I am afraid to admit it out loud, but I have fallen into a fitness slump and fallen out of love with YouTube, hence my disappearance.  For Lent this year I am dedicating myself to my fitness routine.  Exercising has always been key for me, far more than what I eat, to staying in shape.  I am going to make myself do something physical every day.  I am not giving myself a time limit, however, I am aiming for a minimum of 30 minutes a day.  Maybe I shall document my Lenten fitness routine daily for everyone…

When experts say that maintenance is actually harder than weight-loss, I usually think they are referring to this time period where we have grown bored of the monotony of our healthy routine.  This is where most of enter the dangerous territory of gaining weight…

Then, there is the growing into denial faze, where we convince ourselves that the dryer shrunk our jeans (no way could it be OUR fault… or the fault of the our Valentine’s chocolates and dust collecting treadmill.)   Here is when honestly kicks in, or the occasional holiday, family gathering, or social event that sends our vanity packing its bags to head back to panic-land, and we realize we must intervene.

My usually advice, although I will shamefully admit I often to heed to my own thoughts, is to NEVER let yourself gain more than 5 lbs.  Most people who don’t own scales are just fooling themselves.  For those with obsessive thought processes or former eating disorder patients it is solid advice not to have scales or measuring tapes of any sort, but for the rest of us we need to keep ourselves in check.  5 lbs. is hard enough to lose as it is, but imagine 25!  Stopping yourself while you are ahead is the key factor in keeping the weight off.

We all need a bit of motivation as Spring is on the horizon.  Hopefully, I will also be motivated to come back to YouTube soon.  I will be sharing many more motivation posts and tips… Clearly, I also need a kick to the bum.  I must admit that I have been enjoying blogging far more than the criticisms we all face on YouTube.

Thank you to all my lovely followers and I hope this post helps someone out there who may be reaching for that 3 PM candy bar.

Yet again, I found my inspiration on Tumblr.  Apple peanut butter sandwiches are the sweeter alternative to ants on a log.  I have been sticking to a wheat and dairy free diet, and have also been trying to monitor my sugar and salt intake.  I use Whole Food’s 365 unsweetened – no salt peanut butter and vegan semi-sweet chocolate chips.  Vegan chocolate is my newest discovery.  It is not as unnatural tasting as carob chips, and contains no milk fat. It is great option for those with a dairy allergy.  All you need is an apple-corer and you have a sweet and delicious snack.

Enjoy xxx

While browsing the fitness section on Pinterest, I found this amazing chart that explains your cravings.  Sometimes a craving for chocolate or the urge to overeat may be environmental, meaning boredom, lack of sleep, stress, etc., but at other times it could be due to a nutrient we are lacking.  Frequent dieters often substitute healthy alternatives for their calorie laden junk-food treats.  If you aren’t, however, including the right foods to supplement your cravings you’re going to end up consuming more and more until for body receives the vitamins it’s really in search of.

I took at class at their 57th Street location.  I was a huge fan of this location.  It is pretty self-explanatory for all my fellow out-of-towners.  Just head straight to the 8th floor and you will be greeted by a very friendly staff member at the front desk.  It is quite small as well, so you don’t need to feel intimidated by the granduer, like at some other overwhelming gyms.

Prior to attending the class I happened to stumble upon some reviews on Yelp.  Many of the reviewers made mention of the clientele.  Some people made it sound as if you would be working out next to the “Wall Street Wives Club”  …You know, Birkin’s and Blahnik’s and Bentley’s, oh my!   This couldn’t be further from the truth.  This was actually one of my favorite features about the class.  There were people of all ages and physical abilities working out along side me, and snobbery was not spotted.

You really don’t need to bring much.  Obviously comfy workout clothes, most people tend to be sporting Lululemon.  Bottled water is extremely important and keeping hydrated throughout your workout is an important part of post-recovery.  Also, you will need a pair of socks.  I recommend buying the socks with the rubber grips on the bottom.  They are available for purchase at the studio and most yoga companies make some version of it.  I made the mistake of not having these and tended to slip quite a bit.

I was pretty amazed that the classes are nearly an exact replica of the DVDs.  I was very impressed that this company was able to translate their method so well to an at-home workout.  The only real difference that allows this workout to be a bit more strenuous and effective in person is the equipment.  Having a sturdy ballet bar allows you to leverage yourself on it and do more innovative moves.  The instructors are also immensely friendly and helpful.  I had two trainer’s in my class one would instruct, while the other would glance around the room checking people’s form.  They were never intimidating or judgmental, just extremely helpful.  I took the “mixed” class, meaning the class consisted of both beginners and advanced.  I found it challenging, mostly because of my foot injury I am still not in as good of shape I used to be.

All-in-all it was a fantastic experience and if I ever get the chance to finally move to NYC I would love to take classes on a regular basis.  I definitely felt the burn for a few days afterwards and being in a class environment just makes you push that much harder.

