​You’ve heard that managing your weight is all about the lifestyle, and not the quick fix, so today I’d like to give you 7 habits that fit people have. These following seven habits are held by successfully fit people…wonder if you could apply a few to your own life.

1. Approach Each Day with Perspective

Fail to meet your fitness goals today? Move on. Tomorrow is another day to make smarter decisions. When you wake up, rededicate yourself to your fitness goals without beating yourself about whatever mistakes you made in the past. After all, you can’t change what you did yesterday. All you can control is right now. So get to it!

2. Know Your Body

When you finish a workout, you should feel good. If you don’t, then something needs to change. Either your diet or routine is throwing you off. Fit people know how everything they do affects their body and they take steps to avoid those things that make them not feel and perform their best. Learn how your body responds and care for it accordingly.

3. Find Ways Around Excuses

If you’ve ever wondered why you can’t quite get fit, it may be your proclivity for caving to pressure. And that pressure may be self-induced. Fit people do not give into excuses for why they shouldn’t exercise. Quite the contrary. They are continually finding reasons why they should hit the gym and find pockets of time to do it—even if the trip to the gym is shorter than usual.

4. Eat and Sleep Well

Study after study has shown the benefit of eating whole, unprocessed foods. It provides energy and strength, helps you feel full throughout the day, and makes your time in the gym as fruitful as possible. Getting good sleep is equally as important, as it keeps all your bodily systems in rhythm. Put these two fit activities together and you’re well on your way to optimal fitness.

5. Track Your Progress

For some, keeping tabs on health progress is about as exciting as watching paint dry. Once you get into the routine, however, you will become a believer in the power of tracking your progress. Tracking serves to both reward and motivate you, as you see that the countless hours in the gym and smart food choices lead to a healthier weight and greater strength—a.k.a. better overall fitness and health.

6. Think While You Exercise

It can be easy to mindlessly run on a treadmill at the gym if you’re not careful. Just remember that fit people don’t do such a thing. They’re very intentional about everything they do at the gym. This means if you want to be fit, you should put some brainpower into what you include in your workout and how you perform each repetition. This allows you to get maximum benefit from your gym time and reduces the risk of injury.

7. Lean On Your Trainer

The final thing fit people do is rely on someone with lots of knowhow in the realm of fitness. This is why my clients have such a high success rate in achieving their goals – because I make sure that they stick with it! I have a sincere interest in your overall health and well-being and know how to help you reach the goals that can seem so far away when you’re trying to achieve it on your own.

Call or email today and let’s get started on your fitness journey!

​Craving pizza? Here’s a quick pizza recipe that is sure to satisfy even the strongest of pizza cravings. But don’t worry, this pizza is low carb and guilt-free so you can work it into your weekly meal plan.

The simple technique used to reduce the carbs and the guilt of this pizza is to replace the traditional (flour-based) crust with a protein rich, egg-based crust. By cooking the egg crust in a skillet and then transferring it to the oven it’s possible to create a crust that results in strong-enough-to-hold slices that the whole family will love!

Servings: 6

Here’s what you need...

• 8 eggs
• 2 Tablespoons half and half
• sea salt and black pepper
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• ½ cup chunky tomato salsa
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella
• 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 2 Tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

1. Heat the oven to 450 degrees F. In a medium bowl whisk the eggs, half and half, sea salt and black pepper.
2. Over medium-high heat, generously grease a large oven-safe skillet with olive oil. Once the skillet is hot, pour in the egg mixture. Leave the eggs, untouched, for 3 minutes. Use a spatula to carefully lift one edge of the egg, then tilt the pan so that the remaining liquid egg on top runs under it. Do this in two places then allow the egg to sit for another 3 minutes.
3. Place the skillet in the oven for 3 minutes. The egg crust will puff slightly and soft eggs on the top will firm. Carefully remove the skillet from the oven (the handle will be hot) and spread with the salsa. Top with the beans, bell pepper and cheese. Return to the oven for 5 minutes, until the cheese has melted.
4. Remove the pizza from the oven, sprinkle with cilantro, slice and enjoy!

