Ok.. let’s do this!

I got ahold of the company and decided that the BEST time for me to try the cleanse was after I returned from Chicago, it would be my last weekend of travel after 3 months on the road. A really good time to detox!!

I chose the TROPICAL 3-Day Cleanse, because I saw that pineapple juice was in it… and… well…. pineapple juice.

So, since it arrived pretty early in the morning, I decided to start right then!

I busted open my first juice… and….down the hatch!!

Mmmm!! Not bad! It was green, but it didn’t “taste green” if you know what I mean?

I stacked all the drinks in number order in my fridge and I was really excited to do this!

I did get a little hungry, but there were 6 juices a day, so I never really felt deprived.

The morning of Day 2, I felt a little achy. I did read that there might be detox-like symptoms; headache, fatigue, etc.

It was to be expected. The hunger wasn’t too big of an issue and I really did enjoy each of the drinks. In fact, I was really looking forward to trying each one, so I kept looking at my clock to see if it was time yet!

Unfortunately, on Day 2…. I got into a car accident on the way home from a hair appointment.
ugh!!! Needless to say, I cried and went to bed skipping the last two juices.

(Note: everyone was ok. My car, the other guys car, ego and bank account were the most hurt)

Day 3 I woke up a little hungrier (from skipping a few hundred calories) and had to make some calls to insurance.

I ended up going to get my car looked at and had to drop it off for repairs, pick up a rental, etc.
That ended up taking over 6 hours… and, did I bring my juice?
No.

I ended up eating a meal out because I knew I wasn’t going to be home anytime soon.

I felt like I failed, for not doing the cleanse “right”

The good news was… I had some drinks left over for Day 4!!

I realized how much I was really looking forward to my daily juices and I was definitely starting to feel better!

I definitely WILL do this cleanse again and I can see the benefit of having 1-2 juices a day just to add to your daily routine.
I love the convenience of having the juices made and shipped to you (it would be a TON of work, to try this by juicing your own!!)

this was like dessert! The last juice of the day

Conclusions:

I loved this cleanse. I do NOT recommend getting into a car accident while you’re attempting to cleanse. (I also don’t recommend it at any time.. it’s really a bummer)
I will most likely do a FULL 3-Day cleanse once a quarter and also try and get some of these juices going in my daily or at least monthly routine. I think I’m addicted!

*All reviews posted on my blog feature my own views and opinions. There are instances when I have reviewed or featured a product and I have received compensation in the form of product for my personal use or for use in a giveaway, discounts toward purchase for my followers, monetary compensation, or any combination of those three things. I never accept payment for favorable reviews.

Filed Under: Blogs, Featured, Nutrition, Product Reviews, Uncategorized Tagged With: challenges, Cleanse, danny j, Detox, expert personal trainer, fitness, fitness expert, goals, healthy, inspiration, juice, juicing, nutrition, weight-loss, weightloss

Routine Refresh Indoor Edition

October 23, 2013 By The Sweaty Betties Leave a Comment

I’m in New York City all week at the weather has been pretty amazing, however, I packed ready for the worst! I totally planned on freezing my tush off outside and trying a few indoor classes for a workout.

Indoor cycling or SPIN are one of my favorite indoor workouts. I love classes in New York like Soul Cycle and Fly Wheel Sports that make spin classes a little more fun and competitive.

My friend Rebekah (Bexlife) and I took a Flywheel class put on by the Biggest Loser Trainer, Brett Hoebel.

Then I headed to Boston for a Blogilates meet up! Blogilates is a company owned by my good friend Cassey Ho.

She had over 450 raging fans waiting to take her POP pilates class. It was intense and FUN. I sweated and I also met a fellow ex-gymnast and we finished off with some handstands 😉 Always a great shoulder exercise!

I also have a friend, Erin Stutland, who happens to be on of my AMZING, beautiful guests at Inspiration and Perspiration this year and she teaches a class called Shrink Session.

Shrink Session is something you just have to experience!

I can tell you the basis is that it is a cardio dance class with affirmations, but that makes it sound kind of weird, and it is super amazing and you leave feeling like you’re on top of the world!

So what are your favorite indoor activities? What can you do to refresh your routine for the season? I’d love to see your comments!!

adidas Women designs innovative performance products to help women commit to their best self and conquer their fitness goals. We inspire women to look and feel their best – be pretty, be tough & be confident.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by adidas via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are all mine and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of adidas

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: adidas, danny j, expert personal trainer, fitness, fitness expert, goals, healthy, indoor workout, inspiration, shrink session, sponsored post, the sweaty betties, work out, workout

How to Cure Anxiety for good. An interview with Trudy Scott

October 22, 2013 By The Sweaty Betties 35 Comments

I haven’t mentioned too often, that I used to suffer with SEVERE anxiety and depression.

