My Newest Fitness Chapter

My Newest Fitness Chapter

Yesterday on my Beachbody Facebook page I declared that tonight I would be posting a new blog post about the newest chapter in my fitness journey.

As you may or may not know, I have been working pretty hard on improving myself over the course of this year.  I vowed to make 2013 the healthiest year of my life, and so far I have stuck to that!  In January I began ChaLean Extreme for the 2nd time - but I was determined to finally finish it...and I did!  I was so proud of myself and was seeing big changes.  ChaLean Extreme is a weights-based workout program, and I loved how strong it made me look and feel.

I then decided that I needed to improve in the area that I hated to think about - cardio.  I don't know why, but I have always dreaded any sort of cardio!  ChaLean Extreme only asked that I work on cardio 2 days a week, and that was enough for me.  But, I knew that with summer and many 5ks that I had signed up for, I needed to increase my cardio endurance.

Many people I knew had tried and LOVED TurboFire, which is by the same fitness instructor as ChaLean Extreme.  Her name is Chalene Johnson, and she is the most positive, upbeat, and uplifting person you could ever have lead your fitness routine.  I gave TurboFire a try, and found that I, too, could love cardio!  I didn't really think of it as cardio though, I had to change my mindset in order to get myself to learn to love the program.  TurboFire is very choreographed and has really great, upbeat music - so while I was dripping in sweat and tripping over my own feet, I was also laughing and having a great time.

I had such great results from TurboFire, but knew I needed a change after I completed the program this past summer.

T25 had just been released and I gave it a try.  But I couldn't get into it.  I know you might be thinking...but it's only 25 minutes a day?  I know, I know...but it's still not my favorite.  But being as stubborn as I am, I have decided that I am going to give T25 another shot.....but with my own little twist.

So if you're still with me....here is my news....

I've created my own hybrid program!!

I am merging ChaLean Extreme (CLX) with Focus T25 and making my own schedule to follow over the next three months combining the two programs!

Here is a sneak peek at what my calendar looks like:

And the best part is, that I will be finishing just in time before December in order to start a new program for the winter!  I wonder what I should do next.... :)



Thanks for tuning in to my reveal!  If you would like help creating your own hybrid workout routine, I would love to help!  Feel free to find me on my Facebook page, or leave a comment here :)

-Nichole

Fresh Strawberry Muffins

Fresh Strawberry Muffins

Last Thursday I posted a little sneak peek of this recipe on my Facebook page, and now that the weekend is coming to a close I'm finally getting the time to write up this blog post for you all!  

I had some strawberries that needed to be used up, and remembered a pin I had on a Pinterest board that I had been wanting to try. It includes some of my very favorite things - breakfast cupcakes (which some people call muffins) and fresh strawberries!

Here is the blog that the original pin came from - Original Muffin Recipe

I have tried to make muffins from scratch before, and they just weren't....right.  But these were...they were so delicious, that my family has asked for them again already - and have dreamed up ideas of other things to add into the original mix.



How delicious do these look?  Here's the recipe!

Fresh Strawberry Muffins

1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups chopped strawberries
3 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Cream butter and sugar. Add egg and mix well.

Sift flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. Add flour mixture and milk alternately to butter mixture. Add vanilla. Gently stir in strawberries.

Spoon batter into muffin pans.

Combine sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over muffins.

Bake at 400º for 20-25 minutes.

Makes one dozen muffins. (Make sure you eat them the day you bake them. They aren’t as good the next day, but you can freeze them!)

Okay...just one more close up.  They're THAT good!

Now, go give them a try!  Let me know if you come up with any creations of your own.

-Nichole

Coconut Banana Bread

Coconut Banana Bread

Last week while I was browsing Pinterest before bed, I came across this picture:


http://www.fitsugar.com/Coconut-Banana-Bread-Recipe-18806194

And I thought to myself, I HAVE to make this!  I love banana bread, I love toasted coconut, and I just so happened to have 3 overly ripe bananas chilling on my kitchen counter.

So that was that...and this is what I concocted in my kitchen tonight...

 ...pretty close right?