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals:  246 calories, 10g fat, 18g carbohydrate, 143mg sodium, 7g fiber, and 18g protein

I hope that you get a chance to give this recipe a try this week. Remember that I’m only a call or email away to assist you in all things fitness. And if you are not yet one of my prized clients then call or email me now to set up your first workout – I’d love to help you achieve your best body ever!

​What’s for dinner tonight? I have a delicious recipe for Chili-Roasted Salmon and Veggies to share with you that’s quick, satisfying and might be just the perfect recipe to cook up for dinner tonight.

The best dinners to fuel your fitness results are a combination of fresh, fiber-rich vegetables and quality protein, like this Salmon and Veggie dish. Enjoy!

Servings: 4

Here’s what you need...

• ¼ cup fresh lime juice
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 Tablespoon chili powder
• 1 Tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil, divided
• 4 (5-oz) salmon fillets
• 2 zucchini, sliced into half moons
• 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 poblano pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
• sea salt
• black pepper

For the Creamy Mustard Sauce

• 2 Tablespoons coconut cream
• 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 Tablespoon fresh chives, minced
• ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
• ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon water

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly grease 2 large rimmed baking pans with olive oil. Arrange the salmon fillets on one of the pans and generously season with salt and pepper.
2. In a small bowl combine the lime juice, garlic, chili powder, cumin and 1 teaspoon of the olive oil. Pour half of the spice mixture over the tops of the salmon fillets.
3. In a medium bowl toss the zucchini, bell peppers, poblano pepper and red onion with the remaining 2 teaspoons of olive oil and with the remaining spice mixture. Spread the veggies over the remaining pan and generously season with salt and pepper.
4. Place both pans in the preheated oven for 20-30 minutes, until the salmon is flaky and the veggies are tender. Mix the mustard sauce ingredients in a small bowl and serve over the salmon. Enjoy!

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals:  572 calories, 26g fat, 21g carbohydrate, 8g sugar, 30mg sodium, 8g fiber, and 61g protein

I hope that you get a chance to give this recipe a try this week. Remember that I’m only a call or email away to assist you in all things fitness. And if you are not yet one of my prized clients then call or email me now to set up your first workout – I’d love to help you achieve your best body ever!

​You know how every pharmaceutical commercial ends with a laundry list of possible side effects? The ailments that we could possibly experience if we take it are silently weighed against the possible benefits of the drug. Well, turns out that exercise and good nutrition also come with a laundry list of side effects...

My hope is that by reading the 5 Side Effects of Fat Loss below, you’ll feel the driving motivation that you need to jump into fitness with both feet, and that you’ll find out just how amazing and capable you’ve been to achieve your goal all along.

Side Effect #1: Confidence

Confidence is one of the most important perks of dropping fat. When you have increased confidence, you change how you view yourself and go about your daily routine. The world is at your fingertips and you are able to take on whatever it throws your way.

Additionally, when your confidence increases after losing a few pounds, you’re poised to keep losing. So the confidence you gain gives you what you need to lose more weight and feel even more confident.

Side Effect #2: Money

It may be difficult to understand how losing weight saves you money, but it happens. How? Because one of the best ways to trim pounds is to cut down on the amount of calories you consume every day. When you start eating and drinking fewer calories, that means you don’t have to buy as much food or high-calorie drinks. Additionally, losing weight may make it possible to stop taking certain medications, which will help save you even more money.

On top of that, when you lose weight, you get a boost of confidence. (See previous point.) That boost of confidence will change how you handle yourself at work, helping you make the right impression on your boss, so you can get the promotion you need.

Side Effect #3: Better Health Now

Go to the doctor with some sort of health condition, and unless it’s the common cold or flu, losing a few pounds can almost always help you manage the condition better. From diabetes to heart disease to joint pain, trimming the fat from your body gives you a heads up right now. Cutting fat makes it easier to get around on your joints, reduces your blood pressure, and helps you sleep better.