I had been on all kinds of medications and I thought I would be on a life time of pills.

I used to have panic attacks so bad at night that I was even afraid to go to sleep!

I would drive around in my truck until I was so tired, that I would fall asleep in a parking lot.
It was bad!

I was so happy to have the honor of interviewing Trudy Scott, the author of The Anti-Anxiety Food Solution. If you have ever suffered from minor anxiousness to full blown panic attacks, you’ll want to hear of some of her easy tips and DEFINITELY get a copy of this book for yourself! It’s a step-by-step guide, to figuring this all out with, simply, food.

Check it out, leave a comment below and you’ll have a chance to WIN one of five signed copies!

Get your freebies from Trudy http://www.antianxietyfoodsolution.com/freebies/

9 Great Questions Women Ask About Food, Mood and their Health
5 Simple Steps to Reduce Anxiety Now
Is gluten one of the foods affecting your mood and anxiety levels?
Organic foods, Stanford study, pesticides and the brain

You’ll also be signed up for her fabulous ezine “Food, Mood and Gal Stuff”

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: amino acids, anxiety, danny j, easy recipe, expert personal trainer, healthy, inspiration, nutrition, panic attacks, panic disorders, sweaty betties, the sweaty betties

Flourless Pizza

October 16, 2013 By The Sweaty Betties 1 Comment

Flourless Pizza

Serves 4
Crust:
3/4 cup chickpea flour or rice flour( plus some more for rolling)
2 eggs
1/2 cup cashew nuts
1/2 tsp baking powder
Italian seasoning
Sea salt n pepper
Preheat oven to 350F

Put every ingredient in the food processor (eggs last) form a ball with the dough, sprinkle some more chickpea flour and roll between two sheets of parchment paper, transfer to cookie sheet and bake for 15 min at 350F, then add homemade tomato sauce, organic grass-fed cheese and all the veggies you like, bake 15 min more at 370F or until cheese is melted and crust is golden.

Chef Vanessa Lee

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: clean eating, dinner, easy dinners, easy recipe, healthy, healthy dinners, healthy meal, healthy meals, metabolic, paleo, quick recipe, recipe, training

Paleo Shrimp Salad

October 8, 2013 By The Sweaty Betties Leave a Comment

You know I love me some Paleo-style eating and living.

#Just Eat Real Food.

I’m excited to be an affiliate with the Harvest Your Health Bundle Sale which includes the 21-Day Paleo Cleanse I have been doing!

Shrimp salad

paleo, gluten-free, super healthy
Serves 5 to 7

1 lettuce of your preference ( i suggest curly endive or butter) washed and in bite size pieces
1 avocado in slices
1 lb medium shrimp boiled in salted water for 8 min and cooled in ice water
1 mango in small cubes
1 cup organic corn
1 cup cherry tomatoes
1 cup orange wedges
1 cup arugula
3 tbsp black and regular sesame
Arrange on plates as desired

Dressing

1/2 cup mirin or vinegar rice
1 cup olive oil
2 tbsp dijon mustard
1 tsp sesame oil
The juice of one orange
Salt n pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients in a mason jar and shake shake shake.

Chef Vanessa Lee
Questions and comments: [email protected]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: abs, avocado, clean eating, dairy-free, easy recipe, expert personal trainer, fitness expert, gluten-free, healthy, low calorie, low-carb, nutrition, paleo, quick, recipe, salad, simple recipe, sweaty betties, weightloss

Back-to-School September Challenge

September 20, 2013 By The Sweaty Betties 12 Comments

Remember back in the day (maybe 4th grade-ish) the Presidential Fitness Tests? (or similar fitness testing?)

Well… its Back-to-School Time —time to do it again! Lets establish a baseline!

Here’s the Challenge:

Only 3 tests:

1. Walk/jog/run 1 mile for time: You can do this on a track or treadmill. Just do your best!
2. Sit-ups for 1 minute: Lock your feet down (or have a partner hold them) then cross your arms over your chest and go!! (elbows must touch your knees to count)
3. Push-ups to Failure: Do as many push-ups as you can (with good form) you may do them on your knees. As soon as you “come down” thats it!

The main goal is to TRY! Do your best! Then for the next 4 weeks, lets work on that fitness level and we’ll test again! Can’t wait to see the results!! READY… SET… GO!!