Here's the recipe (because I know you're going to want to save it, or try it right now!)  I added in a little bit of honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg to the recipe as well.  Next time, I will definitely be adding chopped walnuts as well...per my dad's request :)

Healthy Coconut Banana Bread

Ingredients

1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1¼ teaspoon baking soda
3 Large ripe bananas, mashed
½ cup + 2 tablespoons sweetened flaked coconut
½ tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ cup of brown sugar
3 egg whites
2 tablespoons skim milk
¼ cup fat free plain Greek yogurt
¼ cup orange juice

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda together in mixing bowl.
3. In separate large mixing bowl combine mashed bananas, brown sugar, and vanilla. Add egg whites and mix together until smooth. Next add oil. Then, slowly add in flour and combine until moist. Next add Greek yogurt and orange juice. (Depending on the consistency you can add two tablespoons of skim milk. If you like your bread more dense —omit the milk — but if you like it more airy or lighter you can add it.) Lastly add ½ cup of coconut and mix together.
4. Pour into greased 9×5 inch loaf pan. Sprinkle two tablespoons of coconut on top.
5. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean and the bread is golden brown.

Optional: throw in ½ cup of walnuts to batter to help keep you satisfied all morning. Another option: substitute ½ cup of regular flour with whole wheat flour
Make 16 slices. About 115 calories per slice.

Okay, here's one more picture of my creation - mmm, so good! :)

 -Nichole :)

I'm Obsessed With Roasted Vegetables

I'm Obsessed With Roasted Vegetables

...you might think that I'm joking, but I'm really not. I could eat these and only these for several ,eagle every week.  

Here is my latest batch before they went into the oven



How delicious do they look?!

What's on the pans? The back one is two full sweet potatoes. On the forward pan are (left to right): parsnips, baby carrots, and three colors of sweet peppers!

All I did was cut them all up, wash & dry them, and toss them in Wegmans brand basting oil.  After that, they headed into the oven for 20ish minutes until they were all soft. I like mine a little crisp, so I put the, under the broiler for a few minutes too.

So amazing! Give this recipe a try.... I dare you!

-Nichole 

The World's Best Snack! (Energy Bite Recipe)

The World's Best Snack!  (Energy Bite Recipe)

So one night, I was looking around on Pinterest and came across the most delicious snack I have ever tasted! They are called "No-Bake Energy Bites" and they are amazing.  

Honestly, I can't even put into words how much better these are than a granola or energy bar you might pick up at the store.  And the best part is, you know everything that is in it - because you make them in your own kitchen!  I take these to work with me, and just 2 get me from breakfast until lunch.  If I didn't take a snack like these to work with me, I would be one very hangry person by the time lunch rolls around.  You've heard the word "hangry" before right?  Hangry - hungry AND angry.  

Okay, enough talk - more recipe! 

You can find the original recipe here:  http://smashedpeasandcarrots.blogspot.com/2011/08/no-bake-energy-bites-recipe.html

No-Bake Energy Bites 

(makes 18-20 bites)

1 cup oatmeal

1/2 cup peanut butter (or other nut butter)

1/3 cup honey

1 cup coconut flakes

1/2 cup ground flaxseed

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla

Mix everything above in a medium bowl until thoroughly incorporated.  Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour.  Once chilled, roll into balls and enjoy!  Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Test them out, and let me know what you think! Be creative, too!  You can add anything you want to these :)

Until next time,

Nichole xoxo

My Motivation...

My Motivation...

My main motivation to change my lifestyle to become more healthy, physically active, and fit has been seeing the transformations in those around me.  Now, the changes in others should obviously not be your main motivator, but it can definitely help to keep you on track.  One of the biggest motivators was seeing myself become not as active as I once had been, and on top of that my closest friend from high school had made HUGE changes in herself for the positive!  I just knew that I had to change things for myself.  SO...I jumped on the Beachbody bandwagon and committed myself to finishing the program ChaLEAN Extreme taught by Chalene Johnson.  I will review the program later on, but it is a 3 month program and is based around "muscle burns fat," so most days I was weight training.  I fell in love with weights!  I know that you might be thinking "ew, why would a girl want to weight train?!"  Because I wanted to get thinner, that's why!  Quite the opposite of what most would think, regular weight training in women will thin them down, while toning their muscles, and help them to burn more calories doing everyday activities!  

I can't wait to fill you in on what I have in store for this summer...

Stay tuned!

Nichole

Let me introduce myself...

Hi there! As you may or may not know, I'm Nichole! I'm 24 years old and work as a toddler teacher by day and Beachbody coach by night. :) The title of this blog may sound a little contradictory, but its true! I love working out and I love baking (especially cupcakes).  On this blog you will find a lot of interesting (I hope!) tidbits about me, my life, my pursuit of fitness, and lots of recipes!

I'd love it if you checked out my Facebook page:  Nichole Elizabeth - Beachbody Coach
-or- my Team Beachbody Coach page where you can get info about all of their great products, programs, and Shakeology! Team Beachbody Page


Until next time :)
Nichole