As additional perks, less fat today means better sleep and better sex tonight. Since both of these improve your quality of life, taking the time necessary to shave off fat will give you the best life you could experience!

Side Effect #4: Better Health Later

Today isn’t the only time your health will improve when you lose some fat. Shed some pounds and you’ll reap the rewards for years down the road. Instead of having to manage a variety of health conditions, you will be able to keep those conditions at bay.

A few health issues you can cut your risk for by cutting fat are diabetes, heart disease, joint pain, a variety of cancers, high blood pressure, and dementia. In other words, get rid of the fat today and you can avoid all the health issues in the future that requires fat loss for maximum management.

Side Effect #5: Everything Tastes Better

As you settle into your new fat-burning lifestyle that includes eating healthily and working out regularly, you’ll notice something. Because you no longer overeat at the buffet or go for a second or third helping, you will begin enjoying every bite that you take. As the bite sits in your mouth, you won’t swallow it before tasting or chewing. You will take your time and really savor the flavor.

And when you do start chewing your food and enjoying the flavors, your brain will have time to register when you’re full and cut you off before you stuff yourself with more calories than you can burn. Do this regularly and you’ll lose even more fat!

I’ve dedicated my career to helping people, just like you, conquer their fear of exercise and clear up their confusion with healthy eating. I know that a healthy life is within your reach – I’ve seen hundreds of my clients before you do it, and I’ll see hundreds after you do it. Today it’s your turn.

Call or email now to get started on an exercise program that will make fat burning second nature, and will transform your body for the best.

​When you decide to get fit by eating healthy and exercising with intent, one of the first things you cut from your diet are the crunchy, savory snacks. Most snacks with a satisfying crunch are packaged, processed, made with refined grains and filled with additives that contribute to weight gain. And so, the crunchy and salty snacks that you once loved become a thing of your past once fat loss becomes your goal.

Until now...

Get ready to dive into a bag of these irresistible, crunchy, and savory Chili Roasted Chickpea Poppers! A handful of these wholesome poppers will give you the snacking crunch that you crave while delivering grain-free fiber and protein. It’s super easy to make too – simply rinse the chickpeas and coat with olive oil and seasoning then pop it in the oven.

Servings: 4

Here’s what you need...

• 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• sea salt
• chili powder
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• black pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Drain and rinse the chickpeas. Pat dry – the drier the chickpeas the crunchier the poppers will turn out.
3. In a bowl combine the chickpeas with the olive oil and generous amounts of the seasonings. Taste a chickpea to gauge the strength of the flavor and adjust as needed. Spread the coated chickpeas over the prepared pan and roast for 25 minutes, or until golden and crunchy. Enjoy by the handful!

Nutritional Analysis: One serving (about ½ cup) equals:  96 calories, 1g fat, 17g carbohydrate, 6g fiber, and 6g protein

I hope that you get a chance to give this recipe a try this week. Remember that I’m only a call or email away to assist you in all things fitness. And if you are not yet one of my prized clients then call or email me now to set up your first workout – I’d love to help you achieve your best body ever!

​...on your diet.

We live in society where food temptations are everywhere. Walk through a store and you’ll see the unhealthy food items displayed front and center. Turn on the TV and you’ll be assaulted with commercials for fattening foods. Open a magazine and you’ll notice glossy pin-ups of sugary snacks. Go down the street and you’ll have restaurant signs clamoring for your attention.

In addition to the abundance of tempting edibles, you also have deeply ingrained positive associations with indulging. You treat tempting food as a reward. You turn to tempting food for comfort. You rely on tempting food as stress relief. You allow tempting food to become a habit.

It’s Your Turn to Win

Temptation doesn’t need to have the upper hand on you anymore. It’s time to fight back using your most powerful asset: your brain.

Your mind is an amazing thing. Once it is made up about something it is nearly impossible to change it.

A Matter of Perspective

Imagine for a moment that you’re peacefully floating down a river in an inner tube. The sun is out, the birds are chirping, and you are having a wonderful time. You feel great about the river because it is making you feel good.