For everyone who isn’t in the LA or NYC area and might not have the opportunity to attend a class, I will be igniting a challenge tomorrow.  This challenge will only be 2-weeks long, but will be quite intense.  I will be up-loading a post everyday throughout this challenge, most of which will be food related, but I will also be giving you tips/tricks and tons of motivation.  Physique 57 was nice enough to put this 2-week workout schedule together for me.  It does require volume 1 and 2, however, if you don’t have both just modify it to what you do own.

Week 1:

Day 1:Classic 57 Minute Full Body Workout

Day 2: Arm & Ab Booster

Day 3: Classic 57 Minute Full Body Workout (2^nd edition)

Day 4: Express 30 Minute Workout

Day 5: Classic 57 Minute Full Body Workout

*It doesn’t have to be 5 days in a row but you should do the first 3 consecutively

Week 2:

Day 1: Thigh & Seat Booster

Day 2: Classic 57 Minute Full Body Workout (2^nd edition)

Day 3: Advanced Express 30 Minute Workout

Day 4: Classic 57 Minute Full Body Workout

Day 5: Classic 57 Minute Full Body Workout (2^nd edition)

*If you want to challenge yourself even more try the combination of Arm & Ab Booster DVD and the Advanced Express 30 Minute Workout – it is the closest to a live Formula 57 class which is amazing, intense and will definitely get your heart rate up. More info here on Formula 57:http://www.physique57.com/new-york/new-york-formula57.htm

I will be posting more information on the diet in tomorrow’s post.

Hope some of you join along.  If you don’t own Physique 57, don’t let this stop you from following the diet and increasing your workout intensity!

Thanks to the lovely Dara, also-known-as BelleDuJourNYC, I was able to join Pinterest.  It is highly addictive… you have been warned!  My Pinterest began as a beauty/fashion inspiration board that, of course, turned into a food quest. I discoved this “chicken cashew lettuce wraps” recipe from SheWearsManyHats, and have adapted it to my own likings.

INGREDIENTS:

- 2 TBS soy sauce

- 1 TBS rice vinegar

1 TBS brown sugar

1/4 TSP ground red pepper

1/4 TSP ground ginger

1 TSP sesame oil

FOR CASHEW CHICKEN:

- 2 chicken breasts, diced

- Lettuce leaves (I use Boston lettuce, but you could also use romaine.)

- 2 TBS oil (The recipe originally called for canola oil, but this tends to upset my stomach so I use grapeseed oil.  Grapeseed oil is a great oil to cook with because it doesn’t have a lot of flavor, unlike olive or sesame oil, and it is also great for your hair and skin.)

- 1 cup onion, chopped

- 2 garlic cloves, minced (I love garlic so I added more, but you can use at your own discretion.)

- 1 TSP soy sauce

- 1/4 cup cashews, shopped

- Salt and pepper to taste

NOTE: If you are allergic to gluten make sure you are purchasing GF soy sauce.  Conventional soy sauce often contains wheat.

INSTRUCTIONS:

For stir fry sauce: mix all of the ingredients together making sure that the brown sugar and spices are dissolved.

For cashew chicken:

Heat grapeseed oil in pan over medium-high heat. Add diced chicken and brown (about 5 minutes.)  Remove chicken from oil and place on a paper towel to absorb excess oil.  Add onions, garlic, and 1 TSP soy sauce to pan and brown.  When garlic and onions are tender, add the stir fry sauce, browned chicken, and cashews.  Saute mixture for a few minutes and remove from heat.

I let the cashew chicken cool for a few minutes so that the mixture does not wilt your lettuce.  I also add sesame seeds on top for better presentation.  This is a great recipe because it is quick and doesn’t require a lot of ingredients.  It also makes for a great dinner because it is low in carbohydrates and high in protein.

I believe I have been trying to write this post for the past week. I recently purchased an iPad to enable me to become a more on-the-go blogger. Let’s just say I am still ironing out the kinks in this plan…

I recently saw this article in Glamour magazine. I generally skim these types of articles and end by scoffing and rolling my eyes. I love when a magazine catches your eye on the newsstand. Giant colorful letters usually brainwash you to believe that you will lose 20 pounds in 24 hours. They make it sound so simple and fascinating. Then, you flip to the article only to realize you must eat two cucumber slices and a piece of romaine while running a seven minute mile.

This particular article was surprisingly refreshing. It was reminiscent of Bethenny Frankel’s “Naturally Thin.” The Snob Diet is the idea that we should only eat the finest ingredients and foods. Think about how you would dine if your were spending the week in Paris. It’s the idea that you should spend every day savoring each bite as if it was your last.

Remember the last time you needed something sweet and you settled for a Skinny Cow ice-cream sandwich or one of those 100 calorie astronaut food snack packs? You were hungry five seconds later weren’t you? Now imagine eating a delicious homemade brownie made from real sugar, eggs, butter, and chocolate… none of that boxed crap. Think of how much richer and satisfying that is.