RULES:

1. RECORD YOUR SCORES THIS WEEK

2. POST YOUR SCORES IN THE COMMENTS

3. Work your ass off for a month— (incorporate the exercises during the week!)

—— Mondays: Do 3 sets of 30 sit-ups at the end of your workout

——-Wednesdays: Walk/Jog 1.5 miles as warm-up for cardio

——-Fridays: Do 3 sets of 15-25 push-ups

4. Record Scores Again October 26-30th

5. POST YOUR PROGRESS!!

Filed Under: Blogs, Challenges, Featured, Training Tagged With: abs, cardio, challenges, Crossfit, danny j, healthy, Kettlebells, motivation, Push-ups, run, Sit-Ups, training, WOD, workout

Routine Refresh: Outdoor Edition

September 3, 2013 By The Sweaty Betties 2 Comments

If you are on my email list, you know that I just sent an email last week about how I cancelled my gym membership.
This doesn’t mean that I have completely given up training or thrown in the towel, but I need to get a little more creative. I realized that in Texas, the weather is the fall is PERFECT for some new outdoor activities, so I was inspired by adidas Women to write a post about a Routine REFRESH: Taking it outside!! Nothing like a few new pieces of workout gear to get your wanting to move it again!

Texas doesn’t have a whole lot of mountains, but I did find a hiking trail which was pretty flat but had some beautiful scenery. A nice trail run and a snake.. OMG!! I think I’ll continue the trail runs, but I’m going to carry a stick with me, in case I need a spear next time!

Besides jogging, which to me, gets a little tedious, I’ve been toying with other ideas for cardio. Tennis is a sport I have NEVER played, but my husband and I thought it would be fun to play FIVE YEARS AGO when we bought rackets for Christmas. Needless to say, they sat in the closet… until now!!
We live in a new place with a tennis court and its been too hot this summer to play. The weather has finally gotten cooler so we took ourselves outside and had a blast.

Who knew tennis was so great for your abs?? (From laughing so hard!!)

I have also found, that living in apartment has more than just the tennis court perks. We have a lovely swimming pool that I have been doing laps in about 3 days a week. I’m a terrible swimmer, but just being out in the sun makes me feel pretty alive! Especially working from home these days, I think this is JUST what I needed.

Then.. when all else fails, I have me, my shoes, and some stairs. I am starting with 50 laps and my goal will be to do 100 laps by the end of the month!!

So what are your favorite outdoor activities? What can you do to refresh your routine and maybe take it outside? I’d love to see your comments!!

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by adidas via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are all mine and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of adidas

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: abs, adidas, challenges, danny j, expert personal trainer, fitness, fitness expert, glam, goals, healthy, inspiration, outdoors, promo, shine with sweat, sweat yourself, sweaty betties, tennis, the sweaty betties, workout

Ambassador Spotlight: Namaste Mari

August 21, 2013 By The Sweaty Betties Leave a Comment

I guess you could say the one really cool thing about being head Sweaty Betty, is that I get to meet some pretty “awesome-sauce” people. When I got over 200 applications in January to become The Sweaty Betties Ambassador I had my work cut out for me.

Many of the people I already knew, or I had seen online, this this “Namaste” chick, I had never heard of!! I was intrigued! I stalked her page a little bit, and then I knew I wanted her on the team!
I had to know more, so I asked her to become an ambassador and I’m so glad I did.
Mari lives in Queens, NY and in my last venture to NYC in June, I was able to meet her in person and she was just as awesome!

Here is some of her story, in her words:

I have been struggling with PCOS (Polycystic ovarian syndrome) which is an endocrine disorder that affects approximately 5% of all women, the principal features are obesity, anovulation (resulting in irregular menstruation), and excessive amounts or effects of androgenic (masculinizing) hormones. The symptoms and severity of the syndrome vary greatly among women. While the causes are unknown, insulin resistance, diabetes, and obesity are all strongly correlated with PCOS.

I was put on Birth Control which I have been on ever since and was also put on Metformin but that really didn’t do anything for me so I stopped taking it. Having PCOS has really destroyed my self-esteem; I have some problems with my body that is directly linked to this. I won’t get into the gritty details but it’s enough to drive me to tears.

When I was around 21 I met this guy and we moved in together pretty fast. We were together for about 4 years. He was a big guy and I had the mentality “well if HE is big, I can be too”. All we would do is EAT. I have so many memories of us lying in bed eating huge greasy subs and washing them down with pints of ice ream and chips, this was the norm for us. Before I knew it, I tipped the Scale at 220 lbs.