Now imagine that you are in a plane flying over the river. Your eye is immediately drawn to an enormous rocky waterfall. You look up the river and just around the bend is a person floating in an inner tube, having a wonderful time, headed straight for the treacherous falls.

Do you think that after your plane ride you’d be happy to get an inner tube and float down the river? Of course you wouldn’t. You’ve seen that the river spells disaster.

You now have a negative association (watery death) with the river rather than your initial positive association (relaxing fun).

Overcoming temptation is all about building negative associations in place of existing positive ones. Use the 2 steps below to harness the power of your mind to become stronger than any temptation.

Step One: Create a Strong Negative Association with all the BAD STUFF

If cookies and chips and burgers are put on a pedestal in your mind as your favorite things to eat, then you will always eat unhealthy and will continue to gain weight. What do you dislike about tempting food?

• It makes you unhealthy.
• It causes weight gain.
• It drains your energy.
• It kills your confidence.
• It degrades your quality of life.
• It hurts your love life.

Every time that you encounter tempting food items focus on your list of negatives. It’s time to kick those cookies off the pedestal and to put something healthy in its place.

Step Two: Create a Strong Positive Association with all the GOOD STUFF

Now that your mental pedestal has been cleared, put healthy food items on it. Juicy fresh fruit, crispy vegetables and savory lean meats are a great place to start. What do you love about healthy food?

• It makes you healthy.
• It causes weight loss.
• It boosts your energy.
• It builds your confidence.
• It improves your quality of life.
• It enhances your love life.

Immerse yourself into the world of healthy food. Browse the aisles of a natural food store. Walk through a farmer’s market. Bring healthy snacks to work. Clear your kitchen of anything unhealthy.

Using the technique above, you will soon find that healthy food is your favorite food.

And cheating will become a thing of your past.

​One of the easiest ways to lose more fat and to get lean quicker is by eating dinners at home, rather than going out to eat. Restaurant meals are notoriously higher in calories than the meals that you prepare and eat at home. This is mainly due to larger portion sizes, heavier cooking techniques, and added calories from sauces, dips and accompaniments.

Resist the temptation to eat out by making quick, healthy dinners like this one. Chicken and veggies make up the bulk of this meal, keeping you lean and green. Instead of rice, serve this stir fry over a cauliflower rice. To make simply run a head of cauliflower through a food processor with the grating attachment, so that it is finely shredded. Sauté the cauliflower in a large skillet with a teaspoon of olive oil until soft and season with salt and pepper.

Servings: 6

Here’s what you need...

• 1 pound organic, boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 2 Tablespoons Olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 2 heads broccoli, chopped
• 2 carrots, cut in half and then into 2 inch segments
• 2 heads baby bok choy, chopped
• 1 zucchini, chopped
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
• 3/4 cup chicken broth (divided)
• 2 Tablespoons arrowroot starch
• 2 Tablespoons toasted sesame seed oil
• 1 Tablespoons ume plum vinegar
• 1 Tablespoon coconut aminos
• 1 ripe, organic mango, peeled, pitted and chopped

1. Rinse the chicken and cut into 1-inch cubes.
2. Place the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions, sauté for about 10 minutes, until soft. Add the broccoli, carrots and chicken and cook an additional 10 minutes. Add the bok choy and zucchini. After 5 minutes add 1/4 cup of chicken broth, cover, and cook an additional 10 minutes.
3. In a small bowl combine the remaining 1/2 cup chicken broth, arrowroot, sesame oil, vinegar and coconut aminos. Add the seasoned mixture to the skillet, along with the chopped mango, and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 243 calories, 11g fat, 675mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate, 4g fiber, and 19g protein

I hope that you get a chance to give this recipe a try this week. Remember that I’m only a call or email away to assist you in all things fitness. And if you are not yet one of my prized clients then call or email me now to set up your first workout – I’d love to help you achieve your best body ever!