I AM BACK!

I am back! I am more than happy to be back. I tried out a new website and got very bored with it very quickly. I would much rather do my own thing on my own page and just have fun. This is what I like and this is what I do. I am cool with that. This was supposed to be me time and it turned into work. THAT, I didn't like. 

Been in Arizona for over a year now. Love living here. Have made some amazing friends and started a great job and have moved around the company quickly already. My year mark with MSF is this month - dang, that went fast!

Here is my only thing that I have to complain about --- I haven't hit pavement in months! My job keeps me busy and so does my family. It has been hard finding the time to get out there and run. In the middle of the summer, you can't run just any time during the day. It has to be early - and I mean EARLY morning or late - and I mean LATE - in the evening to run. I get up most mornings before the sun comes over the Earth, and it's already in the 80's. All day long, sits in the 100's. Evenings are still in the 100's until late at night. Since, I am not a night person, early morning is my only option. That's when I get most of my detailed work accomplished. 

I am not a treadmill runner. It doesn't give me the same high so it doesn't fulfill my needs. I guess I am just going to wait it out until fall. It will be here before we know it. 

I think I am going to get back into cooking and posting recipes up on this blog. That was fun! I think my viewers enjoyed it also. Any other suggestions of what you would like to see on here? I can even get my YouTube videos on here from my latest site. There were a few good exercise techniques on there. 

Anyway, just wanted to say HI and let all you googlers know that I am back to have some fun!

Chicken and Cauliflower - leftovers

The picture doesn't give this meal justice!

Last night, I cooked chicken. Just cut up some chicken and threw it in a hot skillet of fat free Italian dressing. While that cooked, I steamed frozen cauliflower in the microwave in a Tupperware (my Mom sells this so I have to give a shout out to it....honestly one of my best purchases evah! --- If you want some, I will get you in touch with her). Anyhoo, while I was steaming the cauliflower, I put a little bit of grapeseed oil (you can use EVOO or whatever healthy fat oil you want) and 2 cloves of garlic in the skillet.

After a bit of the chicken cooking, I threw in some red onion and yellow and red peppers.  Let that cook up nice and brown.

Back to the other skillet: I added some mushrooms and tomatoes. Once the cauliflower was done, I drained it and mashed it. I put it in the skillet and let it simmer together. The last minute or two, I put some reduced fat mozz cheese on top.

That was my dinner last night. What was left over, I put in a TUPPERWARE container for lunch today. I put it on the stove and heated....added a few more veggies.

The flavors completely complimented each other!

Think of all the nutrients you get with this meal! Not a lot of carbs. High in protein.

Peppers - Lots of Vitamin C
Onion - Studies show that it can help lower your cholesterol and triglycerides
Chicken - Loads of protein
Cauliflower - More protein and low carbs

Two meals in one. And not an expensive or hard to make meal!

Can't beat that, can ya!

Try it and let me know what you think (below in the comments)

Arizona Bound

The past couple of days have been a complete blur! We looked at over 20 houses and a few apartments while visiting Arizona last week. But, believe it or not, we found one! One that the three of us agreed upon. The others will love it as well! NO DOUBT! Pool, grill, bball court, and a veranda. Wow! I am STOKED! 

But now, back in Ohio. Reality! In a matter of weeks - I will be an official Arizonian! (ftr, I will still scream for the Bucks - even though most of the time we don't need to scream...we just win) 

One minute, I am happy with tears, and the next minute, I am sad with tears. I can't believe that this is finally happening!

I am trying to stay positive. Look at the great things that are to come. Example - there is a freakin' BIKE TRAIL next to my house! I mean, it connects to my lot! WHAT! Oh, and I bought a yoga backpack last week. It will hold my laptop, all my other goodies, and my yoga mat. Which means, I can ride my bike to Yoga and to the coffee shop. Again, WHAT! This IS the life I have always wanted. I just didn't expect it to come so soon. Or so far away from everything I know. 

But wait, this is a good thing. I have to stay positive and keep my head high! My family and friends will visit. If I get too homesick, it's an airplane ride away! Only 3 hours and 45 minutes to fly back home! That's IT!

I can do this!
I am going to do this!
And I am going to freaking LOVE this!

My front yard view.....yes, that's a mountain - Camelback Mountain to be specific 

Stretching - the Importance

This website for runners is amazing! I have used it quite a few times and have shared it in my classes, with my clients, and my running friends. It really seems to make the body do the things in better form. After a long run, it's such a nice release to stretch out - but to have so many cool stretches, makes it even better. It's easier to run the next day or two. 

Stretching and warming up are critical when it comes to any type of working out. Whether you are cross training, taking a Pilates class, cycling through a Spin class, or going out for a run ~ warming up and cooling down are as important as doing the actual exercise....if not better. 

Key note to ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS remember ---> static (holding the stretch in one position for a period of time) stretching is for the cool down - the after part of your workout. If you just stretch into one move and hold it and then do another stretch and hold it, you are pretty much putting your muscles back in square one. This is what you want at the end. Put your body back to the beginning. So instead, you want to slowly move and breathe into each stretch. Constantly moving into a stretch. Examples would be easy jogging in place for a minute OR reaching your hands above your head and grasping each hand and pulling over to the side and stretching out the obliques (sides of your belly) 

After you done, you can hold your stretch as long as you want! 

HAPPY STRETCHING!

AND REACH FOR THE SUN!

My opinion..............

So I was skimming on LinkedIn and came across this article which was amazing to read. I am 110% on board with this. He has more education and experience than I do so I will let him lead the conversation. 

The author brings up many reasons why I didn't bring it into my gym and I won't ever try it myself. I did offer a CoreFit program at my old gym but it was basic (but high impact) moves and I always pushed for form. I would stop my workout watch to ensure that people kept their form. That was more important to me than any of us burning a few extra calories. Once you get hurt, you are OUT! And who knows for how long! 

Since I ownED a gym, I always kept my opinions private. Only a few people knew how I felt about this.....but now that I don't own a gym, I can put this out here that I not a follower for CF and I wish it wasn't a fad. 

THE END. 

Today Marks a Special Day

Today was a tough start for me. My "oldest" -not by age- client's last day was today. Since I am moving across the country, he has chosen to take this summer to work on his Pelotonia Bike Ride. He is putting miles and miles in on his bike and needs to put his focus there. I had planned on being in the process of moving by June so this isn't a surprise for me. We had already discussed it weeks ago.

But still, it wasn't any easier saying good-bye. He is my friend who I will sincerely miss. We have laughed, we have cried, and we have worked very hard for his health and well-being. He is an amazing man, a true inspiration to the world, and a giver in so many ways to our community. He is a special person who I will always hold dear to my heart.

I am so very anxious to move to Arizona and get started with my new challenges but leaving my family and friends behind is probably going to be one of the toughest moments in my life.

~ Life is still good ~

Yet another one

Do you follow this blog for recipes? Just wait ----> There is so much more to come!

Keep following me and you will get all kinds of great tips for nutrition, recipes, training techniques - with videos, and lots more!

This meal was probably the easiest.
Side salad with feta and tomato.  Topped with balsamic, of course.

The veggie burger is organic and was premade - but organic! :)
Fresh veggies sautéed right along with this. Super easy!
Only about 175 kcals for this meal.
Carbs? What carbs!