In the 3rd year of our relationship, my ex suggested that we should move near the beach which I thought was a great idea but I hated the fact that I was far from my family. The rent was pretty steep but together we made it work. As I mentioned earlier my ex was a big guy and he was very unhappy in his own skin. He decided that he wanted to get Gastric Bypass Surgery and I supported him on his decision, in fact I am the one that found his surgeon etc. The morning of the surgery he was crying (tears of joy) but by the end of the day they turned into tears of grief. After hours in surgery, he woke up thinking that his surgery was a success but his doctor informed him that they were not able to perform it. They told him to lose 40 lbs. and they would try again but this time with the Lap Band instead. I nursed him back to health and helped him lose the 40 lbs. and after a few months, the 2nd Surgery was a success. He started to lose weight in rapid speed and here I was still in the 200’s. I decided to start working out and did Weight Watchers; I started to lose weight too but nowhere close to his pace.

After 3 months or so, things started to really change between us and we broke up and I went into a depression. I saw what all my antics were doing to my family and I recognized I had to stop but I knew I could not do it alone. The person that saved my life was my niece; I didn’t want her growing up not knowing the best version of her aunt. I started working out and eating better, and in 8 months I was in the best shape of my life and happier than ever. I now live in New York with my kitty, Namaste Zen and I help others as a health coach!

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: expert personal trainer, fitness, gastric bypass, goals, happiness, healthy, inspiration, mari, namaste mari, PCOS, real talk, sweaty betties, the sweaty betties, weight loss surgery, weightloss

Fitness Hag vs. The Fashion Police

August 6, 2013 By The Sweaty Betties 1 Comment

If you have been following me for a bit, you may have heard me recently whining about my complete lack of style and clothing.
You see, while working in fitness has been amazing in the fact that I have been able to wear yoga pants every day for the past 8+ years, its not that great when I am invited to events, networking, etc. and I look like a complete #fitnesshag (that’s a little hashtag my friend, Rebekah “Bexlife” and I say to each other.. LOL)

I recently did a trade with a woman to take me shopping, because honestly… I’m THAT clueless. Do you ever feel like society tells us:

“women LOVE shopping and fashion!”

Well… not this woman!! I hate shopping and fashion perplexes me!

Linda Thomas, owner of A Powerful Appearance, came to my house, looked in my closet to see what we could piece together and stated the obvious:

“You really don’t have anything”

“Duhhh.”

Linda and I scheduled an appointment to go shopping at Nordstroms. The first thing she did was teach me how to figure out my size (I had a quick cry in the dressing room over a number… such a girl!)

Then we got to picking out clothes! I got a few dresses for speaking engagements and events, but they were a little pricey, so I took most of them back!! (do you do this?!?! Nordstrom prices just aren’t my thing!!)

Then…someone on Facebook posted about this website called STITCHFIX and I’m OBSESSED!!

The dress pictured above is from there:) So, now you know!!
So, here’s how it works:You create a profile, with your size, and then you click on things you like/don’t like or would/wouldn’t wear…. THEN your own personal stylist sends you outfits and you get to try them on in your own home!! (no more dressing room break downs!!) and send back what you don’t like!!OMG!! It’s so fun!!(My husband also loved the private fashion show)

They send you 5 different things and you only pay for what you keep then send the rest back in a pre-paid bag.
It’s so easy and fun! After you get your “fix” you respond with what you liked and didn’t like about each piece: size, price, style, etc. so that your stylist gets to know you and picks out something better each time!

I ended up getting so excited about this idea, I bought Bex (my #fitnesshag sister) a gift card for her birthday so we can be new fancy fitness business women together in the “real world”.

I know some of you asked about where I got this dress, so there it is!
If you want to get your “fix” you can use my affiliate link: http://bit.ly/SBstitchfix and share with your friends for your own link to get a credit towards more clothes.I scheduled my next “fix” for September, so I can look forward to an outfit once every other month or so and slowly build up my “Big girl” wardrobe. Let me know if you do this or if you know of something else like it!

DISCLOSURE:
Stitchfix did not pay or endorse me for this post, in fact, they don’t even know that I am a raving fan, so I think I’m going to email them and tell them! Ha! All opinions expressed are that of my own. The links above are affiliate links and I may receive a small credit if a purchase is made. You are also able to sign up as an affiliate if you love them like I do.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: bexlife, danny j, easy recipe, expert personal trainer, fashion, fitness, fitness hag, goals, healthy, real talk, sweaty betties, the sweaty betties, yoga pants