You have to learn to give yourself a break. You also need to learn to give-and-take. You might as well stick the “skinny girl” that can eat a half-pound cheeseburger and sit on her bum all day next to the abominable snowman… a.k.a. a huge urban legend. Even skinny girls have weight management strategies, it’s just that they are so ingrained into their lifestyle that they don’t even realize they also have to work at it.

It won’t be an overnight process, but next time you dine out or make dinner, skip the pre-packaged crap and try a little of the real stuff.

Let me know if this works for you.

I am dedicated to giving honest reviews. One of the main reasons I do enjoy reviewing these types of products is because I feel like so many people are given the wrong impression, especially on YouTube.  When my “Brazil Butt Lift” video became hugely successful I had everyone spamming me to become a “Beachbody Coach.”  I always refuse to do this for a number of reasons.  On the rare occasion I have received DVDs from companies, but I have NEVER been closely associated or worked for an actual company.  There are so many people on YouTube reviewing these products who are Beachbody Coaches, therefore having a complete bias because they make money if you purchase the program through them.

I haven’t tried “Insanity” yet, as I just received it last night, but make sure you stay tuned for in-depth reviews on my YouTube channel.

Have you tried this program or any of the Beachbody products? Any success?

Those of you who have been reading my blog for quite some time will know that I have mentioned Sarabeth’s about a million times.  It is my absolute favorite and an NYC treasure!  Whenever I go back, I always stop in Chelsea Market and pick up a plethora of the preserves.  I’ve had friends who have lived in NYC their whole lives and never visited Chelsea Market.  I think it is a must see!  It is adorable, and you can get so many great finds… including this delish jam.  My favorite is the “Strawberry Raspberry.”  This preserve feels rustic and nostalgic.  It doesn’t have massive seeds like many jams on the market, but it still has this homemade feel to it.   Maybe it is the mason jar or the fact that the preserve doesn’t come out in the giant unmanageable glob, but I am obsessed!  I have also tried the “Raspberry Key Lime,” and it is equally as good.  You can order this on Sarabeth’s website or I have found a few of the flavors at Sur La Table.

It only has 40 calories for a tablespoon!  I highly recommend this in the morning on whole grain toast, English muffins, or bagels with a bit of peanut butter for a filling breakfast.  You could also add the “Peach Apricot” to low-fat cottage cheese!!

And if you are feeling a bit cheeky… then the cheese danish is to die for!  Like a pillow of sugary heaven! Mmm… I miss NY!

PS: If my lovely descriptions weren’t able to convince you… Sarabeth won the highly coveted “James Beard Award” for her skills… and she is my baking idol!!!

Isn’t this the best Jen ad for Smart Water?!? Post a link to your favorite “Fitspiration” pic, and maybe I will post yours next week!!!

I have to say I absolutely loved this recipe, and I cannot wait to try more tasty treats out of this book.  It was so simple to make!  I had to adjust the recipe a bit, mainly to compensate for my picky eating habits, and because I couldn’t find a few of the ingredients.  I personally used chicken, but don’t be afraid to use shrimp or even make it veggie!

TORTILLA SHELLS:

-  You should expect to serve about two tortillas per person.  I found these amazing “ultra thin corn tortillas” that have only 80 calories for two!

-  Organic olive oil PAM cooking spray

THE BEANS:

- 1 can black beans… rinsed!

- 1 jalepeno

- Juice of 1 lime

- 1 tablespoon cumin

- 1/2 tablespoon chili powder

- 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder

- A few shakes of Tapatio hot sauce

THE SALAD:

- 1/4 head cabbage

- 1/4 head lettuce (I used romaine)

- 1 bunch of chopped cilantro

- 2 finely sliced green onions

- 1 avacado

- pickled red onion (see recipe below)

(The recipe also states that you can top this with a vinaigrette, but I chose to forgo this in favor of salsa and light sour cream to save some calories.)

THE CHICKEN:

- 2 whole chicken breasts (or 4 halves.)  You can expect to use about 1/4 of a chicken breast per tostada.  For instance, I made four tostadas and used only one chicken breast.

- Marinade (see recipe below)

PICKED RED ONIONS:

- 1 red onion finely sliced

- 3/4 cup rice vinegar

- 1/4 cup salt

- 1/4 cup sugar

MARINADE:

- 1 clove garlic (I used a huge clove of garlic, so don’t be afraid to use more garlic if that is to your liking.)

- 2 teaspoons salt

- 1 teaspoon cumin

- 1/2 cup canola oil

- Juice of 1 lime

DIRECTIONS:

- Make sure to marinate the chicken for 20 minutes (and as long as overnight.)

- I grilled the chicken on a George Foreman grill so I didn’t have to add any additional oils and a lot of the oils from the marinade ending up dripping off.

- Prepare the bean and pickled red onion mixture and let sit.

- Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray olive oil spray on both sides of the corn tortillas, place on baking sheet, and let cook until the tortillas become crunchy.

- Assemble the tostadas with toppings to your liking and enjoy!